We mean it.

No matter where you live, what your background is, what’s in your bank account, what your family looks like, or how close you feel to God - The Gathering Place is a place for you.

For too long, church has emphasized “getting it right” before becoming part of a church community: know these things, act this way, give this much money, THEN you can join us.

That’s not The Gathering Place.

God is already all-in on you, and so are we. We warmly welcome you to find your place at your on pace. And along the way, make some friendships, have fun, and experience Jesus’ love for you again and again and again.

Holy Communion is an outward sign of grace. It’s a way to not just remember, but experience the abundant love and grace of Jesus. We celebrate communion every Sunday.

The Gathering Place is a United Methodist Community, which means we practice an open table. Whether or not you’ve been baptized, are officially a member, or even know a lot about this Jesus guy, you are welcome to The Table. No exceptions. God loves you period.

To be inclusive of our friends in recovery, our communion is non-alcoholic.

We encourage kids to participate in our worship gatherings! You may even see kids reading scripture, leading worship, or helping serve communion in our service.

Our Kids Ministry meets every Sunday. We offer a structured spiritual formation time for preschool and elementary-aged children during the message. Kids are encouraged to return to receive communion at the end of the service.

If you are interested in helping build up our Kids Team, email marmistead@firstunited.org. All volunteers must pass a background screening and go through a Child Protection course. Safety is our #1 priority when it comes to our kids.

We've learned that folks are eager to explore their faith outside the walls of a traditional church setting. That's why we started Kayaks and Communion, so folks can encounter the love of God and neighbor in different ways!

We offer quarterly Kayaks & Communion Sundays at Tomoka Outpost. We gather for get-to-know you questions, a few songs, a short message/discussion, and then fun on the water. Folks usually stick around after for food and drinks.

Additionally, we worship by going on a nature trail, having a campfire by the water or being at the beach, or hanging out at local parks! Celebrating God’s creation is a great way to connect to your faith!

We know that church can be painful or even traumatizing for some people. We strive to show a different way of being a faith community where all are welcomed and loved.

Before worship starts, you can grab a cup of coffee and hang out in the atrium.

Folks dress comfortably at The Gathering Place — some people wear collared shirts and dresses, some wear jeans and t-shirts. You belong here, not because of what you wear but because of who you are: God’s beloved.

We praise God through song and music. Our worship band rotates from week to week, so you may hear an acoustic set, a full band, or any combination of singers and instruments. We sing modern songs, traditional hymns set to folk or contemporary sound, and even play some original music.

We praise God through hearing the Word. Our pastor preaches from the Bible every Sunday, so we are growing our faith through the reading of Scripture, the hearing of the message, but the sermon doesn’t end when the pastor says “amen.” After the message we have Real Talk, where you get to respond or listen to others around you.

We praise God through ordinary, simple practices like eating bread and drinking juice (what we call communion) and feeling cleansed by water (what we call baptism).

The Gathering Place affirms and celebrates you! We strive to be a diverse, inclusive church that welcomes all people to experience the love of God.

In 2024, the United Methodist Church removed its ban against queer clergy and same-sex marriage. The UMC is a place for ALL. The Gathering Place has committed to being a safe, affirming place for the LGBTQ+ community since our inception in 2021.

If you have been hurt, silenced, or kicked out by the church, we are so sorry and grieve with you. As you seek to heal and rebuild a faith that fits, The Gathering Place is with you every step of the way.

You and anyone you love is not only welcome here, but you belong here. God loves you and so do we!