First United Methodist Church of Stillwater sits on the corner of Myrtle and Greeley Streets in Stillwater, the town known as "the birthplace of Minnesota." Methodist preaching reached the St. Croix Valley in 1846, and the Stillwater congregation that grew from that first mission marked its 175th anniversary in 2021. The church of today is the descendant of two nineteenth-century bodies, an English-speaking Methodist Episcopal Church and a Swedish-speaking Methodist Episcopal Church, that came together in 1945. Worship is held each Sunday at 10:00 a.m., and the church's motto, "Wrapping All People in God's Love," is taken with literal seriousness. In April 2024 the congregation adopted a Reconciling statement affirming people of every gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ability, age, and family structure.
"Wrapping All People in God's Love"
The phrase appears on banners around the building, on the church logo, and on the welcome cards at the doors. In April 2024, the congregation voted to become a Reconciling Congregation, formally adopting a statement that reads, in part: "We acknowledge that throughout history the Christian Church has often condemned and excluded people because of race, culture, age, gender, economic status, disability or sexual orientation. While the church has made progress in being open and affirming to many groups, there continues to be condemnation of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons from the community of faith, or at least, a tolerance of such condemnation and exclusion through silence. We believe such actions are inconsistent with Christ's teachings."
The statement goes on: "We celebrate God's gift of diversity and value the wholeness made possible in community equally shared and shepherded by all. We welcome and affirm people of every gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation, who are also of every age, race, ethnicity, physical and mental ability, level of education, and family structure, and of every economic, immigration, marital, and social status, and so much more. We acknowledge that we live in a world of profound social, economic, and political inequities. As followers of Jesus, we commit ourselves to the pursuit of justice and pledge to stand in solidarity with all who are marginalized and oppressed." The covenant was celebrated on June 9, 2024.
The core belief printed in worship bulletins says simply: "Our loving, welcoming, Christ centered community of faith wants ALL people to know they are Wrapped in God's Love. You are invited to know and experience God's love through worship, music, prayer, fellowship, small groups, and community outreach." The Social Justice Ministry Team, which meets at 11:15 a.m. on the second Sunday of each month after worship, anchors the church to the United Methodist Book of Discipline's affirmation that "each person's value is recognized, maintained, and strengthened," including equal access to housing, education, communication, employment, medical care, legal redress for grievances, and physical protection.
A 175-Year Story in the Birthplace of Minnesota
The Methodist presence in the St. Croix Valley began in 1841, and in 1846 the first Methodist missionary, the Rev. J. W. Putnam, preached to the lumbermen working along the river, including those in Stillwater. The first church was built of unseasoned lumber at a cost of $1,332 and was dedicated in November 1854. A second, larger building on North Third Street took its place in 1870; the local paper called it "probably the handsomest in the state," with floors covered in "rich carpeting" and a "tasteful and elegant" interior. A wooden chair on the east side of today's altar was carved from one of those Third Street pews, which were said to be "the most comfortable in the whole area."
While the English-speaking body was growing, Swedish-speaking Methodists began mission work in Stillwater in 1870 and dedicated their own church at the corner of Myrtle and Fourth Street in 1883. The two congregations merged in 1945, choosing the Fourth Street building because it was in better shape. The comfortable pews and the matching oak pulpit were moved from the Third Street building. A Sunday school education unit followed in 1957, and the current sanctuary was completed in 1960 after the congregation purchased the Greeley Mansion on the corner of Greeley Street South and Myrtle Street West. The building was expanded in 1992.
A pump organ acquired in 1874 for the Third Street church, a heritage case displaying early communion plates and chalices, and a set of hand-carved shields fashioned by member Len Evans after a visit to the Upper Room in Nashville are all still part of the building's life. The cross hanging in the sanctuary, with spotlights producing its shadow above the communion table, was a gift from Wendell Beardsley, the architect of the 1960 sanctuary. The choir area has been reconfigured for accessibility, a permanent projection screen was added in 2019, and video capability was fully funded and installed in 2020.
Sunday Worship at Ten
Worship is held in the sanctuary at 10:00 a.m. every Sunday. The service is also livestreamed on Facebook, where recordings of past services remain available. The music is described as blended, while the order of worship follows a traditional pattern. Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month and on special occasions; the table is open to all, with individual servings of juice and bread. Grape juice is used so that people in recovery can take part, and a gluten-free bread option is available. Those who cannot come forward are served in the pew, and children are welcome at the table at their parents' discretion.
