Gainesville First United Methodist Church is one of several churches in the area that holds lakeside services.
What better time and place to participate in a worship service than in the summer on the lake? Many of the services are interdenominational and no matter your upbringing, you’ll be welcomed to visit these outdoor services. Some can be attended by boat; others are offered with lake views.
Gainesville First United Methodist Church and Cumming First United Methodist Church represent the North East Georgia District of the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodists who offer lake services on Lanier.
University Yacht Club has offered open worship services in the warmer months since the early 1960s. Its open-air cover pavilion has also been the location for weddings, christenings and other ceremonies.
“Our Sunday services are informal and non-denominational and all are invited,” said Caleb Clarke, University Yacht Club chaplain. “Our club celebrates our heritage and traditions, and holding Sunday chapel during the warmer months is very popular.”
Here is a round-up of available lake church services this summer:
- Cumming First United Methodist Church, 770 887-2900, 770 Canton Hwy, Cumming, www.cfumcga.com/services. Held in the chapel at Bald Ridge Marina, 1850 Bald Ridge Marina Rd, Sunday services at 9 a.m. are offered Memorial Day through Labor Day.
- Gainesville First United Methodist Church, 770 536-2341, 2780 Thompson Bridge Rd., Gainesville, www.gfumc.com/worship. Join Sunday lake services at 8:30 a.m. by boat at Serenity Cove across the lake from the American Legion, near 2343 Riverside Dr., Gainesville or visit by car by contacting the church during the week.
- Lanier Christian Church, 770 534-1422, church address: 2235 Dawsonville Hwy, Gainesville, www.lanierchristianchurch.com. Lake services at Gainesville Marina Pavilion, 2145 Dawsonville Highway, on Sundays at 10 a.m. from April to September.
- University Yacht Club, 770 967-2814, 6700 Yacht Club Rd, Flowery Branch, www.universityyachtclub.org. Sunday services at 10:30 a.m. are held in the Bulloch Chapel from May through the first weekend in October.
Photo: courtesy GFUMC
