Worship & Ministries

We hold weekly Faith Formation meetings for adults which include book studies and discussions, video presentations, and Bible study. We also hold weekly activities with children that reinforce the weekly sermon focus including story time, craft activities, food preparation and singing.

We host monthly meetings at a local pub where we indulge in our favorite beverages while discussing topics of faith and belief related to current world events. The gathering usually involves a diverse group from a variety of traditions. Join us on each first Tuesday of the month at 7pm at Miami & Erie in Defiance.

We work in conjunction with the United Way of Defiance County to provide kid-friendly and nutritious food 35 weekends of the school year for children who qualify for free and reduced lunches at all public elementary schools in Defiance County. In addition to housing the program, members and friends of St. John UCC volunteer to pick up and unload the weekly food deliveries, set up the assembly for stuffing the bags and assist other community partners in packing the bags as needed.

St. John UCC organizes an annual drive to purchase and assemble over 100 “Disaster Buckets” for the Heartland Conference of the United Church of Christ. The buckets are filled with cleaning supplies and are sent to locations all over the United States to help with clean up and recovery after natural disasters such as flooding, tornadoes and hurricanes.

St John UCC holds an annual drive to support the Church World Service Blanket program, which sends blankets to people all over the world.

The children of St John UCC hold an annual drive to raise funds for bees, cows, ducks, goats and other animals through the Heifer Project to give people in developing countries a hand up for building a sustainable life.

St. John UCC holds an annual Blessing of the Animals on the Sunday nearest to the feast of St. Francis of Assisi to celebrate our animal companions and all of God’s creation. Money and supplies are collected to support the Fort Defiance Humane Society.

St. John UCC holds an annual Blessing of the Bicycles for members of the community who use their bicycles for fun, exercise and transportation. A ride is coordinated with Defiance Cycling and Team Defiance Triathlon Team after the service with a special collection given to the Ride of Silence to honor and remember all those who died while riding a bike.

St. John UCC organizes Christmas Caroling on the Sunday before Christmas at local assisted living centers and nursing homes. We then return to the church to share a meal of chili, crackers, corn bread and desserts.