Blanket Sunday, Nov. 24 & Dec. 1

• Director of Mission & Justice Engagement
• Custodian

Director of Mission & Justice Engagement

Part-time

Please apply via Indeed.

posted November 2024

Custodian

Part-time

Please apply via Indeed.

posted November 2024

FUMC Brighton & Whitmore Lake Friends,

We are excited to share six areas of focus that emerged from our strategic planning process since the beginning of this year. Over the past months, our leadership team, staff, and committed members have worked diligently on a strategic plan that will guide us into a season of growth, connection, and mission. This plan reflects our dedication to our mission to Know God, Love God, and Serve God together in ways that meet the needs of all ages and stages of life. With prayerful discernment, we have identified six key priorities that will shape our ministry in the coming years.

1. Grow in Biblical Literacy and Theological Formation Across All Ages
   We believe that deepening our knowledge of Scripture and our understanding of our faith is foundational for a strong church. We will be expanding resources and opportunities for Bible study, theological education, and spiritual growth for individuals and groups. We will equip all members, from young children to seniors, in their faith journeys.
2. Build Sustainable Children, Student, and Family Ministries
   Our young families are a vital part of our church community. We will be increasing support and resources for children, youth, and family ministries, ensuring that we create a nurturing and welcoming environment where young people can explore their faith, find community, and feel valued.
3. Modernize Facilities and Address Building Needs Across Campuses
   To serve effectively, our facilities must reflect both our mission and our vision for the future. We are committed to updating and maintaining our spaces so they can support our worship, fellowship, and service activities while providing a safe, welcoming environment for all.
4. Develop a Vision for Being a Church in More Than One Location
   As we grow, so does our opportunity to expand our reach. We will be exploring what it means to be a church in more than one location. We will foster connections and hold events to build relationships between our two campuses and our online community.
5. Enhance Ministry, Community, and Support for Seniors
   Our church is blessed with a vibrant community of seniors, and we are committed to ensuring they feel supported and valued. By expanding programs that address their unique needs and foster fellowship, we aim to deepen our ministry with and for our seniors.
6. Become a “Church without Walls” by Focusing on Inclusivity and Accessibility
   In line with our call to be a welcoming and inclusive community, we aspire to remove any barriers that might keep people from experiencing the love of God here. This means enhancing accessibility, fostering inclusivity, and reducing barriers to participation in our church and community.

As we embark on this exciting journey, we invite you to join us in prayer, participation, and support. We are a congregation filled with gifted, dedicated individuals, and together, there is so much we can accomplish. May God guide us as we take these steps toward a future that brings us closer to God’s vision for our church.

With faith and gratitude,
Rev. Jon Reynolds & Rev. Lindsey Hall

See Strategic Plan

• Facilitators: Suzanne Everett (United Methodist), Leo Hanifin (Catholic), Nicole Matthews-Creech (Livingston Diversity Council)
• Meets: Thursdays, Sept. 19 – Nov. 21, 6:30-8:30 pm at First UMC – Brighton Campus  (Note: opening session is 6-9 pm)
• Cost: Livingston Diversity Council and local churches underwriting class fees ($35 per person for the Just Faith curriculum). Books and materials are extra and may be purchased on your own or through Just Faith when you register (about $43). There may be additional costs for the Immersion Experience (Nov. 9, Wright Museum of African American History).

• Please Register by Sept. 9 and use coupon code: 71224FRH.
• Register online: https://bit.ly/FRH-LivCo24 

Registration Instructions

• Click register. At the Just Faith site you will need to set up your account.
• Move the sliding fee scale to $35.
• Add the coupon code 71224FRH to the checkout for the Faith & Social Justice Workgroup to cover the $35 fee
• Feel free to add books when you check-out if you like (or acquire on your own)
• Once you finish the registration and verify your account (check your email) you can access your program documents and resources from the main page of our website (justfaith.org) by clicking on “My Account” or “Login” and going to your participant dashboard.

By Anne Sparling and Pam Kummer

Co-Directors Economic Justice Project

Church and Society Committee, First UMC-Brighton & Whitmore Lake

2024 has been an exciting and sometimes challenging year for the Economic Justice Project. We continue to advocate for expanded public transportation in Livingston County that is accessible to all. We attend Livingston County Board of Commissioners meetings, often speaking to them about the need for expanding transportation during the call to the public. We have developed relationships with community leaders many who share our concerns. We were on the planning committee for the 3rd Annual Transit Equity Day/Rosa Parks Celebration. The celebration/ breakfast this year was an exciting opportunity to connect with community leaders concerning the need and challenges of expanding public transportation in our county. It was held at Cleary University and was attended by approximately 65 leaders from our towns, cities and state. (See pictures
of the event). We are currently beginning the planning for next year’s Transit Equity Day. We are also educating ourselves on poverty issues understanding that poverty is present here in our county. We seek to follow God’s command to love our neighbors.

