I’m New
Learn about us
What We’re About
We welcome you to join us on a Sunday morning or come serve the community in outreach. Our desire is to be an authentic community of believers who are learning to love Jesus and love one another more each day. Our hope is to build a community of disciples that serves Christ and others using the gifts and talents God has given us.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What Time are Your Services?
Service times are as follows.
The Gathering Praise Service:
9:30 am – 10:15 am (Sunday)
Between Services:
10:15 am – 11:15 am (Sunday)
Traditional Worship Service:
11:15 am – 12:00 Noon (Sunday)
What does “Traditional” mean?
Can I partake in the service and take communion?
Of course! We as Methodist’s believe that the church and the Lord’s table is not meant solely for believers or church members. Our doors are open for anyone that is curious about starting or having a closer relationship with God.
Do I have to get dressed up?
Not at all! We hope you will feel welcome to come as you are, in what makes you feel ready to worship. You can come rock anything from a 3-piece suit to shorts and flipflops! We just ask that you do wear clothes of some sort and not just your birthday suit. We have many that come right after working out and others stop in while walking their dogs. (Animals allowed with some conditions of containment, such as a leash.)
Are there things to do for my kids?
Yes! We have a children’s program that is coming alive and growing under our new Pastor of Youth and Outreach Ministries, Pastor Travis Taylor. With four of his own kids and a load of experience with kids, we have fun whether there are 2, 20, or more kids from preschool through high school which show up.
Do I have to be "saved"?
No. The United Methodist Church believes that each person has a relationship with God and our journey with God is individualized and unique. We believe that God’s grace is for everyone, both believers and non-believers alike. This is not a country club for members only….it is for anyone who wants to learn more about God and come to have a better relationship with God, and we will be here to celebrate every time you take another step!
Anything to eat?
Yes! In-between our Praise Band service called The Gathering, and the Traditional Service, we have refreshments and snacks in our chapel or courtyard, depending on the weather. We invite everyone to grab a bite and socialize as we discuss the message or the events in our daily lives.
About Us
Our Staff
Rev. Dawn Worden
Sr. Pastor
Rev. Travis Taylor
Assistant Pastor
Erin Couillard
Asst to the Pastor
Colin Boyd
AV/IT/Logistics
Carol Paton
Worship Director
Robin Riley
Financial Director
Barry Stevens
Organist/Pianist/ Accompanist
Brandt Heisner
Leader of The Gathering praise band
Sr. Pastor
Rev. Dawn Worden, Esq.
Pastor Dawn is a native of Rochester, New York, where she lived until going to the Univ. of Richmond, Virginia. She received her B.A. in Economics and Spanish with a minor in English. Following college, Dawn went to the Univ. of Memphis to receive her Juris Doctor in Law, then her licenses to practice in the states of GA and WA. After almost 2 decades of practicing mostly in the area of real estate law,
Dawn felt God’s calling to go to seminary. She graduated from Emory’s Candler School of Theology in 2011, with an Masters of Divinity. She has served the Florida Annual Conference of the UMC since then, serving churches in Miami, Miami Beach, and two in St. Petersburg. Pastor Dawn will celebrate 30 years of marriage upon her and Doug Day’s next anniversary, has two sons ages 25 and 20, and loves her third, “furry son” (a puppy), named Isaiah. She is an avid world traveler, speaks fluent Spanish from having been an exchange student in Spain twice, and loves anything on the water or in the mountains, reading, golfing, and being with her extended family.
Her favorite part of ministry is being the Florida Conference’s liaison between Methodist churches, schools, and universities here in Florida and in Argentina, where she takes groups to find friends and common work for God every year. She is always looking for the next people to put together for doing the needed, fun, and rewarding work of the Lord in our communities!
Assitant Pastor
Rev. Travis Taylor
Pastor Travis grew up in Greenwood, Indiana, where he served as a campus pastor in the Indiana UM Conference before emigrating to the St. Petersburg area. He holds a B. S. in Biblical Studies of Leadership and Ministry from Cincinnati Christian University and is currently completing courses at MTSO, (Methodist Theological School of Ohio). He and his wife, Sarah were married in 2000, have four children (Emilia, Evelyn, Lawson, and Samuel) and a giant Cane Corso named Georgia.
