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| Wednesday, March 18, 2020 |
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Pastoral Note
Dear St. John's Family of Faith,
Peace and Blessings to all of you. As our concern increases regarding the spreading of the coronavirus, I write to you with some updates.
First, I would like to share with you some words from Bishop Susan's most recent letter to the people of the diocese:
Dear Friends in the Diocese of San Diego,
Grace and peace to you in the name of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. The coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, as does concern over the capacity of our health care system to care for those who are affected. Some new public health developments have occurred just since last Thursday, when I last wrote and spoke to you:
- San Diego County has banned all non-essential gatherings.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that public gatherings of more than 50 people be canceled or postponed;
- The federal government has advised that people avoid gathering in groups of more than 10 people;
- Public school districts throughout most of our diocese have closed their schools, and numerous public events have been canceled;
- The governor of California has recommended that all people over age 65 self-isolate in their homes;
- Documented cases of community transmission of the virus have happened in our diocese.
In my letter of last Tuesday, I permitted in-person worship to continue through Sunday, March 15 as long as strong precautions were taken. Many of you made the decision to hold worship via live-streaming rather than public in-person gatherings. Given the latest developments, I am now suspending all public, in-person worship gatherings in our diocese at least through Saturday, April 4.
We have received word from our Presiding Bishop:
in-person worship for Holy Week and Easter should be suspended.
Of course we will follow his guidance.
I have met with David D., Mark H. and Rev. Cathey (via Zoom conference) on Monday. We have decided that at St. John's:
- We will suspend in-person worship gatherings
- We will live stream Morning Prayer on Facebook at 9:00 AM on Sundays
- We will post a recording of the live-stream service on our St. John's website and in a Sunday pastoral letter emailed to the parish
- We will mail a hard copy of the Morning Prayer Service Booklet to those who do not have internet access. You are invited to join the parish in our prayer service at 9:00 am. Please call the church to request a booklet.
- The St. John's church campus will be closed There will be no meetings occurring on our campus.
- The Vestry will meet on March 25th - via Zoom. Rev. Roger will send out the meeting link
- Staff is encourage to work from home as much as possible.
- If you have urgent business, please call the church office before coming to the church.
- If you have a pastoral emergency, please call Rev. Roger: 619-301-0724
- We are beginning to create a Parish Phone Tree so that we can stay connected during this difficult time. If you are interested in helping with the phone tree, please contact Pamela Brittain, brittainpj@att.net or 619-300-6537
- Our St. John's Facebook page: (if you have access) is another way to stay connected. (www.facebook.com/StJohnsChurchChulaVista)
And in the words of Bishop Susan,
And remember that Jesus said he would be with us to the end of the age.
This time of change, isolation, and anxiety is new to us, but Jesus has been present in the church in times of much greater turmoil. The Lord of Life will bring new life to us, and we will once more celebrate the great truth:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Peace
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Sunday Morning Prayer, 9:00 am
If you are able, please join us via
Facebook for the livestream of our Sunday Morning Prayer Service at 9:00 am.
Please find the link for the worship booklet here:
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Scripture Readings For This Sunday
Readings for Sunday, March 22, 2020
Psalm 23
Ephesians 5:8-14
John 9:1-41
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Lent 2020
We continue our Lenten journey.
We are invited, in the name of the Church, to an observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and acts of charity; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word.
For disciple of our God, this way of observing Lent becomes a way of life. After all that is what Jesus asked his disciple to do.
Our "Lenten" life will lead us once again to the Easter feast, whereby, we will renew our Baptismal commitment which promise new and everlasting life.
We do not strive for holiness because the world exp
ects it, but rather because a closer relationship with God will be our reward.
Lenten Practices
Acts of Charity:
The Maundy Thursday Footwashing Event has been postponed.
Norma Dunn has mailed $370 to th Diocese as our contribution for shoes, as requested.
The 135 pairs of socks and the 12 bags of toiletries are stored at her home
until they are required at a later date.
