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November 26, 2020 Thursday Weekly Epistle from Fr. PeterSent out Wednesday due to holiday.Fr. Peter & Deacon Tom will be ringing bells for Salvation Army Collections outside of Wal-Mart Today, Wednesday, November 25 12:00 noon to 2:00 pmDear Friends, Our Epistle today is released one day early because of our Thanksgiving Holiday the rest of the week. As I say in my “Thanksgiving Message” that will appear on our YouTube and Facebook pages on Thursday, we may not think about 2020 as a time to “count our blessings,” but through an interactive way (have a pen/pencil and paper handy when you watch) I will encourage us to mine those elements from our individual lives. This exercise connects to my meditation during our Friday Noonday Prayer. I hope this week slows down enough for you to partake in each of these short services. And then, have fun! With the help of our current “editor,” our seminarian, Jessica, we will premiere our end of the month Children’s Service online on Sunday. This worship is for all ages, and I hope parents, grandparents, and great-grands will share it with their kin. Deacon Tom, Jessica, and I have a lot of fun preparing the service, and puppet Danny, well…he’s a ham, he thrives in the experience. As I have preached over time, churches have somehow morphed away from our call to hope. God is with us, God’s goodness will thrive. My hope is that despite challenges, and frustrations, that God blesses us with the experience of recognizing God’s grace to us this season. Even though it may be different, have a blessed Thanksgiving Day. I look forward to seeing you in our gathering opportunities this week. Sincerely, Fr. PeterTHURSDAYThursday Thanksgiving Message from Fr. Peter - This brief reflection will premiere in the morning with the hope that viewers will be able to give thanks to God for what they are Thankful. Have a pen or pencil and something to write upon!FRIDAYFRIDAY Noonday Prayer on Our Facebook Page??- On both the “Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, Lodi, CA Facebook and YouTube Pages” this short service will premiere. If you wish to follow along and say responses, the service begins on page 103 in The Book of Common Prayer (you can still follow along in the service without one). THANKSGIVINGS Sunday, November 15 Memorial/Thanksgivings/Celebrations: Steve Manildi in loving memory of his mother, Shirley Parker for her birthday, November 30.SUNDAY (WORSHIP/COFFEE HOUR)Online Worship Only This Sunday – Children of All Ages Prayer Service – By popular demand, at the end of every month we offer a Children’s Themed service that will stream onto our Facebook and YouTube Pages (“Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, Lodi CA”) beginning around 9:30 a.m. This worship will be our only offering on Sunday, and you are invited to join us here and then move over to the Zoom Coffee Hour right after (see next article).Zoom Coffee Hour on the Last Sunday of the Month – We will offer a Coffee Hour at least once per month, on the last Sunday, following our primary service. In November that primary (and only service) is our Children of All Ages Service of Music and Prayer. Right after it premieres on our pages (beginning around 9:30a.m.) come over to the Zoom link below…and join in! If you need help navigating Zoom, give reach out to Jessica, our Seminarian, via the invitation in this Epistle, or give Fr. Peter a call or text on his cell phone. See you Sunday where we share “for what are you thankful?” Join Zoom Meeting ID: 930 7319 5951 Passcode: 1055One tap mobile+16699006833,,93073195951#,,,,,,0#,,1055# US (San Jose)+13462487799,,93073195951#,,,,,,0#,,1055# US (Houston)Dial by your location +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C.) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)Meeting ID: 930 7319 5951 Passcode: 1055Find your local number: Current Member Birthdays and Anniversaries for December (send them a card, make a call, and say a prayer!)Birthdays for December ?????????????????????????????????????????????????? Anniversaries for December1Dr. Elliott Adams23Bonnie & Mark Weiss2Kathy Munson31Kimberly & Matthew Bronson6Ethan BronsonMarilyn & Jack Cook7Holly Wilson8Jocelyn Kafton12Mary Ellen Beckman13Karen Kuykendall17Teresa Culbertson18Tony Ferrara20Ejae Perry24Patsy Gorczyca26Peggy MoosSandie Stevens27Martin GastonCorky Kuykendall28Steve CulbertsonNEW ANNOUNCEMENTSAnother way to care for creation in Lodi: Did you happen to see