St. John's United Methodist Church | Baton Rouge

Author: office@stjohnsbr.org

  • Faith Story: Hubris

    Faith Story: Hubris

    1 Peter 4: 10-11

    “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

    Hubris

    At lunch Sunday, the TV was showing a couple ice skating at the Olympics. How the couple strived to be the best, to win!  A few days earlier, a downhill skier was also striving, putting everything on the line, and crashed in a heart wrenching way that touched many. 

    This got me thinking about what we strive for.  We don’t vie for the Nobel prize or the Super Bowl championship but we experience a high when we aim for something and judge the results with a YES! I did it. It is exhilarating. It’s the best.  

    On the radio recently, I heard a minister telling of the experience where a group of ministers kept track of how many baptisms each performed in a year.  Gradually it became a competition. He realized that his sermons, over time, were crafted to urge people for baptism at the expense of more important words about lives and our place in living the Christian message.  He was taken aback that winning, being judged best, diminished what he was called to do.  

    The community of St. John’s does so much service work for which I am grateful, but we should guard against hubris. I live in a competitive and judgmental society and must ponder the reasons why I do what I do.  I aspire to do the things God would wish me to do.  I enjoy being a part of a community in ministry to others. Doing good feels good. I hope what I choose to do in service is focused on the other, not about what’s in it for me.

    Jane Metcalf

  • Faith Stories: A Glimpse of the Peaceable Kingdom

    Faith Stories: A Glimpse of the Peaceable Kingdom

    In this Faith Story, a quiet morning walk becomes a holy encounter. When a dog and a young fox unexpectedly play together at sunrise, the moment feels like a living glimpse of Isaiah’s peaceable kingdom, where fear gives way to joy and unlikely companions share the same ground. This story by Betty Schroeder invites us to slow down, pay attention, and recognize the sacred moments already unfolding around us, reminders that God’s kingdom is not only promised, but present among us here and now.

    The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.  Isaiah 11:6

    Several families of red foxes have settled in my neighborhood recently. Their beauty is breathtaking with their auburn fur and fulsome tails, long legs and surprisingly thin bodies.  They hunt in the woods nearby and in backyards, moving silently through ditches and culverts like ghosts in fog.

    On one sunrise morning walk, my dog Kipper ran behind a neighbor’s house.  I called several times but was met only with silence.  The rosy glow on the clouds in the east stole my attention until I sensed movement across the street.  As I watched in amazement, Kipper and a young fox scampered into a front yard together and began chasing each other by turns, playing joyfully like two puppies.

    I stood in stunned silence while they played together in the grass of eight front yards as they progressed down the block.  Finally, obviously tired, the little fox disappeared into a culvert and Kipper walked back to me, exhausted but elated.

    Standing in the dewy grass of a friend’s lawn, I felt incredible exhilaration and profound humility.  Watching this precious vignette of God’s peaceable kingdom, I knew that I was standing on holy ground.

    Prayer:  Loving God of all that is, open our eyes to the miraculous glimpses of your kingdom.  Help us learn to pay attention to the amazing beauty and mystery of all your creation and to realize that we are living now in your kingdom here on earth.  Amen.

    Betty Schroeder

  • Faith Stories: Fearfully & Wonderfully

    Jane Metcalf

    December 2025

    ​​We use words like wind or breath to articulate our experiencing the Spirit of God.

    In their book Fearfully and Wonderfully, leprosy surgeon Dr. Paul Brand and Christian writer Philip Yancey, look at how the Body of Christ is analogous with how the human body works. They point out that our spiritual life and awareness of God are not as instinctive nor as urgent as the mode of breathing is in our physical body. 

    They relate the story of a middle aged, hardworking woman who complained about a growing tendency to drop things. She was worn down by the lack of control she had over her hands. Her doctor asked her if she had trouble breathing, and she replied “Not at all…I just get tired.” She concluded, “I must be getting old.”

