The Week of March 21, 2021 |
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Holy Week Schedule at Saint John’s Episcopal Church
March 28th - April 4th
Palm Sunday
The service begins outside with the Blessing of the Palms
10:15am
Holy Eucharist with Music
Virtual and In-Person options available
The Easter Triduum
Maundy Thursday – Good Friday – Holy Saturday
7:00pm Noon 7:00pm
Virtual and In-Person options available
Easter Day
10:15am
Holy Eucharist with Music
Virtual and In-Person options available
Dear Parish Family:
Blessings in this season of Lent. Given the hopeful signs and the downward trend of reported Covid19 infections in Connecticut, the Vestry has recommended that we resume indoor worship beginning on Palm Sunday, March 28th, at 10:15AM. Those who feel comfortable enough, and safe enough with attending indoor worship are invited to do so. Many of our parishioners have already been vaccinated against Covid19 which reduces the risk of infection significantly. Safety protocols will remain in place which include social distancing, wearing masks, using hand-sanitizers, and no Coffee Hour gatherings. This, I pray, will mark the beginning of our communal worship once again. This is something we have all terribly missed during this time of forced isolation. What better sign for Easter than having live indoor liturgies once again?
So, beginning with Holy Week on Palm Sunday, we will resume indoor worship. I trust this news will move us closer to Easter joy once we make the journey through Holy Week, and finally arrive at the place of Resurrection!
Blessings and Grace in this Season of Lent,
Fr. Wilfredo Benitez+
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Mark your calendar for the final Lenten event |
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We invite our parish family to join us for this upcoming Lenten event @ 7:00PM
Thursday, March 25
St. John's Women's group will be presenting a concert in honor of "Women's Suffrage" featuring Dr. Chris Shepard. All are welcome to this night of healing and relaxation.
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ZOOM Login Info
Saint John's is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: St. John's Lenten Series 2021
Time: March 25 @ 7:00PM
Meeting ID: 925 4250 2194
Passcode: 938886
Join by phone: +1 929 205 6099
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Lenten Food Drive Success - Thank You St. John’s Family!! |
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Photo taken part-way through the food drive
(Click on the photo to enlarge)
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Photo taken at the end of the food drive -
look at all we collected!
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We collected $320 as well as DOZENS of
bags of groceries packed to the brim!
Many thanks to all of the middle and high schoolers, families, and parishioners at St. John’s who made the Lenten Food Drive such a success!
During the food drive, we did a Bible study on Matthew 14:13-21 - the miracle of Jesus feeding over five thousand people with what started out as only two fish and five loaves of bread. Amidst the cars arriving with trunks FULL of groceries, I read to those gathered the words of Jesus to his disciples: “you give them something to eat.”
While perhaps Jesus multipled the fish and bread, one person shared another interpretation of the miracle - that in Jesus offering the bread and fish to everyone, the crowd gathered what little they each had to create a feast that left everyone full with plenty leftover.
As the middle and high schoolers gathered more and more food from the St. John’s parishioners - I couldn’t help but feel the miracle of God at work in the world - multiplying to meet the needs of many through the generosity of the St. John’s family.
Many, many thanks to all who donated and brought this miracle to life and new understanding! And a special thank you to the middle and high schoolers as well as adult chaperones who led the charge! You are such a special part of our parish and we are blessed to have you among us!
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Wednesday, March 31 at 7:00 p.m.
A collaborative offering from your Region Missionaries, The Rev. Tuesday Rupp of St. Paul’s, Woodbury, The Rev. Anita Schell of St. Ann’s, Old Lyme, The Rev. Erin Flinn of St. Stephen’s, East Haddam, and The Rev. Norman MacLeod, retired, from Rhode Island (and the creator of this order of worship)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 914 1372 1793
One tap mobile +16465588656,,91413721793# US (New York)
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"Spring Into Undies" Campaign |
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Hello Parish Families,
The outreach Committee of St. John's will be participating in the “Spring into Undies” Campaign run by the Undies Project.
The mission of The Undies Project is to provide new underwear to men, women, and children in need to improve their lives. Underwear is the most under-donated, yet most needed, item of clothing. No one should be deprived of the simple daily necessity of clean underwear that many of us take for granted. Hygiene and physical comfort are only a part of this basic human need. New, clean underwear also provides dignity and self-esteem. For many underwear is a necessity, not a luxury.
Together We Can Make a difference
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The money raised will be used to purchase new underwear to lighten the burden for those who are homeless, living in shelters or who are on low incomes No amount is too small to make a difference in the life of someone less fortunate.
Some of the organizations that they work with are: Building One Community, Bridgeport Rescue Mission, CT Institute for Refugees & Immigrants, Inspirica, Homeless Outreach Team (H.O.T), Kids In Crisis. Please see their website for further information this worth cause.
Paula Thompson
Outreach committee
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For those wishing to respond to the note above from Paula, donations for "The Undies Project" can be made to Saint John's Church. Please mail your check to the church to the attention of Ms. Kathy McBride. Please write: "The Undies Project" at the bottom of your check. The Outreach Committee is requesting monetary contributions between $10, $15, $20, or $25. Our Goal is to Contribute $500 to the campaign. The Deadline for this is March 25, 2021.
Thank You!
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ECCT Annual Spring Training & Gathering |
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9th ANNUAL SPRING TRAINING & GATHERING - VIRTUAL EVENT
Tuesday, April 6 through Saturday, April 17, 2021
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All group activities at St. John's, apart from the Sunday morning in-person services, remain canceled until further notice. These include outside groups and ministries using our facilities. |
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Children & Teen Video Chat
Sundays at 10 AM!
