Sunday Mornings at 2424 Webb Gin House Road
Cannon United Methodist Church gathers in Snellville, Georgia, at 2424 Webb Gin House Road, where Sunday School begins at 9:30 a.m. and a single worship service is held at 11 a.m. The service takes place in the Sanctuary and is broadcast live on the Cannon Church YouTube channel, with the broadcast archived for later viewing. Tim Emmett, the Senior Pastor, frames the work of the church as helping one another take their next steps with Jesus so that they may flourish through faith in him.
Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month from January through November, with a Christmas Eve service taking the place of communion in December. Offering baskets are passed during worship, and offering boxes are placed in the Narthex and the Connector for those who prefer to give by cash or check. Online giving is also available through Cannon's giving portal.
A Faith Rooted in the United Methodist Tradition
Cannon's core convictions are shared with the wider Christian tradition through the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed, both of which bear witness to the triune God who is a community of love. The church also affirms the United Methodist Articles of Religion, which address the sufficiency of Scripture, the nature of the Church, the sacraments of baptism and communion, original sin, salvation through justification and sanctification, good works, and civil government.
In more personal terms, the church teaches that the gospel, the good news about Jesus, engages both heart and life, transforming relationships with others and with God. Cannon values the connection, the partnerships shared with other local United Methodist churches, the annual conference, and the wider work of the denomination, as part of following Christ through the world as it is toward the world as it will be.
What to Expect on Sunday
A first-time visitor will find a service that blends traditional liturgy with a full music program. Adult choir, praise band, orchestra, and handbell choir all share leadership, and the service is family-friendly. People dress both formally and casually; dresses, suits, ties, graphic t-shirts, and jeans all feel at home. Worship runs through the 11 a.m. hour and may run slightly longer when communion is celebrated.
The Children's Entrance is on the Ronald Reagan side of the building. Parents who will be taking children to Sunday School or to Cannon Kids programming can park there, walk through the Fellowship Hall, drop off nursery-age children, and climb the stairs to the Sanctuary. The same route is reversed for pick-up. The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cannon Kids: A Secure Place for the Youngest Members
Children are welcomed at Cannon and given their own space to grow. The Cannon Kids program offers Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and an 11 a.m. hour of large-group worship and small-group lesson time. Children in kindergarten and under go directly to their classroom after check-in, while 1st through 5th graders begin worship with their parents for the first fifteen to twenty minutes before moving downstairs for the remainder of the service. A Children's Lesson is available downstairs for any family that prefers to step out of the Sanctuary entirely.
Check-in uses a security system in which each child receives a printed name tag and the parent receives a matching tag printed with a unique code. If a child needs a parent during the service, the last three digits of that code appear on screens in the adult worship areas. All Cannon Kids team members and staff are background-checked, certified in CPR, and have completed the church's Safe Sanctuaries training.
Nursery care is provided for infants six weeks through toddlers approximately three years old, with a separate infant room and toddler room. PreK and kindergarten classes gather in Room 123, and 1st through 5th grade classes meet in John Wesley on the first floor. The ministry operates with at least two adults in every classroom at all times, and the building is a NUT-Free Zone to protect children with allergies. Cannon Kids is led by Ambermarie Schweikhardt, Director of Children's Ministry.
The Cannon Church Preschool
The Cannon Church Preschool has long been a ministry of the church, serving children from age one through PreK-5 with classes running from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays. The preschool is led by Dr. Mollita Jackson, with Heather Gallagher as assistant director. The teaching staff includes about a dozen lead and assistant teachers who together bring more than 250 years of combined early-childhood experience, many of them with tenure of more than ten years at Cannon.
The curriculum blends the Handwriting Without Tears and Get Set for School literacy program, weekly chapel, weekly music, and holiday celebrations. Family development events include parent education programs, family picnics, special speakers, and visits from community helpers such as a puppet show, the fire department, and a petting zoo. The preschool has been certified by the United Methodist Preschool Association of the North Georgia Conference as a Program of Excellence for Young Children.
