This summer at First Church was filled with learning, celebration, and community impact. From hosting the third year of Freedom School with over 50 young scholars to welcoming new members and confirmands on Pentecost Sunday, we have so much to celebrate as we witness God’s work in and through our church. Read the Summer 2025 Prevue to learn more! Download the Summer 2025 Prevue here or click on the image below to view the full issue. Read more…
From June 16 to July 25, First United Methodist Church welcomed over 50 K–8 scholars for the third summer of Purdue CDF Freedom School. This six-week program focuses on literacy, leadership, and empowering young minds through reading, hands-on learning, and social action activities. Highlights from the summer included visits from West Lafayette Mayor Erin Easter and District 25 State Representative Becky Cash, who read with scholars and encouraged them to stay curious. Scholars also led Read more…
Thanks to coordination by Pastor Duane and Ronda Kroeschen, Klondike Kids Club will be moving forward into the next year in order to continue blessing the students of Klondike Elementary under the leadership of co-directors Maria Ansari and Carolyn Johnson with administrative and communication support from FUMC Family Ministry’s Talitha Huber. Klondike Kids Club will continue to support the afterschool academic and social development of students K-5 who attend Klondike and are residents of the Read more…
We’ll gather for worship in the Activities Center while our sanctuary is vacated for the final stages of renovation and new carpet installation. Thank you for your flexibility as we make space for this exciting transformation! Since it’s the first Sunday of the month, we’ll continue our tradition of First Sunday Brunch—just a bit simpler this time. Join us in the Narthex before worship for coffee and pastries. You’re invited to bring a baked good or pastry to share! We’re grateful for your Read more…
We are delighted to share that, through the efforts of Ronda Kroeschen and other members of the congregation and Village Nursery School, First Church has been awarded three new Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) to replace the models we have had for the last ten years. Franciscan Health awarded these devices to First Church through their Revive & Survive grant program. These new AEDs are designed to be incredibly easy to use and can provide life-saving Read more…
Dear First Church Family, We are entering the final stages of our sanctuary and activity center renovations, and we want to thank you for your continued patience, flexibility, and support throughout this important project. As we move toward completion, we’ll need your help and understanding as we shift worship spaces and complete the last critical pieces of work—including new carpeting and audio/visual improvements. Here’s what to expect in the coming weeks: Current Work in Progress Read more…
Pentecost Sunday on June 8 was a joyful and meaningful day in the life of First Church. We gathered to celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church. During worship, we recognized and celebrated our youth who completed Confirmation class with a special ceremony. The class leading up to this moment was guided by the Family Ministry Team under the direction of Family Ministry Instructional Coordinator, Talitha Huber. We were Read more…
First United Methodist Church West Lafayette attended the 2025 Indiana United Methodist (INUMC) Annual Conference held June 4-7 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. Anna Clark, a member of our First Church family and leadership, shares her reflection on the conference: “I’ve previously shared my story about how disappointed I was in the United Methodist Church in 2019 when we failed to become a more inclusive church. In the six years since, Read more…
Pentecost Sunday is a powerful day in the life of the Church—a time to celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church itself. Join us for worship at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM on Sunday, June 8, as we honor this sacred day together. During the 11:00 AM Celebrate service, we will hold a special Confirmation Ceremony for our youth in grades six and above who have been learning and Read more…
Join us for an afternoon of food, fun, and fellowship at our Annual Church Picnic on Sunday, June 22! We’ll gather at Happy Hollow Park in Shelter 4. Chicken and drinks are provided, and we ask that you bring a side dish or dessert to share. Please note: The shelter does not have electricity. We’ll have yard games to enjoy. Feel free to bring your favorites along, too! Annual Church Picnic Date: Sunday, June 22 Read more…