St. John's Episcopal Church

Christmas Festival
2023-12-02 10:00 - 14:00 UTC
The annual Christmas Festival is a beloved tradition at St. John’s. All are welcome to come shop for beautiful and uniquely decorated fresh evergreen wreaths, gifts, and more. Enjoy a delicious lunch at the Festival Café, sing along with carols led by the St. John’s Choir, or try your luck at winning one of our jam-packed themed raffle baskets — all to raise funds to support St. John’s mission and ministries.

Twelfth Night Celebration & Dignity Grows Fundraiser
2024-01-05 17:30 - 18:30
Join us for St. John’s unique annual Twelfth Night celebration, where we gather outdoors for a bonfire consisting of Christmas trees and wreaths (with safety precautions in place!) to bid farewell to the Christmas season. The EYC (youth group) will provide hot cocoa and snacks in return for cash donations to support their fundraiser for Dignity Grows, a Hartford-area nonprofit that provides hygiene supplies to people in need. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. outside, in front of the church. Everyone is welcome!

Annual Meeting
2024-01-28 09:00 - 10:15
All parish members (adults and teens 16+) are encouraged to attend the parish Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 28, from 9 to 10:15 a.m. We will elect vestry officers and members for the year to come, reflect on the year just past, and look ahead to the rest of 2024. The meeting will conclude in time for the 10:30 service. There will be a light potluck breakfast served. Please sign up to bring something at sjparish.net/annualmeeting.

Family Movie Night
2024-02-04 17:00
The EYC (youth group) is holding a Family Movie Night open to all. We’ll show a family-friendly movie and provide pizza, beverages, and a snack. $5 per person/$20 family maximum. Children 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult. This event is a fundraiser for the EYC’s project to support Dignity Grows, a Hartford-area nonprofit that provides hygiene products to those in need. Wear your PJs and bring a friend!

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper & Ash Wednesday Eve service
2024-02-13 18:00
CANCELLED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER
Join us for the traditional Shrove Tuesday pancake supper, followed by a brief, family-friendly worship service with imposition of ashes. Suggested donation (which goes toward the youth group’s Dignity Grows fundraiser) is $7 per person/$20 per family.

Spring Fling & Food Auction
2024-05-31 18:30 - 21:30
The annual Spring Fling and Food Auction, held this year on Friday, May 31 starting at 6:30 p.m. is one of St. John’s major fundraising events. This event includes silent and live auctions featuring food and food-related items, such as homemade treats, themed dinner parties, cooking classes, and more. There is also live music, heavy appetizers, and beverages. All parish adults and friends are welcome. Purchase tickets for $10 per person at sjparish.net/springfling, or purchase them from event volunteers on Sunday mornings leading up to the event, or at the door.

St. John's at the Yard Goats
2024-06-16 13:05
What better way to kick off summer than a Sunday afternoon baseball game with friends from St. John’s? We have reserved 80 seats at a Hartford Yard Goats baseball game at Dunkin Donuts park, starting at 1:05 p.m. on June 16. Make sure to arrive early to hear our St. John’s Choir School sing America, the Beautiful before the game. Tickets are $17 per person, payable to St. John’s by June 10. Register and pay at sjparish.net/yardgoats.

All-ages Vacation Bible School at St. John's
2024-06-17 17:30 - 2024-06-20 20:00
This summer, St. John’s is offering an all-ages Vacation Bible School! Join us Monday-Thursday evenings, June 17-20 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. for prayer, Scripture, activities, and dinner on the theme of how God nourishes us. All ages and stages are welcome. Children ages ten and under must be accompanied by an adult. Open to everyone!
The cost is $30 per person, maximum $100/family. Registration deadline: Friday, June 7. Register and pay at sjparish.net/VBS.

Kids Community Music Camp: Open to the public
2024-08-19 09:00 - 2024-08-23 15:00
Each summer, Music at the Red Door and St. John’s host a week-long day camp that invites a diverse group of children to explore the joys of music by learning to sing, play violin, dance, and drum. The 2024 camp is August 19 through 23 from 9:00am to 3:00pm, and is open to children entering grades 3 through 5 in the fall of 2024. NOTE: As of June 7, 2024, this year’s camp is FULL, and we are taking a limited number of names for a waiting list in case of cancellations. Click here for more information and to request that a child be added to the wait list.

