"We do not convince others by telling them loudly how wrong they are and how right we are. We convince them by showing them a light so lovely they will want with all their hearts to know the source of it."               – Madeleine L'Engle

AN OPEN HOUSE

St. John's is an open house and an open, welcoming congregation.   We have a place for you.

We're creating a community where God's love changes people and God's people change the world.  We invite you to look through these pages and at our newsletter for some of the ways we're doing that.

Saint John's of Austin is a community:

• That values nurturing and acceptance of each other and the outside world.
• That wants to grow spiritually. While we may not find all the answers, we love to wrestle with the questions.
  
• That turns away from intolerance, exclusivity, and fundamentalism.
• That seeks to practice acceptance, foster theological diversity, and provide authentic leadership.

"An open house" is therefore a statement of our past and present as well as a declaration of what we aspire to become. As a congregation of the United Methodist Church, which encourages open hearts, open minds, and open doors, we place a premium on welcoming new people and ideas.  Our diversity is our strength.

HISTORY

The "Open House" mission statement above began in 2004 as a discussion among church leadership, new members, long-time members, and non-members. We investigated what these different groups were looking for in a church and the extent to which Saint John's was meeting their needs.

St. John's Methodist of Austin is a vibrant, growing church with a long history.  In the middle of the last century, a small group of visionary Methodists looked out beyond the boundaries of the Austin city limits of the time. Drawn to a section of prime farm land ripe with corn and sunflowers, they envisioned a sanctuary for worship, children learning the stories of faith, youth being helped to navigate those turbulent years, and all people being welcomed and cared for and loved. They invited their friends and neighbors to join them in creating a new church home.

After a brief start on Burnet Road in 1948, we purchased the current Allendale property and began construction. Over the ensuing decades many thousands of people have found Christian community in and through Saint John’s, spreading God’s love through mission and service, here in Austin and around the world.

The journey continues.  In 2002 we extensively renovated, and since then we've continued expanding into additional properties purchased across the street.  Many new people of every age continue to join hands with long-time members in worship, study, and service. Today Saint John’s UMC continues to offer an open house and a community where God’s love changes people and God’s people change the world.