Thursday, March 30, 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.

The Celebration of Life of Ron and Cathy Williams

The Celebration of Life of Ron and Cathy Williams will be on

Friday, March 31st at 11:00am

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

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

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER

The Heart of the Christian Year

Holy Week begins on the Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday, as Jesus enters Jerusalem and is welcomed as king. The week progresses to the Last Supper when Jesus washes the feet of his disciples and his betrayal and arrest on Thursday evening; his trial and crucifixion on Friday; and his conquering death and resurrection on Easter Eve/Easter Sunday. These services provide a liturgical experience of the last days of Jesus' earthly life.

Holy Week culminates with the Paschal Triduum (sacred three days): starting the evening

of Maundy Thursday, through the evenings of Good Friday and Holy Saturday (with the Great Vigil of Easter,) and ending the evening of Easter; all celebrating the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. The Paschal Triduum is experienced as one liturgy: having remembered the institution of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, we traditionally wait and pray (vigil) at the altar of repose on Maundy Thursday; then we continue with the reading of the Passion along with the veneration and prayer (vigil) at the cross of Christ on Good Friday; leading us to the Easter Vigil where we gather and pray (vigil) around the new fire to hear the stories of salvation after which we celebrate the resurrection of Christ in the Holy Eucharist; a celebration that ​continues into Easter day.

"Stay with me, keep watch with me.  Watch and pray."

Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday -

April 2nd at 9:00am (one service)

Beginning with Blessing of Palms in Nale Hall

and Triumphal Procession into the Church

Please bring your 40 Days, 40 items bags of clothing

to the Narthex on Palm Sunday

Maundy Thursday - Thursday, April 6th 

   7:00pm celebration of Eucharist with the Foot Washing Ritual

Good Friday - Friday, April 7th 

   12:00noon Everyone’s Way of the Cross

   7:00pm Liturgy of the Word with Veneration of the Cross

Easter Eve: The Great Vigil of Easter - Saturday, April 8th

   7:00pm beginning with blessing of the new fire, readings from the Old Testament,

                   Renewal of Baptismal Vows and celebration of the Easter Eucharist

Easter Day: Sunday of the Resurrection - Sunday, April 9th

   9:00am  Liturgy of the Word, Remembrance of Baptism, and celebration of Eucharist

Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday

Sunday, April 2, 2023

9:00am (one service) beginning in Nale Hall

Collect for the Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday

Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race

you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature,

and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering,

and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Readings for Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday

Matthew 21:1-11

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Psalm 31:9-16

Philippians 2:5-11

Matthew 26:14- 27:66

Worship Booklet for Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday

Easter Flower Dedications

Our church will be decorated with beautiful flowers for Easter.

If you would like to honor your loved ones in our worship booklet on Easter, please use the Easter Flower envelopes found in the church or email or call the office (maria@saint-johns.org or 619-422-4141) with your requests:

In honor of ____   

or 

In memory of _____ 

or

In thanksgiving for _____

Please submit your requests by Monday, April 3rd.

40 Days 40 Items

Each day of Lent, you are encouraged to think of someone less fortunate as you look in your closets and drawers. Remove one item from your closet that you no longer wear or need and put it into the appropriate bag.

Men’s items will go in a black bag, Women’s items in a white bag, Children’s items in a separate bag labeled “Children’s”.

At the end of the forty days, donate these items to St. John’s so that we may share them with clients of ECS Head Start.

Please deliver your bags of clothing to St. John's by Palm Sunday, April 2nd. They will be blessed during our Maundy Thursday service.

The following are suggested items that are really needed:

• Warm hoodie sweatshirts (men / women)
• Sweatshirts
• Sweatpants
• Jeans
• Pants
• Shoes
• Blankets
• Ball caps
• Used backpacks
• Socks (new)
• Men’s / Women’s Underwear (new)

Thank You, St. John's

Brothers and sisters in Christ, I would like to say thank you for all thoughts, prayers and love you all have shown me. I have loved all the cards and especially the prayer quilt which has kept me warm on these cold, frosty nights and mornings.

God bless you all very much.

I pray that I will be able to join you in a service in the near future.

God bless you all,

Tom Smith

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 

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

ECS Gala Silent Auction Basket

ECS has asked all parish-partners in the Diocese to consider providing a Gift Basket for the silent auction at the ECS Gala on May 13.

St. John's will make a luxury bath/shower basket. We already have two battery-operated exfoliating brushes (with net sponges) and a couple of bars of luxurious soap. 

Please consider donating something to round out the basket. Some ideas are:

• a bath pillow that adheres to the head of the tub
• two new fluffy bath towels
• shower gel
• exfoliating "file" for the feet
• candle 
• shampoo and conditioner
• bath salts

We need to collect these things by the middle of April. You can leave donations with Maria. If you have questions, call Diane Gustafson 619 253 7298  diangus15@aol.com

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.

Morning Prayer will take a two-week break and will resume on Wednesday, April 12th.

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

For the Deceased

For the repose of the soul of John "Skip" Thomas, husband of The Rev. Canon Allisyn Thomas.

Rest eternal grant to him, O Lord;

And let light perpetual shine upon him.

May his soul and the souls of all the departed,

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

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, 

Barbara Oliveira, Linda Longoria-Neff, Josey Felts, Celia Vasquez, Ann Rogers, Alec Hauer, Zakia, Bill Cook, Nancy Stewart, Donald Starr and Neisy Ibañez.

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 St. Hugh of Lincoln in Idyllwild.

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan.

In the Military Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the crews of USS Essex (LHD-2), USS Boxer (LHD-4), USS Tripoli (LHA-7) and USS Makin Island (LHD-8).

