Pastor - Rev. Judy Goodrow
Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here.
I’m the pastor here at St. John’s United Church of Christ in Jackson, Michigan. I joined this gem of a church in early 2021, and I continue to be delighted with the energy and vision of this group of faith-builders. Here’s what makes us special:
We’re a Partnership Church - we share our building with the American Red Cross, Community Action Agency Headstart preschool, NAACP, Dungytreei Heritage Foundation, MyBakery, the Nancy Hackworth Literacy Initiative, and the United Center for Caring.
We’re an inclusive church - we like to say, “Whoever you are, wherever you are on life’s journey, there’s a place for you here!” We pursue social justice and consistently reach out to those in need, here in Jackson and beyond.
Best of all, we’re a healthy church. We use ritual as a tool to grow spiritually, not a prison that keeps us tied to the past. We explore scripture and ask hard questions, instead of blindly subscribing to teachings that aren’t relevant in this century. We don’t do everything right (no one does!) but that’s how we practice forgiveness. Forgiveness was non-negotiable for Jesus - and we follow the teachings of Jesus.
Curious? Listen to our sermons on the podcast page, or check us out on Zoom. To receive the link, please subscribe on the home page, and you’ll receive our Weekly Digest with links to our services and a calendar of events and announcements. You’ll also receive our newsletter so you can get a good idea of what’s happening here.
Want to chat with me? Send me an email at pastor@stjohnsjx.com and let’s talk. I hope to hear from you!