A Denver Landmark on Osceola Street
Highlands United Methodist Church has served north Denver for more than 125 years, and the building it calls home has been part of that story for roughly a century. Tucked into the Wolff Place Historic District, the church stands as a designated Denver Landmark, recognized for its 1920s Gothic Revival architecture. Vaulted ceilings, original stained glass windows, and a working pipe organ give the sanctuary a sense of weight and quiet that visitors notice the moment they step inside. At 3131 Osceola Street, the church sits at the edge of the Highlands neighborhood, a few blocks from the lively edge of LoHi, and within easy walking distance of homes, coffee shops, and the small businesses that have grown up around it.
What the building offers in history, the congregation has shaped in character. Pastor Stephanie Price and the members of HUMC describe themselves plainly: a community that believes love is love, that God loves every person, and that the church's job is to make room for all of them. The congregation formally adopted a statement of welcome and inclusivity in 2010, and it has shaped almost everything that happens inside the Gothic Revival walls since.
Sunday Mornings: Worship and Sunday School Together
Worship at Highlands gathers at 10:00 a.m. each Sunday and runs through 11:00 a.m., with the service livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook for those who cannot be there in person. The liturgy draws on the United Methodist tradition, but the people who plan it say they are also shaped by the world they are living in right now. Each service mixes traditional liturgy with global music, honest preaching, prayer, silence, and moments designed for reflection. Children are part of worship from the start, beginning with their families in the pews and then being invited forward for a brief time before heading off to Sunday School.
A few rhythms shape the month at HUMC. On the first Sunday of each month, the congregation celebrates Holy Communion. In the United Methodist Church, the table is open to all: members and non-members, the certain and the searching, anyone who wants to come forward. Remaining seated is just as welcome as coming up. On the third Sunday, a familiar figure makes an appearance: Dwayne the Donkey, a Highlands tradition that brings laughter and a reminder that faith includes wonder, play, and the simple goodness of creation.
There is no dress code. People come as they are and participate as they feel comfortable, with no pressure to say or do anything that does not feel authentic.
Children's Sunday School
Sunday School runs during worship each week for children of all ages, including infants. After their moment with the whole congregation, children move to classrooms designed for their age group, where trained volunteers lead them through Bible stories using creativity, play, conversation, and hands-on activities. The curriculum focuses on the big themes of faith: love, justice, courage, belonging, and care for one another. The goal is less about teaching facts than about nurturing curiosity, empathy, and a sense of God's presence in everyday life.
Children's Director Ally Packer oversees the program, with a team that includes Sunday School teacher Abby White and a circle of caring volunteers. Every child is welcome, whether the family attends regularly or is visiting for the first time, and each child's questions, personality, and way of learning are honored. Families can register through the church's online form and reach Ally at children@humcdenver.org.
A Congregation Built on Welcome
Inclusivity is not a side project at Highlands; it is the founding value of the community. The church's welcome statement names every age, race, ethnicity, culture, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental ability, and economic condition as belonging fully in the life and leadership of the congregation. The congregation adopted this statement in 2010 and says it seeks to live into it daily.
That commitment has shaped the church's public witness. In 2014, well before marriage equality became the law of the land, HUMC took out a full-page ad in Westword's Marriage Equality issue and another in OutFront Colorado declaring that all loving couples are welcome to be married in the sanctuary. That commitment remains at the heart of who the church is today, and it shapes both the weddings it hosts and the way the congregation talks about itself.
Membership is open to anyone who seeks to follow Jesus in the way of love. There is no requirement of perfect belief, and baptism can be arranged for those who want it as part of the membership journey. Most people join during Sunday worship, where the congregation promises to surround them with support and prayer.
Music, Art, and the Wide-Open Table
Music is a serious part of life at HUMC. Director of Music Jenna Clark, an operatic mezzo-soprano and choral conductor, leads a program that the church describes as heartfelt and high quality, drawing on classical training and a passion for choral singing. Pianist Larisse Hillstrom, a Brazilian music educator trained at the University of Brasília, brings a multilingual and creative energy to the keyboard. Choir rehearsals are a regular part of the church's week, and worship services often weave global music into the liturgy.
Baptism is celebrated during Sunday morning worship so the whole congregation can share in the vows of welcome and support. Pastor Stephanie is happy to walk families and individuals through the process, and the church joyfully baptizes people of all ages, including infants, children, youth, and adults. Membership is not required.
