Anchored in Ocean City, Reaching Beyond It
St. Peter's United Methodist Church sits on East 8th Street in Ocean City, New Jersey, just a few blocks from the boardwalk. Members and visitors know it by a pair of phrases that frame everything the church does: "Anchored in Our Faith" and "Making Waves." The anchor is the steady, deepening relationship with God through Scripture and worship. The waves are the outreach, mission, and service that flow out of that foundation into the community and the world.
Rooted in the United Methodist tradition, St. Peter's takes seriously the call to grow disciples of Jesus Christ. Its mission, in its own words, is to "grow disciples of Jesus Christ and to make waves of difference in the world by spreading the story of God's love and salvation." Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the congregation seeks to nurture enthusiastic ministry, celebrate in wide open worship, learn and study together, and reach out with God's inclusive, all-embracing love.
Two Worship Services, Plus a Summer Boardwalk Service
From September through May, St. Peter's offers three Sunday morning options at the church building at 501 East 8th Street:
- 8:00 AM - Chapel/Communion, a quieter, earlier gathering.
- 9:00 AM - Contemporary Worship, led by Contemporary Worship Leader Chaz Flud.
- 11:00 AM - Traditional Worship, led by Director of Traditional Music and Organist John Gregory Bate.
From Memorial Day through Labor Day weekends, the schedule shifts to match the rhythm of a shore town. The 8:00 AM service moves to the 11th Street Boardwalk, the Contemporary service stays at 9:00 AM, and Traditional Worship moves to 10:30 AM. Both Sunday services during the program year are also streamed on the church's Facebook Live page and YouTube channel, both called Making Waves.
Children's Ministry: St. Pete's Kids
Children's programming runs throughout the week. Sunday School classes meet every Sunday from 10:00 to 11:00 AM for Pre-K and Kindergarten, Elementary (1st through 2nd and 3rd through 5th), and Junior and Senior High (6th through 12th). Junior Church, for ages 4 through 4th grade, takes place during both the 9:00 and 11:00 AM worship services following the Kid's Corner children's message.
The Nursery is open during the 9:00, 10:00, and 11:00 AM hours for children in Kindergarten and younger. During the 10:00 hour, a Sunday school lesson is included.
On Tuesdays, Kids With a Mission gathers 1st through 5th graders for a weekly service project program that introduces young children to giving, serving, and the needs of the wider community. On Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, the same age group meets for Goodworks Group, a hands-on service and Bible study experience.
SPK (formerly iSPY) is the 3rd through 5th grade group that meets Sundays from 4:30 to 5:30 PM for friendship, games, service projects, and Bible lessons. Vacation Bible School runs each summer, and the program also offers an online registration form.
SPY: St. Peter's Youth
Middle and high school students (grades 6 through 12) gather as SPY (St. Peter's Youth) on Sunday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, September through May. The weekly rhythm includes friendship, games, service projects, and Bible lessons. Parents and students can sign up for REMIND text alerts to stay current with weekly events.
The youth calendar is built around recurring annual rhythms: a fall retreat at Lancaster, a winter retreat at Sandy Cove in Maryland, and summer mission trips such as Red Bird Mission in Appalachia, Kentucky (home repair and community outreach) and Give Kids the World in Orlando, Florida (serving critically ill children and their families).
Confirmation Class is offered for students in 6th through 8th grade (or above) who want to learn more about their faith and the traditions of the United Methodist Church. Contact Lead Pastor Rev. Erik Hall for current scheduling.
The Discipleship Pathway
St. Peter's frames the life of a disciple around four dimensions: Growing (personal faith formation), Serving (in the church), Reaching (in mission and evangelism), and Giving. The congregation's stated goal is to have 300 people engaged in all four each month. Serving might mean worship, music, children, youth, administration, welcoming, AV and computer technology, buildings and grounds, or visitation. Reaching includes both the church's own mission projects and personal invitations, acts of kindness, and faith-sharing in everyday life. A monthly check-in invites the whole congregation to participate in each area.
English Language Learning Since 2004
St. Peter's has hosted an English Language Learning (ELL) program since 2004. The class welcomes adult learners from around the world, with current students coming from Mexico, Central and South America, Taiwan, Vietnam, China, Russia, Ukraine, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and numerous eastern and southern European countries.
Classes meet on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 PM in Room 101, beginning in September and continuing into spring, with a summer session that usually runs May through July. There is no advance registration, and new students can join at any time. Instruction is individualized, with teachers working one on one or in small groups at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Lessons cover everyday English for life in the United States, including topics like the local food bank and clothes closet.
Grief Support
A Grief Support Group is open to any adult grieving the death of a loved one, regardless of church membership or town of residence. The group meets every other Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:00 PM in the Mary Mohr room on the second floor of the church building. Meetings are confidential and run year round. No appointment is needed; participants may come once or come regularly.
Mission Work Near and Far
St. Peter's Missions Committee meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM and is open to anyone who wants to help monitor outreach efforts and direct funding where it is most needed. Outreach ministries described by the church include providing food, shelter, comfort, and support. The congregation has sent mission teams to the Dominican Republic, and youth mission trips serve in Appalachia and central Florida. A Missions Catalog of Giving is published each program year.
What the Church Believes
St. Peter's describes itself as anchored in the Bible and in a deepening relationship with God. From that anchor, members are sent out to "make waves" by showing love, justice, and grace. The church emphasizes God's inclusive, all-embracing love and seeks to celebrate in wide open worship, learn and study together, and reach out to the world. As a United Methodist congregation, St. Peter's is part of a denomination that draws on Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience as sources for faith.
Leadership
The pastoral team is led by Rev. Erik Hall, Lead Pastor, and includes Rev. Sandra Roberts, Associate Pastor. Amy Hall serves as Director of Discipleship. John Gregory Bate is Director of Traditional Music and Organist; Chaz Flud leads Contemporary Worship; Erik Wagner leads Youth Ministry; and Whitney Hanna serves as Nursery Associate.
Visiting St. Peter's
St. Peter's United Methodist Church is located at 501 East 8th Street, Ocean City, NJ 08226. The church office can be reached at 609-399-2988 or churchoffice@stpoc.org. Giving is available online, and a Visitor Connection Form is available for those who would like the congregation to follow up after a visit. A weekly newsletter, Tidings, is published on Thursdays, and a daily devotional is sent by email. Services can be watched live on the Making Waves YouTube channel.