United Methodist Ministries of Mecosta County

03/24/2026

Holy Week is coming—a sacred journey that invites us to remember, reflect, and celebrate the story at the heart of our faith. We’d love for you to walk this week with us:

Join us for Holy Thursday at the United Church at 7:00 p.m. as we gather at the table and remember Jesus’ final night with his disciples.

On Good Friday, we’ll come together at Immanuel Lutheran at 12:00 noon to pause, reflect, and honor the depth of Christ’s love.

Then, we rise early for Easter Sunrise at Hemlock Park at 7:00 a.m.—a simple, powerful celebration of resurrection and new life.

And finally, we celebrate Easter in full voice and joy:
• Paris Campus at 9:30 a.m.
• First Church at 10:00 a.m.

Wherever you are on your journey, there is a place for you in this story—and a place for you with us this week.

03/17/2026

❄️ Office Closed – Winter Storm Update

Due to the ongoing winter storm and the road conditions across Mecosta County, the United Methodist Ministries of Mecosta County office will be closed Tuesday, March 17.

We encourage everyone in our community to stay home if you are able and avoid unnecessary travel until conditions improve. Your safety—and the safety of those working to clear roads and respond to emergencies—is what matters most.

Please take care of yourselves and check in on neighbors who may need a little extra support during the storm.

Stay safe and warm, friends. 💙

02/17/2026

The United Methodist Ministries of Mecosta County / First Church office will be closed today. Barbara Erb and Pastor Jeremy are available by phone, text, or email.

01/28/2026

The United Methodist Church deplores the use of violence, fear, separation, and intimidation as a means of creating social order. Such means do not build beloved community. We reaffirm our longstanding commitment to the sacred worth of every person and to the way of peace taught and embodied by Jesus.

We reaffirm our longstanding commitment to the sacred worth of every person and to the way of peace taught and embodied by Jesus. We stand against the separation of children from their families. We detest the inhumane, evil actions that are perpetuated by governmental authorities.

01/23/2026

In the spirit of Keep Making Peace, a new event sponsored by the Michigan Conference Board of Justice will take place at University UMC in East Lansing on Feb. 21 from 9 am to 4 pm ET. The goal is to empower Michigan UMs to be better justice-seekers in our world. Save the date.

Registration opens soon.

12/27/2025

Worship Cancellation – Sunday, December 28

United Methodist Ministries of Mecosta County will not be holding worship services on Sunday, December 28. While roads within the city are currently clear, we are aware that dangerous conditions still exist outside of town. Out of an abundance of caution, and with the safety of our congregation and community as our top priority, we have made the difficult decision to cancel worship for this Sunday.

It is never easy to cancel worship, but we believe this is the most responsible decision at this time. Please stay safe, check in on one another as you are able, and we look forward to gathering together again soon.

12/10/2025

Due to inclement weather, the church office is closed to ensure the safety of our staff. As a general reminder, whenever Big Rapids Public Schools are closed due to weather, the church office will also be closed. Voicemails and emails will be returned as soon as we are able. Thank you for your understanding, and please stay safe today.

11/29/2025

After spending considerable time monitoring the winter storm moving into our area — and with a Winter Storm Warning in effect through tomorrow morning — we’ve made the decision to cancel in-person worship for Sunday.

While conditions inside the city may vary, many in our congregations live on rural and secondary roads that may not be plowed or treated in time for safe travel. With heavy snow, slick roads, and poor visibility expected overnight and early tomorrow, your safety is our priority.

Here’s the plan for tomorrow:.. No in-person worship at any campus... Instead of a live service, a message will be posted on Facebook and YouTube on Sunday afternoon, available for you to watch whenever is safest and most convenient... Please take care of yourselves, check on neighbors, and stay warm.

If you have a need during the storm — whether it’s help with food, heat, transportation, or checking in — please reach out. Many in our community may need additional support at this time. If you’re able to help someone else, this is a wonderful moment to embody that care.


If you would like to submit a prayer request or check in, you can do that here: www.bigrapidsfirst.org/checkin

If you would like to give electronically, you can do so at: www.ummecosta.org/give

Be are the announcements (beginning with a TL;DR snapshot) from this week’s newsletter.

If you’re staying inside tomorrow, I hope it offers a moment of reflection, hope, and grounding as we enter this holy season together.

