First United Methodist Church sits at 919 60th Street, on the corner of 60th and Sheridan Road in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The building is a familiar landmark in a residential neighborhood a few blocks west of Lake Michigan, within easy reach of the city's uptown business district and near the new Uptown Library. What the congregation is best known for, however, is the message that runs across the top of every bulletin, email, and welcome card: "WE INVITE ALL PEOPLE INTO THE WAY OF JESUS."
The church's Inclusivity Statement makes the principle explicit. Quoting the letter to the Galatians that "in Christ there is no longer Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all are one," the congregation declares that "open hearts, open minds, open doors" means sharing God's welcome with everyone. First Church's tagline, "Building a diverse community with God's radical love," shapes everything from Sunday worship to community organizing. That commitment has shaped the church's partnerships, its public statements, and the way it welcomes both neighbors and visitors.
Two Sunday Mornings: 8:00 and 10:30
Sunday worship at First Church follows a two-service rhythm. An 8:00 a.m. service offers a quieter sanctuary experience, while a 10:30 a.m. service gathers the larger congregation and is the one livestreamed each week on the church's YouTube channel. Sunday School for all ages meets between the services at 9:15 a.m., and childcare is available for younger children at the 10:30 service. Communion is celebrated on designated Sundays. When services are livestreamed, the pastor invites worshipers at home to have bread and a cup ready so they can share in the sacrament along with those gathered in the pews.
The rhythm of the year follows the Christian calendar. Ash Wednesday brings two opportunities: imposition of ashes in the Sheridan Road parking lot from noon to 1:00 p.m., and an evening worship with ashes and Holy Communion at 7:00 p.m. Palm Sunday features palms distributed to all and a Children's Palm Processional. Maundy Thursday centers on Holy Communion and Jesus' mandate to love one another. Good Friday worship tells the story of the cross through scripture, prayers, and music. Easter Sunday fills the sanctuary with the Chancel Choir, brass, and timpani, and includes the traditional singing of the "Hallelujah Chorus." Pentecost, "the third most important day in the Christian year," is marked with the color red, and worshipers are invited to wear red and bring a red dish to share at the Fellowship Potluck.
Office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 2 p.m. The church can be reached at 262-658-3213 or grow@firstumckenosha.com. Visitors who fill out a Connection Card through the church's Realm portal are welcomed personally by Pastor Susan and the staff.
Music at First Church
Music is one of the centerpieces of worship at First Church. The Chancel Choir, directed by Dr. Woodrow Hodges, sings at major services throughout the year and is a fixture of Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols, where the choir is accompanied by brass and timpani. The Bond Handbell Choir joins the Chancel Choir for the traditional "ringing of the bells" at the close of the late-night Christmas Eve service.
Organist and pianist Justin Elliott Lowe accompanies congregational singing, the Chancel Choir, and special music. Soloists enrich specific services: David Orr has sung "Were You There?" on Good Friday and offered special music during Advent Sundays, and David Scripsema leads the annual Christmas Tea and Vespers service, accompanied by a presentation on angels from Dr. Jacquelyn Olivera.
The Handel's Messiah Sing-Along, now in its nineteenth year, fills the sanctuary each December with singers and listeners joining Director Gregory Berg, the Festival Arts Chamber Orchestra, and featured soloists. The freewill offering supports the church's Fine Arts program, and a Christmas Tea in the Great Room precedes the Vespers service, with tea served by Scripsema and friends. Worshipers may bring their own scores or borrow one for the evening.
Children, Sunday School, and First United Daycare
Children are woven into the life of the church in several ways. Sunday School at 9:15 a.m. welcomes children, youth, and adults of every age, gathering around a single theme each Sunday. Childcare is available at the 10:30 a.m. service and can be requested for the 8:00 a.m. service. The children's Palm Processional on Palm Sunday invites any child to meet at the back of the sanctuary, walk forward with palms, and take part in the service. On Christmas Eve at 4:00 p.m., a Children and Family Service offers a shortened, participatory telling of the Christmas story for all ages, drawing on the Hispanic and Mexican Las Posadas tradition.
