Know God. Love God. Serve God.
Each Sunday throughout Advent, you’re invited to explore Wesley’s means of grace and “do some good” through hands-on mission projects. The first Sunday of advent is Nov. 30.
Note: Sunday, Dec. 28, there will be one 10 am worship service at the Brighton Campus and no service at the Whitmore Lake Campus. Following the service everyone is invited to stay for fellowship with a potluck brunch.
All Children are welcome to participate Sundays at 10:15 am in the back of the Fellowship Hall. A special Christmas Party will take place on Dec. 7 during Sunday School.
Children are invited to attend Sunday School 9:30 – 10:30 am. Find the check in table downstairs below the sanctuary. Drop off before worship and pick up afterwards. You’ll find two classes: pre-k through first grade and second through fifth grade. A special Christmas Party will take place on Dec. 7 during Sunday School. No Sunday School Dec. 28. Learn more
Children (pre-k through sixth grade) are invited to worship with their parents through the first three songs, then they may meet their teachers in the back of the sanctuary for a short lesson and activity. They will return to the sanctuary during the offering time, before the closing songs. A special Christmas Party will take place on Dec. 7 during Children’s Message. Learn more
Nursery care is provided for children (ages 12 to 36 months) of families attending worship (both services) or Sunday School at the Brighton Campus.
Sign-in at the check-in table outside the nursery room (lower level in the Children’s Ministry wing underneath the Sanctuary) and pick-up from the nursery room.
Meets alternating Wednesdays 6-7:30 pm at The Well, Brighton Campus. Grades 5-12. A Youth Group Christmas Party takes place Dec. 17. Contact Pastor Lindsey, lindsey@brightonfumc.org Learn more
Bring your family and friends for a meaningful service to hear the Christmas Story, celebrate Holy Communion, enjoy Christmas music, candle lighting, and fellowship.
Note: one service only at Brighton Campus.
Prepare Christmas with a meaningful Advent journey! 🌟 This Advent, join the book study, All the Good: A Wesleyan Way of Christmas, to prepare for Christ’s coming by exploring the story of salvation and deepening your faith.
Connect and know God’s goodness and love as we await the birth of the Christ child.
Books are available in the Brighton Campus Library and at the Whitmore Lake Campus Upper Hall ($10).
Whitmore Lake Advent Study / Rick Rykowski / Sundays / 10:30 am
Brighton Advent Study / Julie & Dean Arcuri / Sundays / 11 am
Men with Tools (Brighton) / George Lutz / Tuesdays / 9 am
Small Group Bible Study / Deb de Laski-Smith (off-site) / Wednesdays / 6:30 pm
Small Group / Rick & Sherry Slade (off-site) / Wednesdays / 6:45 pm
Women of the Word (Brighton) / Joann Schmidt / Thursdays / 1 pm
Sign up online or contact Pastor Lindsey Hall, lindsey@brightonfumc.org.
Blanket Sunday, Nov. 16 and Nov. 23
These church members can help you connect:
Bring nonperishable food items to the church anytime and it will be delivered that week to local food banks. November/December focus: holiday meal items (canned vegetables, pie filling, stuffing mix, gravy, etc.).
Whitmore Lake Area Human ServicesUnited Methodists from all over Michigan gather every year to conduct the business of the church. Policies and social action resolutions are voted up or down. Clergy and laity share worship and teaching times. We sing, we dance, we reconnect and lift each other up for another year of ministry. We ask (through song) “And Are We Yet Alive?”
The Laity Perspective spotlighted Flint Court Street UMC, with its pastor and laity sharing how they have experienced a resurgence in membership by cultivating a culture of welcome and engagement.
Teaching session: Rev. Dr. Jasmine Smothers, lead pastor at Atlanta (GA) FUMC, presented compelling and challenging concepts based on her book “Blank Slate.” “What if somebody put a pencil in your hand and said, ‘Forget everything you think you know about church. Design a church to reach your current and future contexts. What would that look like?’”
Voting on four Constitutional Amendments coming out of the 2024 General Conference. Results will be tallied and announced in the fall by the Council of Bishops. The spirit of the four amendments aligned with major decisions made at the 2020/2024 General Conference, which called for greater inclusion, reinforced the church’s commitment to anti-racism and building God’s beloved community, and took steps toward restructuring the denomination to promote greater equity among annual conferences worldwide.
