About The Grove
Our name comes from the story of Zacchaeus, a man who climbed a sycamore tree just to catch a glimpse of Jesus. When Jesus saw him, he stopped, called him by name, and invited himself to dinner. One encounter changed everything.
We want to be a sycamore tree for Leland: a way for people to get a better view of Jesus, even when church hurt, busy schedules, or unanswered questions have blocked that view before.
The Grove United Methodist Church is a new church in Leland, North Carolina, gathering for worship every Sunday at 10am at Town Creek Middle School. We are a congregation of the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, planted in partnership with Wrightsville UMC.
Our mission is simple: we exist to help people see Jesus. We do this by building a community that is unapologetically Jesus centered, genuinely inclusive of all people regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, political persuasion, or socioeconomic status, and rooted in real relationships rather than performance or perfection. We fully embrace and celebrate our LGBTQ siblings in every aspect of church life and leadership, with no bait and switch and no limitations on who can lead.
Alongside Sunday worship, we host community events across Leland and gather a Launch Team, a group of people who study scripture together and help plan and prepare for what's next for the church. Both are open to anyone curious about being part of something new. Whoever you are and wherever you are coming from, there is a place for you here.
The Grove is led by Pastor Julia, an ordained elder in the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Love Your Neighbor .
No Exceptions.
Meet Pastor Julia
Hi, I'm Julia, and I'm so glad you're here. Wherever you're coming from, whether it's another church, no church at all, or somewhere in between, I want you to know there's room for you at The Grove.
I moved to North Carolina for seminary and never left, though I'll admit a piece of my heart still belongs to the Buckeyes. What drew me into ministry, and what still drives me, is a simple belief: life is better with Jesus. That conviction shapes everything I do here, from how I preach to how I try to show up for people on their hardest days.
I studied Biblical Studies and Languages at Belmont University in Nashville, then earned my MDiv at Duke Divinity School, and was ordained an elder in the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2023. I love finding ways to take what I learned in my studies and use it to help you and your family live out your faith- whether that means serving a preschooler animal cracker communion, sharing the Gospel with a tween through Taylor Swift songs, or getting real with you about challenging passages in the bible over a cup of coffee.
At home, I'm married to Matt, who's also a UMC pastor (yes, dinner table conversations get interesting!), and in 2026 we welcomed our son Henry, who has taught me more about grace and perseverance than any degree program ever could.
If you're new, here's what I hope you find here: a place where you can ask real questions, laugh during a sermon, and be fully known without being fully finished. Come find me after an event or let’s meet up for coffee - I'd love to hear your story.
Follow Along with The Grove on Social Media
Since we're a brand-new church plant, social media is where it's all happening right now!
We're hosting events all over Leland in addition to Sunday Morning worship at Town Creek Middle School, and the best way to keep up with what's next, where we're meeting, and how to get involved is to follow along online. Give us a follow so you never miss an event, a launch update, or a chance to connect. We can't wait to see you there!