A Prayer for Peace Among the Nations (BCP 816)

Friday, February 24th, was the one-year anniversary of the war between the countries of Russia and the Ukraine.

Let us pray in this time of conflict:

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.

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.

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:

April 2nd

April 9th (Easter Sunday)

April 16th

Upcoming Events at St. John's

• March 31: Ron and Cathy Williams Celebration of Life, 11:00am
• April 1: Vestry Retreat, 8:00am-12:00 noon
• April 2: Palm Sunday, one service at 9:00am beginning in Nale Hall
• April 5: Outreach Meeting, 5:00pm, virtual
• April 6: Maundy Thursday
• April 7: Good Friday
• April 8: Easter Eve
• April 9: Easter Sunday

2nd 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.

South Bay Earth Day

Saturday, April 15, 2023 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at

Chula Vista Bayfront Park (off J St.).

Join the South County’s largest Earth Day celebration at the 2023 South Bay Earth Day taking place Saturday, April 15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Chula Vista Bayfront Park located at 980 Marina Way, Chula Vista, CA 91910.

Learn how to reduce your impact on the environment with this zero-waste event packed with hands-on green activities! Be inspired to lead an environmentally-friendly lifestyle with exhibits that range from green energy conservation to how to properly compost your food waste. Want even more in-depth knowledge? Bring any item you have that needs fixing—electronics, sewing, mechanical or otherwise--to the Fix-it-Clinic. One of our experts will help you diagnose and fix the problem.

Don’t forget to make your way to Bayfront Park Earth-Day style! Opt for your human-powered vehicle (your bike!) and check it at our designated bike-only valet! With more than 40 green vendors, live and interactive entertainment, organic food and more, this is a diverse celebration for the whole community! This FREE event organized by the City of Chula Vista welcomes all ages, so gather your friends and family to show Mother Nature some love this Earth Day!

Our History:

Celebrating Women in Ordained Ministry

By: Rachel Ambasing, EDSD Multicultural Missioner

There’s a picture floating around our diocese from last February’s ordination: Bishop Susan is standing in front of ordinands Heather Lawrence, Christina Miller, and Dawn Stary. The Rev. Canon Gwynn Lynch, Canon to the Ordinary, and the Ven. Cindy Campos, Archdeacon of the Diocese, stand beside the bishop. The Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral, The Rev. Penny Bridges, and The Rev. Canon Allisyn Thomas can be seen in the background. 

Seeing an image so filled with women at different points of their vocational journey – women who represent the highest levels of authority in our diocese with women beginning their own clerical journey – and also knowing the abundant representation that women have held in our diocese in recent history– it can be easy to forget that this episcopate is the first chapter in our diocesan history that this picture is possible. Read More

Good Friday - Friendship Park, TJ

Join Bishop Susan Brown Snook, the people of Border Church, and local ecumenical partners for a Good Friday service in Friendship Park, Tijuana. Bus transportation is available. Passports are required.

Click Here for Information and Registration

Creation Care Month of Service

This April, as part of the Year of Service, partner with a community organization and engage in a service activity related to care for the environment. This is a great opportunity to be the church outside your church walls, to connect with your neighbors in service! Read More

Faith to Go: Triumphal Entries

Join the Faith To Go team and Lauren Sleeper as they explore making connections and Lenten practices. Listen Here

Love Is...

By: Charlette Preslar, EDSD Director of Formation

My favorite T-shirt reads, “Love is an action word.” I connect to it because it reminds me that love is not just a feeling. Love is a call, a responsibility, to ensure that our words and our actions help everyone to be seen, loved, and valued as their true self. If I am honest, I am often drawn to things that strive to explain love. We have heard Bishop Curry preach that love is the way over and over and over again. But what does that mean, and how do we do it? In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells us, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

In just a few weeks, the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego will roll out our first Vacation Bible School curriculum, “Love is…” This arts-based curriculum will open spaces for children to connect to God and each other as they create beautiful art pieces, write skits that reveal God’s work in themselves and the world and sing–sing songs that are filled with LOVE and JOY. Read More

Committed to Keeping People Safe

St. Paul-in-the-Desert Receives $200,000 Grant

By: Chris Tumilty, Director of Communications

Sacred spaces have always been considered a place of safety…

“But there is an alternate history that also holds true…whether we speak of Archbishop Thomas Beckett or the Tree of Life Synagogue, whether we remember the massacre of the Emanuel Nine or Bishop Gene Robinson having to wear a bulletproof vest at his consecration, we are more than well aware that assaults can happen in sacred spaces,” said the Rev. Dan Kline, Co-Rector of St. Paul-in-the- Desert, Palm Springs. 

On Sunday, March 18, 2023, St. Paul-in-the-Desert, Palm Springs began a new era of safety for their community when their Emergency Task Force announced to an overjoyed congregation the reception of a $200,000 security grant from the State of California–the maximum allotment available in the grant. Read More

Gifts to ERD Support those in Crisis



Episcopal Relief and Development helps people facing hardships all over the world. Consider making a donation to ERD to support families devastated by war in Ukraine, earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, or those affected by climate change. Give

• Episcopal Relief and Development Lenten Meditations
• ECS Moonlight Magic Gala, Saturday, May 13, 2023, 5:30pm
• Episcopal delegates to UN women’s commission discuss their experiences advocating for gender justice
• Filmmakers release ‘The Philadelphia Eleven’ documentary trailer
• The Episcopal Church Joint Standing Committee on Nominations has issued a call for eight Committee positions to be elected at the General Convention in 2024

760 First Ave  Chula Vista, CA  91910

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