WELCOME TO SAINT JOHN’S CHURCH

Welcome to St. John's Church, Lafayette Square—a vibrant historic Episcopal church located across from the White House. We invite you to join with us for worship, Christian fellowship and outreach.

History

From our organization as a parish in 1815 to today, St. John's Church has provided a powerful symbol of faith in the heart of our nation's capital.

Mission

At St. John's, we believe Christ is calling us to be a renewed church in a changing world. In worship, education, parish life, and social action, we seek to expand our horizons by serving God by loving one another.

Clergy, Staff, & Vestry

Meet St. John’s diverse and engaging clergy, vestry and staff.

Directions & Parking

Located at the corner of 16th and H Streets in Northwest Washington, St. John's is near the McPherson Square and Farragut North Metro stations. Limited street parking is available; free valet parking is offered for certain hours.
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February 27 – Monday in the First Week of Lent

The Law of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul.

According to Jewish tradition, there are 613 commandments contained in the Law of Moses, or the first five books of the Bible. The Babylonian Talmud counts 365 negative commandments, or one for each day of the year, and 248 positive commandments, or one for each (classical) bone and organ in the body.

Today’s reading from Leviticus begins with a list of positive and negative commandments: you shall not steal (twice), you shall not lie, you shall not harm people with disabilities (paraphrased), you shall not render unjust judgments. The reading ends with the summation of the whole law, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Putting the idea of “loving your neighbor as yourself” into action, today’s Gospel is the familiar, if frightening, story of Christ’s judgment of the world. Those who have followed Christ’s exhortation to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, and welcome the stranger are inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who have not, are sent away. Jesus reminds us that, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.”

As we begin this season of Lent, I wonder what we can do to better follow Christ’s call to welcome the stranger, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and heal the sick right in our own neighborhood. I was struck a few weeks ago by the situation that occurred in McPherson Square, our neighbors to the northeast. According to the Washington Post, around 75 people lived in the McPherson Square encampment prior to the eviction by NPS. Unfortunately, despite enough funding to house the chronically unhoused in DC, the city does not have enough staff to make it happen. What can we, as a church, do to support our neighbors?

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

Matthew Taylor

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