The Advent season begins the Church year and is observed in many Christian churches

as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas and the return of Jesus at the Second Coming. The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word meaning “Coming”. We light the candles of the Advent Wreath to mark our passage through the four weeks. The evergreen circle symbolizes the eternal, living God who has no beginning and no end.

During Advent, God’s people summon the courage and the spiritual strength to remember that the holy breaks into the daily. In tiny ways, we can open our broken hearts to the healing grace of God, who opens the way to peace. Advent is not a season of passive waiting and watching. It is a season of opening our lives and our souls with active anticipation and renewed hope.

The deep roots of our Christian tradition may offer just such a path. By entering into reflection, discernment and commitment around the practices of Turn – Learn – Pray – Worship – Bless – Go – Rest, I (Bishop Curry) pray that we will grow as communities following the loving, liberating, life-giving way of Jesus. His way has the power to change each of our lives and to change this world.

As we continue our Advent walk into Christmas, we invite you to see the Way of Love as a journey that includes the community. The witness of Zechariah and Elizabeth who bring infant John to the Temple to be circumcised reminds us of the importance of our faith community to sustaining the Way of Love. As with John’s family, the community provided a place for discernment, sometimes challenging us and other times affirming us. Communities celebrate and mark important moments along the journey.

Linger before leaving your worship time today. How is God calling you to hear and sing along with Mary’s Song? Read Luke 1:39-55.

Go out into your neighborhood today. Where is God at work? Ask God to show you how you can celebrate that good work and name God’s presence in your community.

Read Habakkuk 2:1-4. Does this reading remind you of Thomas the disciple? Why do you think the folks who organized the lectionary picked this reading from the Old Testament for this friend of Jesus?

Pray along with the Collect for Advent 4, found on page 212 in The Book of Common Prayer. Pick three or four of your beloveds to focus your prayers on today. Make sure to leave some silent space for God to offer you some wisdom about what they may need right now.

Make sure to pick up an extra present or two — a nice candy sampler or a warm pair of slippers or pajama pants, just in case you have extra friends or guests drop by. Ask God to bless those who travel and those who may be alone in the coming days. Take some bottled water and sports drinks over to your local community cold weather shelter. They will be extra glad to have that during the winter months.

If you are gathering with friends and family today, consider taking time during the meal to turn to the folks on your right, and then on your left, to thank them for their love in your life. See how this might spread some joy and comfort around the table — or maybe even ease some potentially prickly guests.

The conventional wisdom is that new parents should rest when the baby is resting. Make sure you take some time out to rest with Baby Jesus — and marvel in the wonder of a fresh, new, clean, shiny, tiny, precious start. Take a nap and thank God for the gift of Jesus and for peace at Christmas.

December 19, 2021

Please join us for our celebration of Holy Eucharist at 9:00 am in the church. 

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Micah 5:2-5a

Canticle 15

Hebrews 10:5-10

Luke 1:39-45

-----(beginning with choir and congregation carols)

Facebook Link for Services: Saint John's Episcopal Church

St. John's website: saint-johns.org

Our 2022 Altar Flower sign-up is available in the Narthex. If you are not able to sign up in person, please contact the office to see if your desired date is available. If you donate online, please contact Maria with your dedication: maria@saint-johns.org

Suggested donation is $40.00.

You are the Light of the World.

Sunday, January 2 - Bishop Susan Brown Snook's address to the Convention

Sunday, January 9 - Canon for Mission, Jason Evans' address to the Convention

Sunday School is now available. Children ages 4 and up are welcome to come and learn about the Word of God with Heather Wallace.

Child Care is available during our Sunday Services. Ana, the daughter of Alex Valdez-Beer, will be staffing our child care room.

We carefully gather in person at St. John's, we would like to remind you that we are here for you!

If you, a family member, neighbor or a friend are interested in celebrating a significant event in your spiritual life, please know that you are welcome.

We would be honored to be a part of your Baptism, Holy Communion, Quinceañera Marriage, Renewal of Vows or Anointing of the Sick.

