Thursday, November 11, 2021
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.
VETERAN'S DAY
A Collect for Heroic Service -----------------------------------------(BCP 839)

O Judge of the nations,
we remember before you with grateful hearts the men and women of our country who in the day of decision ventured much for the liberties we now enjoy.
Grant that we may not rest until all the people of this land share the benefits
of true freedom and gladly accept its disciplines.
This we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Collect for the Nation-----------------------------------------(BCP 258)

Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory,
to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country
a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance,
that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
WORSHIP
The Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
November 14, 2021

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

Come, pray, sing, receive Holy Communion, 
and join us for fellowship following our liturgy.

Service of Admission of Debbie Lothspeich into Daughters of the King
Blessing of Thanksgiving Bags for ECS HeadStart

 
Collect for the Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,
that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


Readings for Sunday

Daniel 12:1-3
Psalm 16
Hebrews 10:11-14, 19-25
Mark 13:1-8


The mask requirement has been lifted, except for:
  • If you are not vaccinated or are immuno-compromised,
aaaaaayou may want to consider wearing a mask
  • Children ages 2-12 and teacher must wear a mask
Sanitize your hands, keep some social distance and limit physical touch

If you are not able to attend, please join our livestream service:
Facebook Link for Services: Saint John's Episcopal Church
St. John's website: saint-johns.org
Reflection on Mark 13: 1-8
 
The stones of the Western Wall of the Jerusalem Temple, which can still be seen standing today, were and are rather impressive. In fact, some are 30 feet long. These were surely the stones to which Jesus’ disciples were referring. Jesus uses their observation about the stones to springboard into a prophecy concerning the nation and people who were dear to him. This is appropriate in the context of his approaching execution. While modern Western people often speak of life “flashing before our eyes” before death, ancient Near Eastern people believed that in the days before death one gained powers of prognostication. Jesus exhibits that here. What follows from Jesus is an example of apocalyptic thought and discourse. “Apocalyptic” was a literary form common in the biblical period (see, for example, the Book of Daniel and Revelation), but alien to those of us in the modern world. Apocalyptic literature uses certain vocabulary and imagery, in this case earthquakes, wars, famines, etc., to convey a larger truth. Jesus is telling us to beware and persevere in times of hardship and trial, because no power can prevail against the power of Almighty God.

  • Where/how do you find spiritual comfort/nourishment in Jesus’ apocalyptic discourse in today’s gospel?
  • How do you relate, from your own experience, to what Jesus says in verse 8, “This is but the beginning of the birth pangs”?
 
Altar Flowers

The Altar Flowers are given by Barbara Duncan and Cookie Tichonchuk in memory of Joseph and Josephine Zajkowski.
STEWARDSHIP
2022 Stewardship Campaign
Our stewardship campaign this year focuses 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. 
 
Each week, we will have the opportunity to hear from members of parish about their own gifts that they have been given by God and how they choose to share those gifts with St. John's and the broader community. A written reflection will appear in our E-Newsletter
and a spoken reflection will be heard at our Sunday liturgy.
 
Stewardship is not only about treasure; it is also our time and talent. Yes, we do need your generous contributions to operate the parish, but we also need your time and talent to transform our lives and world by serving Christ in all people and loving our neighbor as ourselves.

We would like to collect as many pledges as possible and bless them with our offertory on Sunday, November 21st.
 
As you discern your stewardship gift, your vestry encourages you to prayerfully consider an increase in the amount you will pledge. The table below offers you a visual example of how a percentage increase would effect your weekly giving. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
Reflection on Stewardship
Lynn Young

What is stewardship and when do we think about it? Once a year when we fill out a pledge card - or weekly when we write a check to the church? Stewardship includes our time and our talents, as well as our treasure. Ideally stewardship is our ongoing commitment – those things we do as we try to follow the path that Jesus laid out for us. Sometimes we wander off the path but then we come back. I’ve been known to hide a bit when I’m being called to share time or talents, but sooner or later, I have to answer!

When Reverend Roger asked me to consider being the Junior (or Peoples’) Warden, I immediately thought of four reasons why I couldn’t do it, but he said, “don’t give me an answer now – just prayerfully consider it.” So when I really settled down and prayerfully considered it, I realized my immediate reaction (ways to say no) was not the answer, but rather just an excuse. There was no reason to say no and an infinite number of reasons to say yes – so I did.

The challenge of the pandemic made it difficult for me to connect with you in person, but now that we are back to in-person as well as virtual church, I have enjoyed seeing many of you on Sundays and I look forward to that day when we can all be together again in our beautiful sanctuary.

I urge you to inventory your talents and the time you can commit – it doesn’t have to be a lot of time, and if you’re willing to say yes, you will receive far more than you give. Opportunities for service abound – ushering on Sundays, being a money counter, arranging flowers to enhance our sanctuary for the Sunday service, preparing the altar (Altar Guild), serving as an acolyte during Sunday services, bringing communion to parishioners who are homebound, helping in Sunday School or the Nursery. Daughters of the King, a women’s prayer order in the Episcopal Church has a chapter at St. John’s and we welcome new members! We have several committees that are forming to help with our Centennial in 2022 – service on these committees is vital but short term, culminating in a wonderful celebration next fall.

I look forward to the opportunities we will have this next year as we continue our faith journey.

In service,

Lynn
PASTORAL CARE
The Celebration of Life for Sarah Tolley will be on Saturday, November 20th at 10:00 am at St. John's. A reception will be held in Nale Hall following the service.

