The Week of June 26, 2022 |
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Join us this Sunday at 10:15AM in person or online
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Dear friends in Christ,
Yesterday, June 22, was the commemoration of St. Alban throughout the churches of the Anglican Communion.
Alban is the earliest Christian in Britain who is known by name and, according to tradition, was the first British martyr. As Anglican Christians, Alban has pride of place among our own pantheon of holy men and women, and there are numerous dedications to Alban throughout the Communion: Washington National Cathedral, for instance, was built on the highest piece of land in Washington, D.C., which was named Mount St. Alban by a faithful Episcopalian who had owned the land and founded St. Alban’s Church there.
In his own lifetime, in about the year 304, Alban gave shelter to a Christian priest who was fleeing persecution, and he was converted by him. When Roman officers came to Alban’s house, he dressed himself in the garments of the priest and gave himself up. Alban was tortured and martyred in place of the priest, on the hilltop where the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban now stands.
By pure Providence, my sister texted me the pictures below from St Albans yesterday, not realizing she was in St Albans (the city) on St. Alban’s Day itself. The abbey, which you can see on an English summer afternoon, was built over the site of Alban’s martyrdom in 793, and it very quickly became the premier abbey in England. In 1877, the former abbey became the cathedral of the new diocese of St Albans, as it remains today.
Alban’s example, like the examples of all the saints, is instructive to every Christian. The vast majority of Christian ministry happens far from the walls of the church: in our families, in our places of work, in our social lives, in the community. When a person fleeing persecution of any kind, or suffering from hunger or another kind of need, or facing any kind of danger appears on our horizon on a Tuesday afternoon, how will we respond? You don’t have to be a martyr to be Christ-like; all you have to remember is that in all things, we are ambassadors for Christ, and it is in our very lives that we bear his love and show forth his glory.
Yours faithfully in Christ,
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Guest Celebrant and Preacher, June 26 |
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We are pleased to welcome the Rev. Armando Ghinaglia, who will celebrate and preach on June 26. Fr. Ghinaglia was ordained in the diocese of Connecticut and has served St. John's, Bristol, the Church of Our Savior, Plainville, and Christ Church, New Haven. A native of Venezuela, he was raised in Texas and is a graduate of Yale College, Yale Divinity School, and Yale Law School. As a law student and attorney, he has been engaged in litigation and advocacy on behalf of fellow immigrants and workers. Presently, he clerks for the Honorable Alvin W. Thompson, U.S. District Judge for Connecticut. He is married to Abigail (Abbie) Storch, whom he met in divinity school and who serves on the vestry of St. John's, New Haven. |
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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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Outreach Committee, SIRS, and Stamford Hospital |
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The Outreach Committee presented a $500 gift card to Jean Meyer from the Stamford Interfaith Refugee Settlement (SIRS) for help in purchasing car seats, book bags and tablets for refugee children being resettled in Stamford. |
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Gift bags were filled with personal care items by the Outreach Committee and will be given to the patients at the Stamford Hospital Bennett Cancer Center. |
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Starting on Sunday, July 3, our Sunday service will begin at 9:00 am in the church. We will continue at 9:00 am on summer Sundays until Homecoming Sunday, September 11, when the 8:00 am and 10:15 am services will resume. |
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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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St. John’s Community Foundation Press Release |
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St. John’s Community Foundation has granted more than a quarter of a million dollars to more than forty organizations serving the Stamford community which provide for educational and economic opportunities, as well for those in crisis and those requiring basic needs. Click here to read the Foundation’s most recent press releases.
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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 with the millions who have been displaced. If you feel moved to contribute to humanitarian relief efforts via Episcopal Relief & Development, please visit their website: https://support.episcopalrelief.org/ukraineresponse.
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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 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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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 Province of the Episcopal Church of Sudan
In the Episcopal Church in Connecticut: St. Peter’s, Oxford; Christ Church, Oxford; St. John’s, Pine Meadow
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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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