Christmas Eve & Christmas Day at St. John's
2025-12-24 - 2025-12-25
Join us to celebrate the birth of Christ at our Christmas services.
Christmas Eve
4 p.m. Holy Eucharist with the St. John’s Choir School (musical prelude at 3:45)
10 p.m. Holy Eucharist with the St. John’s Adult Choir (musical prelude at 9:30)
Christmas Day
10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with hymns and sermon

Pipes Alive! with Philip Tummescheit
2026-01-04 12:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Our next Pipes Alive! organ recital will feature local organ student Philip Tummescheit. Free admission with donations accepted.

Twelfth Night Celebration
2026-01-04 17:00
Join us for St. John’s unique celebration of the end of the Christmas season, where we (safely!) burn Christmas trees and wreaths outdoors. Refreshments are provided by the youth group to raise funds for their annual collection in support of Dignity Grows, a nonprofit that provides period and hygiene products to those in need. Bundle up and come check it out!

Annual Meeting
2026-01-25 09:00 - 10:30
The St. John’s Annual Meeting will be held in Hubbard Hall at 9 a.m. on Sunday, January 25. All parish members (adults and youth 16+) are encouraged to attend as we review the year just ended, look ahead to what’s next, and elect new vestry members and officers. Bring something for a potluck continental breakfast if you’re able.

Perpetual Happiness Tour event
2026-01-30 17:30 - 18:30
The Parish Life Committee and Jeff Verney (a.k.a. the “Troubadour of Happiness”) will present the Perpetual Happiness Tour event on Friday, January 23 at 5:30 p.m. This event includes original songs, stories, and discussion on how to enhance happiness in our lives. The event will last approximately one hour. Light refreshments and beverages will be provided.

Pipes Alive! with Anna Pan
2026-02-01 12:30 - 13:00
The February Pipes Alive! organ recital features Anna Pan, who most recently served as organist at Westminster Presbyterian Church in West Hartford. Free admission with donations accepted.

Becoming the Church of Tomorrow with the Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers
2026-02-02 18:00 - 20:30
The Episcopal Church in Connecticut welcomes author, priest, and prophetic leader the Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers to spur conversation and transformation among us in February 2026. Based on Canon Spellers’ new book, Church Tomorrow?: What the ‘Nones’ and ‘Dones’ Teach Us About the Future of Faith, the Rev. Canon Spellers will help us to wrestle with the decline of traditional religion, the firsthand wisdom of nonreligious Millennials and Gen Zs, as well as our call to be courageous, bold representatives of Jesus Christ in the world.
The Rev. Canon Spellers will offer this presentation at several churches in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, including at St. John’s on Monday, February 2 at 6 p.m. Click here to register to attend (free of charge).
Sessions will also be held at St. Luke’s, Darien on February 1; Yale Divinity School on February 3; and Trinity, New Haven on February 22. Click here to register for one of these sessions.

Choral Evensong
2026-02-15 17:00
Evensong is a service of prayer, scripture, and music offered around sunset. Learn more about this ancient and beautiful form of worship here. The February 15 Evensong will feature music from the St. John’s Adult Choir and the Choir of St. James’s Episcopal Church, West Hartford.

Ash Wednesday
2026-02-18
St. John’s will hold three services on Ash Wednesday, at 7 a.m., 12 noon, and 7 p.m. All three services will include imposition of ashes and Holy Eucharist. The noon service will include congregational hymns and organ music, and the 7 p.m. service will feature choral music from our Adult Choir and Choir School.

Pipes Alive! with Jennifer Hsiao
2026-03-01 12:30 - 13:00
The March Pipes Alive! organ recital features Jennifer Hsiao, organist at Old West Church in Boston. Free admission with donations accepted.

Choral Evensong
2026-03-15 17:00
Evensong is a service of prayer, scripture, and music offered around sunset. Learn more about this ancient and beautiful form of worship here. The March 15 Evensong will feature music from the St. John’s Schola.

Music at the Red Door: A Spring Awakening
2026-03-20 19:30 - 21:00
Celebrate the beginning of spring with Broadway hits and beautiful art songs. Local rising stars Jermaine Woodard Jr., Christiana Montalbano, Gregory Flower, and Sierra McElroy will team up with pianist Susan Carroll for an evening of musical storytelling and entertainment. Free admission with donations accepted.

Holy Week & Easter at St. John's
2026-03-29 - 2026-04-05
Join us for worship during this central week in the Christian year.
Palm Sunday (March 29)
Spoken Holy Eucharist at 8 a.m.
Choral Holy Eucharist at 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday (April 1)
Holy Eucharist at 5 p.m. followed by Stations of the Cross
Compline at 7:15 p.m.
Maundy Thursday (April 2)
Holy Eucharist with foot washing at 7 p.m.
Prayer vigil, 8 p.m. to midnight
Good Friday (April 3)
Prayer vigil 6 to 10 a.m.
Children’s walk through Holy Week at 10 a.m.
Worship with the reading of the Passion at 12 noon
Holy Saturday (April 4)
The Great Vigil of Easter at 8 p.m.
Easter Day (April 5)
Spoken Holy Eucharist at 8 a.m.
Choral Holy Eucharist at 10:30 a.m.
Children’s Easter Egg hunt following the 10:30 service

Music at the Red Door: Echoes from East to West
2026-04-17 19:30 - 21:00
Montreal-based C’est Donya invite you on an evocative journey through time and culture, blending Baroque masterpieces with traditional Persian songs. Free admission with donations accepted.

