2020 Commitment Campaign

We are excited to launch our 2020 commitment campaign with you this year! We hope you have had a chance to look over the report that was sent out in late October.

Please feel free you may also mail your pledge card in the accompanying envelope or fill out your pledge form online. The EMC Booklet may also be viewed here: EMC Packet. We thank you for your generosity!

The dates that are still available: June 7, July 12, Sept 13, and Oct 4!

For those who would like to sign up for any of these dates, please feel free to reach out to Chelsea DiDonato, [email protected] , or 860-767-8095 ext. 10. Thank you!

Prayer Shawl Ministry



Come, join us! This month, we will meet at Leslie Perkins’ home on Saturday afternoon, November 23rd, 1:30-3:30 p.m., 49 Grandview Terrace (yellow ranch) in Essex. Leslie's email:  [email protected].

ECCT e-news highlighted an article written by the Episcopal News Service on Jonathan H. Folts becoming the 11th Bishop of South Dakota. To view the full article, please visit the link provided below!

[Episcopal News Service] Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry was the chief consecrator at the service, and he and Folts’ father were joined by the Rt. Rev. John T. Tarrant, retired bishop of South Dakota, Folts’ predecessor; Connecticut Bishop Ian T. Douglas; West Texas Bishop David M. Reed; and the Rt. Rev. Carlos S. Matsinhe, bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Lebombo, Mozambique.

Our annual service of Lessons and Carols will take place on December 8, at 4 pm, and we hope you will invite your friends and neighbors and plan to be with us again this year. Once Thanksgiving is past, everything tends to "speed up," and we all get very busy during the month of December. It's important to make time to hear the Scripture, sing the old familiar carols, and begin the season in the right way. As is our custom, we will be honoring a community organization, and this year, it is Middlesex Habitat for Humanity. We are thrilled to have readers who volunteer for Middlesex Habitat for Humanity as well as, staff, board members, and a homeowner!

Richard Pittsinger says he will be back from Julliard to sing for us, and Phred is preparing an original arrangement of a well-beloved carol. The choir has started practicing, and we hope the Holy Family and the three Kings will be there, too. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall, and there will be plenty of time to greet our neighbors and make some new friends.

Please mark your calendar for December 8 at 4 pm., and join us for Lessons and Carols. It's a St John's tradition, and it wouldn't be the same without you!

By Paulette Rider

Who's ready to tackle the gift of giving this season? Our Giving Tree will make its return in the Narthex the Sunday before Thanksgiving, which is Sunday, November 24th! 

We are hoping for a total of about 80 children this year due to our helpful elves at St. John's, and folks outside of our St. John's community who even tracked me down to donate! 

We will have fifty-five gift tags (given by Child and Families (DCF) on the Tree, each with the name of a child plus three Wish List ideas. There will also be twenty-five tags(given by Essex Social Services) for $25 gift cards from Walmart, which is the special request by the Essex Social Services Department for the children in town. These will not have names on them. 

Please select a tag and purchase a gift or gift card for the intended recipient. Then, enter the tag number and your name and phone number on the sign-up sheet beside the Tree.

PLEASE DO NOT WRAP the gift with paper and tape --please USE GIFT BAGS!! This allows DCF to check the contents without disturbing the beautiful wrapping. Attach the tag to the gift bag when you bring the gift in so that we will know who should get it.  

The cards from Walmart for Essex should not be wrapped – just put them in the marked bag in the Narthex along with the numbered card you chose.

Please return the gifts to the Church no later than Sunday, December 8th!

Advent Wreath Decorating

by Becky Honan

On Sunday, December 1st, following the 9 a.m. service, join us in the parish hall for Advent wreath decorating. Feel free to bring decorations and any greens you have access to. We will also be decorating the parish hall in preparation for Advent and Lessons and Carols. Friends are welcome and wanted! I will plan on having enough supplies for two dozen wreaths unless I know in advance that we need more. So please let me know that you are coming. This was really fun last year! You can reach me at [email protected], 860-857-3091, or leave a message with Chelsea in the office. I can’t wait to see you there!

CONFIRMATION CLASSES

The Confirmation service will be held at St. Ann’s Old Lyme on February 23rd during their Bishop visit. All six preparation classes will take place at St. John’s at 10:00 a.m. on dates to be announced. For more information please contact Benjamin, Becky, or Chelsea (if you haven’t already) to say, “sign me up!”

If adults are interested in becoming members of the Episcopal church or in reaffirming their baptismal vows, please contact, Linda at [email protected] or call the office, 860-767-8095. The book we'll be using is Walk in Love: Episcopal Beliefs and Practices.

St. John's Episcopal Church Schedule