St. John’s E-News

March 11, 2010

Followers of Jesus’ Great Commission,

Believers in Jesus’ Great Commandment.

Worship ~ Outreach ~ Fellowship ~ Christian Education

St. John’s Episcopal Church / Main & Cross Streets / P.O. Box 422, Essex, CT 06426

E-Mail: office@stjohnsessex.org

(860) 767-8095 (office) / 767-7794 (fax)

Sunday, March 14

8:00 AM ~ Holy Eucharist Rite I

9:00 AM ~ Holy Eucharist, Rite II

10:45 AM ~ Holy Eucharist, Rite I

Lectionary Readings

March 14 March 21 March 28

The Serving Schedule for March can be found here.

Be sure to set your clocks forward!

The Fish Stories of St. John’s

Inspired by Luke 5:1-11

Calling all writers and heralds –

It is with great excitement that we welcome the members of St. John’s to participate in the first edition of “St. John’s Fish Stories”! This parish wide project offers parishioners an opportunity to share a personal or witnessed experience where they have seen the Holy Spirit grace an otherwise ordinary event. Have you ever had something happen to you or someone you love and you just knew there was a greater power at work? Have you watched as someone you know had a life altering experience that was clearly touched by the Grace of God? Sure you have… we all have. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to capture these times and share them so others can be witness to the workings of the Lord in all our lives, when least expected, every day?

More information will be available as we move closer to collecting these treasured moments that we are asking you to share. Eventually they will be bound into a compilation of works and made available for purchase by friends and family of St. John’s. Proceeds from this project will go to the Christian Education Fund.

You can start today! Find a peaceful moment to reflect on your life’s experiences and begin to gather your thoughts. Help us share with others the many ways we have been blessed or watched as someone else has been given the chance to experience God’s love. Everyone’s story is worth sharing – young and old, vested members or newcomers…help us make this project a success as we joyously proclaim,

“We are the families of St. John’s and these are our stories…”

For more information or to submit a story, please contact Jackie Boudinot at jrussoboudinot@gmail.com or by calling 860-767-0580.

Class 201: Discovering Episcopal Church History

Do you have questions about the Episcopal Church and how it came to be? The Rev. Molly James will be offering a class looking at the history of the Episcopal Church from its founding during the American Revolution to the present day, covering major trends and historical milestones. Come learn more about the roots of your church!

Sunday, March 21st

2:00 PM

This class is also a part of our confirmation class series. More information about confirmation classes can be found here.

Attendees are asked to notify the office or the Rev. Molly James by noon on Thursday, March 18.

Thank you!

Saturday, May 1, 2010 at Trinity Episcopal Church, Portland

The confirmation service for the Middlesex Deanery has been set to take place at 10:00 AM on Saturday, May 1, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Portland. Those who have taken the required courses of Discovering St. John’s Church, Episcopal Worship, Episcopal History, and Episcopal Theology are eligible to be confirmed or received. For more information on any of these classes, please call the church office at 860 767 8095.

Please Mark Your Calendars!!

St. John's Sunday School Players are hard at work rehearsing for their spring musical, Once Upon a Parable, under the direction of Patty Sisson and Molly James.  Performances will be Friday, March 26^th, at 7pm and Saturday, March 27^th, at 2pm.  We hope you'll come!

Ordination and Consecration of

The Rev. Dr. Ian T. Douglas, Bishop-Elect

as The 15th Diocesan Bishop of Connecticut
Saturday April 17, 2010; 11:00AM

at
Koeppel Center of Trinity College

175 New Britain Ave., Hartford, Ct.

Banners in Procession

All Parish Church Schools, Youth Groups and Young Adults

Join us with your parish or group banner in the procession.  Banners will then be used as a backdrop for worship. They may be up to the size of 6' in height and 4' in width. The banner must stand upright in your base (parish brings base).  Contact the Office of Christian formation if you plan on attending with your banner so we can reserve a place for your banner.(contact information below) 

Children and Families

All are invited to join us to witness and celebrate in a reserved section of the Koeppel Center which will allow children to see and participate more fully in the worship.  All children will receive a specially designed tee shirt and a child friendly bulletin with activities and instructions to follow the worship.

Calling Youth and Young Adults from around the Diocese

We invite youth (grades 6 - 12) and young adults from around the diocese to join us as greeters and ushers for this celebration. If you would like to be an usher or greeter you will need to commit to a rehearsal (Friday evening before the Consecration and Saturday till 3 PM) If you would like to be considered to be a greeter or usher, please send an e-mail to Emily Perow, Missioner for Youth and Young Adults, with the following information.

• Name
• Parish
• Age
• Address
• E-mail
• A statement of why you would like to be a greeter or usher.

Women of Faith Conference

There will be a Women of Faith Conference in Hartford, November 19 & 20. This is a dynamic gathering of women with speakers, music and drama. Discounted rates are available for early registration. If you are interested or would like to know more, please contact Rev. Molly (associate@stjohnsessex.org or 767-8095 x13). For more information on the conference, please visit:  this link.

Safe Church Training

St. Stephen's, East Haddam, on Saturday, March 20, from 9 - 4 with lunch provided.

To register contact mhart@ctdiocese.org or call 1-800-842-0126.

March’s Item: Coffee, Tea, and Hot Cocoa Mix

Everyone at St. John’s is invited to join with the “Little Missionaries” in our monthly collection of food that is part of distributions at the Old Saybrook Food Pantry! Each month a different item is designated and can be left in the baskets in the entrance to the church. Food and other items will be brought to the altar to be blessed by our “Little Missionaries” at the 9:00 service on the last Sunday of each month as part of our collective offering. March’s product is coffee, tea, and hot cocoa. We thank you for your help!

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT ST. JOHN’S

Thursday, March 11 – Sunday, March 21

Thursday

Funeral Service for Art Savoie: 10:30 AM

Staff Meeting: 3:30 PM

Choir Practice: 7:00 PM (Choir Room)

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Daylight Savings Time Begins

Holy Eucharist: 8:00 AM

Holy Eucharist: 9:00 AM

Sunday School: 9:50 AM (Undercroft)

Holy Eucharist: 10:45 AM

Light Lunch following Service

Monday

AA Meeting: 10:00 AM (Parish Hall)

Monday Evening Lenten Study Group: 7:00 PM (Office)

Tuesday

Education for Ministry: 9:30 AM (Parish Hall)

Clergy Mtg.: 12:00 Noon (Parish Hall)

Soup Kitchen: 5:00 PM (Undercroft)

Lenten Small Group Discussion Program: 7:00 PM (Undercroft)

Wednesday

Holy Eucharist & Unction: 9:00 AM

Bible Study On the Book of Acts: 10:30 AM (Parish Hall)

Thursday

Staff Meeting: 3:30 PM

Choir Practice: 7:00 PM (Choir Room)

Friday

Saturday

CAGP Follow-Up Meeting: 9:00 AM (Parish Hall)

Sunday

Holy Eucharist: 8:00 AM

Holy Eucharist: 9:00 AM

Sunday School: 9:50 AM (Undercroft)

Holy Eucharist: 10:45 AM

Light Lunch following Service

Discovering Church History Class: 2:00 PM (Parish Hall)

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This rendition of St. John’s was painted by

Mrs. Darlene James.