Thank you for your flexibility and understanding. Weather may change our plans, but it does not change who we are as a community — connected, caring, and committed to one another.

If you need anything or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out by calling the church at 231-796-7771.

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TL;DR – This Week at UMMMC
.. Adopt-A-Family – Gift tags available at the First Church Fellowship Hall board; unwrapped gifts due Dec. 14; wrapping party Dec. 16. Paris Campus and mobility-friendly participation options available.
.. Adult Christmas Party (Dec 13 @ 5:30 PM) – Lasagna dinner, childcare provided, White Elephant Gift Exchange; RSVP by Dec. 7.
.. Christmas Eve Services – 5 PM at Paris (Candlelight) & 7 PM at First Church (Candlelight with Communion). Volunteers needed.
.. Monthly Men’s Breakfast (Starting January) – Pastor Jeremy is gauging interest for a new discipleship and service focused men’s ministry.
.. 2026 Volunteer Opportunities – Fellowship Hosts, Communion Stewards, Greeters, and Ushers needed for the new year.
.. Think About It: Week One – Reflection on Vigilant Hope with questions, prayer, and a weekly practice.
.. Year-End Giving – 2025 contributions must be received by Sunday, Dec. 28 to count toward this year.

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FAMILY NEWS - Week of November 30 - December 6, 2025

HAPPENING THIS WEEK
Monday, December 1
12PM - Alcoholics Anonymous @ Third Ave

Tuesday, December 2
9AM - Ministry Staff Meeting
10AM - Gift Wrapping @ Angels Of Action
12PM - Alcoholics Anonymous @ Third Ave
6:30PM - SOUL Circle @ First
7PM - Alcoholics Anonymous @ Paris

Wednesday, December 3
10AM - SOUL Circle @ First
11:30AM - Community Lunch @ Third Ave
4PM - Christmas Choir Rehearsal

Thursday, December 4
5:30PM - Community Dinner @ First
7PM - Alcoholics Anonymous @ Paris

Friday, December 5
12PM - Alcoholics Anonymous @ Third Ave

Saturday, December 6
11AM - Alcoholics Anonymous @ Paris
11:30AM - Community Lunch @ Third Ave

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Adopt-A-Family Christmas Outreach
This year, UMMMC is sponsoring two local families who could use a little extra care and support during the Christmas season. Together, we have the opportunity to surround them with love, generosity, and the joy of knowing they’re not alone.

Family One: A single mother raising two young daughters.

Family Two: A single father caring for his son who has special needs.

Beginning Sunday, November 30, you’ll find detailed gift information posted on the Adopt-A-Family bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall at the Downtown Campus (First Church). If you feel led to participate, simply choose an item, write your name beside it, and return the UNWRAPPED gift to First Church no later than Sunday, December 14.

If you worship at the Paris Campus—or if mobility or transportation makes participation difficult—there are still several ways to join in! You can sign up by calling Larisa, Jackie, or Barb in the church office (who can check the board for you), shop online and have items shipped directly to the church, drop off gifts at the Paris Campus for volunteer pickup, or give financially so that volunteers can shop on your behalf. However you participate, we are grateful.

We will wrap all gifts together on Tuesday, December 16, from 2–4PM in the Fellowship Hall at the Downtown Campus (First Church). Whether you’re a seasoned gift-wrapper or someone who simply enjoys being part of something meaningful, join us!

If you have any questions, please contact Barb in the church office and she will help you get in touch with the organizers.

Thank you for helping us make Christmas brighter for these families. Your kindness truly makes a difference.

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Adult Christmas Party - December 13 @ 5:30PM
Everyone from all UMMMC campuses is invited to our Adult Christmas Party on Saturday, December 13, at 5:30PM at the First Church Campus. This event is designed for adults to relax and enjoy an evening together; childcare will be provided on-site.

We’ll share a lasagna dinner (beef, seafood, and vegetable options). Please bring a salad or dessert to add to the meal, if you are able.

We’ll also have a White Elephant Gift Exchange - just bring one wrapped gift (new, used, or regifted). If bringing a gift is a burden for any reason, please let Pastor Jeremy know and we will have a wrapped gift ready for you so that everyone can participate. If you need a ride to the event, please let us know. We want everyone to be able to join us.

Please RSVP by Sunday, December 7 by emailing or calling Barb in the church office or by signing up on the Fellowship Hall bulletin board. Volunteers are also needed for set-up on December 12.

