First United Methodist Church

10/19/2026

Thank you to Rev. Beth Miller for preaching today and to Nott Wheeler for leading worship in the absence of our pastor.

We welcome Rev. Beth Miller to the pulpit today as the pastor is ou...

10/12/2026

We want to rush ahead of God, but just as the farmer cannot control when the rains come, we have to be patient and trust in God. There is work do be done in the meantime, but in the midst of it all we are called to endure with patience and trust.

https://youtube.com/live/Bz0XUOC0pNk

10/05/2026

We tend to think and act as if the future is guaranteed. But, James reminds us that we are a "mist," and that our life on this earth is uncertain. What is certain, however, is the love and presence of God. Do we look to ourselves and our own resources for the present and the future, or do we trust in the God who gives us each day?

09/28/2026

James issues a call to resist the devil and draw near to God. He calls his readers "sinners" and "double-minded," which are not easy words to hear! And yet, it is a call to submit our lives fully to God, knowing that when God is with us, nothing can stop us. Evil has no power over the one who is devoted to Christ.

After talking about words being backed up by action in demonstratin...

09/21/2026

James notes that the tongue cannot be tamed by any human being. However, with God's help through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can tame and train our tongues, hearts, and actions to better reflect the will of God and recognize the image of God in each other.

James issues a warning about the dangers of harmful speech in teach...

09/14/2026

James continues in this theme of connecting faith and works. A misreading of James by taking particular verses out of context of his overall letter and overall Scripture would try to claim that James is advocating for "works righteousness." But, what he is talking about is how our faith is activated and energized by the works we do. John Wesley once said that a person who is justified by grace through faith is "zealous for good works."

Faith without works is dead, but faith with works is a living and vibrant faith that has the power to transform the world as God transforms hearts.

09/10/2026

Our Fall, 2026 Bible studies have started! Abide meets on Wednesday mornings at 10:00am in the church parlor and Wednesday Night Bible study meets at 5:30pm, also in the church parlor. This semester we are studying the Gospel of Matthew.

If you are unable to join us in person, the pastor records a lecture version of the lesson each week whereas the in-person study provides time for discussion and questions.

Here is the link for lesson #1. We also invite you to subscribe to our You Tube Channel, which is where this link takes you, and to look at the other studies located on the channel. Go to the "Playlist" section to browse the different studies contained there.

This lesson gives a brief introduction and then focuses on the gene...

09/09/2026

We start back our Fall Bibles studies today! You are invited to come learn more about the life of Jesus, the depth of love for us, and why the salvation of the world was part of God's plan from the beginning!

You are welcome to come at either time. We meet in the church parlor, which is a room located in the building that houses the church offices and is located across the street from the church's Greenspace. You can park in the smaller church parking lot and walk across the street to join us.

09/08/2026

After talking about the sin of partiality in honoring those of high status and dishonoring those of lower economic status, James reminds us that we are all to fulfill what he calls the "royal law of love." That royal law is the Great Commandment given to us by Jesus to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

While in some ways it is fine to honor certain people in society, the real sin is how we too often dishonor those who we think cannot do anything for us, those who are the most vulnerable in society, those whom we may consider to be beneath us.

And yet, we also remember that Christ died for us not because of our worthiness but because of His love. So, we are to love others with the same care, honor, respect, and love with which God loves us. In so doing, we honor God in our lives and make an impact on another person, particularly those who may not have experienced much love and compassion in their own lives.