Just west of Renaissance High School and across the street from Clarkston Elementary, Clarkston United Methodist Church rises from a broad parking lot on Waldon Road. For nearly two centuries the congregation has anchored the spiritual life of this Oakland County township, and today its red-brick complex houses two Sunday worship services, a thriving music ministry, classrooms full of children, and a food pantry that opens once a month for neighbors in need. The church's five core values, committed to Christ, growing in faith, transformational mission, life-changing generosity, and inclusion for all, are less slogans than a working description of how this congregation lives out its calling in Clarkston and far beyond.
A Faith Journey Since 1841
The congregation's roots reach back to 1841, when the Clarkston Methodist Episcopal Church was chartered in what was then the rural countryside of Michigan. For more than fifty years the worshiping community met in a frame building at Church and Buffalo. After fire destroyed that early structure and several neighboring buildings, a new brick edifice went up at Church and Buffalo in 1897 and served the congregation for more than sixty years. The building still stands in the village today as a private home, a quiet reminder of the church's long history on the hill above Main Street.
By the middle of the twentieth century the church had become an established presence in Clarkston, rooted in one of the community's great historic buildings. In 1957 a congregational member donated a seven-acre site down the hill on Waldon Road where the current building now stands. The decision to leave the long-loved location was not made casually. Members had baptized, mourned, married, and celebrated across generations in the brick building at Church and Buffalo, and leaving it required a clear sense of greater purpose. As one chronicler of those years wrote, when those spiritual parents decided to come down the hill they were literally taking a huge step of faith, with no certainty that God would bless their action, that ministry would flourish, or that others would come to share in the work. The faithfulness of God quickly became evident by the vitality of ministry of the congregation.
The move in the early 1960s launched a period of growth. New buildings went up on the Waldon Road site, programs multiplied, and the church took its place as one of the largest United Methodist congregations in the area. Today the seven-acre campus includes a sanctuary, fellowship hall, north wing of Sunday School rooms, a nursery near the north entrance, music rooms, and the Community Center that hosts many of the church's adult formation gatherings and family events. A current list of pastors traces ministry leadership from Rev. Frank A. Cozadd through Rev. Richard L. Dake's long tenure (2004-2021) to today's clergy team, led since 2021 by Senior Pastor Rev. Amy E. Mayo-Moyle.
Informal Traditional Worship on Sundays
Worship is the weekly center of life at Clarkston UMC, and the congregation gathers every Sunday for two services at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Both services follow what the church calls an informal traditional style: a blend that keeps the familiar architecture of Methodist worship while making room for everyday life. Each service opens with congregational singing of traditional hymns accompanied by organ and piano, followed by prayers, scripture readings, and a sermon designed to connect faith with the questions people are actually asking during the week. Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month, with all worshipers welcome at the table regardless of church membership. Holy Communion is open to everyone.
Music is woven into every part of worship. The chancel choir and bell choir share leadership with the congregation, and the church's pipe organ anchors the hymns. From the chancel loft, instrumentalists and singers carry the people's praise in arrangements that range from classic hymn settings to anthems prepared for particular Sundays. The atmosphere is described as both reverent and relaxed, a place where jeans and a sweater sit comfortably alongside suits and dresses, and where children are welcome in the pews as well as in their own classrooms.
Each service typically lasts about one hour. For those unable to attend in person, both services are livestreamed from the sanctuary and archived going back many years. A sermon podcast carries recent messages to Apple Podcasts and other platforms so listeners can catch up on the road or during the week.
Sacraments, Weddings, and Memorials
Baptism is welcomed at every age. The United Methodist Church recognizes baptisms from other Christian traditions and does not re-baptize people, so an infant, a child, a teenager, or an adult making their own profession of faith can all be received into the body of Christ through the waters of baptism. Baptisms are typically scheduled on Sundays other than the first Sunday of each month, when communion is celebrated. Families reserve seating in the front pews and arrive fifteen to twenty minutes before the service. While membership is not required, the church encourages at least one parent to be a member or in the process of becoming a member when a child is baptized.
