St. John's Episcopal offers online services, music, and community

St. John’s Episcopal Church, at the corner of Farmington Avenue and South Highland Street, is known for its historic building and beautiful grounds. But having cancelled all on-site services, events and meetings to help minimize spread of the COVID-19 virus, church leaders are providing new ways for people to worship, pray, connect with and support one another now that the church building is off-limits.

“When people talk about why they love St. John’s, they mention how warmly they are welcomed on Sunday mornings, how much their children love growing up in youth group or the children’s choir, the beauty of our stained glass and Cloister Garden, or our Austin organ and acclaimed concert series — and those things remain central for the St. John’s community,” said the Reverend Susan Pinkerton, who has been the rector of St. John’s since 2015. “But right now, when we can’t sit side-by-side to sing and pray, shake hands with our neighbor in the next pew, or drink communion wine from a common cup, we’re exploring how to stay connected with each other and God despite the physical space between us.”

St. John’s is fortunate that they already had video livestreaming set up, which they have used for nearly two years to broadcast the main Sunday morning service, along with special services such as Choral Evensong and Celtic worship, on their web site and YouTube channel. Livestreamed services are regularly viewed by hundreds of people around the country and the world, including those in isolated rural areas who don’t have a nearby church to attend, those who are homebound due to illness or disability, and family members from afar who can’t get to West Hartford for a loved one’s baptism or funeral.

Now that the coronavirus pandemic has forced church buildings to cancel on-site worship, St. John’s is continuing to live-stream Sunday morning services, with the clergy, organist and a cantor leading the service without a congregation in the pews. In addition, they are using Zoom, the online conferencing app, to host noonday prayer Monday through Friday, and Compline (a form of evening prayer) at 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Using Zoom, people can do more than just watch the service—they can say prayers together, and share greetings and prayer requests via the chat function. A complete schedule of events is shown below.

St. John’s is also addressing the loneliness and anxiety caused by this unprecedented situation, as parents juggle child care and working from home; people face sudden unemployment and financial worries; adults in assisted living facilities spend their days alone confined to their rooms; and kids experience boredom, anxiety, or sadness at being away from friends. St. John’s has created a pen-pal program to connect children and older parishioners with one another, and scheduled social gatherings on Zoom, including a Friday 5 p.m. “Happy Hour” and Sunday morning coffee hour after the service. In addition, their concert program, Music at the Red Door, is streaming live instrumental recitals on Wednesdays at 12:15 p.m., featuring various musicians making music from their homes.

One major challenge for all churches will be how to celebrate Holy Week and Easter given that restrictions will still be in place then. “We will of course provide online Holy Week and Easter services,” Pinkerton said. “But our real Easter celebration will be the first Sunday that we’re once again able to worship together, in person, in our beautiful and beloved church — whenever that is. That’s when we’ll really understand what resurrection is all about.”

Anyone may watch St. John’s live-streamed services (live or anytime afterward) at the church web site or on YouTube.

SPECIAL ONLINE SERVICES FOR HOLY WEEK

April 9, 2020, 7:00 p.m.: Maundy Thursday Service

Evening Prayer Rite II with stripping of the altar, sermon by the Rev’d Susan Pinkerton.

Information and livestream link: https://sjparish.net/april-9-2020-maundy-thursday/

April 10, 2020, 7:00 p.m.: Good Friday Service

Good Friday Liturgy with sermon by the Rev’d Margie Baker.

Information and livestream link: https://sjparish.net/april-10-2020-good-friday/

April 11, 2020, 10:30 a.m.: Holy Saturday Service

Holy Saturday Liturgy

Information and livestream link: https://sjparish.net/april-11-2020-holy-saturday/

April 12, 2020, 10:30 a.m.: Easter Day Service

Holy Eucharist Rite II (Mass on the World) with sermon by the Rev’d Susan Pinkerton.

https://sjparish.net/april-12-2020-easter/

ONGOING ONLINE SERVICES AND PRAYER MEETINGS

Sunday Worship each week at 10:30 a.m.

St. John’s is continuing to live-stream Sunday morning services, with the clergy, organist and a cantor leading the service without a congregation in the pews. Join in an online “coffee hour” via Zoom after the service.

Noonday Prayer Monday through Friday at 12:00 p.m.

Participate in real time via Zoom. Or watch live or later via YouTube.

Compline (a form of evening prayer) Tuesday and Thursday at 9:00 p.m.

Participate in real time via Zoom. Or watch live or later via YouTube.

Bible Study Mondays at 7:00 p.m. and Wednesdays at 10 a.m.

Participate in real time via Zoom.

Using Zoom, people can do more than just watch the service; they can say prayers together and share greetings and prayer requests via the chat function. St. John’s has created a document with instructions for how to use online tools, including YouTube and Zoom.

More information is available at https://sjparish.net/services/.

MUSIC

In order to provide musical enrichment to the community and encourage donations to help the homeless and hungry, Music at the Red Door, the music series at St. John’s Episcopal Church in West Hartford, has launched a new online-only live-streamed recital series. The half-hour performances, featuring local musicians, are offered each Wednesday at 12:15 p.m. via St. John’s YouTube channel and on St. John’s Facebook page. To learn about upcoming musical events, subscribe to the Music at the Red Door newsletter here: www.reddoormusic.org/signup.

Pop-up Instrumental Recitals at 12:15 p.m. on Wednesdays Watch (live or anytime afterward) on YouTube.

Favorite Hymns St. John's Organist Scott Lamlein is recording favorite hymns at his home organ studio and posting them on the YouTube channel. E-mail Scott to request your favorite!

COMMUNITY

St. John’s is also addressing the loneliness and anxiety caused by this unprecedented situation, as parents juggle child care and working from home; people face sudden unemployment and financial worries; adults in assisted living facilities spend their days alone confined to their rooms; and kids experience boredom, anxiety, or sadness at being away from friends.

Happy Hour (Adult) Fridays at 5:00 p.m. Pour a beverage of your choice and join us for casual conversation and check-in. Participate in real time via Zoom.

Happy Hour (Family) Tuesdays at 5:00 p.m. Join us for casual conversation and check-in. Participate in real time via Zoom. The Tuesday Happy Hour is especially for families with children.

For more information about St. John’s online services and other programs, visit https://sjparish.net, or e-mail office@sjparish.net to be added to the distribution list to receive regular e-mail newsletters and notifications of upcoming events, including these online offerings.