About Us
St. John's UCC
EST. 1868
Get to know our pastor:
Rev. Bethany Apelquist
Hey there! I’m Bethany, I have served as pastor of St. John’s since April 2021.
A little about me-
I grew up in the Washington DC area, which was full of diversity, confusing weather patterns and a whole lot of traffic. After graduating from the University of Mary Washington I lived in Georgia for 7 years. During that time I served several churches, worked closely with the homeless community, spent a summer working at a trauma one hospital and received my Masters of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary. What I hold to be most true is that God’s love is for every person, that God’s grace is abundant, and that the resurrection is at work in our world making all things new. I believe that we are each called to love recklessly, care deeply and work tirelessly for justice. When I am not working at St. John’s I love spending time with my family and friends, playing pickleball, petting my cat Princess Waffles and making art. I can’t wait to get to know you and your family!
History of St. John's UCC
Time, According to the prophets of ancient Israel. is a tide that moves forward the purposes of God toward completion- a vessel of God given opportunity and divine fulfillment. At the heart of the Christian Good News is this declaration: “When the fullness of time had come, God sent his son…” (Galatians 4:4)
In the fullness of time, German immigrants to America settled in the foothills of a mountain called Fairview. There, a village sprouted from out of the rich soil surrounding a “clear spring” of cool, pure water. In the fullness of time-the year 1828 to be precise- Christian citizens of the community united in the effort to establish among them a German Reformed Church of the United States congregation – their first meeting house being built in union with the Saint Peter’s Lutheran congregation. During the time the civil war was dividing our great nation, plans were unfolding to build a separate structure for the use as a German Reformed Church. In the fullness time – in August of 1866 – the cornerstone was laid in the position for what is our present worship sanctuary.
Since then, the German Reformed Church of the United States merged with the Evangelical Synod in North America, forming the Evangelical and Reformed Church. In the mid 1950’s, that denominational body joined with the Congregational Christian Churches to form the United Church of Christ. As a congregation of the United Church of Christ, we relate to a larger church body that embraces traditions of these varied denominational bodies – all of which reflect the heritage of the Protestant Reformation. Though relating to a Protestant denomination, we are “congregational” in church life and government – meaning that we’re given freedom of doctrine, autonomy in choosing worship style, ability to use Christian recourses of our choosing, and independence in determining our leadership personnel and structures. It’s understood, for instance, that the United Church of Christ speaks TO local congregations within its fold; but not FOR them.
Our Christian beliefs and convictions are summed up nicely in the United Church of Christ statement of Faith: We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and our Father, and to your deeds we testify.