St. John Methodist Church in Florence, Ala.

06/03/2026

Jesus invited tax collector Matthew to join his band of disciples. And Matthew had a dinner party in Jesus's honor and invited his friends.

A group of Pharisees were annoyed. "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners," they asked the disciples.

Jesus had a response that put them in their place. "Learn what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.'"

What does this mean, and where did the quote come from? Come Sunday and find out.

Sunday at 10 a.m.
St. John Methodist Church
457 County Road 7, Florence

05/22/2026

Fifty days after Passover the disciples were still crowded into the upper room. They had spent forty days with the risen Jesus, where he had shown them (again) from the Hebrew scriptures how he must suffer and die, and then be resurrected from the dead. After Jesus ascended they spent another ten days praying and waiting.

The wait paid off. Around nine in the morning they heard the rush of wind and saw flames filling the place where they were staying. Then they began to prophesy in languages these Galilean fishermen had never learned. But people from all over Greece and Turkey heard them speaking in their own languages. Astonished, they asked, "What does this mean?"

Peter said, "It means that the day Joel the prophet had foretold was coming to pass." God was pouring out his Spirit on all flesh. Revered prophets were not the only ones who could prophesy, but any one who follows God. A great history-changing event meant that anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

This Pentecost Sunday we unpack this text from Acts and discover how God took this old Hebrew harvest festival and turned it into the birth of the church, complete with holy fireworks.

St. John Methodist Church
457 County Road 7, Florence
10 a.m.

05/14/2026

In the week before the crucifixion Jesus told his disciples the time had come for him to be glorified. The ultimate glory, Jesus explained, would come through his humiliating crucifixion.

Again, on the night he was arrested, Jesus repeated that. As Judas walked out the door to arrange the arrest, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified." He said several times that evening that his glorification was at hand.

What does all this mean? We'll provide more detail Sunday. We hope to see you then.

St. John Methodist Church
457 County Road 7
Worship begins at 10 a.m.

05/07/2026

When Jesus was saying his goodbyes to the disciples he promised to send them a helper, the Spirit of Truth, to guide them into all truth.

Noting their sorrow of heart, Jesus said, "It is to your advantage that I go away. If I don't go away, the helper cannot come. If I go, I will send him to you."

So who is this helper, this Spirit of Truth? He is the Holy Spirit, the expression of God who lives within us to guide and empower. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He gives us grace to understand God's will and act on his behalf. Essentially, Jesus told the disciples, "I must stop living BESIDE you so that I can return to live INSIDE you."

Fast-forward fifty days. Dr. Luke tells us in his chronicles of the church that the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost and landed on the 120 or so disciples in the upper room. They received the Holy Spirit and began prophesying to amazed feast-goers about Jesus Christ.

Come Sunday for more on the Spirit of Truth.

St. John Methodist Church
457 County Road 7, Florence
10 a.m.

04/30/2026

When Jesus sat with his troubled disciples at the Last Supper, he told them he was going to prepare a place for them in his Father's house. "And you know the way to the place where I am going," he said.

Thomas was confused. "How can we know the way?"

Jesus responded with what became one of the most quotable verses of Scripture. "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

"The Way" was the first designation of early believers, and it suggests continued journey and discovery. Apparently the disciples were not through following, not through with the journey. They must now go it without Jesus beside them. The journey was not complete.

Sunday we unpack what Jesus' meant by "the way," and why we need to be sure we are following him in the way, and not simply being in the way. I hope to see you then.

St. John Methodist Church
457 County Road 7
May 3 at 10 a.m.

04/23/2026

Good Shepherd Sunday brings with it images of Jesus, kind and loving shepherd, with a lamb draped over his shoulders. The psalmist reminds us that the Lord is our shepherd and we will not be in want. Peter recalls the death and resurrection of Jesus, and reminds us Jesus is the "shepherd and bishop of our souls."

It is tempting to lapse into pastoral and sentimental thoughts about the relationship between shepherd and sheep, as though the shepherd lovingly pampers the sheep almost as pets. But John has other things in mind. A shepherd protects and feeds the flock, readying the sheep to reproduce, provide wool, or be sold at market.

In our text this week (John 10:1-10) Jesus was wrangling with the Sanhedrin after they excommunicated the blind man for being healed on the Sabbath day. He claimed they were false shepherds, and more likely thieves and robbers. They plunder and scatter. They did not do what God called them to do and their days were numbered.

Jesus said he alone is the Good Shepherd, and six times he mentioned a door and identified himself as the door.

Sunday we consider the significance of a gate and how Jesus fills that role. See you at St. John Sunday at 10 for "I Am the Door."

04/16/2026

Sunday at St. John Methodist Church we tag along with two of Jesus's disciples as they walked toward the village of Emmaus. They spent the day talking to Jesus without recognizing him. That evening, at supper, they realized Jesus was with them as he broke the bread. I hope to see you Sunday at 10 a.m.

04/09/2026

Seeing and Believing

On the evening of the Resurrection, Jesus's disciples were huddled away in the upper room, cowering in fear. All were present but Thomas. Jesus came, showed them his crucifixion wounds, and commissioned them to their ministry.

When Thomas returned, he was skeptical of the disciples' claims that they had seen the Lord. He must see and touch for himself. A week later Jesus came back, and Thomas was convinced. "My Lord and my God," he exclaimed.

Thomas went on to fruitful ministry in Syria, Persia, and India. Today a Christian denomination in India traces its ecclesiastical heritage back to the work of Thomas among them.

Come Sunday to St. John Methodist Church (10 a.m.) for worship and more information on Thomas the apostle.

04/05/2026

HE IS RISEN! We invite you to join us for worship this morning at 10 AM as we celebrate Jesus’s resurrection.

01/12/2026

Please note the corrected time for Ray McDaniel’s visitation at Greenview: Tomorrow (01/12/2026) from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM.

View David Ray McDaniel's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.