the article in the Lodi News about a new partnership to go after litter in Lodi? The city is working together with Litterati, a data science company that tracks trash pick-up by individuals who download the company’s app on their phones and then record what they find. The challenge is to jointly pick up 2,020 pieces of trash from our city streets by Dec. 31, 2020. It’s hoped that people of all ages will be motivated to join in the clean-up. Also, by substantiating the types and brands of trash most seen on streets, the city can encourage companies to look for ways to reduce the trash coming from their businesses. So far, Lodi has 23 participants and less than 100 pieces of litter picked up. To learn more about the effort and to join in, go to HYPERLINK "" \hhow-it-works. We can act together but separately to keep trash from ending up in rivers or in ugly piles along our streets. -The Creation Care TeamOnline Christmas Pageant! - ?Calling all actors/shepherds/magi/angels! BNN (Bethlehem News Network) is doing an investigative report into the mystery of the star that appeared in the sky on Christmas Eve. We need your help! If you would like to be a part of our PRE-RECORDED Christmas Eve news report/pageant, please email the tip line (jessica.harmon@yale.edu) (I’m also our seminarian!) with the role you would like to play:Angels, Shepherds, Magi, Innkeeper, Mary, Joseph & BNN reporters This is an all-ages, intergenerational event! If you and a grandchild would like to sign up as (for example) angels together, that would be wonderful! Fr. Peter has said that he will also play a role, but hasn't claimed one yet, so be sure to claim the role you *don't* want Fr. Peter to play!? The pageant will be recorded over zoom so that everyone can participate without risking a large gathering. This will also allow for us to sing Christmas carols that we won't be able to sing together in person! The recording will be premiered on the church facebook/youtube pages so that everyone will be able to see and share it, even if they are far away this year! Jessica HarmonChristmas Memorials and Thanksgivings: Each year we have offered special thanksgivings and memorials to be placed in the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day bulletins. We will have this available again. If you would like to place new memorial or thanksgiving please email it to the church office at stjohnslodi@. You can let us know if you would like to do the same as last year. A suggested donation of $25.00 has been the tradition in the past. If you don’t remember what you have done in the past, Penny can email this to you or you can call the office and she can read it to you over the phone, 209-369-3381 (Monday-Thursday 9am to 2pm). Beware of Scammers If you receive an email that looks like it came from me (Fr. Peter) asking for you to purchase a gift card, please do not respond. “I will not send out individual requests like this. Also, look carefully at the email. My is rectorpete@. If there is an added number 1 or any number at all, it is a scam. If you have any questions, you can contact me directly.”Masks Are Still Available! We will have Christmas masks available after Thanksgiving. Come check them out! These are handmade with 2 layers of fabric. There are 3 sizes available: Child size (age 3 to 10), Ladies or small size and Large or Men’s size. There is no set price or charge for these masks, but if you are able, a small free-will offering to the church is accepted. Please contact the office or stop by during business hours of Monday-Thursday from 9am to 2pm. Clergy Hospital Visits: Because we are in “purple” clergy may be prohibited from making hospital visits. However, if you are in hospital, please always phone the church office and let us know. If clergy can make a visit, we will. Field Education Seminarian: Jessica Harmon Wants To Help the Unfamiliar Navigate Our Online Platforms: Last Sunday at our Coffee Hour (on Zoom) Jessica revealed that from long distance she was able to instruct her 83-year-old grandmother on how to use Zoom. Knowing that there are some in our congregation who are hesitant to try these platforms, Jessica is making herself available to join you in a phone or computer conversation to help teach you how to enter this unfamiliar territory. Please either reach out to Jessica via her email at jessica.harmon@yale.edu, or let Fr. Peter know you would like to speak with her. CLASSES, CLUBS, MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES Advent Bible Study: