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As followers of Jesus, we believe all people—without exception—are God’s beloved and are called together by the Holy Spirit. Inspired through time-honored worship, the people of St. John’s Episcopal Church strive to boldly love every person and all creation. This is summarized by our motto: Following Jesus. Inspired through Worship. Boldly loving ALL.
Our Vision
The teachings of Jesus call us at St. John’s Episcopal Church to cultivate a community where each one of us can know who we are as beloved children of God. As we open ourselves to God’s love, we realize the grace-filled truth that every person we meet is likewise beloved. We envision a church where all people—no matter who they are, whom they love, whom they vote for, or what language they speak—can find grace and mercy in their relationships with God and one another.
We find our time-honored approach to worship inspiring, and yet we also believe God calls us to find ways to make it more welcoming to those who are searching for a connection to God. We want to be a congregation where children will find their spiritual home—and their passion for God—here among us. And we want to equip Christians of all ages to learn what it means to follow Jesus in our current world. As we strive to boldly love every person and all creation, we believe God is inviting us together across our differences to change this world—both globally and right here at home.
If you are seeking a faith community where you can make a difference, we invite you to visit us at any of our worship services!
Worship times
Volunteer opportunities
Ministries
SJE's Food Pantry Ministry
The SJE Food Pantry provides nutritious, easy-to-prepare foods, personal care items, and baby supplies to those in need in our community in a neat, orderly, and welcoming environment. Assistance is available during normal hours (Monday-Thursday, 10am-2pm) or by appointment. Donations are always welcome to the Food Pantry Fund to help cover the costs of this ministry.Contact the Parish Office to find out more.
Loving Spoonfuls Meal Ministry
Loving Spoonfuls provides meals to the community twice a week:
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- Wednesday evenings, 5:30pm – 6:30pm
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- Sunday afternoons, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
St. John’s is the only church in the Tri-Cities area that offers hungry people of our community nutritious meals on a regular basis. Our kitchen is staffed each week by volunteers from our parish, members of other churches, and individuals from our community. Want volunteer to be on a regular rotation to help with the meals? Click here to sign-up.
El Corazón Latino Ministry
St. John's El Corazón is a ministry initiative to establish a Spanish-speaking community that is placed at the heart (as opposed to the edges) of our English-speaking congregation. Spanish language worship and Bible study take place each week, bi-lingual worship services occur through out the church year, and special events bring us together to enrich our parish.
NW Ottawa Citizenship Class
Twice a year St. John's, and our partners in the community, offer a 10-week citizenship class to:
- Help students determine eligibility to become a naturalized US citizen.
- Provide information about the US naturalization process.
- Assist students in completing the N-400, Application for Naturalization.
- Help students prepare for the USCIS interview, civics test, and English tests.
Sacred Ground Race Dialogue Circles
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.
International Relationships
UNITY School
Since 2013 St. John's Episcopal Church has provided support for the building and running of the UNITY School in Uganda.
The Kalaki Unity School is located in one of the poorest undeveloped areas of eastern Uganda. Rev. Chris Ochaloi, Director, began the school as an NGO welcoming children of all faiths and tribes. St. John’s Church helps it improve the quality of life for children in surrounding villages. Many children are orphans (who have lost one parent or more) and are often living with their guardians. The enrollment has reached 170 students and covers Kindergarten through Grade 7.
The needs of the school are great but St. John’s has been able to fund individual projects that are often desperately needed. For example, raising funds to buy seeds, plants, and trees to help supplement their meager food sources. Our most recent sponsorship was to finance the building of a Sick Bay and provide start-up supplies for a full time qualified nurse. Though in the midst of the world’s crisis with the COVID-19 virus, our ministry carried on, and soon the office was built, the cabinet was stocked, and the doors to the St. John’s Sick Bay at Kalaki Unity School opened its doors.
Future plans include providing an option for students to board, to purchase a grinding mill for community members to use, to offer vocational training, and to start an animal husbandry program.
News about St. John's Episcopal Church
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Good Book Club: John 6:35-39
I came to St. John’s, Grand Haven under the auspices of singing in the choir. Little did I know, filled with trembling and trepidation on those first few Sundays, that I would come to call St. John’s home, that St. John’s would reveal in me a new way of living.
524 Washington Ave
Grand Haven, MI 49417-1455
United States
