We’ve answered a few Frequently Asked Questions below.  If you have any additional questions, please contact us at (256) 764-3972.  We would be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

• Where do I go when I arrive?  Please enter at the front of the Sanctuary for Sunday School (which begins at 9:00 AM) and Morning Worship (which begins at 10:00 AM). 

• Where do I park?   Please park in the parking area in front of the Christian Life Center, to the left of the Sanctuary entrance.  There are “Visitor Parking” spaces available for visitors.

• What do you do for children?   We have Sunday School classes for all ages.  Also, all ages are welcome during Morning Worship.

• How long does Sunday Morning Worship last?  Approximately one hour.

• What should I wear?  We’re not fancy here at St. John.  Come dressed as comfortably as you are.

We are proud to be able to serve our community in many ways through our Outreach and Ministries.

Van Ministry:

• This ministry provides a ride to & from all in-person worship services on our church van.  If you would like to utilize this ministry, please contact the church office at (256) 764-3972 no later than Thursday morning at 11:00 a.m.

The Giving Place, St. John’s Food Pantry - Click here for additional information.

The Help Center:

• St. John supports the Help Center (in downtown Florence, Alabama) with monetary donations and in other areas of need.

Methodist Women of St. John Methodist Church:

• The Methodist Women of St. John Methodist Church meet at least once per quarter. They have a program and designated mission each quarter to provide supplies to organizations in our community.  They are also actively involved in our church and our community as they seek to serve others.

Methodist Men of St. John Methodist Church:

• The Methodist Men of St. John Methodist Church meet on Wednesday mornings at a local restaurant for breakfast and fellowship. They work within the church and our community seeking to serve others.

Meals On Wheels of the Shoals:

• St. John provides monetary donations to this program, and several church members assist in delivering nutritious meals to home-bound senior citizens throughout the Shoals community.  Please click "Meals On Wheels of the Shoals" above for more information about this important program from the Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama.

Underwood Basketball:

• St. John hosts a community basketball league during the months of January and February in the Christian Life Center. This league is for ages K-6th grade.

Visitation Team:

• Several of our members comprise our Visitation Team, which goes to visit our shut-ins and sick, or anyone wanting a visit, throughout the week.

Northwest District of the North Alabama Global Methodist Church - District Mission Initiatives:

• St. John partners with other local Global Methodist Churches to support a number of causes within our local community.  St. John's members provide support by volunteering to assist with these causes, as well as providing monetary donations in areas of need.

• March-April, 1958:  A survey was conducted in the Underwood-Petersville area by Rev. James E. Harris and the Wesley Foundation and Florence State College.  Nine families indicated an interest in starting a new Methodist church in the community.  Organizational meetings were held in the homes of Mr. and Mrs. Van Irons, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Jones, and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Stevens.  Rev. H.C. (Jack) Hendricks was appointed minister of this new church.  The name chosen for this new church was St. John.

• June 1, 1958:  Our first worship service was held in a rented garage across from Underwood School. 43 people were in attendance.

• January 1959:  St. John completed the first of three educational buildings. Worship and Sunday School classes were held here.

• 1960:  The second educational building was completed in January 1960, and worship services were moved to this building. In the fall, the third educational building was completed.

• 1965 – 1966:  On February 14, 1965, an open house was held for the new sanctuary. Over 400 people were in attendance. In the Spring and Summer of 1965, the construction of our parsonage began, and it was completed in June of 1966.

• 1968:  The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church merged to form The United Methodist Church.  As such, our new name was St. John United Methodist Church.

• 1990:  In June 1990, the church parking lot paving was completed by our “Unsung Heroes”.   On Sunday, December 30, 1990, our church sustained over $20,000 in damage from a tornado.

• 1993 – 1994:  On August 1, 1993, a Groundbreaking Ceremony was held for our Christian Life Center. A dedication service for our Christian Life Center was held on October 9, 1994.

• March 2020:  The COVID-19 pandemic caused our congregation to be unable to meet for worship in-person.  In response, we began to stream our worship services online.  This ministry has continued following our return to in-person worship, and is available on our website each Sunday at 10:00 AM for anyone who is unable to worship with us in-person.

• Thursday, May 11, 2023:  On May 11, 2023, St. John Methodist Church in Florence, AL was formed when the called North Alabama Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church met and approved the disaffiliation of St. John United Methodist Church.   St. John Methodist Church in Florence, AL immediately became affiliated with the North Alabama Annual Conference (Provisional Annual Conference until September 2024) of the Global Methodist Church.

