What did the innkeeper say to Mary and Joseph? Nothing. The Gospel writer Luke tells us that there was no room in the inn. The sacred text says, “she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manager, because there was no place for them […]
We are presented with two texts for this final Sunday on the church calendar. The first is from the book of Revelation, in which the opening words provide us the assurance that Christ has been present from the beginning of time, and always will be. The hope in this opening greeting is that the powers […]
Teens are invited to join our active youth ministries at FUMC! Everyone has a voice as we learn together and take time to play, too. For more information and details on upcoming events, contact Pastor Matt Weiler at mweiler@umc-kzo.org.
This is a text that does not directly relate to us in this time and place. It does however relate to us indirectly. We find ourselves nearing the end of a year during which the ground beneath our feet has shifted. And let’s be honest, the shifting has been occurring for several years now – […]
Join Manna, our weekly meetup for young adults in their 20s and 30s! In the Bible, Manna represents God arriving to a people who were yet discovering who they were. Manna was God’s provision. Manna was God’s way of teaching a people how to live and be together. Manna was preparing them for the journey […]
Dawn Patrol is an intentionally diverse group of men who meet each Wednesday at 9am in the Parlor at FUMC Kalamazoo. Books that stimulate the sharing of stories are chosen. Our goal is growing in an understanding about, not only what it means to be a follower of Jesus in a divided world, but also […]
Godly Play is offered for children 4 and older, as well as nursery care on the 2nd floor for infants through 3-year-olds with fully vaccinated and masked staff. Please contact jlibrizzi@umc-kzo.org with any questions.
All Saints is a day of remembrance for the saints. We celebrate the communion of saints as we remember the dead and celebrate our connectedness as Christians. The Christian festival of All Saints Day comes from a conviction that there is a spiritual connection between those on heaven and on earth. It is also an […]
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” ~Romans 15:13 This last Sunday of the series offers a time of celebration and naming of hope for the future and a dedicating of our gifts. We […]
Hope is Practical. The gospel is not. When the blind man shouted out begging for Jesus’ mercy, the crowds told him to sit down and to be quiet. Against popular demand, Jesus invited the man to come to him and then asked the man, “What do you want?” Was it not obvious? He wanted to […]
“Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” ~Matthew 15: 22b As Jesus entered Tyre and Sidon, a Canaanite woman presented herself as a one-person welcoming committee. She approaches him with shouting, “Have mercy on me.” She is in despair and yet, she draws near to Jesus with […]
Hope broadens the mind. As we enter into the second week of our “Stewards of a Hope-Filled Future” series this week, we are challenged to examine in what and whom we invest our hope, and, to allow the gospel to inspire our imaginations. As the theologian Walter Brueggemann asserts, we Christians struggle to imagine that […]
