A Downtown Sanctuary on West Market Street
West Market Street United Methodist Church stands at 302 West Market Street in the heart of downtown Greensboro, North Carolina. The motto printed across the church's welcome materials is short and uncompromising: All are Beloved.
The phrase shows up everywhere - on banners, in communion liturgies, in baptism services, and in the church's statements of mission. Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Otto Harris III and Associate Pastor Rev. Jeremy Benton describe the congregation as "a Christ-formed church creating beloved community from the heart of downtown Greensboro," a place "where all persons will find belonging, hope, joy, and transformation of life by embodying God's love for the world through ministries of justice, mercy, and reconciliation."
Members who preceded the present congregation left behind what the church calls "a rich heritage and beautiful buildings." That legacy includes one of the most celebrated pipe organs in Greensboro and a handcrafted harpsichord, both still used in worship and concerts today. Greeters, ushers, and staff are ready in both Sunday services to answer questions and help newcomers find their way, and the church takes seriously its commitment to people "of every race, age, ability, background, sexual orientation, and gender identity."
Two Services, One Family of Believers
Sunday at West Market Street begins with two complementary worship services separated by an hour-long formation hour for all ages.
The 9:00 AM Modern service gathers in the Fellowship Hall with a casual, family-friendly atmosphere. The space is set with a "Prayground" for young children - a rug with quiet toys, books, puzzles, and drawing materials - so families can worship together. The Modern service features contemporary music led by the Rising West praise band, prayer, Scripture, and "practical, Bible-based teaching that encourages you in your daily walk with Christ." Both services are also livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel.
At 10:00 AM, the church offers All Ages Faith Formation. Children birth through age 3 are cared for in the nursery (Room 224). PreK through 2nd grade gathers in Room 304D, 3rd through 5th grade in Room 304B, and youth in grades 6 through 12 meet in the Loft for conversation and Bible study. Adults find Sunday faith formation classes on the second floor, including That New Group, the Transitions Class, Pathseekers, Friendship Class, Koinonia, Mary & Martha, and Lighthouse.
The 11:00 AM Traditional service moves into the Sanctuary for a full liturgical experience with hymns, the Chancel Choir, organ, Scripture, prayer, and a meaningful message rooted in God's Word. A Prayground is also available in the Sanctuary so families with younger children can participate in worship. Both services celebrate Holy Communion on the first Sunday of each month and on special occasions throughout the year, and the table is open to "all who love Jesus Christ, earnestly repent of their sin, and seek to live in peace with one another."
Visitors are encouraged to dress for comfort. The 9:00 AM Modern service is typically more relaxed and casual, while the 11:00 AM Traditional service tends to be a bit more formal. Nursery care is provided during both services for children from birth through age 4. Parking is available on adjacent streets, in the Early Childhood Center lot, and on Commerce Place.
A Reputation for Fine Music
Music has long been one of West Market Street's signatures. The church is known throughout the Piedmont Triad for what organist and Director of Traditional Music Dreama Lovitt describes as "fine music and musicians, including one of the best organs in the city of Greensboro and ownership of our handcrafted harpsichord."
The Chancel Choir, the heart of the 11:00 AM Traditional service, rehearses on Wednesdays from 7:00 to 8:15 PM and on Sundays at 10:30 AM, leading congregational singing and offering anthems throughout the program year. High school students and adults are welcome to join. A Summer Chancel Choir runs from June through August with anthems based on familiar hymns and rehearsals just before each service.
The Rising West praise band, led by Music Director MJ (Marshall) Johnson, anchors the 9:00 AM Modern service. MJ joined the modern worship service in 2017 and brings a Bachelor's in Music Education from UNCG, a Master's in Choral Conducting from Ohio State, National Board Certification, and a Grammy nomination earned as a member of the internationally acclaimed ensemble Chanticleer for their 2002 release Our American Journey.
The MarketBell Ringers, the church's handbell ensemble, rehearses on Mondays from 6:00 to 7:00 PM in Room 316. Beginner ringers are invited to join an Easy Ringers session on Mondays at 5:15 PM. Beyond these core groups, the church hosts seasonal concerts, organ recitals, and special musical events featuring acclaimed composers and guest artists. Past performances have included composer Tom Trenney, a Hymn Fest, and an "All the Keys" concert featuring piano, harpsichord, and organ.
