Our mission at First United Methodist Church
First United Methodist Church of Iowa City is a loving, welcoming church of mixed ages and backgrounds, spirit and energy. We invite you to review our Mission Statement, our Core Values, and our Strategic Plan. More than that, we invite you to explore making First United Methodist Church your church home. Please feel free to contact our church office or any of our staff if you have questions. We strive to be a loving and growing church that glorifies God through worship, study, fellowship and service. Join us!
Mission Statement
Our Mission/Vision Statement holds that “ First United Methodist Church exists to . . .
Welcome people in love;
Equip people with a faith that works; and
Send us in service as
Disciples of Jesus Christ.
Our Core Values
All of the ministries of First United Methodist Church are undergirded and supported by our Core Values, which not only tell us what we are about in ministry, but tell us who we are as God’s people.
First United Methodist Church exists to:
Welcome people in love –
We believe that God is a life-giving, life-changing. life- affirming presence in the world and in our lives. We honor God with our worship and our praise, in many styles and many modes.
We believe that all people are God’s people. To God there are no outsiders, so when we say that everyone is welcome we mean everyone.
Equip people with a faith that works –
We believe that we can’t truly love God without loving each other. As members of First United Methodist Church in Iowa City, we worship, pray and work together in fellowship. We share our lives and together we grow in faith and faithfulness.
We believe in discipleship and that each of us was ordained for ministry by our baptism, and that we all have gifts to share in the name of Jesus Christ.
Send us in service –
We believe that God’s creation is on-going, and that we are called to be co-creators with God. Like Jesus we seek to break barriers and build bridges, to heal those things in our world that are broken and to turn hurtfulness into love. “On earth as it is in heaven” is our goal.
as Disciples of Jesus Christ.
Our Strategic Plan
Envisioning our church as a Large, Diverse, Regional, Downtown Church with opportunities for creative partnerships in mission and ministry and multiple sites, First United Methodist Church is called to:
Honor and build on our heritage by . . .
Emphasizing those traditional “Methodist” Spiritual Disciplines and Practices that have long marked the church, including: Returning to the basic of “faith development” in such areas as worship, music, Christian education, and caring ministries.
Embracing the formation of small groups and “churches within the church” for spiritual growth and community building.
Developing a comprehensive stewardship ministry focused on growth in prayers, presence, gifts and service, including: Financial Stewardship Ministry of the Laity (time, talents, skills, abilities)
Offering excellent Traditional Worship while also offering styles of worship that speak a variety of worship “languages.”
Embrace our future by developing creative partnerships with:
This plan will serve as a blueprint for our church’s mission and ministry as we seek together to experience renewal and new life, sharing with God in transforming our community and the world as Disciples of Jesus Christ.
Information for newcomers
Welcome to First United Methodist Church of Iowa City. With a long and storied past, First United Methodist Church looks forward to a bright and vibrant future. First United Methodist Church is literally the “first church” of Iowa City, having been established in 1839. Located in downtown Iowa City , at the corner of Jefferson and Dubuque Streets, First UMC is an historic landmark, to the community and to the campus of the University of Iowa. Home to more than 1,550 members, First UMC is also a :home away from home” for many U of I students – a place to celebrate the unity of Christ amidst diversity.
As you will discover by exploring our website, First UMC is a center of dynamic, vibrant ministry, touching the lives of people of every age – children, youth, young adults, adults and seniors – even as it serves the needs of the community and the world. Through worship, music ministry, Sunday School, children's ministries, youth groups, adult classes, short term studies, small groups and affinity groups, family ministries, health & caring ministries, and outreach ministries of all sorts, First UMC is a sign of God's on-going involvement in the life of the world and it's peoples.
This year we are engaged in ministry under the banner: “Many Gifts, One Spirit.” This is our way of celebrating the “incarnational ministry” that is ours; the ministry of making Christ's presence known and felt through the active leadership and dedicated participation of many, may lay members and friends of First UMC, equipped and under-girded for their acts of service by an equally dedicated and creative church staff. We are a people who are living, growing and being stretched by our faith, even as we seek to join with God in making a difference in the life of our church, our community and the world.
