8:00 a.m. Spoken Holy Eucharist

9:30 a.m. Stewardship note writing workshop

10:30 a.m. Choral Holy Eucharist

5:00 p.m. Choral Evensong

Preacher: The Reverend Hope Eakins

*The Instructed Eucharist previously planned for this Sunday has been postponed due to the rector being called away unexpectedly. It will be rescheduled for a later date.*

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.

Pipescreams!, a popular annual event, is tomorrow, Friday, October 26, 7:30 p.m. Hear the celebrated St. John’s Austin organ played by a stunning cast of costumed players in this spooktacular concert. The music will be kooky, creepy, dramatic, doleful—featuring old favorites as well as some pieces you may not have heard before. Reception with ghoulish treats follows the concert. Fun for all ages. Don’t miss it! Co-sponsored by the Greater Hartford Chapter, American Guild of Organists. A freewill offering helps support the L. Cameron Johnson Memorial Organ Competition for young organists.

The second in this year’s Choral Evensong series will feature the St. John’s Schola (a small group of singers from our Adult Choir), who will premiere a new choral work by St. John’s Music Director and Organist Scott Lamlein. Choral Evensong is an ancient tradition that offers a restful, contemplative service of music, chant and prayer. Beautiful words and music in a beautiful space will feed your soul and prepare you for the week ahead. Please join us and bring a friend.

On Sunday, November 4 and Sunday, November 11 at 9:30 a.m., special guest Dr. Ron Casey will lead discussions about prevalent mental health concerns. Dr. Casey, consulting psychologist to the Episcopal Church in CT and a practicing therapist, believes that open and honest conversations are a first step toward addressing these difficult issues, which affect so many American families. Dr. Casey invites submission of questions ahead of time so he can steer the conversation toward issues of most concern to participants. To submit a question, write it down and put it in the labeled box in Hubbard Hall this Sunday, or email Ellen in the parish office. Questions will remain anonymous. Members of the public are welcome, so if you know someone who might benefit from these conversations, please invite them to join you.

On the first Sunday of the month, we collect donations for the Grace Seventh Day Adventist Church Food Pantry on Prospect Avenue. Needed items include: peanut butter, canned fish/meat, canned stew/soup/pasta, canned fruit and veggies, and cereal. Place your items in the wagon in the back of the church.

The annual Christmas Festival, coming up on Saturday, December 1, includes sale of decorated wreaths, poinsettias, and planters with amaryllis and paperwhites. We’re collecting small attractive containers (ceramic, pottery, metal, etc.) that would be appropriate for planting bulbs. We need these ASAP so that bulbs can be planted in advance of the Festival. As always, we are also collecting small decorative items to adorn fresh evergreen wreaths—small ornaments, faux flowers or greens, ribbon, garland, etc. The annual wreath decorating night will be Thursday evening, November 29. This is a fun opportunity for adults in the parish to enjoy food, beverages and good company while creating unique and beautiful wreaths to sell at the Christmas Festival.

St. John’s will once again sponsor 60 children in the Nurturing Families Network with Christmas gift bags. You’re invited to pick up a tag with a child’s wish list, fill a gift bag with some items from the list, and make a child’s Christmas brighter! Sign-up sheets and gift tags will be available outside Hubbard Hall every Sunday in November beginning Sunday, November 4. Please shop and place unwrapped items in a large gift bag or reusable shopping bag, then return your bag (labeled with the gift tag itself or its tracking number) to St. John’s by Wednesday, November 28. You may deliver your bag to the office during the week or to our gift bag table on Sunday mornings. Thanks in advance for your generosity! For more information, contact Jillian Puzzo at [email protected] or Leah Murchie at [email protected].

If you would like a loved one’s name included in the Sunday bulletin and prayers on All Saints Sunday (November 4), please send the name (or names) to Ellen in the parish office at [email protected]. Names must be received in the office by Monday, October 29.

After a week’s hiatus, the Men’s Bible Study will be back and better than ever on All Saints’ Day, November 1! Join us at 6:30 a.m. in the Reception Room.

St. John’s has a “Lost and Found” area in the coat closet just outside the Education Wing. We’ve built up quite a collection of jackets, scarves, mobility aids, reading glasses, water bottles and more. Please stop by to see if anything belongs to you! Anything still there on November 1 will be donated. Thank you!!!

The Downtown Singers are a choir comprising people who are homeless and food insecure, who receive meals and other services at MANNA/Hands on Hartford at Christ Church Cathedral and the South Park Inn transitional shelter. Dianne Rechel, a local organist (and student of Scott Lamlein, St. John’s organist), leads a weekly rehearsal for the group. The Downtown Singers will present a concert on November 2 at 7 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral.