F irst Pulse
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First United Methodist Church Grand Rapids | grfumc.org
April 2019
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Stories from First Church and the impact on the lives of our community.
F irst Pulse
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April 2019
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Alleluia – Join us for two Easter worship celebrations at 9:15 and 10:45 am, both in the sanctuary. Service of Prayer for Inclusion on Tuesday, February 26.
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Children & Worship class held Sunday mornings.
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OUR MISSION To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
OUR PURPOSE
To fulfill the call of Christ to be spiritually alive in the city while embracing the world.
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INCLUSIVITY Inclusiveness means openness, acceptance, and support that enable all persons to participate in the life of the Church, the community, and the world; therefore, inclusiveness denies every semblance of discrimination.
Pastor’s Message
April already? As difficult as it is sometimes to watch the pages of the calendar turn so quickly, there is no question that I, along with almost all of us, am ready to have winter behind us. This winter in particular has seemed to drag on, and on, and on. It is GOOD, very good, to have spring on the way and nothing points to spring like April. At First Church, the focus of April is Holy Week and Easter. Certainly, all of our vital ministries continue day after day and week after week, but Easter is the primary event of the Christian church. Our faith, hope, and love center around the message of Easter. Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday on April 14 with worship at 10:45 am. Palm Sunday is always a festive service, but this year, we will welcome new members and celebrate baptism as well. Baptism is offered to children, young people, or adults, so if baptism is of interest to you, please contact the church office. There is also a pancake brunch fundraiser for our youth mission trip (details on the back cover) and Stations of the Cross: “In the Faces of Distress” from 5:30 7:00 pm on the church lawn. This is a re-examination of the stations of the cross using images from Latin America. Holy Week includes: • Holy Thursday (or as some call it, Maundy Thursday) – of all the worship services that we do throughout the year, this is perhaps my favorite. Communion is always deeply moving for me, but particularly on Maundy Thursday. It is a rehearsal of the Last Supper, when Jesus met with his friends, forever transforming the breaking of bread and drinking the cup. Please join us in the sanctuary at 7:00 pm for this meaningful communion service. • Good Friday – we will be hosting the downtown cooperative Good Friday worship at noon. This one-hour worship experience will poignantly recall the crucifixion event. This year, Rev. Dr. Alvin Padilla, the Vice President and Academic Dean
from Western Theological Seminary, will be our guest preacher. You will find his biography and picture included in this edition of the First Pulse. • Easter – we will have two worship experiences at 9:15 and 10:45 am. The resurrection celebration will include the great Easter hymns of the church, special music, and an atmosphere of celebration as we worship God in the spirit of new life in Christ. It will be a morning to remember. I invite and encourage you to make a priority of joining us for all the services outlined above. You might be surprised with how Easter worship will come alive for you because you have participated in the journey from the upper room, to the cross, and then, the resurrection! Finally, I want to share a brief update on our after General Conference work. We have formed a steering committee at First Church to do important research and find ways to collaborate with other United Methodist laity, clergy, and congregations as together, we prepare to respond to the Judicial Council’s ruling at the end of April. Judicial Council will determine the constitutionality of the General Conference decisions made in St. Louis. There is more strategic thinking and planning by United Methodists in the United States than can adequately be described. There is a significant network of resistance forming all across the church to stand against the models of implementation that were voted on in St. Louis. But the first step is to wait until Judicial Council makes their ruling. There are preliminary plans as well as legislation that is being drafted among a large number of congregations in Michigan that is unifying in ways that I have never seen before. Continue to pray for God’s guidance in what is done as well as the way it is done. Stay tuned. Happy spring, a blessed Holy Week and Easter, and a growth-filled April to us all! Pastor Bob PS – We will resume the 8:15 am Worship Services from April 28 – May 12. First Pulse | April ‘19
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Radical H ospitality Strength in Diversity
When I was young, my world was very small. I grew up five miles outside of a small town. I lived on a dirt road with very few neighbors. (It was so rural that one day my neighbor’s pet pigs got loose and were running around my front yard.) Everybody looked the same and thought the same. We had only a few students in my entire high school who weren’t white. We had no openly gay students. I only remember one student in my class who had a parent who was an immigrant. One. Thankfully, my college experiences offered much more diversity. I created friendships with people who didn’t look, act, and think like myself. I married someone who was not white, not from a middle-class family, and not born in this country. I love that my children are Filipino-American and go to a school where only a third of the students are white – a place filled with different races, cultures, and languages. The relationships and experiences at First Church have also helped my world to grow. There is beauty in our diversity. We are a church that is in community with people who are homeless, with children growing up in poverty, and with families struggling with immigration issues. Before First Church, these were people I didn’t know, and I was missing out. Have you had a similar experience? Have you found that your world has grown since becoming a part of First Church? I think that’s why many of our members choose to drive in from all over the counties to come to First Church – we seek a community that offers diversity, rich worship, and the opportunity to make a real impact in the lives of others. The recent decisions of the 2019 General Conference leave me sad for our denomination, but not our congregation. I love that our church family is made up of people who are LGBTQ+ and straight. There is strength and creativity in diversity. I love that we are in a space where I can say to someone, no matter their orientation or gender identity, “You
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are truly welcome here. Wait, you are needed here.” As we take steps into the future, we need to continue to declare to our LGBTQ+ family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers, a message of inclusion. We can’t let the news stories of discrimination be the voice our city hears. Our city needs to hear a message of inclusion, of love, kindness, and of hope. If each of us works to share a message of inclusion, we can continue to make a positive impact. As we look toward the future, I am excited to see us continue to grow in diversity. I challenge you to look around our congregation and ask yourself – “Who’s missing?” Then be bold and invite your friends, family, coworkers, classmates, and neighbors into community. Not only will our church grow, but our worlds will grow. As an old children’s song goes: “I am the church. You are the church. We are the church together.” Sami Marasigan Director of Hospitality and Invitation
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PASSIONATE WORSHIP Music and Arts Ministry
“For Everyone Born… A Place at the Table”
Music and words are powerful. We know this because we have experienced it. Music and movements, (political, social, and religious) go together when powerful words are set to music that galvanize and energize those dedicated to the cause. Music unifies those who need to band together in order to accomplish change, especially change that leads toward greater justice.
movement of social justice and equality: Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Max Roach, Nina Simone, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Peter, Paul, and Mary, among many others. Other significant political and social movements such as the environmental and equal rights movements have had their supportive music and musicians.
One of the models for use of music to help effect change is found in the labor and union movement of the early 1900s. The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), known as “The Wobblies,” published a songbook that continues to be updated to this day called “The Little Red Songbook” (songs to fan the flames of discontent). It is interesting to note that “management” was in many ways responsible for the genesis of the book. A frequent management tactic was to send the Salvation Army Band to the worker’s gatherings, playing familiar hymns in an attempt to drown out pro-union speakers. Instead of making more noise in protest, the “Wobblies” crafted new words in support of their cause to fit the meter of the old hymns. Out of this initial spark, protest songwriting becomes very popular because it “articulated the frustrations, hostilities, and humor of the homeless and the dispossessed.” (Kombluh, Rebel Voices). One of the most popular songs of the IWW is “Solidarity Forever” written in 1915 by Ralph Chaplin and sung to the tune of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Since then, the lengthy list of distinguished musicians who have sung this song include Pete Seeger and Leonard Cohen.
