​
An Afternoon of Christmas Melodies
and
St. John's Annual Christmas Party

​Sunday December 17, 2022
2:30pm
​
Cheryl and Wayne and friends provided an afternoon of Christmas music
which was followed by appetizers and dinner!  The Church was packed
​and all who attended had a wonderful time!


Click Below To Watch the concert!
Version with better audio coming soon!
​
The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost: 
A Liturgy in Thanksgiving for Creation
and Remembrance of St. Francis with the Blessing of Animals

​Sunday October 3, 2022
9:00am
​
We will gather in the church for
a sung celebration of Holy Eucharist 
with the Word of God and prayers.


Click Below To View Our Livestream
La Misa in English

Our Next Centennial Event!
​Italian Dinner & Fundraiser

Saturday, May 14th
6pm
Nale Hall
Dinner Tickets: $15.00 per adult; $10 per child
You may purchase tickets for the dinner at the parish office, Church on Sunday, 
or simply click on the Give Now button at top of this page!

Italian Dinner Opportunity Drawing
 We are still collecting items for the Opportunity Drawings at the Italian Dinner. Hurry!
Last day to donate is Sunday, May 1. Items will be displayed in the Narthex on Mothers’ Day, May 8,
​and tickets will be available for purchase on that day and on May 14.

Sunday of the Passion:
Palm Sunday
​
Sunday, April 10, 2022
9:00am


​Liturgy of the Palms followed by
the celebration of the Eucharist with
a reading of  The Passion According to Luke


​Masks no longer required at indoor services​ but you may wish to wear a mask
​if you are unvaccinated, immunocompromised or at higher risk

The Celebration of Life

for
​
June Frances Vasquez
​
Saturday, April 9, 2022
11:00am
Click below to view the service

 
The Season of Lent

Lent is traditionally marked by acts of special devotion: prayer, fasting,
self-examination and repentance, spiritual reading, and alms giving.

​We are providing optional acts of devotion to help you keep the season holy:


Prayer and Study
​
  •   Wednesday Morning Prayer and Bible Study  
              Consider joining us on Wednesday morning - you may request the Zoom link from Rev. Roger.
  •   Labyrinth Walk 
​              The Labyrinth is a spiritual tool and can be walked as a pilgrimage for repentance:
              a shedding of worries and concerns; reaching a place of meditation and prayer;
              and finding union with God and the healing forces at work in the world. 
​              Come to walk on your own; brochures of guidance will be provided.
​            March 22 through March 25 from 9am-3pm in Nale Hall and March 26 from 9am-1pm

​
  •   Stations of the Cross  
               For your private devotion, you are invited to walk the steps of Jesus on his journey to the cross; 
             Stations​ of the Cross Booklet

  •    Lenten Book Study – Creation Care
               The Lenten Book Study is sponsored by the Creation Care Task Force of
                the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego featuring "Sacred Earth Sacred Soul"
                Join us via Zoom on 5 (plus an optional 6th) consecutive Tuesday evenings-
                March 8, March 15, March 22, March 29, and April 5,
                plus April 12 (optional)-from 6:30 - 7:45 PM.
                For more information and to Register click here
 
Fasting 
  • Self-Examination
            Through self-examination, you may discern and consider fasting
            from those things that are holding you back from being
​            an example by word and deed of God’s love.

​Alms-Giving
  • 40 Days – 40 Items
            Please consider giving of your excess in order to clothe those who go without. 
            See the table in the narthex or the article in our E-Newsletter for details. 
            If you wish to have clothing collection bags sent to you, contact Maria in the church office.

Outreach Collections

St. John's continues our ongoing collections of:
  • New Blankets 
  • Pill Bottles 
  • Eyeglasses 
  • Clean, Gently Used Blankets
  • Greeting Cards 
  • Emergency Food Pantry 
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.  Ring the doorbell, and you will be buzzed in to leave your items outside Nale Hall.

Prayer Quilts

St. John's offers a Prayer Quilt Ministry  
for anyone in need of prayer and support. 
​This important ministry brings comfort and healing to many people who are suffering with illness.  To request a quilt, please
contact the parish office (maria@saint-johns.org).

Morning Prayer and Bible Study

Looking for a way to recharge your spiritual life?
​Join your St. John's family for these mid-week devotions​
On Wednesday mornings, St. John’s celebrates
Morning Prayer and Bible Study
from 9:30am to 10:30am 
​Both will be held via Zoom -
Please contact the ​Parish Office
​if you are interested in joining.

Veteran/Military Friendly Congregation

St. John's is designated by  the
Military Chaplains Association
​as a Veteran/Military Friendly Congregation. 
Ministry to active military members, veterans, and their 
families allows us the opportunity to support them in their spiritual needs.  This outreach ministry offers us a way to tell the Good News to our many neighbors in the military and to give the opportunities for us to use their spiritual gifts while they are with us.