    Her doctor stayed by her side as they sought healing. After false starts and many tests, they discovered a growth that was progressively bending her windpipe, constricting it from both sides. After the removal surgery she said “Now, I can breathe…I can run up the stairs. I feel like a teenager again. I can breathe!”

    The woman did not even know breath was the problem because her issue was so slowly growing that it felt normal. 

    The question for me and for us, as we experience the birth of Christ is: Do all the traditional things we do at Christmas – the way we spend our time and money and effort – impede our ability to be still, and open to the spirit of God? The holiday time can bring stress, too much to do, too little time, too few resources. Sometimes we have to choose. Sometimes life puts in our lap something for which we have no control. 

    We may wonder, what is really happening? And so we go for a check-up. What is the diagnosis? Is there something, like the woman, that has become normalized in us? Something that puts God on the sideline? 

    I invite you to ask yourself, what is affecting me that I am not consciously aware of? What remedy is needed to help me slow down, to put things in perspective, to enrich the experience of Christmas?

    I am pondering what the answer is for me, and hope to have the courage to address issues that are identified. May it be the same for you. Merry Christmas. 

  • Congregational Care & Connection Coordinator

    PRIMARY GOAL & MISSIONAL FOCUS

    The mission of the Congregational Care & Connection Coordinator is to nurture and strengthen the life of St. John’s UMC by providing care, support, visitation, and connection for members and friends of the church. This role coordinates care ministries, fosters meaningful relationships across the congregation, and develops fellowship opportunities – especially for adults, with particular attention to senior adults – helping everyone feel supported, connected, and engaged in the community.

    Reports to: Lead Pastor
    Status: Hybrid, Part Time, Salaried
    Hours: Minimum 12 hours per week, hybrid

    TO APPLY

    Please send resume and cover letter to jobs@stjohnsbr.org.

    RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

    1. Congregational Care & Support

    • Develop and maintain a ministry of care and connection for members and friends of the church.
    • Serve as the first point of contact for members facing health challenges or appearing on the prayer list, providing care through phone calls, hospital/facility visits, and home visits as needed.
    • Check in promptly with individuals on the prayer list and share updates with the Lead Pastor, staff, and prayer team.
    • Communicate with the Lead Pastor as soon as possible regarding congregational care needs and concerns, ensuring the pastor is looped in immediately for pastoral emergencies.
    • Monitor the pastoral care emergency phone line in coordination with the Lead Pastor.
    • Coordinate personal support, including meals, cards, and caregiving teams.
    • Support special and pastoral care-focused worship services, including memorials, celebrations of life, and other significant congregational gatherings, providing care and coordination for participants and families as needed.
    • Oversee congregational care teams, including the Prayer Team, Flower Ministry, Communion Companions, Card Ministry, Prayer Shawl Ministry, Bereavement Team, Good Grief Fellowship, and Welcoming New Babies.
    • Track care needs and participation, ensuring timely and appropriate follow-up.
    • Maintain records and oversee the Congregational Care budget.

    2. Adult Fellowship & Connection

    • Develop opportunities for adult fellowship and engagement, with special focus on senior adults while remaining inclusive of all adults.
    • Organize gatherings such as luncheons, trips, mission initiatives, and special events.
    • Collaborate with small groups, Sunday School classes, and fellowship circles to support participation and strengthen community life.

    3. Team Liaison

    • Serve as staff liaison to the Food, Fun, and Fellowship Team and to United Women in Faith (UWF) ensuring both fellowship opportunities and mission-focused initiatives are coordinated across ministries.
    • Participate in church events, staff functions, and meetings where input from this ministry should be heard.

    SUPERVISION

    Reports to the Lead Pastor and the Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC).

    QUALIFICATIONS

    • Personal skills: Compassionate, relational, and attentive to others’ needs.
    • Organizational skills: Ability to coordinate volunteers and events with detail and care.
    • Communication skills: Skilled in listening, encouraging, and supporting others.
    • Motivational skills: Able to engage adults across generations in meaningful ways.

