Noon Daily Prayer
Let us pray the Lord's Prayer daily at 12 noon. This Community of Faith action will be a reminder to each one of us that although we may be physically apart, we are still connected to one another with a singular focus.
Sunday Service
Sunday Service will be live streamed on YouTube!
Visit our YouTube ChannelMission
Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the World by Connecting to people while we Grow, Serve and Commit to Christ.
Circle the Schools
Please join us Wednesday evening August 5th at 7pm as we pray for this school year. We will have someone at each school and the Superintendent's office to pray for the students and everyone involved in educating and caring for our children. We will be at the main entrance of each school and remain on the sidewalk near the parking lot. You can join us from your car or on the sidewalk socially distancing ourselves and wearing a mask. As a community let's cover our school system in prayer. This will take place rain or shine.
Masks Required
Message from Pastor John
Greetings.
We are coming! We are excited! We are ready to meet you and be in ministry with you (with social distancing and safe practices, of course). Debbie and I are finishing up our packing in Sullivan, Indiana and will be arriving in Pendleton on July 1st.
We are so grateful for the many blessings we have already received from the First United Methodist Ministries family. From your gracious welcomes, your conversations, texts, emails and well wishes. To meeting with staff, to pre-planned meals for us when we first arrive, to the preparations being made at the parsonage, to seeing the church online worship. My heart is already singing with joy about what might be ahead for us.
My first Sunday will be July 12th. We will be either outside or YouTube Live depending on the weather. Drive in church looks and sounds amazing!
Just so you know. I enjoy building relationships. I enjoy interpersonal connections. I enjoy being with people. This social distancing has been a special journey, but necessary journey for me. I enjoy handshakes, laughing with folks, watching people smile. I have learned to see the joy in the eyes of people while wearing masks.
Life is very different than it was in January. However, God remains capable of doing far more than we can think or imagine. Again, I look forward to getting to know you and your families. Please continue to pray for an uneventful move and a good transition into Pendleton.
Blessings and Prayers,
John Groves
Council of Bishops statement on the Scourge of Racism
The past few weeks have left many hurt, angry and outraged as we have witnessed the deaths of unarmed Black persons at the hands of police and racism; Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and the countless others whose names are known only to mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and friends.
A message from Steve Schug, Lay Leader, Chairperson of Church Council
May 14, 2020
Dear First United Methodist Church Family and Friends,
I want to take the opportunity to communicate some good news, and to provide an update on where we are with the re-opening of our church community.
First, due to the diligent work of Norma Gasparovic and others, we have secured a PPP “Loan” in the amount of $65,900. As many of you know, these loans, under current rules, are to be forgiven providing the recipients continue to pay and employ existing staff and meet other guidelines. For us, this means we can pay not only our church staff, who are working limited hours, but our Friendly Flock staff and teachers who have been unable to work at all and thus have no income from this previously reliable source.