Brighton First Embraces "Culture of Call"

In early March both Rev. Sue Pethoud and Rev. Paul Hahm were recommended for ordination. Sue, who serves at Cass Community UMC, will be ordained a deacon and Paul, who serves at Grace UMC (Lansing) will be ordained an elder in the United Methodist Church in June. Paul served as an associate pastor at Brighton First and Sue is a former member. Daniel Hyer, a member of Brighton First, who is currently finishing his Master of Divinity degree at Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky, will begin serving as pastor at LaSalle: Zion UMC and Petersburg UMC in July.

Brighton First is blessed to have a “culture of call”. We expect that God is calling people to remarkable service and we celebrate many who have become ministry leaders through their experiences with the Brighton First faith community. We have small group facilitators, teachers and mission leaders who never thought God would call them to fill those roles.

Rev. Robert Fuchs

Several of our church staff members have been called from the congregation for ministry, including Wendy Carmack, office assistant, Missy Setty, Children's Ministry Director and Lisa Guise, First Steps Preschool Director. Rev. Loretta Job and Rev. Bob Fuchs, who are appointed to serve at Brighton First, were once lay members of the congregation.

Other former Brighton First members currently serving in other ministries are Jesse Stark, Rev. Beth Titus, Rev. Bob Miller, Rev. Dan Phillips, Rev. Suzy Hutchison, and Rev. Bryan Kilpatrick. Rev. Margo Kivisto was called to serve as a pastor and has returned to Brighton First in retirement.

If you are feeling that God may be calling you to try something new in ministry, perhaps even to professional ministry, please contact Pastor Bob, Deacon Loretta or me.

Brighton First Embraces "Culture of Call"

In early March both Rev. Sue Pethoud and Rev. Paul Hahm were recommended for ordination. Sue, who serves at Cass Community UMC, will be ordained a deacon and Paul, who serves at Grace UMC (Lansing) will be ordained an elder in the United Methodist Church in June. Paul served as an associate pastor at Brighton First and Sue is a former member. Daniel Hyer, a member of Brighton First, who is currently finishing his Master of Divinity degree at Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky, will begin serving as pastor at LaSalle: Zion UMC and Petersburg UMC in July.

Brighton First is blessed to have a “culture of call”. We expect that God is calling people to remarkable service and we celebrate many who have become ministry leaders through their experiences with the Brighton First faith community. We have small group facilitators, teachers and mission leaders who never thought God would call them to fill those roles.

Rev. Robert Fuchs

Several of our church staff members have been called from the congregation for ministry, including Wendy Carmack, office assistant, Missy Setty, Children's Ministry Director and Lisa Guise, First Steps Preschool Director. Rev. Loretta Job and Rev. Bob Fuchs, who are appointed to serve at Brighton First, were once lay members of the congregation.

Other former Brighton First members currently serving in other ministries are Jesse Stark, Rev. Beth Titus, Rev. Bob Miller, Rev. Dan Phillips, Rev. Suzy Hutchison, and Rev. Bryan Kilpatrick. Rev. Margo Kivisto was called to serve as a pastor and has returned to Brighton First in retirement.

If you are feeling that God may be calling you to try something new in ministry, perhaps even to professional ministry, please contact Pastor Bob, Deacon Loretta or me.

Brighton First History Garden Wins Award

The Detroit Annual Conference Commission on Archives and History has announced that Brighton First has won the John A. Baughman Award. The Commission has granted the award in recognition of Brighton First's History Garden. The Award is given annually to a church that has made a significant contribution to sharing the history of the United Methodist Church. The congregation will receive the award on September 18 during worship.

The Brighton First History Garden was created to honor the memory of Dr. Harry Davis, a long-time member of Brighton First and a church historian. Dr. Davis asked that memorial funds given in his name go to a project that would preserve church history, and in keeping with his humble nature, he asked that the project not bear his name.

The garden contains eight plaques that offer a brief history of Methodism, beginning with John and Charles Wesley and ending with historical highlights of the Brighton church. The garden, near the main entrance to the church, also contains a retired church bell, a peace poll, and a seating area.

Rev. Suzy Hutchison and Dr. Verne Hoshal designed the garden, Dr. Hoshal wrote the historical information contained on the plaques. Davis Memorial Funds, as well as funds in the memory of other members of Brighton First, were used to complete the garden.

The John A. Baughman Award is named for a prominent founder of Methodist churches in Michigan during the nineteenth century. He was from Ohio and visited the far off wilderness of southeastern Michigan in 1825. Baughman traveled as a "circuit rider", founding and serving churches from Houghton to Milford to Dexter, from Flint to Detroit to Adrian. In his decades of service as a pastor he served 43 churches.

At Brighton First, we honor our past, and we build on the foundation laid by faithful leaders and congregations who have come before us. It is our desire that as we serve in the present and plan for the future that we share the common mission to bring people to know Jesus Christ.

Note: The history garden is not only a place for rest, reflection and learning;
it is also a Pokemon Stop!

 

Brighton First History Garden Wins Award

The Detroit Annual Conference Commission on Archives and History has announced that Brighton First has won the John A. Baughman Award. The Commission has granted the award in recognition of Brighton First's History Garden. The Award is given annually to a church that has made a significant contribution to sharing the history of the United Methodist Church. The congregation will receive the award on September 18 during worship.

The Brighton First History Garden was created to honor the memory of Dr. Harry Davis, a long-time member of Brighton First and a church historian. Dr. Davis asked that memorial funds given in his name go to a project that would preserve church history, and in keeping with his humble nature, he asked that the project not bear his name.

The garden contains eight plaques that offer a brief history of Methodism, beginning with John and Charles Wesley and ending with historical highlights of the Brighton church. The garden, near the main entrance to the church, also contains a retired church bell, a peace poll, and a seating area.

Rev. Suzy Hutchison and Dr. Verne Hoshal designed the garden, Dr. Hoshal wrote the historical information contained on the plaques. Davis Memorial Funds, as well as funds in the memory of other members of Brighton First, were used to complete the garden.

The John A. Baughman Award is named for a prominent founder of Methodist churches in Michigan during the nineteenth century. He was from Ohio and visited the far off wilderness of southeastern Michigan in 1825. Baughman traveled as a "circuit rider", founding and serving churches from Houghton to Milford to Dexter, from Flint to Detroit to Adrian. In his decades of service as a pastor he served 43 churches.

At Brighton First, we honor our past, and we build on the foundation laid by faithful leaders and congregations who have come before us. It is our desire that as we serve in the present and plan for the future that we share the common mission to bring people to know Jesus Christ.

Note: The history garden is not only a place for rest, reflection and learning;
it is also a Pokemon Stop!