Thursday, January 26, 2023

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.

The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

Sunday, January 29, 2023

9:00am

Collect for the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things

both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people,

and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Readings for the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

Micah 6:1-8

Psalm 15

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Matthew 5:1-12

Worship Booklet for the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, January 29, 2023

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

Sunday School

We will re-start our Sunday School for children this Sunday. Children are invited to gather for a lesson during our Liturgy of the Word.

Birthday, Anniversary and Traveler Prayers

We are honored to pray for special people and events in our lives.



To make the requesting of prayers for someone more efficient, please let Maria Love know by the end of the day on Thursday or write their name(s) in the new Prayer Binder on the counter in the Narthex as you come into the church. The Prayer Binder will be given to the presider during the Sign of Peace.

St. John's will celebrate 

Dia de la Candelaria

 (Presentation of Jesus in the Temple)

La Misa in English

February 2nd at 6:00pm

You may bring candles to bless or a Nino Dios

Social – Music – Mass – Dinner

All are welcome to attend  -  Please invite family and friends

New: 11:00am Sunday Liturgy

We will be celebrating (as a pilot) an additional family friendly liturgy with Sunday School at 11:00am beginning on Sunday, February 26th.

We need volunteers:

• Nursery Attendants
• Sunday School Teachers
• Music: vocal and instrumental
• Acolytes
• Readers
• Ushers/Greeters

If you are willing to serve, please contact Maria Love.

Altar Flowers for 2023

The altar flowers for January 29, 2023

are given to the glory of God.

Our 2023 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.

Annual Meeting Highlights



Last Sunday, we held the 74^th Annual Meeting of St. John’s Episcopal Church.

Here are the highlights of our meeting -

Appreciations:

• Tom Brzeczek, Bill Cheney, and David Dennehy whose terms on Vestry are ending
• Lynn Young, whose one-year term as Senior Warden is ending
• Jane Ferguson, whose one-year term as Clerk is ending  

Recognitions:

• Diane Gustafson, who received the Diocesan Servant Ministry Award at the Diocesan Convention last November
• Tim Attaway, who received our annual “Spirit of St. John’s Award” for his leadership with the Men of St. John’s events and his work on the Columbarium and Property Committees.

Finance:

• Year end financials and 2023 Budget was presented and filed for audit - thank you to Bill Cheney, Treasurer.

Business Session:

• Tom Brzeczek, Bill Cheney and Jeff Bates were elected to Vestry. 

The offices of Jr. Warden, Treasurer, and Secretary of the Parish will be elected at

the first meeting of the new vestry in February.

• Bob Dunn and Diane Gustafson were elected Delegates to Diocesan Convention. Lynn Young, Debbie Lothspeich, and Jeff Bates were elected as Alternate Delegates.

• Parish Needs. We had a lively discussion about the wants/dreams of the parish. The biggest concern of the parish is to grow the membership of the parish. Throughout various forums, including the parish survey, we have heard the request for an alternative worship service (in addition to our 9:00am Rite II service) that is child, family, young adult friendly. Also, there has been an expressed desire for us to restart our Sunday School.

It was moved and unanimously approved that we restart our Sunday School. 

Diane Gustafson, Bill Gustafson, and David Dennehy have volunteered and

will rotate teaching, with advice from Heather. 

Sunday School will begin this coming Sunday, January 29th.

It was also moved and unanimously approved that we will offer (as a pilot) an

additional service at 11:00am (in addition to the existing 9:00am service). 

This will be an alternative, contemporary, child/family/young adult friendly type of

worship service. We will start the new service on the First Sunday of Lent,

Sunday, February 26th at 11:00am. After Lent, the Vestry will evaluate.

We need your help - Music (instrumental and vocal), Readers, Acolytes, Ushers/Greeters Please contact Rev. Roger to volunteer 

Closing remarks: 

• Lynn Young was appointed to a second year as Sr. Warden for 2023.