    COMPENSATION

    Salaried, part-time; minimum 12 hours per week. Paid twice per month (semi-monthly). Salary and performance are reviewed annually by the Staff Parish Relations Committee.

    WORKING CONDITIONS

    • The Congregational Care & Connection Coordinator is a part-time position, with a minimum of 12 hours per week. Hours may vary depending on the needs of the ministry and events throughout the year. 
    • This role requires flexibility, including regular Sunday presence, evenings, weekends, and other times as agreed with the Lead Pastor.
    • The position involves visiting members in their homes, care facilities, and hospitals, so reliable transportation is required.
    • Work may be performed in person or remotely as appropriate. 
    • Salary and performance are reviewed annually by the Staff Parish Relations Committee.

    TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

    • A Criminal Background check and Safe Sanctuaries training will be required 
    • Upon employment, the first 90 days are considered probationary

    Salary & Additional Role

    St. John’s is also hiring a Welcoming & Belonging Coordinator which focuses on care, visitation, and support for our members and friends, especially senior adults, while also fostering fellowship and adult connection across the congregation.

    If both roles seem like a fit to you, you may apply to both and combine them into one part-time, salaried, hybrid position.

    • Congregational Care & Connection Coordinator: $9,000-$10,0000, minimum 12 hours/week
    • Welcome & Belonging Coordinator: $8,000-$9,000 with a minimum of 10 hours/week.
      Salary is based on experience and responsibilities.

    Read more on the details of the Welcoming & Belonging Coordinator.

    Updated August 20, 2025

  • Welcome & Belonging Coordinator

    PRIMARY GOAL & MISSIONAL FOCUS

    Building on the church’s strong spirit of welcome and inclusion, the mission of the Welcome & Belonging Coordinator is to oversee the welcoming of newcomers to St. John’s United Methodist Church; support their first experiences of worship and community; and help them find a place of belonging in the life of the church. This ministry ensures that guests experience belonging and that members grow in meaningful connection with Christ and one another.

    Reports to: Lead Pastor
    Status: Hybrid, Part Time, Salaried
    Hours: Minimum 10 hours per week

    TO APPLY

    Please send resume and cover letter to jobs@stjohnsbr.org.

    RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

    1. Hospitality & Sunday Morning Ministry

    • Celebrate and build upon our church’s spirit of welcome and inclusion, ensuring that every newcomer and regular guest feels seen, valued, and included.
    • Establish and maintain a ministry of hospitality, welcome, and belonging
    • Create, train, and support a Welcoming Team, including:
      • Sunday morning greeters/ushers
      • Coffee Time helpers
      • Follow-up contact volunteers
    • Personally greet first-time guests following worship, ensuring appropriate contact information is gathered.

    2. Follow-Up & Communication

    • Coordinate immediate follow-up with guests (phone, mail, or email).
    • Relay guest information or special needs to the Lead Pastor and relevant staff.
    • Maintain records of returning newcomers’ worship attendance and participation.
    • Contact returning newcomers as appropriate

    3. Connection & Membership

    • Coordinating opportunities for newcomers to discover more about St. John’s, church membership, and next steps.
    • Assist regular guests and new members with their assimilation:
      • Learn about their gifts, talents, and interests.
      • Connect them with opportunities for service and discipleship.
    • Conduct a new member orientation regularly (2-4 times annually).
    • Maintain the New Member Display (photos/names).

    4. Team Liaison

    • Serve as staff liaison to the Food, Fun, and Fellowship Team, ensuring hospitality aligns with congregational life.
    • Participate in church events, staff functions, and meetings where input from this ministry should be heard.

    SUPERVISION

    Reports to the Lead Pastor and the Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC).

