Join us on Sunday, May 19, for Pentecost Sunday! We have two services: 9 AM First Up Worship and 11 AM Celebrate Worship. We sometimes call Pentecost Sunday “the birth of the church”—the day we celebrate the beginnings of a movement of God’s Spirit that spread around the world in a unique and powerful way. Symbols of Pentecost include flames, wind and descending doves in red, yellow orange and white. This year, in addition to Read more…
Purdue OutCats (Outdoor Catholics) is a student-led outdooring ministry for Catholic young adults in the West Lafayette area. Rooted in Catholic teachings, this ministry provides a unique space for young adults to deepen their spiritual connection through outdoor activities, prayer, and service. With membership nearing 100 Purdue students, OutCats has been proudly tending to three local parks and forests, nurturing these outdoor spaces while nurturing friendships of faith. At the heart of their efforts lies Read more…
In this article, First Church member Diana Hoke recounts a poignant moment from our congregation’s recent past, where the symbolism of baptism merged with a powerful call to action. Inspired by the ceremony’s vows, Diana’s narrative illuminates the strength of collective action driven by love and compassion. You might recall this past winter when our congregation participated in a “Remembrance of Baptism” recitation on a gray and chilly Sunday morning. It was a lovely part Read more…
The postponed General Conference of the United Methodist Church is just around the corner! General Conference is scheduled for April 23 through May 3, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina. There is much that can happen and many who are hoping and praying for change in our denomination. Pastor Duane is a delegate to General Conference and part of the leadership in both the Indiana Room For All Coalition and Indiana Reconciling Ministries Network. Please join Read more…
Celebrate with us as we congratulate Pastor Kory Pritchett for his remarkable achievement as the runner-up in this year’s Lafayette Urban Ministry (LUM) We’ve Got Talent fundraiser! We are so proud of Pastor Kory’s talent and dedication. This extraordinary event unfolded on Friday, April 12, 2024, at St. Andrew United Methodist Church. The generosity of all who participated ensured that over $18,000 was contributed to the LUM Good Samaritan Fund, providing financial support to our Read more…
In this month’s prevue we celebrate Pastor Kory’s performance at the 2024 Lafayette Urban Ministry We’ve Got Talent fundraiser and lift up prayers for Pastor Duane and the upcoming United Methodist Church General Conference. Plus, read articles from congregant Diana Hoke and the Purdue OutCats (Outdoor Catholics). Download the April 2024 Prevue here or click on the image below to view the full issue. Scroll down to view past monthly prevues. Catch up on what Read more…
Registration for First Church Vacation Bible School (VBS) is now open! Our JUST Like Me: Digging in & Growing Deep program is June 3-7, 2024, from 9-11:30 AM, and is open to all kids who have just completed pre-k through fifth grade. Register online here. You can also register by phone (765-743-1285) or email (Ronda at rkroeschen@fumcwl.org). VBS Volunteers Needed. If you are interested, please complete this form. In JUST Like Me VBS, kids will Read more…
Barbara Krause has been a devoted Methodist since the early 1950s when she joined the MYF group in Indianapolis. A member of First Church since 1962, she’s served in various roles, including secretary of the Administrative Board, usher, greeter, liturgist, communion steward, women’s circle leader, and volunteer office receptionist. Barbara remains actively involved in Sunday School classes and church committees, embodying a steadfast commitment to her faith and service to others. Once upon a time, Read more…
“There’s no audition for true love. No matter what, you don’t have to earn it. If you’ve ever felt like an outcast, there’s good news if you’ve never heard it: God so loved the world He never left you out of it.” -“Whosoever,” Rend Collective PASTOR KORY — When I was in high school, our praise band would play songs with themes similar to Rend Collective’s “Whosoever” or Crowder’s “Come as You Are,” and I 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 DUANE — I was reading an article by Elizabeth Berry, a coaching and communication consultant who shares her wisdom on the LinkedIn platform. The article Read more…