At St. John's, no matter who you are or where you are on your spiritual journey - you are welcome here

If you have a pastoral emergency when the parish offices are closed,

please call 619-301-0724 or email revroger@saint-johns.org

St. John's Outreach Committee meets monthly to discuss our parish Outreach activities.

We will continue our ongoing collections for:

You may also bring your items to church during our weekday office hours, Monday through Thursday from 9am to 3pm. Ring the doorbell, and you will be buzzed in to leave your items outside Nale Hall.

If you do not feel comfortable driving, please contact the parish office, and we will find a volunteer to pick up the items from your home.

The Outreach Committee has chosen to support Dreams For Change, an organization that provides resources for people living in their cars in ‘Safe Parking’ places set aside by the County. Please bring your clean, gently used blankets and they will be delivered to the organization. There will be a labeled container in Nale Hall to receive donations.

For more information on the Dreams for Change Safe Parking program, please click here.

Please click on the following link or visit the St. John's website (www.saint-johns.org) for more information on our Outreach Ministries:

If you would like to host a Sunday, you may sign up on the poster in Nale Hall or by calling or emailing Maria at 619-422-4141 or maria@saint-johns.org

2022 will be our Centennial Year!

Please contact Maria Love in the parish office by calling 1-619-422-4141 or emailing maria@saint-johns.org

Join us for Wednesday Morning Prayer and Bible Study

on Wednesdays at 9:30 am as a Zoom meeting.

Please contact Rev. Roger ( revroger@saint-johns.org)

All the women of the parish are invited to discern becoming a member of the Daughters of the King. If you have any questions, please contact Lynn Young (208-695-7735) or Linda Dennehy (619-429-4747).

If you have a special prayer request for Daughters of the King, you are invited to fill out a prayer card, found in the narthex. Drop your prayer request in the church-shaped box or in the offering plate. These requests are confidential and are separate from our printed parish prayer lists.

We would like to acknowledge and pray for anyone celebrating a birthday and/or anniversary in the coming week. Please let us know by Thursday of the prior week so that we can get it in the Sunday liturgy. If you have a picture of you that we could post for your birthday and/or a wedding photo or current photo for those celebrating an anniversary, please email it to us - it would be great to allow everyone to see you.

Today and every day include some time for prayer, for yourself,

for your church family, and for those in need.

Matt Jensen, Drew Shorkey, Cody Crossland, Cameron Ronie, Chariti Paden, Mark Stanfield, Sean Robinson, Jonathan Martinez, TK Nguyen, Christopher Lindshield, Timothy Lindshield, Jeremy Colton, David Sanchez, Jonathan Baldera, Nick Wyatt, Daniel Getreu, Jamal Warner, Matt Hernandez, Devon Strunk, Taylor Harrold, Jorge Zuazua, Katherine Milam, Sebastian Morales, Richie Lebron, Roberto Johnson and the crew of USS Essex.

Steve Magill, Gary & Shirley McCarren, Ann Lindshield, Scott Hunter, Evan McClure,

Julie Croom, David Dennehy, Anna Jones, the Guajardo family, the Halsten family,

Dorothy Hintze and Dale Evans.

For the repose of the soul of John Guajardo, father of Greg Guajardo

and Darlene Halsten, cousin of Tom Brzeczek.

In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the clergy and people of Holy Cross in Oceanside.

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Church of the Province of Central Africa.

In the Military Cycle of Prayer, we pray for for all military personnel serving afloat or

in harm's way around the world who may be in danger. Bring them home safely to their

families.

The leaders of the Prayer Quilt Ministry would like to remind

you that there are many quilts available for anyone in need

of prayer and support. This important ministry brings comfort and healing to many people who are suffering with illness.

Please contact Diane Gustafson directly (diangus15@aol.com)

or through the office (maria@saint-johns.org).

Our stewardship campaign this year focused on using the gifts that God has given us in order to transform the lives of all people. While St. John's needs your monetary pledge, we hope that you will also give of your time and talent. 

