Earth Day and Pentecost
Next Thursday, April 22 nd, is Earth Day! It was first celebrated right here in San Francisco, the brainchild of peace activist and devout Pentecostal Christian, John McConnell. This year’s theme is “restore our earth.”
Saint John's shares in McConnell’s Christian conviction that we are charged with the ongoing care and advocacy for God’s good creation. More and more this conviction is becoming a core part of our identity and calling. In the Episcopal Church, there is serious consideration of making this commitment part of our baptismal covenant, the basic promises we make as Jesus followers. A trial form of a sixth baptismal vow was approved a few years ago:
"Will you cherish the wondrous works of God, and protect the beauty and integrity of all creation?
I will, with God's help."
Speaking to an ecumenical assembly in 2008, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said the following:
“Every Sunday in the creed, Christians confess their faith in God who created the world we inhabit. It’s God’s gift. As stewards of that gift, each of us has responsibility, both to God and to generations to come, to ensure that this remains a sustainable world. Placing environmental concerns at the heart of our Christian worship for this fixed time each year demonstrates our shared commitment to this end.”
The prayers of the people this week will honor Earth Day and be centered around our commitment to care for our island home. And if you’re looking for ideas for your own activism, check out this program, piloted right here in our diocese, which helps Episcopalians work together for the planet and its inhabitants.
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I’m so excited to tell you that Bishop Marc Andrus has just announced that churches in the Diocese of California can reopen for public worship, May 23 rd, Pentecost Sunday! We’re putting together a task force to create a safe reopening plan. Stay tuned for more information. We’re almost there, friends.
Scot+
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Sunday at 10:15am
Morning Worship
The Third Sunday of Easter
https://zoom.us/j/370674815?pwd=U2hXNVFXRWhUSTRnUmVmNHJ2RGlzUT09
Meeting ID: 370 674 815
Password: 697565
One tap mobile: +16699006833,,370674815# then 697565
Dial in: +1 669 900 6833 US then 370 674 815# and 697565
Readings: Acts 3:12-19; 1 John 3:1-7; Luke 24:36b-48
They can be found here
Officiant: Lisa Fortuna Deacon: Jac Cherry Homily: Jac Cherry
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Sunday at 8:30pm
Compline
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Tuesday thru Friday at 5:30pm
Evening Prayer
A time to reflect and pray together at the end of the day. (15 minutes)
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Wednesday at 7pm
Thinking Aloud
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Friday at 6pm
SJE Happy Hour
Grab a drink and come for a chat!
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Saturday at 10am
Julian Pantry
We provide groceries for our neighbors.
Julian Gate, Courtyard
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Decolonizing Queer Theology Class
Thursdays in May 2021, 6:30-7pm Pacific Time
St. John's is an official sponsor of this class along with St. James' / Santiago Episcopal Church in Oakland, and the Ministerio Latino (a Latinx LGBTQI+ ministry in Oakland led by United Church of Christ minister, the Rev. Rhina Ramos). All are welcome!
This four-session course will provide participants with a space for reflection on queer theological thinking, and the current importance of taking a decolonial contextual approach to the bible, a tool to build an inclusive and liberating spirituality, and a new biblical accompaniment beyond racism, homophobia, and transphobia, and the sexism of the hegemonic patriarchy. We will discuss the history and shaping of queer theology and the key principles for reading, analysing, and incarnating the biblical text from a decolonial and liberating perspective. The general themes of each session are as follows:
1. Queer theology? The decolonial route
2. A transformative bible reading
3. Queer faith heros
4. A new LGBTQI+ Christian experience
This course will be led by Rev. Álvaro Durán, Anglican priest, theologian and LGBTIQ+ human rights activist in El Salvador. He is fully bilingual and recently led a Spanish-language version of this class that was so well-received that we decided to offer it in English also.
We suggest a $100 contribution to take these 4 informative and rich sessions, 100% of which will go toward a teaching honorarium for the Rev. Álvaro Durán and also to support the Magdala Community, an inclusive and healing LGBTQI+ congregation that he leads in El Salvador. However, it's understood that not everyone may afford the fee, so there is a sliding scale; we ask you to pay what you are able to support this ministry, but also please do not let money be an obstacle to participating.
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Saint John's Courtyard
Open for the Neighborhood
As an outgrowth of conversations with neighbors and neighborhood organizations this past fall, and with monetary support from The Gubbio Project, Saint John has opened its courtyard for the neighborhood between 11am-1pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. El Centro Latino de SF (across the street from the church) serves to-go lunches every day, and so these times were selected to give a space for those folks to sit and eat.
We are now serving coffee and the bathrooms are open. Socially distanced seating will be made available on the stone benches and on chairs. We also welcome church members to this outdoor oasis during these hours for physically distant social respite, though only 12 visitors at any given time will be received due to city and diocese advisories.
The building is closed during these hours, but the Mary Chapel is open for reservations the same days from 1pm to 4pm. |
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COVID-19 vaccination:
Find out if it’s your turn |
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Everyone in California will have an opportunity to get vaccinated against COVID-19 at no cost. But our vaccination supply is limited right now. So we’re starting with the groups who are at highest risk, like people with a high chance of exposure and people 65 and older.
Are you eligible?
Find out if it’s your turn by answering a few questions. It only takes a few minutes. If you’re eligible and vaccine appointments are available through My Turn, you can schedule one. If it’s not your turn yet or appointments are not available, you can register to be notified when you’re eligible or when appointments open up.
If you’re near San Francisco, Los Angeles, or San Diego, you may be able to schedule your appointment today. We are adding appointments to My Turn daily, and expanding statewide.
Check Eligibility Here |
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Please share this email - or any part of it - with a friend, family, or neighbor with a gentle invitation to come along to a service (they can lurk and won't get called upon!). With their permission, you can add them to the distribution list; just send me their name and email address.
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Under the current restrictions larger gatherings have to be postponed until after the shelter-in-place restrictions are lifted and sick "visits" and last rites are performed on-line or by telephone.
We are available if you are ill, need pastoral care, or any kind of practical help such as food or rides, please contact the parish administrator and someone from the pastoral care team will be in touch.
We are fortunate enough to have funds available for our parishioners in need. This money is for use in providing direct services to people. If you need help with food, rent, or medical expenses, please do not be shy! Let us know. Your request and the assistance you receive will be confidential.
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Resources for Spiritual Well-Being from the
Click here for some resources from a range of sources for the coming weeks.
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