St John's United Methodist Church

St John's United Methodist Church The people of St.

John's United Methodist Church love God and love people so that together we can make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

When my daughter arrived, a friend asked me if I thought my heart could love someone or something that quickly and compl...
09/02/2026

When my daughter arrived, a friend asked me if I thought my heart could love someone or something that quickly and completely. I had to chuckle a little, simply because it has pleasantly shocked me how much I have loved both my children the instant I held them. Because they are both adopted, I haven't had the 9 months of gestation to bond with them, to imagine them, to speak or read or sing to them. With both kids, we received phone calls that we had been chosen to parent. What followed suit was a blur of driving, paperwork, nerves, excitement, and a little (ok really a lot) of oh my goodness, we're going to be parents- we have no idea what we are doing!

Sometimes I think about how God must have felt when He decided to make mankind. The excitement. The anticipation. Did God have nerves? Did God go through a little bit of "what am I getting myself into"? These are fun things to hopefully get to ask God one day. But what I do know is the moment God breathed life into Adam, His heart had to have burst with joy and full-on, head over heels love. I think of how many times mankind disappointed, turned away, even rebuked God and yet He kept sending prophets to bring His people back, until finally sending the perfect lamb, Jesus, God's own son, to reunite us with God through the crucifixion. God has loved us so fully, so unconditionally, throughout the history of mankind that He has never stopped looking for a way to bring His people back to His loving arms.

Whenever Liyah grabs my finger, I smile. It's her way of communicating to me, "Mom, don't go. I need you here. I love you. I miss you. You're my safety blanket". Over the years, I've pictured reaching out and holding onto God as my anchor, but when Liyah held my finger this time, I had a new thought- this is how God also holds onto us. He reaches for us and once He has us, He is not willing to let go. His love for us is so great, His grip so tight, He is incapable of leaving, of forgetting us, of turning His back on us no matter what we might say or do. His love knows no bounds and has no bottom- it is truly unconditional and unstoppable.

My last post was about those who are struggling- in our community, in our homes, maybe it is us ourselves. For those of you who are unsure where life is going, know that the anchor holds. God is there. He is still holding you with those all-powerful arms and nothing in this world can make Him turn lose. Rest into Him. Ask Him to carry you, one step at a time, until you can carry yourself. Rest knowing He will never, ever turn you loose.

St. John's UMC- No Judgement Zone

Yesterday we celebrated an incredibly special day in our congregation- the 50th anniversary of our beloved pianist, Ms. ...
08/31/2026

Yesterday we celebrated an incredibly special day in our congregation- the 50th anniversary of our beloved pianist, Ms. Sylvia Stone. Sylvia came to St. John's in 1976 with her husband, George, and has been with us ever since.

In her 50 years of service, Sylvia has played for numerous choir directors, accompanied several soloists, performed beautiful duets, and shared countless soul-touching prelude and offertories with our congregation- all while honoring God and the gift He bestowed upon her.

Sylvia is a testimony to prophesying through music. Each piece she plays has equal parts passion and conviction, showing listeners how she worships God- through music. She has touched those who have been struggling or depressed, inspired and motivated other musicians, and touched the hearts of everyone who has heard her play.

Sylvia is the embodiment of using the gifts God gives every single one of us. We are each uniquely and wonderfully made by a Creator who has oh so carefully planned out a beautiful tapestry where we each have a role. We are called upon by God to use the gifts He so generously bestows. Some may be blessed with the gift of music, others art. Some are filled with compassion and empathy for others. Some make beautiful quilts, write stunning poetry. Others may save the lives of God's children. And still, some are sent by God to help us grow closer to Him with our minds, our hearts, and our souls.

Whatever your gift, know that it is needed in this world. And we all have a gift. Our Creator blesses us all with unique talents and that beautiful tapestry He has woven cannot be complete without you in it!

Sylvia, we thank you for so generously sharing your gift of music with us! We have been blessed by 50 years of your service and can only hope for 50 more.

St. John's UMC- No Judgement Zone #

I know several people right now who are struggling. Struggling with health. With relationships. With finances. They are ...
08/27/2026

I know several people right now who are struggling. Struggling with health. With relationships. With finances. They are doing the best they can to make it, but some days the weariness of the struggle seeps into their very bones. They are tired of waiting. They are tired of fighting. They are tired of pretending they are ok.

Elijah knew that kind of exhaustion. And when he finally reached his limit, God didn't ask Elijah to perform, He gave Elijah rest.

There are days we feel we cannot go on. We can walk no further. We cannot even crawl. These are the days God carries us, holds us, comforts us and shows us the never ending depths of His love and compassion for us.

Maybe you have felt this kind of soul-sapping weariness. Maybe you are going through it right now. Turn to God. Ask Him to give you rest, to comfort you, to help you heal and show you how to take that next step. Let Him hold you ever so gently in His incredible strength. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving.

And He is waiting.

