Life’s major turning points include Birth, Marriage, and Death. These three profound events often awaken in us the desire for a deeper sense of God’s presence in our lives.

When we start looking for a church, we are not necessarily simply looking for a place to worship on a given Sunday. Instead, we might be looking for a place to baptize our new baby, bless our shared love in Holy Matrimony, or celebrate the life and mourn the death of a loved one.

If you are facing one of life’s major turning points, we hope you will want to learn more about St. John’s.

Baptisms

If you have a new baby and are looking for a place to have your child baptized, you are welcome at St. John’s. If you are an adult seeking a deeper connection with God, you are also welcome.

The doors of St. John’s are always open to anyone who wants to find or be found by God. We believe deeply that our desire for God is always in response to God first calling to us in love.

However, becoming a member of the Church involves a commitment from you to Christ and to the Church, as well as a commitment from the members of St. John’s to you. So there is a process of preparation to help you be sure you want to make that commitment and uphold the promises that go with it.

Arrangements for preparation and baptism are made by talking with the rector in person, by phone, (203) 239-0156, or email, mlincoln@stjohns-northhaven.org.

Weddings

Marriage in a lovely historic church building and using the words from the Episcopal Church’s Book of Common Prayer are often two of the many options engaged couples are looking for when planning their wedding.

However, part of the meaning of marriage as it is understood by our Prayer Book is that a Christian marriage is a relationship not only between two people, but also one involving those two people, their church and God. If this deeper meaning is what you want your marriage to have, then perhaps St. John’s is the place for you!

To learn more, speak to the rector by phone, (203) 239-0156, or email, mlincoln@stjohns-northhaven.org.

Funerals

If a friend or loved one has died or is near death, you may be facing a bewildering array of decisions.

If you or the person whose death is at hand is a person of faith, the Church is the best place to gather friends and relatives for a funeral or memorial service. Here you are supported by the faith that when we die, because of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ, “we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed” (I Cor 15:51).

Although the death of a loved one often overwhelms us with sadness, our sadness is eased by the faith that our beloved is not lost to God, but rather, is raised to a new life “where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting” (Episcopal Burial Service).

Therefore, while funerals and memorial services acknowledge our grief, they primarily celebrate the life of the person who had died—a life we know has been saved in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

St. John’s Memorial Garden, pictured here, is an area of repose for meditation and prayer. There is another more secluded and informal Memorial Garden as well. The ashes of loved ones may be interred in either garden as a part of the ministry of St. John’s Church.

To learn more, speak to the rector by phone, (203) 239-0156, or email, mlincoln@stjohns-northhaven.org.