We invite you to review our Mission Statement, our Core Values, and our Strategic Plan (use the "our mission" link in the left navigational menu) . More than that, we invite you to explore making First United Methodist Church your church home. Please feel free to contact our church office or any of our staff if you have questions or desire more information. We are here to help you.
We look forward to welcoming you into the First Church faith family. Additional information about upcoming “Meet The Staff” Newcomers Orientation Sessions is available.
Sunday Worship Services
First United Methodist Church of Iowa City offers three unique and distinctive Sunday morning services of Worship.
Cornerstone Service from 8-8:50 a.m. This Worship Service is “bedrock” United Methodist Traditional Worship at its finest, centered on the singing of traditional hymns, biblically-focused preaching, and traditional liturgies and prayers. Organist Jin-Ah Yoo leads our music ministry at this service which also features soloists and small vocal and instrumental groups from time to time.
Santuary Alternative Worship Service from 9:15-10 a.m. Looking for a casual, up-beat worship service where you are welcomed “just the way you are?” This service features the contemporary music and praise hymns led by the Sanctuary Band and the use of projectors and screens & digital technology. Attire for this service is casual but our focus remains on worshipping God with our prayers and our praise.
Koinonia Worship from 10:30-11:30 a.m. The Koinonia (Greek for “Community”) Service is for people of all ages, featuring an up-dated approach to worship through the use of modern litanies, songs and prayers while remaining true to our United Methodist worship heritage. The music ministry of Organist Jin-Ah Yoo and the Chancel Choir, led by Director of Music Samuel Kwok, is supplemented by a variety of vocal and instrumental ensembles, including our bell and chime choirs.
To locate the church, view the Mapquest website.
Do you need childcare during worship services?
Radio & Television Ministry: A 30 minute broadcast of a portion of one of our services is aired every Sunday morning over KXIC (800 AM) from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. You are welcome to sponsor a broadcast in honor or in memory of a loved one for $85.00. A tape of our Koinonia Service is broadcast on Public Television Channel 18 on Wednesdays @ 2:00 p.m. and on Sundays @ 7:00 p.m.
Parking on Sundays
Handicapped parking: There are several spaces in the alley just north of the church building designated for handicapped parking. Note: the alley runs one-way to the east; enter off Dubuque Street between Market and Jefferson). Just inside the alley entrance is an elevator leading to the narthex.
Other parking: The meters on nearby streets do not require coins on Sundays between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. on several streets near the church (including Dubuque, Jefferson, and Market Streets). Look for the city's signs.
Parking lots: The parking lot of Brewery Square (just north of the church, off Market Street) is open all day on Sundays. A University of Iowa lot, located east of Seashore Hall has available for public parking on Sundays.
Parking ramps: There are several city parking ramps within several blocks of the church. There is free parking on Sundays at the city-owned ramp near the corner of Gilbert Street and Iowa Avenue.Other ramps are available at their usual rates: at the corner of Linn and Burlington Streets; at the corner of Washington and Gilbert Streets; and at the corner of Burlington and Clinton Streets.
Parking on Weekdays
The three parking spots just east of the alley doors (four if you park in front of the dumpster) are now open to "All Members and Friends of the Church" on a first come, first serve basis. Note: There is a 15 minute time limit for those choosing to park in these spots and you must be conducting "church business" within the building. Anyone needing more time is asked to check in at the church office. There are also a number of metered parking places on nearby streets; be aware that coins must be fed into the meters until 5 p.m.