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Please join us for a video chat with kids and teens. We’ll pray, check in on how we’re doing, share a Bible story, and share gratitudes together.
Sundays at 10:00 AM
The Zoom meeting info will be sent out on Sunday morning.
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Godly Play Sunday School
Sundays at 10:00 AM
The Zoom meeting info will be sent out on Sunday morning.
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Helpful Information on Covid19 Vaccinations in Connecticut |
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Dear Parish Family,
As we make our way out of the darkness of Covid19, here are some helpful websites with updated information on Covid19 in Connecticut, and scheduling your vaccination. I was happy to learn (while visiting some of our elderly members on Ash Wednesday) that some had already been vaccinated. Cases are starting to go down in Connecticut, however Stamford remains in the Red zone. Please continue to observe safety protocols, and wear your face masks. I hope you will find this information helpful. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
Blessed Lent,
Fr. Wilfredo+
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Dear Parish Family:
Sometimes simple tasks get put off when we are surrounded by other tasks requiring our immediate attention. Pledge Cards were discussed at the Annual Meeting. It's become apparent that many of our parishioners have every intention of returning their Pledge Card but in the absence of the usual convenience of dropping it off at church on Sunday, this has been set aside. For your convenience we are including a pledge card here that you can print, fill out, and either scan and e-mail back to the church (kmcbride@stjohns-stamford.org) or you can mail it back via snail mail. You would be doing our parish family a huge service if you return your Pledge Card, especially in the midst of the ongoing challenges that Covid19 represents. The leadership of the parish is sensitive to the fact that income may have been affected by the Pandemic for some of our membership. Please give this request your prayerful consideration.
Blessings and Grace,
The Rev. Wilfredo Benitez,
Priest In Charge
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Fr. Wilfredo is giving away a ton of books, and other items, from his office. If you would like any of these, please make an appointment with Kathy McBride to stop by. A contribution to Saint John’s, or a charity of your choice, for anything you take would would be appreciated. 🙏🏽 |
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Bon Samaritain Sponsor a Child Program |
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The Haiti Committee has launched a new online bulletin board for Haiti with 31 children who need sponsorship for the 2020-'21 school year. It costs $80 to sponsor a child’s tuition or $150 for tuition, books and uniform.
Please consider sponsoring a child. No contribution is too small! You can sponsor online by visiting https://stjohns-stamford.org/give/ Click on the blue GIVE button and select Bon Samaritain School and Clinic in the "Give To" box; or see Sheelagh or any member of the outreach committee for further info.
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An invitation to join me in Daily Prayers |
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I am happy to offer you a new opportunity to enhance your prayer life. Every morning, Monday through Friday, on my Coffee and Morning Prayers Podcast you find an offering of various prayers and scripture readings. I invite you to click on the picture below and join me in this next step in our common prayer life as we seek a new and exciting way to find a spot for God in our busy lives.
Blessings,
Sandy+
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Saint John’s Church Racial Healing Group
Mission Statement
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In pursuit of living the love of God with hearts open to all, the Racial Healing Program Group at St. John’s Church seeks to deepen our calling as the beloved community through an active dedication to anti-racism within St. John’s, Stamford, and beyond. As a multigenerational and multi-ethnic church, we seek to go beyond being a welcoming and inclusive place of worship to actively dismantle racism through creative ministry, healing dialogue, justice, and public programs.
Anyone wishing information on the work of the Racial Healing Group please contact Ms. Jackie Bembridge: jackiebembridge@gmail.com
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Tuesday Bible Study: Gospel of Matthew
Note new Zoom link
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Join Fr. Sandy on Tuesdays at 2pm online via Zoom for a Bible Study on the Gospel of Matthew. Below is the info:
Meeting ID: 243 991 8700
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Have You Seen These Services?
Click on any of the images below to watch and listen
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Prayers for our parishioners
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A Prayer in a Time of Coronavirus |
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Click on the banner below to read the prayer |
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Dear Parish Family:
Faced with the unfortunate circumstances of having to keep our church closed, in order to help curb the spread of Covid-19, it is imperative that your pledge be either mailed to the church, or better yet, that you make your donations electronically. Please see the instructions below on how to do this.
Our expenses won’t go away even if we’re not having live worship, so I ask that we all be mindful of this. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ms. Kathy McBride, our Parish Administrator. Our vestry, and parish family, will be much appreciative for your efforts.
God’s Grace and Peace,
Fr. Wilfredo+
NOTE: You can simply mail in your check to the church office if you would rather not use the online giving tool. Our Parish Administrator, Kathy McBride, is receiving the mail and doing the banking as usual.
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UPDATE
Our total for the year is 746lbs.
The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield remains in desperate need for donations. Please continue to help in any way you can.
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All group activity at St. John's is cancelled until further notice including outside groups and ministries using our facilities.
Stay updated with meditations, readings, music and sermons by visiting our Facebook page or our website.
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St. John's Office Hours
The Church office is currently closed to public access.
However you may leave a message at 203-348-2619 -
our Parish Administrator, Kathy McBride is checking the messages
many times a day and will respond right away!
Prayer List
FORWARD DAY BY DAY
This is the Episcopal Church's own discipleship publication! As disciples, followers of Christ, daily prayer and reflection grounds us in God's love and gives us strength and clarity to confront our weaknesses, put our trust in God and listen to where God is calling us to serve. Available online for-free!
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