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For Women
Ladies Book Club
Meets 1st Monday of the Month
Women reading and discussing books. Selections of books are made on an alphabetical order of attendees so everyone has a chance to select a favored book. The books suggested must be available at the library so no one has to buy the book unless they want to. Meets the 1st Monday of each month at 1:00 p.m. in room 245 (except if the 1st Monday is a holiday and then the group meets the 2nd Monday). Visit sjumcwomen.org to get a list of the current books.​
January 6 - February 3
Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World by Max Lucado
Tuesdays (5 weeks) | 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. | IN-PERSON | Led by Dara Bell​​
Does the uncertainty and chaos of life keep you up at night? Is irrational anxiety your constant companion? Let God help you win the war on worry and receive the lasting peace of Christ. We all experience anxiety, but we don't have to let worry and fear control our lives. This study provides a roadmap for coping with and healing from anxiety. You will experience CALM as Max encourages you to: Celebrate God's goodness, Ask God for help, Leave your concerns with God, and Meditate on good things. Join Max on the journey to true freedom and experience more peace, joy, clarity, physical renewal, and contentment by the power of the Holy Spirit.
January 13 - March 10
1 Peter: A Living Hope in Christ​ by Jen Wilkin
Tuesdays (9 weeks) | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. | ZOOM | Led by Donna Bruce
Our inheritance through Christ is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. In 1 Peter, a man of faith and flaws and eyewitness to the life of Christ challenges us to look beyond our current circumstances to a future inheritance. He shares his concerns on big picture issues for the early church, describes believers' true identity in Christ, and ultimately helps readers discover what it means to experience the Living Hope they have in Christ. Key themes of humility, submission, and identity in Christ guide the study of 1 Peter.
February 17 - March 24
Seven Words: Listening to Christ from the Cross (Lenten Study) by Susan G. Robb
Tuesdays (6 weeks) | 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. | IN-PERSON | Led by Christine Cunningham
While many of us naturally wish to avoid the reality of the cross, it's from the cross that Jesus speaks and shows his deepest love for us. It's from the cross that Jesus' full humanity draws us closest to him. It's from the cross, as Jesus breathes his last breath and speaks his last words, that his deep trust in the Father and his divine glory are revealed. Those who listen to Jesus' last words from the cross will discover what he most wants them (the world) to hear and will experience an intimate and divine awe only available to those who are willing to draw near his cross. The author looks at the seven last words of Christ on the cross through a lens that finds life and hope in his final sayings, while exploring each from a biblical and historical perspective.
March 31 - May 19
Live Free: A Study of Galatians by Elizabeth Woodson
Tuesdays (8 weeks) | 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. | IN-PERSON | Led by Shanlii Payment
We long for peace, to have lives marked by freedom from difficulty and pain. We look to countless places to fill this need - our possessions, relationships, intellect, spirituality, political affiliations, and so on. But, by relying on these things for freedom, we unintentionally make them our savior instead of Christ. This exchange leaves us enslaved to a false gospel and to the very things we hoped would set us free. Walking verse-by-verse through Paul's letter, Elizabeth highlights how this letter teaches us that in the gospel alone do we gain what we desire - freedom from sin and freedom to experience true peace, living the abundant life Jesus offers.
April 13 - May 18
Questions Jesus Asked by Magrey deVega
Tuesdays (6 weeks) | 11:00 a.m. - 1 p.m. | IN-PERSON | Led by Barbara Stanfield (bring bag lunch)
What does Jesus want to know about us? Jesus was fond of asking questions, many of which cut right to the heart of what it means to be human. Why are you terrified? What do you live for? Who do you say that I am? In this study you will explore six of the most provocative questions Jesus posed to others and guides us in answering them for ourselves. Asking these questions takes courage. Not only do they reveal what Jesus really cares about, they open a window into our hearts. We all have questions for God, but growth happens when we turn things around and ask what Jesus wants to know about us. When we dare to raise them, these questions bring us a fuller appreciation for the wisdom, power, and presence of God in our lives. Are you willing to step out in faith? Are you ready to answer the questions Jesus asked?
June 23 - July 28
Taste and See: Discovering God among Butchers, Bakers, and Fresh Food Makers by Margaret Feinberg
Tuesdays (6 weeks) | 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. | IN-PERSON | Led by Shanlii Payment
Join Margaret Feinberg as she sets out on a remarkable journey to unearth God's perspective on food. What you discover will forever change the way you read the Bible - and approach every meal. This groundbreaking book provides a culinary exploration of Scripture. You'll descend 400 feet below ground into the frosty white caverns of a salt mine, fish on the Sea of Galilee, bake fresh matzo at Yale, ferry to an island in Croatia to harvest olives, spend time with a Texas butcher known as "the meat apostle," and wander a California farm with one of the world's premier fig farmers. With each stop, Margaret asks, "How do you read these Scriptures, not as theologians, but in light of what you do every day?" Perhaps God's foodie focus is meant to do more than satisfy our bellies. It's meant to heal our souls, as we learn to taste and see the goodness of God together. After all, food is God's love made edible.