Lovitt, who holds a Master's from the Eastman School of Music and additional training in Dalcroze Eurhythmics from the U.S. and Geneva, Switzerland, also directs choral activities at Salem College and serves as staff liaison to the church's Visual Art Team. The Gallery beside the church library hosts rotating exhibits, including a series called "Three of Our Own" that features the work of church members.
Children as Present-Day Disciples
Children's ministry at West Market Street is led by Rachel D. Benton, Director of Children and Family Ministries. Rachel is a native of Winston-Salem, a lifelong United Methodist, a graduate of Wofford College and Duke Divinity School (where she earned a Master of Divinity with a Certificate in Christian Education), and brings more than fifteen years of professional experience in children's ministry and family faith formation.
The children's ministry rests on a clear set of core values: all children are beloved and special to God, loving God and loving neighbor are central, children are present-day disciples (not just future ones), and an everyday faith shapes every part of life. Core practices include offering hands-on, age-appropriate ways to encounter God, serving neighbors, nurturing children's full participation in the life of the church, and supporting families in building faith-filled homes.
On Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM, children gather by age for Bible stories, art, games, movement, music, prayer, and service projects. Four times a year the children's team delivers at-home bags filled with simple, fun, meaningful ways to encounter God in daily life, and once a year each child receives a developmentally-appropriate, faith-based book for the family library.
Children are encouraged to lead in worship as acolytes, scripture readers, communion servers, and ushers. Families SERVE offers service opportunities for parents and children together, meeting about one to two times a month. Go SERVE is a three-day summer experience for rising 3rd through 5th graders that focuses on justice issues and trips to local service organizations. Vacation Bible School runs each summer. Safety is taken seriously: the church follows Safe Sanctuaries policies, including volunteer screening, training, supervision, and communication protocols.
Youth Rooted in Christ
The youth ministry at West Market Street serves students in grades 6 through 12 under the leadership of Paul Collins, Director of Youth Ministries and Adult Discipleship. Paul grew up in Durban, South Africa, was raised Roman Catholic, later came to appreciate the Episcopal Church, and has spent much of his adult life in ecumenical settings. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Gordon College and a Master of Divinity from Wake Forest University School of Divinity, and is currently pursuing a Master of Counseling in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at North Carolina A&T State University.
Youth Faith Formation meets Sundays at 10:00 AM in the Youth Café, with conversations, fellowship, Bible study, and service. The ministry's rhythm includes an annual summer mission trip to a destination outside the region, summer camp, retreats, social outings (such as afternoons at Celebration Station), and youth-led worship through acolyting, scripture reading, and serving communion.
Confirmation is an eight-week journey of learning, conversation, and spiritual growth offered each year. In the United Methodist tradition, Confirmation is the moment when baptized students publicly affirm their faith, embrace their baptismal vows, and become professing members of the church. Financial assistance is available so that no student is prevented from participating in trips or retreats, and parents are considered partners in the ministry.
Adults in Every Season
For adults, West Market Street offers a broad ecosystem of Sunday morning faith formation classes, mid-week and evening groups, and short-term studies. Sunday formation classes at 10:00 AM include That New Group, Transitions, Pathseekers, Friendship Class, Koinonia, Mary and Martha, and Lighthouse, each gathering around fellowship, Bible study, and meaningful conversation about faith and everyday life.
Throughout the week, adults can join mission and fellowship groups that vary in day and time: a Missional Engagement group that meets on the third Tuesday at 5:30 PM, a Social Justice and Advocacy group, a Third Thursdays fellowship group, Wednesday Night Suppers on the fourth Wednesday from 5:30 to 6:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall, the Prayer Shawl Knitters meeting on the fourth Tuesday at 10:00 AM, a Visual Art Group meeting on the second Monday at 1:30 PM, the JOY Group, a Justice and Mercy Book Group (in person and on Zoom), and a Care for Creation group meeting on the fourth Tuesday at 7:00 PM.
