A Fulton Congregation That Goes Back to 1826
First United Methodist Church sits on State Route 176 in Fulton, New York, a small city on the east bank of the Oswego River in Oswego County. The congregation traces its beginning to a meeting in April 1826, when nine men gathered to form the First Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Volney; the village was then called Fredericksburgh, and the city of Fulton had not yet been incorporated. The land for the first church was given by Norman Hubbard, with the stipulation that it always be used for worship. That original plot, the cornerstone laid in 1894 for the elaborate sanctuary that anchored the corner of North Third and Oneida Streets, and the surviving bronze urns, bell, and lintel stone from the 1961 fire all form the through-line of a congregation that calls itself "friendly and casual" and lives by the motto "You matter at Fulton First."
Two Centuries of Methodist Life Along the Oswego River
The early decades of the church were tied to the wider growth of Fulton. Land grants to Revolutionary War veterans, the Oswego Canal, and the river's waterpower and eel fisheries had made settlement along the east bank attractive, and circuit riders from the Cortland area found a ready audience. In 1818, two preachers began a revival that converted roughly 400 people before the village simply ran out of new listeners. The 1826 founding nine years later created what is believed to be the first Methodist congregation in Oswego County. By 1838 the church was hosting the Methodist Black River Conference, and graduations from Falley Seminary, a Presbyterian seminary the Methodist Conference began running in 1849, were held in the sanctuary.
In 1893 a group left First Methodist to start a second congregation, building State Street Methodist Episcopal Church on the corner of South Fourth and State Streets. The following May, the cornerstone was laid for a new, larger First Church with 80 feet of frontage on Third Street and 104 feet on Oneida. A scholarship to Syracuse University, a pipe organ funded in part by a gift from Andrew Carnegie, and a membership that reached 289 by the church's centennial in 1926 all belonged to the same era. The centennial itself, held April 15 to 18, 1926, launched the Memorial Fund and the groundbreaking for the parish house that would come to be called Century House.
In 1940 the church became debt-free, and the unification of the three branches of national Methodism that same year changed the corporate name to "First Methodist Church of Fulton, New York." Through the 1940s the parish was deeply involved in Red Cross work, support for local servicemen after Pearl Harbor, and the Scouting program. By the early 1950s Century House was filled with civic and service groups, including the Red Cross Blood Bank, the Rotarians, Kiwanis, the Masons, and the Garden Club. Then on the night of August 10, 1961, the 1894 sanctuary was entirely destroyed by fire.
Members searched the ashes for treasured items. The safe and most records survived, and the 1877 church bell, the bronze urns given by Imogene Paddock, and the Century Memorial Fund plaque were all rescued. Immaculate Conception printed the next Sunday's bulletins; the Polish Home hosted worship for three years while the congregation rebuilt. Groundbreaking for a new church south on Route 48 overlooking the Oswego River was held June 16, 1963, the cornerstone was laid November 3 of the same year, and a Service of Consecration took place October 25, 1964.
In September 1986, First United Methodist Church and the Christian Missionary Alliance made a historic exchange of buildings, and the congregation moved to its present home on State Route 176. A Service of Dedication was held November 23, 1986. The Lintel Stone from the 1894 doorway, cut through when the original sanctuary site was rebuilt as a YMCA in the 1960s, rediscovered during the 1997 demolition of that building, and returned to the church, can still be seen in the building today.
A Walk Through Sunday Morning
Worship is the heart of life at Fulton First. A typical Sunday begins at 9:15 am with the Gathering and Prelude. Inspirational music plays as people greet one another and settle into the sanctuary, and announcements run on the church's worship screen so visitors can see what is coming up in the week. At 9:30 the church bell rings, the pastor or worship leader offers words of welcome, and the congregation sings the opening hymn while acolytes bring the Light of Christ into the sanctuary. Passing the Peace follows.
The Morning Prayer is led by the pastor or a guest. The Morning Anthem is sung by the adult choir. Children's Time is a brief sermon or message aimed at the young people of the church, sometimes light, sometimes serious, always inspirational. Children may return to sit with their families or, at about 10:15, head to Children's Church for their own lesson. Announcements come next, with the pastor and members of the congregation sharing joys, ministries, and information. Then comes the Scripture Reading and Sunday Reflection, the sermon, usually given by the pastor or a special guest leading worship.
The service closes with a Hymn of Affirmation and Benediction that sends the congregation out into the world, and a Postlude played by the organist as everyone leaves. From Sunday to Sunday the rhythm is the same; the contents change to fit Baptisms, Confirmations, Communion, the welcoming of new members, and visits by special musical guests. Vacation Bible School takes over in the summer, filling the walls with the songs and dance of the children.
Coffee, Conversation, and Coming as You Are
Immediately after worship, the Fellowship Hall fills with people for the Fellowship Hour, what most simply call Coffee Time or Coffee Hour. From roughly 11:00 am until noon, friends gather for food, refreshments, and casual chat. The bakers in the church are widely known, and on the right Sunday there is sometimes enough food for a whole meal.
Visitors who are wondering about dress need not worry. The church is casual and comfortable. The only rule is that you must wear clothes. Music is a blend of traditional and contemporary, all tastefully done and integrated into worship. A live choir, a church organ, an electric piano, and a modern sound system that plays current Christian and inspirational music with video accompaniment all serve the gathering.
Children at the Center
Children of any age are welcome in worship. Activity bags are available for youngsters who might get restless during the service, and a well-supervised nursery on the premises is available for those too young to attend. Children may also head to Children's Church after the Children's Time, about half-way through the service. There, volunteer teachers take them through their own Bible lesson with arts and crafts, music, videos, and activities that follow the theme of the day. After Children's Church, the children meet their parents back in the Fellowship Hall for snacks and drinks before heading home.