Please hold the Tolley family in your prayers during this difficult time.

Notes of Care and Sympathy may be sent to:
The Family of Sarah Tolley
594 Los Altos Dr.
Chula Vista, CA 91914

The family has requested that Memorial Donations be given to St. John's Episcopal Church.


Into your hands, O merciful Savior,
we commend you servants, Sarah.
Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold,
a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming.
Receive her into the arms of your mercy,
into the blessed rest of everlasting peace,
and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.
 
Rest eternal grant to her, O Lord;
And let light perpetual shine upon her.
May her souls and the souls of all the departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
We Are Here For You!

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

If you are not able to join us for our celebration of Holy Eucharist, we will bring Holy Communion to you. You may call the parish office (619-422-4141) and request communion to be brought to you by one of our Eucharistic Visitors.

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
OUTREACH AND EVANGELIZATION
Blessings in a Bag for ECS HeadStart

Thanksgiving Food Collection for Episcopal Community Service's HeadStart Families

All the filled grocery bags will be blessed during our celebration of Holy Eucharist on November 14th and given to ECS HeadStart.

Please bring your filled bag to church with you on Sunday.
Toys for Tots
 
As a Veteran/Military Friendly Congregation, St. John's will once again be a site for the Marine's Toys for Tots community collection program. Toys for Tots collects toys for less fortunate children who would not otherwise receive gifts at Christmas.

A Toys for Tots collection box will be available inside the gates at the entrance of the church on Monday through Thursday from 9:00am to 3:00pm.
The collection will take place through December 15th.

Please donate a toy:
  • ages 1-14
  • new
  • in it's original packaging
  • unwrapped

To give a monetary donation, visit toysfortots.org or write a check payable to Toys for Tots San Diego and place it in the offering plate.
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

Refreshments should be individually portioned or wrapped, or served by a server who is the only one touching the serving implements.

Current Available Dates:

November 14
November 21
November 28
December 19
December 26
Centennial Celebration
2022 will be our Centennial Year!

Our Centennial Liturgy will be on September 18, 2022.
 
In 1922, we were founded as a mission of St. James Episcopal Church and two years later chose the name St. John's.
 
In planning for our celebration, we will need your help on the following committees:
  • Communications and Publicity
  • Gala and Fundraiser
  • Liturgy
  • History and Archives 

Lynn Young, Diane Gustafson and John Will have been sorting through many documents and photos on the history of St. John's. If you know some of our history please let them know.
 
Would you be interested in helping with any of these committees?
Do you have ideas of how we can celebrate this important milestone?
Please contact Maria Love in the parish office by calling 1-619-422-4141 or emailing maria@saint-johns.org
FAITH FORMATION
Sunday School
 
Sunday School is now available. Children ages 4 and up are welcome to come and learn about the Word of God with Heather Wallace.

Children must be masked in order to attend Sunday School. They will gather in the Sunday School Room before our service begins and return at the Sign of Peace.
Child Care

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

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.
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 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.

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, 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.

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 & Shirley McCarren, Ann Lindshield, Scott Hunter, Bernie Duignan,
Didi Moore, Lisa Means, Mimma Fonti, Glenn Dunn, Darlene Hallsten and Helen McElvaney.

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.


Cycle of Prayers for the Church

In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the faculty and students of the School for Ministry at the Episcopal Church Center.

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Anglican Church of Australia.

In the Military Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Marines and Sailors of 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
Prayer Quilts
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).
ADMINISTRATION
The Vestry

David Dennehy, Senior Warden
aaaaaa619-840-9994 
Lynn Young, Junior Warden
aaaaaa208-695-7735
Bill Cheney, Treasurer
Terry Farrelly, Assistant Treasurer
Diane Gustafson, Clerk
Pamela Brittain
Tom Brzeczek
Ray Contreras
Jane Ferguson
Alejandra Valdez-Beer
Upcoming Events at St. John's

Men of St. John's Meeting
Monday, November 15
6:00 pm

Vestry Meeting
Wednesday, November 17
6:30 pm via Zoom

Daughters of the King Meeting
Thursday, November 18
10:00 am in Nale Hall

Sarah Tolley Celebration of Life
Saturday, November 20
10:00 am at St. John's

Thanksgiving Eve Service
Wednesday, November 24
7:00 pm

Parish Office Hours and Contacts

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's Office Hours

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.
Beware of Scam Emails & Phishing Attempts

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.

Please submit your announcements by Tuesday of each week for inclusion in the Enews.
AROUND THE DIOCESE
San Diego Episcopal Cursillo Ministry


Speakers
Rachel Ambasing
Jeanna Timon
Fr. George Calvert

Music
Alex and Friends

Host
Ruben Rodriguez
Faith to Go

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.

Resources for Emotional Support

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.

You're not alone!





Find resources to connect with real people that can help, here.
EDSD Statement of Commitment
 
As part of the Jesus Movement and the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, we pledge to love our neighbors and protect the most vulnerable among us, remembering our baptismal vows to "strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being." We live these pledges out by actively engaging in dismantling racism. For many of us, this will mean learning more about our racial identity, listening to those who have experienced racial prejudice, speaking out against racism, and showing up alongside those in our community working to change unjust systems in our society. We also live out this pledge at worship during this pandemic, by wearing face-coverings, respecting distancing guidelines, and foregoing the common cup.
Episcopal Relief and Development
What Would Love Do: 1000 Days of Love

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.
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.