A United Methodist Congregation with Two Front Doors
First United Methodist Church-Brighton & Whitmore Lake sits at the corner of Grand River Avenue in downtown Brighton, with a second worshiping community a short drive south in Whitmore Lake. The church is one congregation with two campuses, an arrangement that began on Sunday, July 1, 2018, when the members of Brighton First United Methodist Church and Wesley United Methodist Church of Whitmore Lake voted to merge their ministries (the formal congregational vote had taken place on April 15, 2018). Today the Brighton Campus and the Whitmore Lake Campus share clergy, staff, and a single strategic plan, while each location keeps its own sanctuary, history, and neighborhood feel.
The church describes itself as an inclusive community of faith that welcomes people of all ages, races, and national origins; all gender identities and sexual orientations; all abilities, political perspectives, and economic circumstances. The mission, Know God. Love God. Serve God., frames every program from Sunday worship to the preschool on the Brighton campus. The vision statement pushes the same idea outward: followers of Jesus Christ who know, love, and serve God by serving others.
What Sunday Looks Like
At the Brighton Campus, two Sunday services are offered, both of them livestreamed. The 9:30 am service leans traditional, featuring hymns along with the Adult Choir and the Echoes of Praise Handbell choir. Coffee and refreshments are served between services in the Community Room. At 11:00 am a Contemporary Family Worship service uses the Worship Band and a blended mix of hymns and praise music. Both services share the same chancel and use the same livestream feed.
At the Whitmore Lake Campus, worship is held at 9:15 am in an intimate sanctuary seating about 120. The service features weekly Holy Communion and a blended music style that weaves hymns with praise songs. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, weather permitting, the Whitmore Lake congregation moves outside to the lawn by the lake on selected Sundays for an outdoor service. After worship, fellowship continues over coffee on the lower level.
Holy Communion is generally celebrated on the first Sunday of the month at each campus, with gluten-free wafers available. Baptism is offered at any age (infant through adult) and is performed by an ordained elder, either by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. Visitors do not need to be members to take communion, to be baptized, or to participate in any group, class, or service project.
Children from Infants Through Fifth Grade
Children are welcome in every service, and a "family room" with a window into the sanctuary is available for parents who want a little more space. Busy bags are stocked near the entrance.
At the Brighton Campus, the nursery is staffed for both the 9:30 and 11:00 am services and is open to children up to 36 months. Caregivers use the lower-level entrance by the playground, sign children in, and receive a text if they are needed during worship. The nursery is staffed by trained adults who have completed background checks and by teens who are CPR and First Aid certified or have taken the community education babysitting course.
Sunday School for children ages three through fifth grade meets at 9:30 am, with a check-in table on the lower level outside the Children's Ministry classrooms. Classes are divided by age: a younger group (preschool through first grade) and an elementary group (second through fifth grade). During the 11:00 am service, children ages three through fifth grade are invited forward for a Children's Message after the third opening song, then leave the sanctuary with their teachers and return during the offering. At the Whitmore Lake Campus, Sunday School meets at 10:15 am in the Fellowship Hall on the lower level.
Vacation Bible School is a free summer fixture, held on the Brighton Campus in late July for children ages four through fifth grade (children must be potty trained). The program uses music, drama, science, crafts, games, stories, and snacks, and serves as the children's ministry's biggest outreach of the year. Young People's Worship Arts, a musical theater program directed by Music Director Susan Kimball, gives children another way to lead worship, with performances typically twice a year.
Middle School, High School, and Confirmation
Student Ministry serves grades 5 through 12 and meets twice a month on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 pm during the school year at The Well, a dedicated space on the Brighton Campus with a café, a meeting area, and room for games. The format blends music, a short message, discussion, and a lot of pizza. Special events take students into the community, including the CROP Hunger Walk, Concessions for a Cause fundraisers, a Christmas musical in December, and the Gifts of Hope shopping trip to Target in early December.
Youth Sunday School meets twice a month at 11:00 am for students in grades 6 through 12. The group joins the opening music in the sanctuary, then moves to the church library for discussion led by Tim Niyonsenga and Pastor Lindsey. Confirmation classes are offered in the spring for eighth graders and older, and confirmands may choose to take baptism vows themselves as part of that process.
Music in Many Forms
Music is a defining part of this church's identity. The Music Ministry includes the Adult Choir (high school age and up), the Echoes of Praise Handbell choir, and the Worship Band, with Susan Kimball serving as Music Director and Mike Tooman as Worship Leader. The Adult Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings from September through May. The bell choir rehearses on Wednesdays in the Music Room and typically plays for worship once a month and for the Brighton District Library Christmas Celebration each December. The Worship Band rehearses Sunday evenings in the sanctuary. Bill Kinney serves as accompanist.
Tech and video production is treated as its own ministry. The church calls livestreamed worship its "third campus," and a team of volunteers operates the cameras, sound board, and online stream each week.
Adult Classes, Small Groups, and Fellowship
Adults can plug into a long menu of study and fellowship groups. Bible studies and book groups meet on most days of the week, both on campus and in homes, with many groups offered in hybrid (in-person plus Zoom) format. Among the ongoing offerings are:
- Men with Tools - Tuesday mornings, a brief study followed by handyman projects, coordinated by George Lutz.