Accommodations to Make Worship Meaningful and Comfortable
Pastors and staff members
To help you know me just a bit better, let me say that I am a native Iowan, born in Carroll, raised in Dexter, IA, and La Marque, TX, and a graduate of Carroll High School. A 1968 graduate of Morningside College in Sioux City, I received my Master of Divinity degree from St. Paul School of Theology (Kansas City, MO) in 1972. In my 38-plus years of ministry in the Iowa Annual Conference I have served the Massena-Bridgewater-Avondale Charge; First United Methodist Church, Iowa City (Associate); St. Luke UMC, Newton; Belmond UMC, Belmond; Lovely Lane UMC, Cedar Rapids; and First UMC, Indianola; before returning as Lead Pastor to First UMC, Iowa City. A former President of the Iowa United Methodist Foundation, I have also served on several annual conference boards and agencies, including the Board of Ministry, the Board of Church and Society (Past Chair), the School for Ministry Commission, and the Annual Conference Worship Team. In Iowa City I am a member of the Iowa City Noon Rotary Club and serve of the CPE Advisory Committee at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, and the Advisory Board of the Oaknoll Retirement Center. My wife, Marcia, is a therapist in private practice and we are the parents of three adult sons, Aaron, Zachary (wife Amy) and Kyle (wife Raquel), and grandparents to Eli and Gabrielle. I enjoy reading and hiking in the mountains (obviously not in Iowa ) and I am afflicted with an unfortunate passion for golf.
John Raab was born and raised in Clinton, Iowa. He is a graduate of the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Peggy, have two children; Adam and Julie. Peggy is the night nursing supervisor in Pediatrics at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics. Peggy is a lifelong member of First United and her family’s membership started with her great-grandmother. Peggy and John were married at First United in 1976. Peggy, John and their children have been involved in many activities at First United such as the homeless overflow shelter and the Appalachia Service Project. Prior to his attending seminary, John worked primarily in the health care field. He started as Registered Nurse which led to working in medical research. While working as a research assistant, John learned computer programming for data analysis and this, in turn, led to various jobs as a computer programmer at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, the last being the programmer for the International Bariatric Society Registry. During seminary, John has been able to pursue his interest in the historical world of the Bible. John was a member of the excavation staff at Tell-el ‘Umayri, an archaeological site south of Amman, Jordan. Since seminary, John has been able to take up a hobby which was put on hold for a number of years, playing Bluegrass banjo. John’s appointment as associate pastor began on July 1, 2006.
Rev. Patricia (Patte) Henderson grew up in the Denver area receiving a BS in elementary education from the University of Colorado and an MA in religious education from Regis University. After teaching school for 8 years, she served 3 churches as a Certified Director of Christian Education in Denver and Charleston, West Virginia, before attending seminary in Richmond, Virginia and receiving a Master of Divinity degree. She came to serve FUMC as Interim DCE in January 2007. Patte has 2 grown children: Andrew who lives in the Chicago area and is the father of 2 daughters, and Elizabeth, a PhD. student at Scripts Oceanographic Institute in San Diego. Patte's wonderful children-in-law are Paula and Judd. Patte loves to read, bicycle, study photography and do crossword puzzles as well as spend time with family and friends.
Cathy Stange is also seen almost every day here at the church. Cathy serves as the Director of the Little Angels Learning Center Ministry of our church. Her responsibilities here include overall management and administration of our child care program. She also manages classroom staff to ensure a quality program and ensures the safety and development of all children enrolled. Cathy has been with Little Angels Learning Center since it opened in July 2005. She started as a preschool teacher and as of last April moved into the Director position. Working with children and families is a passion of Cathy's and she hopes to be working in this field for many years to come.
Sage River is in her fourth year as the Coordinator of Health and Caring Ministries for our church. Her primary roles include overseeing eighteen Ministry Action Teams, including: visitation ministry, bereavement cards, birthday and Christmas cards to homebound and care center residents, blood pressure clinics, Blue Christmas service, CareNotes displays around the church, celebration and support dinners, comfort shawls, emergency/first aid/accessibility, first aid supplies, health ministry library, heart healthy dinner, homecoming service for homebound members, Hospice CD drive, mental health awareness, women's hospitality baskets, and our newest venture: purchasing an Automatic External Defibrillation Unit and providing training in its use. Some of Sage's regular activities include: making home, hospital, and nursing home visits; providing support and counseling on health-related issues for individuals and their families or loved ones; making referrals to community resources; providing support for those experiencing grief and bereavement, or serious illnesses.