There were eleven resolutions (view resolutions), in addition to amendments provided in the legislative committee report (view report). The following synopsis come from the Michigan Conference website.
Suzanne Everett, Director of Missions and Justice Engagement, has offered to draft our church’s response to the justice action items.
We want to hear the stories that shaped your faith! Be part of the Faith at Every Age story by sharing a favorite photo of yourself (or your family) and a short explanation of how God showed up at that time of your life. Use the form below or submit your photo and story by email photo@brightonfumc.org. These photos may be displayed, used in worship and online.
For generations, people encounter God’s love at First United Methodist Church-Brighton and Whitmore Lake. It’s here that children take their first steps in faith. Voices unite in worship. Hands and hearts come together in service. These sacred spaces shape the community. As faithful stewards we must care for them so they can continue to be places of welcome, growth and grace for years to come.
The church buildings are more than bricks and mortar—vibrant ministry begins here! In the sanctuaries, we lift our voices in worship and find comfort in prayer. In the classrooms, children and adults grow in faith and understanding. Fellowship spaces foster community, relationships grow, and new friendships begin. These spaces provide shelter for mission work, a home base for outreach, and a welcoming worship space for everyone. As a steward of these facilities, you invest in the work God calls all of us to do—loving, learning and serving for generations to come.
That’s why you are invited to be part of the Building Together Capital Campaign. This effort addresses key facility needs—beyond the normal budget. The plans include maintenance and upgrades making facilities safer, more accessible and welcoming. There are also improvements for the parsonage and the youth space called The Well. The campaign blends vital, practical updates with forward-thinking initiatives designed to enrich ministry and outreach. Examples include: replace aging HVAC systems, improve restroom accessibility, repave surfaces, enhance worship spaces, and create inviting areas for fellowship and discipleship).
Each item reflects commitment to hospitality, stewardship and accessibility. The enclosed booklet highlights the projects you can help make happen over the next three years. Would you review it and consider how you might help fund these projects?
The bottomline for these vital improvements is just over $1,000,000. Through gifts and setting aside funds over the last 10 years, church leaders allocated $400,000 to these projects so far— we’re well on our way! That leaves $600,000 to reach our goal. Let’s build this future together!
$600,000 over three year.
This is a 3-year campaign. Please learn more about the projects, pray about it with us, and plan to make a commitment this May for what you plan to donate over three years. This way, the Building Management Team can plan and schedule projects, knowing the funding available for them. Please note that your estimate can be increased or decreased in the future as circumstances dictate.
The Building Together Campaign funds:
The annual stewardship campaign funds:
In addition to holding church events on our campuses our buildings are used by numerous community organizations. Here are some examples of how the buildings are used throughout the year.
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Yearly
This project list has been generated over the last 10 years as maintenance projects emerged that could not be completed with funds out of the annual stewardship campaign. Additional projects were added by some of the program ministry areas.
We update this Building Together Campaign webpage as we start and complete projects. Updates will also take place during quarterly town hall meetings. We will celebrate the completion of projects in worship when possible.
Building costs continue to rise. Completing these projects now will mitigate the costs expanding in the future either through material cost fluctuations, inflation or unplanned maintenance needs.
The projects were all rated for safety, accessibility and hospitality. A priority order was established based on these criteria.
Ideally pledges would be given to the overall Building Together Campaign fund allowing the Building Management team and the Leadership Board to direct the funds to the projects with greatest need. However, if you’d like to fund a project in full please talk with someone on the clergy team about your interests.
We will try to complete as many projects as we have funding for. We are committed to not taking on debt during this campaign other than the possibility of short term lines of credit as long as we have pledges to cover those costs. This is how we funded the recent library renovation project.
Absolutely. We welcome your prayers and if you have the ability to give your time to some of the volunteer-led projects we would be happy to have your support. A few of the projects will be completed by members of the church to reduce costs. Your prayers for a successful campaign are much appreciated.
We invite you to:
Together, we’re not just funding repairs. We’re building something that lasts—a space for future generations to know God, love God, and serve God.
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.
