St. John's Episcopal Church

Unique and unusual

The Thrift Shop was originally opened up in the Parish Hall of the church and was only open in the summer.  Then it was expanded and moved to the basement under the Parish Hall to be opened year round, and in 2003, they moved to 2 Jarves Street in a vintage storefront located just around the corner from the church.  The shop was recently relocated back to church property at 161 Main Street, immediately adjacent to the church.

Our Thrift Shop is staffed by volunteers from the parish and from within the community.  Over 25 volunteers sort through the donations, arrange the displays, and server as sales clerks.  These volunteers are St John's evangelists.

The shop donates overstock items to local families and charities, and all of the profits from the shop go to our local ministries, ensuring that the outreach from St John's continues to expand in the community.

Hours:   Tuesday through Saturday

                10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Phone:   508-833-1452

The Sunday School curriculum offers classes that are designed to demonstrate the love of a Christian community and to provide as many entryways as possible to guide our children and young adults on their spiritual journey.  Each offering is a nurturing environment where the children can explore God's word and experience His love, as well as build friendships.

All of the Sunday School classes are designed to demonstrate the love that Jesus has for us and to provide as many entryways as possible to guide our children and young adults on their faith journey.  Classes are nurturing environments where God's word can be explored, his love experienced, and lasting friendships are built.

Our Sunday School classes include:

• Pre-K and Kindergarten

• Godly Play for grades 1 through 4

• Episcopal Digital Network for grades 5 thorugh 7

Lead Teachers are responsible for preparing the weekly lessons using the church school curriculum for the age group.  The lesson plan may also include special activities or an arts and crafts project.

Assisting the lead teachers are our Gate Keepers.  Gate Keepers are assigned to each classroom to help with the lesson and to assist any children that may need special attention.  The Gate Keeper is not responsible for preparing the lesson plans.

At St John's, our youth ministries' core values are Faith, Fellowship, Friendship, and Fun.  In our Middle School and High School Youth Groups, we create a safe space for our youth in grades 5 through 12 to consider spiritual matters, talk about our lives, and work on outreach programs in the greater community.  And we include as much just plain fun as we can! 

The Youth Formation ministry allows you to walk with our youth on their journeys from childhood to adulthood, recognizing their gifts for ministry, their questions about spirituality, and their desire to make a difference in the world.  Becoming a mentor and part of this journey will strengthen your faith and allow you to connect to God in new ways.

All of our Educational Ministry volunteers complete the Safe Church training offered by the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusets and have completed the CORI process.

Outreach opportunities allow members of St John's to share God's love with others in our parish and in our community.  God wants us to reach out and assure people of His love through compassion and caring while awakening their faith through our communication of His word.

Prayer Chain

Prayer works. Miracles happen.  This is the mission of the Prayer Chain at St John's and indeed a 'Miracle Book' is kept by it's members.  This group meets once a month on Sunday mornings and has received over 1,000 requests for prayers since their inception in 2002.  They use their power of prayer to make amazing things happen!

Homebound Ministries

Started in the early 1960's, this ministry started weekly mailings called Home Prayerswhich included the weekly bulletin and prayerful notes to those that that were unable to attend the services.  This vital ministry has continued throughout the years with the weekly mailings to our home-bound parishioners.  Eucharistic Ministers who have been certified by the Diocese also give communion if requested.

Gathering Meal

Once a month we sponsor a free community luncheon along with the parishioners of First Church and Corpus Christi.  We provide a warm and healthy meal, as well as plenty of fellowship, to those in the community that are less fortunate.

Annual Golf Tournament Committee

The St John's Annual Golf Tournament is held each year in May and is a wonderful way to connect to other parishioners and build close relationships. The tournament includes a day of golf followed by dinner and auctions. Planning for the event is a year round task and we hope you consider helping with this vital ministry.

4th of July Pancake Breakfast

Every 4th of July we serve about 250 guests at our annual Pancake Breakfast which takes a lot of helping hands.  The breakfast is served from 8 am to 10 am, just prior to the annual town parade that goes right down Main Street in front of the church.  We have everyone home to celebrate their holiday before noon!

Christmas Fair

Held on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving each year, the Christmas Fair continues to be an important fellowship event for the church.  The Fair includes the Christmas Cafe with handmade lobster rolls and chowder, wreaths and greens, a huge bake sale, raffle baskets, a silent auction, crafters, and our famous St John's table filled with handmade items made with love by our parishioners. Preparing for the Fair is a year long process and whether you join the planning committee or making items for the St John's table, your time and talents are always appreciated.

Special Parish Events

Throughout the year there are special fellowship events that help us build stronger relationships with each other including Pot Luck Suppers, a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, Men's Group, Bible Study at the Pub, the Gathering Meal, Movie Nights, and our Annual St John's Day picnic. These special events will touch your heart and lift your spirits!