- Wednesday Study Group - Wednesday mornings, led by Sue Urban.
- Wednesdays at 6:30 pm and 7:00 pm, small group Bible studies using books and Amplify Media videos.
- Women of the Word ("WOW") - Thursday afternoons.
- Men of Faith - Saturday mornings, with donuts.
- Current Events - Sundays at 11:00 am, looking at current events from a biblical perspective.
- Just Conversations - occasional Tuesday evenings on Zoom.
- Craft & Praise - second Friday evenings.
- Nature Nuts - monthly outdoor outings led by Joann Schmidt.
- Church Softball - men's, women's, and co-ed leagues from spring through fall.
The church provides a free Amplify Media account to all members and friends. Described as "United Methodist Netflix," Amplify offers Wesleyan-perspective videos for every age, plus the audio of the entire Common English Bible. The access code is available through the church office.
Membership classes, led by Pastor Lindsey, are offered in the fall and sometimes the spring. New members use James Harnish's A Disciple's Path and are introduced to what it means to be United Methodist.
United Methodist Women in Faith
The church hosts an active United Methodist Women in Faith unit, with five circles that meet at different times of the month for study, fellowship, and hands-on mission. The Abigail Circle meets at Whitmore Lake on the third Sunday after worship; Dorcas, Phoebe, Sarah Lewis, and Sojourner Truth Circles meet in Brighton at various times. Together they support projects like Blessing in a Backpack for Brighton Schools, Coats for Cass Community Social Services, the Liberian Judith Craig Orphanage, Days for Girls menstrual health kits, funeral lunches, the Hats and Mittens Tree at Christmas, and many more. The unit is part of the Heritage District and the Michigan Conference of the UMC and attends annual district and Mission u gatherings.
Caring Ministries
A dedicated team of staff and volunteers walks with members through the joys and challenges of life. Stephanie Nichoff, the Congregational Care Coordinator, connects visitors with parish nurses, lay visitors, and Stephen Ministers.
Prayer is woven through the ministry. The Prayer Team meets Thursday mornings to pray for the congregation and community. The Prayer Chain distributes prayer requests by email. The Prayers and Squares quilting group sews prayer quilts for those in need of comfort, and the Prayer Shawl Knitting Ministry gathers on Monday evenings at a local Panera to create shawls for persons in care. Caring Cards sends holiday cards to members who live alone or in nursing homes.
Caring Ministries also provides extensive referral resources for mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence, and recovery, including the Livingston County Community Mental Health Crisis Line, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, NAMI (national, state, and local chapters), LACASA, Safe House Center, AA, Al-Anon, NA, Gamblers Anonymous, the Samaritans of Southeast Michigan, and Love INC of Livingston County.
Missions and Outreach
Service to the wider community is a major part of the church's identity. Missions and Outreach organizes the work into local, national, and international tiers.
Local
- Cass Community Social Services in Detroit - the church sends volunteers on monthly Cass Volunteer Saturdays.
- Habitat for Humanity - the "Good News Group" participates in build days through the year.
- Fish and Loaves - the church hosts this free weekly community meal in Brighton, served by rotating congregations.
- Bountiful Harvest - a food pantry located next door to the Brighton Campus.
- Hope's Closet - clothing and essentials for foster families in Livingston County.
- The NOAH Project - bag lunches prepared for Central UMC in Detroit.
- St. Andrews Breakfast Program in Ann Arbor - monthly volunteer shifts.
- VINA Community Dental Center - a low-cost dental clinic operated out of the Brighton Campus.
- Love INC Gas Vouchers, the Bedding Ministry, and Hope's Closet - all partnered with Love INC of Livingston County.
- The Torch and Torch 180 - mobile food truck and a café providing vocational training in Fowlerville.
- Greecian Island Restaurant Outreach - donations fund a free meal (up to $10) for those in need.
National
- Red Bird Mission Team - an annual mission trip to Beverly, Kentucky, serving the physical, educational, and spiritual needs of Appalachia.
- UMC Special Sundays - UMCOR Sunday (fourth Sunday in Lent), Native American Ministries Sunday (third Sunday of Easter), Human Relations Day, Peace With Justice Sunday, and World Communion Sunday.
International
- Missionary Dr. Tendai Manyeza - a United Methodist medical missionary supported by the church.
- Blanket Sunday - funds for Church World Service blankets.
- Days for Girls - sewing and shipping menstrual care kits worldwide.
- Rio Bravo Mission - annual trip to Manos Juntas in Mexico, in partnership with Highland UMC.
Two annual events anchor the mission calendar: the Brighton Area CROP Hunger Walk begins and ends at the Brighton Campus each fall, and the church hosts a Red Cross Blood Drive and an Annual Quilt & Craft Sale as well.
Church and Society: Living Faith, Seeking Justice, Pursuing Peace
The Church and Society Committee was formed in November 2021 and the church voted unanimously in 2024 to join the Reconciling Ministry Network. The committee organizes five ongoing projects:
- Access for All - disability awareness and improving access to all church activities, led by Nichole Wright.
