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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On the Banks of the Jordan

Psalm 19:7-11(12-14) Wisdom 7:24-28 Ephesians 2:17-22 John 14:23-26
Swish, swish. The drops of holy water scattered over the group gathered on the banks of the River Jordan. The olive branch wielded by our Rector Luis arced the drops through the still air over all of us, over me. Swish, swish. There was no immersion, no cup of water from the baptismal font, no choir singing (but the hymn I have heard so many times—Wade in the Water—did ring in my head).
I had been baptized as a baby in the Episcopal Church. If you were to ask what that had meant to me, I might have repeated what the Church says. I might have recalled the words of St. John the Baptist. But other than marking my belonging to the Episcopal Church, being baptized had little meaning for me.
On my trip to the Holy Land, I had not expected to renew my baptismal vows at the River Jordan. Even that morning, I was seriously thinking of not doing so, wishing to avoid participating in the exclusion of the unbaptized under church doctrine.
But as I stood there on the riverbank, my hesitations vanished. Enveloped in the familiar words of the Service of Baptism, I renewed my vows. I suddenly felt embraced by the Holy Spirit and welcomed into a broader spiritual community.
In Lent we are also called upon to overcome that which divides us from each other and to let the Holy Spirit in.

–John More

Our Rector on the Banks of the Jordan
Our Rector on the Banks of the Jordan

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