Thursday, December 15, 2022

An Afternoon of Favorite Christmas Melodies

and

St. John's Annual Christmas Party

December 17th at 2:30 pm

Worship with Us this Christmas

Christmas Eve: December 24th at 8:00PM

Christmas Day: December 25th at 9:00AM

St. John's Mission Statement

St. John's is a Christian community that intentionally gathers

to experience God's love through Episcopal worship, education,

fellowship, and ministry to the wider community.

A Prayer for Peace Among the Nations (BCP 816)

Let us pray in this time of conflict for the countries of Russia and the Ukraine,

Almighty God our heavenly Father, guide the nations of the world

into the way of justice and truth, and establish among them

that peace which is the fruit of righteousness,

that they may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Amen.

ADVENT

Advent 2022

Advent marks the beginning of a new church year. Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming”.

During the liturgical season of Advent, the church prepares spiritually, directing our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and to the anniversary of our Lord’s first coming at his birth on Christmas.

Advent is not a season of passive waiting and watching. Rather, Advent is a season of opening up our lives and souls with active anticipation and renewed hope.

We light the candles of the Advent Wreath to mark our passage through the four weeks.

The evergreen circle, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternal, living God:

so we call to mind how our lives, here and now, participate in the eternity of God’s plan of salvation and how we hope to share eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

The light represents Christ, who entered this world to scatter the darkness of evil and show us the way of righteousness. The progression of lighting candles shows our increasing readiness to meet our Lord.

Fourth Sunday of Advent – We light two blue candles, the rose candle, and the last blue candle of LOVE. This candle reminds us that God’s Love came into the world in a new way when Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph. Pray together:

Jesus, you are Love, even in this broken world.

You show us that love is stronger than hate.

Help us to love like you when we are angry or afraid.

As we await your coming,

send LOVE into our hearts, we pray. Amen.

Advent Calendar: Journeying the Way of Love

Bishop Michael Curry has invited us to be a community of people whose lives are centered on Jesus Christ and committed to living the way of God’s unconditional, unselfish, sacrificial, and redemptive love. 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, we invite you to see the Way of Love as a journey that can expand to include family and friends. Mary said “yes” to the call to birth Jesus, God’s Word, into the world and immediately went in haste to share her good news with her cousin, Elizabeth—a four-day journey into the Judean hills. Isn’t that what happens when we hear good news? We are driven to go and tell others. The Way of Love is good news that demands to be shared.

Sunday, December 18

WORSHIP

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.

Monday, December 19

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.

Tuesday, December 20

LEARN

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?

Wednesday, December 21

PRAY

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.

Thursday, December 22

BLESS

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.

Friday, December 23

TURN

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.

Saturday, December 24

REST

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.

WORSHIP

The Fourth Sunday of Advent

Sunday, December 18, 2022

9:00 am

Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation,

that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion

prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you,

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

Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 7:10-16

Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18

Romans 1:1-7

Matthew 1:18-25

Worship Booklet for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 18, 2022

If you are not able to attend, please join our livestream service:

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

St. John's YouTube Channel: St. John's Episcopal Church, Chula Vista

THANK YOU, ST. JOHN'S

Thank You from ECS Head Start

Thank you from South Bay Community Services

St. John's Episcopal Church,

On behalf of all our clients and staff, I wanted to thank you for your generous donation. Without donors like your congregation, we wouldn't be able to carry out our mission to transform communities to support the well-being of children, youth and families.

Happy Holidays,

Larissa Bacon

VP of Impact

FELLOWSHIP

Hospitality Hosts Needed!

Please join us for hospitality after the Sunday morning worship service. 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

Current Available Dates:

December 18

December 25

January 1

OUTREACH AND EVANGELIZATION

Tai Chi Moving for Better Balance

St. John's is pleased to partner with the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency to offer Tai Chi Moving for Better Balance on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2-3pm

in Nale Hall.

DO YOU WANT TO IMPROVE BALANCE AND REDUCE YOUR RISK OF FALLING?

TRY TAI CHI!

Tai Chi Moving for Better Balance has been shown to improve balance and mobility, and reduce the risk of falls. People of all ability levels are welcome. This class can be conducted from a seated or standing position. Classes are in English.

St. John's Episcopal Church

760 1st Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910

Every Tuesday and Thursday | 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Questions? Call 858-495-5500 or email HealthierLiving.HHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov

Informational Flyer: Tai Chi Moving for Better Balance

Blessings in a Bag - Items Needed

There are still a few Blessings in a Bag available for distribution. You can pick them up on the counter in the narthex. We were challenged to to take a bag or two or three and give them to people in need. What was your experience? Please let Rev. Roger know.

The following items are needed to fill more bags to distribute:

Protein items - small cans of Vienna Sausages or Tuna packs that can be stored at room temperature
Small bottles of water or PowerAde drinks
Hand sanitizer wipes
Hard candies, individually wrapped
Small travel sized tubes of toothpaste

Outreach Collections

We will continue our ongoing collections for:

New Blankets - Domestic Violence Shelters (Denise Czer and Linda Dennehy)
Eyeglasses
Greeting Cards - ECS HeadStart (Judy McKay)
Clean, Gently Used Blankets - Dreams for Change
Emergency Food Pantry - South Bay Community Services (Maria and Joe Love)
Blessings in a Bag - For our neighbors who are living outside. Click here for a list of items you can donate to fill the bags.
Gently Used Clothing - Men's, women's and children's
Pill Bottles - We are no longer collecting pill bottles

Items may be brought to Nale Hall on Sundays when we gather for worship.

You may also bring your items to the church during our weekday office hours,

Monday through Thursday from 9am to 3pm.

If you are not able to bring them, please contact the parish office, and we will pick up the items from your home.