• Pamela Brittain has agreed to chair the Outreach Committee.

• To honor the late Norma Dunn, who chaired St. John’s Outreach Ministry for many years, a room in the building adjacent to the Graves Pavilion (Administration Building) will be named The Norma Dunn Memorial Center for Outreach, Service, and Justice.  The new Center will be dedicated on Sunday, January 29th.

Super Bowl Sunday Soup Sale!



(Try saying that fast three times!)  

We are bringing back a traditional fundraiser from pre-pandemic times.

On Sunday, February 12th, after church, the Women of St. John's will sell homemade soup in 16 oz. containers. The soups will be made in parishioners’ homes and chilled for transport to church where they will be kept chilled during the liturgy. Containers for soup will be given to the cooks on Sundays, January 29th and February 5th.

So far we have five soups promised: Ham Hock and Beans, Cream of Mushroom, Albondigas, Corn Chowder, and Split Pea with Ham. If you want to volunteer to make a soup or have questions, please contact Malia Attaway: maliaattaway@yahoo.com

Don’t want to make a soup? Would you consider making cornbread or rolls or bread?

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:

January 29th

February 5th

February 12th

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

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.

Informational Flyer: Tai Chi Moving for Better Balance

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.

Celebration of Life for Norma Dunn

The Celebration of Life for Norma Dunn will be on

Saturday, February 4th at 11:00am

at St. John's Episcopal Church, 760 First Ave. Chula Vista, CA 91910

The Dunn family has requested that memorial donations be made in Norma's honor to:

• St. John's Episcopal Church: if by check, write Norma Dunn in the memo line, or give electronically through the "Give Now" button on the St. John's website.
• Episcopal Relief and Development: at this link Episcopal Relief and Development

Notes of care and sympathy may be sent to:

Bob Dunn and Family

1206 Corte de Vela

Chula Vista, CA 91910

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

Celebration of Life for Dean Peters



The Celebration of Life for Dean Peters will be on

Saturday, March 11th at 11:00am

at St. John's Episcopal Church, 760 First Ave. Chula Vista, CA 91910

Please hold the Peters and Wier families in your prayers during this difficult time.

Celebration of Life for Lola Hunt

The Celebration of Life for Lola Hunt will be on

Thursday, March 23rd at 10:00am

at St. John's Episcopal Church, 760 First Ave. Chula Vista, CA 91910

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

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend you servants,

Norma, Dean and Lola.

Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, sheep of your own fold,

lambs of your own flock, sinners of your own redeeming.

Receive them 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 them, O Lord;

And let light perpetual shine upon them.

May their soul and the souls of all the departed,

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

A Prayer for Victims of Gun Violence

O God who remembers, we hold before you all who have died

from the plague of gun violence in our land.

We remember those who have taken their lives with a gun,

those who have died in school shootings and mass shootings,

those who have died from gun violence fueled by anger, by abuse, by accident,

by domestic violence, or by crime. We lift our voices in sorrow and frustration knowing that every life is infinitely valuable to you.

Receive all who have died into the arms of your mercy,

bless those who mourn with the hope of eternal life,

and strengthen our hearts and our arms to bring an end to this scourge.

This we pray in the name of the one who overcame the power of death,

your son, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

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, February 1st

Calling All Quilters: We Need your Help

Our supply of prayer quilts is very low and need to have new prayer quilts made.

If you are interested in sewing new prayer quilts, please contact Diane Gustafson.

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, 

Barb Oliveira, Heather Wallace, Linda Longoria-Neff, Josey Felts, Karen Polk,

Alec Hauer, Susy Martin Del Campo, Helen McGrath, and Irene Cheney.

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 clergy and people of Christ Church in Coronado.

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Church of Pakistan (United).

In the Military Cycle of Prayer, we pray for Amphibious Squadron 1, 3, 5 and 7.

