St. Ann’s to celebrate annual ‘Welcome Home Sunday’

A young participant enjoys a bounce house slide during a
previous 'Welcome Back Sunday' event at St. Ann's Episcopal
Church in Windham. This year's event is free and will be
held at the church, 40 Windham Center Road on Sunday,
Sept. 11. COURTESY PHOTO  

By Ed Pierce

Members of St. Ann’s Episcopal Church in Windham are eagerly awaiting the calendar turning to September and are preparing for one of the highlights of the year as the church celebrates “Welcome Home Sunday” on Sept. 11.

According to Rev. Tim Higgins, St. Ann’s Church Rector, the event will be among the biggest of the year with church members who’ve been away on vacation this summer or not able to attend services for a while will be welcomed back at a special gathering at the church, located at 40 Windham Center Road in Windham.

Bishop Thomas Brown, the leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine, will attend the 8 and 10 a.m. services at St. Ann’s on “Welcome Home Sunday” and will help the church dedicate its new sanctuary space and chapel which were completed this spring.

The bishop will also be on hand as St. Ann’s opens Sunday School at 10 a.m. for children and participate in an enhanced coffee hour with church members after the 8 a.m. service.

“This is truly going to be a wonderful event for the community and the public,” Higgins said. “We do this every year. It’s an opportunity to see people who’ve been away and for us to tell them we’re glad they’re back and come on back to church.”

He said that the event will include a family style barbecue after the 10 a.m. service manned entirely by church volunteers.

 
In addition, “Welcome Home Sunday” will feature a bake sale of tasty goodies prepared by church members, a bounce house for kids, music, a Touch-A-Truck for children with vehicles from the Windham Fire Department and the Windham Police Department, and a visit from an ice cream truck at 2 p.m. Other children’s activities will include a variety of games, playground fun, and free face painting.

Higgins said staff from Mercy Hospital will be there to offer free flu shots to anyone who wants one and church members will also give guided tours of the St. Ann’s Memorial Garden. Informational booths will also be set up for health and other resources available in the local community.

The entire event is free and everyone who wishes to attend is encouraged to attend, Higgins said.

“This is really a chance for St. Ann’s to build and grow relationships in our community and we’re really looking forward to hosting ‘Welcome Home Sunday’ once again this year,” Higgins said. “It’s our way of saying thank you to the greater Windham community.”

For further details, call the church office at 207-892-8447 or visit https://www.stannsepiscopalchurch.com/ You can also find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/StAnnsEpiscopalWindhamME04062/ <