St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Williams Township sits along Morgan Hill Road on the eastern edge of the township, not far from where the Lehigh Valley gives way to the river bluffs above Easton. The congregation belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and has been gathering for worship at this location for more than 170 years. Its longtime motto, "God's Work. Our Hands.," reflects the small, community-oriented character that members regularly describe.
Sunday Morning at 10:00
Worship is held every Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. The service is patterned in the Lutheran tradition and uses the Evangelical Lutheran Book of Worship as its primary source. God's Word sits at the center of the liturgy: Scripture lessons are read from the Bible each week, and the pastor's sermons are Bible-based, contemporary interpretations of one or more of the appointed lessons for the day.
On most Sundays the service is traditional in feel. On the third Sunday of each month, the tone shifts: the congregation's Praise Team leads an informal service that brings a more relaxed musical style into the sanctuary.
Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month and on all festival days. All who believe that Jesus Christ is present in the bread and wine and confess him as the host of the meal are welcome at the table. Children and any adults who do not wish to commune are invited to come forward for a blessing instead.
Services are recorded each week and posted on the church's Facebook and YouTube channel for those who cannot attend in person.
A Cornerstone Laid in 1848
The congregation's roots go back to 1848, when the cornerstone was laid for a "union church" shared by members of the Evangelical Lutheran church and the German Reformed Church. Members donated their labor to build the structure, which stood at the northern end of what is still the congregation's cemetery. In 1884 the Reformed congregation withdrew and built their own church nearby; the Lutherans continued worshiping in the old building until 1886, when they decided to construct a new one of their own. The building contract was given to Kern Contracting Co. of Allentown for a total cost of $8,000, and a dedication service was held on January 16, 1887, with Pastor Rev. Charles Sandt officiating.
From the turn of the twentieth century for nearly forty years, the church's pastors either served a dual or triple charge or were supply pastors sent from other area congregations. The pace of settled leadership picked up in 1939, when Rev. Lawrence Deily became pastor. During his eighteen-year tenure the worship area was extensively renovated, and in 1949 work began on a back section that added a kitchen, lavatories, and three upper stories of classrooms and offices. Members of the congregation did much of the design and construction themselves over several years. Under the next long-term pastor, Rev. Malcolm Albright (1972 to 1984), the Sunday school room was renovated.
In the 1985 anniversary year the building's exterior was brick-coated and waterproofed. Air conditioning was added to the sanctuary in the summer of 2011. In 2014 the secretary's office was renovated with new laminate flooring, a dropped ceiling, and additional lighting; pew cushions were completed in 2016; and stained glass windows were added in 2018.
A New Chairlift and an Open Sanctuary
One of the most recent changes to the building is a chairlift in the sanctuary, presented in loving memory of John H. and Carrie M. Melchor by Harold and Virginia Melchor. The gift has made the worship space more accessible to members whose mobility had become a barrier to coming forward.
Sunday School and the Handprint Tree
Children remain a visible part of St. John's life. The Sunday School program has included students like Jax Simons, Logan Cleaver, Ava Elphick, Mason Bloss, and Hunter Worthington. In a recent year the children's attendance was tracked with a "handprint tree," in which each handprint became a leaf inscribed with the key message of that day's lesson. Handprints from members of the wider congregation were added in the form of a heart surrounding the children, a visual reminder that the whole congregation surrounds its youngest members as they grow in faith.
Adult volunteers who work with children in Sunday School, the nursery, Vacation Bible School, and youth group are considered mandatory reporters under Pennsylvania law. The state-required clearances include the Child Abuse History Clearance, the Pennsylvania State Police criminal record check, and the FBI fingerprint record check for those who have not lived in Pennsylvania for ten years.
Music at St. John's
Music is a long-standing part of the church's identity. Two organists, Joy Jacoby and Bonnie Banks-Beers, share duties in the sanctuary. On the third Sunday each month, the Praise Team brings a different sound to the liturgy. The congregation has also been home to musicians such as Dottie Ryerson, who at ninety-two was still writing and performing original songs, including one titled "God Is Listening."
Life Beyond Sunday
St. John's life extends past the sanctuary doors. The congregation has hosted rummage sales that draw from the wider community, and a regular newsletter is shared monthly, with editions stretching back several years archived online. Members who want to keep up with the congregation's rhythm consult the calendar and the monthly newsletter, both of which are kept current online.
Leadership and Pastoral Staff
The congregation is currently served by Transition Pastor Jeff Carstens, a former pastor of St. John's who retired and has now returned to walk the congregation through this season. Jill Kerbaugh serves as parish secretary; Terri Hineline serves as financial secretary and interim treasurer. Joy Jacoby and Bonnie Banks-Beers share duties at the organ.
Visiting St. John's
The church building stands at 2745 Morgan Hill Road, Easton, Pennsylvania, in Williams Township. The parish office is open on Tuesday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The telephone number is 610-252-3571, and the office email is stjohnswilliams@rcn.com. Driving directions are available online.