By the morning of Thursday, September 8, it was apparent that St John's Episcopal Church had been decommissioned.

The signposts remained in front of the small stone church at 5 Washington Avenue, but the sign alerting passersby to the presence of Newtown's younger of two Episcopal parishes had been removed. Less than 12 hours earlier, parishioners and guests had gathered inside the beautiful building. They had joined together to celebrate the final Eucharist of a church that had been founded in Sandy Hook nearly a century and a half earlier.

Reverend Mark Moore had been surprised, he said Wednesday evening, at how many people attended the special service. Many in the pews were sharing the evening's bulletins, in fact, because enough had not been printed.

"I didn't expect many people to be here tonight," he said. "I was nearly bowled over when I pulled in and saw how many people were here."

Approximately 40 people gathered in the pews on September 7 to say farewell to the church.  St John's Vestry had decided earlier this year that it was time to close. After years of a shrinking population and an ongoing struggle to keep the church financially viable, it was announced by July that one chapter of Newtown's religious history was coming to a conclusion.

Parishioners and neighbors arrived gradually for the closing Eucharist. Some knelt before entering a row of pews; most looked around and started quiet conversation with those already seated in the sanctuary. Members were joined by volunteers from FAITH Food Pantry, which had since 1983 provided food for residents in need from the basement of the church.

A few clergy members were also present, judging by the clerical collars on three women and at least one man.

Shortly before 7 pm, St John's organist Karen Springer played the appropriate "Jubilation," the evening's Prelude.  Then there were a few moments of silence. Outside, the conversations from a group of men who had gathered outside the neighboring Masonic temple could be heard through the windows on the church's north side. From behind the church came the sounds of traffic passing on Washington Avenue. A chorus of peepers also began their nightly chirping ritual.

The service formally began with the entrance of the Right Reverend Laura Ahrens, bishop suffragen of the Episcopal Church of Connecticut, followed by Reverend Mark Moore, pastor of St John's.

"We are blessed by your presence," Bishop Ahrens told attendees a few minutes later. "Thank you for being here on this special and holy night."

During her sermon, Bishop Ahrens also called it a sad night.

"It is with sadness that I honor you, and feel for you, deeply in my bones," she said. "Your ministry has served as a beacon of pastoral care, and the presence of love. A huge part of me wishes we were not here to say goodbye. Closing churches feels sad, and strange, and just not right, and yet it happens.

"I wish I had some kind of explanation" as to why some churches are no longer sustainable, she added. "This model of being Christian is sustainable, however. That is the Gospel, and that stays alive."

"Looking back, however," she continued, "you must be honored. Tonight is also about honoring the past, all the ways we have been fed and transformed, all into something different.

"An exceptional example" of reaching out, she said, is FAITH Food Pantry, "and how they reached out to anyone who asked for help."

Bishop Ahrens encouraged those in the pews Wednesday evening to not give up on their faith.

"Some of you will be called to go out to other communities," she said, "perhaps to serve, perhaps to be a seed in another vineyard.

"Think about St John's, how it has transformed you, and share that with the world," she said, nearing the end of her sermon. "May God's blessings be upon each one of us this holy night."

Earlier in the service, Rev Moore told his parishioners that he was touched by them from the start. He had initially expected his time in Sandy Hook to be much shorter than the eight years he was able to serve.

"I looked around at a handful of people and expected to have a very short tenure," he admitted. "But these people were ready to keep their church alive and thriving. We all decided to make a go of it."

St John's had been threatened with closure in 2008, but parishioners put together a strong enough presentation for the diocese that they were granted a reprieve.

"The bishop was bowled away at the enthusiasm found here," Rev Moore said, smiling. "I looked around and realized the source of all this vision and energy. I looked up, and all of the faces of those in the pews were just glowing. They all had a deep sense of worship and prayer.

"It is true what is said," he added, quoting from the Book of Matthew. "'Where two or three are gathered in my name,' and here it was, in real life. Jesus was here, always, in the midst of us."

He called his work, and that of all members of St John's, following 12/14, "an epiphany."

"We realized God had given us a mission and purpose that was beyond us," he said. "We spoke to millions and millions of people" through the cameras and stories produced by media outlets near and far, he said. "That is what I will always carry from here: the smallest, most humble group of people can teach the world.

"I will take the knowledge that Jesus Christ has always been here, even when only two or three are gathered," he said.

Rev Moore invited the evening's attendees to share their thoughts and feelings at that point. JoAnn Hornak, who had been serving as a deacon, stood from her seat within the chancel and said that she "truly felt like it was coming home" when she joined St John's in 1987 after moving to Newtown. Having been raised in the Episcopalian church, she said, the foundation of what she had learned as a child was still with her.

