What ministries and groups are available at Heritage United Methodist Church?

Updated

Heritage United Methodist Church in Clearwater, Florida offers three main ministry tracks for different ages and interests: Children's Ministry, Student Ministry, and Small Groups. Children's Ministry is built for young kids with classes and summer camps; Student Ministry centers on teens with youth-led worship and grade-level small groups; Small Groups are open to everyone, whether you're new to church or looking to go deeper in Scripture. If you're trying to decide where you or your family would fit, the descriptions below should make that clear.

Children's Ministry

This is the entry point for younger children. According to the church, it's designed as "a fun and immersive introduction to the Bible."

What it includes:

  • Engaging classes
  • Summer camps

The stated goal is to teach kids lessons that carry them through life, not just fill a Sunday hour. If you have a young child and want a structured, age-appropriate introduction to Scripture, this is the ministry to start with.

Student Ministry

Student Ministry serves teens and is organized around four features named on the site:

  • Compassionate leadership
  • Youth-led worship
  • Grade-level small groups
  • Broader growth beyond faith alone

The church describes teens as being "at the forefront" of this ministry, so the programming is meant to be led and shaped by students rather than delivered to them. Grade-level small groups mean your teen would be grouped with peers at the same stage, which matters if you're weighing whether they'll actually connect with the people in the room.

Small Groups

Small Groups are the option for adults and for anyone who wants connection outside of Sunday morning. The church frames them around three purposes:

  • Staying connected outside of Sunday mornings
  • Studying the Word
  • Supporting and encouraging those around us

The site explicitly says there are groups "for everyone," including people who are new to church and people who want to dig deeper. That's the key distinction: you don't need a background in the Bible to join one, and you don't need to be a longtime member either.

How to choose

If you are... Start here
A parent of a young child Children's Ministry
A parent of a teen Student Ministry
An adult new to church Small Groups
An adult wanting deeper study Small Groups

Practical notes before you go

  • Location: 2680 Landmark Drive, Clearwater, Florida 33761
  • Sunday services: 9 AM Modern Worship and 11 AM Traditional Worship — the ministry you're interested in likely connects to one of these gatherings, so plan around a service time.
  • Planning a visit: The church has a "Plan Your Visit" page, which is the most direct way to get details before showing up.
  • Staying informed: There's a subscribe option for updates, useful if you want to hear about camps, group start dates, or seasonal events.

One thing worth knowing: the church also runs seasonal all-ages events, such as the Pumpkin Patch starting October 10th, which supports Lighthouse Youth Ministries. If you're not ready to commit to a group, an event like that is a low-pressure way to see the community first.