Service
Sharing our faith through our works.
As United Methodists we believe strongly in sharing our faith through our works. St. John has served the needs of the world and, most especially its neighbors, since its establishment on Greene Street more than 200 years ago. Today we serve our community and our world through many avenues. We focus much of our mission on our four immediate neighbors which we refer to as our “Compass Points.”
The Jessye Norman School of the Arts
The Jessye Norman School of the Arts immediately across Greene Street. This is an after-school program and summer program designed to develop and nurture the artistic and creative talents of students. The Mission of the Jessye Norman School of the Arts is to develop students to become creative, caring, visionary, responsible citizens through the transformative power of the arts. The broad-ranged fine arts program challenges students academically, integrates technology and lays the foundation for extraordinary life experiences. You can learn more about the Jessye Norman School on their website.
We support JNSA in various ways throughout the year, from members serving on their board, volunteers helping in classes and at summer camp programs or in their garden, and providing snacks and school supplies.
St. John Towers
St. John Towers, a Wesley Woods retirement community next to St. John Church. St. John Towers emphasizes wellness, socialization, education, and personal and spiritual fulfillment making the retirement experience healthy and fulfilling for older adults of all income levels, races, and faiths. As a not-for-profit provider, Wesley Woods provides affordable residential and health care services to older adults. Wesley Woods is different from profit-based retirement communities because they serve people rather than the bottom line. You can learn more about St. John Towers on their website (link to http://www.wesleywoods.org/sjt/augusta-st-john-towers.html)
We support the Towers by providing materials and teachers for their New Beginnings Sunday School class, providing meals at different times of the year, our Trunk-or-Treat for the Towers residents, and recruiting volunteers for various service projects.
The St. John Mead House
The St. John Mead House, next door on 8th Street
Our St. John Clothes Closet and Downtown Cooperative Church Ministries Food Pantry operate out of St. John’s Mead House property right next door.
The Clothes Closet is a long-standing ministry to anyone in need of clothing. Our volunteers organize clothing for display and distribution and staff the facility on days of operation. Donations of gently used clothes for Adults and children (ages birth-2 years only at this time) are always welcome, as are larger plastic or paper bags, and travel sized toiletry items. Towels and linen sets, even mis-matched sets, in good condition are also welcome donations.
Downtown Cooperative Church Ministries (DCCM) Food Pantry houses their offices and food pantry storage in the Mead House. Volunteers distribute food every month at the St. John parking lot. Volunteers are needed to help pick up food donations, to pack bags for distribution, and then to staff the Saturday morning distributions. This is a great family friendly service opportunity! Visit their website here.
Wesley Foundation at the Foundry
Wesley Foundation is the college campus ministry of the UMC. Augusta Wesley exists to enable students to encounter God and support them as disciples of Jesus Christ. The Foundry, at the corner of 8th and Greene streets, serves the students of Augusta University.
We currently support the Wesley Foundation by providing meals for their Monday night worship. Volunteers are needed regularly to bring food and to help serve and clean up. We also help with other special events as requested.
Other ministries and organizations we support with our time, talents, gifts, and service:
- Salvation Army Angel Tree Child Christmas Gifts
- Augusta Urban Ministries
- The Hale House Foundation and Valor Station
- Augusta Rescue Mission
- Missionaries in Nicaragua
- The Kenya Project
“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”
– John Wesley, found of the Methodist movement