Weddings are a central ministry at the church. The sanctuary, with traditional architecture, stained glass, and warm wood accents, can accommodate up to 375 guests, making it a flexible space for both intimate and large ceremonies. Couples work with the officiating pastor through pre-marital counseling and ceremony planning, and the Director of Music and Worship helps them shape the musical parts of the day. Photographs are welcome, with the simple request that photographers and videographers respect the sacred character of the ceremony. Couples from outside the congregation are warmly received.
Funerals and memorial services are equally important. The pastoral team walks alongside families from the first phone call through the weeks and months that follow. A funeral with the body present, a memorial service without the body present, or a simple graveside ceremony can all be arranged, with scripture readings, music, photographs, and personal tributes chosen to honor the life that has been lived. Grief support and continued pastoral care remain part of the church's ministry long after the day of the service itself.
Music That Fills the Sanctuary
Music ministry is woven through every Sunday and most weekday rehearsal schedules in the church. Three ensembles anchor the work, and all three are open to newcomers with no auditions required for most groups. The Chancel Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM and sings most Sundays, with previous experience helpful but not necessary. Singers are invited to come to a couple of rehearsals to try it out before committing.
Handbells ring out through the Jubilation Ringers, which rehearses on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM. Experienced ringers step right into this intermediate to advanced ensemble, which aims to perform once a month in worship and occasionally travels to concerts and festivals. For adults interested in a lighter entry into instrumental music, Chime-In gathers on Wednesday afternoons from 1:00 to 2:00 PM to learn handchimes in a setting that emphasizes fun and fellowship. The music ministry also reaches into the children's wing, where a Cherub Choir introduces the youngest singers to music and worship.
Beyond the regular ensembles, the music ministry sponsors a Cantata and Coffee morning for adults and youth in sixth grade and up, an opportunity to hear and rehearse the Christmas Cantata music in advance of the season. The music staff also partners with couples preparing for weddings and with families planning memorial services, selecting hymns, anthems, and instrumental pieces that match the moment. Sara Hazen-Robinson serves as Director of Music and Worship, and Judy Mellen leads the handbell program.
Children and Family Ministries
Children are a visible part of Sunday life at Clarkston UMC. Loving nursery care is offered on a drop-in basis during both worship services for infants and toddlers up to age three. During the school year, Sunday School classes meet at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM for children from age four through fifth grade, with age-appropriate Bible lessons, crafts, games, and creative worship. A summer schedule continues the 11:00 AM class only, with the Angels in Training service program and between-service children's activities paused during the summer months.
Angels in Training is a weekly service opportunity for elementary-age children, a way to learn what it means to give back through hands-on projects that make a difference in the community. Each summer, Vacation Bible School fills a week with Bible stories, music, crafts, games, and fun that children look forward to all year. Throughout the year, special family events add rhythm to the children's calendar: a Parents Picnic at the Parsonage in early autumn, a Trunk-or-Treat celebration in late October, Milestone Ministry gatherings that walk families through sacraments like communion, and Half Day Happenings, a parent-cooperative care on school half days that returns several times during the school year. A Parents Night Out Program offers rotating evening childcare for parents who want a night to themselves. Children's ministry staff follow United Methodist Safe Sanctuaries policies and undergo background checks and regular training on child protection.
Rev. Christy Miller White, who serves as Pastor of Family Ministries, leads the children's ministry team along with Karen Girard, Nursery Coordinator and Cherub Choir Director. Families can register their children online through the church's Realm Connect platform so that staff are aware of allergies, special needs, and the best ways to support each child.
Middle School and High School Youth
Youth ministry at Clarkston UMC spans sixth through twelfth grade, with two distinct communities shaped for each stage. The middle school ministry offers fellowship and faith exploration designed specifically for the challenges and energy of those years. The high school ministry gathers on Sunday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 PM for worship, small groups, games, and time together, with mission trips during summer and school breaks that have taken students to communities across the country. Each spring semester, ninth graders participate in Confirmation, a journey of classes, mentorship, and a confirmation service where students make their own profession of faith and learn what it means to be Methodist.
Rev. Jeremy Dean, Associate Pastor, oversees the high school ministry, while a Middle School Leadership Team coordinates the work for younger students. Parents are part of the picture too, with weekly emails, parent meetings, and social media updates keeping families connected to what their students are experiencing. The congregation also underwrites a scholarship fund that helps make mission trips possible for students who might not otherwise be able to go. Parents are encouraged to volunteer, chaperone, and provide meals for retreats and events.
