In the village of Flat Rock, the brick sanctuary on Evergreen Street carries a legacy stretching back more than two centuries. The First United Methodist Church of Flat Rock traces its roots to December 1823, when James Finley, a Methodist preacher assigned to the Native Americans of northern Ohio, came and preached to a group of Wyandot Indians. The next morning twelve individuals organized a church, making it one of the oldest Methodist congregations in Michigan.
A Church That Started with Twelve People in 1823
The early congregation was a mix of Native peoples and white settlers. A small log church was built north of the village, replaced in 1834 by a thirty-by-thirty frame church on Huron River Drive. By 1852 the growing congregation had moved into a much larger church building, which served the parish until 1902, when it was relocated and a successor built on the same site. In May 1960 the congregation broke ground on its current home on donated land, dedicating the new sanctuary on March 12, 1961. Members paid off the mortgage by 1965, then turned their attention to enlarging the sanctuary, work interrupted in 1969 when a tornado damaged the new addition. The community rallied, and the expanded worship space held its first service on May 17, 1970. Since then the buildings have stayed largely the same while the congregation has had its rises and falls.
A roast beef dinner launched in the mid-1980s still raises money for conference obligations and building improvements, and a banner on the fellowship hall reads, in the church's own words: "Celebrating More Than 200 Years of Ministry."
A Sunday Morning at Flat Rock First UMC
Sunday rhythms center on two gatherings. At 9 AM, from Labor Day through Memorial Day, Sunday School meets for all ages. At 10:15 AM the congregation gathers for worship, also livestreamed on Facebook for those who cannot be in the pew.
A praise band leads the music, supported by piano and organ, blending contemporary and traditional sounds. Dress is whatever makes a visitor comfortable, from Sunday best to casual. Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month, and everyone is welcome to partake.
Children, Youth, and the Grace Space
Children are warmly welcomed throughout the service. A Grace Space on the right side of the sanctuary lets kids be kids while still being part of the service. An unstaffed nursery off the lobby offers a place for little ones with the service playing on a TV screen.
Sunday School is organized by age. PK and Kindergarten children use the Wonder Curriculum, facilitated by Anita Marl and Kim Ruppel. Elementary students in grades one through five work through the Trackers of Faith Curriculum, led by Karen Vack and Debbie Weise. Middle and high school students, facilitated by Dawn Starks, dive into the history, culture, and religious background of the Promised Land. Adults meet in a five-session Bible study on the Early Church led by Rev. Brad Lewis.
The mission statement says it plainly: "To Make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." The vision adds shape to that call: "Growing Christians through worship, education and community service."
Groups That Shape the Week
Beyond Sunday morning, a calendar of small groups and fellowships fills the building.
On Mondays at 9 AM the Crafters gather for fellowship, fiber arts, and mission work, with many of their knitted and crocheted items going to local non-profits, shelters, and hospitals. Other crafters are welcome, and the morning typically ends with lunch at a nearby restaurant.
Saturdays bring the closed Garage Group AA meeting at 9:30 AM, a long-running Alcoholics Anonymous group. The first Saturday of each month also brings Men's Coffee at 7 AM and Men's Breakfast at 8:30 AM at the church, while the Fifty More or Less fellowship dines together monthly at a changing restaurant.
Tuesdays are for scouts. Cub Scout Pack 568 meets at 6:30 PM under Cubmaster Scott Goocher, with Boy Scout Troop 568 following at 7 PM under Scoutmaster John Sheets. On Wednesdays at 7 PM the building hosts Girl Scout Troop 76902, led by Jennifer Powers.
Thursdays are the church's busiest weekday. At 6:30 AM the Men's 4th Day Group meets at Tim Hortons on Telegraph Road for discussion and prayer. At 9 AM the Prayers and Squares Quilt Ministry Chapter 1155 gathers to sew prayer quilts; a quilt can be requested through the church office. On the second and fourth Thursdays at 6:30 PM, the Wolf Pack - a women's accountability and prayer group - meets at a rotating location, with refreshments provided by the hostess.
On the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM, "Recharge" sings praise songs, engages scripture, and discusses the Psalms with Pastor Rachael before the group heads to Detroit Central UMC to help make more than three hundred sandwiches for the NOAH Project.
Ministry Beyond the Walls
Outreach is woven into the congregation's identity. ChristNet Services, a day center for the homeless, is supported through the church's participation in a rotating night shelter from late fall to early spring. The NOAH Project sends volunteers to Central United Methodist Church on the third Thursday of each month to help make sandwiches for Detroit's homeless community.
The Meals Ministry provides evening meals to families recovering from illness, injury, hospitalization, the loss of a loved one, or the arrival of a new baby. On months with a fifth Wednesday, members help prepare and serve a community meal alongside First Congregational UCC, with Connie and Paul Scheel coordinating the effort.
The Mathiu Family: A New Chapter
In July 2025 the church welcomed Rev. Ishmael Mathiu as its new pastor. Originally from Kenya, Rev. Mathiu moved to the United States in 2018 to study at SMU Perkins School of Theology, graduating in 2020 with a Master of Theological Studies. He has since served with the Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church.
He arrived with his wife, Mercy, and their children Matt and Joy. In his welcome letter, Rev. Mathiu told the congregation that he believes God is calling them to put their gifts together for the work of making disciples, quoting Matthew 28:19-20: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations ... and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Giving and Getting Involved
The office phone is (734) 782-2565, and the general inbox is flatrockumc@sbcglobal.net. Pastoral concerns can be emailed to pastor.flatrockumc@gmail.com.
Cash and checks, payable to First United Methodist Church of Flat Rock, can be mailed to 28400 Evergreen Street, Flat Rock, MI 48134, with the purpose noted in the memo line. Online giving, scheduled donations, and one-time gifts are available through the church's eGiving portal, with a Vanco mobile app available through the Apple Store and Google Play. Stock transfers and legacy gifts through the church's Foundation are coordinated by Finance Chairman Mike Hunter at (734) 771-8084. Members aged seventy-and-a-half or older can also direct up to $100,000 of their Required Minimum Distribution from an IRA directly to the church without federal income tax liability, using a Qualified Charitable Deduction.
Visitors looking to get involved can choose from Sunday School assistant roles, the Noah Project sandwich team, the Neighborhood Hospitality Team, the Usher Team, the Worship Leader rotation, Small Group leadership, or visiting the homebound and hospitalized. A spiritual gifts inventory is offered for those wondering where they might fit. For those who prefer wearing the church's name, Flat Rock First UMC merchandise is available through an online store.