The Week of April 18, 2021 |
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SW Region Special Announcement |
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In light of Bishop Douglas’ announcement of his retirement last week, your SW Region Leadership Team is tasked to recommend two individuals (one lay, one ordained) to our Mission Council who will serve on the Bishop Transition Committee.
This committee will work over the next year plus to develop a profile of ECCT and to manage the recruitment process of candidates for the election of our next bishop diocesan. A large commitment of time and energy over the next year or so, determined by the BTC, should be expected.
The lay candidate must be an adult communicant in good standing and a member of a parish in the Southwest Region.
The clergy candidate must either work or live within the Southwest Region.
To solicit candidates from whom your SW Region Leadership Team will select the finalists, we have provided a brief questionnaire below for Region-wide distribution. Our desire is to commend two individuals that are embedded in the life of a parish, our Region, ECCT; and who reflect the diversity and talent of our Region.
The link for this questionnaire is found HERE.
Responses will be due by Monday, April 19.
We invite you to share this e-mail with your communities, and spend this weekend in reflection and conversation. Imagining about the life of ECCT over the next 10-15 years, what do you identify as God’s priorities for us? What perspective might you or someone you know bring to a search for candidates for the election of our next bishop diocesan?
We thank you for your time and careful consideration.
Your SW Region Leadership Team
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Please click on either links above to listen to or read his full announcement.
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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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Hi all--
Singers from CONCORA, the professional choir that I conduct in Hartford, recently made a covid-friendly, scaled-down recording of Mozart's stunning Requiem. The performance is available on-demand for only $10 through the end of April; I thought that some of you might enjoy seeing this recording, which was recorded in the beautiful Mechanics Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts last month. Tickets are available at http://www.concora.org/.
Dr. Chris Shepard
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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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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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