St. John's Church, Getty Square

About Us

Loving God and Neighbor in Yonkers since 1693

Coming from all walks of life we we gather to celebrate what God is doing in our lives. Our worship is liturgical and with Holy Communion each week. The preaching focuses on where faith and spirituality meet real life. We engage our faith, honest with our questions and hesitations, unafraid to challenge ourselves and others, eager to dig into the rich treasure chest of our tradition. Not a perfect church, but a real one, who asks from God the gifts we need to continue the ministry of Christ in the world.

Vibe: Traditional Liturgy, Down to Earth, Progressive, Gay affirming, Historic, Multigenerational

Programs: Community Service, Adult Education, Children's Ministry

Music: Passionate Reverent, Traditional Hymns, Organ, Chanting

Denomination: Episcopal

Networks

Episcopal Diocese of New York

Size: Small

Language: English

Founded: 1693

Contact Information

Phone

(914) 963-3033

Website

http://www.stjohnsgs.org

Our Services

Service Times

Sunday

08:00am: A simple said Holy Communion using traditional "thee/thou" language
10:00am: A Sung Holy Communion Service using contemporary English
06:00pm: A short Contemplative Holy Communion Service with simple songs and chanting followed by a group discussion

Wednesday

12:00pm: A simple Holy Communion and Healing Service

What to Expect

What are services like?
We have four very different services. The 8:00 AM service is a traditional language Holy Communion. At 10:00 we have a Sung Holy Communion with both traditional Anglican, Contemporary, and African American hymns. We sing or chant a great deal of the service at 10 remembering that St. Augustine said the one who sings prays twice. At 6:00 PM we have a small contemplative Holy Communion in a small simple chapel. There we use simple chants and songs as well as silence to go deeper into ourselves. The service lasts only 30 minutes but is followed by 45 minute discussion where we explore the relevance of faith in the issues we confront each day in our live.

What is the community like?
The church community is very varied, but you will certainly find someone who has things in common with you. We are white, black, Asian, Latino. We tend to be older, however every age group is present. We have a lengthy coffee hour after the service and we have occasional fellowship meals. There is an important group very interested in exploring theology and the priest provides programs to meet there needs. We emphasize having a ministry in our lives and members of the parish bring food for our local food shelter, while others volunteer to read in schools.

What if I'm not a Christian?
All people are welcome in our church, and all perspectives are not only respected, they are valued. Please feel free to express your questions, your doubts, your differences, tell us what your religious faith tradition is. It will provide an opportunity to get to know you better and for reflection and fellowship. Our worship is almost always a Holy Communion Service, and we do ask people be baptized before they receive communion. No one is made to feel awkward for receiving a blessing instead of communion, or even if choosing to remain in their seat.

Leadership

John Hamilton

Father John has served at St. John's since 2007. His passion is for theology, and his focus is on how faith comments on culture and how culture comments on faith. He has a playful, sometimes teasing sense of humor. Originally from Mississippi he was sponsored for ministry out of Atlanta, Georgia and came to New York for seminary. He lived 3 years in Liverpool, England in a community of L'Arche, a community where mentally challenged adults and others live together in Christian community. He studied theology at the University of Oxford and French at the University of Poitiers, France. He was an administrator for IBM and he was also a missionary in Honduras. He speaks French and Spanish and studied Latin and Greek in college. He has an active curiosity and is particularly interested in Ancient Rome.