St. John's Lutheran Church sits along Woodard Road in Elma, New York. It is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the spiritual home of a multi-generational community that has worshipped at this location since 1870.
From a Schoolhouse at Rice and Bowen to a Sanctuary Built in 1887
St. John's was organized in 1870 by a group of German Lutherans living in Elma. Their first services were held in a local schoolhouse at the corner of Rice and Bowen Roads. A few years later, the congregation moved into its own small chapel on Woodard Road, the building that now houses St. John's Preschool. The present sanctuary was built in 1887 and has served the parish ever since. More than fifteen pastors have walked this congregation through its long history of growth and ministry.
Sunday Mornings at 8:45: Word and Sacrament
Sunday worship takes place at 8:45 am, and all are welcome to gather around God's Word and Sacraments as the congregation grows together in faith. Worship follows the Lutheran tradition, with Holy Baptism and Holy Communion celebrated as outward signs of Christ's living presence through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Sunday School, Confirmation, and a Thursday Bible Study in Lancaster
Christian education is woven into the life of the parish. Sunday School meets at 8:45 am from September through May and is open to all ages, offering a welcoming place to learn, ask questions, and grow in Christ. Confirmation classes and other youth opportunities walk with young people as they grow in their faith. On Thursdays, Bible study gathers at 1:00 pm at St. John's in Lancaster, at 55 Pleasant Avenue.
Grace Through Faith: The Lutheran Heritage
St. John's stands in the long Lutheran tradition. The congregation confesses faith in Christ Jesus as Lord and proclaims the wonders of God's love through worship and work in the community. Salvation, in the Lutheran understanding taught here, is God's gift in Jesus Christ through his death and resurrection, not something earned by human effort. Scripture is held as the guide for faith and life. The congregation's mission is to minister to the spiritual needs of people and all aspects of their lives, providing a Christian community where the gifts and faith of each believer may be strengthened and lived out.
St. John's Preschool Next Door
Sharing the Woodard Road grounds is St. John's Preschool of Elma, a non-profit, play-based preschool for three- and four-year-old children. The preschool occupies the small chapel that served as the congregation's second home before the present sanctuary was built in 1887. Its semi-structured program focuses on socialization and kindergarten readiness, with one morning session running from 9:00 am to noon. Weekly themes of Nursery Rhymes and Good Foods, Farm Animals, and the Four Seasons introduce numbers, letters, colors, shapes, music, and art, and the year includes several field trips that enrich classroom learning.
Visiting St. John's on Woodard Road
The church is located at 2131 Woodard Road, Elma, NY 14059. Sunday worship is at 8:45 am, with Sunday School at the same hour during the school year. Office hours are Tuesday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Elma location, and Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Lancaster office, 55 Pleasant Avenue. The pastor is available Tuesday through Friday by appointment. The church office can be reached at 716-652-9161 and StJohnsElma@gmail.com. Pastor Jamie Retallack leads the parish and invites newcomers to join in worship and fellowship.