On the west side of Greeley, just off 20th Street, a brick church building has been a fixture of the neighborhood for more than fifty years. The congregation that worships there, however, dates back to 1916, when German-Russian immigrants first organized what is now St. John's United Church of Christ. The welcome on the church's front page is simple and open: "No matter who you are or where you've been, you're welcome at St. Johns." That invitation, paired with a deep historical roots in Greeley and an active ministry to families, children, and musicians, has shaped the church's identity for more than a century.
From German-Russian Roots to West Greeley
St. John's UCC was founded by Germans from Russia over a hundred years ago. The newcomers established a tight-knit congregation that grew quickly as more immigrant families joined. In those early years the Sunday service was held entirely in German, with both the preaching and the hymns in the mother tongue. As the community took root in Greeley, the church outgrew its original downtown location, and the members worked together to build a new building on the west side of town. The present site at 3815 West 20th Street has now been the congregation's home for more than fifty years, and the church continues to serve Greeley and the surrounding area.
The congregation's stated conviction, taken from Psalm 24:1, frames its life together: "The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him." That verse opens the About page and recurs in the church's teaching on stewardship.
Sunday Mornings at Ten
The weekly rhythm of St. John's centers on Sunday morning. Worship begins at 10:00 AM, and the hour includes singing, Scripture reading, prayer, a sermon, and the rhythms of a United Church of Christ liturgy. The service is followed by a fellowship time together, an unhurried gathering that gives members and visitors a chance to talk over coffee.
During the same hour, children are invited to Sunday School, and a nursery is available for babies and toddlers. Parents with young children can therefore attend the full worship service while knowing their kids are cared for in age-appropriate spaces. A simple note on the "When We Meet" page says it plainly: "We meet every Sunday at 10:00 AM for service followed by fellowship together. During this time we also have Sunday School for children. In addition, we have a nursery available for those with babies and toddlers."
For those unable to attend in person, Sunday morning worship is also livestreamed on YouTube. Recordings are gathered on a playlist titled "Worship St Johns UCC Greeley," so anyone can follow along at a distance or revisit a recent message.
Holy Communion and the Church Calendar
The Lord's Supper is a regular feature of life at St. John's. Communion Sundays are highlighted on the church calendar with a note such as "Come Share Holy Communion during Worship Service!" The sacrament is woven into the regular Sunday morning liturgy rather than treated as a quarterly event.
Beyond weekly communion, the church observes the major seasons of the Christian year. Palm Sunday services include the blessing of palms and communion. Easter Sunday features a fellowship breakfast before the worship service, which itself includes Holy Communion. Christmas Eve brings a special candlelight service with traditional Christmas hymns and communion. Children's Christmas Program Sundays give young church members a chance to lead the congregation in song during the regular worship hour.
During the summer months the church has also held "Worship and Meal" gatherings, with the service taking place in the Fellowship Hall followed by a shared meal. These summer Sundays give the congregation a more casual setting while keeping the weekly rhythm of worship intact.
A Place for Children and Youth
Children and young people are a defining part of St. John's ministry. The Sunday morning worship hour includes a dedicated Sunday School, and a nursery is available for the youngest members of the family. The youth of the congregation have their own Facebook community, "St. John's Youth Group," where news and events are shared.
The church's preaching and teaching reflects that priority. A June sermon titled "Let the Children Come to Me" was preached on the day the congregation celebrated children and youth ministry. Drawing on Mark 10:13-14, the message walked through four points: Jesus welcomes the children, childlike faith is precious to God, believers should not hinder others from coming to Jesus, and Jesus blesses those who come to him. The sermon closed with a prayer that homes and churches would be places where children are welcomed and taught the truth.
The same series of teaching has included reflections on Pentecost ("When the Holy Spirit Comes to Church"), the mystery of the Trinity ("The Mystery that Holds Us"), and the call to nurture children in faith ("Planting Seeds That Last Forever"). Mothers, grandmothers, mentors, and spiritual mothers are honored regularly as people whose everyday labor shapes souls.
Music at St. John's
Music has long been a strength of the congregation. The church has hosted special concerts and recitals in addition to its regular hymn singing, including Lenten concerts with artist Pablo Hinojos that have been offered in both English ("Our God is Alive Concert") and Spanish ("Nuestro Dios esta Vivo Concierto"). Christmas Eve services feature traditional Christmas hymns sung by candlelight.