The congregation is a neighborhood church, and on warm-weather Sundays the service occasionally moves to the rear parking lot, where worshipers bring camp chairs, blankets, and a beverage of choice. A coffee bar in the gathering space is open before the service. Visitors are asked only to wear whatever is comfortable. A Children's Time is offered most Sundays, and activity bags labeled by age sit just outside the Sanctuary entrance for children to use during worship. A children's activity table sits in the Fellowship Hall, behind the French doors at the back of the Sanctuary, where the service can still be seen and heard.
A Blended Mix of Music
Music is one of the strongest threads in the church's life. The chancel area houses a choir loft, the 2004 organ with its pipes, and a handbell set that arrived in 1998, all gifts celebrated in earlier anniversaries.
The Chancel Choir leads worship one Sunday a month from September through May and rehearses at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday evenings. June through August, the choir takes a break and the congregation hears soloists, small groups, and instrumentalists filling the space.
Open Circle, the church's contemporary worship team, leads the music on the second Sunday of each month. With drums, keyboard, and a rotating cast of instruments, Open Circle brings a fuller contemporary sound to the blended style. Rehearsals are held at 7:00 p.m. on the Wednesday before the second Sunday.
The Rivertown Ringers, the church's handbell choir, ring on the third or fourth Sunday of most months and rehearse at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday evenings. Special music during Advent, Lent, and other seasons rounds out the year with cantatas and other vocal and instrumental offerings.
The music ministry is led by Gregory Schroeder, who joined as Organist and Director of Music Ministries on June 1, 2025. A native of rural Grand Forks, North Dakota, Schroeder grew up watching his mother and grandmother serve in music ministry at Holmes United Methodist Church, played organ for the first time at sixteen, and has since served as pianist, organist, and director of vocal and handbell choirs in Florida, Massachusetts, Nebraska, California, and Texas. He studied architecture and design at the University of Florida, where he also continued organ study. He continues to work as a Kitchen Cabinet Designer at the Lowe's store in West Saint Paul. Pastor Jenny Lind Larsen, herself an undergraduate music major, also plays cello in the Eastside Metro Symphony.
Children, Youth, and Faith Formation
Children are welcomed in worship. Limited nursery care is available every Sunday for infants through age three, provided by members trained in the United Methodist Church's Safe Gatherings program. Parents who need the nursery can ask an usher at the door.
Christ's Kids is the children's ministry for ages three through fifth grade and gathers during the Sunday worship service for a video or in-person message. Confirmation is offered to sixth through eighth-graders, with mentors assigned, classes in United Methodist history and doctrine, and a confirmation service usually held in May.
A Youth Group, coordinated by a Youth Council, plans one service project and one fun event each month. Members have delivered Christmas cookies to homebound members and welcome new youth to join.
Patsy Bellman leads Faith Formation, the children's ministry. A Stillwater native, Bellman brings a lifetime of working with young people in Christian settings, including time as Youth Director at the church. Her degree in Elementary Education has been put to work both in classrooms and in Sunday school rooms. Camping, traveling, reading, gardening, and board games fill the rest of her week.
Growing Together Through the Week
The Adult Enrichment ministry gathers people in small groups and classes across the week.
A Bible Study on the book of 1 Corinthians meets every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. in the Wesley Room with retired Elder Jeff Levy. A study guide is available, and the group is open to joining in person or by Zoom.
Centering Prayer meets in the Sanctuary at 11:45 a.m. on Wednesdays for about half an hour and is open to all.
The Prayer Shawl Ministry gathers every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in the Wesley Room. Knitters create shawls and prayer squares to give to anyone needing a tangible reminder of care.
The Quilting Group meets in the Wesley Room at 10:00 a.m. on the third Friday of every month, and the Bridge Group plays at 12:30 p.m. on the first Friday in the Fellowship Hall. Players of every level are welcome.
Women of Faith, United Circle, the women's fellowship group, meets at 10:00 a.m. on the second Thursday of every month in the Fellowship Hall.
The Martha Group gathers at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays to enhance the look and feel of spaces within the church, using design, color, and decoration to help people feel safe, included, and informed.
United Methodist Men hosts a monthly breakfast at 8:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month. The meeting rotates among local restaurants and recent gatherings have been held at the Lowell Inn, 102 2nd Street North. The men take on a summer barbecue, highway cleanup days, financial support for the Sunny Hill scholarship program, projects supporting Trustees and Missions, and help with Wednesday Night Dinner cooking.
A 24-form Tai Chi Ch'uan class meets at 9:00 a.m. on Mondays in the Fellowship Hall from November through April and moves to Lowell Park near the Gazebo in the summer. The class is free, no equipment is required, and all are welcome.
