By Rev. Duane Carlisle, Board Member From March 16-19, the General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) gathered in Los Angeles, CA, for our spring board meeting. As we engaged in our work of advancing peace, justice, and human rights, we were welcomed with deep hospitality by Faith United Methodist Read more…
Dear Friends, As we enter this sacred season of Lent, I invite you to journey with us through Everything [in] Between—our worship series that acknowledges the middle spaces of life, the places between what was and what will be. Lent itself is an in-between time, a season of 40 days Read more…
Dear First Church Family, There is so much going on in the life of this church that I am so excited about. We have been sharing news of new leadership in our family ministries, more learning and connection opportunities for all ages, and exciting ways our First Church family is Read more…
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 NRSV PASTOR Read more…
On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary, his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their Read more…
Dear First Church Family, I am excited to share some wonderful news with you about a recent addition to our Family Ministry Team. Diane Dahlgren, an experienced educator with a passion for organization and community engagement, has graciously stepped forward to lend her expertise to our team. In our recent Read more…
“For it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” – Philippians 2:13 NRSVUE My heart overflows with gratitude and thanksgiving for this church. On Sunday, October 22, we concluded our Consecration season with a meal together. For Read more…
We are fast approaching the season when we will use our indoor dining room tables a whole lot more. We won’t be firing up the grill as often or sitting out on our patios and decks. The kids are now well into the rhythm of a new school year, and Read more…
Have you ever been stuck? Have you had that feeling where you have a general sense of what you want to say, but you can’t find that beginning point that gets you started? For me the solution has usually been solved by finding a scriptural touchstone. A good scripture always Read more…
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, Read more…