"I have grown quite a bit," she said, adding, "and learned it's okay to question things."

Cecilia Dalzell agreed, saying she too "occasionally found myself struggling to understand Scriptures, and struggling with music along with the other ensemble members."

Mrs Dalzell is a member, with her husband Carl, Peter Ruscoe, and organist Karen Springer, of the St John's Music Ensemble.

"But this has also been a very welcoming and loving place," she said.

Lee Paulsen, longtime president of FAITH Food Pantry, offered her appreciation to St John's.

"Thank you to this church, and these people, for giving FAITH Food Pantry a home for 33 years," she said. "My heart goes out to all of you, and I love all of you."

The food pantry has relocated, temporarily, to space within a converted garage at 31 Pecks Lane.

Dennis Shanchuck, a Sandy Hook resident who attends Christ the Savior Orthodox Church in Southbury, called St John's "the lighthouse which showed the light to our church."

During the summer of 1995, the Southbury church needed to vacate the storefront that had been serving as its home for services. While searching for a new location, members gathered for their services at St John's Church. More than 20 years later, the kindness is still remembered.

"You really helped us," Mr Shanchuck said. "You are always in our hearts, and you are always welcome to come worship with us."

Bruce Moulthrop, the warden of St John's, said he will miss "the camaraderie, the fellowship, the friendship, and the pancake suppers." The last point drew a laugh. St John's had hosted a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper for 58 years, and Mr Moulthrop was its lead cook for the majority of them.

He recalled "the one year we got the Sandy Hook firefighters to come to the supper," he said. That was the year Mr Moulthrop put a little too much oil on a hot griddle, promptly filling the church's small kitchen with so much smoke that a call for help needed to be issued.

"I looked outside and there was [Fire Chief] Bill Halstead and his firefighters, coming to our rescue," he said.

"The fire department has really saved us a few times," he said. "In 1983 they came to our rescue after the furnace room began flooding. They were here before I could get here from where I was working in Southbury at the time."

He pointed out that the local fire company has also been a "big supporter" of the church, allowing members to use the fire house years ago for fundraising dinners. Its members also continue to organize, he said, an annual collection for FAITH Food Pantry.

Junior Warden Steve Zakur offered his thanks to the church vestry.

"It's been an extraordinary ride, with people deeply in their faith," he said.

During the evening's Litany, Rev Moore reminded those gathered that St John's has been "a continuous worshiping community for the past 147 years. After prayer and careful consideration, it now seems that our time in Sandy Hook needs to come to an end."

Looking at those assembled, he asked: "Do you, the people of St John's Sandy Hook, recognize and accept the conclusion of this ministry?"

Those in the pews solemnly responded, "We do."

As Rev Moore continued the evening's Litany, he paused after each few sentences to allow time for silence. Outside, fewer vehicles could be heard passing by. The conversations of the men who had gathered outside the neighboring temple earlier had subsided.

By then, the crickets chirping back and forth were louder and clear during each of Rev Moore's pauses. While those in the pews sat in silence, only the crickets responded.

In leading the Prayers of the People, Bishop Ahrens asked for prayers "for all the parishioners of churches that have closed ... [and] also, for all parishes still open, that their collective worship and mission work be a testament of your strength and love in their communities, our country, and around the world.

"We pray for the clients and volunteers of the FAITH Food Pantry," she continued, "and for all the self-help groups that met at St John's Church. "

The offering during Wednesday's service, it was noted, would be given to the food pantry.

Readings during the service were offered by Peter Ruscoe, as well as Mr Moulthrop and Mr Zakur. Holy Communion was also offered one final time.

In leading up to the Blessing and Recessional ("Rejoice, Ye Pure In Heart"), Bishop Ahrens asked everyone to stand and take the hand of the person next to them.

"To honor the community of holy gathering," she said, "let us say together: 'Go in peace and love to serve the Lord.'"

By the conclusion of the 90-minute service, it was dark outside. Fewer cars were passing by the church, and the glow from an eatery across the street reached into the grassy lawn in front of St John's. As they

left that night, many people hugged each other. Wiping away tears, most promised to keep in touch.

A few families took photos in front of the church, while others quietly returned to their vehicles.

And before he left that evening, Warden Bruce Moulthrop not only removed the church sign from its posts, but also turned the building's keys over to the diocese.

Additional photos from the closing Eucharist can be viewed in this week's online photo gallery.