Blessing of the Backpacks
2024-08-25 09:00 - 10:30
Students and educators of all ages are invited to bring a backpack, work bag, laptop, or other school-related item to either service on Sunday, August 25 (9 a.m. outdoor service, 10:30 a.m. indoor service) to receive a blessing for the school year ahead.

Acolyte Lunch & Training
2024-09-01 12:00 - 13:00
All current acolytes, and any youth interested in becoming an acolyte (3rd grade and up), are encouraged to attend our annual acolyte training, with pizza lunch included, after the 10:30 service.

New program year begins & Celebration of Ministry brunch
2024-09-08
On Sunday, September 8, we will begin a new program year with a return to our regular worship schedule: Holy Eucharist at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Sundays, and a brief contemplative Eucharist at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. All adults are invited to a Celebration of Ministry brunch in Hubbard Hall at 9:30 a.m. During that time, children age 3 and up will go to the education wing for Sunday School. Our professionally staffed nursery will also be open for children up to 6 years old from 9 a.m. to noon.

Installation service for the Reverend Todd FitzGerald
2024-09-25 19:00
On Wednesday, September 25, at 7 p.m. we will celebrate the Reverend Todd FitzGerald’s call as our newest rector with an installation service. The Right Reverend Jeffrey Mello, bishop diocesan of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, will preside, and a reception will follow the service.

Jazz at the Red Door
2024-09-27 19:00
Join us on Friday, September 27, at 7:30 p.m. as we welcome Nat Reeves and Friends paying tribute to the late piano legend Kenny Kirkland. For years, Nat has inspired and influenced countless musicians as an educator in Hartford – and he continues to amaze audiences through his performances and recordings. Joined by the innovative Benito Gonzalez (piano) and incomparable Jeff “Tain” Watts (drums), this trio of jazz masters will surely amaze. This event will be presented in person and by livestream. A reception will follow the concert.
The concert is free admission, suggested donation $20. Checks payable to Music at the Red Door or click here to donate online.

"Cottage Meetings" for capital campaign
2024-10-01 - 2024-10-13
In 2024-2025, St. John’s is undertaking the second capital campaign in the parish’s history. The first step in the campaign is discernment — coming together to dream about and discuss what God is calling this community to do and be, so we can decide where to direct our resources and ministries. So that as many people as possible can be part of this conversation, we’re holding a series of small group “cottage meetings” in the first two weeks of October — some at people’s homes, others at church. Each meeting will be about 90 minutes, and light refreshments will be served. Click here to sign up for one that works for your schedule.

Pet Blessing in honor of St. Francis
2024-10-06 17:00
In honor of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, we will host a pet blessing at 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 6. Dogs, cats, and any other type of pet (leashed or crated, please!) are welcome along with their owners!

New World Trio concert
2024-10-13 14:00
The New World Trio, ensemble-in-residence at Music at the Red Door, will present a concert at St. John’s on Sunday, October 13 at 2 p.m. Featuring Anhared Stowe on violin, Peter Zay on cello, and David Bellena on piano, the New World Trio presents wide-ranging concerts of both classical and contemporary chamber music works. These concerts are free admission, suggested donation $20. Checks payable to New World Trio. Details at www.newworldtrio.org

Chili Cook-off Dinner
2024-10-25 18:30 - 21:00
This favorite annual tradition features a variety of chilis made by parishioners (try a few and vote for your favorite!), along with beverages, sides, and desserts. Parishioners and friends of all ages are welcome!

Pipes Alive! with Ondrej Hornas
2024-11-03 12:30
The 2024-2025 Pipes Alive! series begins with organist Ondres Hornas playing the St. John’s organ on Sunday, November 3, at 12:30pm. This event will be presented in person and by livestream. The concert is free admission – donations welcome in any amount. Checks payable to Music at the Red Door or click here to donate online.
For more information, go to www.reddoormusic.org

Philadelphia Eleven Movie Screening & Potluck Supper
2024-11-17 17:00 - 20:00
St. John’s is delighted to host a free screening of the new documentary, “The Philadelphia Eleven,” which tells the story of the first women ordained as priests in the Episcopal Church. This event is open to ALL, including all ages and guests unaffiliated with St. John’s. We will host a potluck supper as well, so please bring a main dish, side, or dessert if you are able. No tickets or reservations required. Please come and bring a friend!

