About Us

ABOUT US

Faith

God made a promise in the Bible that if we seek after Him, we’ll find Him. You are a valued part of God’s creation and His deep desire is to be in a relationship with you. So come and join us as we pursue God together!

Family

At Shenendehowa United Methodist Church we value the family and we believe church should be a place for people of all ages. We provide children's ministries alongside our regular services in an age-appropriate environment for kids to encounter Christ.

Leadership

Shenendehowa United Methodist Church is guided by a leadership team who provide overall direction and watch over the spiritual needs of the church community. Our pastor and staff provide sound, practical, biblical teaching at each worship service.

WHO WE ARE

OUR PURPOSE

Make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

OUR MISSION

Our beliefs are based on the Bible and centered on Jesus Christ. Our mission is very simple: "Connecting People to Christ and Community."

We’re not about a building or a complicated religious system, but about helping people from all backgrounds discover the joy that comes from knowing and serving Jesus Christ.

OUR VISION

We are Centered in Christ.......

.....Growing in Faith
.....Connecting with Others
.....Serving in Love

OUR HISTORY

SMALL BEGINNINGS

Formed in 1957 when four local churches merged to become Shenendehowa UMC.
Services were first held at our current location in 1959.
We've had three large building expansions, the Sanctuary being the most recent in 1997.
We have a large Sunday school, a growing program of adult education, vocal choirs for people of all ages and bell choirs. The congregation also has a rich tradition of serving others.

OUR TEAM

Justin Hood

Senior Pastor

Pastorjustin@shenumc.org

Denise Gottung

Executive Pastor

dgottung@shenumc.org

Denise grew up in Fairport, NY, moving to Clifton Park after graduating college. It was then that she met her husband, Gary, and they married in 1997. They have two daughters, Emily and Lindsay. Prior to joining the

Denise Walling

Deaconess

dwalling@shenumc.org

Denise grew up on a dairy farm in Minnesota. She studied biology and psychology at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. After moving to New York, she studied at the New York Theological Seminary,

Jennifer Degenhart

Financial Secretary

financialsecretary@shenumc.org

Lauri Nair

Coordinator of Music Ministries

choirdir@nycap.rr.com

Peter Ryan

Lead Custodian

HELPING PEOPLE FOLLOW JESUS

FAQ

Have questions? We have the answers!

Where are you located?

We are at 971 Route 146 in Clifton Park. Our enterence is directly across from the Shenendehowa Central School's main campus.

What time is service?

9:30 AM Worship Service

Where do I park?

We have plenty of parking on the East and West side of the church. The closest enterance to the sanctuary is through Door F which is located on the West side, under the portico.

Is there something for my kids?

Yes! We offer Shen Kids Sunday mornings from Septemeber through June. The children are in the sanctuary for the beginning of each Sunday service and then are dismissed to classes designed just for them.

What does a Typical Service Look Like?

Shen UMC provides an engaging, dynamic atmosphere geared towards ministering to your entire family. The church is full of life, creativity, love and encouragement. Our 9:30 AM service includes music from our vocal and bell choirs. The piano, organ and worship team provide music for congregational singing. A Bible based, encouraging, and applicable message is given each week.

How do I join a ministry?

Shen UMC has several ministries and all are encouraged to join us. Let us know you are interested by completing a Connect Card in the service or email us at secretary@shenumc.org.

How do I join a small group?

At its core, a group is less about what you do and more about who you do it with. We all need each other and that’s why we have Small Groups. Just like most things, you won’t know until you try, so check out the directory and connect with a Small Group today!

The easiest way to join a Group is online (click the link below to see all available groups). There you will see what kinds of groups we have; ie a woman’s group or by age and stage.

Small Groups

How can I get involved in serving?

Email us at secretary@shenumc.org or complete a Connect Card in worship. We'll contact you to get you connected in with one of our many service opportunities.