Blair First United Methodist Church sits on a quiet corner of Blair, Nebraska, at 1656 Colfax Street where 17th and Grant meet. The congregation has long been a steady presence in Washington County, and its reach now extends well beyond the brick walls through a YouTube livestream and an active schedule of choirs, Bible studies, and family ministries. Generations of Blair families have passed through its classrooms and choirs, and the church continues to shape its ministry around a simple mission: Gather to thrive in community, grow to be like Jesus, and go to be hope.
Sunday Worship at 9:30
Worship is held at 9:30 a.m. each Sunday, both in person and online. The service is streamed live on YouTube and Facebook, and previous services are available for viewing anytime through the church's YouTube channel and Facebook page. Visitors who come in person can expect a warm, come-as-you-are atmosphere; the church explicitly invites people to wear what is comfortable. Street parking wraps around the building, with two additional lots on the east side (entered from the alley while traveling north on 17th Street) and on the north side off Grant Street.
During the school year, Sunday School runs at the same 9:30 a.m. hour for children from PreK through sixth grade. Students start the morning in worship with their families and are dismissed after the Children's Message to their classrooms. The PreK through second grade room is behind the Sanctuary, while third through fifth grade meets near the elevator on the lower level. A nursery for infants and toddlers is available during worship, and busy bags are provided for young children.
Music Ministries: Chancel Choir, Bells, and Beyond
Music is a defining part of Blair First's worship life. The Chancel Choir, open to both adults and youth, rehearses on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary during the school year and sings each week in worship. Glenn Coates, a member of the congregation since 1988, has directed the choir for many years. He is joined at the piano by Allison Matson, a Nebraska Wesleyan graduate in music and business administration who has been accompanying the choir since 2017.
The Celebration Bells, the church's handbell choir directed by Jeff Mount, rehearses on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. during the school year and welcomes both adults and youth. Reading music is helpful, but a heart to praise is the only real prerequisite. Soloists, guitarists, and other instrumentalists are also invited to share their gifts in worship by contacting the church office.
Wednesday Night CONNECT
On Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. during the school year, the church opens its lower level for CONNECT, a one-hour gathering that meets PreK through twelfth grade in age-based groups. Children from PreK through fifth grade begin in the Chapel. Middle school students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades meet in a room to the left of the stage in Fellowship Hall, facilitated by Amy Larsen. High schoolers in ninth through twelfth grade meet in the Youth Room off Fellowship Hall with facilitator Jamie Folkers. The Wednesday night rhythm mirrors the Sunday morning schedule and gives families a second touchpoint each week.
Children and Youth at Every Stage
Family ministry is coordinated by Danielle Jensen, who grew up in the church and has served in its preschool classes, Vacation Bible School, bell choir, and confirmation work for more than two decades. In addition to Sunday School and Wednesday Night CONNECT, Jensen oversees Vacation Bible School each summer. The 2026 program, themed "At the Table," runs July 20 through 24 in partnership with First Lutheran Church in Blair and welcomes children from age three through fifth grade. The cost is a suggested donation, and no child is turned away.
Confirmation at Blair First is a United Methodist tradition rooted in baptism. The church describes confirmation as a sacred occasion in which young people claim the baptismal vows made on their behalf as infants, or receive the sacrament of baptism for the first time. The confirmation program is designed for youth in eighth grade, and families who are not members of the United Methodist Church are welcome to participate.
Adult Ministries and Small Groups
Adult ministry at Blair First includes ongoing Bible studies, book clubs, and connection groups. A six-week study on Genesis, led around Amy-Jill Levine's beginner's guide to the Old Testament, meets twice a week with options on Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m. and Thursday mornings at 9:30 a.m.
Long-running groups include Faithful Bookworms, a women's book club that meets at 9:30 a.m. on the first Tuesday of each month, and a Men's Book Club that gathers on a Sunday evening once a month. Cribbage enthusiasts meet in Fellowship Hall on most Sunday evenings, and anyone with a board and a deck of cards is welcome. United Methodist Men gather for breakfast at 7:30 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month, and United Methodist Women meet at 9:30 a.m. on the third Wednesday of the month. Anyone interested in starting a new small group is encouraged to reach out to Pastor Doug Griger or Aaron Matson, the NOW Team Chair.
Building a Pavilion, Gathering a Community
The Outdoor Worship Pavilion is one of the most visible expressions of the congregation's current energy. The project began in the summer of 2020, when pandemic restrictions pushed worship outside and a member named Greg Stewart approached the pastor with an idea for a permanent covered space. After council approval and a season of planning, construction began, and the pavilion is moving toward completion.
The church envisions the pavilion as a gathering place for congregational picnics, Vacation Bible School, youth group, small groups, summer concerts, scouts, and weddings. It is also available for community use. Members, friends, and outside groups are invited to reserve the pavilion for events, and the church has published a use policy and agreement.
Funeral Luncheons and Hospitality
Funeral hospitality has long been one of Blair First's gifts to the wider Blair community. The Fellowship Hall can seat up to 125 people, and the church's Funeral Ministry works alongside families to coordinate a catered or self-prepared meal on the day of a funeral. The ministry provides two or three helpers for set-up, kitchen, and clean-up, along with beverages, cups, and basic supplies.
Faith in Action: Volunteering Together
Members of Blair First extend their service beyond the church through volunteer work at the Washington County Recycling Center, 440 S 3rd Ave in Blair. Gloves and comfortable shoes are helpful, and children are welcome when accompanied by an adult. The recycling volunteer days run through mid-November each year, with sign-ups available near the church office.
Pastors, Staff, and a Family Choir Tradition
Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Doug Griger assumed his role at Blair First on July 1, 2024, beginning his twenty-seventh year of full-time ministry. A native of Omaha, he studied at the University of Nebraska - Omaha, earned his Master of Divinity at Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, and completed his Doctor of Ministry at Iliff School of Theology in Denver. He is joined in the Confirmation ministry by Pastor Gina Gile.
The church is also served by Family Ministries Director Danielle Jensen, Chancel Choir Director Glenn Coates, Lead Pianist Allison Matson, Celebration Bells Director Jeff Mount, youth facilitators Amy Larsen and Jamie Folkers, Audio/Visual Team Coordinator Layla Kern, Audio/Visual Tech Mia Kern, and Nursery Attendant Samantha Geise. Kevin Fleming, a lifelong Blair resident, serves as the church's custodian and sound technician and is the friendly presence keeping the Sanctuary at just the right temperature on Sunday mornings.
Generosity, Prayer, and Staying Connected
Online giving is available through a secure portal for those who wish to support the ministry financially. Prayer requests can be sent to the church office by phone or email, and a text messaging notification program keeps members informed of upcoming events, reminders, and important updates.
Blair First United Methodist Church continues to be a steady, family-shaped congregation at the corner of 17th and Grant, gathering a town that has known it for generations while finding new ways to livestream, welcome, and build for what comes next.