And now, we too, find ourselves in a movement for inclusion and affirmation. This “inclusion” movement in the United Methodist Church is focused primarily on LGTBQIA+ individuals and their full “inclusion” in the life of the church. What is the music associated with this movement? I’m not sure that a particular song or hymn has emerged just yet, though there are many that support and amplify this message. “For Everyone Born” by the New Zealand poet, Shirley Erena Miller, is one hymn that seems to be getting increased usage. Her text takes on themes from the United Nations’ document, “Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” and explores themes of shelter, safety, food, employment rights, freedom of speech, and inclusive worship. Here is a sampling of that hymn, with verse 1 and the refrain:
Perhaps the best example of the effective marriage of music and movement is found in the Civil Rights movement. Drawing upon slave songs and spirituals, the movement effectively used music to encourage, support, and lead the charge of freedom and justice for all. The church song, “I Will Overcome” was used to broadcast the message of African-American tobacco workers, later becoming “We Shall Overcome” when it was adopted by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). The SNCC was formed in 1960 by college students devoted to nonviolent action toward creating what Martin Luther King, Jr. called “the beloved community.” Dr. King quoted these words in his final sermon on Sunday, March 31st, 1968. Think of the amazing musicians and folk-singers of the 1960s who married music and message to further a
For everyone born, a place at the table, for everyone born, clean water and bread, a shelter, a space, a safe place for growing, for everyone born, a star overhead… and God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy, compassion and peace: yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice, justice and joy! When this hymn was first published, this verse was listed as optional. Now, it is optional no longer. For gay and for straight, a place at the table, a covenant shared, a welcoming space, a rainbow of race and gender and color, for gay and for straight, the chalice of grace… Eric Strand Director of Music and the Arts © 1998 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net A-703279 First Pulse | April ‘19
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April 2019 Monday, April 1 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study 6:30 pm – Stephen Ministry Tuesday, April 2 7:00 am – Work Program 10:00 am – Journey with Jesus Through Lent at Clark 5:30 pm – SPRC Meeting 5:30 pm – Moms’ Group: Lenten Book Study Wednesday, April 3 6:00 pm – Disciple I Thursday, April 4 9:00 am – Fixin’ ‘n’ Fellowship 6:00 pm – Jubilation Ringers 7:15 pm – Chancel Choir Friday, April 5 12:00 pm – Men’s Lenten Luncheon Sunday, April 7 Communion Sunday 9:00 am – Infant/Toddler Nurseries 9:15 am – Church School Classes for all ages 9:15 am – Church Tour 10:15 am – Choir Rehearsals 10:45 am – Sunday Worship 11:00 am – Children & Worship and Shine: Sensory Room 5:00 pm – Jr High and Sr High Youth Group 5:30 pm – Gentle Yoga for 50s and Beyond A
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Monday, April 8 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study 5:00 pm – Board of Trustees Mtg. Tuesday, April 9 7:00 am – Work Program 10:00 am – Journey with Jesus Through Lent at Clark 5:30 pm – Moms’ Group: Lenten Book Study 5:30 pm – Finance Committee Wednesday, April 10 6:00 pm – Disciple I 6:00 pm – Sandwiches With Jesus Thursday, April 11 6:00 pm – Jubilation Ringers 7:15 pm – Chancel Choir Friday, April 12 12:00 pm – Men’s Lenten Luncheon Saturday, April 13 9:30 am – Feeding America 10:00 am – Palm Sunday Brunch Set-Up Sunday, April 14 Palm Sunday 9:00 am – Infant/Toddler Nurseries 9:15 am – Church School Classes for all ages 10:15 am – Choir Rehearsals 10:45 am – Sunday Worship 11:00 am – Children & Worship and Shine: Sensory Room 5:00 pm – Jr High and Sr High Youth Group
5:30 pm – Gentle Yoga for 50s and Beyond 5:30 pm – Stations of the Cross: In The Faces of Distress Monday, April 15 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study 5:30 pm – Congregational Care Meal & Training Event Tuesday, April 16 7:00 am – Work Program 10:00 am – Journey with Jesus Through Lent at Clark 5:30 pm – Moms’ Group: Lenten Book Study 6:00 pm – FAN of I Light: Specialized Grief Group 6:30 pm – Making Choices Michigan: Decision Day Wednesday, April 17 9:00 am – Caring Connection 6:00 pm – Disciple I Thursday, April 18 9:00 am – Fixin’ ‘n’ Fellowship 6:00 pm – Chancel Choir 7:00 pm – Holy Thursday Service Friday, April 19 12:00 pm – Good Friday Community Service