    QUALIFICATIONS

    • Personal skills: Warm, welcoming, and passionate about including others.
    • Organizational skills: Ability to prioritize and delegate effectively.
    • Communication skills: Strong listening and interpersonal skills.
    • Motivational skills: Able to engage and inspire volunteers.

    COMPENSATION

    Salaried, part-time; minimum 10 hours per week. Paid twice per month (semi-monthly). Salary and performance are reviewed annually by the Staff Parish Relations Committee.

    WORKING CONDITIONS

    • The Welcome & Belonging Coordinator is a part-time position, with a minimum of 10 hours per week. Hours may vary depending on the needs of the ministry and events throughout the year. 
    • This role requires flexibility, including regular Sunday presence and other times as agreed with the Lead Pastor.
    • Work may be performed in person or remotely as appropriate. 
    • Salary and performance are reviewed annually by the Staff Parish Relations Committee.

    TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

    • A Criminal Background check and Safe Sanctuaries training will be required 
    • Upon employment, the first 90 days are considered probationary

    Salary & Additional Role

    St. John’s is also hiring a Congregational Care & Connection Coordinator, which focuses on care, visitation, and support for our members and friends, especially senior adults, while also fostering fellowship and adult connection across the congregation.

    If both roles seem like a fit to you, you may apply to both and combine them into one part-time, salaried, hybrid position.

    • Congregational Care & Connection Coordinator: $9,000-$10,0000, minimum 12 hours/week
    • Welcome & Belonging Coordinator: $8,000-$9,000 with a minimum of 10 hours/week.
      Salary is based on experience and responsibilities.

    Read more on the details of the Congregational Care & Connection Coordinator.

    Updated August 27, 2025

  • Mission & Vision

    Mission & Vision

    A Season of Discernment

    At St. John’s, we are in an intentional season of discernment around our Mission, Vision, and Core Values. This is a prayerful and community-centered process, rooted in our desire to faithfully respond to who God is calling us to be in this moment and in the seasons to come.

    We invite every member and friend of St. John’s to journey with us as we listen for God’s direction together.

    Introducing Our Mission & Vision Study

    To guide this season, we’ve created a 3-part Mission & Vision Study designed for individuals, families, small groups, and Sunday School classes. The study invites reflection, conversation, and prayer.

    📥 Download the Mission & Vision Study and Questions Here

    Share Your Reflections

    We’d love to hear from you. After you complete each session of the study, please share your responses through the links below. Your input will help shape the path ahead for St. John’s.

    “What Three Words Describe the Heart of St. John’s?”

    In May, we began this process by asking our congregation one simple question:
    “What three words describe the heart of St. John’s?”

    We received over 130 responses—and your answers gave us a beautiful, Spirit-filled glimpse of who we are.

    Here’s what you shared, below.

    Thank you for participating in this meaningful work. We look forward to discerning and growing together.

     

  • Rule of Life

    Create Your Own Rule of Life


    This season, we invite you to prayerfully reflect on how God is calling you to live with greater intention and purpose. Using the provided worksheets, you’ll create your own Rule of Life—a simple, grace-filled framework to guide your daily rhythms, relationships, work, and rest. Pick up a copy at the welcome table or download it online, and take time this month to shape a life rooted in what matters most.

    Download the Rule of Life Worksheet Here.

    Download the kid’s Rule of life Worksheet Here.

  • Four Things Our Church Should Still Focus On

    Four Things Our Church Should Still Focus On

    The European languages are members of the same family. Their separate existence is a myth. For science, music, sport, etc, Europe uses the same vocabulary. The languages only differ in their grammar, their pronunciation and their most common words. Everyone realizes why a new common language would be desirable.

    Explore New Opportunities

    To achieve this, it would be necessary to have uniform grammar, pronunciation and more common words. If several languages coalesce, the grammar of the resulting language is more simple and regular than that of the individual languages. The new common language will be more simple. It will be as simple as Occidental; in fact, it will be Occidental. To an English person, it will seem like simplified English, as a skeptical Cambridge friend of mine told me what Occidental is. The European languages are members of the same family.

