A 190-Year Legacy on Warwick Road
Haddonfield United Methodist Church has stood on the corner of Warwick Road and Kings Highway in Haddonfield, New Jersey, for generations. The congregation traces its roots to the late 1700s, when Francis Asbury, one of the first Methodist bishops in America, preached three times in Haddonfield and inspired local Methodist societies to organize. Those early gatherings grew into the first Haddonfield Methodist Episcopal Church in 1829. Over the decades the building relocated four times within the borough to its present site. The previous structure was destroyed by fire in 1955, and the current Sanctuary was constructed in its place in 1957. With more than 190 years of continuous ministry, the church has become known for inspiring worship, an extraordinary music program, a strong missional heart, and some of the most active children's and youth programming in the region.
The congregation describes itself as "a diverse community united in the belief that all people are beloved children of God and are worthy of dignity, respect, and love," and operates under the motto "One Church, Different Worship Expressions, Many Opportunities for Study and Service." Its stated mission is to "embody the love of Christ and seek to be the church in a hurting world." A statement of welcome, drawn from the United Methodist Book of Resolutions, declares that "God's love for the world is an active and engaged love, a love seeking justice and liberty," and the church reads Jesus' command to "love one another" as applying to everyone, regardless of race, religion, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, political ideology, theological perspective, age, ability, or any other category. The Student Ministry and Floral Arts Guild are both affiliated with the Reconciling Ministries Network.
Four Weekly Services in Three Styles
Haddonfield UMC holds four weekly in-person services, each in its own setting and tone. A Casual Communion Worship takes place at 5 pm on Saturday evenings in Brown Chapel. On Sunday mornings, an 8 am Traditional service is held in Brown Chapel, followed at 9 am by a Modern service in Fellowship Hall and a 10:30 am Traditional service in the Sanctuary. The 9 am Modern service and the 10:30 am Traditional service are both livestreamed and remain available afterward on demand through the church's app and YouTube channel. A pre-recorded service is also released at 6 pm on Saturdays for online viewing. A phone line for live-stream audio is available at (856) 213-2015 during the Sunday morning services.
The Modern worship is led by Director of Modern Worship Jessica Thomas, whose team brings several years of music ministry experience from Illinois, Arizona, and Cape May, NJ. The Traditional services are accompanied by the Chancel Choir and the Holtz Handbell Choir under Organist and Choirmaster Matthew Smith, who holds a Master of Music in Organ Performance from Westminster Choir College and was awarded First Place at the Joan Lippincott Competition for Excellence in Organ Performance in 2017. Visitors are invited to "dress up or dress down"; the church has no formal dress code.
Each Sunday's message is also released as a Weekly Sermon Podcast every Saturday at 6 pm EST on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Pandora, and Amazon Music, or through the Haddonfield UMC mobile app. Printed Sermon Notes and Connect Guides, original small-group study guides tied to the Sunday Scripture and theme, are made available each week to support personal reflection and discussion.
A Heritage of Music
Music has long been one of the defining features of Haddonfield UMC. The Chancel Choir and Holtz Handbell Choir accompany the 10:30 am Traditional service, while a contemporary worship team leads the 9 am Modern service. Two children's choirs, the Cherub Choir for children in Pre-K4 through 1st grade and Joyful Hearts for 2nd through 5th grade, rehearse weekly and sing during special services including the Christmas Family Service.
The church is also home to the New Jersey MasterChorale, a 70-voice symphonic choir that originated as the HUMC Oratorio Choir in 1974 and now draws members from across the greater South Jersey and Philadelphia areas. The MasterChorale performs two major choral works each year, one in December and one in the spring, in collaboration with musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Friends and nationally renowned vocal soloists. Dr. Jason Vodicka serves as Artistic Director and Matthew Smith as rehearsal accompanist. Rehearsals are held on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:00 pm in the HUMC Music Suite, with occasional Saturday morning rehearsals, and annual auditions are open to singers in the region.
The church's organ draws organists and audiences from well beyond the congregation. The annual Mi Wha Lee Memorial Organ Recital brings internationally acclaimed organists to the Sanctuary; past performers have included Roger Sayer, the original organ soloist on Hans Zimmer's Oscar-nominated Interstellar soundtrack, on his Interstellar 10 tour.
Children and Students
Haddonfield UMC operates one of the most extensive children's ministry programs in the area under the leadership of Julie Robertson, Director of HUMC Kids.
- Children's Sunday School meets at 9 am for children ages 3 through 5th grade, with lessons, activities, and fellowship.
- Children's Worship runs from 10:30 to 11:30 am during the 10:30 am Traditional service, offering extended programming with lessons, science experiments, games, and fellowship.
