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E- News of the First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo
JOIN US FOR WORSHIP
March 19, 2023

IN PERSON AND ONLINE WORSHIP AT 10AM
You're invited to join us for worship! Watch the Livestream from home or join us in the sanctuary. This Sunday's worship service will celebrate the fourth week of Lent. We will be using John 9:1-12, where we read about the transformative power of Jesus’ love and grace as he healed a man who was born blind. This story reminds us that just as Jesus healed the man in the story, he can also heal us and open our eyes to the truth of his love and grace. Through prayer and reflection, let us offer our praises and thanks to God for his blessings in our lives and for his healing power.

As a reminder, please review our updated mask optional practice for church events.

WORSHIP DESCRIPTION  

Who sinned?

We have sinned. We put our heads in the sand. We ignored people in need. We make false assumptions and fail to be kind. We are in need of forgiveness.

Good news! Our God is a merciful God. God does not punish, hold grudges, or keep score. When you suffer, God weeps. When you sin, God forgives. When you lose your way, God comes running.

 

Thanks be to God for a love like that.


Join us this Sunday! 

Sunday Morning Schedule:
10am-11am: Worship in person at FUMC Kalamazoo or online. If you're joining us for in-person worship, we are now observing an updated mask optional practice. Livestream Access Watch on YouTube  View Bulletin
 

11:00 a.m. Sunday School for all ages

11:00 a.m. Open Labyrinth - Wesley Hall

3:00 p.m. Baylor Project Jazz Concert - Sanctuary

6:00 p.m. Small Groups, Nancy Douglas and Joyce Moore will be leading a craft in the Parlor especially for children and families. We hope some children will join small groups this Sunday evening to create a special keepsake about Passion Week!

6:00 p.m. Youth Group: Will meet in the Youth Lounge. For more information, please contact mweiler@umc-kzo.org.

 

For the next several weeks after worship, a 7-minute video about the history of First Church will be playing on a monitor in the hallway outside the sanctuary. We hope you'll stop by to take a look.

Create a Sacred SpaceDuring these months when we are not all meeting together in person, we suggest that you create a small sacred space/altarscape if you are worshipping at home. You can make it as simple or as elaborate as you wish! Perhaps include a candle and use it as your Peace Candle. Light it when we light the candle in the sanctuary.

When We Are Having Technical Difficulties
During online worship on Sunday mornings, we occasionally experience technical problems with our livestream. We ask for your patience when you notice that the livestream doesn't start at the designated time. When the delay looks to be longer than 5-7 minutes, we will post a comment on the YouTube channel to let you know that we are experiencing technical difficulties. We will also send an email. We appreciate all those who join us for worship on Sundays and your patience!

Worship Resources:
  • Connect Form: Need to get in touch? You're welcome to connect with us online.
  • Prayer Requests: Share through our online form.
  • Online Giving: Donate through our website.
  • Text Giving: Send text donations to 844-937-0646 (without the dashes).
Our Anti-Racist Call to Action:

As part of Kalamazoo First United Methodist Church’s vow to resist oppression in all its forms, we, the Church Council, commit ourselves to the decisive action that is needed to resist and dismantle racism at every level. This action must go beyond our historically empty rhetoric about repentance and broken promises to be a church that is a credible and active witness for peace, equity and justice in the face of harm visited upon communities of color. We beckon our clergy and lay leadership to unapologetically shine the light of truth on our church community so that we recognize our complicity in systemic racism, recognize and condemn white supremacy as sin, and seek a deep knowing of what God calls us to do. We make these vows so that every person—especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)—may live in safety, health, and freedom.
Church Services, Activities and the Office

In addition to in person services, weekly worship is streamed and archived on our YouTube channel. Pastoral care continues through personal phone calls and visits (as permitted). Please email Pastor Julie at jkline@umc-kzo.org if you are in need! 

Due to Covid-19, members of our staff continue to work from home on a regular basis. We will work and plan with the confidence that the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives as a faith community. If you have any questions, please contact Ruth LaMachia, our Director of Business Administration, at rlamachia@umc-kzo.org. You can also reach our church office at (269) 381-6340, Monday through Thursday from 9:30am to 3:30pm.

 


We are a Reconciling Congregation, welcoming all
with open hearts, open minds, and open doors.

First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo invites all persons to join us on our journey of faith. Jesus Christ calls us to be an inclusive church that exemplifies the kingdom of God. We strive to move toward reconciling relationships with all, affirming those who are marginalized for any reason, including sexual orientation or gender identity.

Our mailing address is:
212 S. Park Street
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
(269) 381-6340
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For submissions, please contact jcelorio@umc-kzo.org.

 

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