Saint Joseph’s on-the-Mountain
About
We embrace you with wide arms of love because we are all God’s children. No exceptions.
On November 1, 1965, Rev. John Franklin Machen, a retired Episcopal priest, “planted” the church here, with sixteen baptized persons and twenty-three church school members. The first service of St. Joseph’s Church as a recognized and organized congregation by the Diocese of Alabama was in 1971 and conducted by The Reverend Graham Glover. In 1972, Bishop Stough visited St. Joseph’s for the first confirmation.
The church grew and by 1974 the building was more or less what it is today. Originally worship took place in a log cabin and the church building has grown around it. The log cabin dated around 1870 had been the home of the Simmie Sherman Vernon family. Over the years mainly through building done by volunteers and without financial help from the Diocese, the building shaped into a church with construction materials including wood reclaimed from old buildings of the same vintage as the log cabin.
The original log house which remains served as a residential home,
Sared Garden & Lybrith
The sacred garden is a tranquil oasis which is welcome for all and is used by members, non-member residents, and town visitors alike. In addition to being a place for reflection, the garden provides an outdoor space for Holy Eucharist services, weddings, funerals and other events, such as our Live Nativity presentation.
Our beautiful labyrinth within the garden is where you can walk and have private moments with God.
May you find peace, inspiration, or whatever you seek as you walk our labyrinth.
Our Ministries
Kids and Students
- Sunday school every Sunday. Children are dismissed after processional.
- Every spring, St. Joseph’s- awards Scholarships to area students through the Vann/McCary Scholarship Fund.
- Summer Vacation Bible Camp
Food Pantry
Support of the other Community Groups
- Mentone Volunteer Fire Department
- DeSoto Rescue Squad
- Moon Lake Library
- Emergency Dental Program (ECW)
- Emergency assistance
- Health-related travel vouchers
- Rector’s Discretionary Fund Individual assistance with utility bills, propane in cold weather.
- Emergency Food and Shelter Program (grant monies)
- Cursillo
- Education for Ministry (EFM) via zoom
- Episcopal Church Women (ECW)
- Education for Ministry (EFM) via zoom
What We Believe
The Episcopal Church is a Christian church that is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. We Episcopalians believe in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe in following the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection saved the world.
We have a legacy of inclusion, aspiring to tell and exemplify God’s love for every human being; women and men serve as bishops, priests, and deacons in our church. Laypeople and clergy cooperate as leaders at all levels of our church. Leadership is a gift from God, and can be expressed by all people in our church, regardless of sexual identity or orientation.
We believe that God loves you – no exceptions.
Our Clergy and Staff
The Rev. Keith Cook, Interim Rector
Parish Administrator
Rebecca Henderson
Senior Warden
Susan VanApeldoorn
Sunday School Teacher
Margie Cook
Our Mission, Vision, and Core Values
Mission
We are a parish in the Episcopal Church of the Diocese of Alabama and member of the worldwide Anglican Communion. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is a Christian community with open doors and invisible walls. Enlivened by God’s love, we experience: Life-sustaining worship Life- long learning Life-empowering service.
Vision
Our worship of God in the beauty of holiness inspires our hearts and minds to reflect the truth of Christ through love and service.
Core Values
What does the Episcopal Church believe?
We believe unity is found in our worship of the risen Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God and contain all things necessary to salvation. We believe that the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed are sufficient statements of the Christian Faith. We believe that the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist, ordained by Christ himself, are the primary ways in which we are drawn together in communion with God and with each other.
In particular, what is St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Selma all about?
We are a parish in the Episcopal Church of the Diocese of Alabama and member of the worldwide Anglican Communion. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is a Christian community with open doors and invisible walls. Enlivened by God’s love, we experience: Life-sustaining worship Life- long learning Life-empowering service.
Our Invitation
Central to Christian life at St. Joseph’s is following in Christ’s call to worship him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24, BCP, 833) through the scripturally based Book of Common Prayer Liturgy. St. Joseph’s offers the invitation for all to come, to feel accepted and welcomed, and to be spiritually fed by the Risen Christ in love, peace, courage, and hope in the following ways.
Sunday Morning with Holy Communion, 11 a.m.
As a primarily Rite II parish, our worship services are Christ-centered with an openness to innovation in prayer and through music, which includes the Episcopal hymnal, Alleluiah III, and Taize. (Worshippers have the choice of attending worship in person or via Zoom.)
Special Services
The seasons of the church year are followed with corresponding worship services. Additionally, as the calendar allows, we invite all to a Celtic service, Taize, Stations of the Cross, and Blessing of the Animals.
Contact Us
Mailing Address
PO Box 161 Mentone, AL 35984
Contact Info
259-634-4476
office@stjom.church
21145 Scenic Highway Mentone, AL 35984