Summer camp is offered in June and July, with weekly sessions running Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Campers bring their own lunch and enjoy painting, story telling, water days on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and outdoor play. The program is open to children ages three through five who are potty-trained. Registration opens to current families in the spring.
Cannon Academy: An After-School Reading Mission
Cannon Academy is an after-school literacy program that pairs 1st through 4th grade students who read below grade level with a Literacy Specialist in groups of no more than six. The program operates out of the Cannon campus and uses what the academy calls its Studio Learning Method, pairing structured literacy with creative, hands-on experiences that make learning meaningful and fun.
The program runs on a 4x4 Learning Block calendar, with each block lasting four weeks. Throughout the school year, classes meet Monday through Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuition is $800 per block, with a one-time $150 literacy assessment fee that covers the initial individualized learning plan. Need-based scholarships are available thanks to donor support.
Volunteers can serve as reading partners, help with hospitality and student check-in, organize classroom materials, assist with community outreach, support special events, or lend administrative help. The academy also hires part-time Literacy Specialists, including certified elementary teachers, reading specialists, reading interventionists, and retired educators, at $25 per hour. Inquiries can be sent to cannonacademy.info, with separate addresses for admissions, family, director, and partner matters.
Cannon Youth for Middle and High Schoolers
The youth ministry, directed by Katie Gray, is built around a simple mission: Love God, Love People, Impact the World. Middle and high school students meet on Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Youth Center for an hour called 9:31, a relaxed gathering for conversation about God, faith, and daily life. On Sunday evenings, students gather at 4 p.m. for Youth Praise Band and at 5 p.m. for Youth Group, which combines games, worship, a message, and small-group time until 7 p.m.
Throughout the year the ministry offers retreats, mission trips, and special events. Students and parents can subscribe to the youth e-newsletter, follow @cannonyouth on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for text alerts through the Remind distribution list @2424youth by texting 81010.
A Music Ministry for Every Skill Level
The music ministry is led by Dr. Will Whittaker and welcomes musicians of every experience level. Four ensembles share the work of leading and enhancing worship:
- Worship Choir leads worship at the 11 a.m. service each Sunday and rehearses on Wednesdays from 7 to 8:15 p.m. during the program year.
- Praise Band is a rotating group of singers, guitarists, bassists, drummers, keyboardists, and other instrumentalists who rehearse on Mondays at 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
- Orchestra brings together instrumentalists of all skill levels, rehearses on Mondays at 6:30 p.m., and plays for worship one Sunday a month, with extra services during Christmas and Easter.
- Halo Handbell Choir is open to ringers of every level, rehearses on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. in the choir room, and plays seasonally, with extra performances during Christmas and Lent.
Sunday School and Small-Group Life
Sunday School classes meet at 9:30 a.m. and are coordinated by Jan Dwyer. Five adult classes span a wide range of ages and stages of life.
- Crossfires, in the Conference Room B213, is a mixed-gender class primarily for adults ages 50 to 75 that pairs Bible-based studies with practical, modern-life application. Leader: Anne Bender.
- Faith Ties, in Room B304, is a mixed group of singles and couples that operates under three simple rules: no politics, no preparation required, and no pressure to be on time. Leader: Bob Hubbard.
- Outlaws, in Room B302, focuses on studies that help members grow as Christ followers. Leader: Rose Purdy.
- Koinonia, in Room B313, is open to adults ages 35 to 90. The name itself means Christian love and fellowship, and the class uses short-term studies by authors such as Adam Hamilton and Andy Stanley. Contacts: Bob Cline and Diane Cline.
- Modern Families, in Room B305, connects families with young children through Bible study and social activities. Contacts: Laurel Tucker and Belle Baker.
Beyond Sunday School, Cannon hosts two longstanding United Methodist groups. The United Methodist Men's ministry works to bring men of the church and the community into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through service, Bible study, mentoring, and fundraising. The United Methodist Women, known as Sarah's Circle, is a mission-minded group that meets once a month at the church or in a member's home and also gathers for a monthly Friday lunch.
