The Week of January 19, 2020
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Highlights For The Coming Week
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Saturday, January 18
- 10:00 a.m. - Community Thrift Shop (St. John’s International Room)
Sunday, January 19
- 10:00 a.m. - Church School - see below
Monday, January 20 -
Parish Office Closed for MLK Day
Tuesday, January 21
- 2:00 p.m.- Exploring Spirituality (Conference Room)
Thursday, January 23
- 10:00 a.m. - Community Thrift Shop (St. John’s International Room)
Friday, January 24
- 5:00 p.m. - Dinners at Inspirica
Saturday, January 25
- 9:00 a.m. - Men's Breakfast (Parish Hall/Dining Room) - see below
- 10:00 a.m. - Community Thrift Shop (St. John’s International Room)
Sunday, January 26
- 10:15 a.m. - Eucharist Rite II and Annual Parish Meeting - see below
- 4:00 p.m. - Stephen Clapp Memorial Concert - see below
For the full calendar please scroll down to the end of the newsletter.
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MLK Prayer Day and March: January 20, 2020
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MLK Prayer Day and March: Monday, January 20th leaving from the Bethel AME Church, 150 Fairfield Avenue, Stamford CT proceeding through town and ending at Joyce Yerwood Center, 90 Fairfield Ave, Stamford, CT. We shall Overcome! The Parish Office will be closed for the MLK holiday.
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A Musical Feast Coming Up...
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Weekly contribution envelopes are available for pick up in the Baronial Hall. If you would like envelopes, and your box is not there, please notify Kathy in the parish office at 203-348-2619-Ext. 10.
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This Sunday for
Children and Youth
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- Pre-K - Grade 4 - will explore the Godly Play story of the Parable of the Good Shepherd
- Grades 5-8 – will explore the Godly Play story of the “I Am” Statements
- Grades 9-12 – are invited to join the congregation for worship.
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Exciting Children and Youth events coming up – Save the date!
Children’s Choir!
Sunday, February 2 – 9:15AM
Guest Preacher and Workshop – Raising Children of Faith
Sunday, February 23 – worship + workshop
St. John’s sanctuary and library
Tain Gregory was present in his third-grade classroom on the morning of the Sandy Hook shootings. As part of the healing process for the community after the tragedy Tain was asked, “What’s the most important thing in the world to you?” His mother expected an answer about a video game or Pokémon trading card. Tain thinks for a moment then answers with one word. “God.”
Read more>>
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Coming up next week Saturday!
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Attention all men of St. John's:
Our next Men's Breakfast will be on Saturday, January 25 at 9:00 am in the Parish Hall. We look forward to seeing with you then!
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Stewardship Reflection
By Fr. Wilfredo
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Why I Pledge?
Being a member of the clergy, and the Priest In-Charge (PPIC) at Saint John’s Church, it is a natural expectation that I would pledge, and that I pledge with intentionality. But is this the reason why I pledge? The mission statement for Saint John’s Church reads as follows: “
To Live the Love of God
with hearts open to all, strengthened by joyful worship, inspired by the Holy Spirit and dedicated to serving Christ in the world.” Serving Christ in the world is the mission of our parish, and contributing to its resources is a vital part of this mission. Do I believe in this mission? Am I committed to it? When we seek to honor our baptismal covenant with the Eternal and Transcendent, we have no choice but to support the mission of God’s work, and we do this for the sake of a humanity transformed into the image and likeness of God in our midst. In the process, we do this for the sake of our own transformation as servants of God, while discovering our truest self and identity. One thing becomes clearer to me the older I get: I possess nothing, not even the body my soul embodies; I possess absolutely nothing. All that I enjoy in life is a gift!
When we tithe, or make the honest attempt to tithe, we’re simply giving back what already belongs to God, in the confident expectation that we will lack nothing. Saint John’s Church is a charitable church, with significant outreach to the surrounding community, we are a parish very much in tune with the lives of many beyond our parish walls, we are generous, and this generosity comes from loving hearts who trust in the Lord. On a personal note, I pledge because I am compelled by the Spirit of God to support the work of God’s Kingdom, as it unfolds in our midst, and I pledge from a place of gratitude for all the gifts that come in my direction.
I hope and pray that you will join me in pledging as we enter 2020, in what I suspect for many, is the most turbulent, divisive, and challenging time we have ever faced. Our work as a parish is more needed than ever. Please join me in making real our mission as a parish family, and prayerfully consider your
heart centered
pledge for 2020. The Journey ahead is full of twists and turns, all leading to God’s wonderful awesome grace, and Kingdom. We journey by faith!
Blessings and Grace,
Wilfredo Benitez+
The Rev. Wilfredo Benitez,
Priest In-Charge (PPIC)
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The Tuesday Afternoon Spirituality Meetings
continue next Tuesday! Come join us!
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Children & Youth Ministry Updates
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Click on the image above to see current updates.
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We are now accepting fall and winter clothing in VERY GOOD CONDITION, along with smaller household decor items.
Please place these items in the designated box outside of St John’s dining room/parish hall.
All proceeds from the Thrift Shop are donat
ed to charity.
This month the Thrift Shop donated to SIRS (Stamford Interfaith Refugees Settlements), and RISE Zambia.
Thank you for your generosity.
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If anyone ever needs a document notarized, Vicki Zacharewicz has recently been certified as a Notary Public in Connecticut. Notaries are $5 each. Her cell is: 203-962-3438.
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Prayers for our parishioners
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When you're bringing food to others, you are also feeding God.
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Coffee Hour Sign-Ups:
Everyone delights in Coffee Hour and the wonderful hospitality we enjoy on a weekly basis.
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Haiti Outreach Partnership
Lunch program and
child sponsorship.
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Sunday, January 19
8:00 a.m. - Eucharist Rite I (Ladies Chapel)
10:00 a.m. - Church School
10:15 a.m. - Eucharist Rite II (Sanctuary)
11:30 a.m. - Coffee Hour (Parish Hall)
12:30 p.m. - Iglesia Betania Service (Sanctuary)
2:00 p.m. - L’Église de L’Épiphanie Service (Eagle’s Loft)
Monday, January 20
Parish Office Closed for MLK Day
Tuesday, January 21
2:00 p.m.- Exploring Spirituality (Conference Room)
Wednesday, January 22
No events scheduled for today
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Thursday, January 23
10:00 a.m. - Community Thrift Shop (St. John’s International Room)
12:10 p.m. Eucharist Rite II (Ladies Chapel)
7:15 p.m. Choir Practice
Friday, January 24
5:00 p.m. - Dinners at Inspirica
Saturday, January 25
9:00 a.m. - Men's Breakfast (Dining Room)
10:00 a.m. - Community Thrift Shop (St. John’s International Room)
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St. John's Office Hours
The Church office is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm.
Prayer List
Please sign up for Coffee Hour
If you would like to share food as well as fellowship, please sign up to lead coffee hour for one of the next several weeks in the Dining Room. "Light snacks on throw away plates or pack and go containers is a great way to make clean up super easy!"
Pick Up Your Copy Of
FORWARD DAY BY DAY today!
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
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