The Season of Lent
Lenten Outreach During this Lenten Season, our act of charity has been to think about those less fortunate by removing one item from your closet or dresser that you no longer wear or need and put it into a collection bag. St. John's will donate your clothing to the people in need who are served by Uptown Community Service Center, hosted at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, North Park. As we near the end of our 40 Days, please drop off your bag(s) of clothing at the church by Wednesday, March 31st. Include with the bag(s) a list of the type and number of each article of clothing. |
90% of their clients are men but only 5% of the clothing donations are for men!
The following items are really needed:
Items they need but which must be new:
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Stations of the Cross
For your private devotion, you are invited to walk the steps of Jesus on his journey to the cross.
Along with the prayers and reflections for each station, you will find artwork from former St. John's students.
Attached is the link to the prayer booklet:
Stations of the Cross
For your private devotion, you are invited to walk the steps of Jesus on his journey to the cross.
Along with the prayers and reflections for each station, you will find artwork from former St. John's students.
Attached is the link to the prayer booklet:
Stations of the Cross
Pastoral Update from Rev. Roger
March 20, 2020
Dear St. John’s Family
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Philippians 1:2)
These past few weeks have been challenging with how swiftly the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation is changing and the importance of our interconnectedness. I have heard from some of you and appreciate that many of the parishioners of St. John’s continue to be understand the time-sensitive changes that we must make for the good of all.
With this letter, I am sharing new information and additional guidance. We also learned last night of a statewide order that impacts the majority of California residents.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, in an announcement last evening, issued a statewide "stay at home" order, effective at midnight, to protect the public health of all people living in California. Newsom explained in his public address exceptions for essential needs, including grocery and health care-related trips, and some outdoor activities in alignment with social distancing guidelines. However, he encouraged each of us to avoid being in public as much as possible.
According to Bishop Susan, in her letter to the diocese this morning, she supports the governor’s order, which doesn’t mean we can’t worship; however, I will be live-streaming our worship from my home.
What does all this means for St. John’s:
Pastoral Care
For any urgent pastoral care needs, please contact:
Rev. Roger at 619-301-0724
David Dennehy at 619-840-9994
Mark Higginbotham at 619-861-5510
Please reach out to members of our parish family who may be lonely and/or in need basic essentials.
Worship
Staff Members
Stewardship
Parish Operations
Please know that all of you remain in my thoughts and prayers during this stressful and challenging time. As has been said, we are in this together; the amazing grace of God is with us and we will endure.
Let us pray
O God, the creator and preserver of all mankind, we humbly ask you for all sorts and conditions of your people; that you would be pleased to make your ways known to them, your saving health to all nations. More especially we pray for your holy Church universal; that it may be so guided and governed by your Holy Spirit, that all who profess their faiths may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to your goodness all those who are in any ways afflicted or distressed, in mind, body, or soul; that it may please you to comfort and relieve
them according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we ask for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
Peace and Blessings to you all,
Dear St. John’s Family
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Philippians 1:2)
These past few weeks have been challenging with how swiftly the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation is changing and the importance of our interconnectedness. I have heard from some of you and appreciate that many of the parishioners of St. John’s continue to be understand the time-sensitive changes that we must make for the good of all.
With this letter, I am sharing new information and additional guidance. We also learned last night of a statewide order that impacts the majority of California residents.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, in an announcement last evening, issued a statewide "stay at home" order, effective at midnight, to protect the public health of all people living in California. Newsom explained in his public address exceptions for essential needs, including grocery and health care-related trips, and some outdoor activities in alignment with social distancing guidelines. However, he encouraged each of us to avoid being in public as much as possible.
According to Bishop Susan, in her letter to the diocese this morning, she supports the governor’s order, which doesn’t mean we can’t worship; however, I will be live-streaming our worship from my home.
What does all this means for St. John’s:
Pastoral Care
For any urgent pastoral care needs, please contact:
Rev. Roger at 619-301-0724
David Dennehy at 619-840-9994
Mark Higginbotham at 619-861-5510
Please reach out to members of our parish family who may be lonely and/or in need basic essentials.
Worship
- Even though we are “ordered” to stay at home and in-person worship for the remaining Sundays of Lent, Holy Week and Easter has been suspended, this does not mean that we will not worship. For the remaining Sundays of Lent, we will gather virtually through Facebook; live streaming Morning Prayer at 9:00am on Sundays. I encourage you – if you are able – to join us live on Facebook. If you do not have Facebook, I will post the recording of our worship service on our St. John’s website and send the link in a Pastoral Letter which will be mailed to you. We continue to look for creative ways for us to gather as Church to celebrate our faith and the love of God present in our lives.
Staff Members
- The staff will reduce the amount of time spent in the church office, since much of their essential work can be done from home. In particular, the church office will not be open on Monday or Tuesday (Maria will be working from home). For now, Maria will be in the office on Wednesday and Thursday from 9am-3pm. We will re-evaluate and make decisions based on the needs of the parish. Please call the parish office if you have a parish concern.
- Sally will work from home, and will come to the office on Thursday for the essential work of check writing and obtaining signatures, updating and depositing pledges, receiving mail and invoices, and other financial/business items that need immediate attention.
- Ryan will be working Wednesdays and Thursdays as he is responsible for security, maintenance and cleaning of our facilities. He will be working closely with me and Mark Higginbotham, our Junior Warden.
- When these valued staff members and other necessary parishioners (check signers) are on the church campus there will be the abiding expectation to maintain the social distancing guidelines.
Stewardship
- In light of suspending in-person worship services and the cancellation of outside meetings, I have been asked about our stewardship. It is important that – as you are able – we remain faithful stewards of our time, talent and treasure. In a time when people are losing their jobs and income, I can imagine the difficulty of trying to make ends meet. The church is not different as we have financial obligations that the parish must continue. Again, if you are able, I offer ways to continue your pledge: 1) US mail, 2) the secured lock box next to the parish office door, 3) Sally can add an automatic credit or debit payment by giving to her in writing the necessary information (bank name, account number, expiration date and amount to be withdrawn, 4) you can go to your bank (physically or on line) to set up an automatic payment to St. John’s by bank check once a month.
Parish Operations
- The church campus will basically be closed to in-person worship and all meetings.
- Any essential meetings such as the Warden’s Meeting and the Vestry Meeting will be conducted via a Zoom Conference Meeting.
- Since we do not know how long this suspension of in-person gatherings and the need to isolate will last, we still need to maintain our church property. We may continue with some of the essential property projects in order to maintain our beautiful buildings and the campus. Your wardens and vestry will prioritize these projects.
Please know that all of you remain in my thoughts and prayers during this stressful and challenging time. As has been said, we are in this together; the amazing grace of God is with us and we will endure.
Let us pray
O God, the creator and preserver of all mankind, we humbly ask you for all sorts and conditions of your people; that you would be pleased to make your ways known to them, your saving health to all nations. More especially we pray for your holy Church universal; that it may be so guided and governed by your Holy Spirit, that all who profess their faiths may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to your goodness all those who are in any ways afflicted or distressed, in mind, body, or soul; that it may please you to comfort and relieve
them according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we ask for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
Peace and Blessings to you all,
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The Morning Prayer bulletin for Sunday, March 22 may be found here
The Morning Prayer bulletin for Sunday, March 15 may be found here
The Morning Prayer bulletin for Sunday, March 15 may be found here