Fasting:
You are invited to consider the words of Pope Francis how they may become part of your daily life.
Prayer:
The Way of the Cross - prayer and reflections for the 14 Stations of the Cross
As we make our way through Lent, the weekly newsletter will include two or three Stations with questions of reflection for you to use in your prayer and meditation. By the end of Lent, you will have "walked" all 14 Stations. This week we continue with the next three stations:
Lent: Week 4
Eighth Station
Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
There followed after Jesus a great multitude of the people,
and among them were women who bewailed and lamented him.
But Jesus turning to them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem,
do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children."
V.
Those who sowed with tears:
R.
Will reap with songs of joy.
Let us pray. (Silence)
Teach your Church, O Lord,
to mourn the sins of which it is guilty, and to repent and forsake them;
that, by your pardoning grace,
the results of our iniquities may not be visited upon our children and our children's children;
through Jesus Christ our Lord
. Amen.
Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy upon us.
Reflection:
Have you ever known suffering people who had the vision to see the suffering in other people?
Have you ever found yourself caring for another in this way?
Ninth Station
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We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of his wrath;
he has driven and brought me into darkness without any light.
He has besieged me and enveloped me with bitterness and tribulation;
he has made me dwell in darkness like the dead of long ago.
Though I call and cry for help, he shuts out my prayer.
He has made my teeth grind on gravel, and made me cower in ashes.
"Remember, O Lord, my affliction and bitterness, the wormwood and the gall!"
V.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter:
R.
And like a sheep that before its shearers is mute, so he opened not his mouth.
Let us pray. (Silence)
O God, by the passion of your blessed Son
you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life:
Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ,
that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son
our Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy upon us.
Reflection:
Life can be heavy - could this be your story?
Tenth Station
Jesus is stripped of his garments
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
When they came to a place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull),
they offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall;
but when he tasted it, he would not drink it.
And they divided his garments among them by casting lots.
This was to fulfill the scripture which says,
"They divided my garments among them; they cast lots for my clothing."
V.
They gave me gall to eat:
R.
And when I was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink.
Let us pray. (Silence)
Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior
gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon:
Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time,
confident of the glory that shall be revealed;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy upon us.
Reflection:
Do you know anyone who has experienced this kind of insulting treatment?
Have you been stripped of your dignity by another person?
Artwork by students from St. John's Episcopal School
For the complete Way of the Cross, please click here.
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Year of Discipleship
The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego invites you to
Turn
as part of
The Year of Discipleship 2020
in this holy season of Lent.
The season of Lent is the perfect opportunity to turn and reorient yourself toward Jesus.
On the Way of Love, we don't only practice turning away from destructive things, but also turning ourselves toward God - like a flower setting its face toward the sun. In our daily lives, we are called to reorient ourselves to Jesus and his loving, liberating, life-giving Way.
Find a video message from Bishop Susan here and other resources for the Turn area of The Way of Love, as well as rules of life in this season of Lent here.
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Calendar of Events:
Office hours are 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday-Thursday.
The office is closed on Fridays.
Due to health concerns, many events may not occur at their regularly scheduled time. Please call the office (619-422-4141) to learn of any cancellations before attending any event.
Vestry Meeting via Zoom
Wednesday, March 25, 6:00 pm
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Prayers
We Are Available in Your Time of Need
If you have a pastoral emergency when the parish offices are closed,
Prayer List
Today and every day include some time for prayer, for yourself,
for your church family, and for those in need.
For our Military
Matt, Drew, Cody,
Cameron,
Chariti,
Mark,
Sean, Jonathan,
TK,
Christopher,
Timothy,
Jeremy,
David,
Jonathan,
Nick,
Jamal,
Matt, Daniel,
Jocelyn, Devon,
Taylor, Jorge, Katherine, Sebastian and Richie.
For Strength in Time of Need
Scott, Betty, Rob,
Marion, Bill, Brian, Marcia,
Malia, Norma, Allison, Bernie and Donna.