NinaBees Preschool and Summer Camps
The same building that holds the sanctuary is also home to NinaBees Early Learning Center, a play-based preschool that has been part of the church's ministry for years. NinaBees sits inside HUMC as a relationship-centered community where children, families, and educators can thrive. Director Shambré Sena-Wright leads the program, bringing experience as a founding director of another Denver early learning center and a deep commitment to play-based, inclusive, whole-child learning.
The preschool's kitchen is warmed by Julie McCullough, who makes mealtime both nourishing and a daily moment of care for the children. Custodian Isela Tlaxcalteco keeps the classrooms, the Garage, and the church spaces clean and welcoming for everyone who uses them.
When school lets out, HUMC Summer Camps fill the building and grounds with the laughter of children ages 5 to 10 (completed kindergarten). Camp Program Coordinator Fiona Morrison-Price leads a play-based summer experience rooted in the same values as the preschool: belonging, confidence, curiosity, and the freedom to be a child's full, authentic self. Camps run June through July in small groups split between ages 5 to 7 and 8 to 10, with weekly themes ranging from sewing and visual arts to space, STEAM, storymaking, holiday camp, and backyard adventures. The church also runs holiday and break camps throughout the year.
Opening the Doors: Weddings and Rentals
Because the sanctuary is a Denver Landmark with a pipe organ and original stained glass, it has become a sought-after setting for weddings of all kinds. HUMC is open to every couple, every faith, and no faith at all, and no membership is required. Pastor Stephanie is available to officiate, arranged separately from the venue package.
The church offers flat-rate wedding packages that include a one-hour rehearsal block, a facility coordinator, a custodian, and basic A/V. A Ceremony Only package covers three hours in the Sanctuary, while a Ceremony and Reception bundle adds five hours in the Fellowship Hall with kitchen access. The Garage, a standalone rental space across the street with its own casual energy, can be added for a flat full-day fee for a cocktail hour or pre-ceremony gathering. A livestream or recording add-on is available for those who want to share the day with people who cannot attend in person.
Outside of weddings, the church rents its spaces to the wider community at affordable hourly rates. The Sanctuary accommodates up to 200 guests and is suited for concerts, lectures, and large ceremonies. Fellowship Hall, with kitchen access, hosts up to 100 for receptions, parties, community meals, and workshops at $75 per hour. The Parlor, a warm and contained room seating up to 40, fits meetings, classes, tutoring, and small gatherings at $50 per hour. The Garage, a self-contained standalone building with its own entrance, Wi-Fi, TV, sound system, heating, and swamp cooler, hosts up to 50 indoors and 200 outdoors for parties, classes, and pop-ups at $60 per hour. All rentals include 30 minutes before and after the reserved time for setup and cleanup. Renters serving alcohol must provide proof of event insurance.
Accessibility as a Defining Value
The church takes accessibility seriously enough to publish a detailed guide. Five spots within the pews are reserved for wheelchairs, with overflow seating available in the Loft, which is not wheelchair accessible. The front row of the sanctuary is held for people who are hard of hearing, and microphones are used for sound amplification throughout. Three accessible parking spaces are available, including one street spot directly in front of the entrance on Osceola and two in the lot, with additional free two-hour street parking nearby.
All four accessible restrooms are single-stall and non-gendered, with two just down the hall from the entrance and two more in the Garage. An elevator serves each level of the building, and every space is wheelchair accessible except the Sanctuary Stage, the Loft, and the Quiet Room. Programming is presented in English; no translation services are available, but the church welcomes anyone who needs accommodation to get in touch.
Supporting the Work
Giving is described as always optional at HUMC, with the congregation's message plain: presence matters more than contribution. Financial gifts support worship, education, outreach, and the everyday work of keeping the church open and accessible. Giving is available online through the church's Breeze platform and through PayPal, with mail and in-person options as well. Donors who want to direct support specifically to NinaBees can take advantage of Colorado's Child Care Contribution Credit (5C), which can cut the after-tax cost of qualifying gifts in half.
The church also runs a small Bonfire store with apparel, water bottles, ornaments, and tote bags, with proceeds helping fund early-learning programs, neighborhood outreach, and inclusive ministry.
Getting in Touch
Anyone curious about Highlands UMC, whether for worship, Sunday School, preschool, summer camp, a wedding, a building rental, or simply a question, is invited to reach out. The office phone, 303-477-5857, is voicemail only. Email reaches the office at office@humcdenver.org, the pastor at pastor@humcdenver.org, the children's program at children@humcdenver.org, weddings at weddings@humcdenver.org, and rentals at rentals@humcdenver.org. The church is also active on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, where Sunday worship is livestreamed each week.