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…
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
This Lenten season, we invite you to walk with us through the in-between spaces—the waiting, the wondering, the wrestling, and the hope. Together, we will encounter the sacred in the thresholds of our faith, trusting that God meets us in every moment, from dust to resurrection. Lenten Worship & Holy Week Gatherings Ash Wednesday – March 5, 2025 From Dust to Dust Join us as we mark the beginning of Lent with the imposition of Read more…
We’re excited to introduce Addison Dills, Mari Pickard-Carlisle, and Stacy Winter, the newest members of our Family Ministry team. Alongside Talitha Huber, Family Ministry Instructional Coordinator, they’re creating a welcoming space where children can grow in faith and community. Each brings unique experiences and passion for working with children, and we’re grateful for the gifts they bring to First Church. Read on to learn more about their backgrounds and what inspires them in their ministry. 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 at work in our community standing for love, peace, and justice. Every week it seems we have new people visiting to see who we are. Read more…
The February 2025 Prevue is here! This issue features a special message from Pastor Duane about what’s ahead this year, an introduction to our three new Family Ministry team members—Addison Dill, Mari Pickard-Carlisle, and Stacy Winter—plus updates on Confirmation classes for youth and new opportunities for Adult Education. Download the February 2025 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…