The church's relationship with Dr. Steve Innis is a particularly warm thread. Innis has performed a piano recital titled "Music is Truth" at St. John's, with a $10 suggested donation benefiting the church's community ministries and a reception following the program. The church has set aside a Sunday to thank Dr. Steve Innis "for all the wonderful music he has shared with us," and his name appears in the church's calendar tags as a sign of the congregation's gratitude.
Teaching Through the Year
St. John's publishes sermons and articles on a steady rhythm through the year. The teaching moves through extended series as well as one-off messages. Recurring sermon arcs have included:
- A walk through the names of God: Adonai, Jehovah Nissi, Jehovah Shammah, Jehovah Rohi, Jehovah Rapha, Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Tsidkenu, Jehovah Shalom, El Shaddai, and Abba Father.
- A "Start the Year Right" series that moves through worship, prayer, generous giving, and sharing God's love with others.
- A summer walk through Ecclesiastes, with messages such as "The Search for Meaning," "The Limits of Wealth and Human Control," "Reverence and Humility," "When Success Is Not Enough," "Trusting God's Timing," and "Finding Strength in Relationships."
- Studies on the Beatitudes, with messages such as "Knowing That We Need Jesus," "How God Comforts Us When We Mourn," "The Three Dimensions of Humility," "How God Sees Us and Others," "In Pursuit of Righteousness," and "The Benefits of Being Merciful."
- A two-part series titled "God's People are Light and Salt," drawing on Jesus' words in Matthew 5.
The articles are credited to "St. John's UCC" and to the pastor by name. They often close with a written prayer that congregation members can pray through the week.
Reaching Out Beyond the Walls
St. John's identifies "community ministries" as one of its supported areas, and donations from special music events have been directed to those ministries. The congregation also partners with Ebenezer Church, a Spanish-speaking congregation with which St. John's has celebrated unity on joint Sundays. In May 2023 the church held an Early Pentecost Celebration a week ahead of schedule so the two congregations could mark the day together, and on other Sundays the Ebenezer congregation has been hosted for shared services and conferences. The Ebenezer Church Conference, held over a September weekend, brings members of both churches together for teaching and fellowship.
The church has also welcomed guest ministries such as Leo Lytle Ministries, which held a March weekend of events at St. John's in both English and Spanish. The weekend included a "Share Jesus Now!" seminar (with parallel sessions in English and Spanish), the distribution of small crosses around the community in "The Cross Project," a Saturday evening Lenten concert with Pablo Hinojos, and a Sunday morning message titled "The Door Message." These events point to the congregation's bilingual hospitality.
Bilingual Hospitality
While the regular Sunday service at St. John's is held in English, the church is bilingual in its outreach. Spanish-language events have included the "Comparte a Jesús Ahora" seminar, the "Nuestro Dios esta Vivo Concierto" concert, and the "El mensaje de la puerta" Sunday message. Event descriptions are often written in both languages on the same page, reflecting the church's practice of welcoming Spanish-speaking neighbors and visitors into its shared life.
Visiting St. John's
First-time visitors can expect a small-to-medium-sized congregation in a long-established west Greeley neighborhood. The dress is typical of a mainline Protestant church, with most people in business-casual or Sunday attire. The 10:00 AM hour includes a complete service of worship with singing, prayer, Scripture, and preaching, with communion observed regularly. Children are welcomed into the sanctuary and may also be signed into Sunday School or the nursery during the service. Fellowship follows immediately after the service in the church's gathering space.
The address is 3815 West 20th Street, Greeley, Colorado 80634, and the church phone number is (970) 330-8657. Those who travel or live at a distance can join the service via the "Worship St Johns UCC Greeley" playlist on YouTube, where live and recorded services are posted.
A Heritage of Welcome
From its 1916 beginnings as a German-Russian immigrant church, through decades of growth that carried it from downtown to west Greeley, St. John's United Church of Christ has remained a steady presence in the life of the city. Its preaching today draws on Scripture, the Beatitudes, the Psalms, and the names of God; its worship centers on the Lord's Supper; its life together is shaped by Sunday School, nursery care for the smallest members, a youth group, and music shared by gifted musicians and longtime friends. Whether a family with young children, a longtime Greeley resident, or someone new to the area looking for a place to belong, visitors will find a congregation that traces its welcome all the way back to its founders and forward to every neighbor who walks through the door.