June 21, 2020 Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF

ST JOHN THE BAPTIST

WELCOME Whether you’re a registered parishioner or first-time visitor, we hope you feel welcome.

There are many ways to get involved. If you have any questions, please let one of our staff members know or call the parish office 253-630-0701

MISSION STATEMENT The Catholic Community of St. John the Baptist: Where stewardship is a way of life and the diversity

of our gifts is used to answer Christ’s call to proclaim and live the Gospel. Gather in God’s Name, Grow in God’s Time, Go in God’s Spirit

FROM YOUR PASTOR John McMurray defines illusory religion in this way: “Fear not; trust in God and he will see that none of the things you fear will happen to you.” Of real religion he says: “Fear not; the things that you are afraid of are quite likely to happen to you, but they are nothing to be afraid of.” This weekend we are

invited to contemplate the realm of fear in our lives. How much of a hold does fear have on us in this time of pandemic? And in this time of the Black Lives Matter movement we are mindful of the fear that our sisters and brothers of color carry in relation to the society in which they live. May the Lord Jesus strengthen us in the knowledge that we are beloved daughters and sons of God who graciously loves each of us unconditionally. May all of us live in that hope.

Fr. Jim

CONTACT INFORMATION Church/Office: 25810 156th Ave SE, Covington, WA 98042 Phone: 253-630-0701 E-Mail: office@sjtbcc.org Website: www.sjtbcc.org Our office is closed until the Stay Home order is lift-ed. Please call or email us if you have questions or need assistance.

The sanctuary will be open for prayer Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1pm to 4pm. Please enter and exit through the office. No more than 10 people will be able to enter at a time,

and we ask that you wear a mask and stay at least 6 feet away from anyone not a part of your household, to reduce the risk of spreading in-fection. Fr. Jim is hearing confessions on Saturdays 4pm to 5 pm or by appointment.

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC CHURCH

A STEWARDSHIP MOMENT Our formerly postponed Spring Cleaning is back on! Friday, June 26

th we will start cleaning in the

Sanctuary at 10:00 a.m. and con-tinue through to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, June 27

th we will start

at 9:00 a.m. and continue through to 2:00 p.m. Bring a sack lunch for lunch. There are many tasks both inside and out. We will provide the cleaning solutions and gloves but please bring your own face mask. If you prefer to work outdoors and have your own trimmer, please bring it along. Please e-mail or call David Aldous for sign up information or other questions. davida@sjtbcc.org 253-630-0701 ext.114

Thank you to all who have responded to the needs of our Church in Western Washington through the 2020 Annual Catholic Appeal. One person or parish could not possibly accomplish all that needs to be done for over 60 minis-tries and services of the Annual Catholic Appeal. It is not too late to return your pledge envelope if you haven’t already done so! Please fill out a pledge envelope today or donate online-the web address is on the pledge enve-lope. If you have any questions please call Nancy at 253-630-0701. Update for our Annual Catholic Appeal Campaign As of June 12, 2020 Goal: $126,503.00 Pledges: $ 62,192.00-49% #Pledges: 193 Avg. Pledge = $322.24

Your ongoing generosity and commit-ment to stewardship is a great blessing for our community and for those we serve, who are especially needing sup-port during this challenging time. Blessings, Anne

Parish Stewardship report for June 13/14, 2020 Envelopes: $ 5,304.00 Loose Checks $ 2,410.55 Easter $ 29.00 St. Vincent de Paul $ 1,826.61 Faith Direct for 6/4/2020 $24,893.75

Peter’s Pence Collection Be a Witness of Charity Next week, we will take up the Peter’s Pence collection, a worldwide collection that supports the charitable works of Pope Francis. Funds from this collection help victims of war, oppression, and natural disasters. Take this oppor-tunity to join with Pope Francis and become a witness of charity to our suffering brothers and sisters. Please be generous.

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time: In today’s gospel reading Jesus tells his followers to have no fear. The claim that whatever is covered up will be uncovered and secrets made known arises from the power of the gospel, in which the disciples participate through the means of their mission. Their simplicity, vulnerability, and depend-ence on God demonstrate the reality of God’s presence and character in the face of the world’s claims to possess real power. Even though proclaiming the gospel will bring suffering, the gospel must be proclaimed “in the light” and “on the housetops” (Mt 10:27), for the gospel proclaimed and lived is the most powerful tool at the disciples’ dispos-al against fear. Reflect this week on how you might use the bible to confront whatever fears you may have and how your proclamation of the gospel can calm the fears of others.

June 20th is the

Pray for all those who are sick: Special Intentions Pray for those who have died: Fr. Lorenzo Garijo, Gayle Kieruff (mother of Kathy Wickward), and Rogato Cubelo (father of Alex and Joyce Cubelo)

FROM OUR NEIGHBORS

A Prayer for Fathers

God our Father,

we give you thanks and praise

for fathers young and old.

We pray for young fathers,

newly embracing their vocation:

May they find the courage and perseverance

to balance work, family, and faith in joy and

sacrifice.