- Anti-Bias / Anti-Racism - personal and corporate education on racism, with field trips (like the Wright Museum in Detroit) and a Civil Rights Pilgrimage scheduled in early 2027. Co-directed by Suzanne Everett and Kara Shuell.
- Economic Justice - transit equity and poverty-related issues. Co-directed by Pam Kummer and Anne Sparling.
- Green Team - evaluating energy use and developing a five-year environmental plan. Led by Libby Brough.
- Welcoming ALL: LGBTQ+ Advocacy - led by Heather Buttorff.
Annual events include the Road to Justice Fair in March and Fellowship with a Focus in November. The committee also organizes an annual UMC Advocacy Day at the state capitol in Lansing.
Camp and Retreat Ministry
The church partners with Grace Outside, the camp and retreat programs of Michigan Area United Methodist Camping. Grace Outside operates Lake Michigan Family Campground (Pentwater), Wesley Woods Camp & Retreat Center (Dowling), and Lake Huron Retreat Center (Burtchville). Throughout the year the church offers its own family camping trip, a women's retreat, and a men's retreat. Camp Beloved at Lake Louise is an inclusive week for LGBTQIA+ youth and allies in grades 9 through 13.
The Memorial Garden and History Garden
The Brighton Campus is bordered on the west by the John Wesley History Garden, a peaceful walkway planted with stories of the Methodist movement that began in England with John Wesley. Memorial contributions fund the garden's bench and plantings.
Adjacent to the sanctuary, the Memorial Garden was created in 2004 as a living place of prayer, meditation, weddings, baptisms, and burial of ashes for members and non-members alike. The garden has four planting areas and a fountain. Inside the community room, a Memorial Garden Cabinet holds a Book of Memories with photographs and biographies of those interred there. A large wooden cross was added in 2007, built by Bill Lane from wood salvaged from a tree that once stood on the property of The Red Balloon. Water features and wind chimes complete the space. The church also encourages advance planning for memorial services, with a downloadable form that lets members record favorite hymns, scriptures, and personal messages for their own celebration of life.
First Steps Preschool
Housed on the Brighton Campus, First Steps Preschool serves the surrounding community under the direction of Hilary Bott. The preschool is governed by an advisory committee and is closely tied to the life of the congregation. The school was recently reorganized after the resignation of longtime director Jennifer Lapa, and a new teacher assistant will be hired for the 2026-2027 school year.
Weddings, Funerals, and Memorials
The clergy of First UMC officiate weddings at both campuses and provide pre-marital counseling. The published wedding fee schedule includes a wedding deposit, clergy honoraria, clergy-led marriage preparation, an organist, a wedding coordinator, an A/V technician, custodian fee, an administration fee, and a building use fee for non-members. The wedding coordinator handles logistics on the day of the service.
The funeral and memorial ministry works closely with the Memorial Garden Committee. Members are encouraged to fill out an advance planning form so that their wishes are clear before the time comes.
Leadership and Governance
The church is led by Co-Pastors Rev. Jon Reynolds and Rev. Lindsey Hall, with Rev. Lynn Hasley serving as Associate Pastor and Rev. Loretta Job as Deacon. Susan Kimball directs the music program, and Suzanne Everett directs mission, justice, and communications. The Leadership Board uses a simplified governing structure that fulfills the United Methodist roles of Church Council, Trustees, Finance, and Staff/Pastor-Parish Relations. Board members are elected to staggered three-year terms, and meetings are open to the congregation, typically held at 6:00 pm on the third Monday of the month in the Brighton Campus Library.
In 2024 the board convened a Strategic Plan Task Force that conducted listening sessions and surveys with about 80 church members (roughly 22% of the congregation). The resulting plan, covering 2025-2027, identifies six goals and is available for download.
Accessibility and Practical Details
Both campuses are accessible. At Brighton, accessible parking is available, and an elevator serves the upper-level sanctuary from the lower entrance near the playground. A walker and a wheelchair are kept near the Grand River entrance for anyone who needs them. The sanctuary has wheelchair-accessible seating in the side aisles and a ramp to the altar area.
At Whitmore Lake, an exterior ramp leads to the sanctuary level, and a lift chair is available at the lower-level doors for anyone who cannot use the stairs. The restrooms are accessible and located just inside the lower-level doors. Hearing assist devices are available at both campuses; ushers or sound technicians can provide a receiver.
The dress code is whatever makes you comfortable. On any given Sunday, attire ranges from dresses and suits and ties to shirts and jeans.
How to Give, Connect, and Stay in Touch
The church accepts online donations through Vanco (with text-to-give by texting 844-931-2726, or through the Vanco Mobile app with the invite code D9B3NK), through PayPal, and by check mailed to the Brighton address. An Estimate of Giving card helps members plan their annual support. Email devotions are offered during Advent and Lent.
Office hours at the Brighton Campus are Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and Friday from 9:00 am to noon. The office is closed for major holidays. The church office phone number is 810-229-8561.
Worship is livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube on Sunday mornings at 9:30 and 11:00 am, and the Sermon Audio Archive going back to 2014 is available for streaming at any time.