First United Methodist Church of Greenwich: A Cross-Cultural Congregation on Putnam Avenue
First United Methodist Church of Greenwich stands on East Putnam Avenue in the heart of Greenwich, Connecticut, where it has long welcomed neighbors into a community built around worship, fellowship, and service. The congregation describes itself as "a community of faith celebrating the love, peace, and joy of Jesus Christ while connecting and uniting with all," a phrase that captures both its Wesleyan roots and its bilingual, multigenerational life. The church is a member congregation of the New York Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and works alongside two sister congregations in what the pastors have called "One Church Ministry."
A Pastor with a Cross-Cultural Call
Rev. Dr. Sun Joo Lee became the pastor of First United Methodist Church of Greenwich in July 2025, when she was appointed by Bishop Thomas Bickerton. She also serves as pastor of New Life Korean United Methodist Church, sharing her ministry between the two congregations. Born and raised in South Korea, Dr. Lee studied art and craft in college and first moved to New York hoping to become a lighting designer. Her growing curiosity about theology, along with the encouragement of others, drew her to seminary, where she sensed a call to ministry and was ordained as an elder in the United Methodist Church in 2020.
She served the Korean Reformed Church in America for nine years in Bayside, New York, and since 2015 has pastored churches in the New York/Connecticut District and the Connecticut District as both a provisional and ordained elder. Her first and favorite Bible verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." She says she desires "to love the Lord with all my heart, alongside God's people, to expand the kingdom of God by becoming and making disciples of Jesus Christ," and is excited to grow and be transformed each day with the church members she serves. Outside of ministry she enjoys interpreting the Bible and artworks, taking long walks, hiking, and cooking.
One Church on Putnam Avenue
The Greenwich church shares more than a district with New Life Korean United Methodist Church and Life of God Church. Together the three congregations operate what they call "One Church Ministry," pooling resources and sharing programming under the umbrella of the Southern Fairfield Cooperative Parish within the New York Annual Conference. They share a physical address at 1 Church Street, one of the buildings the cooperative uses, in addition to the sanctuary at 59 East Putnam Avenue. The arrangement is described by the church itself as a close partnership in which the three congregations share resources and ministry.
On the last Sunday of each month, FUMC Greenwich and New Life Korean UMC hold a joint worship service that brings both congregations together for music, prayer, and the sermon. The partnership gives the Greenwich church a distinctive cross-cultural flavor, with Korean and English spoken in the same room, shared fellowship meals after services, and shared ministries throughout the year. It is a clear expression of the church's stated conviction that "whatever your age, gender or race, there is a special place for you at our Church."
Sunday Worship, In Person and Online
Virtual Sunday Worship is offered at 10:00 a.m. through Zoom (meeting ID 203 629 9584) and by phone at +1 929-205-6099 with the same ID followed by the pound sign. Members and friends can join either from home or in person at the sanctuary on East Putnam Avenue, and the Zoom "Virtual Worship Place" links the congregation to those who cannot be in the room on a given Sunday. Sunday School meets at 10:30 a.m., giving children their own time of learning alongside the adult service.
Worship at FUMC Greenwich draws on the Wesleyan tradition. Services typically include congregational singing, prayer, Scripture readings drawn from the lectionary, a sermon, and a willingness to let the Holy Spirit lead the moment. Special seasons of the church year bring additional touches: a Palm Sunday service with branches waved and shouts of "Hosanna," a Lenten series built around a chosen book and theme, and Holy Week gatherings that include resources for children such as coloring pages and family devotionals. The congregation's tradition of moving outdoors when the weather allows, led by musicians and shared at a long table of homemade food, has become a hallmark of the church's life together.
Upper Room Fellowship and Bible Study
Midweek formation at FUMC Greenwich centers on two regular gatherings. The Upper Room Devotional Fellowship meets on Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. in the church library. Participants read and reflect on Scripture and the Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide, discuss each day's message, share their experiences, encourage one another, and discover how God's truth applies to everyday life. The group describes itself as a welcoming, interactive fellowship where every voice matters and where meaningful conversation, prayer, and shared testimony deepen relationships with Christ.
A Thursday night Bible class meets virtually, working through books and Scripture together. Recent studies have drawn on resources such as "Alleluia! Alleluia!" during Lent and the "10 Days of the Easter Story" book during Holy Week, with study materials shared through the church's weekly email and prayer list. For those who want a daily touchstone, the church posts a daily devotional on its site, inviting readers to pause, breathe, and remember that they are not alone. Each day's devotional ends with a short prayer and a simple challenge - to look for one person who may need encouragement and to offer a kind word, a listening ear, or a simple act of service as a reminder of God's love.
Outreach, Witness, and the Walk in Faith
The congregation's outreach ministry is co-led by Ann Shifman-Deibler and Leigh Lewandoski, while Julie Brown leads the witness team. Together they put faith into action through community events that bring people together across the Greenwich area. The annual Walk in Faith sends members and friends out to a local trail, most recently a mile-long walk at Grace Farms, followed by a devotional led by a church member, time to reflect and pray, and a shared lunch in the cafeteria. Outdoor worship services, led by musicians like Bruce Kimball, Nathan Kimball, and Leigh Lewandoski, lift up congregational singing and prayer before a potluck lunch where members contribute homemade dishes. One outdoor Sunday, a member lovingly prepared fifty homemade sandwiches to feed the congregation, a small but vivid picture of the church's spirit of generosity.
The church has also taken part in district- and conference-wide workshops on systemic racism, joining other New York Annual Conference laity and clergy in virtual training. Topics have included "Dominating White Ways: Exploring the Commonplace Nature of White Supremacy and its Power to Co-opt Us All" and an "Introduction to Systemic Racism" workshop, both aimed at helping leaders understand how racism operates institutionally and how to begin dismantling it.
Music and the People Who Lead
Sooyeon Lee-Garland, Ph.D., LMFT, serves as the congregation's Music Director, working alongside the musicians who shape outdoor services and special gatherings. Worship at FUMC Greenwich values congregational singing; voices lifted in hymns is described as "a beautiful gift" in the church's own accounts of its outdoor services. The music ministry supports both English and Korean hymn singing, reflecting the joint-services life of the cooperative parish.
Office hours run Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The administrative office is led by Office Administrator Elizabeth Goggins and can be reached at (203) 629-9584 or office@fumcgreenwich.com. Visitors are warmly invited to swing by the church at 59 East Putnam Avenue, and the church keeps an active presence on Facebook for those who want to follow along online.
Visiting First UMC Greenwich
Anyone is welcome to join Sunday worship either in person at the sanctuary or virtually through the Zoom Virtual Worship Place. The meeting ID is 203 629 9584; phone participants can call +1 929-205-6099 and enter the same ID followed by the pound sign. Sunday School begins at 10:30 a.m. The Upper Room Devotional Fellowship meets Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. in the church library, and the Thursday Bible class gathers virtually each week. Prayer requests can be submitted through the church's prayer page, and a weekly prayer email circulates to those who subscribe.
The church's faith statement is straightforward and welcoming. It describes itself as devoted to "developing a holy consciousness," believing worship can be expressed in everything from sharing a meal to enjoying nature, and holding that "whatever your age, gender or race, there is a special place for you at our Church." Anchored in the Wesleyan tradition and rooted in Holy Scripture as "life's only guidebook," First United Methodist Church of Greenwich continues to grow as a congregation where the love, peace, and joy of Jesus Christ meet the everyday life of a Connecticut town.