Upcoming Events at St. John's



• January 31 & February 2: Tai Chi class, 2:00-3:00pm in Nale Hall
• February 2: La Misa in English celebrating Dia de la Candelaria, 6:00pm in Nale Hall
• February 4: Celebration of Life for Norma Dunn, 11:00am at St. John's

1st Quarter Calendar Events 2023

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, and Thursday afternoons; and all day on Wednesday and Friday. 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.

The Bishop's Statement on Gun Violence

By: Bishop Susan Brown Snook



Today, we woke up to news of the third mass shooting in California in 2023. On January 16, a shooting in the Central Valley killed six people, including a teenage mother and her baby, in violence that authorities linked to gangs. On January 21, the Lunar New Year, a shooting at a ballroom dance hall in Monterey Park killed 11 people and injured nine others, impacting a mostly Asian-American clientele. The dance hall was regarded as a community center, and it was therefore a place of safety and joy for the neighborhood, which adds to the sense of grief for that community. And on Monday, a shooter in Half Moon Bay killed seven people at two businesses. Read More

New Sacred Ground Circles Forming

EDSD Racial Justice and Reconciliation Task Force will offer two Sacred Ground circles. One on Mondays 3-5 pm starting February 13th, and one on Fridays 6-8 pm starting February 17th. Info sessions coming in January.  

Pre-registration for a circle and/or info session is required.

Click here for information and registration.

Diocesan-Wide Book Study

This year, as part of the Year of Service, EDSD is studying one book: The New Parish: How Neighborhood Churches are Transforming Mission, Discipleship, and Community. Churches across the diocese are encouraged to gather in small groups to explore how your church can be known to our neighbors through care, reconciliation, and renewal. After all, a church that cares for its neighborhood is the type of church others want to join.

Bishop Susan Brown Snook said, “This book is an excellent example of how churches can lead local neighborhoods to the gift of God’s love through service and action. I encourage you to join your church’s book group and engage in the life-giving joy of sharing Christ’s love with your neighborhood.” 

Each chapter in The New Parish concludes with questions for conversation and missional practices for congregation members—making facilitating a book study much easier.

If you are interested in facilitating a book study at St. John's please contact the office at info@saint-johns.org.

Strength in Gentleness

With special guest Maya Little-Saña



This week David and Charlette are joined by, special guest Maya Little-Saña, from Forma, an ecumenical conference of formation professionals in Alexandria, Virginia.  

Listen Here

2023: Year of Service

Theology of Service Webinar

Join Bishop Susan Brown Snook and leaders from throughout the church for this four-week webinar series on the Theology of Service, which began January 18th and continues with sessions on February 1st and February 8th at 6:00pm.

Click here for information and registration.

Creation Care Roundtables

The EDSD Creation Care Community will hold two roundtables

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

Register Here

Diocesan Service & Justice Coalition

Saturday, January 21st from 9:30-11:am on Zoom

The Diocesan Service & Justice Coalition is a group of dedicated service/outreach and peace/social justice coordinators who gather to network and share ideas and collaborate on projects to make a greater impact in our community. A guaranteed inspiring dialogue at every meeting! 

Register Here

• Los Angeles Bishop Asks for Prayers and Action after Lunar New Year Mass Shooting
• Faith in Action: Housing History at St. Andrews in Encinitas in person or via livestream, January 26, 7pm
• Concert for the Human Family, St. Dunstan's, February 24, 4pm
• RefugeeNet Gala, St. Paul's Cathedral, March 18, 6pm
• Indigenous Episcopalians Share Stories of Pain, Healing, Faith with Presiding Officers at Winter Talk
• Bible for Smarties with David Moseley

Help Ukrainian Refugees



Episcopal Relief & Development continues to work with Anglican and ecumenical partners to provide aid to people displaced by the crisis in Ukraine. 

Please click the button below to donate:

760 First Ave  Chula Vista, CA  91910

(619) 422-4141 |  info@saint-johns.org | www.saint-johns.org