First Sunday of Lent: Throughout this season of Lent, we are attentive to the cry of the prophet Amos, who proclaims that God desires for our worship and our ways of living be centered on justice. “Roll down, justice,” as God renews our hearts, minds, and spirits. This renewal provides the devotion to serve the…

Second Sunday of Lent: "How Long: Renouncing Evil" How long, O Lord? How long will pain and injustice linger? How long must we carry sorrow in our hearts and see suffering in our world? ~Psalm 13 Today we come, as the psalmist did, bringing our honest cries of grief, along with our questions, and our…

Third Sunday of Lent - I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison…

“We are a Reconciling Congregation, welcoming all. First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo invites all persons to join us on our journey of faith. Jesus Christ calls us to be an inclusive church that exemplifies the kingdom of God.”        Forgive us for our sins, just as we have forgiven those who sinned against us.…

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice… to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house?” ~Isaiah 58:6-7 The prophet Isaiah, speaking for God, reminds us that true devotion is not found in outward displays alone. Even as some in the ancient…

It is Palm Sunday, a time when we remember Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. And so we, like those who hailed Jesus on that day, wave our palm branches, shouting “Hosanna – Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Holy Thursday, sometimes called “Maundy Thursday,” invites us to remember Jesus’ last supper with his disciples at Passover, his act of humble service in washing their feet, and his call to love one another. On this night, we gather around the table, practice servant love, and begin the journey of the three sacred days that…

The service of Tenebrae, meaning “darkness” or “shadows”, has been practiced by the church since medieval times. Once a service for the monastic community, Tenebrae later became an important part of the worship of the common folk during Holy Week. We join Christians of many generations throughout the world in using the liturgy of Tenebrae.…

After nights touched by deep darkness, we gather now in the radiant brilliance of Easter morning, our hearts alive with wonder. Christ is risen indeed! Resurrection unfolds before us, not only as a hope we carry, but as a joy that pulses through this day. The sanctuary blooms with tulips, the air rings with brass…

Please join us at First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo to celebrate the life of our dear friend Sue Paul. The service will take place in the sanctuary on Saturday, April 11, at 2:00 p.m.

Sue will be remembered for her deep faith, joyful spirit, and lifelong love of music, which she shared generously through decades of singing in the choir at First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo. Her devotion to worship, fellowship, and service leaves a lasting legacy within the church community.

This is the second Sunday after Easter and we continue proclaiming, “Christ is Risen!” Our Gospel lesson for the day puts us in the upper room with the frightened disciples on the evening of Christ’s resurrection. He breathed the Holy Spirit upon them and spoke the words, “Peace be with you.” We’ll also leap forward…

In May 2025, the bishops of the United Methodist Church released a vision statement designed to help the church live into the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. They built this statement around the themes of loving, serving, and leading. The invitation comes, however, not simply through the…