St. John's Episcopal Church

Spring Chamber Music: The Claremont Trio
2025-03-21 19:30 UTC
Noted by the Boston Globe for playing with passion and precision, The Claremont Trio will be at St. John’s 0n Friday, March 21, at 7:30pm for an evening of exquisite chamber music. Known as the freshest breath of air in the world of chamber music today, they will take full advantage of the beautiful acoustics of the St. John’s nave. This event will be presented in person and by livestream. A reception will follow this concert. The concert is free admission, suggested donation $20.

Centering prayer workshop on Wednesdays in Lent
2025-03-26 18:00 - 18:30, 2025-04-02 18:00 - 18:30 UTC
As part of this year’s Lenten observance, the Reverend Nancy Wright (a St. John’s priest associate) will lead four half-hour sessions to introduce attendees to the practice of centering prayer — a contemplative practice designed to deepen one’s awareness of and connection to God. Four sessions will be held on Lent Wednesdays at 6 p.m.: March 12, March 19, March 26, and April 2. Participants are welcome to come early at 5:30 p.m. for our weekly Wednesday evening spoken Holy Eucharist if they wish.

Pipes Alive! with Sarah Ku
2025-04-06 12:30 UTC
The 2024-2025 Pipes Alive! series continues with organist Sarah Ku playing the St. John’s organ on Sunday, April 6, at 12:30pm. This event will be presented in person and by livestream. The concert is free admission – donations welcome in any amount. Access the livestream via the Music at the Red Door web site.

Holy Week and Easter at St. John's
2025-04-13 - 2025-04-20
Join us for the holiest days of the Christian year:
Palm Sunday, April 13 – Services at 8 and 10:30 a.m.
Maundy Thursday, April 17 – Service at 7 p.m.
Good Friday, April 18 – Children’s walk through Holy Week at 10 a.m. & Service at 12 noon
Easter Vigil, April 19 – New this year! Service at 8 p.m.
Easter Sunday, April 20 – Services at 8 and 10:30 a.m.

Afro-Cuban Inspired Jazz with Congabop
2025-05-02 19:30 UTC
Once again you’ll find it impossible to sit still during this evening featuring Afro-Cuban influenced rhythms, and soulful, creative music and dance. Join us on Friday, May 2, at 7:30pm for DREAMS II when we welcome back Ed Fast and Congabop and dancers Chantal Edwards and Karrington Trice for another upbeat treat for young and old alike! This event will be presented in person and by livestream. A reception will follow this concert. The concert is free admission, suggested donation $20. Access the livestream at the Music at the Red Door web site.

Pipes Alive! with Angela Kraft-Cross
2025-05-04 12:30 UTC
The 2024-2025 Pipes Alive! series continues with organist Angela Kraft-Cross playing the St. John’s organ on Sunday, May 4, at 12:30pm. This event will be presented in person and by livestream. The concert is free admission – donations welcome in any amount. Access the livestream via the Music at the Red Door web site.

Spring Fling & Auction
2025-05-30 18:30 UTC
The Spring Fling is a favorite annual gathering to celebrate the St. John’s community and raise money to support our ministries. All adults are welcome — parishioners and friends. Tickets ($10 per person) will be for sale on Sundays starting three weeks before the event, or may be purchased at the door for $15 per person. Join us for good company, food and beverages, live music, and the opportunity to bid on items in the silent and live auctions.

Pipes Alive! with Christa Rakich
2025-06-01 12:30 UTC
Our 2024-2025 season draws to a close with Pipes Alive! featuring St. John’s organ artist-in-residence Christa Rakich playing the St. John’s organ Sunday, June 1, 2025, at 12:30pm. This event will be presented in person and by livestream. The concert is free admission – donations welcome in any amount. Access the livestream via the Music at the Red Door web site.

All-ages Vacation Bible School
2025-06-16 - 2025-06-19
This popular event is truly for everyone! We welcome parishioners and friends of all ages for four evenings of prayer, scripture, food, and fun as the summer begins, June 16 to 19 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. each day. This year’s theme is loosely based on Anne Lamott’s book Help Thanks Wow: The Three Essential Prayers. The cost is $25 per person, with a maximum of $75/family. Dinner, t-shirts, and all supplies for activities are included. We welcome guests who do not regularly attend St. John’s. Children 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Register at sjparish.net/vbs.

Summer Service Schedule
2025-06-22 - 2025-08-31
On Sundays from June 22 through August 31, there will be a 9 a.m. outdoor service in the Cloister Garden (Hubbard Hall if it rains) and a 10:30 a.m. service in the church (which will also be livestreamed).

Church by the Pond in Bushnell Park
2025-07-26 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Every Saturday at 2 p.m., clergy and congregations from Episcopal and Lutheran parishes around the state host an outdoor worship service at Bushnell Park and distribute brown-bag meals to anyone in attendance who is hungry. St. John’s will host Church by the Pond on Saturday, July 26, with the Reverend Margie Baker presiding. Meet at noon at St. John’s to prepare bagged meals, or meet at Bushnell Park by 1:45 p.m. Provide sandwich supplies by signing up at sjparish.net/churchbythepond. Church by the Pond is a ministry of Christ Church Cathedral.

Blessing of the Backpacks
2025-08-24
All students and educators are invited to bring a backpack, tote bag, laptop case, lunch box, etc. to be blessed and tagged with a reminder of God’s love to carry with them through the coming school year. The Blessing of the Backpacks will take place at both services (9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.).

