About Us
St. John’s Episcopal Church was founded in 1874 on the corner of 18th & Corning in Parsons, KS. St. John’s is an historic church and parish within the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas and a member of the Episcopal Church in the United States, which is a vital participant in the worldwide Anglican Communion.
As Christians, the Holy Trinity represents a fundamental doctrine of our beliefs. Using the creed used since the Council of Nicea in 325 AD, we confirm our faith each week in our belief in one God and in one Lord Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit.
As Episcopalians, we apply Scripture, Tradition and Reason to help us define why we do what we do in worship and daily life.
We offer thanksgiving to God and celebrate the Holy Eucharist each Sunday at 9:30. A nursery and Sunday school are offered for children of all ages during the worship service and is located in Fox Hall, adjacent to the church. Following worship, all are invited for coffee hour and refreshments in Fox Hall.
We use the 1979 Book of Common Prayer in our worship each week, which traces its roots back to the original English Book of Common Prayer, first published in 1549. We utilize Rite II for all church seasons except Lent, when Rite I is used. Our worship service is informal (come as you are!) yet rich in tradition and ceremony. Incense and Holy Water are used on high feast days such as Easter, Christmas, and Pentecost.
Our church’s celestial authority resides in the Holy Trinity, and we also seek the guidance of our patron, St. John, the ever blessed Virgin Mary, and all the Saints in our daily lives. Our church’s human authority is bestowed upon an Episcopate of bishops, who hold a continuous link to St. Peter and the original apostles. Our current Bishop, The Right Revered Dean Wolfe, is the Ninth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas. We are served locally by our Vicar, The Reverend Sharon Billman, who has served in her role with St. John’s since 2004. We are locally governed by a team of seven elected parishioners known as a Vestry, who meet monthly to discuss important matters facing St. John’s.
We are called to live our lives as Christians each day, not just during Sunday worship. We are eager participants in our community and we seek to serve the needs of the city of Parsons, and in so doing, help it find Christ. We host regular events with our local community college, LCC, and we offer an annual Blessing of the Animals, Shrove Tuesday, and support and contributions to a number of local charities and organizations.
We’re so glad you found our website. Please come visit us in person. We’re the church with the red doors and we look forward to sharing our many blessings with you.
For additional information regarding the worldwide Anglican Communion, please click here.
For additional information regarding the Episcopal Church of the United States, please click here.
For additional information regarding the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, please click here.
— Interested in becoming an Episcopalian? Please click here to find out more
—Interesting in visiting us at St. John’s? Please click here to find out more
Who was St. John?
St. John was the son of Zebedee and the brother of James. He was called to be an Apostle by Jesus in the first year of His public ministry. He became the “beloved disciple” and the only one of the Twelve who did not forsake the Savior in the hour of His Passion.
In addition to St. John serving as our patron Saint, we have adopted his symbol of the chalice & serpent. According to church tradition, the enemies of St. John attempted to kill him by putting poison into the sacramental chalice. John made the sign of the cross over the chalice, and the poison wine turned into a serpent and slithered away, and the apostle was left unharmed.