We pray for our own fathers

who have supported and challenged us;

May they continue to lead in strong and gentle ways.

We remember fathers around the world

whose children are lost or suffering;

May they know that the God of compassion

walks with them in their sorrow.

We pray for men who are not fathers

but sill mentor and guide us

with fatherly love and advice.

We remember fathers, grandfathers,

and great-grandfathers who are no longer with us

but who live forever in our memory

And nourish us with their love.

Amen

Mass Times for Saturday, June 20 or June 27 at 5:30

pm and Sunday June 21 or June 28 at 10 am Now that everyone has had a chance to sign up for their

first outdoor mass, we are opening registration for the

second and third weekends on a first come, first served

basis. Please sign up as you did before, via our website

at sjtbcc.org, or by calling 253-632-0683 (Anne) or the

parish office 253-630-0701. An email confirming your res-

ervation will be sent a couple of days before the mass.

These Masses will be different than we are used to! Be-

low is some information you need to review before com-

ing to celebrate Mass.

If you have registered, but you or anyone in your

household has any illness that Saturday or Sunday,

DO NOT come to that Mass, we will arrange a space

for you on a future date

Please take your temperature before coming to the par-

ish. Anyone with a fever above 100.4 and all of their

family members must stay home. Please call and

you will be scheduled for a Mass two weeks ahead.

MASKS are required, we will have some available if

needed

Hand sanitizing stations will be set up in the outdoor

worship space

Every household is required to maintain six feet of social

distance from others

All Masses will be held outdoors and will happen come

“rain or shine.”

Only people who have pre-registered for a specific Mass

will be able to participate, as seating is limited to 100

people and we will check each of you in by name. The

specific Mass is only for the date and time for your

registration.

We recommend you arrive 15 minutes before

Mass. Please follow directions and signage when you

drive onto parish property

Seating will be set up according to the number of people

in each household

Greeters will direct participants to their assigned seating

Please note that restroom capacity will be very limited

Due to health considerations:

There will be no congregational singing

There is no exchange of the Sign of Peace and every-

one is expected to refrain from any physical contact

Holy Communion will be offered at the end of Mass

Only the Precious Body will be offered

Communion is only to be received in the hand

Care must be taken not to have physical contact

with the Eucharistic Minister’s hand when receiving

Communion

Open your receiving hand, so that the palm is flat-

tened, as this will help limit any physical contact

Although we will not be taking up an offertory collection

during the Mass, we will have designated containers for

those of you who would like to donate for parish stew-

ardship before and after Mass

Rachel’s Corner Hope and Healing After Abortion

Did it feel like the light went out the day of your abortion decision and you were submerged in darkness? It can be comforting to know that the light is still there, and so is God. He wants nothing more than to embrace you on a Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat

™ and remind you of His light

as well as your own. Join us. Fall 2020 Rachel’s Vineyard Healing Retreat Schedule September 18 – 20 23 – 25 octubre, en español November 13 – 15

Call for a compassionate, confidential conversation. English: (206) 920-6413 / Español: (206)-450-7814 Email projectrachel@ccsww.org. Visit us at www.ccsww.org/projectrachel or www.facebook.com/projectrachelww. Project Rachel is a program of Catholic Community Ser-vices. You are loved with an everlasting Love!

Please Support The Advertisers On Our Bulletin As They Make It Possible For Us To Have A Bulletin Each Week

We are experiencing an outpouring of local and global reaction and protest over the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade and many before them, we are seeing the manifestation of the long-standing na-tional strife cause by systemic racism and the historic marginalization of black lives. We are in a watershed moment in the history of racism in our country. With historical moments like this, as Catholics, we must ask ourselves what is my response? What is my family's response? We are given yet another opportunity to change, to become more like Jesus in the way we view and treat LIFE! Yes, this is an issue of being for LIFE, and right now most urgent are the lives of our black brothers and sisters! The best place to begin any action plan is PRAYER. Drawing wisdom, understanding, nour-ishment from the heart of the very ONE who created each of us, will be enriching and insightful. Beginning with the sim-ple desire to know the heart of God for the very ones He has created is a good place to begin in prayer. June 19, 1865 was the day when black slaves first heard the Emancipation Proclamation read to them, even though it was issued on January 1, 1863. Because of this, June 19th has become a very significant day in the history of Ameri-ca. This year the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus also falls on June 19th. As Catholics, we think this would be a great day to gather as community, via zoom, to pray together in support of our black brothers and sisters. Fr. Jim and the Parish Staff invite you and your families to a 24 hour prayer vigil beginning this Friday evening June 19th at 7pm with a community wide rosary via zoom, and ending this Saturday June 20th at 7pm with a community wide prayer gathering via zoom. In between these two community gatherings we invite you and your household to sign up for an hour of prayer at home. More than one household can sign up each hour. Please pray with us! Sign up to pray and Zoom prayer vigil link: https://tinyurl.com/ybnhx4qf