The Week of April 11, 2021 |
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A special announcement from the Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas, Ph.D. Bishop Diocesan of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut |
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April 7, 2021
Wednesday of Easter Week
Dear Companions in Christ:
Alleluia, Christ is risen! May the joy and peace of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you this Easter and forever more.
I want to begin this letter by giving thanks. I thank God for you the good people of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, for your faithfulness, for your love of Jesus, and for your bold sense of adventure and willingness to “try things on” for the sake of the Gospel. As we begin to emerge from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, I trust that God’s providence and grace will continue to sustain us and make us the church God needs to serve God’s mission now and into the future. For you, and for God’s love and guidance, I am eternally grateful.
I write today to inform you that I plan to retire in the fall of 2022 in the 13th year of service as your bishop. More specifically, God willing and the Church consenting, the 16th Bishop Diocesan of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut will be ordained on October 8, 2022, at which point I will resign.
My reasons for retiring are twofold. First, by the fall of 2022 it will be time for you to have a new bishop with fresh ideas and vision to lead you forward in the 21st century and who has other gifts and perspectives than I have. Second, while I have loved every minute of being your Bishop Diocesan, the work of a bishop is an arduous and nonstop vocation. I look forward to retiring with energy and in good health both to serve God’s mission in new ways and also to spend time with Kristin, our children, daughter-in-law and grandchild.
Over the next month the Standing Committee, Mission Council, and leadership of our Regions will work together to establish a Bishop Transition Committee as called for in Canon XVI of the canons of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. The Bishop Transition Committee will be responsible for overseeing the transition process, including discerning nominees for the election of the next Bishop Diocesan. To that end, according to Canon III.11.2 of The Episcopal Church and with the advice and consent of the Standing Committee, I now call for a special meeting of the Convention of the Diocese to elect the I6th Bishop Diocesan on May 21, 2022. I will continue to function actively as your Bishop Diocesan and remain the Ecclesiastical Authority of the diocese until the consecration of the next Bishop Diocesan in October 2022.
Serving as your bishop has been the greatest blessing and honor of my ordained ministry. In the power of the Holy Spirit, we have embraced the challenges and opportunities of this new missional age. I am excited about the work before us, and I very much look forward to our next year and a half together in service to God’s mission of restoration and reconciliation.
“Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine; Glory to God from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 3:20,21
In the love of Christ,
The Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas, Ph.D.
Bishop Diocesan
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ECCT Annual Spring Training & Gathering |
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Welcome back home to Camp Washington!
Summer Camp 2021 will be a “different” kind of summer for us all- and- we are getting pretty good at being flexible.
As we continue to live with COVID-19, we also learn more as we try-on new things and listen to the science and guidance of experts.
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Faith Based Books Giveaway |
Act soon, or all these current books and items will go to the Goodwill Center.
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 be appreciated. 🙏🏽
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Dear St Johns Parishioners,
It has been such a long time since we have been able to gather together and many have expressed a sense of loneliness and isolation. So, something to bring us together is coming to St Johns!
We are starting a Book Group. We will meet on the first Wednesday of each month, beginning on May 5, at 7PM for one hour. The prescribed book, which we would have read, will be discussed during this hour. The meeting will be held on Zoom so that even those who do not drive at night can be part of the Group. The topic of the books we will read need not be spiritual, but rather of interest to a wide reader base. I hope you feel as excited as we are about this new ministry at St Johns. Please feel free to invite your older children to join or, if you have friends who might be interested. This is a good vehicle to even include family and friends who may not attend St. Johns.
The first book we will read, is a new publication, “The Saint Makers,” Joe Drape. This is a true story of a priest from Kansas who died during the Korean War who has been presented for consideration for sainthood. The process is long and complex, but very interesting. Do you believe in miracles? Read the book and please join us on Zoom on May 5 at 7PM.
The book is available on line or at bookstores. You will have to purchase your own copy, or loan it from your library, as the books will not be available through St Johns.
Yours in Christ,
Fr Sandy Key
Denise Wade
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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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Holy Week and Easter Services |
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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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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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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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