Monthly Prevue Newsletter

First Church Prevue

May 2025 Prevue

The May 2025 Prevue highlights our Easter Season series, “The Cup of Freedom,” with Pastor Duane’s reflection on how this theme invites us to explore Christ’s liberation and new life. We honor the legacies of Pastor Denise (Denny) Frank, Richard (Rich) Frank, and Max Hoke, whose service and compassion continue to shape our community. Pastor Duane also shares insights from the Spring 2025 GBCS Board Meeting in Los Angeles, and we celebrate the success of Read more…

By First Church, ago

Honoring Pastor Denny & Rich Frank and Max Hoke

With gratitude and deep respect, we remember our dear retired Pastor, Denise (Denny) Frank, her husband Richard (Rich) Frank, and our friend Max Hoke—three faithful members of the First Church family whose lives were shaped by service, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to caring for others, especially children and those in need. Denny and Rich Frank were a team in every sense of the word. Together, they gave their time, energy, and hearts to ministries Read more…

By First Church, ago

From the Pastor’s Desk: A Journey Through Easter Season

Dear Beloved Community, Easter morning has come and gone, but the good news still echoes: Christ is risen—risen indeed! What a joy it was to gather in worship on Easter Sunday, surrounded by blooming lilies, bright hallelujahs, and the warmth of your presence. Together, we stood in that sacred space “between grief and hope,” the title of our Easter sermon, and the tender truth we shared—that hope so often grows from the compost of grief. Read more…

By First Church, ago

Thinking About Becoming a Member?

We warmly invite you to consider joining First Church in membership on Sunday, June 8—Pentecost Sunday—a day when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church. It’s a meaningful time to mark what God is doing in our lives, and we will also be honoring our confirmands during worship. If you’re interested in joining on June 8—or would like to explore an alternative date—please reach out to Pastor Duane or Pastor Kory. Read more…

By First Church, ago

A Heartfelt Thank You and Farewell to Mari & Stacy

First Church wants to share a huge thank you and a very fond farewell to our Family Ministry team members who are moving on to great things this month: Mari Pickard-Carlisle, who has been an incredible teacher of the Middles Sunday School class and a huge blessing to all the young people she’s worked with in Lafayette and Indianapolis, is moving to California. Her last day will be Sunday, May 11, and we wish her Read more…

By First Church, ago

LUM We’ve Got Talent 2025

What a night! We were thrilled to be part of LUM’s We’ve Got Talent on Friday, April 11, a joyful evening filled with incredible performances, community spirit, and generosity. Together, we helped raise nearly $19,000 for the LUM Good Samaritan Fund, which directly supports families in our county facing urgent financial crises. We’re especially grateful for the talented individuals who represented First Church: Pastor Kory Pritchett, Ella Robyne, Katie Schneider, and Cade Quinn. Thank you Read more…

By First Church, ago

Reflections on the Spring 2025 GBCS Board Meeting in Los Angeles

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 Church in Torrance, CA, and its pastor, Rev. Allison Mark, who also serves as our Board Chairperson. I am profoundly grateful to Rev. Mark and Read more…

By First Church, ago
First Church Prevue

March 2025 Prevue

The March 2025 Prevue is here! This edition includes a special Lenten message from Pastor Duane Carlisle, schedules for Lenten worship and Holy Week, and details on current Adult Education offerings. You’ll also find a message of gratitude from the Pritchett Family, information on the upcoming LUM We’ve Got Talent event featuring Pastor Kory, and highlights of First Church in action! Download the March 2025 Prevue here or click on the image below to view the Read more…

By First Church, ago
Lenten Message from Pastor Duane

Everything [in] Between: A Lenten Message from Pastor Duane

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 that echoes the 40 years Israel wandered in the wilderness. The people of God had left the bondage of Egypt, yet they had not yet Read more…

By First Church, ago

2025 FUMC Foundation Scholarships

Each year the First United Methodist Church (FUMC) Foundation offers scholarships to students in the community, reflecting our dedication to education. Scholarship applications for 2025 are open now through Saturday, April 5, 2025. The FUMC Foundation scholarship committee will review all applications. Click on the scholarship names below to view each application: D.H. Patterson Memorial Scholarship This scholarship honors the memory of Mr. D.H. Patterson, long-time member of First United Methodist Church, the West Lafayette community, and Read more…

By First Church, ago