About Us

Who We Are
About St John’s United Methodist Church

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The St. John’s United Methodist Church is a friendly congregation of Christians who enjoy a traditional style worship service. Biblically based messages make up the worship experience each Sunday.

Fellowship is also an integral part of our congregational life and there is a family-fellowship each Sunday following the worship service in the Fellowship Hall.

St. John’s UMC is conveniently located one block west of the Veteran Administration complex in Tucson on Veteran’s Boulevard. The church can be easily reached from either I-10 by taking the 6th Avenue south or the Ajo Way east from I-19.

The history of St. John’s UMC goes back to the early 1920’s with worship taking place in a building close to where the present sanctuary stands.  St. John’s provided a worship experience for patients and families being treated at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital.  At that time, the spiritual leadership came from Methodist Chaplains associated with the Veteran’s Administration center.

St. John’s UMC was first organized as a Community Church on January 12th, 1930. It had a membership of 12 with Rev. C. Holland as its pastor. Rev. Holland and the congregation initiated the construction of the existing sanctuary which was dedicated in 1931. In that same year the church became affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

St. John’s UMC is involved in a variety of outreach opportunities including a food pantry, second-hand clothing closet, and greeting card ministry ministry. More information concerning these outreach ministries can be found in the “Ministries” Section of this Website.
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Rev. Ivan L Schwenn
Pastor

Reverend Schwenn is an Ordained Elder of the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church. His pastoral experience has covered a period of over 50 years, having served churches in South Dakota, Iowa, Kentucky, Ohio and Arizona. He also served in an associate capacity to the Union Church in San Jose, Costa Rica during 1974-1975. From 1975-1988 he was active with the Honduran Holiness Church were he trained and assisted pastors in their ministries.

Rev. Schwenn has pastored St. John’s United Methodist Church in Tucson since July 1st 2011.
Academically, Rev. Schwenn studied two years at Vennard College in Iowa before transferring to Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, where he completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and Religion. He obtained a Master’s of Divinity Degree from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1973.

Pastor Schwenn has been married to Lil Monturiol Schwenn for 58 years. Lil is a high school graduate of Colegio Methodista in San Jose, Costa Rica and also has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Vennard College, University of Iowa.

The Schwenn’s have two children; Debra Lee, who is in her 29th year of teaching at High Achievement Christian School in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico and Dale Anthony, who is a military veteran having served over a period of 13 years with tours of duty in Kosovo and Afghanistan.

REFLECTIONS OF THE PASTOR

“Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” [Luke 1:36-37 (NKJV)]. 

I confess that at times I am a ‘practical atheist’. By this I mean, I know God can do everything, but I doubt that He is willing and prepared to do the miraculous in my life. I justify my unbelief by telling myself that this is my humility coming front and center.

I took the time to look up verses that say the same truth as verse 37. In Genesis 18:14 God said to Sarah and Abraham, “Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Here was another instance where we had a couple who had gone through life unable to reproduce. Both these couples were privileged to experience reproduction supernaturally when they were well beyond the age for them to do it naturally.

The angel Gabriel spoke these similar words to Mary, “For no word from God will ever fail.” [Luke 1:37]. This promise was given as confirmation to the supernatural conception God was planning for her.

In Job 42:2 says, “I know that You can do all things; no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” Job affirms that he knows that God can do all things, that nothing of his will can be frustrated.

Jesus also affirms this relentless power of faith when he said, “…With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” [Matthew 19:26].

It is noteworthy that with the exception of the statement of Jesus, all of these promises came to individuals who either facing tremendous problems or had endured unfulfilled experiences in their lives. It would appear that God specifically designs difficulties for our lives so that He can prove his faithfulness when all else has failed.
Of paramount importance is the repeated truth that God’s promises to us can be trusted; that we can build our faith life upon those words that can never fail us.

Like with Elizabeth and Mary, sometimes God’s will in our lives brings questions that defy reason. If God was planning to give Elizabeth a son supernaturally, why did He have to force them to endure a long life of lack?

God wants to make us aware that when our resources are depleted, He still has power to sustain and fulfill our lives. Does your heart cling to this truth. Does God promises produce faith and steadfastness in your life?

“Lord, help us to learn to lean more fully upon Your promises. Amen.”

—written by Rev. Ivan L. Schwenn, Pastor, St. John’s UM Church in Tucson, AZ-Posted 08/14/2023—

Frequently Asked Questions
 


What time are your services?
Our worship services are held every Sunday at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Each service lasts approximately 90 minutes and features a blend of contemporary and traditional music, prayer, and a sermon. We also offer a mid-week service on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM.
 

Do you have programs for children and youth?
Absolutely! We offer a range of programs for children and youth of all ages. Our Sunday School meets during the 11:00 AM service, and our Youth Group gathers every Friday evening for fellowship, worship, and fun activities. We're passionate about supporting our younger members in their faith journey.
 

How can I get involved in community service?
We have numerous community service initiatives that you can get involved with, ranging from local food drives to international mission trips. To get started, visit our website's 'Serve' section or contact our Community Outreach Coordinator for more information.
 

Do I need to be a member to attend services or events?
Not at all! Everyone is welcome to attend our services and community events. Whether you're exploring faith for the first time or looking for a new church home, we invite you to join us.
 

How can I request prayer or counseling services?
We offer prayer and counseling services to anyone in need. You can submit a prayer request through our website or schedule a counseling session with one of our pastoral staff members by contacting the church office. We are here to support you in any way we can.
 

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