- Child care is available from 9 to 11:30 am for children 2 years old and under.
- Your Saving Grace Child Care Night takes place on the first Friday of every month from 6 to 9 pm (October through June), offering low-cost evening childcare with a home-cooked dinner. Extra dates are added in December.
- A sensory-friendly Sunday School option, Faith Explorers, is offered during the 9 am Modern service in the Sensory Friendly Room on the third floor. It uses Universal Design for Learning, tactile activities, and a multi-sensory approach designed to be especially welcoming for children who benefit from flexible, hands-on learning. Children may stay for the full Sunday School hour or come and go as needed.
The Student Ministry is led by Pastor of Student and Mission Ministries Cricket Denton and is affiliated with the Reconciling Ministry Network. The Junior High and Senior High Youth Group meets on Sunday evenings from 6 to 8 pm, September through May. Starbucks Sunday School meets at 10:30 am on the same Sundays, gathering in the Welcome Center and walking to a nearby Starbucks for conversation and study. Each year students take part in a Summer Mission Journey, alternating between Give Kids the World Village in Kissimmee, Florida, and UM ARMY in Trucksville, Pennsylvania. Two annual retreats round out the year: MidWinter Advance, a high-energy weekend at Sandy Cove in North East, Maryland, and Ignite, a regional conference drawing some 2,000 youth to Wildwood.
The Early Childhood Center
In the same building, the church operates the Haddonfield United Methodist Early Childhood Center (HUMECC), a state-licensed preschool and childcare program approved by the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services for more than 65 years. Director Jennifer Douglas leads a team of degreed teachers certified in CPR and First Aid.
HUMECC offers programs for children ages 1 through 6: an Infant/Toddler program for 1- and 2-year-olds, a Preschool for ages 3 through 6 (including 3- and 4-year-old programs, Transitional Kindergarten, and Kindergarten Enrichment), and a Kindergarten Enrichment track. The curriculum uses language arts, math, social studies, science, music, and art, all delivered through age-appropriate hands-on experiences that aim to "develop each child to the fullest of their own potential in an atmosphere of love and trust, of acceptance and understanding." Extended-day options include Lunch Bunch (pickup at 1 pm) and Afternoon Enrichment (pickup at 2:50 pm) for ages 3 to 6. Camp Sea Shell, an eight-week summer camp for ages 1 through 6, runs in June and July with flexible scheduling of two, three, four, or five days per week. Two outdoor playgrounds and a large indoor play area give children room to explore year-round.
Small Groups and Spiritual Practices
Small groups are at the heart of how Haddonfield UMC forms disciples and builds community. The church offers several flavors of groups:
- Connect Groups meet weekly and use the church's original Connect Guide, built around each Sunday's Scripture and sermon theme.
- Grace Groups are smaller circles of four to eight people who share life and faith more deeply, encouraging one another through joys and challenges.
- Support Groups offer care and encouragement around specific life circumstances, including a Job Seekers Support Group (every other Thursday from 7:30 to 9 pm on Zoom, led by Jeanne Page-Soncrant) and a Bereavement Support Group (each fall for four to six weeks, led by Rev. Kathy Morris).
- Spiritual Practices include Lectio Divina on Tuesdays at 8 am (led by Rev. Diane Gilbert) and Centering Prayer on Thursdays at 8 am (led by Rev. Dr. Chris Heckert), both on Zoom. The Busy Moms Prayer Group meets Thursdays at 12:30 pm on Zoom, led by Sara Wegman.
Two adult Sunday morning classes meet at 9 am: the Koinonia Class, led by Rev. Bill McElwee, in Felten Parlor, and the Christian Round Table, led by Dennis Van Name, in Room 304. A Men's Thursday AM Bible Study gathers at 9 am with Shelly Williams and Rev. Bill McElwee. A Mom's Group with childcare meets on Sundays at 10:15 am in Room 305, led by Kimberly Heckert. United Women in Faith also hosts monthly Circles, monthly Luncheons (October through June) with guest speakers, and ongoing mission work.
Wednesday Night Dinner
Wednesday Night Dinners have become a weekly gathering around the table in Propert Café. Dinners begin at 5:30 pm and include an entrée, salad, vegetable, potatoes, dessert, and a beverage, with gluten-free options and a children's menu. Pricing is $15 for adults, $5 for children ages 4 to 12, and free for children under 3. Reservations are made by the Sunday prior. After dinner, programming continues with short-term Bible studies on books of the Bible, often held in coordination with the current sermon series.