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

Please click on the following link for more information on our Outreach collection activities:

Outreach Ministries of St. John's

STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN FOR 2023

Stewardship Update

Our Stewardship Pledge Goal for 2023 is $130,000. Please help us reach our goal.

If you would like to access the pledge card electronically, please click the link below:

More Than Enough Pledge Card

PASTORAL CARE

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.

We Are Available in Your Time of Need

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

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

MINISTRY OF PRAYER

Wednesday Morning Prayer and Bible Study

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)

to be included in the Zoom meeting.

The Morning Prayer guide can be found here:

Morning Prayer, December 21

Parish Prayer Lists

Birthday and Anniversary Prayers

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 pray for you during the Sunday liturgy.

Our Parish Prayer Intentions

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

for your church family, and for those in need.

For our Military

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, Jamal Warner,

Matt Hernandez, Daniel Getreu, Devon Strunk, Taylor Harrold, Jorge Zuazua, Sebastian Morales, Roberto Chavez, Ryan Lothspeich, Andrew C. Dugger, Dan and Chelsey Nyaradi, and Gen. G.J. Heinrich.

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping

all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad.

Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace;

strengthen them in their trials and temptations;

give them courage to face the perils which beset them;

and grant them a sense of your abiding presence

wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Strength in Time of Need

Steve Magill, Gary and Shirley McCarren, Ann Lindshield, the McClure family,

Celia Vasquez, Barb Oliveira, Heather Wallace, Linda Longoria-Neff,

Josey Felts, Jeremy Moyes, Jackie Padilla, and Karen Polk.

O God of heavenly powers,

by the might of your command you drive away from our bodies

all sickness and all infirmity:

Be present in your goodness with your servants,

that their weakness may be banished and their strength restored;

and that, their health being renewed, they may bless your holy Name;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the repose of the soul of Norma Dunn.

Rest eternal grant to her, O Lord;

And let light perpetual shine upon her.

May her soul and the souls of all the departed,

through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Cycle of Prayers for the Church

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 the Anglican Church of Korea.

In the Military Cycle of Prayer, we pray for all military personnel serving afloat or in harms way around the world who maybe in danger. Bring them home safely to their families.

ADMINISTRATION AND VESTRY

Vestry Membership

We have one vestry member opening in 2023.

The vestry serves as the “Board of Directors” for the parish (a Corporation of the State of California). As such, the vestry is responsible for all thing temporal and spiritual regarding the mission and ministry of the parish. According to our St. John’s Bylaws, a person is elected by the parish to serve a three year term and is eligible for a second term.

The vestry usually meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 6:00pm.

Please consider serving on the vestry. If interested, talk with Lynn Young, Tom Brzeczek or Rev. Roger Haenke.

Vestry Minutes

Approved Vestry Minutes from 11-30-22

Upcoming Events at St. John's

December 20 & December 22: Tai Chi Class, 2:00-3:00pm in Nale Hall

December 24: Christmas Eve Worship Service, 8:00pm

December 25: Christmas Day Worship Service, 9:00am

December 26: Office Closed

January 22: Annual Meeting following the Worship Service, in Nale Hall

4th Quarter Calendar of Events

Parish Office Hours and Contacts

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) or email info@saint-johns.org.

Rev. Roger will be in the office on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. He is available by appointment. Please call the office to schedule an appointment.

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

619-301-0724.

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 info@saint-johns.org

Please submit your announcements by Tuesday of each week for inclusion in the Enews.

ACROSS THE CHURCH

'Love Always' at San Diego's Good News Festival

By: The Rev. Pat McCaughan

[Episcopal News Service – San Diego, California] Presiding Bishop Michael Curry delivered a soul-stirring, handclapping, belly-laughing “love always” revival message Dec. 10, to hundreds of cheering Episcopalians and friends gathered at the Town and Country Resort for the Diocese of San Diego’s Good News Festival.

“Love when you feel like it, and love when you don’t,” Curry said. “Love when you believe it, and love when you don’t. Love on the mountaintop, and love in the valley. But love always.

“Love yourself always. Love your neighbor always. Love your God always. Love always, because love made you and love will set you free,” he said in English, accompanied by a Spanish interpreter, at the evening worship service, which concluded the Dec. 9-10 festival. Read More

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry Preaches

the Good News at St. Paul's Cathedral

On Sunday, December 11, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry called for 'witnesses' of the good news of Christ during his sermon at St. Paul's Cathedral.

"Maybe the world ought to look at us, as the Episcopal Church, and see the Love of God so manifest in the way we live our lives that when they look at us, they see Him," said Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, "Witness the love and don't be ashamed; witness the goodness and don't be ashamed; witness the kindness and don't be ashamed; witness the justice and don't be ashamed. Let your light so shine before others, that they see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

Watch Here

Gratefully, With God's and Your Help

By: The Rev. Colin Mathewson

Recently, a Congolese family who had lived for years in the Nyarugusu Refugee Camp in Tanzania was resettled in the San Diego area. Imagine what it must be like – nine members in this family, English is not their language, and they are placed in a two-bedroom apartment in City Heights, which costs $ 4,000 a month! Three of the children are enrolled in school, but the 18 and 21-year-old young adults have aged out of the public school system and must begin to learn English and work on their GED while getting jobs to support the family. Their disabled aunt must be carried upstairs to the only bathroom several times a day. The obstacles facing them must feel insurmountable. Read More

Creation Care Roundtables

The EDSD Creation Care Community will hold two roundtables

on Thursday, Jan 26 (6:30pm - 8pm) and Sunday, Jan 29 (2pm - 3:30pm) to learn more about climate resilience in addition to many new ways to practice care for creation.