Stephen Ministry, Prayer Shawls, and Prayer Bearers
Three lay-led ministries offer care to the congregation and the wider community. Stephen Ministry pairs trained laypeople with individuals going through difficult seasons such as illness, grief, loneliness, mild depression, or other times of stress, providing confidential one-on-one listening and support. Those in need of a Stephen Minister, and those interested in being trained as one, can call Jan Dwyer at the church office.
The Prayer Shawl ministry gathers on the second Monday of each month to knit and crochet shawls that are given to cancer patients and others who are seriously ill. No special skills are required, and anyone with a willingness to contribute time or yarn is welcome. Prayer Bearers are small, hand-crafted bears sent as tangible reminders that others are praying for someone in a difficult season; each one is accompanied by prayer and care. Diane Cline coordinates the Prayer Bearer ministry.
Prayer requests can be submitted through the church's prayer page and are forwarded to the prayer team and pastoral staff.
Reaching Wider: Community Engagement
Cannon's community engagement is built around the theme Pray, Serve, Give, and the church highlights one local partner each month for a special offering on Communion Sundays. Long-running partnerships include:
- Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry in Grayson, which distributes food, clothing, and monetary support to neighbors in the Snellville-Grayson area. Volunteers help sort food, pack boxes, and stock shelves on Mondays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m. to noon, Wednesdays and Fridays 8:30 a.m. to noon, and Saturdays 10 a.m. to noon.
- Family Promise Gwinnett, a community-based response that brings congregations, volunteers, and social service agencies together to help homeless families in Gwinnett County regain housing and independence.
- Gather at The Table Community Dinner, held every third Saturday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in partnership with Lawrenceville First UMC and the Southeast Gwinnett Co-op. The dinner-church model pairs a shared meal, a Jesus story, and table fellowship with opportunities to volunteer or provide dessert.
- Book Bags for DFCS, a back-to-school drive to fill backpacks with supplies for children in foster care and protective services in Gwinnett County.
- Gwin Oaks Elementary School, where volunteers help teachers prepare for each new school year.
The church also maintains a Community Organization Facility Use Agreement that allows local groups to use Cannon's facilities, with policies and procedures overseen by the Board of Trustees.
Behind the Scenes: Multimedia and Worship Volunteers
Worship at Cannon is supported by a large network of volunteers who serve before, during, and after the service. The Multimedia team, directed by Miles Henry, runs audio, lighting, cameras, and video production for the 11 a.m. service, youth worship, and children's ministry, both in the Sanctuary and behind the scenes. Roles include Worship Service Sound Operator, Camera Operator, Video Technical Director, and ProPresenter Preparation.
Jan Dwyer also coordinates the worship volunteer team, which includes greeters, ushers, and communion servers who assist during worship. Volunteers are trained through the Safe Sanctuaries policy and the broader set of facilities-use policies.
Pastors and Staff
The Cannon staff is led by Tim Emmett, Senior Pastor. Directors include Angie Ball (Communications), Jan Dwyer (Discipleship), Katie Gray (Youth Ministry), Miles Henry (Worship Media), Thea Hernandez (Operations), Dr. Mollita Jackson (Preschool Ministries), Ambermarie Schweikhardt (Children's Ministry), and Dr. Will Whittaker (Music Ministry). Heather Gallagher serves as Assistant Director of the Preschool.
The Cannon Endowment Fund
For members and friends who wish to give beyond regular tithes, the Cannon Endowment Fund invests charitable gifts through the North Georgia United Methodist Foundation. Trustees appointed by Cannon's Administrative Council oversee the investments. The fund allows the principal of each gift to grow with inflation while a small portion, typically three to five percent of investment returns each year, is spent on capital improvements, missions, and other priorities aligned with the church's strategic plan. Past proceeds have funded directional signage and landscaping for the campus.
Gifts to the endowment may be made as cash, bequests through wills and trusts, real estate, retirement account or life insurance beneficiaries, charitable remainder trusts, or other planned giving vehicles. The Cannon main office at 2424 Webb Gin House Road is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.