Travis enjoys photography, jazz music, beat generation literature, spending time with his wife, and watching his children discover new things. He has a heart for missions; his passion is Christ and believes God has equipped the local church with everything they need to make Jesus known in the world.
Administrative Assistant
Erin Couillard
Erin has been with the church since 2015 and has lived in St. Petersburg all her life. A graduate of St. Petersburg College, Erin enjoys traveling, learning about new cultures, and the culinary arts.
Treasurer/Bookkeeper
Robin Riley
Facilities Caretaker
Jim Calderon
Jim serves Christ Church by maintaining the facilities and taking on projects to bring the church campus into the future. He can be found every Sunday with a smile on his face assisting anyone who needs it.
Audiovisual/ Information Technology
Colin Boyd
Colin has been involved with live event production for over 20 years. A native Floridian, Colin attended the University of Central Florida before becoming the Lighting Director of a performance venue in Orlando. He moved to St. Petersburg in 2018 with his wife and son.
Director of Music
Carol Paton
Carol has served as Director of Music Ministries for the past 50 years in Hawaii, California, Florida, and Italy. Carol received her BS in Music Education from the University of West Florida after completing most of her undergraduate courses at Florida State University. Carol and her husband, Al, returned to St. Petersburg and to Christ Methodist Church where they were married in 1968.
Pipe Organist
Barry Stevens
Barry has been with Christ Church for over 34 years. He has served as organist for several St. Petersburg churches over the past 58 years. He retired from St Pete College in 2016, after serving 30 years as Staff Accompanist for the Choral and Vocal Department. Originally from Massachusetts, he has been a Florida resident since 1955. He attended St. Petersburg Junior College (now SPC), and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from University of South Florida.
Gathering Band Leader
Brandt Heisner
Brandt Heisner grew up in El Dorado, Arkansas, where his father was a church music director. Brandt has sung alone and in groups for most of his life and has played guitar and bass in worship bands since 2003. He served as worship leader for Living Hope Community Church for three years and has helped to lead worship in several ministries since that time. He also plays bass with the Vanilla Beans at Celebrate Recovery meetings a couple of times a month. Brandt and his wife Lisa have been playing in the Gathering band at Christ Church for about five years. Their son Ian is also a musician and plays at the Gathering on occasion.
Gathering Band Members:
Acoustic Guitar and Vocals – Brandt Heisner
Keyboards and Vocals – Lisa Heisner
Electric Guitar – Bart Hanchey
Bass Guitar – Anne VanAtta
Drums – Nick Nolan
About the United Methodist Church
WHAT IS THE UMC?
“Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors.”
This promise of the United Methodist Church is meant to make faith approachable by all. We want to welcome everyone to learn and share as a community in support of our mission.
The mission of the United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
United Methodists share a common heritage with all Christians. According to our foundational statement of beliefs in The Book of Discipline, we share the following basic affirmations in common with all Christian communities:
Our Christian Beliefs: God
God, who is one, is revealed in three distinct persons.
Our Christian Beliefs: Jesus
We believe in the mystery of salvation through Jesus Christ. God became human in Jesus of Nazareth; and his life, death and resurrection demonstrate God’s redeeming love.
Our Christian Beliefs: The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is God’s present activity in our midst. When we sense God’s leading, God’s challenge, or God’s support or comfort, it’s the Holy Spirit at work.
Our Christian Beliefs: Human Beings
Genesis 1:27 asserts that we’ve been made in the image of the Creator. Like God we have the capacity to love and care, to communicate, and to create.
Our Christian Beliefs: The Church
The church is the body of Christ, an extension of Christ’s life and ministry in the world today.
Our Christian Beliefs: The Bible
We believe that the Bible is the primary authority for our faith and practice. Read More
Our Christian Beliefs: God’s Reign
The kingdom or reign of God is both a present reality and future hope.
Service Times
When We Get Together
The Gathering Praise Service:
9:30am – 10:15am
(Sunday)
Between Services:
10:15am – 11:15am
(Sunday)
Traditional Workship Services:
11:15am – 12:00 Noon
(Sunday)
FAQ
Got Questions?
If you’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! Check out our FAQ page to see all the most commonly asked questions. And if that still doesn’t answer your question, please feel free to send us a message from our contact page.
Find us in the community
Church Location
Christ United Methodist Church
Free parking in lot across from main entrance on 1st Ave N, Sunday till 2pm