8:00 a.m. – Festal Choral Eucharist with St. John’s Adult Choir

10:30 a.m. – Festal Choral Eucharist with St. John’s Youth & Adult Choirs, brass and timpani

12 noon – Easter egg hunt after the 10:30 service

Maundy Thursday, April 18: Service with foot washing at 7 p.m.

After the Maundy Thursday service, we will set up an Altar of Repose near the High Altar, where the consecrated bread and wine used in the Maundy Thursday Eucharist are held in reserve. The Altar of Repose is available for contemplation and reflection, either on-site or virtually, via our live stream. Click here for the live stream, which will be available after the Maundy Thursday service is over, starting at about 8:30 p.m. this evening.

Good Friday, April 19: Two joint services will be held with St. James’s Church, at 12 noon (at St. John’s) and at 7 p.m. (at St. James’s).

The offering collected on Good Friday will be sent to the national church to support the work of our Anglican sisters and brothers in Jerusalem and the Middle East. More information about the Good Friday Offering is available here.

Today at 2 p.m., we will ring our tower bell for seven minutes, along with the National Cathedral and churches around the world, in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in France and the parish of Notre-Dame. St. John’s has its own challenging history, having been ravaged by fire in October 1992 — a blaze that virtually destroyed the parish hall, chancel, and organ. Photos from the aftermath have an eerie resemblance to what we see in Paris.

We’re rightly taught that we do not worship our buildings, and yet we were all sickened and hurt by this horrible destruction, even (thankfully) without loss of life. God inspired and instilled talent and perseverance in the people who created these spaces — both in Paris and here at St. John’s — and our gratitude for that is renewed in this tragedy. Please join us in praying for the people of Paris, and indeed the people around the world who have found peace and solace in that cathedral. We honor them by providing that same thing in West Hartford, using our gifts to touch the hearts of people and bring them closer to God. And our story is proof that there is hope and glory even in tragedy, as like St. John’s, Notre-Dame will rise again.

If you’d like to listen to the bell ringing from off-site, click here to tune into our live stream at 2 p.m. today.

St. John’s after the 1992 fire (top) and today (bottom).

The Chili Cook-off scheduled for Friday, April 26, has been cancelled…but it will be back next year!

Just as we do at Advent and Christmas, we will share the story of Easter through a special service of scripture readings and music. Join us for this new tradition, on the second Sunday of Easter, April 28 at 10:30 a.m. At the 9:30 Faith Forum that day, Music Director Scott Lamlein will give a tour and demonstration of the Austin organ.

The Spring Food Fling is just 3 weeks away! This is St. John’s biggest fundraiser and a wonderful way to share food and fellowship with others in the parish. The event is May 10 in Hubbard Hall, starting at 6:30 p.m. Invite a friend to join you!

There will be something for everyone:

·    Live auction

·    Silent auction

·    Food for sale

·    Music

·    Drinks and hors d’ouevres

New this year, we are asking everyone to bring some nonperishable food donations for our food wagon. Let’s have it overflowing by the end of the evening! Donations go to the Grace Seventh Day Adventist Church food pantry on Prospect Avenue.

If you would like to contribute to the live or silent auction, or contribute a food item to be sold at the event, please contact Marki Ware. The live and silent auctions feature food-related items, such as themed dinner parties, meals or desserts showcasing parish cooks’ best recipes, themed food and beverage baskets, etc.

If you would like to contribute hors d’oeuvres, please contact Marian Beers.

If you would like to come, but do not drive at night, or if you have any other questions, please contact Julia O’Brien.

The final service of Choral Evensong for the 2018-19 program year will be on April 28 at 5 p.m., with the Trinity (New Haven) Choir of Men & Boys. Don’t miss this opportunity to worship in a quiet, reflective space filled with music, prayer and chant.

Children in grades 1-5 are invited to a celebration at Heidi Tummescheit’s home in West Hartford (not far from St. John’s) on Sunday, May 5 from 12:30 to 3 p.m. The children will bake yeast rolls together with creative additions. Family members are welcome. Contact Heidi to RSVP and get further details.

Join the Walk Against Hunger On Saturday, April 27 at Dunkin Donuts Park. This benefits both Foodshare and Loaves and Fishes. It is just a 1 1/2 mile walk and St. John’s has historically supported this fun event. If you would like to walk to support Loaves and Fishes, please contact Lissie Brooks.

Garden Work Day, Saturday, May 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This will be our second year growing vegetables in our community garden (supported in part by Jesse’s Community Gardens). Vegetables will be given away to our neighbors on Sundays, after the 9 a.m. summer service, throughout the growing season. All ages are welcome to our spring workdays; children must be accompanied by an adult. You may stop by for any length of time, and we’ll provide sandwiches. Bring a water bottle, and wear gardening clothes and sunscreen.

Giving statements for the first quarter of 2019 are being mailed out this week to all pledging households. Statements will reflect pledge payments (and other gifts) received from St. John’s pledgers through March 31. If you have questions about your statement, please contact Peggy O’Toole, financial administrator at 860-523-5201 x 311, or [email protected].

The Men’s Bible Study is currently looking at the life of David in the books of Samuel. They always welcome new members — all men are welcome to drop by on Thursday mornings at 6:30 a.m. in the Reception Room. Coffee provided!

At St. John’s, we are continually balancing the practice of hospitality with the need to provide parishioners and guests with a safe and secure facility. For events in the building, we schedule the doors to unlock approximately 15-30 minutes before the event starts, and to lock again 15-30 minutes later. The exact timing depends on whether there are other events going on with different start times. If you expect to be more than 15 minutes late for a scheduled event, please make sure you have a cell phone number for someone in your group so you can text or call them if the doors are locked when you arrive. Thanks for your understanding!