We Are Here For You!



​As the pandemic restrictions loosen and we carefully gather in person at St. John's,
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, Marriage, Renewal of Vows,
or Quinceañera.  
At St. John's, no matter who you are
​or where you are on your spiritual journey - 
you are welcome here!
  
                                                        Health Guidelines
  • Vaccinated people do not need to social distance and may now join in congregational singing.
  • Participants in the following church ministries should be vaccinated:
    • Anyone celebrating or distributing communion. 
    • Anyone singing in a choir or leading sung music in worship.
    • Anyone leading children/youth ministries for those under age 12.
    • Anyone visiting a home, hospital, or group care setting as part of a pastoral care ministry or serving as a Eucharistic visitor.
  • Communion wine may distributed in individual containers, or by having the priest intinct all wafers and drop them in worshipers' hands. Sipping from the common cup, or having individual worshipers intinct, is still not allowed.
  • Since children under age 12 have not had the opportunity to be vaccinated, all children's ministries should be conducted with masks, following 3-foot distancing between children (the same requirements schools follow). 
  • Refreshments may be served at coffee hour, indoors or outdoors, but they should not be served buffet-style with shared implements. Refreshments should be individually wrapped, or served by a server who is the only one to touch the serving implements.
If you have not been vaccinated, you are encouraged to become vaccinated, to help prevent the further spread of the coronavirus, including the more dangerous Delta variant.
Our staff is fully vaccinated and the church office is open Monday - Thursday from 9am-3pm. Please call the parish office if you have any questions or concerns.  (619-422-4141)​
St. John's Thanks Healthcare Workers!
​February 6, 2022
Valentine's Day
​Diocesan Thank You to Healthcare Workers
St. John's Thank You to Healthcare Workers

Ecumenical Prayer for Peace
​
Friday, March 18, 2022
6:00pm

​During this time of conflict in the Ukraine, 
we will gather in the church with
Rev. Roger and other clergy in our area including
Rev. Elizabeth Aguilar (The Community
Congregational Church, United Church of Christ),
Rev. Karla Halvorson (St. Mark's Lutheran Church),
and Rev. Tania Marquez (Community Minister of San Diego)
for prayer as people of faith.



​Shrove/Fat Tuesday
March 1st
6:00pm
We will gather for our traditional Pancake Dinner before entering into the fast of Lent. 
​The Pancake Dinner sponsored by the Men of St. John’s will held in Nale Hall. 
Don't forget to wear your most festive Mardi Gras attire!

Photo by Jaqueline Pelzer on Unsplash
Photo by tommao wang on Unsplash

 The Celebration of Life
of 
Dale Evans​

 
Saturday, February 19, 2022
1:00pm

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

Donations
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to the
Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation:
     
www.rls.org

 The Celebration of Life
 
of
 
Carmen (Dinah) Bates
​

 
Celebration of Life Liturgy
Friday, January 28, 2022

10:00am

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

Donations
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to Operation Smile
in memory of Dinah Bates.  Dinah was passionate about this organization that provides
surgical care for children who suffer with cleft disfigurements
.     
www.operationsmile.org 

A Festival of Nine Lesson and Carols of Christmastide
​

Last December 2020 we found ourselves in the midst of COVID, and we could not gather in the church.  Instead, virtual services were created.  Our Christmas Eve service included the singing talents of many in the choir as well as some friends of the church.  Due to Covid restrictions, each choir member needed to be recorded separately, and were combined together later to create the effect of an entire choir singing together!  It was a novel approach to difficult times, and everyone put forth their best, and had some fun as well!  So much work went into creating this service, that we decided to highlight it again this year, on our website!
  
                                                        Health Guidelines

Because of the increasing COVID cases,  the bishop is modifying one COVID guideline.
  • All people (vaccinated or not) are required to wear a mask during our worship services; except when reading or preaching. 
  • Vaccinated people do not need to social distance and may now join in congregational singing.
  • Participants in the following church ministries should be vaccinated:
    • Anyone celebrating or distributing communion. 
    • Anyone singing in a choir or leading sung music in worship.
    • Anyone leading children/youth ministries for those under age 12.
    • Anyone visiting a home, hospital, or group care setting as part of a pastoral care ministry or serving as a Eucharistic visitor.
  • Communion wine may distributed in individual containers, or by having the priest intinct all wafers and drop them in worshipers' hands. Sipping from the common cup, or having individual worshipers intinct, is still not allowed.
  • Since children under age 12 have not had the opportunity to be vaccinated, all children's ministries should be conducted with masks, following 3-foot distancing between children (the same requirements schools follow). 
  • Refreshments may be served at coffee hour, indoors or outdoors, but they should not be served buffet-style with shared implements. Refreshments should be individually wrapped, or served by a server who is the only one to touch the serving implements.
If you have not been vaccinated, you are encouraged to become vaccinated, to help prevent the further spread of the coronavirus, including the more dangerous Delta variant.
Our staff is fully vaccinated and the church office is open Monday - Thursday from 9am-3pm. Please call the parish office if you have any questions or concerns.  (619-422-4141)​

