Sunday, July 15 – The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist in the Church, with hymns and organ music
5:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist in the Cloister Garden
Click here for a service preview – Besides a preview of the service music and bulletin for upcoming services, this link also provides access to sermon texts, podcasts and live-stream service videos.
NOTE: Summer parish office hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Update on our Sunday Service Live Stream – Subscribe today!
Just a reminder that if you can’t catch us in person during the summer, you can watch the morning service live on YouTube, or at the same link anytime later. We currently have an online congregation of around 50 people (between the live stream and podcast). It’s a great way to connect right from home!
Our missionaries have safely returned from the Dominican Republic
This past week, our six St. John’s young people and three chaperones safely returned from the Dominican Republic, where they helped to lead a Vacation Bible School for 400 children, together with other Connecticut Episcopalians. The experience was life-changing and powerful, and several who went are looking forward to continued mission work.
Click here for our instagram page where you’ll find many photos of their time. And while you’re there, you should follow us!
News from the Episcopal Church General Convention in Houston
General Convention in Houston is wrapping up this week, and many important issues were addressed, including Prayer Book revision (potentially keeping the 1979 Book of Common Prayer in place, and developing additional, inclusive and expansive resources to add to the breadth of our worship), admission of Cuba as a Diocese (passed unanimously), and witness events against gun violence and poor treatment of immigrant families. Our Bishops, Ian and Laura, were present and active, as well as our own Youth Delegate, Christine Babbitt.
Notable was Presiding Bishop Michael Curry preaching a sermon of “love God, love neighbor” to more than 1,000 people (including Christine, who was right outside the fence from some of the refugees) during a Prayer of Vision, Witness and Justice near the T. Don Hutto Residential Center, a detention facility in Taylor, Texas, housing 500 female non-U.S. citizens awaiting the outcome of their immigration status. Click here for details, and here for the full sermon.
And join us in prayers of celebration and hope as our faith mission is carried out in our country and the world.
Update on the Community Garden
Our distribution of free vegetables to our neighbors continued on Tuesday morning. Arugula and other leafy veggies were washed, bagged and offered to passers-by and visitors to the church, who were grateful—and surprised!—to receive fresh vegetables at no cost. We are continuing to distribute vegetables on Tuesday mornings, and may add other days and times.
We are now signing up gardening volunteers for each week during the summer and into early fall. Volunteers may come at any time during their chosen week to weed, harvest and do any other needed garden maintenance. It is best if at least one person per week either attended one of our recent garden orientations, or has some gardening experience, as volunteers will be on their own to do what needs doing.
There is a paper sign-up on the large bulletin board located between Hubbard Hall and the Education Wing, and an online sign-up available here. We are also in need of plastic grocery bags in which to distribute the vegetables, so please bring in extra bags that are taking up space at home!
Jazz Mass at Christ Church Cathedral, July 22 at 10:30 a.m.
Once again, Christ Church Cathedral invites everyone to their Jazz Mass, on Sunday, July 22 at 10:30 a.m. This annual event brings together Episcopalians from many area churches for wonderful music and worship.
Youth and Adult Choir Open House Sundays during August
Anyone, age 8 and up, is welcome to experience the joy of singing in our choir during the month of August at our 9:00 service. This is a great opportunity to see what it is like to sing, without the commitment of a midweek rehearsal. A core of our regular choir members will be present and singing to help you feel confident and welcome.
Why try choir? Singing in the choir has benefits you may have not considered, other than the obvious – using your voice to express praise to God, at the same time helping those who hear you to praise and pray…
  • Choir is an amazing, close-knit community
  • Singing has proven health benefits – both physical and mental
  • Best seat in the house on Sundays
  • An activity that children and adults can do together
  • Best robes in town!
Join us on any Sunday during August at 8:15 in the church for a brief rehearsal to learn the Offertory Anthem for the day. You can just show up, or contact Scott at [email protected] for details.
Save the date for Block Party 2018!