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Sunday, April 21 Easter Sunday Family Promise/IHN 9:00 am – Infant/Toddler Nurseries 9:15 am – Sunday Worship 9:15 am – Children’s Chapel 10:45 am – Sunday Worship 10:45 am – Children & Worship and Shine: Sensory Room 3:00 pm – Clark Easter Service
Thursday, April 25 Family Promise/IHN 6:00 pm – Jubilation Ringers 7:15 pm – Chancel Choir
Monday, April 22 Church Building and Offices Closed Family Promise/IHN 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study
Saturday, April 27 Family Promise/IHN
Tuesday, April 23 Family Promise/IHN 7:00 am – Work Program 6:30 pm – Congregational Care Visioning Committee Wednesday, April 24 Family Promise/IHN 6:00 pm – Disciple I 6:00 pm – Young Adult Group: Bowling at Wengers
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Friday, April 26 Family Promise/IHN 6:00 pm – Moms’ Group: Mom’s Night Out at Zivio Modern European Tavern
5:00 pm – Sunday Soul Sisters 5:30 pm – Gentle Yoga for 50s and Beyond Monday, April 29 9:00 am – MLK Spring Outing 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study Tuesday, April 30 7:00 am – Work Program 9:00 am – MLK Spring Outing
Sunday, April 28 Family Promise/IHN 8:00 am – Infant/Toddler Nurseries 8:15 am – Sunday Worship 8:30 am – Children’s Chapel 9:15 am – Church School Classes for all ages 10:15 am – Choir Rehearsals 10:45 am – Sunday Worship 11:00 am – Children & Worship and Shine: Sensory Room 12:00 pm – Unplugged: Service Day 3:00 pm – MLK Spring Outing 5:00 pm – Jr High and Sr High Youth Group
Our youth and the youth from La Nueva Esperanza began a new joint youth group on January 13. The Service of Prayer for Inclusion on Tuesday, February 26.
First Pulse | April ‘19
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Intentional Faith Development First Church and La Nueva Youth Group Partnership On January 13, the youth from La Nueva joined our junior and senior high youth groups for the very first time. La Nueva Esperanza UMC is a Spanish-speaking United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids that we have been developing a partnership with. Over the past few months, we have taken time on Sunday nights to get to know one another through a variety of games, service projects, and dinner conversations. The youth from La Nueva bring a whole new variety of personalities and
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perspectives to our youth group. This has been particularly helpful as the youth have begun to collaborate on ideas for this year’s Youth Service. Our partnership with La Nueva is off to a great start, and we are looking forward to seeing how
this partnership continues to grow throughout the year and beyond! Emily Uebbing Director of Junior High Youth Heather Yzenbaard Director of Senior High Youth
Risk-Taking Outreach and Mission In the season of Lent, we come face-to-face with mortality and brokenness within ourselves and our world – not in order to dwell in fear or shame, but with the knowledge that in the midst of death and despair, the hope of new life is on the horizon. These past few weeks, as Pastor Bob has led us through the messages to the seven churches in Revelation, I’ve been thinking a lot about who our church is and how we are called to proclaim transformation and resurrection in our world. I believe that the mission and outreach ministries of First Church are significant ways in which our community points to the Easter hope of resurrection and new life in Christ. Last month, one of our longtime mission and outreach champions at First Church passed away. Nel Kastner was actively involved in mission and outreach at First Church for many years, and her service and passion were sources of inspiration for many. Iain Charnley, Missions Chair at First Church, reflected: “I got to know Nel Kastner when I joined the Missions Commission at First Church. Her bright presence and devotion to service were evident in every aspect of her life. I could always count on Nel for an update about Marty and Hollee Graber’s hospital project in Kenya, for an encouraging word about an upcoming mission trip, or fundraising opportunity. Even after she retired from service on the Missions Commission she remained interested and aware. Her legacy lives on in so many people that she encouraged and led over the years.” Jer Hon-Hawkins, Director of the MLK Tutoring Center, reflected: “I’ve been honored to treasure Nel for nearly 20 years. The massive professional accomplishments of her life, her mission outreach, and caring for others locally are amazing exclamation points to her life. More than once I told her, ‘I want to be like you when I grow up!’ Needless to say, I have a long way to go! Every time we met, Nel would emphatically ask about MLK, specifically how the kids were doing. Her generous end of life gift to our FUMCMLK Partnership is a testament to her thoughtful consideration of others and belief she embodied to