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
New member classes are for anyone interested in learning more about what it means to be a United Methodist. Learn more, then decide for yourself if membership is for you. Pastor Lindsey leads New Member Classes twice a year (typically April and September). Learn more about the United Methodist Church and how you can be part of its mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Contact Pastor Lindsey.
Next Class: 4:30-6 pm Sundays, Sept. 7-14, 2025
The leadership board voted to affirm Rev. Lindsey Hall as the lead clergy person for children and student ministries. This has been a passion area for her throughout her calling, and she has been enthusiastically doing the work in an “interim” capacity since April. In addition to her leadership in this area, Pastor Lindsey will continue as Co-Pastor, including preaching, adult discipleship, pastoral care and other clergy responsibilities. Administrative Assistant Karen Wagg will support the work of Children & Student Ministry with increased administrative assistant hours, making permanent the interim position she began April 1. These decisions come after an eight-month hiring search for children and student ministries.
As a result of this reorganization of responsibilities, Rev. Jon Reynolds will coordinate worship planning, previously done by Pastor Lindsey, and the church will seek to fill a new Director of Mission and Justice Engagement position. “We believe these decisions will provide continuity and energy to our children and student ministry areas along with opportunities for our church to continue to grow its mission and outreach initiatives,” said Board President Mike Kelly.
Additionally, Linda Barach, the afternoon Brighton campus custodian, will retire at the end of the year. Please join us in expressing our gratitude to Linda. Michelle Lucas will expand her custodial position to include afternoons. If you have any questions about these staffing changes, please reach out to Mike Kelly or any members of the Leadership Board, board@brightonfumc.org.
The Bible is the foundation of our faith, yet many of us struggle with its complexities. Why do some passages inspire while others confuse or even trouble us? How do we interpret scripture faithfully in today’s world?
Explore these questions on a five-week journey unpacking these questions and more in Making Sense of the Bible. Based on Adam Hamilton’s insightful book, this series dives into the origins, meaning, and authority of scripture—helping us engage with the Bible in ways that deepen our faith and understanding.
Whether you’ve read the Bible cover to cover or are just beginning to explore its pages, this series will equip you to wrestle with scripture with both heart and mind. Come ready to ask questions, seek wisdom, and grow in faith! Scroll down for details about the all church Lenten book study.
Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hallelujah! Christ Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed! You are invited to worship on this day of triumph and hope.
Every spring children and their families are invited to a FREE outdoor Easter Egg Hunt,. We are so excited to share the joy of Easter with you and your children and grandchildren!
Please register in advance (coming soon). We’ll have different areas for the egg hunt to help spread things out. Siblings are welcome to hunt for eggs in the same area.
If you’d like to donate candy or plastic eggs, donations are being requested to prepare 2,000 eggs. Please drop off individually wrapped nut-free candy/chocolate at the Brighton or Whitmore Lake campuses . No homemade treats. Thank you!
Brighton Registration (Children and Volunteers) – coming soon
Whitmore Lake Registration (Children and Volunteers) – coming soon
You are invited to join a church-wide Lenten study on Making Sense of the Bible, Rediscovering the Power of Scripture Today by Adam Hamilton. In the book, Adam Hamilton invites us into an honest conversation about the Bible. The book begins with foundational questions such as, How and when was the Bible written? Who decided which books made it into the scriptures and why? How literally must we read it? And, is the Bible ever wrong?
From there, Hamilton considers the real questions people frequently ask that continue to divide Christians and denominations. In approachable and inviting language, Hamilton addresses these often misunderstood biblical themes leading readers to a deeper appreciation of the Bible so that we might hear God speak through it and find its words to be life-changing and life-giving.
Join a small group study, or read the book independently. Copies of the book are available at the Brighton and Whitmore Lake campuses. Audio books are available through Hoopla (check with your public library) and Audible. Digital copies are available for purchase through Cokesbury.com and other retailers. A video component complements the study, which may be viewed on Amplify Media. To register for your free Amplify Media account visit https://www.brightonfumc.org/amplify/
Register online to participate in a small group Lenten study or contact the church office for more information: 810-229-8561
Part-time
First UMC – Brighton & Whitmore Lake is hiring Director of Mission & Justice Engagement (15 hours/week, benefits include paid time off). If you are passionate about justice, mission, and service and helping others connect with that work, check out the job description and apply via Indeed. If you know someone perfect for the job, let them know about it!
