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About Johnsville United Methodist Church

This brief look into our history was adapted from previous church directories which Pastor Dwight L. Sheesley wrote during his time as pastor here in the 1990s.

Johnsville United Methodist Church is very proud of its heritage, since this church is located in the heart of Robert Strawbridge country, where Methodism was brought to America in the early 1760s. This warm and friendly congregation traces its roots back to 1842, when a Methodist Protestant Church was started here. Although Johnsville is a small rural town, from 1852 until 1940, it supported two very active Methodist congregations.

Since 1842 this church, and its predecessors, have provided an effective ministry to this friendly community. With the 1939 merger that took place in Methodism, the Johnsville Methodist Protestant and the Johnsville Methodist Episcopal congregations combined to become the Johnsville Methodist Church. They chose to use the former Methodist Protestant sanctuary as their regular place of worship. The former Methodist Episcopal Church, which was established in 1852, was retained for years and served a variety of functions, before being sold. Then in 1968, as a result of another merger, this church became known as the Johnsville United Methodist Church.

The Sesquicentennial celebration took place in 1992 to commemorate the history of the church as well as the promise to serve future generations. Throughout the years, Johnsville UMC has continued to offer a variety of opportunities for worship and is dedicated to meeting the needs of the local community in meaningful ways.

Shari McCourt

Shari McCourt

Pastor

Beginning July 1, 2019, Pastor Shari McCourt was appointed by Bishop La Trelle Easterling to serve Johnsville United Methodist Church along with St Pauls United Methodist Church of New Windosr. Pastor Shari earned a Master of Divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in 2004 and was ordained as an Elder in 2013. She has served as pastor of Union UMC in Baldwin, Fairview UMC in Jacksonville, Milford Mill UMC in Pikesville, and Stone Chapel UMC in New Windsor. She had the privilege of serving as Chaplain at Carroll Hospital Center in Westminster, MD. Pastor Shari has a passion for building relationships through listening to people’s sacred stories, pastoral care, serving the sacraments, missional outreach, and teaching.

Pastor Shari and her husband, Pat have three children: Nick, married to Izzy, Paul, married to Amanda, and Theresa, married to Ben. They have two granddaughters, Ester and Phoebe. They also have three other members of their family; their  cats,  Chloe, Sophie, and the man kitty, Simon.

Pastor Shari is so excited to be a part of the ministries here at Johnsville! It is her hope and prayer that we will be one family in Christ our Lord. If you have not been in worship in a while, come home! Come home, and be with your faith family. She is looking forward to getting to know you just as you are.