Sharing the building with the church is First United Daycare, an on-site preschool and childcare program that serves families throughout the week. The Day Care board and staff host an annual Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser, with tickets sold at the Welcome Desk. Funds raised go directly to the children in the program. Day Care children and their families are part of the wider church community, joining neighbors for events like National Night Out and Popsicle Outreach Days, and the Day Care staff and board have adopted a family in need at Christmas to ensure children in the program have gifts for the holiday.
Confirmation and Youth Ministry
An in-person Confirmation class begins each fall for youth in seventh grade and older who have not yet been confirmed. Confirmation Sunday is a meaningful milestone, with confirmands taking their vows before the congregation.
Adults interested in walking alongside the youth are always needed: Sunday School teachers, mentors for confirmation students, and leaders for fellowship, study, and missional activities. All adult volunteers working with youth are required to have a background check under the church's Safe Sanctuaries policy. Those who sense a call to serve can reach out to Pastor Susan to learn more about joining the team.
Bible Study, Spiritual Practices, and Spiritual Journeys
Discipleship is taken seriously at First Church, with multiple study opportunities running throughout the year.
- Disciple Bible Study is a year-long, 34-week journey through the whole Bible, beginning each September. The class meets in person and follows a structured reading plan that walks from Genesis through Revelation.
- "Holding Up Your Corner" is a small-group study rooted in John 13:35, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." The study invites members to consider how they can faithfully love their neighbors.
- "Do the Work" Class is a five-day intensive held in late September covering scripture, prayer, and faithful action, with sessions on Saturday morning and weekday evenings.
- Bishop Michael Curry Book Study offers a six-week study of Love Is The Way at multiple times, so members and friends from other faith communities can join in. Bishop Curry is the presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church and the preacher whose words on the redemptive power of love at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were heard around the world.
- "The Story of God" is a summer study using the Morgan Freeman documentary series, meeting on Tuesday evenings in the Great Room.
- "Steps to a More Compassionate Life" is a six-week sermon and study series exploring spiritual practices for grounded living.
First Church also shares a Year of the Bible reading plan, pairing daily Gospel readings with Old Testament and Wisdom literature passages, with a printable version available. The church has also offered short-term classes on Faith and Health, summer chapel adult education offerings on spirituality and well-being, and a study of Rachel Held Evans's Searching for Sunday.
Recent worship series have included "Making Room" for Advent, "Moses in the Footsteps of the Reluctant Prophet," "Holy Disruption: Discovering Advent in the Gospel of Mark," "Happy? What is it & How to Find It," and "Soul Keeping: Caring for the Most Important Part of You." A Prayer & Action Challenge walked members through daily readings on themes like Liberation (Luke 4:18-19) and Hope (Job 14:7-9). The church has also introduced the congregation to the Ignatian practice of the Examen, a 500-year-old, brief daily reflection that asks, "Where did I feel most grounded and connected today?" and "Where did I experience friction or fatigue?"
Pastor Susan has led spiritual journey trips, including a recent pilgrimage to Italy with stops in Venice, Florence, Siena, and San Gimignano. Daily reflections from the trip traced the spiritual lessons of art, architecture, and sacred places - what it means to be "sculpted by God's Spirit in Florence" and "called to serve" in the footsteps of Catherine of Siena. The church has also hosted a screening of The Last Class, a documentary on Robert Reich's final course before retirement, and movie nights on the life of John Wesley for those preparing for a Wesley Heritage Study tour.
Advent Around the World and Christmas Eve
Advent at First Church has become a journey through the global church. Each Sunday of the season, a different cultural tradition shapes the fellowship and worship.
- Week 1 is Italy. The congregation is invited to bring Italian Christmas treats for fellowship. Members place their personal nativity scenes on tables in the Great Room for a Blessing of the Nativity Scenes during worship.
