IN THE SPIRIT

-- Michele Marr

* Address: 183 E. Bay St., Costa Mesa

* Telephone: (949) 548-2237

* Web site: o7 https://www.stjohncm.orgf7

* Denomination: Episcopal Church of the United States

* Year established: 1955

* Service times: 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sunday and 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Sunday school is at 9:45 a.m.

* Senior pastor: The Rev. Barbara Stewart

* Staff: Margaret Nolde, music director and Larissa Cahill, Christian

education

* Size of congregation: 120

* Makeup of congregation: Most members are residents of Costa Mesa and

Newport Beach. All age groups are well represented.

* Child care: Provided for the 10 a.m. Sunday service.

* Type of worship: Services use the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, with

music at the 10 a.m. Sunday service.

* Type of sermon: Biblically based. Topics are drawn from the

scriptures according to lectionary schedule of readings in the Book of

Common Prayer. Stewart looks at the scripture in its context and as it

applies to contemporary life issues.

* Recent sermon: Based on the story of Abraham and his nomadic life,

Stewart related the story to the transient and impermanent nature of our

lives here and now.

* Upcoming sermon: Stewart will speak about the inclusiveness of God.

* Dress: People are welcome to wear what they are comfortable wearing.

Members of the congregation dress in every style, from suits to casual.

* Visitor information: Members of the congregation greet visitors and

invite them to join in the coffee hour following each Sunday morning

service. The church is currently working on the contents of a visitor’s

brochure. An inquirer’s class for those who wish to learn more about the

faith is planned for the winter. For those interested, the class can be

preparation for confirmation in the spring.

* Church programs: Monday Bible study meets at 7 p.m.; Tuesday evening

study meets at 6:30 p.m.

* Outreach programs: Through the Episcopal Service Alliance the

congregation donates food and other household and personal hygiene items

each week for those in the community who need them. The alliance van

comes to the church parking lot each Wednesday from 1:30 to 3 p.m. to

distribute the food and other items, such as diapers and soap. The

alliance serves all of Orange County. The church provides a meeting place

for a number of 12-step groups. St. John’s Manor, apartments for

low-income seniors and the handicapped, is also a ministry of the church.

* Mission statement: A mission statement is in development.

* Interesting note: Stewart came to St. John the Divine in February

from St. Francis in Palos Verdes. As part of her mission work within the

diocese, she has traveled to Ghana five times. Members of the Los Angeles

Diocese visit sister churches in Ghana as companions sharing their common

faith and identifying and sharing their common goals. It is an

opportunity “to look at God through someone else’s eyes,” Stewart

explained.