Two Centuries on Southbound Gratiot
First United Methodist Church has stood on Southbound Gratiot Avenue in Mount Clemens, Michigan, for roughly two hundred years, anchoring one block of the city with a congregation that calls itself welcoming, accepting, caring, and diverse. That long arc gives the church a deep memory of the town even as its ministry takes fresh shapes week by week.
Its mission is plain and steady: to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ to all people through faith-based worship, programs, and outreach ministry, and to be a place where anyone searching for a connection with Christ and with other Christians can find a home.
Sunday Morning Worship at 10 a.m.
Worship gathers in person every Sunday at 10 a.m. at 57 Southbound Gratiot Avenue. The service is rooted in tradition while pulling in contemporary elements so the whole congregation can engage through singing, sermons, and sacraments.
The building is fully accessible, with space set aside for families with young children to take part in worship alongside the rest of the church. Those who cannot attend in person can follow the service on the church's YouTube channel, where First UMC posts worship and other video content.
Children, Youth, and the Pathfinders Group
Children and youth sit at the center of life at First UMC. Rev. Alicea Williams, a deacon in the United Methodist Church, has served the congregation since 2017 as Minister to Children and Youth and leads this work across several programs.
Sunday School runs during worship for children ages four through fifth grade. The four- to seven-year-olds work through Godly Play, a hands-on, storytelling-based approach to scripture. The third- through fifth-grade classroom follows the Big Faith Curriculum, walking older children through the whole arc of the Bible. Parents can reach Rev. Alicea through the church office with questions about either classroom.
Pathfinders is the bridge between Sunday School and youth group, designed for third through fifth graders and described as a way to introduce kids to youth ministry through worship, fellowship, and age-appropriate study. Family Ministries wraps around all of it, with events throughout the year the congregation calls vital and treasured.
Music and Ensembles
Duncan McMillan serves as the church musician, drawing on a career built in jazz, theater, and classical music. McMillan began studying piano at age five, sang in the boys' choir at Christ Church in Grosse Pointe from 1980 to 1987, and went on to study jazz piano and music theory before graduating from Western Michigan University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Music in piano and jazz studies.
He has performed and recorded with a long list of musicians rooted in the Midwest and beyond, in jazz, classical, and theater settings. He recently completed a post-baccalaureate in K-12 choral music education at Wayne State University and now teaches elementary music in addition to playing at First UMC. Olivia Charrette directs the church's ensembles.
"All Means All": A Welcome Without Borders
The congregation's Welcome Statement spells out the breadth of that openness. "As God loves and accepts all, we welcome everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, physical or mental ability, relationship status, education, economic circumstance, or any other designation, chosen or assigned."
The statement closes with a line the church repeats often: at First United Methodist Church of Mount Clemens, all means all, whether someone visits in person or online.
A New Pastor, an Enduring Call
Rev. Tom Hoffmeyer became the lead pastor of First UMC in July 2025, arriving after serving multiple congregations in Indiana and Michigan. An ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, he holds an undergraduate degree in history and political science from Indiana University and a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary.
Pastor Tom's preaching and ministry flow from two convictions: that God's love changes both people and the wider world, and that Christians are called to make that love visible through compassionate acts that work for a more just world. He is married to Lenore, and they have two children, Nate and Lydia.
What the United Methodist Church Confesses Here
As part of the United Methodist Church, a connectional denomination of more than 48,000 congregations around the world, First UMC of Mount Clemens shares in the wider church's call to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
The congregation affirms the United Methodist confession of faith: belief in God as creator, in Jesus Christ as redeemer, and in the Holy Spirit at work in the world. That confession leads to commitments about the rights of men, women, youth, young adults, the aging, and people with disabilities, about improving the quality of life, and about peace, freedom, and justice among nations.
The local church sits within the Michigan Annual Conference and the Greater Detroit District, and Rev. Alicea has served as chairperson of the Greater Detroit District Leadership Team and now serves on the District Committee on Ministry.
Giving, Prayer, and Online Connections
Donations to the church are tax-deductible and go to the general ministries of First UMC unless a donor directs them elsewhere, including a memorial fund for special projects. Online giving is available through PayPal.
Anyone who would like to share a prayer request with the congregation can email the church office. First UMC also shares updates through its Facebook and Instagram accounts, in addition to posting services and other video on YouTube.