St. Johns UCC is a Protestant Christian Church of the UCC, United Church of Christ, Denomination dedicated to sharing the love of Christ with the world. We strive to Live Outwardly & Value Everyone. We are a small and mighty congregation who celebrate a staff of our faithful pastor of 12 years Rev. Muriel Morley Jahn, a dedicated Pastoral Associate (who is also our Faith Community Nurse) Beth Carson, and a joyful Minister of Music , Mary Albrecht. Our building maintenance, Community Gardeners, office workers, and mission leaders are all amazing volunteers!
Our purpose is to live and work in the midst of God's love. We extend that love to all who come into our midst, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, race, nationality, skin color, culture, differing abilities, or political affiliations. We are here to love everyone we encounter. We are also here to bring the Good News of Christ's love to all we encounter. We work in God's name to tear down walls and build community, to walk with each other through all of life's circumstances, to provide for those in need, to offer comfort to the hurting and sick, and to life up the brokenhearted. Where we fail, we ask for God's forgiveness. We ask the Spirit and our siblings to challenge us to do better.
No dress code. Come in your PJs or pearls. We are just glad you are here! Organ and piano music is our main accompaniment while we sing many traditional hymns. We have a choir and various musicians who will treat us with different musical pieces on any given Sunday. Holy Communion is celebrated once a month and it is open to all ages. Rev. Muriel never lets us get comfortable enough to say, ”But that’s the way we’ve always done it,” so we enjoy trying new things and having guest preachers. There is a time in most all worship for the “Young & Young at Heart” to go to the front and talk with Pastor. We have a nursery open during worship for the families who wish to use it, but we are just as happy to have all ages through the whole worship. Sometime the Holy Spirit speaks through crying babies. Preach Baby, Preach.
We celebrate Holy Communion using goldfish crackers and juice, so it is accessible to Christians of all ages. The fish is made with wheat to remind us of the bread Jesus broke with the disciples at the Last Supper. It is shaped like a fish to remind us of Christ’s many miracles of bounty (Mark 6:31-44, 8:9-1 and John 21:1-14). We are also reminded with the fish shape that Jesus calls us all to be “fishers of people” (Matthew 4:18-22) to spread God’s love and grace to all we meet.
The first communion is a meal of Passover that Jesus uses to say goodbye to his followers and prepare them for what is about to happen in Jerusalem. Jesus is surrounded by a holy feast and decided to give his followers a symbol of remembrance. He could have chosen the fanciest to honor his heavenly royalty. The special item you only get once or twice a year because Jesus is worth the wait. The mostly item would remind us that Christ is priceless and paid the ultimate cost. Instead, he chose the simple and common. He chose symbols encountered everyday at almost every meal. Bread was easy to share with others no matter how many were around the table, unlike fish or meat dish where the are good cuts and bad cuts. Everyone is invited to share equally. Bread and wine were also the most basic food. People of all social status had bread.
This is Christ’s gift to us. Give us this day our bread, the bread of life. The cup of the new covenant poured out for the world promising Christ will come again. Praise be to God!
No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!