F.A.Q.

The big question! Put in the simplest terms, we're an Episcopal church and a community of people practicing the Episcopal faith. Really we're a bunch of people going through the ups and downs of life who come together to support one another, explore our relationships with God, wrestle tough—sometimes/often unanswerable—questions about our faith, find peace and safety in a shared sacred space, be nurtured by worship, and hopefully experience ease. We pray. We share laughs and tears. We read and passionately debate. We throw ice cream socials and perfect our marshmallow toasting techniques. We comfort each other and look for ways to help neighbors and strangers. We watch our babies grow up together in the arms of a community that cherishes them. We, ourselves, grow and evolve as we deepen our faith and strengthen our relationship with God. We celebrate and champion each others victories and we grieve and take action together when we witness injustices.  The journey through life and faith can be daunting. We believe the ride is easier when we don't have to do it alone.  

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Visit our About Us page to learn more

We can't emphasize this enough, absolutely everyone is welcome here. We value you. You matter. We believe God loves you, just as you are, no exceptions. We strive to ensure St. John's is a space and a community where everyone feels safe, included, and celebrated. 

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That means regardless of your gender identity, race, sexual orientation, age, income, military background, you name it, we believe our community would be better with you in it. 

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Our facility is wheelchair accessible and we do our absolute best to ensure people of all abilities can participate with ease. That includes all you neuroatypical, neurodivergent, and neurospicy folks! There is always a basket at the back of the chapel with ear plugs, headphones, sensory toys, and sunglasses to help you tailor your worship experience to fit your unique needs.  

 What you wear is entirely up to you. Some come dressed in their “Sunday best” while others prefer more casual attire such as jeans and a nice shirt. The same goes for children. We invite you and your family to dress in whatever way you feel is comfortable and appropriate.

Just an open mind and an open heart!  During our worship services we often use Hymnals, Bibles, and Prayer books but these are available for your use in every pew. You're welcome to bring your own if you'd like—we know some people have deep connection to their spiritual books— but it is by no means required. Most of us just use the books in the pews. 

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Keep in mind that our pews are made of solid wood. If you have a physical condition that makes prolonged sitting on hard surfaces challenging or painful, consider bringing a cushion, pillow, or blanket to sit on. We know full well how seemingly impossible it can be to focus on God when your body is yelling at you! 

Check out the Our Beliefs page.

We'll give you a quick overview here but we recommend you head to the What to Expect page for a more complete answer.  Our typical Sunday services  include spoken sermons, readings, prayers, hymns sung by parishioners and/or our choir, sharing of the peace when we wish each other peace, and the taking of communion (bread and wine). During the service, we move from standing to seated positions so feel free to follow along or stay seated if that's more comfortable for you. The goal is to feel connected, inquisitive, introspective, nurtured, and closer to God, not to feel pressured or nervous or uneasy. If you just want to sit and listen, we fully support you! 

Excellent question! Episcopalians broadly believe in the validity and wonder of science and that the furtherance of human understanding of the natural world does not pose a conflict with the pillars of our faith. We are a tradition of "faith seeking understanding", one that is informed by our understanding of Scripture and our observations of nature as both contribute to a deeper understanding of and give greater meaning to our world (link). At the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, we passed a resolution stating, in part,

That the theory of evolution provides a fruitful and unifying scientific explanation for the emergence of life on earth, that many theological interpretations of origins can readily embrace an evolutionary outlook, and that an acceptance of evolution is entirely compatible with an authentic and living Christian faith (link)

Beyond that, we believe that we are tasked with caring for God's creation, and as such, beginning with the historic Paris Agreement summit in 2015, the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church has sent a delegation to the Conference of Parties (COP), the annual United Nations Climate Summit. We believe in evolution, we believe in climate change, and we absolutely don't believe science is the enemy of religion. 

Children are welcome and encouraged to join us during worship! We also have a variety of child and youth programs including church school where kids can get together in an environment designed just for them (click here for more info). During worship, little ones up to the age of 3 are welcome in our nursery, which is staffed on Sundays at 10am by our Safe Church Certified attendants. 

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Pets, on the other hand, should be left at home (with the exception of service dogs who are absolutely allowed).  But we deeply love our pets and we believe they deserve a chance to be included so, once a year, we host the Blessing of the Animals where all your furry, scaly, water-dwelling, stuffed, and imaginary pets are invited to join us for a blessing. Check out our Services and Worships page to learn more and see an adorable picture of puppies who are very excited for their blessings! 