Mission and Community Partners
Haddonfield UMC takes its mission to "be the church in a hurting world" seriously. The congregation supports a wide network of local and global partners:
- Cherry Hill Food Pantry: ongoing collection of nonperishable food, soap, coffee, laundry detergent, and other staples, plus an Amazon Wish List for direct shipments.
- A Future with Hope: a vital mission partner of the United Methodist Church of Greater New Jersey, working to heal communities through resident-led partnerships.
- Haddonfield Council of Churches: an ecumenical partnership with other local congregations.
- Interfaith Homeless Outreach Council (IHOC): coordinated outreach to people experiencing homelessness in Camden County.
- Interfaith Caregivers: rides and support for seniors to help them maintain independence.
- The Neighborhood Center in Camden, NJ: a community hub with gardens, kitchen, store, and pantry.
- Respond, Inc.: economic and family support in Camden City and Camden County.
- UrbanPromise: equipping Camden's children and young adults with academic, life, and leadership skills.
- Justice for Our Neighbors of the Delaware Valley (JFON): free or low-cost immigration legal services and advocacy.
- Building Up Los Cocos (Dominican Republic): a long-term mission partner. Over the past decade, HUMC teams have helped fund and build more than 100 new houses and a Community Center there, and the church has committed to sponsoring a Children's Library.
HUMC also supports the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) General Fund and sends short-term mission teams abroad. Senior High students have served in Costa Rica, Frakes, Kentucky (Henderson Settlement), Beverly, Kentucky (Red Bird Mission), and Eleuthera in the Bahamas (Bahamas Methodist Habitat). Volunteers are invited to register online for ongoing mission opportunities.
Caring Ministries
A whole network of Caring Ministries walks alongside the congregation through every season of life. The Pastoral Care team, led by the pastors, makes hospital and home visits and offers spiritual support during difficult times. The Visitation Team, made up of lay volunteers, regularly visits or calls homebound members. Stephen Ministry matches trained lay caregivers with people experiencing grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or other life crises. A Card Ministry creates hand-made cards to accompany pastoral outreach, and a Prayer Ministry keeps an active prayer list and chain. A monthly Communion offering is collected on the first Sunday of each month, with non-perishable items gathered in baskets during worship. On World Communion Sunday, volunteers deliver Communion to those unable to attend in person.
Floral Arts Guild
The Floral Arts Guild is a Christian fellowship that interprets the Gospel through flower arrangements and decorative arts. Members prepare weekly altar flowers for the Sanctuary and Brown Chapel, change paraments for each church season, and create elaborate displays for Easter and Christmas. The Guild supports families with flowers for baptisms, weddings, and funerals, hosts flower arranging classes each fall, and is affiliated with the Reconciling Ministries Network. Flower Memorial and Honoraria arrangements can be requested for the Sanctuary, Chapel, Welcome Center, Chapel Hallway, and Baptismal Font.
Serving Opportunities
There is a place for nearly every skill and interest in Haddonfield UMC's life:
- Production Team runs sound, livestream, graphics, and cameras for worship.
- Hospitality Team includes check-in, welcome, usher, café, and follow-up roles.
- HUMC Kids Team teaches Sunday School and Children's Worship and leads community events.
- Student Ministry Team mentors junior and senior high students.
- Music ministries span Children's Choirs, Worship Team, Chancel Choir, and Holtz Handbell Choir.
- Floral Arts Guild arranges flowers and decor for worship seasons.
- Bus Ministry drives the church bus on Sunday mornings to pick up members who need a ride.
Visiting Haddonfield UMC
The church building sits at 29 Warwick Road, Haddonfield, NJ 08033, at the corner of Warwick Road and Kings Highway. The main entrance is next to the cross and flame; visitors are greeted at the Welcome Center by the check-in team. Parking is available on site. There is no dress code. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and can be reached at (856) 429-0403 or office@haddonfieldumc.org.
A free mobile app, found by searching "Haddonfield UMC" in any app store, lets members livestream services, sign up for mission opportunities and classes, read Sermon Notes and Connect Guides, watch sermons, and give online. Daily Reflections are delivered by email each morning. The church offers a free Amplify Media account to anyone in the community using access code STKRZF, with thousands of hours of Christian video content for children, youth, and adults.
A Long-Standing Presence
For more than 190 years, Haddonfield United Methodist Church has been a steady presence in the borough, through changes in building, changes in worship style, and changes in the surrounding community. Today it offers a remarkably full life: four weekly services in three worship styles, an award-winning music program, one of the area's largest children's ministries, a long-running preschool, summer and overseas mission journeys, dozens of small groups, and a deep network of caring for those in every stage of life.