A Tuesday Night Crafting Group meets at 7:00 p.m. by Zoom.
Reaching Out from Myrtle Street
Outreach is built into the rhythm of the week. A community dinner is served at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays from September through May in the Fellowship Hall. Volunteers prepare and serve the meal, and everyone is welcome.
Monthly Missions organize the collection of cleaning supplies, personal items, and paper products for distribution to four partner agencies: Hope for the Journey Home, Sunny Hill Preschool, Emma Norton, and Simpson House. The Stuff the Pew program fills the sanctuary pews with groceries for Valley Outreach. Recent drives have collected groceries and household supplies for schools and food pantries in Minneapolis.
The Welcoming and Caring Ministries make up one of the largest volunteer teams in the church. Greeters meet visitors at both entrances and at the Welcome Center desk. Flowers and cards are delivered to homebound members at Christmas and Easter. A Meal Train provides meals to those who are ill, recently home from the hospital, or isolated. A Soup Ministry provides additional meal support. A Congregational Calling ministry keeps in regular phone contact with members. Porch Pies, homemade pies delivered to neighbors and friends, are one of the church's signature kindnesses.
Two Little Free Libraries serve the neighborhood. An adult library sits on Myrtle Street in front of the church, and a children's library is on Greeley Street at the rear of the building, each stocked with books to take and leave. The Welcoming Team also partners with Lily Lake Elementary School, helping maintain a Little Free Library there.
The church hosts a number of community groups in its building. Cub Scout Pack 125 meets at the church. Alcoholics Anonymous meets in person every Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Sunny Hill Preschool
The lower level of the church building has housed Sunny Hill Preschool for more than fifty years. The preschool serves children ages three through five with a hands-on curriculum that includes dramatic play, art, music, movement experiments, cooking, reading, and field trips. Full-time, part-time, before-care, and after-care options are available. The preschool maintains its own dedicated staff and works closely with the church's Welcoming Team, which provides coffee and treats to preschool parents during the year. United Methodist Men also provides scholarship support for families.
The Building on Myrtle and Greeley
The church building stands on the corner of Myrtle Street West and Greeley Street South, straight up Myrtle from downtown Stillwater or north on Greeley from Highway 36. Parking is available in the front lot on Myrtle and the rear lot off Greeley, with additional street parking nearby. Handicapped parking is in the rear lot, and an elevator sits just inside the downstairs entrance. The Sanctuary is on the upper level, while the Fellowship Hall, Wesley Room, classrooms, the preschool, and the nursery and youth rooms are on the lower level.
Dedicated wheelchair spaces are reserved in the Sanctuary, and a wheelchair is available for those who need one. The building is fully accessible.
The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the pastor and staff are available to plan weddings, funerals, baptisms, and confirmations. Pre-marital counseling and a church wedding coordinator are part of wedding preparation. Baptisms are offered for all ages - infants, youth, and adults - and the congregation recognizes baptisms performed in other denominations. Confirmation takes place with youth in sixth through eighth grades. On All Saints Day, the first Sunday in November, the congregation celebrates the lives of members and friends who have died during the previous year. Giving is available online through Vanco Payment Solutions, and support opportunities include direct IRA distributions and stock transfers.
Pastors and Staff
Pastor Jenny Lind Larsen was appointed to the church by the conference and began her ministry on June 26, 2022. She holds a Master of Arts in Youth and Family Ministry from Luther Seminary and a Master of Divinity from United Theological Seminary, and brings a particular passion for outreach and racial and gender equity through the arts. She is mother to Serenae Conyers and Grayson Levine and grandmother to five-year-old Camila.
Gregory Schroeder joined as Organist and Director of Music Ministries on June 1, 2025. Born and raised in rural Grand Forks, North Dakota, Schroeder grew up in the music ministry at Holmes United Methodist Church, where his mother and grandmother were deeply involved. He played the organ for the first time at sixteen and has served in music ministry ever since. He has studied architecture and design at the University of Florida and continues to work as a Kitchen Cabinet Designer at the Lowe's store in West Saint Paul.
Patsy Bellman leads Faith Formation, the children's ministry. A native of Stillwater, she has spent much of her life working with young people in Christian settings. Office Administrator Denice Kroening greets visitors and assists during office hours, assembles the projected images and videos for Sunday worship, and serves as an occasional worship service accompanist. Tech Team Leader Bruce Clark has run the audio-visual system for more than thirty years and trains volunteers on the cameras, soundboard, and projection computer. Ben Jackson chairs the Administrative Council, manages the church's Scrip gift-card program, and serves as President of the United Methodist Men.