18th Sunday after Pentecost … Oct. 12, 2025 at 10am
Come as you are! Everyone welcome … In-person or on Zoom.
R E A D I N G S
🔆 Psalm 66 🔆 Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 🔆 Luke 17:5-10
S E R M O N
“Seek the Welfare of the City Where I Have Sent You” The Reverend Dr. Max Lynn
M U S I C
PRELUDE … Invocation, Théodore Dubois (1837-1924)
INTROIT … Surely the Lord Is in This Place, Herbert Colvin (1923-2011)
HYMN … Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty
ANTHEM … Over My Head, traditional Gospel
HYMN … God of the Ages, Whose Almighty Hand
OFFERTORY … Berceuse in A, Alec Rowley (1892-1958)
HYMN … Shalom, Chaverim!
POSTLUDE … Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist, J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
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 – – – – – – –
Calendar Notes
Oct 12 – SJ Sunday Forum: Promised Land and Chosen People
Oct 13 – Indigenous People’s Day
Oct 19 – SJ Pet Blessing Sunday – Service will be outside on the patio, dress in layers; bring your pets on leashes or in crates; dress in layers. Stuffed animals or pet photos, okay.
Oct 20 – Diwali, festival of lights
Oct 25 – SJ Halloween Party /Haunted House
Oct 26 – SJ Song of Songs (on Reformation Sunday)
Oct 26 – SJ Sunday Forum: Co-Creating Meaning in Difficult Biblical Texts
Nov 2 – Daylight Saving time ends – Clocks fall back 1 hour
Nov 2 – SJ Dia de Los Muertos Sunday
Nov 16 – SJ Stewardship Sunday
Nov 16 – SJ Art Fundraiser featuring Julia Oversloot’s watercolor art
Nov 30 – 1st Day of Advent: Hope
Dec 7 – 2nd Day of Advent: Peace
Dec 14 – 3rd Day of Advent: Joy
Dec 14 – SJ Children’s Christmas Pageant
Dec 21 – 4th Day of Advent: Love
Dec 21 – SJ Christmas Music Sunday
Dec 24 – SJ Christmas Eve Carols & Candlelight ServiceUpcoming Sunday Forums
Upcoming Sunday Forums
Take a break after worship for 5-10 minutes, then come back for a conversation:
October 12
Rabbi Jonathan Seidel is preparing remarks that will cover the concepts of the “Holy Land” and “Holy War,” conquest, colonization in the Biblical Texts (primarily Deuteronomy) and how the Biblical views changed over time in Rabbinic Judaism and in later Jewish thought. Rabbi Seidel will touch briefly on the scholarship and take a look at commentary. He will also address the updating of the concept of exceptionalism “chosenness” and the negative consequences of monotheism which promotes holy war and intolerance.
Rabbi Jonathan Seidel attended Oberlin College, the Jewish Theological Seminary, was a Hayes Fulbright scholar at Cambridge University and finished his studies at U.C Berkeley where he earned a doctorate in Judaic and Near Eastern Studies (1996). He was ordained as a Rabbi by ALEPH, the Alliance for Jewish Renewal, and has taught Religion and Judaic Studies at UCs Davis, Santa Cruz and Berkeley, as well as Stanford, the University of Arizona, ASU, Portland State, Oregon State U. and the University of Oregon. Jonathan is the Aquarian Minyan’s Resource Rabbi and Rosh haYeshiva.
October 26
Co-Creating Meaning in Difficult Biblical Texts: Intern Elizabeth Conway will host a round table for people to ask questions about texts that concern them. From her own lives experience having to read and learn from difficult texts, she will facilitate your questions so we can explore together.
November 16
Joseph S. Alemany, Professor of Biblical Studies at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU), Jesuit School of Theology, and Gina Hens-Piazza will speak about: How We Work with Violence in the Old Testament. There are many disturbing images in these texts and we should pay attention to them. Noticing the text around the images can help. One of the most engaging Old Testament teachers at the GTU who has published on this topic, visits us to add to this series.
St John’s Haunted House and Halloween Party
It’s that spooky time of year again! come and enjoy a fun and spooky experience by our community. Bring your friends and family. St. John’s annual Haunted House and Halloween Party is on Saturday, October 25, from 6:30 to 8pm.
Whether you love entertaining and greeting guests, creating creepy scenes or helping behind the scenes, there’s a spot for you. If you would like to volunteer please contact Manju Noone. We’re looking for volunteers to help with: Decorating and set up, 12:30-6pm; Acting and guiding guests, 6:30-8pm; Refreshments/hospitality, 6-8pm; Clean-up, 8-9:30pm. Thank you!
St. John’s now accepts PayPal for Fair Trade Sunday, Offertory, Special Events
We are pleased to inform you that St. John’s is now accepting PayPal (on Fair Trade Sunday, for Offertory, special events) aligning with contemporary giving preferences. This practice is part of a larger shift towards offering convenient electronic giving options to parishioners (cash or checks will still be accepted). St. John’s will list the following QR Code in each bulletin, in the lobby, and on our webpage. Using your phone or tablet, one may scan the code to make a giving transaction. Churches registering with the PayPal Giving Fund offers the advantage of receiving tax-deductible donations. The fund efficiently manages transactions and issues confirmation emails to donors. One may also continue to donate on the St. John’s Berkeley Giving webpage using the secure drop-down menu. For more info, please contact Nelly Coplan.
St John’s Offering to help with Food and School for Palestinian Children
Dear Pastor Max,
I hope this email finds you well and in good spirits. I wanted to share with you a glimpse of the ministry we’ve been carrying out here in Arish among Palestinian refugee families whose lives have been torn apart by the ongoing war. Many of the women we serve are widows or separated from their husbands (some men couldn’t cross the borders to Egypt), carrying the heavy burden of raising children alone, while navigating grief, poverty, and an uncertain future.
Kindly find attached some photos that witness the change we’re trying to bring to their lives, as by God’s grace, we’ve been able to walk alongside over 400 families, many of whom had never met Christians before, offering both practical support and the hope of Christ. Together, we’ve provided food, clothing, medicines, formula, diapers, blankets, fans, and even joyful sports days for their children. What began with fear and hesitation has slowly turned into trust, friendship, and spiritual openness.
Yet, one of the deepest wounds we see is the loss of education. Hundreds of children have been out of school for over a year. Their futures feel stolen. That’s why we are dreaming and praying about opening a school for 250 refugee children, following the Gaza curriculum. Education is not just a basic right; it’s a seed of hope. Among these little ones may rise future scientists, leaders, and peacemakers. The local authorities have already offered us eight classrooms in a government building. With support, we hope to equip them with desks, whiteboards, laptops, projectors, and provide salaries for teachers. We long to give these children not only knowledge, but dignity, stability, and the promise of a brighter tomorrow.
We would be deeply grateful if you would prayerfully consider walking with us in this new chapter. With warm regards and hope in Christ, Blessings,
– Rev. Samuel Adel, Chairman of the Pastoral, Outreach, & Mission Council (POMC)
Download the Palestinian -Egyptian School Budget Download the Palestinian-Egyptian photos