Spring Fling & Auction
2026-04-24 18:30 - 21:30
The Spring Fling is an annual gathering and fundraiser for St. John’s. All adults (parishioners and friends!) are welcome to join us for an evening of good company and lots of fun, including food and beverages, live and silent auctions, and items to purchase and take home. Tickets are available to purchase on Sundays leading up to the event, or at the door.

Choral Music for the Soul
2026-05-01 19:00 - 21:00
The St. John’s semi-professional Adult Choir, youth Choir School, and professional chamber ensemble present a masterpiece by contemporary American composer Dan Forrest. Requiem for the Living is a cathartic journey through the gamut of human emotion, concluding with light, peace, and rest for both the departed and the living. Free admission with donations accepted.

Pipes Alive! with Elijah Morris
2026-05-03 12:30 - 13:00
The May Pipes Alive! organ recital features Elijah Morris, a student at Trinity College and St. John’s organ scholar for the 2025–2026 program year. Free admission with donations accepted.

Ascension Day Choral Eucharist
2026-05-14 19:00 - 20:30
Celebrate Ascension Day at St. John’s with an evening Choral Eucharist, followed by a potluck dessert reception. The service begins at 7 p.m. and will include music from the St. John’s Adult Choir.

Newcomers Gathering
2026-05-17 15:00 - 17:00
Whether you’ve come to church just a few times or have been attending for a while, please join us for an informal gathering where you can meet people and learn more about St. John’s mission and ministries. The reception is at the home of the rector and his wife, Todd and Amy FitzGerald. Please call (860-523-5201) or email the church office to RSVP and get the address. Food and beverages will be provided.

Church by the Pond
2026-05-23 12:00 - 15:00
On Saturdays at 2pm, people gather for communion in Bushnell Park, after which bagged meals are distributed. Church by the Pond is a ministry of Christ Church Cathedral, with churches in the area providing clergy and meals each Saturday. On Saturday, May 23, Margie Baker (St. John’s associate rector) will preach and preside at the service, and then we will distribute meals. Parishioners are invited to meet at St. John’s at noon to prepare meals, and/or to meet at Bushnell Park around 1:45 for worship and to help with meal distribution. Children and families are welcome! Email Margie if you plan to attend for some or all of the afternoon, and sign up here if you can provide supplies for the bagged meals (sandwich fixings, fruit, cookies, etc.).

Youth Sunday
2026-06-07 10:30 - 12:00
We will celebrate all that our children and youth contribute to the St. John’s community at the 10:30 service on Sunday, June 7.

Pipes Alive! with Christa Rakich
2026-06-07 12:30 - 13:00
The final Pipes Alive! organ recital for this program year features Christa Rakich, visiting professor of organ at Oberlin and organ artist-in-residence at St. John’s. Free admission with donations accepted.

Parish Picnic
2026-06-14 12:00 - 13:30
Let’s close out the 2025–2026 program year with a picnic! Weather permitting, we’ll gather outdoors after the 10:30 service on Sunday, June 14. St. John’s will provide hot dogs and beverages; please bring a side dish or dessert to share if you’re able.

All-ages Vacation Bible School (VBS)
2026-06-15 - 2026-06-18
People of all ages and stages are welcome to attend our evening VBS from Monday, June 15 through Thursday, June 18, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Each evening’s program includes scripture, activities, prayer, and dinner. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. $25 per person; $75 maximum for families of 4 or more people. Click here to register.

Summer worship schedule
2026-06-21 - 2026-09-06
9 a.m. Holy Eucharist in the Cloister Garden (in the parish hall if it rains)
10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist in the church and livestreamed
The summer schedule will continue through Sunday, September 6 (Labor Day weekend).

Dine & Dance: Celebration of American In(ter)dependence
2026-06-26 17:30
Come celebrate America’s 250th birthday with an evening of food and fun…and learn the Virginia Reel! We will provide a main dish. Please bring a side or dessert that is a childhood favorite or that represents your family’s heritage. All ages are welcome!

Church by the Pond at Bushnell Park
2026-08-01 11:45 - 15:00
Each Saturday, people gather in Bushnell Park for 2 p.m. worship led by clergy from area churches. On August 1, St. John’s clergy will preach and preside, and we will also prepare bagged lunches to distribute after the service. Join us at St. John’s at 11:45 a.m. to prepare lunches, and/or meet up at 1:45 at Bushnell Park for worship.

Summer Singers on August Sundays
2026-08-02 - 2026-08-30
Join our summer “pick-up” choir! Singers of all ages are invited to sing at the 10:30 service on Sundays in August. Meet in the church at 9:45 a.m. to rehearse. Join us for one, several, or all Sundays!

Kids Community Music Camp
2026-08-17 - 2026-08-21
Music at the Red Door (St. John’s nonprofit music series) sponsors this weeklong day camp where local children explore the joy of music through singing, violin, dance, and drums. The camp is for children entering grades 3, 4, or 5 in the fall. This year’s camp is Monday, August 17 through Friday, August 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $50 per child, and financial assistance is available. Click here for more information and to register a camper.

Blessing of the Backpacks
2026-08-23 09:00 - 12:00
At both services on August 23 (9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.), we will pray for students and educators and give them a tag for their backpack (or lunch bag, laptop case, tote, etc.) as a reminder that God is with them as they start a new school year.
