St. John’s offers many avenues for its parishioners to offer their special gifts in worship and fellowship. Among the organizations are:

E.C.W.
The Episcopal Church Women not only strive to enrich others, but find ways to be enriched themselves as they seek God’s will for them in fervent prayer, diligent labor and boundless love. Some of the ECW’s annual events are: Harvest Dinner, visiting a place of care (Valentine), United Thank-Offering Boxes, Annual Victorian Tea and a Retreat. The ECW meets on the last Sunday of the month. All women are encouraged to join.

Altar Guild
A group of dedicated members of St. John’s Parish, the Altar Guild is comprised of teams. Each team is assigned a different weekend of the month. That team then spends about two hours on Saturday and one half hour on Sunday taking care of the sacraments and altar for Sunday services. Members of each team alternate in laundering the altar linens. Both men and women are welcome to become part of this great parish ministry. If you would like to become a member of the Altar Guild, please contact the parish office. It is a great honor to be a member of the Altar Guild.

Flower Ministry
When flowers from the altar are delivered to shut-ins and the sick, this ministry brings smiles, appreciation and a sense of belonging. It also brings a time of visitation and companionship to the people who cannot be with us on Sundays.
At the end of each year we seek parishioners and friends to donate altar flowers each Sunday. The donations can be in loving memory of relatives or friends or in thanksgiving for special someones. At Christmas and Easter, these special holy and celebrative times, flower donations are sought to decorate our high altar, nave and font to the glory of God. Contact the parish office.

Music
St. John’s has maintained a tradition of excellence in music since the inception of the parish in the 1800’s. For most of the life of the parish, music has played a significant role in the liturgy. We currently offer the following ensembles that afford everyone the opportunity to be a part of this tradition:
The Adult Mixed Choir is comprised of members and friends from the congregation and abroad who are primary leaders of the music every Sunday during the program year from September through June. They also provide the leadership for the series of Choral Evensong and Advent Lessons and Carols. Rehearsals are held every Sunday at 8:30am.

Lay Eucharistic Ministers/Acolytes/Lectors/Ushers
Worship at St. John’s is richly enhanced by the ministry of our Liturgical Assistants. There is always room for more people to offer their gifts of serving their Lord in this special way. Please call the Rector if you would like to participate in this ministry.

Healing Ministry
There is an opportunity to experience God’s grace through healing every Sunday. A dedicated group of people kindly and lovingly offer this prayer ministry.

L’Eglise de L’Epiphanie

L’Eglise de L’Epiphanie, housed at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Stamford, was established to proclaim the Gospel and to minister to the unmet needs of Haitian immigrants living in lower Fairfield County.

Under the Reverend Jean E. Millien’s leadership, the founding priest, the Haitian community, especially the refugees, received social services, such as housing, food, job search, transportation, literacy program, translations, and immigration. In July 1997, the Rt. Reverend Clarence N. Coldridge appointed Reverend Wectnick Paul to assume pastoral leadership of the congregation. For the past ten years, the rite of Confirmation has been administered to 25 persons and 9 adults were received into the fellowship of the Anglican Communion. The membership of L’Eglise de L’Epiphanie is drawn from the Stamford, Norwalk, and Greenwich areas. There are presently over 75 baptized members.

In 1999, L’Eglise de L’Epiphanie extended its activities in Bridgeport. After having a conversation with the Rector, Father Paul met with the St. John’s Vestry to discuss the possibility of having another mission Church.

Willing to minister to the unmet needs of Haitian immigrants living in Bridgeport, a program for children in being considered. Epiphanie will also be involved in “The Alpha Course”, a program intended to minister to the spiritual needs of the whole community.

L’Eglise de L’Epiphanie is more than ever committed to offer an adequate environment for the spiritual, emotional, and material development of the Haitian community in Lower Fairfield County. It is an unique opportunity for the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut through this regional ministry to integrate into its midst a growing immigrant population, help the Haitians in Connecticut flourish and contribute their immense energy, faith, and skills.

Father Paul can be reached at St. John’s Episcopal Church (Bridgeport) every Thursday from 10am to 12pm, at (203) 335-2528.