During her tenure as Director of the First Steps Preschool, the program has flourished. She has served as both Director and teacher offering her administrative and personable gifts to parents and children alike. Lisa has also been an important part of the church staff and volunteer Sunday School teacher. She attended weekly staff meetings and did everything she could to support and plan events for children and their families.
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. Their first Sunday in worship will be Sunday, July 5 — online only.
They are excited to begin a new ministry in Brighton and Whitmore Lake with First UMC. Several “meet and greet” opportunities are scheduled — both online and in person. To help keep everyone safe, please sign up for an event. If you sign up for an online event, you will be emailed a link to the Zoom conference. If you have any trouble signing up online, call the office at 810-229-8561.
“Welcome Joshua (age 4) and Lydia (age 2) — and their parents, Pastors Jon and Lindsey, too — to First Church.”
Please extend a warm welcome to the Reynolds-Hall family by driving by the parsonage located at 7608 Brookview Court (Mt. Brighton subdivision), on July 5, between Noon-1pm.
If you would like to bring a welcome gift for Joshua or Lydia (and Jon and Lindsey), that would be wonderful. Ideas: Joshua and Lydia both love outside summer things such as shovels and buckets for the sandbox, water balloons, bubbles, chalk, flowers, etc. They also love Curious George books. Joshua loves Legos and science experiments. Lydia loves anything purple. She also has fun with bracelets and purses.
Being new to the area, gift cards to your favorite restaurant or store are perfect for Jon and Lindsey. Monetary contributions to welcome the Reynolds-Hall family may be made via the Church (drop off or mail to400 E Grand River Ave, Brighton MI 48116).
Let’s show them a warm and loving First Church welcome! No registration needed for the drive-by.
Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ! We have been praying for you and our church from the moment we learned that the Bishop appointed us to be Co-Senior Pastors of Brighton and Whitmore Lake. We are so excited to move to Brighton in a little less than a week. We have been inspired by your faithfulness, generosity, commitment to mission and your hospitality. Our children, Joshua (4) and Lydia (2), were so excited to see inside the beautiful parsonage and they are excited to make new friends in our community.
As you read this letter, perhaps you are curious to know a little more about us. Lindsey grew up in Nebraska and Jon grew up in Michigan. We met nearly halfway in between in the northern suburbs of Chicago in Evanston, IL. We met the first day of orientation at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and the rest is history. We got married shortly after our third year of school there and quickly moved to Michigan to start new ministry positions at Birmingham First United Methodist Church and Rochester St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Lindsey loves to walk, tap dance, camp, and enjoys coffee and chocolate. Jon is an avid Tigers fan, and in his spare time he loves to ride his bicycle.
We could not be more honored to be your pastors and look forward to worshipping with you, growing disciples in small groups, serving together in mission, challenging each other in our faith and helping each other to develop a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. God is up to wonderful things in our church!
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.
Lead Pastor Rev. Dr. Sherry Parker-Lewis announced recently that her tenure at First United Methodist Church will conclude June 30, 2020. Read her letter to the church.
She will continue to serve with great joy and appreciates the love and support of this church. Her husband Rev. George Lewis, pastor at Howell First United Methodist Church, has applied for retirement beginning next June 30. And the couple will move to Mattawan, Michigan, where they have purchased a home. Pastor Sherry is seeking an appointment from Bishop David Bard to that area.
The staff and Staff-Parish Relations Committee invites you to congratulate Pastor Sherry on her new direction. We pray that her future is as blessed as we have been by her presence here.
Those who would like to share their thoughts on the gifts and skills of a new senior pastor can send an email to sprc@brightonfumc.org.
On Sunday, July 1, 2018, the congregations of Brighton First and Wesley United Methodist Church of Whitmore Lake became one congregation worshiping and serving in two locations. Congregation members from both churches voted to merge our ministries on Sunday, April 15, 2018.
Rev. Bob Fuchs is the Whitmore Lake Campus Pastor. The worship service at the Whitmore Lake Campus is at 9:30 am. If you have questions, please contact Pastor Bob at bob@ brightonfumc.org.
This is a blessed time for our congregations. Together, we will strengthen compassionate outreach and make disciples for Jesus Christ in our communities. If you have questions, please contact Pastor Bob at bob@ brightonfumc.org.
