Celebrating 175 Years in Mission and Ministry

In June 1848, seven years before Freeport was incorporated as a city, a small group of German immigrants met at a house on the 300 block of West Pleasant Street to welcome an auspicious movement of God’s ever-creating and still-speaking Spirit.

With family names like Kochsmier, Tewes, Mengedohd, Boedeker, Hunkemeier, Reisenberger, Lesemann, Altenberg, Bodmann, Burkhard, and Beine, the Evangelische St. Johannes Gemeinde zu Freeport began its life and ministry.


Now, some one hundred seventy five (or einhundertfünfundsiebzig ) years later, we celebrate the beginning of our demisemiseptcentennial year, living out our mission to be the church that God continues to call us to be in Freeport and beyond.

Throughout this year, we will mark the milestones of our congregation’s mission and ministry, and look forward to the places that God is calling us to live out the Gospel that is known thorough our inclusive, progressive love. Watch the Tidings and our Facebook page for more on our anniversary celebrations.


St. John UCC at 175:
Inspired to always be the church we are called to be
in Freeport and beyond.

St. John at 175: Moments of our History

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  • The United Church of Christ General Synod has designated the creation of Period Packs as a service project for this summer’s General Synod 2023. Also known as Menstrual Hygiene Kits, these packs are offered through Church World Services and provide a month’s supply of products to get a person who menstruates through their period.

    This synod project is an offshoot of the UCC’s Thursdays in Black campaign to end gender-based violence. Rev. Monica Dawkins-Smith, executive associate for UCC Wider Church Ministries and coordinator of the project for General Synod said:

    “[W]e want to provide free access to essential period products to help vulnerable people facing period poverty so they can avoid using unsanitary alternatives or making unsafe choices to earn income to purchase these products.”

    As of Sunday, 6/4/2023 we have collected supplies and funds to complete this mission in time for Synod!  The Period Packs were prepared at the Pentecost Picnic, and will be delivered to General Synod in Indianapolis by Rev. Rachel and Rev. Hank, who will attend as Delegates from the Illinois Conference UCC.


  • In June 1848, a small group of German immigrants met to welcome an auspicious movement of God’s ever-creating and still-speaking Spirit. One odd bit of our congregation’s history is the date of that meeting was not recorded officially. Yes, we have books of baptismal, marriage, and funeral records dating back 175 years. We have meeting minutes and committee correspondence for over a century. Even with the fire that felled the church house on Galena Street, much of our history has meticulously kept.

    Except the day of that meeting.

    In 2002, our congregation formally changed its name to St. John United Church of Christ (officially known by several modifications of that name since our incorporation in 1850). At that time, a more complete reading of our records took place, and it was discovered that the date of Pentecost (or June 11, 1848) had been used since the 100th anniversary as the founding day! While this may be more apocryphal than factual, Pentecost is a good choice to celebrate the founding of a Christian faith community!

     

Anniversary Events

What a wonder-filled year of  "St. John UCC at 175" Anniversary Events!

  • April 28, 2024, 10:00 am

    We will gather for the Anniversary Worship Service on Sunday, April 28, 2024, joined by special guests from our wider church, former staff and pastors, and members of the Freeport community.

    We welcome Rev. Molly Carlson, Conference Minister of the Illinois Conference UCC (and member of our congregation) as our guest for the day, delivering the anniversary message.

    The service will take place at our regular worship hour, and all are welcome to gather together in the Sanctuary or share in our streaming on Facebook:

    facebook.com/stjohnuccfreeport/live

  • April 27, 2024, 5:00 pm

    We will gather for a Celebration Dinner on Saturday,April 27, 2024, at 5:00 pm. The event will take place at the Eagles Club, with Beltline Cafe catering some of our “traditional” anniversary menu favorites! There will be history displays and presentations, a silent auction celebrating our anniversary, and much more!

    Dinner tickets are available now through 4/14.$20 for adults, $10 for children over 10.

  • March 29, 2024 6:00 pm and March 30, 2024, 2:00 pm

    On Good Friday and Holy Saturday,  St. John UCC will host a special screening of Jesus Christ Superstar (the original 1973 film). Based on the long-running Broadway performance written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, this film tells the story of the final six days in the life of Jesus Christ through the troubled eyes of Judas Iscariot.


    Our viewing party is a special event for our 175th Anniversary Celebration. Proceeds will help support our anniversary events and special projects for the Worship & Arts Fund. Contact the church office for more information, or for help to get your tickets. This event was originally planned for September 9, 2023. It was postponed to honor the SAG/AFTRA Labor Strike.

  • Februrary--All month long!

    Love is in the air as we come upon the February observation of St. Valentine’s Day! Enjoy the photo display on our new Narthex Display Board, sharing our many Weddings, Sacred Unions, or Covenant Blessings. Each of these honor the many ways God’s love has bound us together throughout the 175 years of our ministry.

  • Share in a celebration of seasonal song with the Music Ministry of St. John UCC and guest artists from across Northwest Illinois."Twelve Songs of Christmas" will showcase the many flavors of holiday music, from choral to instrumental, from traditional to modern, given in praise and celebration of the 175th Anniversary of St. John UCC.

    Admission is free, with a door offering supporting a community mission project, the "FSD #145 Shoe Fund." This project provides winter-appropriate footwear to the youth of Freeport. Come share a generous Spirit for the holidays!

  • October through November, 2023

    On the first Sunday in November, we celebrate Totenfest, the “Festival of the Departed.” We honor those individuals from the St. John UCC community who have died in the previous year.

    This year, as part of the church’s anniversary, all are invited to bring a photograph of your beloved ancestors for a display honoring “ALL of our saints” from the 175 years of our ministry.

  • September 10, 2023 after Rally Day worship

    Instead of your usual potluck dish, we would encourage you to try out a recipe from one of the St. John UCC Cookbooks, to celebrate the 175-year culinary heritageof our congregation. This will be a multi-sensory way to connect with our history, and maybe to find somenew (or old) favorite dishes! Sign up on the bulletin board to bring a salad, dessert, meat dish or casserole. Cookbooks will be available on Sundays or in the office. We will gladly make you a copy of the recipe or recipes of your choice.

  • Ongoing throughout the 175th Anniversary Year

    As part of our 175th Anniversary celebration, St. John is undertaking a Living History Project. We need your stories!

    For senior members: what was the church like when you were a child? What has changed?

    For newer or younger members: what have you experienced since attending St. John? 

    If you are interested in sharing your story or want to recommend someone, please complete a recommendation form found in the Narthex, and place it in the box. We are excited to start this project and share your stories.