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Christmas Eve Worship Services
We will offer two Christmas Eve services this year as we celebrate the wonder of Christ’s birth and the light that breaks into our world.

5:00PM - Paris Campus, Candlelight Service

7:00PM - First Church Campus, Candlelight with Communion

If you’d like to volunteer to serve on Christmas Eve at either campus, please contact Pastor Jeremy or Barb in the church office.

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Interested in a Monthly Men’s Breakfast?
As we look ahead to the new year, Pastor Jeremy is exploring the idea of launching a monthly Men’s Breakfast beginning in January. Pastor Jeremy says, "My hope is to create a relaxed, welcoming space where the men of UMMMC and our community can share a meal, build relationships, and also spend intentional time in discipleship, conversation, and serving together."

Before moving forward, we'd love to hear from you. Would you be interested in attending a monthly Men’s Breakfast? Your feedback will help determine the best schedule and format.

If this sounds like something you’d enjoy—or if you have ideas you’d like to share—please reach out to Pastor Jeremy or contact Barb in the church office. We look forward to exploring this opportunity for fellowship and spiritual growth together!

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Volunteer Opportunities for 2026
As we prepare for the new year, we’re building teams to help create a warm, welcoming Sunday experience at UMMMC.
.. Fellowship Hosts – Provide simple refreshments after worship at First Church. Individuals, families, or groups welcome.
.. Communion Stewards – Prepare the bread and cup before worship (about one hour, once a month).
.. Greeters – Offer a warm welcome and help people feel at home when they arrive.
.. Ushers – Distribute bulletins, assist with seating, and help keep our worship space ready.

If you’re interested or want to learn more, please contact Barb Erb in the church office or Pastor Jeremy. Thank you for helping us build a welcoming, vibrant community!

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Think About It – Week One: Vigilant Hope

Hope is not something we drift into—it’s something we practice. In a world that constantly pulls our attention toward fear, division, and exhaustion, hope can feel like a luxury or a distraction. But biblically, hope is neither wishful thinking nor naïve optimism. It is the courageous decision to stay awake to the possibility that God is already at work, even when we can’t yet see the full picture.

Isaiah invites us to imagine a world where weapons become tools for growth and nations choose peace over violence—an impossible dream unless we believe God is not finished remaking the world. And Jesus, speaking into the uncertainty of his time, doesn’t say “figure it all out,” but instead, “stay awake.” Vigilance, in Jesus’ hands, is not anxiety; it’s attention. A posture of looking for God’s nearness in the ordinary, the small, the unexpected.

As you move through this first week of Advent, consider how hope invites you to pay attention, to soften your spirit, and to turn toward God’s dream with intentionality and courage.

Reflection Questions.. Where in your life do you feel spiritually tired or numb—and how might hope be inviting you to “stay awake” in that place?
.. What “weapons” (habits, responses, assumptions, defenses) is God inviting you to reshape into something life-giving?
.. What signs—small or large—have reminded you this week that God is near?
.. When you imagine the world Isaiah describes, what emotions rise up in you: longing, skepticism, curiosity, resistance, hope? Why?
.. How might you practice “vigilant hope” in one concrete way this week?

Prayer for the Week
Holy One, in the places where we feel weary, awaken us. Where despair whispers, speak your promise. Where we’ve grown numb, touch us with your light. Teach us to hope with our eyes open, to watch for signs of your presence, and to trust that you are still shaping the world toward peace, justice, and wholeness. Let hope take root in us this week—not as optimism, but as courage. Amen.

Putting It into Practice
Take one small step toward hope this week. It doesn’t need to be dramatic or complicated. It might be:.. Choosing a slower pace for one morning... Reaching out to someone you’ve been meaning to encourage.
Practicing a moment of silence each day to breathe and pay attention... Refusing to participate in a cycle of negativity or complaint.
Naming one thing you see that reflects God’s presence in the world.

Whatever you choose, let it be a step toward the light—a gentle but intentional act of defiance against despair, and a way of walking in the direction of God’s dream. Remember: hope doesn’t ask you to have everything figured out, it simply asks you to stay awake.

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All financial contributions intended for 2025 must be received no later than Sunday, December 28. Gifts received after that date will be recorded in the 2026 giving year.

