Mattoon First United Methodist Church

06/18/2026

AIR youth camp at Little Grassy is in full swing. Ella Viertel, Ella Mae Dusek, and Pastor Todd are having a blast. 🦉 🌳 🦌 🦋

06/12/2026

Wondering what happened at Annual Conference last week in Peoria?

Check out the summary of all the highlights and happenings…

https://www.igrc.org/ac2026summary?fbclid=IwZnRzaASYT1JleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEebprl5j-90de95aVXZFVuxLWGVJVjrv322M3MTnugbGocuxRIg2kiNMljIS8_aem_sc-efzhhKubMQaLYf1IckQ

By Paul Black The Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference gathered June 4-6 at the Peoria Civic Center with the theme, Love Boldly, based upon John 13:34-35, the first of three expressions focusing on the denomination’s new vision statement with a quadrennial theme of Rivers of Grace. The 2026 Ann...

06/11/2026

Worship this Week
Scripture: Isaiah 53:7-12
Sermon: "The Suffering Servant"

Announcements:

Gratitude from the Yan Family
Dear Church Family; On behalf of the entire Yan family, I would like to express our deepest gratitude for your
generous support of last week's Yan Family Concerts. We are truly touched by your kindness and generosity. Your donations were not only a financial blessing to our family, but also a powerful reminder of the love, encouragement, and support that surround us through our church community. Sharing music with all of you was a special joy for our family. Music has been an important part of our lives, and it was meaningful to celebrate and share it with those who have cared for us, prayed for us, and supported us over the years. We are deeply thankful for your friendship, your presence at the concerts, and your willingness to support our family. We feel incredibly blessed to be part of such a loving and caring church family. Thank you again for your kindness and for making the concerts such a memorable and meaningful experience for all of us.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Jiafeng

Parsonage Roof Replacement
The church trustees have determined that it’s time to replace the parsonage roof this summer due to age and intrusions from water and bats in the living spaces over the years. Roofing company quotes have ranged from $16,000 to $23,500 so far with more being sought plus $3,155 for bat mitigation. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact any of the trustees (Chair Shelley Ashby, Becky Thurn, Greg Kuhl, Joe Allison, and Building Manager Dan Compton) or Pastor Todd.

Office Hour Changes
Regular office hours are Thursday 9-12 with Pastor Todd and Fridays 9-2 with office manager Brooke Kepley. However, other obligations arise and we alter that schedule from time to time.
Thursday, June 18th office closed for youth camp
Thursday, June 25th office closed while Pastor Todd visits Wesley sites in Savannah, GA
Thursday, July 2nd office closed for Independence Day vacation

VBS at Charleston Wesley Coming Up (6.28-7.2)
Road Trip themed Vacation Bible School! We will partner with Charleston Wesley UMC again this year for VBS 6-8pm. June 28th - July 2nd. Mattoon First's financial contribution to VBS is paying for the t-shirts for each camper and volunteer. If you would like to make a contribution to that, write a check to the church with "VBS shirts" in the memo line. To register as a volunteer or participant, follow this link:
https://vbspro.events/p/events/wesleyroadtrip

Summer Special Music
The June - August summer special music schedule is being compiled for the 9 o'clock traditional service. So, if you would like to bless the congregation with a special piece, please reply to this message or contact Pastor Todd with the Sunday that you would like to perform.

06/05/2026

Worship this Week
Scripture: Various Psalms
Hymn sing at both services
Holy Communion at both services

Announcements:

Youth Camp Store Donations
Harper Krost, Ella Viertel, Ella Mae Dusk, and Pastor Todd are going to camp at Little Grassy United Methodist Camp outside of Carbondale Sunday, June 14th until Friday, June 19th. It’s a wonderful time to make friends and enjoy all the blessings of being at camp, but more importantly our youth will have the opportunity to reconnect with Jesus and rejuvenate their spiritual lives. Please keep them in your prayers while they are there. If you would like to contribute to their camp store account for snacks, reply to this message or contact Pastor Todd



Yan Family Concert Gratitude
What a wonderful concert by the Yan Family on Sunday! Thank you Jiafeng, Jason, and James for your exceptional music. We are blessed upon measure at Mattoon First.

Parsonage Roof Replacement
The church trustees have determined that it’s time to replace the parsonage roof this summer due to age and intrusions from water and bats in the living spaces over the years. Roofing company quotes having ranged from $16,000 to $23,500 so far with more being sought plus $3,155 for bat mitigation. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact any of the trustees (Chair Shelley Ashby, Becky Thurn, Greg Kuhl, Joe Allison, and Building Manager Dan Compton) or Pastor Todd.