Acolyte Lunch & Training
2025-08-31 12:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Calling all current and future acolytes! All children and youth in 3rd grade and above (including those who sing with the Choir School) are invited to attend this annual training to learn more about how acolytes assist the clergy with worship. The training will begin after the 10:30 service, and lunch will be provided.

Program Year Begins
2025-09-07 08:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
On Sunday, September 7, we will return to the program year schedule: 8 a.m. spoken Holy Eucharist, Christian education for all ages at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. choral Holy Eucharist, and professionally staffed nursery care from 9 a.m. to noon. During the education hour at 9:30 a.m., we will host the final of our Education Wing open houses for anyone who wishes to learn more about our growing programs for children and youth, and the proposed space upgrades for this space that are included in the fall 2025 capital campaign.

Wednesday Evening Eucharist resumes
2025-09-10 17:30 (America/New_York)
On Wednesdays during the program year, we offer a brief service of spoken Holy Eucharist in the chancel (front of the church) at 5:30 p.m. All are welcome.

Jazz at the Red Door
2025-09-26 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
A favorite sell-out annual event, the Jazz at the Red Door concert features the Nat Reeves Trio. Bassist Nat Reeves will be joined by the legendary composer and pianist George Cables, and Emmy-winning composer Jerome Jennings on drums. No tickets required, but come early to get a seat! Donations are gratefully accepted.

Choral Evensong
2025-09-28 17:00 (America/New_York)
Evensong is a service of prayer, scripture, and music offered around sunset. Learn more about this ancient and beautiful form of worship here. The September 28 Evensong will feature music from the St. John’s Adult Choir and Choir School.

Pipes Alive! with Nick Capozzoli
2025-10-05 12:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Our monthly Pipes Alive! series of short organ recitals returns with our own Nick Capozzoli, director of music at St. John’s. Free admission with donations accepted.

Capital Campaign Kick-Off Event
2025-10-19 12:00 (America/New_York)
After the 10:30 service on Sunday, October 19, we’ll host a special coffee hour to officially kick off the congregational phase of our Fall 2025 Capital Campaign, which is raising money to ensure a healthy and vibrant future for St. John’s. Projects to be funded by the capital campaign include paying off the cost our new, more efficient HVAC system, upgrading security, renovating the Education Wing to better accommodate our growing children’s programs, and adding to the endowment. Come learn more about the progress made on the campaign so far and how you can support it!

Trivia Night
2025-10-19 17:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for one of our semiannual Trivia Nights! Hosted by the youth group (but open to EVERYONE), Trivia Night is all about gathering for food, fun, and friendly competition. You might even learn an interesting fact or two. Bring your own team or get matched up with a team at the event. Pizza dinner provided, with cash donations accepted to defray costs. Please RSVP to the parish office by Thursday, October 17 so we know how much pizza to order!

Chili Cook-off
2025-10-24 18:30 (America/New_York)
A favorite annual event, the Chili Cook-off is an all-ages gathering featuring a chili competition plus lots of other good food and drink. Please come and bring a friend!

Choral Evensong
2025-10-26 17:00 (America/New_York)
Evensong is a service of prayer, scripture, and music offered around sunset. Learn more about this ancient and beautiful form of worship here. The October 26, 2025, Evensong will feature music from the St. John’s Adult Choir and the Choir of the Church of Christ Congregational, Newington.

Pipes Alive! with Gail Archer
2025-11-02 12:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
The next recital in our Pipes Alive! series will be presented by international concert organist Gail Archer. Free admission with donations accepted.

Christmas Festival
2025-11-21 - 2025-11-23
The annual Christmas Festival fundraiser will take place earlier this year, in late November, to give you a chance to get ahead of your Christmas decorating and gift-giving! The festival will offer many items for sale, including uniquely decorated evergreen wreaths, upcycled Christmas decor, baked goods and other treats, hand knit items, and more. Stop by the Festival Café for a cup of soup and a sandwich, or try your luck at winning one of several fabulous raffle baskets.
This year we also have an expanded schedule:
Friday, November 21: Preview Gala at 6:30 pm
Saturday, November 22: Festival hours 10 am to 1 pm
Sunday, November 23: Festival hours 12 to 1:30 pm

Choral Evensong
2025-11-23 17:00 (America/New_York)
Evensong is a service of prayer, scripture, and music offered around sunset. Learn more about this ancient and beautiful form of worship here. The September 28 Evensong will feature music from the St. John’s Adult Choir.

Thanksgiving Day Worship
2025-11-27 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for a service of Holy Eucharist to thank God for our many blessings, at 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. The service will include hymns and a sermon.

Pipes Alive! with Frank Zilinyi
2025-12-07 12:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Our next Pipes Alive! organ recital will feature Frank Zilinyi, director of music at South Church in New Britain. Free admission with donations accepted.

Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols
2025-12-14 15:00 (America/New_York)
Come enjoy a time of peace and musical refreshment, as we offer carols and anthems from a long tradition of Advent and Christmas season music. The program will include a new composition commissioned for the St. John’s Choir School by local organist and musician Michelle Horsley.

Christmas Pageant
2025-12-21 10:30 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
The children and youth of St. John’s will re-tell the Christmas story at the annual pageant during the 10:30 service on December 21.