St. John's UMC- No Judgement Zone

Scripture tells us where two or more are gathered in God's name, He will be there. The last few weeks, we have been wors...
08/24/2026

Scripture tells us where two or more are gathered in God's name, He will be there. The last few weeks, we have been worshipping in our Fellowship Hall while repairs are being made in our Sanctuary. The services in the Fellowship Hall have a different feel, but God's presence is felt so strongly! We have all enjoyed a closer, more intimate service. This is a great time to come join us for worship in person!

While repairs are being made, we will not be able to live stream our service. Come join us in person and experience the family that is St. John's UMC. We have members of all ages, starting at 3 months! Everyone is welcome at St. John's. Worship begins at 10:45am.

And we even have cookies!

St. John's UMC- No Judgement Zone

Faith. This has been the topic of several discussions and sermons as of late. What exactly is faith? How does it stay st...
08/20/2026

Faith.

This has been the topic of several discussions and sermons as of late. What exactly is faith? How does it stay strong in times of hardship or need? How do we grow our faith?

I had a conversation with a dear friend this morning. She asked me how I believe we come to know our purpose in life. I said all I can attest to is how God has led me to several purposes in life. Everything started with communicating with God. Not half heartedly. Not in a rush. Not in a mood that I already knew the answers (or at least what I hoped were the answers). But genuine, open, from The depth of my soul talking with God. Asking Him where I should be and what I should do once I got there.

I shared with my friend that a big decision in our lives was where to move to from Rock Hill. We looked at a house in Lancaster first. We were met with nothing but problems and opposition. Then God led us to a house here in Lugoff. It was smooth sailing, everything fell into place. We had never heard of Lugoff, never visited the town, and had no plans to move here. But it is what God wanted. We had faith He was leading us to the right decision.

I told my friend neither Chris nor I had ever aspired to work for, let alone own, a landscaping company. One day, it was just in my heart as something I knew we should do. God placed it there. We didn't know what we were doing, but we had faith we would be successful because this is something God wanted us to do.

After several years of trying to have children, nothing had happened. Chris and I both felt called to adopt. We started the process in 2019 with a Christian adoption agency in Columbia. After several hurdles, trials, stresses and prayers, we have not one but two beautiful, amazing children that we love more than life itself. God led us to that path; our faith was strong enough to follow it, even in the bumpy, scary, tumultuous times.

So what is faith? To me, it is trusting in a God so powerful that He can make anything happen whenever He wants. A God that never leads us astray (when we listen), that plans only the best for us. A God that never leaves, never abandons, never casts us aside- no matter how untrusting, wavering, unbelieving we may be. A God that paves the way with abundant blessings and glorious hallelujahas if we but trust Him and His timing.

My friend acknowledged we have to communicate with God and listen with open minds and open hearts, but her comment was, "it's so hard waiting on God's timing! I want it in mine!".

Well don't we all.

The other side of faith is trusting in that timing. Trusting that God is building something so powerful, so beautiful, so amazing, that we cannot even begin to imagine.

But to receive it, we must show obedience in our patience.

When we received the phone call that Matthew's birth mother had chosen us to parent him, we were equally ecstatic and terrified. Of course we started telling our parents that they were going to become grandparents and have a grandson. Collectively, Chris and I have six parental figures in our lives. Of the six, four admitted that they had lost hope in us ever having children. The journey had taken too long (4 years) and they had let that dream leave their hearts. When they told us they had started moving on from becoming grandparents, I had to laugh. They said "I'm surprised you're laughing ". I said, "I'm surprised at your lack of faith".

You see, God had told me beyond a shadow of a doubt Chris and I would be parents. So through all the applications, interviews, medical tests, and rejections, I knew a baby was coming because that is what God had told me.

That is faith.

I pray your faith is strong. That you can face the trials of this world knowing you are not alone, that the God Most High walks with you, goes before you, and fights your enemies. Have faith friends. God is on your side as long as you continue to walk with Him.

St. John's UMC- No Judgement Zone

In Sunday's sermon, Pastor John spoke on wrestling with God. Ironically, I have been struggling to write this post.Wrest...
08/05/2026

In Sunday's sermon, Pastor John spoke on wrestling with God. Ironically, I have been struggling to write this post.

Wrestling. The word alone brings up quite a few images- grappling, arms and hands locked, close contact. A struggle. A battle of wills. A test to see who is stronger, faster, who wants it more.

My guess is that all of us, at some point in our lifetime, will wrestle or have wrestled with God over a major life decision. I have a friend now who is currently struggling with a major decision. It is not easy. We, as humans, tend to want what we want when we want it. But do we always take a step back, look at all the options, possibilities, outcomes? Most likely no. Sometimes any good may be hard for us to see in a given situation. Often times we don't understand why God is calling us for a particular path. Or in the case of my friend, why God is taking something away. So we fight. We grapple. We stand our ground and go toe to toe with God, saying we will not back down, we will not follow His call, we will do things on our terms in our time.

