As we celebrate the second Sunday of Advent, we hear of the birth of John the Baptist and the dramatic response of his father, Zechariah who has been mute throughout Elizabeth’s pregnancy. Zechariah prophesies about God’s salvation that will guide our path into the way of peace. This is a foundation that centers on a […]
Godly Play is both a worship and educational experience, based on a multi-sensory telling of a Bible story, a time for “wondering” about how the story connects God with our own lives. We invite children 4 and older through 3rd grade to join Ms. Julia in room 200 on the second floor following the Children’s […]
There is a long history of the use of labyrinths in Christian worship. The purpose of the labyrinth is to slow us down and, in this season, we contemplate the themes of Advent. The Advent and Christmas scriptures are rich with home metaphors and imagery. In these scriptures, home is both physical and metaphorical, something […]
Young Adults are invited to gather with Pastor Matt Weiler and Mandakini Brophy most Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm in the Youth Lounge (located on the lower level of First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo) for “Manna.” In the Bible, Manna represents God arriving to a people who were yet discovering who they were. Manna was […]
On this first Sunday in Advent, we will set our hearts to the rhythm of a new liturgical season. This practice is the response to our Lukan text imploring us to “...be on guard, so our hearts are not weighed down...” There is indeed much from which to guard our hearts; the worries of an […]
On this first Sunday in Advent, we will set our hearts to the rhythm of a new liturgical season. This practice is the response to our Lukan text imploring us to “…be on guard, so our hearts are not weighed down…” There is indeed much from which to guard our hearts; the worries of an […]
Deb Search Willoughby and David Lundquist will lead an Academy Class on Sunday, November 20 at in the Parlor. This class will provide the opportunity to hear more about what is happening within the denomination, to discuss and ask questions, and to learn how the UMC’s future may or may not impact First United Methodist […]
“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him, God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things…” Colossians 1: 19a What does it mean to speak of the Christ who reigns or Christ the king? The Gospels will undoubtedly tell us that Jesus redefined what it meant to […]
Join us for worship on this special Second Sunday. Pastor Matt and the Second Sunday team will guide us to contemplate Jesus‘s words “I am the bread of life“ and consider what it means for Jesus to be the nourishment of our souls along with our real need to be physically nourished. Our change the […]
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 […]
In this final Sunday of our “Stewards of a Grace-filled Life” Stewardship Season, we turn to the story of Zacchaeus. This is a man whose encounter with Jesus led to radical life transformation manifested through generous giving to his community. On this Sunday, the congregation is invited to determine how we are each being called […]
The teachings of Jesus are central to the Christianity, yet how much do we know about Jesus in his own time? In "The Challenge of Jesus," John Dominic Crossan pinpoints the history and circumstances that helped Jesus’ message of nonviolent resistance to evil have such a powerful impact against Imperial Rome. Moving beyond Jesus as […]
