Application for Membership
in the Body of Christ at
St. John's Church
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
1070 West Plumb Lane
Reno, Nevada 89509
(775) 826-0990
When people join St. John’s Church, they have certain expectations of St. John’s. Among members’ expectations most often expressed are these:
a) Worship will be is spiritually stimulating, not boring;
b) Music will be spiritually uplifting and offered in a variety of styles;
c) Christian education will be provided for every age and interest and will be excellent;
d) The building and grounds will be safe, attractive and well–kept, though not luxurious or lavish;
e) When I am sick or in need and make my need known, a minister and others will respond with appropriate pastoral care;
f) Benevolence, or mission and caring beyond St. John’s, will be an important priority and well–supported.
St. John’s Church has expectations of its members, too. Every relationship is a “two–way street,” with each party to the relationship giving and receiving. Otherwise the relationship is not possible. At St. John’s Church, we believe it is as important to be clear about St. John’s expectations of members as it is for Staff and Session to be sensitive to and inquiring of members’ expectations.
The Four Expectations of St. John’s Members:
1. Worship regularly
Worship is the center and focus of our life together as St. John’s Church. While our life circumstances vary widely, at St. John's we nonetheless expect members to gather regularly - not occasionally, not “when it feels good,” not “when there's nothing better to do,” not “to have a little religion before brunch” - to praise God together, to pray for each other and the world and to thank God for the abundance of blessings we enjoy.
2. Give Generously
It is in giving that we most closely reflect the character of the God we know through Jesus Christ our Lord. At St. John's we give - time, skills, abilities, money, our selves - not because it is our duty but because it is our privilege. We don't give “because St. John’s Church needs our support,” or “to pay the bills,” but because we need to give so that our souls don’t shrivel. Through generous giving – measured by each member according to circumstances – we release the power God has invested in us and join our power for the Kingdom of God.
3. Serve Eagerly
One of the signs of spiritual health at St. John's is the readiness of members to serve: teaching church school, singing in choir, as Stephen Ministers, on governing and program groups, caring for one another, in community organizations. At St. John’s we understand that faith is actively lived–out or it isn't authentic faith at all.
4. Live worthily of the name of Jesus Christ
None of us does this, of course. But at St. John’s Church, we expect ourselves and others to try. Living worthily of the name of Jesus Christ is the best witness we can make to the world in which we live. And, as you might imagine, Reno, Nevada, is a world in which witness to Jesus Christ isn’t common. We often say to newcomers to Nevada that in Reno we live in the future that greatly resembles the early church’s world. It is a thoroughly secular world, filled with enticing amusements and glitter, a cotton–candy world in which many are starving for the Bread of Life without realizing they are spiritually malnourished. Everything a member of St. John’s does or says is more noticed in Reno that almost anywhere else in the United States, and living worthily of the name of Jesus Christ is our daily challenge and opportunity.
In applying for membership in St. John’s Church, I accept these expectations and commit myself to living them in proportion to the gifts God has given.
Signature________________________________________________
Date____________________________
PLEASE RETURN THIS APPLICATION to the Church Office or give it to one of the Ministers.
Revised: 1 January 1999
A Brief History of St. John’s Church
St. John’s Origins
The first worship service of St. John’s Church was held on October 10, 1948, in the 20th Century Club with sixty-four in attendance. A week earlier, on October 3, twenty-one children attended the first Sunday School which was held in the YWCA next door to the 20th Century Club. The formal organization meeting was held in First Christian Church on January 16, 1949. The Rev. Rafe Martin, in whose honor Martin Social Hall is named, was the organizing pastor. There were one-hundred-five charter members. With church membership and Sunday School growing rapidly, St. John’s soon moved to new quarters in the Reno Little Theater, where the congregation continued to meet until moving to the present site in 1952.
Pastoral Leadership
The Rev. Rafe Martin served St. John’s for eleven years, beginning the tradition of long-tenure for St. John’s pastors. The remarkable spirit of cooperation between St. John’s people and its staff, which has nurtured this tradition of long-tenure, has contributed greatly to St. John’s continual growth over the past half-century. In 1961 the Rev. Dr. William Clawson became St. John’s second pastor, and under his leadership St. John’s growth continued. In 1962 St. John’s hired its first Director of Christian Education. On June 17, 1973 the Rev. Dr. William L. Barrett became St. John’s third pastor, serving for almost twenty years before becoming Pastor Emeritus in 1992. The Rev. Dr. Ned H. Benson became St. John’s fourth pastor in September, 1993.