September 1 - October 20
Deborah: Unlikely Heroes and the Book of Judges (Epic of Eden) by Sandra L. Richter
Tuesdays (8 weeks) | 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. | IN-PERSON | Led by Shanlii Payment
The Book of Judges narrates one of the most chaotic and morally dark eras of Israel's story. Into this morally-ambiguous time comes one of the most unlikely leaders of the biblical text, the prophet Deborah. A wife, mother, priest, and judge, Deborah responds to her call and transforms chaos into order by leading Israel in one of the most pivotal victories of her time. The author illustrates the era of the judges by means of the archaeological record, historical geography, cultural context, and the hard facts of warfare in the ancient world. This study draws you immediately into the grand tale of Deborah and challenges you, as a Christ-follower, to ask yourself where God wants to expand his kingdom in your realm of influence today.
October 12 - November 24
When You Pray: A Study of Six Prayers in the Bible by Various Authors
Tuesdays (7 weeks) | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. | ZOOM | Led by Donna Bruce
Do you have trouble thinking of words to say to God when you pray? Are you afraid some emotions are too intense to express to God? Do you reach the end of a day only to realize you haven't prayed at all? You're not alone. Prayer is the way we relate to God, but sometimes it's a struggle. Throughout God's Word, we encounter many voices who teach us how to pray. In this study, join with six beloved Bible teachers who will help you study prayers in the Bible that can inspire your own. You'll learn that God welcomes your praise and lament, your thanksgiving and intercession. You'll see examples of how to pray when you're alone and when you're gathered with others. Above all, you'll notice there's no one right way to pray As you draw near to God through prayer, you'll find your faith strengthened and your heart united to Christ.
October 19 - November 23
The God of the Other Side by Joanne Moody, Kathie Lee Gifford
Mondays (6 weeks) | 11:00 a.m. - 1 p.m. | IN-PERSON | Led by Barbara Stanfield (bring bag lunch)
Discover the incredible lengths God will go to reach those who are lonely, lost, and left out. In this study, the authors reveal how Jesus broke through social barriers and reached those on the "other side" whom society had abandoned. This study will show you how God draws in the foreigner, the wayward, the paralyzed, and other outcasts as essential parts of the kingdom he's building. You'll learn what it means to go with Jesus to "the other side", how it shapes your faith, and how it impacts your daily life in exciting new ways.
November 17 - December 15
Prepare the Way for the Lord: Advent and the Message of John the Baptist by Adam Hamilton
Tuesdays (5 weeks) | 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. | IN-PERSON | Led by Dara Bell
For centuries, Christians have turned to the story and message of John the Baptist in the weeks leading up to Christmas. In this study, author and pastor Adam Hamilton explores the Advent themes of John's life and ministry, and how John calls all followers of Jesus to prepare our hearts for this coming. In each of the Gospels, the story of Jesus is intertwined with that of his cousin John, the one whom the prophets foretold would come to "prepare the way of the Lord." When we hear the message of John the Baptist, it makes us and our world ready to receive Christ.
Women's Bible & Book Studies
Periodic Bible studies for women that run 4-11 weekly sessions. Classes are usually held on Tuesdays at various times during the day either in-person or via Zoom. Participants will purchase their own study materials. See the schedule below for upcoming studies.
For more information, email Donna Bruce.
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To register for one of the classes listed below, sign up at the Hospitality Center on Sundays, contact the church office or email Susan Perry.
For Men
Men's Bible Study
Mondays at 10 AM and 7PM
Join our Men's Bible Study for enriching six-week studies held seasonally. Sessions take place on Mondays at 10 a.m. (hybrid class offered in-person and via Zoom) and 7 p.m. (virtual class via Zoom only), providing flexibility for your schedule. For the current study details, or to sign up for our upcoming study, please contact the church office.
For Everyone
Daily Email Bible Study
Online Daily
Readers from St. John’s and around the world study together in St. John’s email Bible study. Topics range from in-depth word studies to lighthearted applications of scripture to popular culture. A brief scripture passage and study tip are delivered Monday through Friday via email, and we each read at a time and place of our own choosing. Answers to reader questions come out on occasional Saturdays. Email Regina Hunter for more information.
Walk to Emmaus
Held seasonally, contact for more information
The Walk to Emmaus is a spiritual renewal program (a 72-hour cloistered retreat with follow up) intended to strengthen the local church through the development of Christian disciples and leaders. Contact the office for more informaiton about our next walk.