Trivia Night!
2024-11-24 17:00 - 19:00
The St. John’s youth group is hosting a fun trivia night for all on Sunday, November 24 from 5 to 8 p.m. Bring a team, or join one when you arrive. Questions range from pop culture to Scripture and beyond. This family-friendly event is open to kids, youth, young adults, adults…in short, everyone! This is a free event, AND we’re raising money for Dignity Grows, a local nonprofit (dignitygrows.org). Suggested donation of $10/person, cash or check. Pizza and soft drinks provided. Bring a snack or sweet to share, or just come and enjoy! Register at sjparish.net/trivia so we know how many people to expect.

Pipes Alive! with Walden Moore
2024-12-01 12:30
The Pipes Alive! series continues with organist Walden Moore (retired music director at Trinity Church in New Haven, and current interim music director at St. John’s) playing the St. John’s organ on Sunday, December 1, at 12:30 p.m. This event will be presented in person and by livestream. The concert is free admission – donations welcome in any amount. Checks payable to Music at the Red Door or click here to donate online.

Christmas Festival
2024-12-07 10:00 - 14:00
The annual Christmas Festival is a favorite St. John’s event, open to the public. Come shop for unique handmade gifts and Christmas décor, enjoy a bite to eat at the Festival Café, and take home some sweet treats or homemade soups to enjoy later or share with your holiday guests. This event is one of two major annual fundraisers that support St. John’s mission and ministries. All are welcome.

Christmas Pageant
2024-12-22 10:30
Our youngest parishioners, from infants through high school, will present the nativity story in word, dance, and song at the 10:30 worship service on Sunday, December 22. All children and youth are welcome to participate, even if they do not regularly attend St. John’s. Contact Associate Rector Margie Baker for more information.

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day worship
2024-12-24 - 2024-12-25
Join us to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ at services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day:
Christmas Eve:
4 p.m. Festal Eucharist with music from the St. John’s Choir School (musical prelude begins at 3:45)
The 4 p.m. service will also be livestreamed on our YouTube channel.
10 p.m. Festal Eucharist with music from the St. John’s Adult Choir (musical prelude begins at 9:30)
Christmas Day:
10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with sermon and hymns

Twelfth Night Tree Burning
2025-01-05 17:30
Join us for this uniquely festive tradition, when we bid farewell to the Christmas season by burning Christmas trees and wreaths (safely!) outdoors. The EYC (youth group) will be selling hot cocoa and snacks as a fundraiser for their annual project to support Dignity Grows, a local nonprofit that provides hygiene supplies to people in need in the Greater Hartford area. Come on out for this fun event!

Annual Meeting
2025-01-26 09:00 - 10:15
All parish adults and youth 16 and older are encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting, where we review the year just past, look ahead to a new year, and elect new vestry members. The meeting starts at 9 a.m. and will finish in time for the 10:30 worship service. A potluck continental breakfast is served.

Bishop's Visit and Confirmations
2025-02-23
We are excited to welcome the Right Reverend Jeffrey Mello, bishop of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, to St. John’s on Sunday, February 23. The bishop will preside and preach at both the 8 and 10:30 a.m. services. At the 10:30 service, he will also baptize and confirm a group of St. John’s youth, and receive several individuals and families into the Episcopal Church. All are welcome to this celebration of our parish and community.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper & Imposition of Ashes
2025-03-04 18:00
The annual pancake supper to mark Shrove Tuesday, the last day before Lent begins, will be on Tuesday, March 4 from 6 to 7 p.m. Suggested donation of $7 per person or $20 per family, to support the youth group’s Dignity Grows fundraiser to provide hygiene products to people in need. Following the pancake supper, there will be a brief, family-friendly service with imposition of ashes to mark the beginning of Lent. All are welcome.

Spring Fling & Auction
2025-05-30 18:30
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.