Building for a Growing Congregation
The first unit of St. John’s buildings, comprising what is now the Choir Room wing and Martin Social Hall, was constructed primarily by the volunteer labor of the church members themselves on land donated by a member of the church. During the ministry of the Rev. Rafe Martin two additional building programs created well-appointed wings for Christian education. The present Sanctuary was dedicated in 1969 and is a tribute to Dr. Clawson’s inspiring leadership. During the fourth year of Dr. Barrett’s ministry, a five-alarm fire on the night of February 26, 1976, destroyed much of the Christian Education Wing. Not a congregation easily set aback, St. John’s rallied and within one year the Christian Education Wing was restored and enlarged to twice its previous size. In the rebuilt Christian Education Wing, St. John’s Children’s Center opened in 1977, providing the Church and community with superior early childhood education based on Christian values. Since the fire, additional building programs have created the spacious facilities which now house St. John’s ministries and programs: the youth rooms on the second floor of the Education Wing were completed, along with an apartment for the resident security custodian; a balcony was added to the Sanctuary; the pipe organ was installed, as well as renovated and enlarged; the commercial-quality kitchen was completed. During the ministry of Dr. Benson, a wing with two new rooms and enlarged office space for St. John’s Children’s Center and Barrett Recreation Park in honor of St. John's third senior minister, the Rev William L. Barrett, was completed in 1995. In 1997 the Sanctuary Forecourt was renovated and enlarged. In 2002 Martin Hall was redecorated. In 2004 a multi-year project of renovating the Sanctuary was begun. As part of the 50th Anniversary of St. John’s Church, the heating systems were replaced and the Sanctuary, Martin Social Hall, and other rooms were air conditioned. The entire complex was re-roofed with long-life concrete polymer tile. Two of the original 1952-era classrooms were renovated into a permanent home for Clawson Memorial Library, named after St. John’s second pastor, thanks to a generous gift from Dr. and Mrs. Clinton Chase of Bloomington, Indiana, who were married in St. John’s Church in 1958. In November 1998 St. John’s dedicated the Memorial Garden, where members and friends of the Church may place the cremated remains of loved ones. The St. John’s Memorial Garden will be the site of a bas-relief brick sculpture wall picturing a soaring eagle and the St. John’s Celtic Cross.
A Half-Century of Service
For fifty years, St. John’s Church has conveyed the Good News of God’s love in Jesus Christ, not only in Reno, but through the world. We have sent eleven of our sons and daughters into full-time ministry. St. John’s is a major supporter of Presbyterian missions. St. John’s is the largest Presbyterian Church in Northern Nevada and one of the largest Protestant congregations in Reno-Sparks. Led by the Holy Spirit, we will continue to grow St. John’s together in the 21st century as we have for the past fifty years!
Our Mission
God calls St. John’s to represent Christ
Our Invitation
Membership in St. John's Church is open to all who accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Perfection is not a criterion for membership, but serious commitment to him is.
New Member Information Form
Date: _________________
Last Name: __________________________First__________________Middle___________
Birth date: Mo_________Day________Year_________
How do you want your name on your permanent name tag?_____________________
Married ______Single ______ Widowed ______ Divorced _______ Separated _______
If married, Anniversary date: _________________
Address: _____________________________________ City: ______________Zip: __________
Home Phone: __________________________Business Phone: ______________________
eMail ___________________________________________________________________
Occupation: ______________________________________________________________
Name of Employer:_________________________________________________________
Spouse Name: _______________________________________ Birth date: ______________
Child's Name Birth dateSchool Grade Baptized?/Date
1. ___________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________
4. ___________________________________________________________________
In case of emergency, please notify:
Name______________________________Address______________________________Phone___________
I desire to join St. John's Church of Reno, Nevada, by one of the following three modes: (Please check one and fill in the information requested.)
_____1. Letter of Transfer: Prior to my involvement in St. John's Church of Reno, I was active within the last 3-4 years in the church listed below and I wish to have you write for a Transfer of my membership.
My full name as my last church carried it:
__________________________________________________________________________
The church and its address is (please give as much as you know):
Name of church:_________________________________________________________
Address:_______________________________City____________________State________ZIP________
_____2. Reaffirmation of Faith: I once publicly confessed my faith in Christ and joined a church, but recently I have been inactive in the church.
_____3. Profession of Faith: I have never publicly confessed my faith in Jesus Christ through joining a church and wish to do so now.
_____ I have never been baptized in any Christian Church.
The following questions require a thoughtful, committed and affirmative response by those joining by Reaffirmation or Profession of Faith:
Do you renounce evil and its power in the world, which defy God's righteousness?
God helping me, I do.
Do you renounce the ways of sin that separate you from the love of God?
God helping me, I do.
Do you turn to Jesus Christ
God helping me, I do.
Will you be Christ's faithful disciple
God helping me, I will.
(If baptism is required, a date will be determined for the Sacrament to be administered
before the congregation during the worship service.)
Advancing spiritual development; and
Sustaining vibrant Christian fellowship.
To our community …. by
Proclaiming the Good News, and
Working together for the health and well being of our community.
To that end …. that out of death will spring new life.
Personal Information
accept him as your Lord and Savior,
trusting in his grace and love?
and member of St. John's Church?
Will share in our worship and ministry?
Will you worship regularly, give generously,
serve eagerly and live worthily of the name of Jesus Christ?