Click on a question below to retreive the answer. If you have additional questions, feel free to contact us by clicking here.
What is the history of St. John's Church? [back to top]
St. John's Church was established in 1872 by a group of men seeking the freedom to pursue their faith without the church or its members dictating their personal philosophies, political beliefs, or social activities.
Today, as we head toward our second century as a faith community, the members of St. John's remain a philosophically, politically, and socially diverse group of individuals. When we gather together, we celebrate our individual differences and our common faith journey with tradition and majesty, founded on the basic principle that all are welcome and all belong in the body of Christ. To learn more about our church's history, click here.
What are the core values of St. John's Church? [back to top]
LOVE:
God's love for all persons inspires us to love others.
We will value, respect and lift up all persons as children of God.
ACCEPTANCE:
Just as God's acceptance of us is unconditional, so is our acceptance of others.
God has created each person with unique spiritual gifts that are of God and to be used for God's work.
FAITH:
Faith allows us to face the future with confidence in God and each other.
We will make decisions based on our faith, and we will nurture faith in others.
MISSION AND OUTREACH:
We will love and care for our neighbors in this city and around the world.
We will generously share with others all the talents and gifts that God has given us.
CHILDREN:
We will celebrate, educate, and nurture all children of God.
We will provide unparalleled care and spiritual formation for children.
What does St. John's believe about baptism? [back to top]
We believe that baptism is about acceptance and belonging. The act of baptism makes visible the invisible promise of unconditional love and acceptance for a child of God. Through the act of baptism, we formally welcome an individual into the Christian family and promise our love and nurture to him or her in the Christian faith.
Baptism can occur at any age. Youth and adults have the opportunity to affirm their baptism through confirmation or through becoming members of the church.
What does St. John's believe about communion? [back to top]
We believe that anyone who seeks to know the living Christ is welcome to receive communion. Through the sacrament of communion, we are reminded of how God came to us in the form of Jesus to share our common lot and invites us to join with our brothers and sisters in Christ to bring about the world that God intends for us. We are reminded of God's presence in the ordinary and extraordinary moments of our lives and of our connection to each other as part of God's family.
What is the U.C.C.? (United Church of Christ) [back to top]
The United Church of Christ was established in 1957 through the merging of four denominations: Evangelical, Reformed, Congregational, and Community. Our motto is: "That they all may be one."
The United Church of Christ is a UNITED and UNITING church. Each of the communions which came together to form the United Church of Christ in 1957 had itself come into being through the union of two denominations. Therefore, church unity and Christian unity are in the very history of our members.
The United Church of Christ is a church of CHRIST. We believe that we are called to carry out Christ's mission in the world today. Wherever there are people without the gospel, wherever there are people in need, wherever there is injustice, strife, hatred and greed - there the Church of Christ is bound by its Sovereign to bear witness, to serve, to help, to reconcile, to rebuild. We belong to Christ and must follow where Christ leads.
The United Church of Christ is a FREE church and a RESPONSIBLE Church. No one dictates to any local church the decisions it makes. Freedom is guaranteed. But it is "freedom in the gospel" (cf Galatians 2:4) and assumes that every corporate body within the church, whether a local church or a conference or the General Synod, will make its decisions in light of the gospel and out of a sense of responsibility to the whole church fellowship.
The United Church of Christ is a church OF THE PEOPLE. The church is not the clergy, not the organization at the regional or national levels, not the officers or boards, commissions or councils. Though all play indispensable parts, the church is the PEOPLE gathered for worship, work, and witness.
What programs does St. John's provide for Christian Education? [back to top]
St. John's provides learning experiences for people of all ages. On Sunday morning there are Christian education classes for everyone. The curriculum used for the children's classes is based on the Workshop Rotation model. To learn more about this approach to learning, visit www.rotation.org. Youth in grades 6-12 use a separate curriculum focusing on putting faith into action through service projects inside and outside the church.
Adults have two options each Sunday morning: A Bible study class and a topical course. Some of the recent topics that have been covered include World Religions, The Da Vinci Code, Taking Faith to Work, and Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts.
Please visit our Christian Education area for more information.
How can I become involved in the mission efforts of St. John's Church? [back to top]
There are a variety of mission and service efforts that take place throughout the year including help with refugee families, serving meals to the homeless, and working in a local food pantry. If you are interested in learning ways that you can become directly involved with these and other efforts, e-mail or call the church office at 614-224-8634.
Who is the pastor of St. John's Church? [back to top]
Our pastor is Kathryn Nystrand Dwyer. Rev. Dwyer came to St. John's in 2001 after serving as the pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Thornville, Ohio. She has also served as Associate Pastor for Karl Road Christian Church and as Director of Children's Ministries for First Community Church, both in Columbus. She received her B.A. from Miami University (Ohio) and her M. Div. from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio, and was ordained by the United Church of Christ on February 1, 1998. She enjoys the arts, cooking, gardening, and her children's activities. In Columbus, she is a member of the downtown rotary and a trustee of the Methodist Theological School in Ohio. Rev. Dwyer lives with her husband and children in Hilliard, Ohio.
How often is communion served? [back to top]
We observe communion on the first Sunday of every liturgical season (Advent, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost), several times during Holy Week, on World Wide Communion Sunday, on the Sunday of the Church Anniversary, and weekly on Wednesdays at noon as part of The Largest Table.
What opportunities are offered for socializing with others in my age group? [back to top]
Opportunities for socializing abound at St. John's! The Congregational Life committee, often pegged as the "Fun Committee," plans fun events throughout the year to be enjoyed by all ages. Some of the more recent events include dinner and a concert, ice skating, a potluck and games night at the church, and bowling.
In addition, there are a variety of women's groups (known as "circles") that meet on a monthly basis for fellowship, service and fun, an active senior group, a youth group, and an array of small group activities in which members of both the congregation and the wider community are invited to participate (for details, see the small groups page).
Does the church provide childcare during worship services? [back to top]
The church provides nursery care for children ages infant - 4 during the Christian education hour from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. every Sunday morning.
There is nursery care for children ages infant - 6 during the worship service. Children in Kindergarten through fifth grade are invited to the "Celebration Station" each week in worship following the children's moment within the servicer. The Celebration Station is a worship experience that is developmentally appropriate for children this age and includes Bible stories, songs, crafts and games.
Is St. John's available to non-members for weddings or meetings? [back to top]
Yes, we welcome non-members to our church for weddings, meetings, retreats, anniversary parties, and the like. Please see our facilities section for more information.
How can I become a member of St. John's Church? [back to top]
If you have been attending St. John's and are interested in becoming a member, please contact the pastor or the church office at 614-224-8634 to learn about upcoming membership classes. Several times throughout the year, there is a membership class held to help prospective members understand the history of the United Church of Christ and St. John's Evangelical Protestant Church. The class is typically held for a few hours on a weeknight, and new members join the church during a Sunday morning worship service.
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