• Tuesday, February 20, 2024:  Our new church sign was completed to reflect our connection with the Global Methodist Church.

• Today:  We invite you and your family to join us for worship this Sunday as we continue in the ministry and mission as God's people.

Below are just a few of the things that make our church family a special place to be:

• Caring:  God’s love fills our hearts and we strive to demonstrate His love in our lives.  From the youngest child to the oldest adult, everybody is somebody at St. John.

• Sharing:  Our family is committed to sharing the message of salvation through Jesus Christ with everyone because everyone is someone for whom Christ died.

• Fellowship:  We are a place where people can come and build lasting friendships with other believers.  Our family provides a place of encouragement, support, and fellowship that is so vital to the Christian life.

• Growing:  Our goal is to help every believer grow in their understanding of God’s Word so that each one can experience the victory and joy of life in Jesus Christ.

Our purpose is to be a fellowship of disciples who love God and show His love to the lost, to each other and to the world.  We do this through worshiping God, celebrating His gifts, calling and educating disciples and providing sustenance for their spiritual growth, serving the community by individual and corporate involvement assisting people in their daily living. 

• As Christians, we believe that God’s grace and love is extended to all people in all places around the world.  In John 3:16-17, Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” 

• We believe that salvation is a gift from God through faith in Jesus’ birth, death, burial and resurrection.  Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God”.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

St. John Methodist Church in Florence, AL is a Global Methodist congregation.

The following Scripture passages explain our need for salvation, and God's answer to that problem, through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

ALL ARE SINNERS

Romans 3:23:  

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 

GOD’S REMEDY FOR SIN

Romans 6:23:  

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:3:  

3  Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 14:6:  

6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

HOW TO RECEIVE

Romans 10:9-11:

9  that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 

10  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 

11  For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

2 Corinthians 5:15:

15  and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

ALL MAY BE SAVED NOW

Revelation 3:20:

20  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

We would consider it an honor for you to join our Church Family if the Holy Spirit is leading you to do so.

It is important for you to understand that church membership will not give you eternal life.  A personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven.  You can receive this free gift at any time you wish to accept it.  If you would like more information on how to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, or if you wish to join our church family through one of the ways described here, please contact the pastor of our church. He will be happy to assist you and answer any questions that you may have. 

There are three ways to unite with St. John Methodist Church in Florence, AL:

• Joining by transfer from another Global Methodist church:  If you are a member of another Global Methodist Church and wish to join St. John, you may do so by simply making your intent to transfer your membership.  Please contact our pastor.

• Joining by transfer from another denomination:  A member in good standing in any Christian denomination who has been baptized may unite as a professing member with St. John Methodist Church in Florence, AL, a Global Methodist local church.   Your baptism is accepted - if you have been a member of another church and have been baptized, either as an infant, youth or as an adult, by traditional modes-sprinkling, pouring, or immersing-then you do not have to rebaptize.  If you have not been baptized, you may do so when you join.  You will be asked the following questions when uniting with our congregation:

  • Do you believe in God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit?

  • Do you confess Jesus Christ as Savior, put your whole trust in His grace, and promise to serve Him as your Lord?

  • Do you receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures?

  • Do you promise, according to the grace given you, to keep God’s holy will and commandments and walk in the same all the days of your life as a faithful member of Christ’s holy church?

  • Will you be loyal to Christ through the Global Methodist Church and joining with your brothers and sisters around the world do all in your power to fulfill its mission?

  • Will you be a faithful member of St. John Methodist Church in Florence, AL, doing all in your power to strengthen its ministries through your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness as Christ’s representative in this world?

• Joining by Profession of Faith:  A person who begins the Christian life does so through baptism, which is a symbol of God’s grace through Jesus Christ. If you have never joined a church, you profess your faith for the first time by proclaiming Christ as your personal savior and choosing to join the family of God at St. John.   You will be asked the questions above when joining our congregation.  All who join the church affirm a common profession of belief:

  • Accept that you are a sinner and like everyone it has separated you from God.

  • Believe that God loves you and He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to die for your sins.

  • Confess in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead so that you may have eternal life.

If the Holy Spirit has led you to join the St. John Methodist Church family, please contact Pastor David Allison at (256) 764-3972.