Those unable to come to services, but thankful
for their continuing connection with St. John's,
especially Lois,
Juanita and Paul.
For Churches in Transition in our Diocese
Christ Church, Coronado
St. Paul, Palm Springs
St. Margaret's, Palm Desert
All Saints', Vista
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Opportunities For Service
Pill Bottle Ministry
Did you know that in developing countries, the pill bottle and cap is often more expensive than the medication inside. You can donate your empty prescription bottles! Just drop off your empty prescription bottles in our collection bucket located in the foyer- no need to peel the information off. Our volunteers will take care of that for you! We will wash them and ship them to Matthew 25: Ministries. Matthew 25: Ministries accepts donations of empty plastic pill bottles for inclusion in shipments of medical supplies and for shredding and recycling. Our pill bottle program fulfills the dual needs of improving medical care in developing countries and caring for our environment.
Please note that we can currently only collect the clear orange prescription bottles. We have found that the others do not benefit the program.
Thank you for your support!
Emergency Food Pantry:
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep." John 21:17
The South Bay Community Services
"Emergency Food Pantry" needs donations every month. It's easy to donate! We will focus on a different food category each month. Pick up a flyer from the narthex, carry in your car until your next trip to the market, purchase the food, and place it on the table in Nale Hall before the end of the month.
During the month of March, our featured items will be peanut butter and jelly.
Thank you for your support!
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From the Prayer Journal of Fr. Jack Tolley
Many years ago, I was a hospital chaplain at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in San Francisco.
There was a street preacher often outside of the hospital. He would call me a sinner and tell me
loudly to repent. He was a very harsh and judgmental man.
To repent means literally, "to come to your senses, and turn in a new direction."
The word "sin" as used in the 15th chapter of Luke, comes from a Greek term meaning, "to miss the mark and not share in the prize." The prize is union with God, and one another, which we do not need to earn. God's love is freely offered. So when you read your Bible or run into people like my preacher friend, keep these definitions in mind, and be kind and gentle to yourself and others -
just like Jesus is to you and me, loving and kind.
Blessings, love, and hugs,
Fr. Jack.
Source of this information: The Rev. J. Paris Coffee
of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago.
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The Vestry
David Dennehy,
Senior Warden
Mark Higginbotham,
Junior Warden
619-861-5510
Terry Farrelly,
Treasurer
Pamela Brittain
Ray Contreras
Diane Gustafson
Mark Higginbotham
Muriel Kulikowski
Jim McDevitt
Judy McKay
Lynn Young
Approved Minutes for the January 22nd Vestry meeting can be found here:
Approved Minutes for the February 19th Vestry Meeting can be found here:
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Rev. Roger's Office Hours
Rev. Roger will be available in the office Monday and Tuesday depending on his school schedule 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.
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To our Saint John's Family:
Here is your weekly newsletter highlighting 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
.
Please submit your announcements by Tuesday of each week for inclusion in the Enews and Sunday bulletin.
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Emergency Contact Information
If you had a medical emergency at church on Sunday morning, would the Wardens or church
staff know who to contact? If you would like to add someone to St. John's emergency contact
list in case of such an emergency, please contact Maria, our parish secretary (619-422-4141 or
maria@saint-johns.org). A sign-up sheet will also be available in the church lobby to collect this information. Please provide your name, the name of your emergency contact, their relationship to you, their phone number and/or their email address. This is one more way we can show how we love one another.
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Reporting Misconduct
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.
Safeguarding God's People
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May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May God's face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
May God give you the grace never to sell yourself short;
Grace to risk something big for something good;
Grace to remember that the world is too dangerous for anything but truth
And too small for anything but love.
So, may God take your minds and think through them;
May God take your lips and speak through them;
May God take your hearts and set them on fire.
-William Sloane Coffin
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Contact Information
phone: 619/422-4141
pastoral care: 619/301-0724 |
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