Welcome to St. John's, Lodi
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WORSHIP SERVICES
Sunday
Holy Eucharist: 8:30 & 10:30 a.m.
Nursery Care: 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Praise and Prayer!: 10:30 a.m.
Youth Group: 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Monday - Friday
Morning Prayer: 8:30 a.m.
Evening Prayer: 5:30 p.m.
Thursday Holy Eucharist: 12:10 p.m.
Celebrating and extending the love of
Christ from within the Episcopal tradition
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Thursday, May 1: Ascension Day service, chapel,
12:10 pm
Saturday, May 3: St. John's High Tea, church,
2:00 pm
Saturday, May 17: Katie Todd in concert, 7:00 pm
Monday, May 26: Office Closed
Sunday, June 1: Bishop Jerry Lamb celebrates at
both services.
As some of you know, I am not only new to St.
John's, but new to the USA, to California and
the Episcopal Church. I am English, born and
bred in London and have been an active
member of the Church of England since the
age of 22. From 1964, at the age of 26, I
became a Benedictine monk, first at Nashdom
Abbey, then Elmore Abbey, both in the
Diocese of Oxford. From 1988 until my
retirement in 2005 I was Abbot of my
community. Following retirement I
requested release from my community and
came to San Francisco in December 2005.
The following April I was married to Cheryl, a
native of San Francisco, who is now
completing a doctoral course in clinical
psychology. We celebrated our wedding, in
the presence of friends and relatives from
England and the USA, at the Church of the
Advent of Christ the King.
So I underwent several massive changes; from
monastic to secular life; a cultural change to a
strange new country, a strange new church
and even a new language. This last may
surprise you but, as Winston Churchill once
said, "we are divided by a common language."
If , or when, I become President of the United
States there are three promises in my
manifesto I will definitely keep. The
direction of traffic will conform to the UK
standard and we'll all drive on the correct
(that is, the left) side of the road; second, all
light switches, at present upside down in the
USA, will be reversed and down will be on
etc. Finally, correct spelling will be decreed,
for instance the letters 'ugh' will be restored
to the word doughnut. Ugh, you may well
say, but if you don't like it please don't vote
for me.
On a more serious note, I am happily settling
in and down to life so far from home; so much
so, I truly do feel at home in San Francisco,
and now here in Lodi with you. I join you
asking God to bless America and may the USA
be a blessing to the nations of the world and
may there be peace, prosperity and harmony
for all peoples.
The Rev. Basil Matthews
