Sunday Mornings in a Renovated Sanctuary
Sunday worship begins at 10:00 AM in the recently renovated sanctuary. Music opens the service, led by a band that plays guitars, drums, and bass and weaves contemporary songs together with traditional hymns. A Kids' Spotlight brings children forward early in the service before they head to Children's Church, and the morning continues with prayer, an engaging message, and a brief benediction. There is time after the service to grab coffee and connect with others.
Visitors are welcome to wear whatever makes them comfortable. Dress at Riviera runs casual to business casual. The service is livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube each week for those who cannot be there in person, and the weekly bulletin is shared online so anyone can follow the Scripture readings, songs, and announcements from home.
The sanctuary sits at the heart of a campus that also houses the Riviera Day School preschool, Scout Troop 261, two weekly Al-Anon groups, and the church's offices, classrooms, and gathering spaces where small groups meet throughout the week.
Family Sundays and the Open Table
On the first Sunday of each month, Riviera celebrates Family Sunday. Children stay in worship with their families rather than heading out to Children's Church, activity bags are available in the sanctuary, and the morning includes Communion together as a family. The communion table at Riviera is open to all who wish to participate, reflecting a welcome that crosses ages, backgrounds, and stages of faith.
Riviera Kids
Riviera Kids is the children's ministry at Riviera, with programming for both nursery-age children and elementary students.
Children's Church serves kids in kindergarten through fifth grade and meets from 10:30 to 11:00 AM in the Children's Room, immediately following the Kids' Spotlight during worship. The hour is led by volunteers who are screened and background checked and includes crafts, games, and friendship time. Children's Church does not meet on the first Sunday of each month so children can experience Family Sunday and Communion with their parents.
The Nursery is available every Sunday morning beginning at 10:00 AM for children younger than kindergarten age. The room is staffed by caring volunteers and provides a safe, welcoming environment for the youngest worshippers. Children of all ages are always welcome in the sanctuary, with joyful noises included.
The church runs a Children and Youth Protection Policy (CYPP) program. Every adult who works with minors completes annual training that includes a PowerPoint presentation, a written policy document, and a YouTube video, and then submits a verification form. The program is part of the church's commitment to maintaining a safe environment for every child and youth who comes through the doors. Vacation Bible School is another annual opportunity to serve.
Riviera Youth
Riviera Youth welcomes students in sixth through twelfth grade. The main meeting time is Sunday nights from 5:30 to 7:30 PM in the Youth Room and Fellowship Hall, where the group gathers for food, games, and Bible study. Friends are always welcome, and newcomers are invited to come as they are.
Special events and outings round out the year, including family fun afternoons, occasional High School Coffee Chats at a local coffee shop, and Parents' Night Out evenings that help support the youth ministry. Youth meals are sponsored by church families. Each week typically needs enough food for 15 to 20 students and leaders, with past examples including pizza, hamburgers and hot dogs, mac and cheese, chicken tenders, and taco bars.
Volunteers with the youth ministry complete the same CYPP training as those working with younger children.
Small Groups Through the Week
Riviera's adult small groups meet throughout the week and provide a way for church members and newcomers to deepen friendships, study Scripture, and pray together. Most groups run through the school year and pause for the summer, though several continue year-round.
- Sunday morning Bible study, led by Pastor Debbie, meets at 11:15 AM in the Fellowship Hall immediately after worship. The group is informal and come-as-you-are, with open discussion and conversation that welcomes anyone who walks in.
- Monday Night Study, led by Reggie Shouse, gathers at 6:30 PM in the conference room. The group works through thoughtful, book-based studies that typically run six to eight weeks, with time for discussion, reflection, and connection.
- Women's Group, led by Ann Orchard, meets Mondays from 12:00 to 2:00 PM in the conference room. The group follows the Pinellas County School Board calendar, pausing when school is out, and Zoom participation is available for those who cannot attend in person. Current studies draw from RightNow Media resources.
- Thursday Night Bible Study and Faith Formation, organized by David Holton, meets at 6:30 PM in the conference room, with Google Meet available for remote participants. The group engages in a general study of Scripture along with brief discussions of spiritual practices and disciplines.