- Week 2 is Scandinavia. Members bring Scandinavian treats and bake St. Lucia Buns, with recipes available at the Welcome Desk. Children participate in a St. Lucia Procession, wearing head wreaths they may keep.
- Week 3 is Moravian. Elements of a traditional Moravian Lovefeast mark the final Sunday of Advent, with Moravian rolls and treats. The Moravian Church strongly influenced the Wesley family that gave birth to Methodism.
Christmas Eve services feature candle lighting at each service. The 4:00 p.m. service is the Children and Family Service, centered on the Hispanic and Mexican Las Posadas tradition. The evening Communion and Message Service focuses on the Palestinian and Bethlehem setting of the Christmas story. The 10:45 p.m. Traditional Lessons and Carols features the Chancel Choir and Bond Handbell Choir, with the traditional "ringing of the bells" at the close of the service. On Christmas morning, a casual service of scripture, stories, and carols invites worshipers to come in their pajamas and enjoy coffee, hot chocolate, and breakfast pastry. New Year's Day brings Wesley's Covenant Service.
A Blue Christmas Service in early December acknowledges that God's presence is for those who mourn, for those who struggle, and for those whose holidays are colored by loss. The service features prayers, scripture, and music, and everyone is welcome regardless of church background.
Thanksgiving Dinner, Messiah Sing-Along, and National Night Out
Three annual events are woven into the identity of First Church.
The Community Thanksgiving Dinner is now in its 46th year. The dinner began as an in-person sit-down meal and has continued in different formats through the years, including a carry-out meal during the pandemic. Cooks Wil and Stina Rios prepare the meal, and a volunteer team serves neighbors in the Great Room and at the 10th Avenue entrance. Anyone in the community, members and non-members alike, is welcome to share the table. Volunteers are recruited each fall for setup, serving, and cleanup.
The Community Messiah Sing-Along, now in its 19th year, gathers Handel lovers from across Kenosha in December. Gregory Berg directs, with the Festival Arts Chamber Orchestra and featured soloists. Participants may bring their own scores or borrow one, and a freewill offering supports the church's Fine Arts program. The annual Messiah Sing-Along has become one of Kenosha's signature Christmas-season cultural events.
National Night Out is hosted at First Church each August. Recent gatherings have drawn hundreds of neighbors for free food, games, music, crafts, raffles, fire truck tours, free backpacks, free children's books, daycare tours, and a stop by Culver's with frozen custard. Kenosha Mayor David Bogdala has joined neighbors for the celebration. The event reflects the church's commitment to being a presence on its block, welcoming the surrounding community onto its grounds.
Love in Action: Missions and Outreach
Outreach at First Church operates under the banner Love in Action. The Missions Committee organizes recurring drives, the giving tree, and partnerships with regional relief agencies.
- Love in Action Drives are periodic collections of non-perishable food and hygiene items, dropped off at the west or 10th Avenue entrances of the church.
- The Stacy Breeden Memorial Samaritan Fund is a renamed fund that supports both members and community members in need. Contributions are marked "Samaritan."
- UMCOR giving supports disaster relief through the United Methodist Committee on Relief, including aid for Haiti earthquake victims, Hurricane Ida recovery, Afghan refugee resettlement, and western U.S. fire victims.
- Afghan Refugee Resettlement was organized in partnership with Journey Disaster Response Team, with First Church serving as a drop-off site for Afghan families arriving at Fort McCoy. New items only; donations are brought to the Journey warehouse weekly.
- The ELCA Giving Tree is a long-running tradition with the ELCA Urban Outreach Center, providing gifts for children and youth in need at Christmas. Members select names from a tree in the Great Room and deliver gifts capped at $25 per child and unwrapped.
- Wisconsin Conference Ingathering collects Home Care Kits for Midwest Mission's disaster response and relief efforts. Each kit includes liquid household cleaners and dish soaps in specific sizes.
