The Week of June 12, 2022 |
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Join us this Sunday at 10:15AM in person or online
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Dear friends in Christ,
Today, the church remembers St. Columba (521-97), Irish priest, abbot, and missionary who is credited with spreading Christianity in what is today Scotland.
Columba was born in Ireland in 521, and early in life showed scholarly and pastoral ability. He entered upon the monastic life, and almost immediately set forth on missionary travels. Even before ordination as a priest in 551, he had founded monasteries at Derry and Durrow.
Twelve years after his ordination, Columba and a dozen companions set out for northern Britain, where the Picts were still generally ignorant of Christianity. Columba was kindly received, and allowed to preach, convert, and baptize. He was also given possession of the island of Iona, where, according to legend, his tiny boat had washed ashore. Here he founded the celebrated monastery which became the center for the conversion of the Picts. From Iona, also, his disciples went out to found other monasteries, which, in turn, became centers of missionary activity.
Columba made long journeys through the Highlands, as far as Aberdeen. He often returned to Ireland to attend synods, and thus established Iona as a link between Irish and Pictish Christians. For thirty years, he evangelized, studied, wrote, and governed his monastery at Iona. He supervised his monks in their work in the fields and workrooms, in their daily worship, and in their study and teaching.
He died peacefully in 597 while working on a copy of the Psalter. He had put down his pen, rested a few hours, and at Matins was found dead before the altar, a smile on his face. He is quoted by his biographer Adamnan as having said, “This day is called in the sacred Scriptures a day of rest, and truly to me it will be such, for it is the last of my life and I shall enter into rest after the fatigues of my labors.”
Columba spent his life as a witness for Christ, planting the church in regions in which the Gospel had never been heard. As we remember Columba in our prayers, let us ask God to make us witnesses for Christ in our own day.
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Yours faithfully in Christ, |
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Flower Cross Project: Parish Work Day, June 18 |
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St. John's has begun a project to spread healing, peace, love, and hope in our parish and the Stamford community. The project consists of crocheted, knit, and sewed flowers, which will be attached to a large cross and put up in the church balcony for all to see and enjoy.
Over 1,000 flowers have been created by both members of St. John's volunteers from the over 60s club, and the time has come to attach them to the cross. We hope that you will make time for an all-parish work day on Saturday, June 18, from 9:00 am until 12:00 pm, to join together and tie the flowers to the body of the cross. Please contact Nicky Mehan for more details, and we hope to see you on June 18!
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Inspirica Women's Shelter Monthly Meals |
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On the last Friday of each month, various teams or families from St. John's provide a meal to a small group of women at an Inspirica women's shelter. Parishioners provide a healthy meal to approximately 10-15 Inspirica clients at their 8 Woodland Place location. The volunteers choose the menu, which should consist of a protein, starch, salad and/or vegetable, bread, water and a light dessert. Volunteers can either drop off the meal or can stay and serve the meal; clients do the clean up.
Would you please consider helping with this important ministry? Our next two available dates are June 24 and July 29. If you do not have a “team” to prepare the meal, but would like to do part of the meal, that's great; we can coordinate! Please contact Caroline Smit at csmit@optonline.net or 203-912-6661 to sign up now or in the future.
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Save the date: A Garden Party, Saturday, July 23 ~ 3-6 pm |
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The St. John’s Women’s Group will be hosting a Garden Party on the great lawn this year, in lieu of their annual High Tea. Please mark your calendars, and don’t miss this fantastic event. Tickets are $30 general admission and $20 for seniors. Please see Olive Grant on Sunday morning, or contact the Parish Office during the week to purchase. Tickets are also available via Eventbrite - click here to purchase.
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Prayers and Financial Support for Ukraine |
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The crisis in Ukraine continues, and our prayers are with not only those on the front lines and in the peace talks, but also if not especially with the millions who have been displaced. Episcopal Relief & Development will provide cash, blankets, hygiene supplies, and other needed assistance to Ukrainian refugees. If you feel moved to contribute to these humanitarian relief efforts, please do give via ERD’s website: https://support.episcopalrelief.org/ukraineresponse.
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A funeral liturgy for the late Dianne Bedingfield Saunders will take place Friday, June 17, at 11:00 a.m., in the church. Your prayers and presence are requested.
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Tuesday Afternoon Bible Study |
During the summer months, Tuesday Bible study will take place on the last Tuesday of every month. For June, discussion will consider Bishop Desmond Tutu’s book, God is Not a Christian. The regular weekly schedule will resume on the first Tuesday after Labor Day. Click here to join the Zoom meeting.
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Outreach Committee Calendar |
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June 5 Present Amazon gift card to Stamford Interfaith Refugee Settlement (SIRS) for -----------------refugee support
June 12 Outreach Meeting
June 12 Assemble personal care items for Bennett Cancer Center, Stamford Hospital
June 18 Distribute lunches to men who work as day laborers
June 24 Dinner for Inspirica Women's Shelter
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Open Thursdays and Saturdays: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
The Community Thrift Shop welcomes new, almost new, and gently used clothing, home goods, and jewelry donations. All proceeds from the Thrift Shop are donated to nonprofit charities serving those in need. Please note: Starting in June, the Thrift Shop will be open every Thursday 10:00-3:00 and the first and third Saturday of each month from 10:00-3:00.
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Stamford March for Our Lives is proud to co-host the March for Our Lives - Stamford rally on Saturday, June 11, at 11:00 am, in Mill River Park, to spur our elected officials to action. Sign up here.
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Recent Prayer Requests for Healing of Body, Mind and Spirit. |
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Please keep these persons in your daily prayers:
Ben, Carol, Daniel, Ed, Kedley, Lloyd, Marc, Terrence, Jon, Ann, Henri, Sharon, Erin, Dante, Anthony, Marie-Anne, Martha, Nessa, Angela, Gweneth, Toni, Jordan, Gabriella, Cindi, Barbara, Andrew, Jeffrey, Theadeen, Latoya, Christine, Murdena, Aidee, Anthony, Mitch, Jacob, Roslyn, Collin, McKenna, Andy, Errol, Emman, Bill and Verna.
In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer: the Anglican Church of South America
In the Episcopal Church in Connecticut: St. Paul’s, Norwalk; All Saints with Christ, Oakville; St. Saviour’s, Old Greenwich
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To give to St. John's Episcopal Church, you can make your donations electronically or 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 doing the banking.
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Forward Day By Day 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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