​Holy Week and Easter 2021

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:  March 28th
9:00AM   (In-person service in the courtyard and livestreamed on our website)
Liturgy of the Palms and Liturgy of the Word with a reading of The Passion According to Mark
 
Maundy Thursday:  April 1st  
7:00PM   (In-person service in Nale Hall and livestreamed on our website)
An adapted Jewish Seder and Christian Agape service with our Maundy Thursday Liturgy of the Word, the remembrance of Foot Washing at the Last Supper with the directive to serve our neighbors in need, and the commemoration of the institution of Holy Eucharist with the blessing of bread and wine.  The worship of this day has no formal dismissal.
 
Good Friday:  April 2nd  
12:00PM   (In-person service in the courtyard and livestreamed on our website)
Noonday prayer with Stations of the Cross
 
7:00PM   (In-person service in the courtyard and livestreamed on our website)
Liturgy of the Word including hearing the Passion of Christ, solemn prayers and the veneration of the cross with time for individual prayer at the cross of Christ
 
Holy Saturday – The Great Vigil of Easter:  April 3rd  
7:00PM   (In-person service in the courtyard and in the church; livestreamed on our website )
Gather (vigil) in prayer as we light the new fire and Paschal Candle and we hear again the stories of salvation; reaffirm our faith with the Renewal of Baptismal Vows, followed by the Celebration of Holy Eucharist and the receiving of Easter Communion.
 
Sunday of the Resurrection – Easter Day:  April 4th
9:00AM   (In-person service in the church and livestreamed on our website)
Please join us in the church for our Easter celebration of God’s word, reaffirm our faith with the  Renewal of Baptismal Vows,
​Holy Baptism and Celebration of Eucharist with the receiving of Easter Communion.

Please call the parish office if you plan to attend any of our worship services
(619) 422-4141​
If you are not able to join us in person, you may join us online.  
Our liturgy will be Livestreamed on Facebook.  Please click the button below.

With the rising number of Coronavirus cases placing us in the purple (worst) zone,
we cannot gather in the church for in-person worship
and not knowing the weather makes it difficult to plan for outdoor worship.
Our service will be Livestreamed from the church
(we will not be gathering in-person)

Please Join Us - Virtually!
 
The Third Sunday of Advent 

 Liturgy of the Word of God with music,
prayers, and Spiritual Communion
​
Sunday, December 13, 2020 
9:00am
​

With the rising number of Coronavirus cases placing us in the purple (worst) zone,
we cannot gather in the church for in-person worship
and not knowing the weather makes it difficult to plan for outdoor worship.
Our service will be Livestreamed from the church
(we will not be gathering in-person)

Please Join Us - Virtually!
 
The Third Sunday of Advent 

 Liturgy of the Word of God with music,
prayers, and Spiritual Communion
​
Sunday, December 13, 2020 
9:00am
​
Sept 2, 2020: Update to pandemic response
Based on the Governor's recent update to lift restrictions on in-person worship, Bishop Susan has allowed congregations to once again gather for worship, with restrictions. Therefore, the vestry of St. John's has decided to allow the congregation to regather for outdoor worship following the guidelines of our action plan.
Our gathering must follow the guidelines for in-person worship, including: 
  •    temperature and symptom review 
  •    social distancing of 6 feet 
  •    hand sanitation 
  •    wearing mask protection
  •    regretfully, no physical touch
  •    discourage age 65 and over 
  •    if you are sick, you are asked to stay home
For those who cannot attend because of the guidelines or do not feel comfortable, the liturgy will be streamed live on the St. John's website. Click the button below to access our Action Plan, which further defines the guidelines for in-person worship.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Sunday Worship Services are streamed on Facebook 9am Sundays
Sunday Services at St. John's
​

8:00am 
​
​Join us at 8:00am for our traditional (Rite I),
​spoken service.
10:00am
​
Join us at 10:00am for our contemporary (Rite II) service with organ, choir and congregational singing. 
​Sunday School for children grades 1-8 from
​10:00-10:30am. 
​Children may join their family ​in the church or
transition to childcare.
Childcare is offered ​from 9:30-11:30am.