Worship Service at st. john's United Church of Christ every Sunday at 10:30 Am. Located at 145 W. Linn Street in bellefonte, PA.
About Us
We are glad you’re here and we hope that our website helps you learn about who we are, here at St. John's United Church of Christ. We look forward to meeting you at one of our events or on a Sunday morning!
St. John's United Church of Christ is a vibrant church with people of all ages worshiping and serving together. Our goal is to help you feel renewed, filled and challenged in order to go back into your weekday life.
People often say they come to our church because we are a "friendly bunch".
We are a large church that offers many ways to participate, yet small enough to feel included and connected. We are known for our outreach in the community through our free clothing bank, fun events and a friendly relationship with other local churches and organizations. We embrace diversity and encourage inclusion within our church family and outside of our church walls. We host Christian Education classes and activities that aim to stir the mind as well as the soul. We are known for our musical talent along with our choir who take worship to a new level. We have a team of dedicated volunteers who work hard to create meaningful worship experiences and events. Sunday morning services present time-honored traditions along with contemporary elements that promote personal growth through your own unique Christian journey.
Don’t hesitate to contact our pastor or administrative assistant with your questions, prayer requests or to find out more about our church programs at 814-355-9072
Brief History of St. John's UCC
In 1836, Rev. Ephraim Kieffer, in connection with the Lurtherans, orangized what is now known as St. John's UCC.
In 1869, the Reformed congregation (chartered in 1844) purchased the Lutheran interest.
Damage due to a furnace fire in the small frame building spurred the congregation to build the present stone sanctuary. The corner stone was laid in 1880 and the sanctuary was dedicated in 1883.
The German Reformed church merged with the Evangelical Snyod of North America in 1934 and our church became St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church. This new denomination stressed liberty of conscience and authority of the Bible.
In 1957, the Evangelical and Reformed joined the Congregational christian churches to become the United Church of Christ.
St. John's United Church of Christ's historic stone building is over 135 years old. It has continued through God's grace as a United Church of Christ for over 60 years. From the church's begining to now, it's history spans over 180 years.
Open and Affirming Church
On January 22, 2023 - St. John's United Church became an Open and Affirming Church by majority vote during our Annual Congregational Meeting. This was a milestone for the church in our commitment to welcoming, including and celebrating people; people of all abilities and disabilites, people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expression along with people of different cultural and religious backgrounds. We are committed to work for racial equity, anti-racism and social justice for all people.
