St. John's UCC Massillon

06/24/2026

06/21/2026

Sunday Worship Service 6/21/2026

06/21/2026

Juneteenth celebrates freedom, but freedom is never meant to be lived alone. It blossoms in community.

That is why ministries like our Heart Ministry matter. Every meal served, every bag of groceries shared, every act of kindness reflects the belief that dignity belongs to everyone. We honor Juneteenth by remembering that liberty must be accompanied by opportunity, compassion, and care for one another.

Black History is American History. Its stories of perseverance, creativity, leadership, faith, and hope belong to all of us. By learning those stories, we become a stronger and more compassionate community.

Today we celebrate freedom. Tomorrow we continue the work of building a beloved community.

"There is neither Jew nor Greek... for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28)

📍 Join us:
⛪ Divine Service with Holy Communion: Sunday, 10:00 AM

St. John's United Church of Christ
Welcoming. Sacramental. Inclusive.
Come as you are.

06/20/2026

The story of Black History is also a story of faith.

Through slavery, segregation, discrimination, and struggle, African American communities built churches that became centers of hope, education, resistance, and healing. From spirituals sung in secret to sermons preached for justice, faith helped sustain generations who refused to give up on God's promise of freedom.

At St. John's, we give thanks for the witness of Black Christians, pastors, theologians, civil rights leaders, and everyday saints whose faith transformed both church and society.

Juneteenth is not just about remembering the past. It is about honoring a legacy that continues to teach us courage, perseverance, and hope.

"Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." (Amos 5:24)

📍 This Saturday and Sunday:
🥘 Community Meal: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
🛒 Food Pantry: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
⛪ Sunday Worship: 10:00 AM

Everyone is welcome.

06/19/2026

On Juneteenth, we remember June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Texas finally learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth reminds us that freedom is precious, justice is worth pursuing, and the work of equality is never finished.

At St. John's United Church of Christ, we believe every person bears the image of God. We honor the courage, faith, resilience, and contributions of Black Americans whose struggles and triumphs have shaped our nation and our churches.

As followers of Jesus, we celebrate freedom not only as a historical event but as a sacred calling to love our neighbors, seek justice, and build a community where all are welcomed and valued.

"For freedom Christ has set us free." (Galatians 5:1)

📍 Join us this weekend:
🥘 Heart Ministry Community Meal: Saturday, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
🛒 Heart Ministry Food Pantry: Saturday, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
⛪ Sunday Divine Service with Holy Communion: 10:00 AM

St. John's UCC, Massillon
Where tradition and progressive values meet.

06/18/2026

Thursday Prayer Service 6/18/2026

06/18/2026

💙🌈 Autism Pride Day | June 18 🌈💙

Today we celebrate the beauty, dignity, and gifts of autistic people.

At St. John's, we believe every person bears the image of God. Autism is not something to be feared or hidden. It is one of the many ways human beings experience, understand, and engage with the world. The Church is strongest when all voices are heard, all gifts are welcomed, and all people know they belong.

The Apostle Paul reminds us that "there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:4). The Body of Christ needs every member. Different ways of thinking, communicating, learning, and experiencing life are not obstacles to God's grace. They are part of the rich diversity of God's creation.

On Autism Pride Day, we give thanks for autistic children, youth, and adults, for their creativity, honesty, insight, perseverance, and unique perspectives. We also recommit ourselves to building a community where everyone is welcomed, respected, and loved exactly as they are.

You are not a problem to be solved. You are a beloved child of God.

🏳️‍🌈💙 St. John's United Church of Christ
Where tradition and progressive values meet.
Come as you are.

06/18/2026

For centuries, Christians have found inspiration in Mary, the Blessed Virgin.

Some pray the Rosary.

Some simply read the Magnificat.

Some see in her a model of courage, faith, and discipleship.

At St. John's, we believe the Church is bigger than our divisions.

We can honor our Protestant heritage while appreciating the treasures of the wider Christian tradition.

Mary's final recorded words in Scripture remain some of the best advice ever given:

"Do whatever he tells you." (John 2:5)

And that remains our calling today.

06/17/2026

The Reformers disagreed about many things.

Yet one theme appears again and again:

Mary is an example of faithful discipleship.

When the angel announced God's plan, Mary answered:

"Let it be to me according to your word."

Faith is not certainty.

Faith is trust.

Faith is saying "yes" to God even when the road ahead is unknown.

Mary shows us what that kind of trust looks like.

06/16/2026

Many people are surprised to learn that John Calvin defended calling Mary "Mother of God."

Why?

Because the title tells us something important about Jesus.

The child born of Mary was not merely a prophet or teacher.

He was God incarnate.

When Christians honor Mary, we are really confessing something about Jesus Christ.

The story of Mary is not ultimately about Mary.

It is about God becoming one of us.

And that is Good News.