Adults on the Journey Together
Adult life at Clarkston UMC is intentionally varied. On Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM, between the two worship services, adults gather for Sunday Morning Classes that explore books of the Bible, faith applications, and topics of interest. The format is relaxed and discussion-friendly, and several run concurrently to fit different learning styles.
Small groups, called Life Groups, meet throughout the week in homes and at the church for fellowship, Bible study, and prayer. The 50 & Over group meets once a month on Fridays for lunch, conversation, guest programs, and service projects in a lively community for men and women who want to stay connected and engaged. Pub Theology gathers men of all ages on Thursday evenings at the Oakland Sportsmens Club for fellowship, Bible conversation, and friendship over drinks and food. Women's ministry offers Bible studies, retreats, prayer groups, and social events across the year, with opportunities to deepen faith while building lasting relationships. Pastor Amy's Book Club meets in the parlor for monthly discussions of titles like Joyful Anyway by Kate Bowler.
Throughout the year, short courses and topical studies bring the wider community into the church's life. Recent and upcoming offerings have included Christianity and World Religions, an eight-week Faith and Immigration Justice program through Just Faith Ministries, a Conversations on Race Workshop with a soup supper, a Difficult Conversations seminar, an Islam: Faith and Culture evening with guest speakers from The Muslim Unity Center, a Wesleyan study of John Wesley's theology, and a Social Justice Book Club that meets on the first Monday of each month from October through June. American Sign Language classes for beginners and next-step learners meet on Monday evenings during the fall. A guided Walk the Labyrinth with Rev. John Schneider meets Monday mornings in the Community Center.
Adults of all ages are also invited into service. Pastor Jeremy Dean oversees men's ministry; Rev. Michele Rousseau oversees care ministries; and the church welcomes new Life Groups whenever someone has an idea for a study, a fellowship, or a service project that would help people connect and grow.
Prayer and Pastoral Care
Prayer is woven into every part of the church's life. A prayer request can be sent online, texted to the prayer line, called in to the church office, or written on a prayer card on Sunday morning. Each week the prayer team lifts up the joys and concerns of the congregation, including hospitalizations, surgeries, births, deaths, military personnel, illnesses, and answered prayers. Those who wish to pray alongside the prayer team can sign up for the Prayer Concern and Celebration email, which goes out weekly. The prayer ministry is coordinated through Rev. Michele Rousseau.
Pastoral care extends beyond prayer. The clergy team offers one-on-one spiritual guidance and counseling, and trained volunteers on the Care Team visit people in their homes, in hospitals, and in care facilities, particularly those who are sick, elderly, or unable to attend services. A Meals Ministry delivers food during illness, after surgery, and following the birth of a child. Transportation help is available through NOTA, North Oakland Transportation Assistance, which provides rides for individuals and families in need. For those experiencing grief, the church offers individual pastoral care, referrals to local grief support groups, and a lending library of books and resources. Memorial services are planned in close conversation with each family to honor the person who has died.
Serving Beyond the Walls
Service to neighbors near and far runs through everything the church does. The client-choice Food Pantry serves hundreds of families a year, with shoppers choosing their own nonperishable items, paper goods, fresh produce, dairy, bakery items, and frozen meats. The pantry is open one Monday each month by appointment, serving residents within the Clarkston Community School District boundaries. Donations are accepted during office hours and on Sunday mornings, and a current needs board lists canned meat, pasta sauce, cereal, peanut butter, laundry detergent, dish soap, paper towels, toilet paper, and shampoo.
Throughout the year, established programs meet recurring needs. NOAH Lunches pack and deliver nutritious lunches four times a year to NOAH at Central Project in Detroit, where more than 1,200 meals are served annually to neighbors experiencing homelessness. The Spring Break Lunch program bridges the gap when school cafeterias close, packing lunches for children in the Clarkston area throughout the week. Each summer, Back to School Backpacks collects supplies and fills backpacks for local children who might otherwise start the year without essential tools. The Plarn Project meets weekly in Fellowship Hall to turn plastic grocery bags into durable sleeping mats for people experiencing homelessness in Pontiac. Sleeping Bags for the Homeless distributes warm coats, boots, blankets, and sleeping bags to those in need in Flint during Michigan's coldest months.
