We are a congregation of nearly 1000 members located in the heart of a great small town. We are on a mission to RETHINK OPEN and usher in a new era of hospitality, openness, and even more exciting opportunities to share the love of Jesus. We invite you to explore our web site and learn more about us. If you have questions, please give us a call or e-mail us. We worship at 8:30, 9:45, and 10:45 each Sunday.
A word from our pastor on the culture of First United Methodist:
As a kid I never thought I’d be a pastor. I really didn’t like church that much and for many years, I wasn’t sure just what I believed. That makes me appreciate people who are skeptical or even a little bit leery of the church. They often have good reason to feel that way.
Some churches discourage raising questions. I revel in them. Some churches expect a certain look or lifestyle. I say come as you are. Some churches are cold and lifeless. I hate boring worship and I strive to bring warmth to everything we do. I guess you could say, I’m not your typical pastor. We’re not a typical church. I like to think we treat folks the way Jesus did, and if that intrigues you, I hope you’ll come check us out. I’d love to learn your story, and I’m happy to tell you mine.
JIMS Place
Our church bought this property across High Ave. from the church building in 1992. It had been a car dealership and service center, but had been empty for several years. The vision was to create a low-cost place for community gatherings and meetings. It would also become a mission center for our church. Countless wedding receptions, dances for singles, community group meetings, regional church gatherings, and church dinners have happened there in the last 10 years. Literally thousands of people have been through our doors. What a blessing God has provided!
Our Clothes Closet is located in the front of J.I.M.’s Place. The Clothes Closet gives away about 45,000 items of clothing each year. The Lighthouse Youth Center holds dances for teenagers every Friday night through the winter and early spring. Usually 400+ kids fill J.I.M.’s Place to capacity. Our Singles Ministry holds monthly dances at J.I.M.’s Place so that single people have a safe, fun place to meet others. Two alcoholic recovery groups meet weekly at J.I.M’s Place. Several school groups use J.I.M.’s Place for their performance practices.
The name ‘J.I.M.’s Place’ came from two sources. First, it stands for Jesus In Ministry, our goal of service to our community in the name of our Lord and Savior. Second, it is to honor Jim Reifenschneider, who put many hours of labor into developing this property for service to our church.
