Ring the Bell for Salvation Army
2025-12-06 09:15 - 19:15 (America/Detroit) | Kroger, 9968 E Grand River Ave, Brighton, MI, 48116, United States
Ring in the holiday season with cheer and generosity. First United Methodist Church volunteers will be bell ringers at Salvation Army “red kettle” sites on Nov. 29 and Dec. 6. SIGN UP or Contact Bob Hemphill.

St. Andrews Breakfast Volunteers
2025-12-13 06:45 - 09:15 | St. Andrews, 306 North Division, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48104
First United Methodist Church provides volunteers for the Breakfast Program at St. Andrews in Ann Arbor about once a month. Volunteers may prepare hot food, set up serving stations, serve food to guests, clear trays, wash and dry dishes and clean up the kitchen. Meet at St. Andrews at 6:45 am. Tasks are completed by 9:15 am.

The Breakfast Program at St. Andrew’s (Ann Arbor) serves between 90 and 150 meals daily. Guests include the young and old. They arrive as individuals or in groups. Some are homeless or struggling with addiction or mental illness, but most are working men and women who are trying to make ends meet.

Sign up

Cass Volunteer Saturdays
2025-12-13 08:00 - 16:00 | First United Methodist Church-Brighton Campus, 400 E Grand River Ave, Brighton, MI, 48116, United States
SIGN UP

The volunteer work varies month to month. Contact Laura Kelly to learn more. Depart from the Brighton Campus parking lot at approximately 8 am to travel together to Detroit and return by approximately 4 pm. Bring your lunch.
Cass Community Social Services meets people in need, where they are in life, by offering food, affordable housing, skill building, and vocational training which promotes self-sufficiency, on a sustainable pedestrian campus and as part of the larger community.
The ways First UMC volunteers have served includes:

cleaned, mended and painted rooms for affordable housing
set up beds for warming centers
weeded gardens, trimmed shrubs, planted trees and flowers, mowed grass and cleaned outside to beautify and make areas safer for residents
prepped mass quantities of bacon and eggs for breakfast, assembled sandwiches and packaged lunches to feed the community
sorted and shredded paper to recycle and raise money for fighting poverty.

Caroling at Regency Whitmore Lake
2025-12-14 13:00 - 14:00 | Regency at Whitmore Lake, 8633 Main St, Whitmore Lake, MI, 48189, United States
Each Sunday throughout Advent, you’re invited to explore Wesley’s means of grace and “do some good” through hands-on mission projects. On Sunday, Dec. 14, meet at Regency at Whitmore Lake at 1 pm to sing carols for the residents.

Christmas Musical & Dinner with Santa
2025-12-14 17:00 - 19:00 | First United Methodist Church-Brighton Campus, 400 E Grand River Ave, Brighton, MI, 48116, United States
Young People’s Worship Arts Presents: “The Present is the Future”
Free Performance: Sunday, December 14 at 5:00 pm
Followed by a taco dinner* and a visit with Santa!
Food catered by our own Seve and D’Anne Ramos
*Tickets for the dinner will be on sale between worship services beginning Sunday, Nov. 16 and in the church office during the week.
Inspired by the classic board game Clue®, The Present Is the Future is a fun and clever musical created by Katie Combs. Follow six kids as they navigate a house of mysteries to find the answer to a Christmas riddle presented to them by a mysterious host. Filled with outlandish characters, clever wordplays, campy satire, and fun songs, The Present Is the Future helps kids learn that their fears, desires, and insecurities are similar to those from Biblical times. They also begin to understand that by accepting the “present” of Jesus Christ they receive the gift of a hopeful future.

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Christmas Party (Youth)
2025-12-17 18:00 - 19:30 | The Well, Brighton Campus, 400 E. Grand River Ae, Brighton, MI, 48116, United States
Bring a friend and enjoy a festive, fun night of Christmas joy! You can count on cocoa, cookies, games, and maybe even a surprise or two!
Contact lindsey@brightonfumc.org

Caroling - Brighton
2025-12-21 12:30 - 14:30 | reg, 8633 Main St, Whitmore Lake, MI, 48189
Each Sunday throughout Advent, you’re invited to explore Wesley’s means of grace and “do some good” through hands-on mission projects. On Sunday, Dec. 21, meet at the Brighton Campus at 12:30 to depart in groups to carol for homebound parishioners. If you worship at 11 am and want to go caroling, we’ll have a light lunch. Sign up on your connection card or email Susan Kimball, Director of Music.