nurture marginalized children to improve their future lives. Nel’s legacy will continue in profound ways because of her generous spirit.” Nel’s legacy goes beyond her acts of service and example. Her generosity has provided gifts to four areas of mission and social outreach at First Church. Her estate has provided funds for mission trip scholarships, camp scholarships, The Work Program, and the MLK Tutoring Program. Each vital ministry receiving these funds will be able to serve more people, more effectively, due to her gift. For the Missions Commission this means that we can continue to provide for 20% of every adult mission team member’s cost and 30% of every youth’s cost while also providing funds for those who may not be able to afford to participate on a mission trip at all. It will also allow us to explore ways to partner with young adults and church members from other congregations in our area. In addition, Nel’s gift will help support and sustain The Work Program for many months, serving as a great benefit to our Heartside neighbors. Her generous gift to our camp scholarship fund will ensure that children and youth of our congregation will continue to have the opportunity to experience God’s love and hear Christ’s call in their lives. Likewise, her gift will help our ongoing tutoring ministry with the students at MLK school, who will continue to receive one-onone tutoring to empower them for their future. While we certainly miss Nel’s bright presence in our church family and deeply grieve her loss, at the same time we celebrate her life and continue to be blessed by her gifts. As Nel’s legacy continues to encourage and enrich the mission and outreach ministries at First Church, we are reminded of Easter and our hope for new life. May we reflect on how we are each called to be living examples of hope and transformation both now and in our years to come. Dr. Joan VanDessel Director of Community Outreach and Mission First Pulse | April ‘19
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EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY Resource Development
Sitting On The Sidelines As we worship together at First Church, we are regularly informed about the many acts of kindness and generosity that we, as a congregation, do on a regular basis. Every Sunday, we hear about opportunities for ministry and outreach, seeking willing and inspired participants.
We have also been blessed with incredibly generous financial gifts already this year. There have been large gifts to The Work Program, to the MLK Ministry, to camping programs, and other missions work. In addition, even despite the uncertainty brought about by General Conference, our regular giving is as high as it has ever been!
For many at First Church, these calls indeed result in action! People rise out of the pews and get involved, either with their time and talents, or with their generous financial gifts.
This means our First Church family is indeed answering the call to put faith into action! Every Sunday, as Pastor Bob concludes the service with the Benediction, he makes a final challenging statement to us all…to take what we have heard as a personal call to faithful witness. As evidenced by these examples, many are doing just that!
Yet, for others, the reaction is more like a nod of approval, and then remaining on the fringes of active witness and ministry. We are only a couple months into 2019, yet there have already been many examples of extravagant generosity from our faithful First Church family. There have been many unsung heroes comforting those in our congregation who are dealing with life issues that eventually we all face.
If you are one of those still kind of sitting on the sidelines, may these actions of your fellow First Church faith travelers be an inspiration to you to find ways to become active in ministry, and extravagantly generous with your financial resources. Thanks to all who make it so easy to cite example after example of how God is leading First Church to be a shining light in a dark hurting world, and even a hurting denomination. Your generosity is incredible!
Every week we have people participating in ministry at Martin Luther King Leadership Academy, with the Work Program, and at local charities. There are folks who have taught classes, served meals, assisted with Celebration of the Arts, offered rides to church, and on and on! First Church members have participated in the Nicaragua medical mission trip, both by going and by financially supporting the work of the team.