10/13/2025

An Important Update from United Methodist Ministries of Mecosta County

After much prayer, conversation, and discernment, the Leadership Team of United Methodist Ministries of Mecosta County has made the difficult decision to discontinue worship services at our Third Avenue Campus, effective at the end of October. The final worship service will take place on Sunday, October 26, followed by a potluck luncheon as we gather to celebrate the years of faithful ministry and the many lives touched through this congregation.

This decision was not made lightly, nor was it ever part of a plan to reduce the number of campuses within UMMMC. Our hope has always been for three vital worshiping communities, but our greater promise has been to live faithfully into our mission, vision, and core values. As we’ve continued to grow and discern together, it became clear that change was necessary for us to live out those commitments with integrity and care.

We give thanks for the many years of worship, service, and community that have taken place at Third Avenue — for the prayers lifted, friendships formed, and love shared within these walls and beyond.

It is our hope that the building itself will continue to serve the neighborhood and in a way that allows us to expand outreach and resourcing for seniors, families, youth, and children in the Third Avenue neighborhood.

UMMMC remains committed to the mission of The United Methodist Church: to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. That mission continues through the ministries of United Methodist Ministries of Mecosta County as we worship, serve, and grow together at our North (Paris) and Downtown (First) campuses. Wherever you join us, you will find a community of faith that welcomes, affirms, and walks together in love.

06/22/2025

A Pastoral Response to the US Bombing of Iran
Rev. Jeremy Wicks, UMMMC Executive Pastor

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Ordered by President Trump, yesterday’s attack bypassed congressional approval, international consensus, and any serious attempt at diplomacy. It was justified in the name of security, yet it achieved only further destabilization, increased risk of retaliation, and the telling message that military might substitutes for moral leadership.

We’ve seen this before, and we know where it leads. As people of faith, we must speak up.

As United Methodists, we don’t pretend the nation must answer to our doctrines. Yet these beliefs shape us, and they guide how we respond.

Our Social Principles remind us that “We deplore war and all other forms of violent conflict and urge the peaceful settlement of all disputes.” And that “We reject the use of war as an instrument of national foreign policy and insist that every peaceful and diplomatic means of resolution be exhausted before the start of armed conflicts.”

We’re also called to question preemptive violence, insisting it must be proportionate, limited, and a last resort against clear threats. This action doesn’t meet that test.

Our theological stance draws from a radical vision of the Kin-dom of God that embodies a way starkly different from the empires of the world. Instead of power-with and coercion, we are called to practice power-under: surrendering coercive force and embracing sacrificial, self-giving love, even for enemies.

Peace in this Kin-dom is not passive - it’s costly, disruptive, countercultural, and faithful.

This strike wasn’t about safeguarding peace, it was an abdication of peacemaking. Decisions were made without exhausting diplomacy, and without restraint or proportionality. They reflect a worldview that treats other nations as adversaries, not neighbors.

But our faith teaches otherwise. Jesus refused violence even when attacked. He redirected power toward love and transformation. He invites his followers to embody peace, trust, and resurrection - not violence and warmongering.

This is the Kin-dom we serve. A Kin-dom where wars are not an option and citizens reject the very logic of violence.

Our Social Principles call us “to care and work for systemic justice for all people affected by war, and to advocate for peacemaking and nonviolent conflict transformation in global and local conflicts.” That is not optional—it’s essential.

We speak not as prophets of power, but as witnesses to the Prince of Peace.

We may not direct national policy, but we must live our convictions.

We may not stop another strike or retaliatory actions, but we can refuse the narrative that violence is inevitable.

We may not control global actors, but we can lift a faithful vision of the Kin-dom: God’s way of peace, rooted in justice, sacrifice, and nonviolence.

May our refusal to remain silent and our willingness to bear witness to peace testify to a different nation - one not marked by empire, but by the cross.

Peace begins with the choices we make.

Peace begins with us.

Peace,
JW

06/04/2025

🕊️ This Summer, We Worship Together!

Sunday June 8 - August 31, all UMMMC campuses will gather together for one worship service at 10:00 AM at the First Church Campus (304 Elm Street, Big Rapids).

It’s a chance to reconnect, grow closer, and explore what it means to be ONE church with many stories. 💒💬

☕ Fellowship & coffee to follow
🚗 Need a ride? Call the church office: (231) 796-7771
📍 Learn more: www.ummecosta.org

Let’s show up for one another this summer. We can't wait to see you there!