- Riviera Book Club, led by Paula Miklos, meets the second Saturday of each month at 8:00 AM in the RDS Office hallway. The club reads across genres, including faith-based and devotional works, historical fiction, and current-interest titles, and is open to women of all ages.
- Men's Bible Study gathers on the second and fourth Saturdays at 9:00 AM. The group explores Scripture, shares insights, and supports one another in faith, with a relaxed and welcoming tone open to men of every level of biblical experience.
Scouting on Campus
Riviera's campus hosts one of the more visible Scouting ministries in north St. Petersburg, with five troops meeting on-site:
- Brownies (Grades 2-3), Troop 61432, meets on the second and fourth Fridays from 4:30 to 6:00 PM.
- Junior Girl Scouts (Grades 4-5), Troop 61425, meets on the first and third Wednesdays from 5:45 to 7:00 PM.
- Brownies (Grade 3), Troop 61430, meets on the first and third Fridays from 5:00 to 5:00 PM.
- Cub Scouts (Grades K-5), Pack 261, meets on Tuesdays at 6:00 PM.
- Scouting America (girls and boys, ages 11-17), Troop 261, meets on Wednesdays at 6:00 PM.
The troops draw members from across the surrounding neighborhoods, and the church provides meeting space as part of its commitment to serving families with school-age children.
Riviera Day School
Riviera Day School has shared the campus for decades and serves as one of the church's most visible community ministries. The school is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and employs degreed teachers.
The preschool serves children ages two through five throughout the school year. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. The office can be reached at 727-525-8866 or office@rivieradayschool.org.
Loving Neighbors Beyond the Walls
Riviera lives out its call to love neighbors through several ongoing partnerships with local ministries:
- Cuba Ministry - Riviera supports a partner church in Cuba by funding the salaries of a pastor and staff, praying regularly for one another, and sending a team each year to visit and strengthen the relationship.
- Pack-a-Sack - This ministry provides weekend food for children who receive free school lunches and might otherwise go hungry over the weekend. Riviera volunteers pack 30 grocery bags each week for students at Northshore Elementary.
- Wesley Food Pantry - Riviera hosts ongoing collections of canned stews, canned meats, canned vegetables, canned fruit, pasta and pasta sauce, and rice for Wesley UMC's food pantry. Several small groups also volunteer at the food bank and thrift store.
- Foster Family Ministry - Each Christmas season, Riviera collects gifts for foster children in Pinellas County. The church also hosts foster care orientation events.
- Al-Anon - Two weekly Al-Anon groups meet on campus and provide support for those affected by a loved one's addiction. A women's group meets Wednesdays at 7:30 PM and a mixed group meets Fridays at 8:00 PM.
The Pumpkin Patch Tradition
The Riviera Pumpkin Patch has become a fall fixture in north St. Petersburg. Each year the patch opens in early October and runs through Halloween night, with hours of 12:00 to 8:00 PM Sunday through Friday and 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Saturdays. The annual fundraiser supports Riviera's ministries, and volunteers cover shifts throughout the season.
Fitness, Worship Dance, and Campus Use
Foresight Fitness offers senior fitness classes on the Riviera campus from 10:00 to 11:00 AM, Monday through Friday. Classes are designed for all fitness levels and include Strength and Balance, Chair Yoga, Chair Pilates, and Zumba Gold. Self-pay and Medicare Part C are accepted.
Riviera also runs a Worship Dance program that brings movement and music together for children and youth. The wider campus, including the sanctuary, fellowship hall, conference room, youth room, kitchen, and field, is available for outside groups through a facilities request process, and Riviera hosts a variety of meetings and events throughout the year.
Leadership and Stewardship
Senior Pastor Rev. Augustus "Augie" Allen joined Riviera in the summer of 2022 after seven years of ministry in the Florida Annual Conference. He, his wife, and their four kids are part of the life of the church, and his weekly e-letter to the congregation mixes personal stories with sermon previews. Terry Manning serves as Worship Director, leading the band and coordinating music. The church is a member of the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Riviera's stewardship program centers on Annual Giving Commitments, which help the church plan its operating budget for the year ahead. Members are encouraged to give a tithe as a starting point. Online giving is also available.
At its heart, Riviera is a community across generations, gathering at the open table and encouraging connections with one another through the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.