Women's ministry includes United Women in Faith circles, the "What Is God Saying?" group meeting on the third Tuesday at 7:00 PM, and Sisters in the Spirit, a Thursday morning women's group that meets from 10:00 to 11:00 AM in Room 412.
For those who want to serve, ministry groups include the Chancel Choir, MarketBell Ringers, the Praise Team, Flower and Visitation, Worship Tech, Radical Hospitality, the Coffee Bar, the Wednesday Night Kitchen Team, Communion Stewards, Scripture and Liturgy Readers, the Sanctuary Care Team, and a Grief Support group led by Rev. Jill Alventosa-Brown. Anyone interested in starting a new group is invited to reach out to the church office.
Be Love in the Community
Missional Engagement is one of the church's central commitments, organized around four core areas: College Student Connection, Immigrant and Refugee Support, Affordable Housing, and Food Insecurity. The church serves alongside neighbors and partners including Greensboro Urban Ministry, college food pantries, Backpack Beginnings, and Simple Gesture. Egg Hunt for Good raises money and donations for local college food pantries, and the church hosts bi-monthly Simple Gesture Food Drives with food picked up at the front door.
The Social Justice and Advocacy Ministry studies materials from the United Methodist Council of Bishops and convenes regular gatherings to learn, advocate, and take faithful action around local justice issues. The church partners with Christ UMC for an annual Rise Against Hunger meal-packing event and joins the Greensboro Urban Ministry Steps of Hope Walk each fall.
Each year the church gathers a team to march together at the Greensboro Pride Festival as part of the United Methodist Church in the Northern Piedmont District, "offering a loving and peaceful presence" and "building beloved community from the heart of downtown Greensboro." West Market Street also continues its support of the Interfaith Housing Initiative, an ecumenical, non-profit focused on affordable housing for families.
For Creation care, the church observes the Ecumenical Season of Creation each fall with service opportunities such as The Big Sweep, a community clean-up movement, and The Big Pick, a volunteer harvest at the Guilford County Farm in Gibsonville that donates fresh produce to neighbors in need.
The Early Childhood Center
Sharing the church's downtown campus is the West Market Street United Methodist Church Early Childhood Center (ECC), a five-star licensed early childhood education program led by Director Meredith Kasten. Meredith has more than twenty years in the field of early childhood, working in classrooms and leadership, and has led the ECC since 2019.
The ECC serves young children and their families through high-quality early childhood education and care. Kasten collaborates with families, educators, and community partners to strengthen early childhood systems and expand opportunities for children in the community. The ECC hosts a free Community Trunk or Treat each fall on its parking lot at 312 W. Friendly Avenue, with a sensory-friendly area next door. To enroll or schedule a visit, families can contact the ECC at 336-378-6093.
A Wesleyan Welcome
West Market Street's identity is grounded in the Wesleyan tradition. The church's mission is "to glorify God as we make, nurture and send forth disciples of Jesus Christ," and its values include valuing the dignity of all people, engaging all believers from the heart of the city, ever-learning in faith, building a community of adults across life stages, treasuring and respecting youth and children, honoring the Wesleyan tradition, prioritizing people, and creating and using sacred space for all.
The church draws on the words of John Wesley - "Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can." - as a guiding principle for faith and service. Baptism is celebrated across the life span, with United Methodists baptizing infants, children, youth, and adults in recognition that God's grace is at work throughout every stage of life.
Getting Connected
Anyone exploring faith, new to the church, or considering membership is invited to Next Steps, an informal class held several times a year and led by Pastors Otto and Jeremy. The class covers the church's mission and values, opportunities to connect, and what membership means.
Worship is held Sundays at 9:00 AM (Modern, Fellowship Hall) and 11:00 AM (Traditional, Sanctuary), with All Ages Faith Formation at 10:00 AM. Services are also livestreamed on YouTube. Holy Communion is served the first Sunday of each month and at special services throughout the year.
Online giving is available through the church's Realm profile, and offerings can also be placed in the plate during worship or mailed to P.O. Box 870, Greensboro, NC 27402-0870. The church can be reached at 336-275-4587 or info@westmarketchurch.org.