Join us this Sunday at 10:15AM in person or online
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Dear friends in Christ,
Today, Anglican Christians remember John Donne (1572-1631), who is rightly celebrated as a poet but was also a lawyer and a Church of England clergyman. He served during the last ten years of his life as dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, during which time he was a frequent preacher before King Charles I.
Donne was a master of English style and verse, and some of his phrases have become stock pieces of contemporary speech: both "No man is an island" and "...for whom the bell tolls" originate in Meditation XVII of Donne’s 1623 Devotions upon Emergent Occasions.
Donne’s preaching, much of which remains in print, was characterized by his perceptive mind, his impatience with pomposity and vanity, and his absolute certainty that his only hope was in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His last sermon, which he preached just over a month before his death on March 31, 1631, confronts the physical reality of death and the power of Christ’s own death and resurrection to overcome the last enemy. Donne’s final paragraph is one of the great glories of English sermons, and I reproduce it here:
There we leave you in that blessed dependency, to hang upon him that hangs upon the cross, there bathe in his tears, there suck at his wounds, and lie down in peace in his grave, till he vouchsafe you a resurrection, and an ascension into that kingdom which He hath prepared for you with the inestimable price of his incorruptible blood. Amen.
It is human nature to forget that we are mortal. As Christians, we know that although we cannot outrun death, we do not need to live in fear, for our hope lies not in our own power. As Donne reminded his own listeners, not even death shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ. Through time and space, Donne’s words remind us still, and thanks be to God for that.
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Yours faithfully in Christ,
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Women's History Month at St. John's
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To celebrate Women's History Month, the St. John’s Women’s Group chose to write about seven women who by their ordination and ministries have broken barriers and made a difference in the Episcopal Church. A photo and short biography of each of the seven clergywomen are on display in the Baronial Hall through the end of March. If you have time after the Sunday service, please do read the stories of these courageous trailblazers who made a difference in the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion.
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Holy Week and Easter Services
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As we enter the fifth week of Lent, Holy Week appears on the horizon. To observe our Lord’s passion, death, and finally his resurrection from the dead, our services will take place as follows:
Holy Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 7:00 pm (in the Ladies’ Chapel)
Maundy Thursday: 7:00 pm
Good Friday: 12:00 noon
Great Vigil of Easter: 7:30 pm
Easter Day: 10:15 am
The service on Easter Day will be followed by a reception and Easter egg hunt, both of which will take place outside if the weather permits!
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St. John’s Community Foundation Grantee Highlight:
Saint Joseph Parenting Center
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Saint Joseph Parenting Center’s mission is to strengthen families that are at risk of child abuse and neglect. They equip parents with the education, tools, and resources needed to foster healthy parenting patterns in an effort to decrease the incidence of child abuse and neglect.
Through their 3 programs, the General Parenting Program (GPP), Women’s Circle Support Group, and Dads are the Difference (D.A.D.s), Saint Joseph Parenting Center seeks to increase feelings of self-empowerment, confidence, and a sense of belonging while providing the education and skills that are needed for parenting and adult self-sufficiency. The classes are offered in English and Spanish. Despite the impacts of COVID, SJPC was able to serve 324 parents in 2021, 70% of whom live in Stamford.
Grants from the St. John’s Community Foundation enable SJPC to work toward a world in which all children live free of child abuse and neglect.
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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. Working through the Action by Churches Together Alliance, 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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Tuesday Afternoon Bible Study
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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.
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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 and Bill.
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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 the mail and doing the banking as usual.
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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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