Are you looking for a place to celebrate Easter this year? Among the beautiful historics of Aiken, sits a church on the corner of Richland Avenue and Newberry Street, named St. John’s United Methodist Church. Established in 1856, St. John’s quickly went from meeting in a house with a core group of members to holding services in a church building that once sat where that beautiful fountain currently sits and serves as a memorial for those who have gone before. St. John’s United Methodist Church experienced so much growth that it underwent many projects reconstructing and preserving the beauty that it is now.
Dr. Tim McClendon has served as the Senior Pastor at St. John’s United Methodist Church for eight years. Before becoming the senior pastor of St. John’s UMC, he most recently served as the Columbia District Superintendent. Dr. McClendon has always been involved with missions and affirms the mission of St. John’s United Methodist Church to love, worship and serve with passion. This is exemplified in the many mission fields, both locally and globally, that St. John’s is dedicated to serving. With over 25 different partnerships and between a fourth and a third of their budget directly serving other ministries and outreach programs, St. John’s believes they are called to reach the Aiken community with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ, to build a diverse community, to empower believers to fulfill their God-given purpose, and to equip the church to change the world around them, knowing that each person is special in the eyes of God and welcomed with open arms and hearts within their church.
Worship plays a large part of St. John’s United Methodist Church. On Sundays, St. John’s offers a total of 4 services. Offering two traditional services at 8:30am and 11am, as well as a contemporary service at 9:02am, followed by a 6pm evening vespers service, St. John’s UMC has a service for anyone to attend. The vesper service takes place outdoors as a casual evening service and is the only service that offers communion with covid precautions.
St. John’s UMC is celebrating all of the Lenten season beginning with Ash Wednesday extending to Holy Week. Ash Wednesday will take place on March 2nd in the sanctuary at 6pm. It serves as a marker of the 40 days before Easter, also known as Lent, which is a practice of consecration and pentinence. Whereas, Holy Week will begin on April 10th lasting through April 16th. St. John’s will have a Maundy Thursday service with communion on April 14th at 7pm, followed by an online Tenebrae service on Friday, April 15th, streamed at stjaiken.org, all day.
Lastly, St. John’s UMC invites you and your family to their Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 16th at 10am for kids walking-4K. There will also be a special Easter activity for the older kids. Easter services at St. John’s UMC will be on Sunday, April 17th at 8:30am, 9:02am, 11am, and 6pm. The Aiken Brass will be playing at the 8:30am and 11am services. St John’s United Methodist Church perfectly represents the demographic of Aiken, and desires that you come as you are. “St John’s is a very welcoming, loving congregation. If you are looking for something, we would love to invite you to come here and celebrate the hope and good news that is Jesus. Our doors are always open.” says Dr. McClendon. They are excited to celebrate the hope of Easter with you!
If you would like more information about St. John's United Methodist Church, you can reach out to them by calling 803-648-6891. You can also find more information on their website at www.stjaiken.org