by the Rev. Christopher Potter, Vicar

Peace and grace to you, from God who bestows upon us endless love and blessings.

There is so much for us to celebrate this weekend. I hope you can join us for some or all of it.

We start with our Saturday night service. We are rolling out some gospel tunes to celebrate the Union of Black Episcopalians and the beauty in the Episcopal Church that thrives on diversity and inclusion. The service begins at 5 p.m. and is different than our Sunday services. The music and ritual are contemporary, and the sermon is shared by all.

On Sunday, we are delighted and blessed by the presence of Bishop Diane Jardine Bruce — pictured.

She is coming to be present to us, to share word and message with us, and to welcome/confirm two members of our family. Walt Williams, soon-to-be- husband to Sandy Muse, will be confirmed and Cynthia Quinard—Gonzalez will be received formally as a member of the Episcopal Church.

Many of us will be taking special time with these good people to welcome them and to bless them with our love.

After the service, Bishop Diane will join us for our annual “Welcome Back” BBQ. Fresh, hot food will be served (minding all safety protocols), along with many of your offerings. This glorious celebration takes place at the Cardinal Café, behind the kitchen.

As a reminder, we will have two services next Sunday (September 19), at 8 and 10 a.m. Our livestream ZOOM service will be the 10 a.m. Eucharist. If there is enough interest in both services, we shall continue indefinitely. After a few weeks, if there is not sufficient attendance at the 8 a.m. service, we will return for a while to one service – at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Also on Sundays, Godly Play continues next week at 10 a.m. There will be an announcement soon about the Adult Forum.

We have so much for which to be grateful. Your presence this weekend will both lift you up, and reconnect us all in ways that a two-dimensional world just cannot.

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The Worship Bulletin for Sunday, September 12

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This year marks the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The 9/11 attack took the lives of 3,000 Americans and international citizens. Let us remember the lives lost and the families who mourn their loved ones.

Let us pray. 
Most merciful God, whose wisdom is beyond our understanding: Deal graciously with 9/11 survivors in their grief. Surround them with your love, that they may not be overwhelmed by their loss, but have confidence in your goodness, and strength to meet the days to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Photo credit: American Flag at Ground Zero, 9/11/01.
219225617 © Federal Bureau of Investigations Public Domain Media | Dreamstime.com

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Here’s What Else is Happening at St. John’s
+ Saturday evening In-person worship is at 5 p.m. today. Join us!
+ Godly Play, Sunday School, and the Nursery are open to receive your children!
+ Rev. Christopher and our Director of Music Ministry Johannes Stosch have been talking about creating opportunities for those of you who are vaccinated and would like to join our choir leads on Sundays. The details are in the NEWS. Give them a read and If it sounds interesting to you and you’d like to join, please email Johannes.

+ Dates to Save:
• Saturday, November 6 our annual fellowship event and fundraiser. Details for all the events in the News. 
+ Red Cross Blood Drive, Sunday, November 7, 8:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. Logon to the Red Cross website, and use sponsor code St. John to sign up.
+ You can drop food donations for RSM Cares Food Pantry at church on Sundays. Items needed include soup, chili, beans; pasta, pasta sauce; peanut butter, jelly, and also grocery store gift cards. Next distribution day is this Wednesday, September 15.
+ Join the Altar Guild! Learn more by contacting Robin Nelson.
+ Youth Group is back from Summer break. If you’re in junior or senior high, or have started college, ZOOM with us! We ZOOM September 15 from 7 to 7:45 p.m. Get more YG info from Patti Peebles, our Youth Pastor and School Chaplain.
+ Women’s Hybrid Bible Study meets Wednesdays from 10:15 – 11:30 a.m. at DJ Gomer’s home. Hybrid = in-person and on ZOOM.
+ Women’s book club, Book It On Mondays!, meets next September 27, 7 p.m. on ZOOM. Details, including book title, in the News.
+ Children’s Ministry: become a Godly Play teacher for our littlest members on Sunday mornings. Details in the News.
+ Join us for coffee after the Sunday service on the lower courtyard (Learning Commons Courtyard) which is the perfect spot to hold coffee hour where tables, comfortable seating, and shade abound. We even have an elevator you can use to get there!
+ Women’s Ministry scheduled to meet Saturday, September 18, Kathy O’Connor’s home in Pasadena has been postponed by the author until 2022.
+ More news/events/volunteer opportunities available in the News.
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We’re back on campus:
Clergy and staff are back in the Church Office. Schedule a time to come to the church office and meet face-to-face. Contact Rev. Christopher or 949.888.4568, or Rev. Karen or 949.888.4595, x239.

In-Person Worship Schedule:
• Evening Prayer or Compline ZOOM services continue to be held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8 p.m. Rev. Christopher sends the links in his Saturday email; if you’d like the links and to receive St. John’s news, let us know!
• Sunday morning worship will be held in-person at church and on ZOOM at 9 a.m. Beginning next Sunday, September 19, we’ll offer an 8 a.m. in-person service, too.
• Saturday in-person worship in the church at 5 p.m. with live music.

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We’ll see you at St. John’s!