very strict church and saw multiple people working the mass were rude to a girl not wanting to eat…read morethe bread when she was new and confused. be more welcoming and understanding. they don't have to eat the bread if they don't want to and this church made her. unprofessional.

Beautiful church! Always come web in Gainesville and the priests and community are always welcoming…read moreand kind. Mass is at 11:30 on Sundays.

We are so happy to have found this church. It comes highly recommended from numerous family friends…read moreand aqauintances. Their music, whether you watch online or in person is amazing!! Almost like being at a concert. Pastor Mike Patz preaches an amazing sermon. They have an amazing leadership Team. I will update with more photos as this was our first time there.

A church that has a heart for discipleship and being passionate for Jesus. Heart for the poor, the…read moreforeigner, the overlooked, next generations and those far from Him all over the world. The most generous church I've ever seen.

This church has a lot going for it. The people are genuine and follow up with you. I grew up going…read moreto church and have never had such a great experience as here. The kids' program is also excellent. Our daughter loves it, and there are plenty of children her age to play with each age group, and they actually talk and learn about the Bible. In the main service the pastors teach from the Bible and encourage people to grow in their faith.

I have mixed feelings posting this review. On the one hand, the people in this church are among the…read morekindest and most generous you will ever meet. On the other hand, I believe the culture of the church is unhealthy, and let me explain why. I came to VS during a period where I was seeking friendship. I found That VS was a community who were willing to welcome me and get to know me. They assisted in very practical ways, and I found the small group to be a comfortable place. As I started to attend the rather lengthy set of membership trainings, certain positions that the church took began to raise some red flags. They were subtle, but perhaps because I have grown up in the church and attended many different styles of churches, I was able to discern something that seemed off. The pastors for the most part are quite open to offer explanations for the specific practices of their church, and I did not disagree with all of them. Nonetheless, a few things seemed problematic. Firstly, relatively shallow theology and guilt tripping during sermons and team meetings; secondly, an excessive emphasis on tithing but a lack of financial transparency; thirdly an expectation that 'unity' comes about from everyone agreeing on the specific values and beliefs positions of the church with little room for variation (ie uniformity rather than true unity). Lastly, an emphasis on empire building for the church network and its specific ideology. The church has a particular mission, to make disciples and to plant more churches. The making disciples presumably means to bring people in to the church who will ultimately be loyal to it and be relied upon to eventually help in church planting. The leaders of this church will likely spend their time with those they believe are future potential planters. Thus, the church exists to replicate itself, and does not tend to invest in activities that the members may view as valuable. It is a top-down structure where the members are naturally assumed to be followers until such time as the leaders believe they are ready. Obedience to leadership is a high priority for the church, and is stated so in their series class on 'community'. For the leadership, the pastor acts as the head elder and has full authority to appoint other elders, with no voting allowed from church members. This form of governance does not provide true accountability, for many of the reasons laid out in leavingthenetwork.org, who provide some concerning information regarding the culture of this church's network and its leadership. What was particularly difficult was finding that I could no longer stay in this church, and knowing that to leave would threaten the friendships I had. I hope that I can maintain friendships, but I am under no illusions that once former members are out, then they are rarely spoken about again. If that doesn't worry you, perhaps it should. As Christians and a part of the global body of Christ, I have never before had to fear that I would lose friends over going to a different church from them. It simply has never come up before and makes me wonder why this particular community needs to be so exclusive. By all means, try this church out, you'll be well loved if you can accept everything they want you to and don't ask too many questions. If not, I would give this one a pass, at least until such time (I hope) that the network repents of certain practices and recalibrate into something that more truly looks like its mandate to 'love God and love People'.

I love this church. The dress is casual, coffee is great and the people are super friendly. You…read moredon't get lost in a mass of people, but meet people by name.

It is hard to miss this brilliant white church, located north of US-17 on the Palatka side of the…read moreSt Johns River. Closed on Monday but the historical marker in front gives history and the grounds are open for walking. It reads, "Episcopal services in Palatka were first conducted in 1846 by the Rev. John F. Young, later Bishop of Florida (18767-1885). The parish was organized in 1853, and the church completed in 1854. During the Civil War, St. Mark's was used as a barracks by Federal troops and suffered considerable damage. After the War, the church served as the missionary center of the Episcopal Church in the St. Johns Valley. The original building, though altered, is still in use today." It is marker number F-84 and was erected in 1962 by the Florida Board of Parks and Historical Memorials in cooperation with Putnam County Historical Society. There is street parking. [Review 1631 of 2025 - 2208 in Florida - 25179 overall]

Friendly, neighborly & oldest church in the City of Palatka…read more Formerly organized in 1853, but the Parish wasnt formerly recognized until 1873, due to the Civil War, 1861-1865. According to one of the tour guides, the church & city were saved by the efforts of one Mary Easely & her neighbor, who boldly went to the wharf & requested a meeting with the Union' ship Captain firing canons, who listened & stopped the barrage. The church sanctuary just finished a year long, 'labor of love' renovation by parishoners, post-Hurricane Irma, the rains of which seeped into the walls & caused extensive Black Mold damage. New steps in the entry, painted & stained glass panels greet the visitor, as does the architecture. A small 'Memorial Garden' exists behind the sanctuary for any parishioner wishing to be interred on church property. The Parish Hall serves as a meeting place, and the Old Rectory houses the priests of St. Mark's.

Large congregation of Believers... Jesus spoken here…read more Lots of parking spaces and do they need it! The parking lot is full to over-flowing on Sundays! Early Worship is @ 745a on Sundays with Bible Study at 9a. Church service is at 1030a and mid-week Bible Study at 12p for the lunch crowd or 6p, if you can't make it for the noon hour. Definitely worth stopping in for worship, if you are looking for a neighborly community of Believers!

My wife and I have been members of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church (WELS) for several months. Zion…read moreis a diverse congregation, guided by a dedicated Pastor (Brian) and his accomplished spouse (Cara). The leadership couple has four children who exhibit strong potential for future contributions to the community. Zion's membership comprises individuals who witnessed its early growth as a mission church, alongside recently baptized families participating in the Gator 4 Kids program "SMART Start." The construction of the new church building signals continued expansion and development. Members at Zion benefit from a wide range of services, including Life Direction, Intellectual Worship, Community-Focused Ministries, Participatory Music, and Early Childhood programs, all provided in an environment that prioritizes safety, security, inclusivity, and fulfillment. Everyone here welcomes you to come check us out ...

A big shoutout to local community heroes of the Church of Eleven22 Palatka Campus! Bless you Pastor…read moreAdam Howell, your family, and the entire campus team. An extra salute to the Police officers who help out keeping things copacetic for all who are gathering. The Church of Eleven22 is one church in many locations, planting churches in communities around Northeast Florida and South Georgia to reach our friends and neighbors with the hope of the gospel. This is ringing true to the words of Pastor Joby Martin, the founder and lead pastor of The Church of Eleven22 in Jacksonville which has been " a movement for all people to discover and deepen a relationship with Jesus Christ". A lot of people have been watching the services online, some have been hosting watch parties/ Outposts to be able to gather in small groups to watch together online to join in worship, and fellowship... NOW Palatka can gather together locally under one roof! It is such a big difference being able to see big beautiful smiles, to give and receive big warm hugs, lifting up songs of worship together, praying powerfully for each other, crying sincerely together, and most importantly giving God all the Glory for all He does for us!! And remember what Pastor Joby says, "If the tomb is empty, anything is possible!" May God continue to flow through the beautiful community of Palatka :)