Join us this Sunday at 9:00AM in person or online
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Dear friends in Christ,
On page 207 of the Prayer Book is found a collect (or short prayer), labeled “For the Nation”:
Lord God Almighty, who hast made all the peoples of the earth for thy glory, to serve thee in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with thy gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
In a country without an established church, we are at our liberty as Americans to worship God in accordance with our consciences, and even before the existence of the republic itself, our part of North America has been home to countless types of Christians and members of other faiths. Our very existence as St. John’s Parish is a testament to this pluralism: in 1742, members of the Church of England – a distinctly minority faith – had to petition the authorities of Congregationalist Stamford for permission to erect a church.
And yet, as the Prayer Book puts it, “it is a most invaluable part of that blessed “liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free,” that in his worship different forms and usages may without offense be allowed, provided the substance of the Faith be kept entire.” Our American experiment for the past two and a half centuries has seen the sustained coexistence of multiple expressions of religious conscience, of those “different forms and usages” of worship.
St. Paul reflects on liberty in his letter to the Galatians, which we have been hearing read in church week by week this summer. It is from that letter that the post-Revolutionary editors of the first American Prayer Book quoted that “liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free” (Galatians 5:1), and it is in that letter that St. Paul offers a sustained reflection what such liberty entails. Our freedom in Christ is a gift which can be used wrongly – to our destruction – or rightly, which leads to joy and fruitfulness in the Spirit. We heard last week that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-25).
As Christians, therefore, only freedom in Christ is true; only freedom that is directed to Christ and through Christ can truly make us free. A Christian is free for peace, and such freedom gives shape and direction to the use of our political freedom as Americans. As we meditate on our blessed liberties this weekend, let us both live by the Spirit and be guided by the Spirit, that we may have a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, and use our liberty in accordance with God’s gracious will.
Happy Fourth.
Yours faithfully in Christ,
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Starting THIS 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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The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. |
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Flower Cross Project Update |
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Volunteers from St. John’s and the Over 60 Club have been working diligently on the flower cross, attaching crocheted, knit, and sewn flowers and leaves to the body of the cross. When finished, it is hoped that the cross will spread healing, peace, love, and hope in our parish and the Stamford community. Watch this space for details of upcoming workdays, and please contact Nicky Mehan for more details or to help.
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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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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 available date is 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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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. The regular weekly schedule will resume on the first Tuesday after Labor Day. Click here to join the Zoom meeting.
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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 Anglican Church of Tanzania
In the Episcopal Church in Connecticut: St. Paul’s, Plainfield; Christ Church, Pomfret; Trinity, Portland
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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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