Caroling at Greenfield Village
2025-12-21 17:15 - 21:30 | Greenfield Village
You are invited to sing Christmas carols with the church choir at Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village. Christmas caroling is a wonderful way to enjoy the holiday spirit. Each caroler enters the event for free PLUS, we receive an extra free ticket for each caroling participant! Sign up with Susan (with the total of singers and guests) as soon as you are able so we can reserve tickets. We usually have extra guest tickets, so invite a friend!

Christmas Eve Worship 11am, 5pm, 7pm, 9pm
2025-12-24 11:00 - 12:00 | First United Methodist Church-Brighton Campus, 400 E Grand River Ave, Brighton, MI, 48116, United States
Bring your family and friends for a meaningful service to hear the Christmas Story, celebrate Holy Communion, enjoy Christmas music, candle lighting, and fellowship.
Brighton Campus
11 am – Worship designed for young children and their families
5 pm – Band-led Worship
7 pm*– Worship with handbells and choir
9 pm – Worship with handbells and choir
*7 pm Service Livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook

Child-Centered Morning Worship

The 11 am service is not just child-friendly, it’s child-centered! As you enter the worship space, children will be invited to wear a nativity costume and participate from their seats with their families. They may even recognize some of their preschool or Sunday school teachers who are part of the storytelling! Following the service, we’ll sing “happy birthday” to Jesus and enjoy birthday cupcakes!

Christmas Eve Worship 11 am
2025-12-24 11:00 - 12:00 | First United Methodist Church-Brighton Campus, 400 E Grand River Ave, Brighton, MI, 48116, United States
The 11 am service is not just child-friendly, it’s child-centered! As you enter the worship space, children will be invited to wear a nativity costume and participate from their seats with their families. They may even recognize some of their preschool or Sunday school teachers who are part of the storytelling! Following the service, we’ll sing “happy birthday” to Jesus and enjoy birthday cupcakes!
Looking for an evening service?
Please see the details for the 5 pm, 7 pm and 9 pm Christmas Eve Worship Services

Christmas Eve Worship 2 pm (Whitmore Lake Campus)
2025-12-24 14:00 - 15:00 | First United Methodist Church-Whitmore Lake Campus, 9318 Main, Whitmore Lake, MI, 48189
Bring your family and friends for a meaningful service to hear the Christmas Story, celebrate Holy Communion, enjoy Christmas music, candle lighting, and fellowship.

Caroling Singalong
2025-12-28 10:00 - 11:30 | First United Methodist Church-Brighton Campus, 400 E Grand River Ave, Brighton, MI, 48116, United States
The songs of the Christmas season not only stir our memories and fill our hearts with joy, they tell the story of Jesus’ birth in a way that connects us deeply to the birth of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. Sing along with Susan Kimball. Following the service stay and enjoy fellowship with a potluck brunch.
If you are able to bring food to share, we’d love to know what type of food you’ll bring. Signup Genius Link If you can’t bring a dish, that’s ok. There is always plenty! Everyone welcome!
Note: Only one worship service on Dec. 28 at the Brighton Campus at 10 am. No Whitmore Lake Campus service.

Fish & Loaves Community Dinner
2025-12-28 17:00 - 18:00 | First United Methodist Church-Brighton Campus, 400 E Grand River Ave, Brighton, MI, 48116, United States
Fish and Loaves is a free community meal in Brighton provided by local churches. First UMC – Brighton Campus hosts the dine-in meal on these 2025 dates: Dec. 28 and 2026: Feb. 22, April 26, June 28, Aug. 23, Oct. 25, Dec. 27. You do not need a reservation. We look forward to seeing you.

Volunteers and food donations are welcome.
Contact Deborah Scharp.
Consider helping in one of these ways:

3:30 pm Set tables, set up coffee station, prep food
5 pm Serve food, visit with guests
5:30 pm Dishwashing
Sign Up to provide: desserts, rolls and salads (or purchase food and turn in receipts for reimbursement)

Fish and Loaves is coordinated by Love INC and serves all who come seeking food and fellowship.

Welcome Statement Listening Session (Brighton Campus)
2026-01-11 13:00 - 14:00 | First United Methodist Church-Brighton Campus, 400 E Grand River Ave, Brighton, MI, 48116, United States
Part of our Strategic Plan “Goal 6” is to develop a welcome or belonging statement that quickly lets people know if they would be welcomed and included in the ministries of First UMC as they are searching for a church home.
Please complete an online questionnaire (available Jan. 4-11) — paper forms will also be available.
And attend one of three listening sessions provide your constructive feedback to help the welcome statement team gain valuable insight to craft language that feels appropriate for our church.