- The Shalom Soup Kitchen is a local feeding ministry where First Church members volunteer, helping it reopen after the pandemic.
First Church members have also walked the neighborhood with coolers of popsicles on Popsicle Outreach Days, handing out treats and invitations to neighbors and Day Care families, and the church has supported the local Uptown Library through a campaign to stock its shelves.
CUSH and Standing Against Racism
First Church is a member of Congregations United to Serve Humanity (CUSH), an interfaith coalition in Kenosha that brings together faith communities to confront racism and antisemitism. The church's Church and Society team has supported CUSH in several ways.
- Sponsoring a petition created by the Supporters of Shelter (SOS) for a Kenosha County Cold Weather Emergency Plan, recognizing that Kenosha County is one of the few in Wisconsin without such a plan and that emergency shelter resources have been overwhelmed in cold months.
- Standing with CUSH against antisemitic leafleting that has occurred in Kenosha neighborhoods, helping form a Rapid Response Team that removes leaflets and distributes solidarity signs to neighbors in targeted areas.
- Hosting the Transgender Day of Remembrance commemoration in the church's chapel, sponsored by the CUSH Religious Leaders Caucus, to honor transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people lost to anti-trans violence or suicide.
- Partnering with CUSH on a Water Safety and Family Night held at Washington Pool, joining Coleman Chapel AME to offer games on the lawn for families attending the event.
The church has also participated in the Kenosha Coalition for Dismantling Racism's annual Kindness Week and hosted a Holocaust Remembrance Service with the Kenosha Public Museum marking the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
United Women in Faith
The local United Women in Faith circle is an active part of the church's life. Members attend Wisconsin Conference and national UWF gatherings, including a recent UWF Assembly in Indianapolis where they shared their local work with women from across the United States and returned inspired by what they learned. The group also hosts a Christmas party each December for the wider congregation, gathers during the year for service projects, study, and fellowship, and supports the church's missions through giving and prayer.
Tai Chi, Popsicle Outreach, and the Great Room
The Great Room, just inside the 10th Avenue entrance, is the church's main gathering space. Sunday morning hospitality, fellowship potlucks, daycare tours, sign-up tables, and many of the church's larger programs all happen here. A Welcome Desk in the Great Room is the first stop for newcomers.
Regular fellowship offerings include a weekly Tai Chi class for seniors on Monday mornings at 11:00 a.m. The class, led by Pastor Judith, is designed to enhance balance, build strength, and provide an opportunity to spend time with friends. The church also hosts the All-Church Fellowship Potluck several times a year, where everyone, members and non-members alike, young and old, is invited to bring a dish to share. Plates, utensils, and drinks are provided.
On summer Sundays, Popsicle Outreach Days send teams of two out into the neighborhood to share frozen treats and invitations to upcoming events. The teams wear popsicle or church t-shirts and meet in the Great Room to load coolers before setting out.
Getting Connected at First Church
First Church meets in a sanctuary with a chapel for smaller services, a Great Room for fellowship, a Fine Arts Kitchen used for community meal preparation, and the First United Daycare wing. The 10th Avenue and Sheridan Road entrances are both in regular use, and parking is available in the lot off Sheridan Road.
Visitors who would like to get involved can fill out a Connection Card through the church's online portal, contact the office at grow@firstumckenosha.com, or sign up at the Welcome Desk on Sunday morning. Giving is available online through the Realm platform, with a small processing fee that givers may choose to cover. The 10:30 a.m. Sunday service is livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel for those who cannot attend in person.
First United Methodist Church in Kenosha is a congregation that takes its welcome seriously. Whether gathered in the sanctuary on Sunday morning, around a Thanksgiving table in November, walking through the neighborhood with popsicles in July, or singing Handel's Messiah in December, the people of First Church are working out what it means to build a diverse community with God's radical love.