Chris Hawkins Finance Committee
A New Steering Committee for the Way Forward The aftermath of the decisions made at General Conference in February has birthed a new resolve within the United Methodist Church in the United States for clergy and laity to converse, study, and align themselves in ways that are unique in United Methodist history. In order to be pro-active, the Leadership Council of First Church has named a Steering Committee, whose purpose is to study, listen, pray, inform, and advise both the Leadership Council and the congregation in preparation for decisions that will potentially need to be made in the foreseeable future. At this time, the Steering Committee is organizing itself while awaiting the decisions of the Judicial Council which meets April 10
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23 – 26. The following people are serving on this committee. If you have questions, please contact them. • • • • • • • • •
Jill Peirce (Chairperson) David Bloss (Vice Chairperson) Iain Charnley Sherah Eavey Naomi García Chris Hawkins Laure Mieskowski Bill Uebbing Joan VanDessel (Staff Laison)
Congregational Care Response New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern responded to the racist and terrorist acts that killed 50 people worshiping at two mosques on Friday, March 15. Her response was straightforward in that she will never use the name of the shooter. She will not promote his cause using his name as reference point. Prime Minister Ardern’s response made a strong point. In order to counteract hate, you must get to the heart of the matter. Keeping him nameless decreases his power. In the face of hate, the world responds out of love. The Jewish community still healing from Pittsburgh reached out in prayerful support. Churches paused to pray for peace and unity. Each faith that calls Jerusalem home responded in prayer for the other. Finding a way to respond takes a great deal of courage and strength in the face of adversity and conflict. Difficult days and time are nothing new. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the early Christian community gathering in Rome, he taught them the way to respond to all people. “Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one
another with mutual affection; Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer; extend hospitality to strangers.” (Romans 12:9-15 selected vs) Paul responded to hate, distress, persecution, and conflict with a way of living that reflected one way that God uses power. God responds with love. As we continue the Lenten journey, we are surrounded by different personal and worldly problems. Together we look for ways to respond that help bring about the most good. At times, that is not giving power to those who use hate to promote an agenda of racism. Our work to counteract hate relies on prayerfully responding out of love. Our response is always critical drawing on the way of God that leads to a path of new beginnings. Rev. Tim Tuthill Associate Pastor and Director of Congregational Care
The congregation prayed for the Cuba Mission Team on March 24. They will be with our sister church in Herradura, Cuba from March 30 - April 6.
First Pulse | April ‘19
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Join us for
www.grfumc.org/lent
Holy Week!
Palm Sunday, April 14 — 10:45 am
Worship with a children’s palm processional, the chancel choir, and special music. Join us at 10:00 and 11:45 am for a pancake brunch fundraiser for the youth mission trip.
Holy Thursday, April 18 — 7:00 pm
A time of worship with the chancel choir and musical guests.
Good Friday, April 19 — 12:00 pm
A collaborative community service with guest speaker Dr. Alvin Padilla, Academic Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Western Theological Center.
Easter Sunday, April 21 — 9:15 & 10:45 am
Worship at 9:15 am with readings, hymns, and special music. Worship at 10:45 am with the chancel choir, readings, hymns, and special music.
First Church
Visit at www.grfumc.org for more events and details. Welcome to our congregation in the heart of Grand Rapids. We seek to be a faith community that is inclusive and affirming of ALL people. We welcome and celebrate: • All who are confident in their faith and those who question faith. • People of all races and ethnicities. • People of all sexual orientations and gender identities. • People of all ages, abilities, and economic circumstances. Fountain St NE
Jefferson Ave SE
Fulton St E
College Ave NE
First United Methodist Church 227 Fulton
Prospect Ave NE
Main Entrance
Lafayette Ave NE
Silver Line Fulton St Station
Barclay Ave NE
John St NE Ransom Ave NE
We look forward to connecting with you. Learn more about us by visiting www.grfumc.org or www.facebook.com/ grandrapidsfumc.