Come as you are! Everyone welcome … In-person or on Zoom.
R E A D I N G S
🔆 Revelation 7:9-17 🔆 Psalm 34:1-10 🔆 Matthew 5:1-12
S E R M O N
🔆 “Heaven: the Difference Between Essence and Details” – The Reverend Dr. Max Lynn
M U S I C
PRELUDE … Vasija de barro (Clay Pot), Dúo Benitez-Valencia, ECUADOR
INTROIT … El cielo canta (The Sky Sings), ARGENTINA
HYMN … For All the Saints
ANTHEM … The Peace of the Earth, GUATEMALA
HYMN … Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
OFFERTORY … La Martiniana, Traditional Folk Song, MEXICO
SANCTUS … Sanctus from Mass for World Communion, Todd Jolly (b. 1961)
ANTHEM … Somos pueblo que camina (We Are a People on the Journey), NICARAGUA
HYMN … Standing on the Shoulders of My Ancestors
POSTLUDE … Danzón No. 2, Arturo Márquez (b. 1950), MEXICO
Join us for Coffee Hour immediately after the service.
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A N N O U N C E M E N T S
Día de los Muertos, November 1
In the Latin American tradition, we celebrate All Saints and Day of the Dead, in which we commemorate and remember the lives and pray for the resurrection of our loved ones. Bring photos or mementos of those loved ones who have died to our regular worship service on November 1.
Calling all participants for the SJ Christmas Pageant, beginning November 1
It’s the time of the year where we come together and celebrate Christmas, and what is more fun than our pageant of the season! Rehearsals are November 1, 8, 15, and 22, and Dress Rehearsal is on December 6 in the Sanctuary, in which we will prepare our hearts (and lines!) to celebrate the joy of Christmas together. Everyone is welcome! For more details, contact Manju Noone at church or through email.
Bonfire at Ocean Beach, Saturday, November 7, 3-6:30pm
Come enjoy the beauty and fun at the beach. We will have hot dogs and marshmallows cooked on the fire (accompanied by some healthier food).
Getting there: You can drive yourself or catch a ride with someone else. Let Pastor Max or Manju know if you want a ride. We will meet at the North end of Ocean Beach in San Francisco, just South of the Beach Chalet restaurant. (You can put the Beach Chalet into Google maps to get there, but pull into the beach parking lot and go a hundred yards or so South of the Restaurant.) The stairs down to the beach are numbered: we will be somewhere between
Stair # 17 and 20. You can see the fire pits in this area.
What to bring: Heavy sweat shirt, sun lotion, extra clothes. blanket or chair, towel, balls, frisbee, sand castle building tools, drinks, and any food you would like to contribute. Bringing food is not a necessity (there will be enough).
Decorate for Advent and Christmas, November 29
Here is your official invitation to spend a short-while after the service on November 29 to decorate for the season! All are welcome to remain in the Sanctuary and set out the lights, tree, animals, shiny ornaments, and other elements that make this always-beautiful space even more amazing during Advent and Christmas. – Worship, Music & Arts team.
Interfaith Thanksgiving Dinner, November 14
The St. John’s community is invited to this year’s Interfaith Thanksgiving dinner, hosted by Congregation Beth El at 1301 Oxford Street in Berkeley. Learn more and RSVP.
An evening with Standing Together’s Sally Abed and Nadav Shofet, November 15
St. John’s is sponsoring this event that will discuss this critical moment in Israel-Palestine and how Standing Together is organizing for peace, equality, and a shared future. Learn more and purchase tickets.
“Gender Identity and Extended Family,” presented by Maybeck High School, November 18
Join via Zoom for this session led by Ricco Siasoco, Maybeck’s Director of Equity. Parents, guardians, educators, and anyone interested in human development are encouraged to attend. Learn more and RSVP.
Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity presents 2026 Love Over Fear Concert, November 19
Celebrate Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity’s 25th anniversary with their fourth annual 2026 Love Over Fear Benefit Concert, an inspiring evening of music and storytelling. Learn more and purchase tickets.
Upcoming SJ Sunday Forums
Take a break after worship for 10-15 minutes, then come back for learning and conversation, led by the speakers listed below. Fall Forum Schedule available.
“Paul and the Family-led Cult of Jesus,” November 8
Led led by Robert Coote. This forum (the first of three sessions over three weeks) will explore the early, family-led cult of Jesus and the awkward, at first marginal place of Paul and his thought (his message, his euangelion) in it.
“Making Sense of the Book of Romans,” November 15
Led by Robert Coote. This forum (the second of three sessions) will explore The Book of Romans and how Bob makes sense of it.
“Seeing Paul in the Four Gospels,” November 22
Led by Robert Coote. This forum (the third of three sessions) will explore how Paul’s views play out in each of the four Gospels, starting with how Mark incorporates his message into a narrative of Jesus, Matthew’s critical cover of Mark, Luke’s attempt to finesse the disagreement between Mark and Matthew, and finally John’s prescinding from their narrative template in favor of the words and few deeds of a (Pauline) Jesus who is a cosmic demigod embodying the creative, life-giving, revealing discourse (logos) of God that begins with “let there be light”—the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome/grasped (katelabon) it.
Robert B. Coote is internationally renowned for his work on the Bible and the ancient Near East and has written several seminal texts of Biblical scholarship. His work expands across disciplines and is particularly known for the ways in which he brings context across texts through the examination of biblical composition, literary structure, and content. Bob is professor emeritus of Old Testament at San Francisco Theological Seminary.
QR Code for Giving Money to St. John’s
One can now donate via PayPal for weekly giving and special events. Simply scan the PayPal QR Code in our bulletin or church lobby. All donations are tax-deductible. Thank you for your continued support.