    Is a Public Defender Good Enough?

    To achieve this, it would be necessary to have uniform grammar, pronunciation and more common words. If several languages coalesce, the grammar of the resulting language is more simple and regular than that of the individual languages. The new common language will be more simple.
    To achieve this, it would be necessary to have uniform grammar, pronunciation and more common words. If several languages coalesce, the grammar of the resulting language is more simple and regular than that of the individual languages. The new common language will be more simple. It will be as simple as Occidental; in fact, it will be Occidental. To an English person, it will seem like simplified English, as a skeptical Cambridge friend of mine told me what Occidental is. The European languages are members of the same family.
    The European languages are members of the same family. Their separate existence is a myth. For science, music, sport, etc, Europe uses the same vocabulary. The languages only differ in their grammar, their pronunciation and their most common words. Everyone realizes why a new common language would be desirable: one could refuse to pay expensive translators. The languages only differ in their grammar, their pronunciation and their most common words. Everyone realizes why a new common language would be desirable: one could refuse to pay expensive translators. To achieve this, it would be necessary to have uniform grammar, pronunciation and more common words. To achieve this.
  • Good Leaders Are Easy to Follow

    Good Leaders Are Easy to Follow

    How many of these have you heard before? I would like to share the truth about these common oral health myths I hear from patients almost every day. Read on to learn about them and how to keep your mouth healthy. Their separate existence is a myth.

    Encouraging Christians to Reflect the Love of Jesus

    The languages only differ in their grammar, their pronunciation and their most common words. Everyone realizes why a new common language would be desirable: one could refuse to pay expensive translators. To achieve this, it would be necessary to have uniform grammar, pronunciation and more common words. If several languages coalesce, the grammar of the resulting language is more simple and regular than that of the individual languages. Their separate existence is a myth. The new common language will be more simple and regular than the existing European languages. It will be as simple as Occidental; in fact, it will be Occidental.

    What is the Future of Religion

    We must choose to obtain, grasp, and receive His peace.  Like salvation, peace is a choice, not a demand.

    What Questions Should You Ask?

    The new common language will be more simple and regular than the existing European languages. It will be as simple as Occidental; in fact, it will be Occidental. To an English person, it will seem like simplified English, as a skeptical Cambridge friend of mine told me what Occidental is. To achieve this, it would be necessary to have uniform grammar, pronunciation and more common words. Their separate existence is a myth. The European languages are members of the same family. Their separate existence is a myth. For science, music, sport, etc, Europe uses the same vocabulary.

    Other Useful Information

    Their separate existence is a myth. For science, music, sport, etc, Europe uses the same vocabulary. The languages only differ in their grammar, their pronunciation and their most common words. Everyone realizes why a new common language would be desirable: one could refuse to pay expensive translators. Their separate existence is a myth.

    To achieve this, it would be necessary to have uniform grammar, pronunciation and more common words. If several languages coalesce, the grammar of the resulting language is more simple and regular than that of the individual.

    Momentary and Light Afflictions

    Everyone realizes why a new common language would be desirable: one could refuse to pay expensive translators. To achieve this, it would be necessary to have uniform grammar, pronunciation and more common words. Their separate existence is a myth.
    Their separate existence is a myth. For science, music, sport, etc, Europe uses the same vocabulary. The languages only differ in their grammar, their pronunciation and their most common words. Their separate existence is a myth. For science, music, sport, etc, Europe uses the same vocabulary. The languages only differ in their grammar, their pronunciation and their most common words. Everyone realizes why a new common language would be desirable: one could refuse to pay expensive translators. To achieve this, it would be necessary to have uniform grammar, pronunciation and more common words. If several languages coalesce, the grammar of the resulting language is more simple and regular than that of the individual languages.

