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“All are welcome in this place.”
Are you looking for a community of faith that prides itself on both tradition and inclusion? Or a tight-knit family of members who value engaging with the world around them (especially the portion of that world in its own backyard)? Or dedication to ancient spiritual principles while also recognizing that our communities, and the individuals within them, change, grow, and learn throughout their lives? St. John’s Episcopal Church - Tower Grove aims to be just that kind of community!
“Let us build a house where prophets speak,
and words are strong and true,
where all God’s children dare to seek
to dream God’s reign anew.”*
A parish within the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, and the Episcopal Church of the USA, St. John’s is proud of its Anglican heritage. We are Bible-believers; we are also Bible-interpreters. We believe that God’s inspired Word, shared through Old Testament writers, the prophets, and His Son Jesus Christ, requires thought, prayer, discernment, and imagination. You may wonder if you believe as we do; chances are, you’ll find people who agree with your own interpretations of Scripture here… and others who hold very different ideas. We welcome all.
“Let us build a house where love is found
in water, wine and wheat:
a banquet hall on holy ground
where peace and justice meet.”*
Each Sunday morning members of the St. John’s congregation gather to share the Holy Eucharist, the “body and blood” of Christ symbolized in bread and wine. In this celebration we not only reaffirm our own membership in “the Body of Christ,” but also our responsibility to feed Christ’s “sheep” by sharing “the Good News” of God’s unconditional love for all people.
“Let us build a house where hands will reach
beyond the wood and stone
to heal and strengthen, serve and teach,
and live the Word they’ve known.”*
While we’re proud of our over 100-year-old campus in South City, and our over 150-year history in St. Louis, we also know that “the church” isn’t a building or a location. The Church is the people who not only come together to worship, but who also reach out to the community around them in service. Every Saturday, St. John’s hosts the Peace Meal, a free meal for anyone who wants it. This weekly gathering symbolizes our commitment to our neighbors, and to living lives of shared sacrifice in which all have their needs met.
We welcome you, whether you’re actively seeking a new faith community, or if you’re exploring your own beliefs and values, and think we might be a good fit. Please explore the rest of this site, and contact us with any questions.
While the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, St. John's continues to worship. We're using internet technology to come together every Sunday morning. If you'd like to join us, please fill out our contact form, and we'll reach out with information.
*Hymn lyrics by Marty Haugen, “All Are Welcome,” 1994.
Worship times
The morning service at 10:30 am is a come-as-you-are Sunday morning service in modern English. This service uses prayers from the Book of Common Prayer 1979 (& other sources) and features our fabulous volunteer choir, organ and piano music (as well as other instruments) and congregational singing, using a variety of hymnals and song books.
Professional Childcare for infants and toddlers is available on Sunday mornings from 9:00 am - 12 noon (10:00 am - 12 noon in the summer), although all children are welcome to remain in worship with their parents and guardians. Coloring materials, books, rocking chairs, and sensory toys are available for use during the 10:30 am service.
Godly Play Sunday School for children 5 and up, and Youth Sunday School for children in 5th grade and up are offered at 10:30 am from September through May. All children return to the worship service in time for the Exchange of the Peace & Holy Communion. If children are in Childcare, parents are encouraged to bring their children back to the Main Church to participate in Holy Communion.
Adult Christian Formation on Sunday mornings takes place from 9:15 am - 10:15 am from September through May.
Ministries
The Peace Meal
The Peace Meal is a free hot meal served each Saturday afternoon from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM in our dining hall. We have been feeding 75-100 people each Saturday for over 6 years. We do this in conjunction with Church of the Good Shepherd in Town and Country, who delivers fresh produce to our kitchen during the growing season. The Peace Meal is to create a common area where people in our diverse, urban neighborhood can come and share a meal and get acquainted, creating community.
Racial Justice Committee
Sacred Ground is dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. Small groups are invited to walk through chapters of America’s history of race, racism, and whiteness while weaving in threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity. The 10-part series is built around a powerful online curriculum of documentary films and readings that focus on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American histories.
Sacred Ground is a resource coming out of Becoming Beloved Community, The Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society. This series is especially designed to help white people talk with other white people, while being open to all racial/ethnic groups. Participants are invited to peel away the layers that have contributed to the challenges and divides of the present day – all while grounded in our call to faith, hope and love.
Kurt Greenbaum and John Eads
News about St. John's Church, Tower Grove, St. Louis
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3664 Arsenal Street
Saint Louis, MO 63116-4801
United States
