St. Ann's welcomes the community - By Michelle Libby

This weekend St. Ann’s Episcopal Church will host a community celebration on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and a welcome back barbecue on Sunday after morning services for everyone.

“It’s a tremendous time to refocus and prepare for the new year,” said Fr. Tim Higgins, rector at the church. This will be the second free community event they have held. 

 

“Let’s go big or go home,” said committee chair of the event Michael Dionne, two year ago. This year they will go bigger with a visit from Sparks Ark (3 p.m.), music, a bounce house, face painting and Touch a Truck with the Windham Fire Department (1 p.m.), and that’s just on Saturday between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. 

“This is a free event for the community. Just being on campus is an opportunity for evangelism,” said Higgins. “Join us Saturday and come back on Sunday for church and the barbecue.” 

On Sunday there will be a breakfast at 9 a.m., blessing of the backpacks for students and after church the festivities continue with the bouncy house, DJ and sports like soccer games and volleyball. 

 

The sermon on Sunday will focus on “Why church? Why go in the first place?” according to Higgins. “Twenty-seven percent of people have found a denomination they identify with. That’s 73 percent that have no connection at all,” he added. 

St. Ann’s is known for its “radical hospitality” where everyone is welcome. The family atmosphere and community life is “a nice soft place to land when things go rough.” In the same service the congregation might cheer for the Red Sox or cry over a new cancer diagnosis, said Higgins. “It makes us very unique.” 

Services on Sunday are at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. St. Ann’s is on the corner of River Road and Windham Center Road.