What to Expect

St. John's at a Glance

St. John's is a community of just over 1000 households from in and around Ellicott City, and surrounding areas in Howard and Baltimore counties and beyond.
We have over 50 ministries at work in our parish serving God, one another, and the community at large.
Our children and youth programs have close to 150 enrolled participants.
St. John's celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2023.
We have a thriving Parish Day School with an enrollment of 328 in the 2024-2025 school year.

Where Do I Go?

St. John's holds weekend services in our Historic Church, All Saints Hall, and Resurrection Chapel. Plenty of parking is available adjacent to each building. Note our Campus Map. You will be greeted at the door, and ushers are available to help and guide you. Visit our Worship Times page for more service details.

Is the Service Easy to Follow?

When you enter the Historic Church, you will be given a worship bulletin that contains everything you will need (hymns, prayers, readings, responses, etc.) to fully participate in the service. At our contemporary worship in All Saints Hall, the order of service, including readings, prayers, and song lyrics, is projected on screens, and a bulletin of all readings is provided.

What Do I Wear?

Whatever makes you comfortable. Some members get more dressed up, some less.

What About My Kids?

Children are a vital part of our community. Children are welcome in our services at all times – our worship is enhanced by the joyful sounds of our smaller members. In the Historic Church, we have a soft space available downstairs in the Undercroft if you need a place to tend to your child or take a break. In All Saints Hall, we have a rug and rocker area that kids and parents are welcome to utilize. We also offer noise-canceling headphones. Your children and youth are also invited to participate in our Children's Connect and Youth Connect formation program on Sundays from 10:10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. For questions about our Children’s and Youth programs, email Georgi Funderburk, Minister of Faith & Practice for Children & Youth, at gfunderburk@stjohnsec.org.

Will I Be Welcome at Communion?

If you trust that Jesus Christ lived, died, and rose from the dead for your salvation and the life of the world, you are invited to come forward to receive the Body of Christ and the cup of Salvation. If you require a gluten-free wafer, please ask the clergy. If you prefer to receive a blessing instead of Communion, cross your hands across your chest and the clergy will offer God’s blessing to you. If you would like to receive Communion but are unable to come forward, please let an usher know.

When you come to church at St. John’s, you can expect to find...

Space to Encounter God. Our services include hymns, prayers, and time for silence, as well as Communion and sermons that connect our Scriptures to our lives.

Space to Become Who God Wants You to Be. Worshipers at St. John’s come from many different places, backgrounds, and perspectives and we see this diversity as a reflection of God’s Kingdom.

Space to make deep relationships. Whether it's your first time or your hundredth, there's always an opportunity to get better connected with God and one another at St. John’s. Join us at coffee hour or stop by the Welcome Center on your way out. We look forward to meeting you and getting to know you better.