Office Hour Changes
Regular office hours are Thursday 9-12 with Pastor Todd and Fridays 9-2 with office manager Brooke Kepley. However, other obligations arise and we alter that schedule from time to time.
Thursday, June 18th office closed for youth camp
Thursday, June 25th office closed while Pastor Todd visits Wesley sites in Savannah, GA
Thursday, July 2nd office closed for Independence Day vacation

Linne Wheeler's Graduation Party June 7, 1-4
Tim and Melissa Wheeler invite you to their home to celebrate Linne's graduation on Sunday, June 7th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. 1101 Lafayette Ave in Mattoon.

VBS at Charleston Wesley Coming Up (6.28-7.2)
Road Trip themed Vacation Bible School! We will partner with Charleston Wesley UMC again this year for VBS 6-8pm. June 28th - July 2nd. Mattoon First's financial contribution to VBS is paying for the t-shirts for each camper and volunteer. If you would like to make a contribution to that, write a check to the church with "VBS shirts" in the memo line. To register as a volunteer or participant, follow this link:
https://vbspro.events/p/events/wesleyroadtrip

Summer Special Music
The June - August summer special music schedule is being compiled for the 9 o'clock traditional service. So, if you would like to bless the congregation with a special piece, please reply to this message or contact Pastor Todd with the Sunday that you would like to perform.

06/01/2026

What a wonderful concert by the Yan Family on Sunday! Thank you Jiafeng, Jason, and James for your exceptional music. We are blessed beyond measure at Mattoon First. 🎻 🎹 🎶 💐

If you have any photos from the concert, share them below. ⬇️

Photo credit: Lorraine Malmborg

05/30/2026

🎻 🎹 🎶

05/29/2026

Worship this Week
*Celebration Sunday with one worship at ten in the sanctuary*
Scripture: Acts 2:1-21
Sermon: “Filled with the Holy Spirit”

This Sunday we will have one combined worship at ten in the sanctuary which will include receiving two confirmands, Layla Flack and Harper Krost, into the membership of the church and recognizing high school graduates, Linne Wheeler and Elliott Burrell, all followed by a concert by the Yan family at one. Light refreshments will be served for the concert and a donation will be taken up to recognize the Yan family.

Announcements:

Office Hour Changes
Regular office hours are Thursday 9-12 with Pastor Todd and Fridays 9-2 with office manager Brooke Kepley. However, other obligations arise and we alter that schedule from time to time.
Thursday, June 4 office closed for Annual Conference in Peoria

Linne Wheeler's Graduation Party June 7, 1-4
Tim and Melissa Wheeler invite you to their home to celebrate Linne's graduation on Sunday, June 7th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. 1101 Lafayette Ave in Mattoon.

UWF Assembly Held in Indy
Deaconess Christina Krost attended the United Women in Faith Assembly held June 15-17 in Indianapolis.

New Current Available
The latest edition of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference's monthly magazine, The Current, is available at this link: https://current.igrc.org/view/858517642/

VBS at Charleston Wesley Coming Up (6.28-7.2)
Road Trip themed Vacation Bible School! We will partner with Charleston Wesley UMC again this year for VBS 6-8pm. June 28th - July 2nd. To register as a volunteer or participant, follow this link:
https://vbspro.events/p/events/wesleyroadtrip

Summer Special Music
The June - August summer special music schedule is being compiled for the 9 o'clock traditional service. So, if you would like to bless the congregation with a special piece, please reply to this message or contact Pastor Todd with the Sunday that you would like to perform.

Tuesday Bible Study on the Lord's Prayer
You're invited to join the Tuesday Bible Study group at 10 (except the third Tuesday of each month) in the downstairs worship center to read and discuss Adam Hamilton's book, The Lord's Prayer: The Meaning and Power of the Prayer Jesus Taught. Through the six week study pastor and bestselling author Adam Hamilton guides us to really know―and really pray―the Lord’s Prayer. He explores each of its rich lines and their meaning in the Bible, illuminating what we ask of God and what we ask of ourselves through its words. And he teaches us how to use it as a pattern for our own prayer life. Click here for an introduction: https://youtu.be/-nMolsgVM2k?si=AqQlqDBbpuiOK5cS

05/28/2026

Join us for a classical music concert Sunday @ 1.

05/28/2026

Pastor Todd is giving the invocation at today’s IL Senate proceedings.

They’re scheduled to start session at noon, but they rarely start on time. If you want to watch, turn on the live stream a little before noon.
The screen won’t play anything until they’re live, it will just be a still photo until they start.

Welcome to the Official government website of the Illinois General Assembly

05/25/2026

The BBC Songs of Praise page has posted some fantastic videos over the last couple days highlighting the significance of the the Methodist movement in the England in the 1700 that relied on Charles Wesley’s hymns and John Wesley’s preaching. 🎼

Check them out and share your thoughts below.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1JDAEYqpe3/?mibextid=wwXIfr

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