Of course! We think there is so much goodness and Godliness in being together. If you prefer to worship in private you are still welcome to be a part of our church community.  You can stop by evening compline for evening blessing and some s'mores, head to bat with our softball team, join our bible studies, participate in our outreach groups etc. 

We love this question. And we believe it has a two part answer. 

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The first part: our faith should feel good in your soul. We are, at our core, a religious organization. If you investigate our faith, try it out, and find it doesn't click for you, that's totally okay! But it means St. John's may not be the right fit for you ( although you're still welcome). If our faith resonates with you, if it sparks something, if it prompts deeper thoughts about your faith, or if it provides you the space you're looking for to explore your spirituality, then you've checked the first box!

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The second part: our community should feel good in your heart. Connecting to the Episcopal faith is important, but it's equally important that you feel comfortable with us. This can mean that you get along well with some of our parishioners, that you enjoy the communication style of our Rector and value his guidance, or that you just feel at ease when you share space with us, even if it's in silence. If being with us feels forced or challenging then we may not be a the right religious home for you. We want you to end up in a community that brings you joy and peace. We all deserve that. 

Yes! We do our absolute best to ensure everyone is able to participate and, importantly, feels comfortable, safe, and confident doing so. Here are some of the resources that are available to everyone who arrives at St. Johns:

• wheelchair accessible building (including bathrooms)

• Easy Listening System to assist those who are hard of hearing

• cushioned pews 

• noise-block ear muffs and stimming aids for those with sensory needs  

• large print bulletins for those with visual impairments

• judgement-free zone so if you need to stand, sit, leave early, have a good cry you go for it! We also have a living room just down the hall from the worship sanctuary where you can take time to decompress if you become overwhelmed at any point.

While we strive to anticipate all potential accommodations our community may need, we fully admit that we don't always get it right. If you visit us and notice that there's something more we can be doing, something we may have missed, or something we can add or adjust that would make you feel more seen and included in our community we really want you to tell us! We appreciate that putting the onus on you to educate us is unfair, and we deeply wish we could perfectly foresee what the members of our congregation will need—we genuinely try our best to!—but if we're getting it wrong, you'd be doing us a great kindness by letting us know so we can make it right. 

Yes!! No one has all the answers and there is no such thing as a flawless person of faith. We don't expect that you join us as a fully evolved Episcopalian because, frankly, we don't even know what that looks like! If you arrive with curiosity, intentionality, respect, kindness, and openness then you are welcome here. Some of our members came to us from strict Catholic upbringings. Some are the babies of spiritual non-religious hippies. Others grew up without exposure to any religious or spiritual conversations. But all our members found the space at St. John's to explore and develop their faith. We like to think people make St. John's their home because here they feel free and supported on their spiritual journeys closer to God. If you don't have all the answers—or any at all— but you'd like to search for some, you'll find like minds here. 

Sadly, no. Members of our congregation all arrange their own transportation to us. Many parishioners drive and utilize our vast parking lots. We are located a few hundred feet from a covered RIPTA Route 60 bus stop (click HERE to learn more) so members who don't drive often opt to take this bus line. The East Bay Bike Path abuts St. John's lot and offers a lovely trail should you want to walk/bike here when the weather cooperates. If you're interested in joining us but are concerned about transportation, contact us and we'll do our best to help!

Absolutely! Ultimatums like "your children aren't welcome because you don't agree with us" have no place here in our house of God. We believe everyone belongs here—no exceptions— and we would love to welcome you and your children with open arms. We offer a vast range of events and activities so you'll find plenty of ways to participate in your children's religious experience that don't require active prayer on your part, if that's something your not comfortable doing. As Episcopalians, we teach our children to have dynamic and evolving relationships with God; we try to foster kids' natural inquisitiveness, encouraging them to ask questions and think for themselves about God. We present God as a figure who surrounds them with love and wishes goodness for them and from them. But we certainly aren't in the business of brainwashing.  Your wonderful children will have the space to explore religion and faith and we'll support them as their partners and collaborators, not as all-knowing authoritarians. 

If you're looking to make a confession, if you're struggling with your faith, if you're looking for comfort or guidance, or if you need to lay down some of the burdens you've spent too long carrying, our priests—and our broader community—are here for you. ​

Sometimes all we need to find peace is the knowledge that we're not alone. Please know, you are not alone. 