As you discern your stewardship gift, your vestry encourages you to prayerfully consider an increase in the amount you will pledge. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

David Dennehy, Senior Warden

aaaaaa619-840-9994 

aaaaaamasterfrog@att.net

Lynn Young, Junior Warden

aaaaaa208-695-7735

aaaaaalynnyoung2786@gmail.com

Bill Cheney, Treasurer

Terry Farrelly, Assistant Treasurer

In the coming year, three positions on vestry will become vacant. If you have an interest in joining the vestry, please consider running for election.

If you would like more information about Vestry, contact David Dennehy at masterfrog@att.net or 619-840-9994.

................................ (with choir and congregation carols)

As our staff are now fully vaccinated, we are permitted to open our parish office.

Masking and social distance should be maintained when visitors are present.

The Parish Office will be open 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday through Thursday.

Please call the parish office if you have any questions or concerns

(619-422-4141).

Rev. Roger will be working half-days in the office on Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Sunday; and all day Wednesday and Thursday. He will be available by appointment. Please call the office (619-422-4141) to schedule an appointment.

In case of a pastoral emergency, Rev. Roger may be reached on his cell phone at

619-301-0724.

If you receive a suspicious email from an address that seems to be Rev. Roger or another parishioner asking for a favor, it may be a phishing attempt. Scam emails mimic addresses we are familiar with and are very often full of grammatical errors.

Rev. Roger will never email you asking for funds or financial support by way of gift cards. If you receive an email that seems suspicious, do not open it or respond to it. Delete it immediately.

Phishing is a cyber attack that uses disguised email as a weapon. The goal is to trick the email recipient into believing that the message is something they want or need - a request from their bank, for instance, or a note from someone in their company - and to click a link or download an attachment.

Your weekly newsletter highlights important events at St. John's Episcopal Church. You can also find news about St. John's at www.saint-johns.org.

We welcome your feedback, photos, and news items. Contact Maria Love at 619-422-4141 or maria@saint-johns.org.

On Friday and Saturday, December 10 and 11, a line of severe weather spread across the central United States, spawning over 50 tornadoes. Many lives were lost in these storms, and homes and businesses were severely damaged or destroyed. Episcopal Relief & Development is in contact with the affected dioceses as they assess the needs in their communities and stands ready to assist in the coming days and weeks. Please pray for the people impacted by the deadly tornadoes. Donations to the US Disaster Fund will support Episcopal Relief & Development and its partners as they respond.

Click here to order -- makes a great Christmas gift.

Help St Luke's raise funds for our east African delegation trip to Uganda and the Nyagurusu refugee camp in Tanzania! These baskets make beautiful gifts to friends and family and will be a delightful and unique cultural treat for all to enjoy.  Click here to order -- we can personalize and deliver them to your family and friends.

A Weekly, On The Go Resource for Parents and Non-Parents Alike

Hosted by the Faith To Go team in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, David Tremaine and Charlette Preslar. Joined each week by a special guest, the Faith To Go team highlights themes from the Sunday Gospel reading for you to take into your faith discussions and reflections throughout the week.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is changing life for all of us. You may feel anxious, stressed, worried, sad, bored, depressed, lonely or frustrated in these circumstances.

Find resources to connect with real people that can help, here.

Love calls us to care for our neighbors and for our enemies. Love calls us to attend to those in prison, to those who are homeless, to those in poverty, to children, immigrants and refugees.

What would love do? To you, who so generously support the transformative work of Episcopal Relief & Development, love calls you to continue to sow seeds of lasting change

Visit Episcopal Relief and Development: One Thousand Days of Love to see how you can help.

As part of our ongoing commitment to creating a safe haven for everyone, our diocese trains people in the prevention of misconduct and encourages all to report misconduct. All reported incidences are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly and confidentially. If you believe you have experienced misconduct of any kind, please contact Mr. John Seitman, (jseitman@pacbell.net), 858-793-4555 or Ms. Equilla Luke, (aequilla@icloud.com), 760-583-0485.