About
St. John’s United Church of Christ is a warm, historic, and welcoming Christian community in Frederick County. We worship Sundays at 10 AM with simple, thoughtful services rooted in Scripture and everyday life. No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome here.
10 am
Ringing of the Bell Every Sunday
Cancelations due to inclement weather will be posted on this site and our Facebook page.
Parking
Parking spaces are in the back of the church, off Third Street.
Accessibility
Our sanctuary is easy to navigate with ramps in front and back of church. If you have accessibility needs, we’ll gladly assist you when you arrive.
Sunday Service
Our worship service starts at 10am beginning with the ringing of the bell and typically last around 45 minutes, offering a thoughtful and refreshing time of worship without feeling rushed or overwhelming. You’re always welcome to join us.
Sunday Social
Once a month, we gather after worship for Sunday Social—a relaxed time to enjoy sweets, light food, and one another’s company. It’s a simple way for our church family to slow down, share a treat, and build friendships that go beyond Sunday morning.
What to Expect on Sunday
At St. John’s, worship is simple, thoughtful, and never rushed. Our service starts at 10am lasting about 45 minutes and includes:
- Greetings
- Scripture reading
- Prayer and concerns
- Hymns
- A message rooted in Scripture and everyday life
- A calm, reflective atmosphere
Simple and meaningful
When you enter the building pick up your Sunday bulletin that is available for everyone to follow along with service.
Come As You Are
There’s no dress code. You’ll see everything from jeans to Sunday best. Wear whatever makes you comfortable.
Plan Your Visit!
We’d Love to Meet You
Whether you’re exploring faith, returning after time away, or looking for a church that feels like home, we’re honored that you’re considering a visit to St. John’s United Church of Christ.
Our hope is simple: that you feel welcomed, seen, and at ease from the moment you arrive.
Start the introduction early, let us know when you plan to visit or if you need any accommodations.
What to Bring?
Just yourself.
Bibles and hymnals are provided, and of course you’re welcome to bring your own and follow along in whatever translation feels most familiar to you.
For Families
Children are warmly welcomed in worship.
“Children’s Moment” has been added to the order of worship in our Sunday morning services, We will invite all children to come forward for a special story time.
Sunday School starts March 29, 2026 for children all ages. Class is during our morning worship hour.
After the Service
You’re invited to stay for conversation, meet Pastor Dahl, and get to know the St. John’s family at your own pace.
At least once a month we hold a Sunday social after worship. Food, Arts and crafts, games, and good company.
Church History
Our church building has been a gathering place for generations. Since the cornerstone was laid on April 9, 1802, every part of St. John’s has held a story. From the early stone foundation to the stained‑glass windows that fill the sanctuary with color, the devotion of those who came before us continues to shine as a living testimony to God’s presence.
Rumor has it, the bell in our tower once called farmers in from the fields—and some say you can still hear it echo across town on a quiet Sunday morning.
Open and Affirming
While St. John’s UCC of Woodsboro, MD is not listed as an ‘Open and Affirming‘ congregation, we want you to know that all people are welcome here. Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are invited to worship, grow, and belong with us.
Our Mission
To cultivate a community where Christian friendship can flourish, to provide a welcoming place for individuals and families to grow and worship together, and to expand God’s kingdom by sharing our gifts and testimonies.
Denomination
As part of the United Church of Christ, we belong to a Protestant Christian tradition that values thoughtful faith that is grounded in the Bible, open hearts, and a commitment to following Jesus’ example of love and justice. We believe every person is created in God’s image, welcomed by grace, and invited into a lifelong journey of spiritual growth.
Bible Translation
We typically read from the NRSV (New Revised Standard Version) or sometimes the NRSVue (NRSV Updated Edition) during worship.
Bibles and Hymnals are available in the pews.
However, YOU are welcome to follow along with whichever translation feels most familiar and meaningful to you.
A New Creed
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in the true Man, Jesus,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others by his Spirit.
We trust him.
He calls us to be his church:
to celebrate his presence,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.
Red Hymnal Page 23
At St. John’s, you’ll find a warm, down‑to‑earth community where questions are encouraged, stories are honored, and faith is lived out in practical, everyday ways. Whether you’re exploring Christianity for the first time or looking for a church that feels like home, we’re grateful your path has led you here.