Save the Dates! - On Tuesdays December 1, 8, 15, 22, at 11:00a.m. (PST) our Seminarian, Jessica Harman will offer an online bible study that goes deeper into the Advent Gospel text from the previous Sunday. Topic: Advent Bible Study - St. John's, Lodi Time: Dec 1, 2020 11:00 AM Pacific Time: Every week on Tuesday; Dec 1, 2020 11:00 AM ? Dec 8, 2020 11:00 AM? Dec 15, 2020 11:00 AM ? Dec 22, 2020 11:00 AMJoin from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: ? ? Or Telephone：203-432-9666 or 646 568 7788? ? Meeting ID: 916 5748 9331Jessica Harmon, jessica.harmon@yale.edu Note From Your Treasurer: St. John’s financial responsibilities continue each month and we depend on your pledges to meet them. We would like to thank those who have sent in their 2021 pledges and remind those who have not yet pledged that 2021 pledges are still welcomed. You may choose to mail in your pledge, email the information to the church or use our new Givelify app to send in your payment. “POINT in TIME” HOMELESSNESS COUNT: 2021 is the year that HUD asks all cities to count their homeless.?Lodi will be counting our people in late January (date TBD).? In 2018 St. John's had a great response for volunteers for that day and also in providing the needing supplies that we will be giving to the homeless. We will be needing underwear, scarves, hats, warm shirts, and coats.? These will be for men. Please keep these items until January when I will tell you where to deliver them or I'll pick them up. I will be providing more information as we solidify the details.? Thank you all for helping those who have less than we.? Please contact me with any questions, Pat Fehling, 209-333-2260.Sacred Ground Workshop – Session IV The topic for our last meeting was the beginnings of slavery in the USA. We watched the Black Atlantic, 1500 – 1800, from Dr. Henry Louis Gates series, The African Americans. This explored both the history and the geography of enslavement – from Africa to both North and South America, and the Caribbean Islands. Our background reading explored the ways in which both the North and South were complicit in supporting the institution of slavery. Even the Midwest benefited as the nation’s breadbasket, feeding both the free and the enslaved. “Good people” participated through indirect occupations and as willing consumers. Three brief but powerful videos from the 2017 Episcopal Truth and Reconciliation Pilgrimage to Ghana exposed role of the Anglican/Episcopal Church in the slave trade. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry offers a heartfelt response. Sober moments for all of us. A bonus piece for this session was viewing a video of an address given by former Presiding Bishop, Frank Griswold. One question he asked – How are we complicit? A challenge to explore our own history (personal and collective)… our denial - leading to awareness, action, healing, acknowledgement, repentance. Reported by Ruth DiekmanCommunity food outreach to children and seniors:? We are still delivering shelf stable food for the No Child Left hungry program with the Salvation Army.? They supply food for a week of breakfasts and lunch to children in our community who are not yet in school.? Some of the food we buy and give to the children also goes to seniors.? Additionally we are supplying fresh fruits, veggies, bread, milk, and eggs to 6 seniors whom we have adopted.? They are So appreciative of this fresh food and thank St. John's for so much help! If you wish to donate to this program please send a check to St. John's and on the memo line, add community outreach. You may also give using the GIVELIFY app by contributing to St. John’s Lodi and identifying you contribution for this ministry in the “other” section.? Or if you want to come with me to deliver to the Seniors just let me know!! Thank you St. John's for donating to this excellent cause during COVID.? ? Pat FehlingHarmony Homes: Affordable housing is scarce in our area.? Harmony Homes is a proposed housing development that seeks to make a small dent in that?issue.? The attached flier gives more details about the effort.?These new homes will be?perfect for?families?that have recently graduated?from local programs at The Salvation Army, Lodi House, and the Women’s Center. The?City and its partner agencies are looking for community input.? Please take a moment to complete this brief online survey (max 3 minutes) Flyer on last page of this announcement. ................
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