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Episcopalians practice "Reconciliation of a Penitent" which we exercise through the care we Christian have for others, through the common prayer of Christians assembled for public worship, and through the priesthood of the church and its ministers declaring absolution (BCP, p. 446).  If you choose to confess your sins to God in the presence of a priest (typically face to face) and he or she will offer you the pardon and the grace of absolution. A deacon or lay person may also hear a confession, but they offer a declaration of forgiveness rather than absolution. 

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Our wonderful Fr. Patrick hosts "office hours" at the Starbucks in Barrington each Wednesday from 11am-12:30pm. If your schedule conflicts with these hours or you'd rather meet privately, visit the Contact Us page to let us know you're looking for someone to talk to and specify if you'd like to stop by,  grab a cup of coffee, or video chat with us. If you're lost but not quite ready to open up, we totally get it!  Visit our Request a Prayer page, fill out the simple form with as much or as little information as you're comfortable sharing, and we'll take it from there (we won't contact you unless you specify that you'd like us to get in touch).

We can also connect you to mental health resources if you think you'd benefit from broadening your support network to include professionals.

If you are in a life threatening situation, please call the 24h National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 (800) 273-8255 or call 911. You matter, you are enough, your mistakes do not define you, and you are not alone. 

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First, we want to commend and celebrate you for seeking help. Acknowledging when you or your loved ones need help can be paralyzingly difficult, but doing so is one of the most profound act of self love and love for others.  We are always here to offer the support of a loving community of faith but we don't offer any organized programs or groups. If you're searching for spiritual fellowship, we'd love for you to join our faith-based books clubs, bible studies, and forums but know they are designed to be social and collaborative learning environments and, as such, don't include any formal or leader-guided therapy practices.

If you're looking for AA meetings, Safe Harbor and First United Methodist Church in Warren both host. Check out the Alcoholics Anonymous website for a complete list of meetings in RI. Riverside Congressional Church holds NA meetings; here is an interactive map of NA meetings in the greater Providence area. 

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If you are looking for mental health support groups, we recommend visiting the Zencare Therapy Group page which lists groups in RI run by therapists and psychologists. You can find everything from postpartum sessions, eating disorder groups, art and journaling programs, to anxiety, depression,  and substance abuse support. 

We love that you're looking to get involved in acts of service! 

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If combatting food insecurity is your focus, there are several programs here that you might want to support. St. John's does not have a formal soup kitchen but we do have three outreach projects that are dedicated to ensuring everyone has access to meals: John's Mobile Meals, Open Hands Garden, and Mobile Loaves & Fishes.  Our neighbors at East Bay Community Action Program offer healthy daily lunches at the Peck Center to all our community members over 60 (recommended but not required donation of $3 per meal) and they are always looking for volunteers to help. Tap-In, right up the road, also offers a variety of social services—including food banks—run by volunteers and founded by members of St. John's. 

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If you want to help your community but aren't wed to food-focused organizations, you have even more options. Check out our Outreach page to see the programs we run here at St. John's but feel free to explore other community volunteer opportunities! There is no right way to contribute, no cause more important than the rest. All acts of service are spectacular and, while we would love for you to join us, we encourage you to support your community in whatever way feels best to you! 

The short—but admittedly incomplete—answer is maybe. If the Episcopalian religion and Christian faith are important to you and hold value and genuine meaning, and if you want your child to be ceremonially welcomed into the Body of Christ, then we'd take so much joy in baptizing your baby. We'd be honored. Because a) babies are amazing and b) what could be more beautiful than simultaneously welcoming a new life, supporting one another, and celebrating God's love? Nothing!

If, however, you don't really believe in God but feel like baptizing your baby is a box you need to check or if you have nagging in-laws who are pressing you to do it, we should chat to ensure baptism is something that feels good and safe and wonderful for you and your family. Baptisms are, and should be, about creating spaces of joy; they shouldn't be viewed as a chore.   

It devastates us that people are fearful of faith, religion, and church. We fully acknowledge, accept, and validate that: for far too many people, church hasn't been a safe space, that there has and continues to be trauma, and that cruel people weaponize religion against faithful people. If you are one of those people, please know we see you. We know that nothing we say or do can correct past wrongs, and we understand that reconstruction of trust and feeling safe with your faith is a long, winding road. 

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What we can offer, is a space for you to walk that road at your own pace, with the support of a community who will follow your lead. We'll demonstrate our compassion for each other, the beauty of our faith through practice, and our love for our God and our community in hope that, with time, we can rebuild the trust and comfort that was stolen from you. We'll listen and hold space for you to ask questions, explore your relationship with God, and evaluate your participation in worship. Healing takes work, we're here to lend a hand.