Sunday, Jan. 11 @ 1 pm, Brighton Campus
Tuesday, Jan. 20 @ 6 pm, Zoom link
Sunday, Feb. 2 @ 10:15 am, Whitmore Lake Campus

MLK Day of Service
2026-01-19 | First United Methodist Church-Brighton Campus, 400 E Grand River Ave, Brighton, MI, 48116, United States
Monday, Jan. 19, 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Martin Luther King Day as a federal holiday and a national day of service — a “Day On, Not a Day Off.”
Signup Genius
You’re invited to give your time in service in one of these partner projects (space is limited, please sign up in advance):

Food Pantry Volunteer, 8:15-11 am (Whitmore Lake Area Human Services)

Help stock food and create toiletry bags for clients. Families welcome (Children 5 and older with their adult) Whitmore Lake Area Human Services Food Pantry, 9075 Brookside Dr, Whitmore Lake, MI 48189

Kitchen Volunteer, 1-4 pm (Cass Community Social Services)

Help in the kitchen at Cass Community Social Services. Families welcome (ages 10+ with their adult). 11850 Woodrow Wilson, Detroit

Signup Online
Contact Suzanne Everett
Note: the church building is closed Jan. 19, 2026, for the holiday. Meet at the locations listed above.

Welcome Statement Listening Session (Zoom)
2026-01-20 18:00 - 19:00 | zoom
Zoom Link
Part of our Strategic Plan “Goal 6” is to develop a welcome or belonging statement that quickly lets people know if they would be welcomed and included in the ministries of First UMC as they are searching for a church home.
Please complete an online questionnaire (available Jan. 4-11) — paper forms will also be available.
And attend one of three listening sessions provide your constructive feedback to help the welcome statement team gain valuable insight to craft language that feels appropriate for our church.

Sunday, Jan. 11 @ 1 pm, Brighton Campus
Tuesday, Jan. 20 @ 6 pm, Zoom link
Sunday, Feb. 2 @ 10:15 am, Whitmore Lake Campus

Blood Drive
2026-01-26 12:00 - 18:00 | First United Methodist Church-Brighton Campus, 400 E Grand River Ave, Brighton, MI, 48116, United States
You can give the gift of life at the Red Cross Blood Drive. Create your blood donation appointment directly with the Red Cross. Walk ins welcome up to 5:45 pm.

The need for blood is constant and only volunteer donors can fulfill that need for patients in our community. Nationwide, someone needs a unit of blood every 2 to 3 seconds and most of us will need blood in our lifetime.

Volunteers (and cookies) are needed on the day of the drive, contact Kara Shuell or use the sign up form below.
Signup Genius for Volunteers

Welcome Statement Listening Session (Whitmore Lake Campus)
2026-02-01 10:15 - 2026-02-02 11:15 | First United Methodist Church-Whitmore Lake Campus, 9318 Main, Whitmore Lake, MI, 48189

Family Camping-May
2026-05-15 13:00 - 2026-05-17 11:00 | Myers Lake Camping & Cabins, 10575 Silver Lake Rd, Byron, 48418
Reservations for 2026 Family Camping at Myers Lake Camping & Cabins (Byron, MI) are now open — on a first come basis. No sites are being held.
Reserve online or Call Myers Lake Camping & Cabins – Cindy & Steve: (810) 370-1232

May 15-17, 2025

Rates are listed as $55/night (lots 1-60), $70/night (lakeview lots 61-107). All sites are full hook-up, 50/30.
Cabins are $85-125 / night
Enjoy evening vespers and campfires together
Saturday night potluck
Sunday morning devotions
Amenities: swimming, fishing, canoeing, playground, hiking, hayrides
Not a camper? Come out for the day and the Saturday potluck.

Please email your site number to Gene or Suzanne after you have made your reservations.

Red Bird Mission Trip
2026-10-04 - 2026-10-09 | Red Bird Mission, Dorm Road, Queendale, 40913, United States
The Red Bird Mission in Beverly, Kentucky serves the physical, educational and spiritual needs of Appalachia. Red Bird Mission is a ministry of the United Methodist Church. There are opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to participate in this mission trip that will happen Oct. 4-9, 2026. Contact Gene Smith.
Some examples of work projects are roof replacement, small room additions, painting, building porches or ramps, and grounds keeping. Other light-duty work is available such as office work, craft and community store helpers, and recycling. A single fee covers the cost of each person’s lodging, meals, and materials used.
Note: when donating to this mission, please specify “trip,” “scrap metal drive,” etc. Thank you!
