Wekiva Presbyterian Church

by Laura Breen Galante

Tucked in the heart of the Wekiva Springs/Longwood area is Wekiva Presbyterian Church, a beautiful neighborhood sanctuary established in 1977. 

“If there’s a place where Wekiva Presbyterian really shines best,” says Pastor Oscar Clavel, “it is for families with young children, from infants through middle school.”

The church places great emphasis on its music ministry, which offers something for every age group. The ministry includes a Cherub Choir for kids ages four and five, a Kids Club Choir for elementary school students, and a Chancel Choir for college students and adults. A guitar band and two handbell choirs – one for middle schoolers and one for adults – round out the music offerings.

“The music program here is something we’re really proud of and something we continue to build upon,” says Pastor Clavel.

Families also love the church’s Christian Child Center, a well-known and highly regarded preschool and voluntary prekindergarten program. Its teachers are dedicated and tenured, and lasting friendships have been forged on the playground.

For middle schoolers, Wekiva Presbyterian offers an after-school program on Wednesdays, plus a Sunday morning youth group where teens participate in Bible lessons, team-building activities, and fun fellowship.

The church also serves the adult community with Presbyterian Women, a social group with three meeting opportunities (morning, afternoon, and evening) on the third Tuesday of every month. At the meetings, the women enjoy Bible lessons, refreshments, and discussions. The Men’s Group meets every Sunday night for fellowship and a devotional.

Pastor Clavel, who began leading the church about five years ago, enjoys teaching his congregants of all ages how lessons from the Bible can be applied to daily life.

“I love to teach people the basics of the faith,” he says, “including why faith works and why a relationship in Christ is important today.”

Another strength of Wekiva Presbyterian is the respite it offers the community.

“It can provide a place of rest for all of the noise that you hear every week,” says Pastor Clavel. “If you want to find your soul and hear a message of hope, I would say this is a great place to do that.”