And this grappling with God has us facing off toe to toe instead of walking arm in arm. How often does scripture tell us God has plans to prosper us and make us successful? It doesn't include the disclaimer "only when you agree with the Lord. If you disagree, feel free to ignore the call". God expects us first to trust, second to obey. He does not ask for our input, consent, or time frame.

And why is it exactly that we choose to fight God? I believe ultimately it comes down to one thing- fear. We are scared of what God is calling us to do. We are scared because this new path will change things. We are scared because we don't want to grow outside of our routine. We are scared because we feel incapable of what He is asking us to do.

My friends, if God is truly calling us to walk a new path, there is no fear needed. Will things look differently? Yes. Will you be out of your comfort zone? Most likely. Will you find a peace with your calling that only God can provide? I think so.

Lately, I too have been wrestling with God over some changes in my life. I've spent much time reflecting, speaking to others much wiser than myself, and praying for God to show my His will and trust that all will work out to the best. I know it is so, so hard at times to let go, to give everything to God and say, "Lead, Master, and I will follow". But a big part of faith is truly believing the outcome will be worth the uncertainty, the fear, the nerves. We all must remember, God holds us in the palm of His hand. He goes before us on the journey to pave the way. And then He returns to us to walk alongside us, supporting us as we journey along. Give up the wrestling my friends and start walking instead ❤️

St. John's UMC- No Judgement Zone

Over the last couple of years, I've had the pleasure of Matthew teaching me about God's love and showing me God's world ...
07/29/2026

Over the last couple of years, I've had the pleasure of Matthew teaching me about God's love and showing me God's world through his eyes. Now I get to enjoy that pleasure from my daughter, Liyah. Liyah is a terrific example of how everyone in God's kingdom has something to teach others.

Ever since Liyah was born, she hates being still. If she is taking a ride with us in the car and we have to stop, she screams. If she is in her stroller and we stop to smell the roses, Liyah quickly encourages us to move on- with more screams. The girl wants to be on the move.

Yesterday, Liyah rode with me to pick Matthew up from school. Everything was great until we parked in the pickup line. Then, true to her nature, Liyah began whaling her head off. Once Matthew was safely buckled in and we were off, the crying stopped and Liyah enjoyed the rest of the ride home in comfortable silence. What can I say- the girl wants to roll.

But later in the day, I started reflecting about Liyah's discomfort for "sitting still". How many of us share that discomfort? While we may not always be on the go, we constantly find ways to be distracted. Phones, TVs, TikTok, apps, games- you name it, we're on it. Very few of us like to just sit, without distractions, in this world. But if we never sit with our silence, how do we hear the voice of God? Are we not commanded to sit still? To wait? To listen for guidance as to how to serve God in this crazy, upside down world?

Sitting still in the quiet is hard. We fidget, we drift, we count the seconds until we can do something else. But it is in that silence, that calming of not only mind but spirit, that God reaches out. God seeks us in the quiet, in the stillness. He gently reaches out, takes our hand, and whispers ever so quietly, "Listen to me, My Child. I am here, I am waiting, and I need you. I have plans for you, plans for you to prosper and succeed, but you must listen for them. Let me guide you, help you, better you. Take My hand and hear My heart".

Will you reach out for God in the stillness? Will you brave the discomfort, the pull of distractions? Will you wait for God to come to you, to nudge you, to whisper His commandments to you? Be still and know He is in control.

St. John's UMC- No Judgement Zone

The other night, we were jamming to a little "Devil Went Down to Georgia" after dinner. Once the air fiddles were down a...
07/22/2026

The other night, we were jamming to a little "Devil Went Down to Georgia" after dinner. Once the air fiddles were down and our toes were still, Chris looked at me and asked, "Would you Challenge the devil?", to which I replied, "I doubt it. I've never considered myself the best at anything". Johnnie I am not.

As we were getting ready for bed though, I started really pondering Chris's question- would I challenge the devil? And I realized, not only would I, but I DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.

I challenge the devil every time I set foot in St. John's. I challenge the devil when I choose to see the good in everyone, including my enemies. I challenge the devil when I continue to count my blessings in the face of the storm. I challenge the devil every night when I pray to the good Lord for keeping my children safe, blessing me with one more day with my loved ones, and to show me how to help those who have no food, no homes, or no faith.

By loving God we are all challenging the devil. We carry the love of Christ in our hearts and spread it to those we encounter. We are striving to do the work of God here on earth every single day, no matter how hard or disparaging it can be. And by doing that, continuing our faith, our love, and our belief in God and Jesus Christ, we are not only challenging the devil but we are winning the war.

So if Chris asks me again if I would challenge the devil, I will say absolutely. And guess what- just like Johnnie, I'll beat him too.

St. John's UMC- No Judgement Zone

Address

45 Roseborough Road
Lugoff, SC
29078

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+18034381335

Website

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