    If You Need More Help

    The languages only differ in their grammar, their pronunciation and their most common words. Everyone realizes why a new common language would be desirable: one could refuse to pay expensive translators. Their separate existence is a myth.

    To achieve this, it would be necessary to have uniform grammar, pronunciation and more common words. If several languages coalesce, the grammar of the resulting language is more simple and regular than that of the individual.

  • I Ruined My life…is There Hope for Me?

    I Ruined My life…is There Hope for Me?

    The European languages are members of the same family. Their separate existence is a myth. For science, music, sport, etc, Europe uses the same vocabulary. The languages only differ in their grammar, their pronunciation and their most common words. Everyone realizes why a new common language would be desirable: one could refuse to pay expensive translators. The new common language will be more simple and regular than the existing European languages.

    Jesus, Full of Joy, Takes Joy in Loving his People and Desires His Joy to Fill his People.

    The European languages are members of the same family. Their separate existence is a myth. For science, music, sport, etc, Europe uses the same vocabulary. The languages only differ in their grammar, their pronunciation and their most common words. Everyone realizes why a new common language would be desirable: one could refuse to pay expensive translators.

    1. Lead Wisely to Maximize Joy

    To an English person, it will seem like simplified English, as a skeptical Cambridge friend of mine told me what Occidental is. The European languages are members of the same family. Their separate existence is a myth. For science, music, sport, etc, Europe uses the same vocabulary. The languages only differ in their grammar, their pronunciation and their most common words.

    2. Serve Humbly to Multiply Joy

    If several languages coalesce, the grammar of the resulting language is more simple and regular than that of the individual languages. The new common language will be more simple and regular than the existing European languages. It will be as simple as Occidental. To an English person, it will seem like simplified English, as a skeptical Cambridge friend of mine told me what Occidental is. The European languages are members of the same family. Their separate existence is a myth. For science, music, sport, etc, Europe uses the same vocabulary.
    Greater Than Angels
    To an English person, it will seem like simplified English, as a skeptical Cambridge friend of mine told me what Occidental is. The European languages are members of the same family. Their separate existence is a myth. For science, music, sport, etc, Europe uses the same vocabulary.
    Because of Who He Is
    If several languages coalesce, the grammar of the resulting language is more simple and regular than that of the individual languages. The new common language will be more simple and regular than the existing European languages. It will be as simple as Occidental. To an English person, it will seem like simplified English, as a skeptical Cambridge friend of mine told me what Occidental is. The European languages are members of the same family. Their separate existence is a myth. For science, music, sport, etc, Europe uses the same vocabulary.

    3. Because of Who You Are

    To an English person, it will seem like simplified English, as a skeptical Cambridge friend of mine told me what Occidental is. The European languages are members of the same family. Their separate existence is a myth. For science, music, sport, etc, Europe uses the same vocabulary. The languages only differ in their grammar, their pronunciation and their most common words. Everyone realizes why a new common language would be desirable: one could refuse to pay expensive translators. Their separate existence is a myth.

    Church Quiz

    Please complete all questions. Mark the best answer from the choices given.

    4. Our Sin Is No Match for God’s Grace

    Their separate existence is a myth. For science, music, sport, etc, Europe uses the same vocabulary. The languages only differ in their grammar, their pronunciation and their most common words. Everyone realizes why a new common language would be desirable: one could refuse to pay expensive translators. To achieve this, it would be necessary to have uniform grammar, pronunciation and more common words. If several languages coalesce.

    5. So, Take Heart, There Is Hope For You!

    Their separate existence is a myth. For science, music, sport, etc, Europe uses the same vocabulary. Everyone realizes why a new common language would be desirable: one could refuse to pay expensive translators. To achieve this, it would be necessary to have uniform grammar, pronunciation and more common words. If several languages coalesce, the grammar of the resulting language is more simple. If several languages coalesce, the grammar of the resulting language is more simple. To an English person, it will seem like simplified English, as a skeptical Cambridge friend of mine told me what Occidental is.