Koi Hin Samuel Kwok has been serving at FUMC since August 2002. He was born in Hong Kong and grew up in a Christian family. Samuel is currently a candidate for a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting and the Graduate Certificate in Sacred Music at the University of Iowa. Prior to coming to Iowa, he taught music theory, composition, choral conducting and piano at Hong Kong Baptist University and at the Hong Kong International Institute of Music. Samuel has been actively involved in music ministries in Hong Kong and U.S. since 1980s. He believes we can praise and glorify the Triune God in many different musical styles. His passion is to use his music to bring joys to everyone, especially to seniors, young children, the sick and the poor. His ultimate goal of music making is to spread the Gospel to every corner of the world. He introduced several choral works by Asian composers, including his own compositions. As a composer, he has written compositions for varied media including vocal, instrumental, chamber, choral, electro-acoustical, theatrical and orchestra. His works have been performed in Asia, Europe and the United States. His piano arrangements and compositions have been recorded in 5 CDs in Hong Kong, one of them was sung by a Hong Kong pop singer and published by PolyGram Records in 1989. His published choral work "Psalm 67" has been broadcast worldwide by BBC radio in 1997. Most recently he was invited to compose the Festival Song for the Hong Kong Franklin Graham Festival (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association). As a pianist, Samuel has performed solo recitals and piano concertos with orchestras in Texas and Hong Kong. Samuel also loves to accompany vocalists and instrumentalists. He performed with Hong Kong Children's Choir at the Hong Kong International Airport Opening Ceremony in 1998. He has been accompanied all the choirs of the University of Iowa before he came to FUMC. Samuel's motto is “Do Your Best, God Will Do The Rest”! Samuel and his wife, Janica have two boys; Joshua and Caleb. Both of them are 100% Hawkeyes! He enjoys playing with his boys and wife, eating, sleeping, reading history books, talking to people and learning how to live healthily and joyfully. Samuel loves to travel around the world to meet different people. He has traveled 15 nations, including D.C. and 27 States.
Business Manager, Hillary Biancuzzo is approaching her two year anniversary with FUMC in this position. Her main responsibilities include maintaining all financial records, preparing monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports, processing and posting all receipts and disbursements, preparing quarterly contribution statements for members of the congregation, payroll and benefits administration, human resources management, and assisting in annual budget preparation and financial stewardship campaigns. Hillary serves as a staff liaison to the Finance Committee, Board of Trustees, Administrative Council and Little Angels Board of Directors.
Angie Mason began working for FUMC in July 2007. As the Office Manager & Communications Coordinator her weekly duties include preparing the Sunday bulletins, serving as the editor of the church newsletter, as well as maintaining the church's website. Other responsibilities include overseeing and coordinating the development of all church print materials, including brochures and posters, updating the church calendar and ordering office supplies. Originally from Davenport , Iowa , Angie has lived in Iowa City since 2001. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.A. in English in 2005. In Angie's spare time she enjoys fishing, playing guitar, writing poetry, learning about renewable energy and spending time with friends and family.
Liz Swanton is mainly responsible for the maintenance and up-keep of the membership and visitor files and the wedding, baptism, death, and birth records. She also manages the telephones and handles the influx of visitors to the office. In addition to these duties, Liz also assists Angie in the production of the bulletins and newsletter. Born on the Southside of Chicago, Liz moved to Iowa City and came to work for our church following her graduation from Grinnell College last May. She enjoys reading feminist literature, eating Patte’s chocolate chip cookies, playing back gammon, and making people laugh.
Charles Thiede has served as Sunday custodian for eight and a half years. He started full-time as facilities manager in January 2007. In addition to cleaning, he looks after the church's boiler, electrical system, plumbing and structure as well as taking care of the grounds. When he isn't at church, Charles enjoys reading, baking, drawing and monitoring international radio broadcasts.
