WELCOME!
Welcome to St. John’s Episcopal Church
Sonora, Texas
WELCOME is a word we use around St. John’s on a regular basis; one of the first things we do upon arrival every Sunday is to open the front doors of our church so that we can say it without words…WELCOME!
We WELCOME you to browse the pages of our website so that you can get to know us a little better. We have so much to tell you and to show you! St. John’s is eager to WELCOME you into our church family and into the community of Sonora.
STAFF
Rev. Susan E. Burnham+
Secretary – Glenda Barton
VESTRY
Francine Hardeman Sr. Warden
Janet Andrews Jr. Warden
Jacque Baker
Chelsea Blackbird
Edward Earwood
Cindy Fields
Word Hudson
Warren Wallace
Espy Whitehead
Our History
In 1889, Episcopal missionary H.A. Grantham described Sonora as “A new town consisting of a windmill and well…18 houses, two stores, a good school house, and six or eight tents.” But it was part of his pastoral territory, so Grantham held an Evening Prayer service and noted that he hoped to secure a church lot.
Two years later, the Devil’s River News reported that the Rev. Oscar Wilson, Episcopal Minister, had held a service in the school house and that Bishop Johnston would arrive in April. Services were to be held once every two months. Sometime before 1895, at least two children were baptized by Mr. Wilson. By 1897, the Rev. Arthur Rooney was holding services in the courthouse once a month. A lot was purchased from John Hagerlund for $100, and a 24ft. by 30ft. structure was put up at a cost of $700. Costs were met by dinners, ice cream socials, a grand concert, a shadow pantomime, and an amateur production called “The District Skule.”
From 1900 to 1925, the Rev. E. Mercer was in charge of the mission in Sonora. He conducted services on the first Sunday of each month, with Miss Myrtle Briant or Miss Velma Savell at the pump organ. Under the leadership of the Rev. Frederic Brasier, 1933 to 1937, the original wooden building was rocked and several memorial windows were installed. The remodeled building was dedicated by Bishop Capers in September 1937. Then, during the tenure of the Rev. Stanley Hauser, 1946-1951, the little church became a parish with Mr. Hauser its first rector. Mr. Hauser went on to become the second Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of West Texas. The original church building was eventually torn down and a new one constructed on the same site. It was dedicated in 1961.
It’s the people that make us who we are!
Youth Ministry
The children and youth of St. John’s are an integral part of our parish. It is very important that our young members feel that they have a vital role in the church. Children that are too young to acolyte collect the offertory each Sunday. Our children are trained and help serve
as acolytes when they are ready. Young people may join our youth group when they turn 10 and stay until they finish high school. Our youth group encompasses the children of St. John’s, First United Methodist Church, and we have several other youth from within the community that participate. Rev. Susan currently leads this group with volunteers from the community. We meet on Sunday’s from 12:00-1:00. We have lunch, a lesson, and of course play games. Many of these kids also participate in Fellowship of Christian Students at Sonora High School.
Outreach
St. John’s is active in several outreach programs for the community of Sonora and beyond.
The community Food Pantry in Sonora is our largest and most
encompassing outreach program that we participate in as a parish.
As a church we volunteer once a month at the local food pantry to either stock shelves, prepare food baskets or delivery of food baskets.
The Mission Endowment Fund is also a large piece of our outreach and it covers numerous programs in the area and globally. The purpose of the Mission Endowment Fund is to feed children.
Several parishioners sponsor 12 Ugandan children in their pursuit of education from the primary level to eventually college or university. We are very proud of the fact that we have educated two students all the way through university/college level.
Veterinarian/ Community Health to Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico is one mission that we
annually help sponsor and send a parishioner to help.