Throughout the year, the church plans a full calendar of activities for children: Easter Egg Hunts, Halloween Costume Parties, Christmas Parties, the summer's Vacation Bible School, and participation in community events like the Parade of Trees. Youth and family programs are described as some of the most important work of the church, with the belief that the next generation deserves special attention.
Noah's Christian Nursery School
Sharing the building since 2005, Noah's Christian Nursery School has grown alongside the church. The preschool's mission is to provide a well-balanced, nurturing environment that encourages spiritual growth, creativity, and social interaction, with a program that emphasizes a spiritual foundation and respect for others. Small class sizes allow for individualized attention, and morning and afternoon classes are available.
Three programs are offered: a two-day-a-week class from 9:00 to 11:30 am, a three-day-a-week class at the same hours, and a Monday-through-Friday class for four-year-olds. Children take field trips, visit local businesses, celebrate holiday parties, and participate in community events. The school is open to everyone in the community, and registration is taken year-round. The director, Sue Ewald, can be reached through the church office at (315) 592-7347 or at Noahsnurseryschool@yahoo.com.
The Adult Choir
The adult choir is open to anyone age 15 or older who loves to sing. Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 pm and Sunday mornings from 9:00 to 9:30 am. The choir sings for weekly Sunday services and holidays from September through mid-June, performing anthems in a variety of styles chosen to fit the theme of the service and the liturgical season. They also lead congregational singing of hymns and contemporary worship songs. Anyone interested is welcome to drop in on a Thursday rehearsal to see if it is a good fit.
The United Methodist Men
Chartered in 2009, the United Methodist Men brings together several dozen men from the congregation for worship, fellowship, prayer, and service. The group meets monthly to plan a year-long calendar of events and raises money through dinners, golf tournaments, pancake breakfasts, spaghetti suppers, and an annual Craft Show held around the holiday season, with crafters from across central New York.
The most visible local mission of the UMM is the Wheelchair Ramp Ministry, done in partnership with ARISE. The men help build wheelchair ramps for people in the community who cannot afford them on their own. They have sponsored Family Night at the Ball Park, run cleanup days at local sites, and provided support wherever the church has needed a hand. Money raised by the group funds the church's online ministry and youth programs.
Food Ministries That Reach the Neighborhood
Food insecurity is a particular focus at Fulton First. The church operates a Food Pantry that provides up to a three-day supply of food for households in emergency need. Donations come from the congregation and the wider community throughout the year, and the first Sunday of each month is set aside as a Communion Offering, when food is brought forward during communion to restock the shelves. The pantry regularly feeds dozens of adults and children each month.
Alongside the pantry, the church hosts the Food Sense Program in coordination with the Food Bank of Central New York. For $20.50 a month, participants can buy more than $25 worth of quality food, including fresh fruit, vegetables, meats, and grocery staples. The package changes each month, and the program is open to anyone in the greater Fulton community.
Seasonal Outreach
Each Thanksgiving the congregation donates food and supplies so that local families in need can put a full holiday meal on the table. The mission is led by one of the church's small groups, and the whole congregation enjoys being part of it. At Christmas, the church adopts more than 18 families each year, providing food, supplies, and gifts so they can experience the holiday. The Sunday before Christmas, the Fellowship Hall fills with carols, snacks, and wrapping paper as the congregation gathers for a Christmas Wrapping Party.
Other seasonal and ongoing missions include Operation Christmas Child, which sends shoeboxes of gifts to children around the world through Samaritan's Purse, and the CROP Walk, a community-wide event with Church World Services that raises money to stock the local food bank and feed people around the globe. A Community Garden on the property adds another outlet for growing food together.
Imagine No Malaria
The congregation has long supported Imagine No Malaria, the United Methodist Church's global effort against a disease that still kills a person every 60 seconds in Sub-Saharan Africa. The program focuses on prevention, particularly through bed nets, and the church has joined in efforts to make and distribute them. Nearly 90 percent of malaria's victims are children under five and pregnant women, but the disease is entirely preventable.
Studies, Bands, and Devotions Through the Week
Worship at Fulton First does not end on Sunday. Bible study meets in the Friendship Room on Thursdays at 5:00 pm. A worship band rehearses on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 7:00 pm. Wednesday mornings at 9:30 am, a Bible study meets at the Oswego Burger King, one of the more unusual small-group settings in the conference. Pastor Ruth leads morning devotions on Facebook Live at 8:00 am, accessible through her personal page or the church's Facebook page. Advent and Lenten services add to the rhythm of the year, and small groups gather for fellowship and ministry projects on their own schedule.
Worship by Webcast Since 2006
First United Methodist Church has been sharing its Sunday worship online since December 2006, longer than many congregations have been thinking about it. Each week's service is broadcast on Facebook Live, and a video archive is available for those who want to catch up or revisit a sermon. Viewers are invited to send prayer requests, comments, or simply a hello through Facebook or by emailing the church office. The webcast is supported by sponsors, church members and friends who underwrite a Sunday at a suggested donation of $15, with proceeds helping the church maintain and upgrade its equipment. Services are also shared on the church's Facebook page.
Pastor Ruth Rosa Warner
First United Methodist Church is served by Pastor Ruth Rosa Warner and her husband Dan. Pastor Ruth writes the church's pastoral letters, leads the Facebook Live morning devotions at 8:00 am, and walks the congregation through seasonal sermon series such as the Fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Her office hours at the church are Tuesday mornings from 9:00 am to noon. The church office is open Wednesday through Friday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, and messages can also be sent to office@fultonfirst.org.