Our history
The roots of Iowa City's "First Church" are deeply planted in Iowa's soil. In September 1839, a lone circuit rider approached the small settlement on the Iowa River. Bishop Thomas Morris, in Illinois, realized that there were Methodists among the pioneers who crossed the Mississippi River, and he sent Rev. Joseph L. Kirkpatrick to find them. The first gospel meeting of the new capitol, Iowa City, in the Iowa Territory, was held with a dozen men and women at the two-story log cabin of Matthew Ten Eyck.. After the town was platted, Church Reserves were made available. The Methodists claimed one on the southwest corner of Block 67. The first building was finished in 1844, remodeled first in 1863, and then again after a fire in 1884. The fire in April of 1906 demolished the church. By 1908 the current building was finished and dedicated.
The architectural design was the “Akron Plan” using sandstone trimmed with Bedford limestone. It was 80 feet by 120 feet, or six bays in front and eight bays on the side. The major front entrance is on Jefferson Street, and the minor one on Dubuque Street. Six skilled stone-cutters from the Quad Cities cut twelve-foot long square pillars and masons chiseled the trim for the entrance and edge of the Rosette window. On each corner in the front of the church there are square towers with battlements on top. The towers would seem to be belfries, but it is the case that the church has never had a bell. The main auditorium is a raised bowled floor with the altar and pulpit at the front. The choir and organ are behind the pulpit.
Improvements and some reconstruction were necessary in 1942 and again in 1969 when a Christian Education Building was erected just east of the main building. During remodeling and reconstruction in 1988-89 a new Holtkamp organ was installed. Fifty-five pastors and numerous associates have served this church and its congregations from 1839-2004.
Ilene Hammond, FUMC Historian and long-time member, has faithfully labored to keep FUMC's history alive. A collection of her Articles from the Archives are reproduced using the links below:
Age, Beauty and our Church / The Big Round Window
Mr. Weber and Governor Kirkwood
Travel by the Military Road
Dogs and Hogs and Fences
Church Organs
Remembering
Another Fire!
Describing the Church
Sidewalk and Boardwalk
Signature Banner
And on this Corner...
Weddings, baptisms and Funerals at FUMC
Weddings at First United Methodist Church
First United Methodist Church is pleased to assist couples as they prepare for their wedding and as they prepare for their marriage. Please contact the church office to schedule your wedding. Members are given first consideration for wedding dates. We do, however, welcome one non-member wedding per month.
All who schedule a wedding will be asked to:
Weddings will not be scheduled for the weekend of Easter. Weddings on other holiday weekends (Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas) will be at the discretion of the ministers. Only one wedding will be scheduled per weekend and each of our pastors will officiate at no more than two weddings a month. A minister from First United Methodist Church is expected to officiate at all weddings held in our sanctuary. If a guest minister is desired by a couple, these arrangements must be discussed with one of the staff ministers so that an invitation may, at the local pastor's discretion, be extended to the guest minister.
One of the Services of Christian Marriage from the United Methodist Book of Worship will be used. The minister will discuss these services with you and advise you as to any additions to the service you may desire. In addition to helping to plan the wedding, the minister will meet with the couple for pre-marriage counseling. The number of sessions will be determined by the pastor in consultation with the couple.
Other church staff who will be involved in all weddings at FUMC include the church organist, a wedding coordinator, and the wedding custodian. They will be present at the rehearsal and at the wedding. To honor their time, the church will be opened three (3) hours prior to the ceremony to allow the wedding party to dress and to decorate the sanctuary. At the time that a wedding is scheduled at the church, the couple will be provided with the First United Methodist Church Wedding Booklet which spells out in great detail the wedding policies and procedures for our church. Careful attention must be paid to each guideline. As you plan for your wedding, it is our prayer that God, the Giver of Life and Love, will bless your lives as you look forward to the vows you will take in the very presence of God.
A wedding booklet is available as a pdf file
Baptisms at First United Methodist Church
Holy Baptism is celebrated for infants, children, youth and adults on an “as scheduled” basis. Three forms of baptism are available: sprinkling, pouring and immersion. Often the Sacrament of Holy Baptism is included in one of the Christmas Eve Services as well as during one of our Easter Celebrations. Contact the church office or one of the pastors for more information.
Funerals
Funerals performed at the church take precedence over all other scheduled activities. Arrangements may also be made for visitations and for fellowship luncheons.
Future development
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