Beyond the region, the church supports ministries through Mission Possible, an annual evening of dinner, fellowship, generosity, and a silent auction that raises funds for mission partners working locally and around the world. Supported ministries include Helping Hearts, Helping Hands in Honduras, Disaster Relief At Work (DRAW), Mobility Worldwide mobility carts, United Methodist Special Sundays, and missionaries serving in Michigan, Nepal, Liberia, and beyond. The Missions Outreach Team also organizes adult mission trips, including an upcoming journey to Costa Rica with Praying Pelican Missions, and youth mission trips during summer and school breaks. Volunteers for any of these programs (greeters, ushers, AV techs, food pantry helpers, cookie bakers) can sign up through the church's Realm Connect system.
Accessibility for All
Clarkston UMC has worked for many years to make its building, its services, and its online presence accessible to people of all abilities. All entrances feature wide ramps, handrails, and automatic doors, with accessible parking spaces near each entrance and elevators to every level of the building. ADA-compliant restrooms are available on the main floor near the sanctuary, and wheelchair-friendly seating is reserved throughout the sanctuary itself. A hearing loop assistive listening system is in place for those with compatible hearing aids, with assistive listening devices available at the welcome desk before each service. Large-print bulletins, hymnals, and Bibles are available on request.
Online, the church works toward WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards, with semantic HTML, ARIA attributes, keyboard navigation with visible focus states, WCAG AA-compliant color contrast, and compatibility with NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, and other screen readers. The church's statement of welcome is foundational: every person is a child of God, and every person is invited to know God's grace, regardless of age, race, gender, ethnic or cultural background, national origin, economic condition, marital status, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or any other means people use to categorize God's people. In the words of the congregation's inclusion statement, they can love alike even though they may not think alike, and they seek to welcome all people into Christian community and relationship with Jesus Christ.
Giving and Legacy
Generous giving is one of the church's five core values, and the church offers a wide range of ways for members and friends to support its ministry. Online giving is available through the church's Realm Connect platform, and text giving lets worshipers send a gift by texting CLARKSTONGIVE to 73256 followed by the gift amount. Memorial gifts honor loved ones while supporting the church's ongoing ministries, and an Endowment Fund held at the United Methodist Foundation of Michigan keeps legacy gifts invested in perpetuity, with earnings used for ministry and mission beyond the annual operating budget. Legacy gifts can be made through cash, appreciated securities, bequests by will, retirement plan beneficiary designations, life insurance beneficiary designations, real estate, personal property, and life income plans such as charitable remainder trusts. An estimate of giving form is available online for those considering a pledge, along with printable forms for electronic giving and step charts to help guide annual giving. Giving is offered online, and offline through the church office during weekday hours.
Joining the Community
Anyone curious about membership can attend a New Member Class, where Pastors Amy and Michele walk through what it means to be United Methodist, what the church believes, and how to get connected. The next class is offered several times each year. The church's building on Waldon Road is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Friday from 9:00 AM to noon. Worshipers enter through the sanctuary entrance facing Waldon Road, where greeters welcome them, point families toward the nursery and Sunday School rooms, and answer questions. The parking lot is large, with designated visitor parking near the sanctuary and accessible parking near all entrances. Front Porch Coffee, the church's own coffee shop, serves coffee, lattes, hot chocolate, and iced lemonade from 9:30 to 11:00 AM between services, with beans from Honcho in Downtown Clarkston.
The congregation's five core values remain the most reliable guide to its character: committed to Christ, growing in faith, transformational mission, life-changing generosity, and inclusion for all. Whether a person has spent a lifetime in the United Methodist Church or is walking through for the first time, the church's welcome is the same: come as you are, find a place at the table, and discover what love has to do with it.
Worship services are livestreamed on Sundays, giving is available online, and a sermon archive carries messages from recent weeks and years. Clarkston United Methodist Church is a community United Methodists dedicated to serving Clarkston and beyond.