“Many hands make light work.” We are a small group and would love to have you join the project! The Economic Justice Project meets once a month on the third Tuesday at 6 pm on Zoom. Contact Anne Sparling or Pam Kummer for details.

Some History of our Local Transportation Equity Advocacy

Back in 2021 the need for adequate public transportation was made known to us by our own Mary Kushner, who works faithfully and diligently at Torch 180 in Fowlerville. Torch 180 trains young adults with disadvantages to work in the restaurant business. Mary shared that some of the students struggle to keep employment because of the lack of adequate public transportation.

So, advocating for expanding public transit in Livingston County has been one of our project’s goals for the past year. In 2022, we showed our appreciation to the Livingston Essential Transportation Service (LETS) staff in a little celebration at the LETS garage with about a dozen people present. It was the first celebration of Rosa Parks/Transit Equity Day, national day of action observed on Rosa Parks’ birthday, Feb. 4). It was a start.

On Feb. 3, 2023, we held our second annual Rosa Parks/Transit Equity Day celebration at Torch 180 with about 40 people in attendance, enjoying pancakes using Rosa Parks’ recipe and a full breakfast. We partnered with the Transportation Coalition, Sierra Club, Torch 180 and Molina Health to plan and carry out this special event. Molina Health presented us with a check to fund the breakfast. The representative from Molina shared how touched she was by the testimonies people gave about how expanding public transit has improved lives.

Appreciation and recognition was shown to Putnam, Unadilla and Hamburg townships for their efforts to expand public transportation. The LETS staff was shown appreciation for the wonderful services they provide for our community, the Sierra Club and our Church and Society was shown appreciation as well.

We were excited that a representative from Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin’s office attended and expressed appreciation for our efforts. Two of our county commissioners came and one commissioner made a point of letting us know how inspiring our celebration was and pledged to work on this issue. We were also able to get the cities of Brighton and Howell to recognize and proclaim Feb. 3 as Rosa Parks Transit Equity Day.

The celebration was everything we hoped for and more. God was present and people were inspired. Doing this work has been rewarding in so many ways. We get to meet and work with wonderful folks from our community that care about people and are working to help people in Livingston County flourish. We are all growing in our understanding of the needs in our community and get to see other people grow as well.

The Rev. Lindsey Hall and the Rev. Jon Reynolds have been appointed by Bishop David Bard to serve as co-pastors for First United Methodist Church – Brighton and Whitmore Lake Campuses, effective July 1, 2020.

Pastors Jon and Lindsey are married and have two children, Joshua (age 4) and Lydia (age 2). Jon grew up in Clarkston, Michigan and attended Albion College where he studied Philosophy and Political Science. After college, Pastor Jon was called into ministry while working as an intern at Cass Community UMC in Detroit. Pastor Jon attended Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in Chicago where he met Lindsey. After seminary, Jon served as an Associate Pastor at St. Paul’s UMC in Rochester, Michigan where he helped launch two worship services and focused on reaching young adults. Pastor Jon currently serves as an Associate Pastor at Cass Community UMC. Outside of church, Jon loves biking, walking the dogs, and the Detroit Tigers!

Rev. Lindsey was raised in Lincoln, Nebraska and graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University where she studied Communications and Theatre Arts. After college, Lindsey served as a missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries in Hawaii, working with children and youth. Called to ministry, Pastor Lindsey attended Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and earned a Master of Divinity in 2013. Pastor Lindsey has served at Birmingham First UMC since 2012 as an Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Contemporary Worship. Rev. Lindsey loves mission work, small group discipleship, preaching, and working with people of all ages. Lindsey loves singing, dancing, drinking coffee, eating chocolate, and visiting her family in Nebraska and Texas.

Pastors Jon and Lindsey will serve our congregation as co-pastors, a model new to our church. Neither will be a senior or associate pastor; instead they will share responsibilities equally and cross-over in most areas. We pleased and excited about Pastors Jon and Lindsey’s appointment, and know that you will welcome them with open minds and open hearts. Please hold them in prayer during these months of transition.

Read the full letter from the Staff-Parish Relations Committee.

Pastor Bob Fuchs has been appointed to serve at DownRiver UMC. The Rev. Dr. Sherry Parker-Lewis announced last fall that she would be leaving Brighton First UMC in June. Her husband the Rev. George Lewis is retiring and the couple are moving to Mattawan, Michigan. Sherry will be working for the United Methodist Foundation of Michigan.