The borough of Woodstown, a small Salem County community ringed by the farmland of southern New Jersey, is home to Woodstown Presbyterian Church, a congregation that has made a simple phrase its own: a home for your heart. Worshipers gather each Sunday at 10 AM in the sanctuary at 46 Auburn Road for a blended service, and around that Sunday gathering the church has built a rhythm of children's ministry, Bible studies, youth meetings, and mission partnerships that reach from the local food pantry to shoebox gifts sent around the world.
Worship on Sundays at 10
The order of Sunday worship at WPC reflects the congregation's self-description as approaching God with both reverence and praise. The service includes Scripture reading, a sermon, prayer, a mix of hymns and contemporary songs, a time for reflection, an affirmation of faith, and the passing of the peace. Communion of the Lord's Supper is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month. Services are recorded and posted to the church's YouTube channel so that members who are traveling, ill, or away can keep up with the week's message.
Pastor Joon Begins a New Chapter
In January 2026 the Rev. Joon W. Lee became the pastor of Woodstown Presbyterian. Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, Pastor Joon moved with his parents and younger brother to Sumter, South Carolina, while he was in college. He began his ministry as a part-time youth pastor in 1990 and has served full-time since 1995, with pastorates in Seattle, Miami, Detroit, and most recently Columbus, Ohio, where he spent nearly 21 years. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from the University of South Carolina, a Master of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary, and a Master of Theology in Christian Education from Princeton Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Grace, have a young adult son, Samuel. Ruslan Odintsov serves the congregation as organist.
Rooted in the Great Commission
The church's mission, set out plainly on its About page, is to follow the Great Commission of Matthew 28: to be disciples and to share the love of Jesus Christ with others as they also become disciples of the Risen Lord. A short list of statements of belief spells out what that mission looks like in practice. The community of faith is open and inclusive, a safe fellowship where everyone is welcomed and encouraged to grow. Nothing in life can separate the congregation from God's love as it has been experienced in Christ. Whatever path members are walking, Christ walks with them. They are called to be agents of change and justice in the world. The phrase that ties the welcome together is the church's motto: there is a place waiting for you, a home for your heart, at Woodstown Presbyterian Church.
Session, Deacons, and Trustees
WPC follows the classic Presbyterian form of governance. The Session, the church's ruling body of elders, meets at 7 PM on the fourth Wednesday of each month in the Conference Room. The Board of Deacons meets the same evening in the Coffee Spot. Elders are Barbara Dawson, Don Dietrich, Jeff Harvey, Ora Kokol, Lorraine Pfeffer (Clerk of Session), and G.W. Stilwell. Deacons are Candace Brunermer, Deborah Dietrich, Susan Gilmore, Barbara Maley (Moderator), and Cindy Stokolosa. Trustees, who care for the church's physical property, are Chris Champigny, Butch Darlington, Phyllis Harvey (President), Karen Keller, and Tim Pentz.
Sunday School After the Children's Message
Children are a regular part of Sunday morning at WPC. Following the Children's Message during worship, children ages 3 through fifth grade are invited to join a church leader for Sunday School, where they dig into God's Word through engaging activities designed to build their faith.
Bible Study and Small Groups
Bible study and small groups form a busy second layer of life at WPC. Living Life is a 13-week Bible study course led by Pastor Joon each spring and fall. The Full Cup Bible Study meets every Tuesday at 10 AM in the church library to discuss Scripture and how it applies to daily life; it is led by Ora Kokol. On Thursday evenings at 7 PM, Lorraine Pfeffer hosts a Ladies Life Group at her home in Woodstown. Teenagers in grades 6 through 12 gather on Sunday evenings at 6 PM in the church library for a Youth Gathering that includes praise, fellowship, and Bible study. Two other programs round out the pastoral care of the congregation: a Divorce Recovery Program, offered periodically, and Love for a Lifetime, a marriage enrichment option for individual couples who wish to enhance their relationship.
Mission Beyond Auburn Street
Mission and outreach are described by the church itself as a vital part of WPC's identity, and the work stretches well past the doors on Auburn Road. Each year through November, the congregation supports Operation Christmas Child, the Samaritan's Purse shoebox-gift program that brings gifts and the Good News of Jesus Christ to children in need around the world; donations are placed in a box in the Narthex. WPC also partners with the Tunnel to Tower Foundation, which honors the memory of Stephen Siller, who sacrificed his life on September 11, 2001, by running through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel with sixty pounds of gear on his back to reach the Twin Towers. The foundation provides mortgage-free homes for Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children, and builds specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. Donations are collected throughout the year, with Mission chairs Jeff Harvey and Lorraine Pfeffer overseeing the effort. Members also contribute food to a local food pantry.
Giving and Staying Connected
Giving at WPC is treated as an act of worship. Members may give in person during Sunday worship by cash or check, or online through a secure giving page, with the option to give by text to 73256. The congregation stays connected between Sundays through the Woodstownchurch Facebook page, where worship and fellowship updates appear, and through the church's YouTube channel, where each week's sermon is posted along with archive messages from prior series.