180 Years of Methodism in Brighton

The City of Brighton celebrates its 150^thanniversary on August 13. I took some time this week to read again about the history of First United Methodist Church of Brighton. We are fortunate to have members of the faith community who collected our church's history and wrote about it. 

Brighton First was already a thriving faith community 150 years ago. Methodist preachers started visiting Ore Creek (later to be named Brighton) in 1830. Not long after a Methodist class was formed in the town and Methodists began meeting in people’s homes. The group received its first pastor in 1843 and they worshipped in the school house on Grand River Avenue. In 1856, the Methodists built the first church on the same property as our current church building. Visitors to the new city of Brighton were greeted by the large brick Methodist-Episcopal church as they came from the east.

In 1867, the founding year for the City of Brighton, Rev. Thomas Nichols was pastor of the church. He reported earning $675 annually. The church building was valued at $3,000. The Ladies Aid Society, a forerunner of the United Methodist Women, was an important part of the church’s ministry.

Here are some fun facts about the history of Brighton First:

• Traveling by horseback, Washington Jackson helped to found Methodist classes in 1836, including Brighton, Fowlerville, Fenton and Milford.
• A Methodist evangelist came to town in the late 1830’s. He preached from a balcony of a blacksmith shop. People flocked to hear him. The building filled up and the balcony gave way. Several people were injured. A few days later, more people signed up for the Methodist class.
• The first pastor appointed in Brighton was Rev. George King (1843). He was the junior preacher from Milford. In 1844, King’s 4-year-old daughter died and was the fourth person buried in the local cemetery. King was buried there 6 years later.
• The first church built on this property (1856) cost $1,600.
• In 1870, Rev. John Levington refused communion to Elia Withey, a member of the Brighton congregation because he was a Mason. The dispute went to the Annual Conference and Levington was forced to retire.
• In 1873, Mrs. York, wife of the pastor, was granted a local preacher’s license. It was very unusual that a woman be given license to preach in the Methodist church at that time.
• With plans to build a new church, the old church was torn down in 1904. This is what the Brighton Argus reported, “On account of the busy times, the ladies of the Methodist Episcopal Aid Society turned out Tuesday to help tear down the old church. It is said the brick flew like hailstones.”
• The church closed from 1915 – 1920. The parsonage was rented and the church building was used by Boys’ Christian Association and the Red Cross.
• The church reopened in 1920 after the Ladies Aid Society raised enough money to pay a pastor for one year.

    Methodists have been witnessing for Jesus Christ in the City of Brighton for over 180 years.

A picture of the four corners at Main St. and Grand River Ave. in Brighton.

    

180 Years of Methodism in Brighton

The City of Brighton celebrates its 150^th anniversary on August 13. I took some time this week to read again about the history of First United Methodist Church of Brighton. We are fortunate to have members of the faith community who collected our church's history and wrote about it. 

Brighton First was already a thriving faith community 150 years ago. Methodist preachers started visiting Ore Creek (later to be named Brighton) in 1830. Not long after a Methodist class was formed in the town and Methodists began meeting in people’s homes. The group received its first pastor in 1843 and they worshipped in the school house on Grand River Avenue. In 1856, the Methodists built the first church on the same property as our current church building. Visitors to the new city of Brighton were greeted by the large brick Methodist-Episcopal church as they came from the east.

In 1867, the founding year for the City of Brighton, Rev. Thomas Nichols was pastor of the church. He reported earning $675 annually. The church building was valued at $3,000. The Ladies Aid Society, a forerunner of the United Methodist Women, was an important part of the church’s ministry.

Here are some fun facts about the history of Brighton First:

• Traveling by horseback, Washington Jackson helped to found Methodist classes in 1836, including Brighton, Fowlerville, Fenton and Milford.
• A Methodist evangelist came to town in the late 1830’s. He preached from a balcony of a blacksmith shop. People flocked to hear him. The building filled up and the balcony gave way. Several people were injured. A few days later, more people signed up for the Methodist class.
• The first pastor appointed in Brighton was Rev. George King (1843). He was the junior preacher from Milford. In 1844, King’s 4-year-old daughter died and was the fourth person buried in the local cemetery. King was buried there 6 years later.
• The first church built on this property (1856) cost $1,600.
• In 1870, Rev. John Levington refused communion to Elia Withey, a member of the Brighton congregation because he was a Mason. The dispute went to the Annual Conference and Levington was forced to retire.
• In 1873, Mrs. York, wife of the pastor, was granted a local preacher’s license. It was very unusual that a woman be given license to preach in the Methodist church at that time.
• With plans to build a new church, the old church was torn down in 1904. This is what the Brighton Argus reported, “On account of the busy times, the ladies of the Methodist Episcopal Aid Society turned out Tuesday to help tear down the old church. It is said the brick flew like hailstones.”
• The church closed from 1915 – 1920. The parsonage was rented and the church building was used by Boys’ Christian Association and the Red Cross.
• The church reopened in 1920 after the Ladies Aid Society raised enough money to pay a pastor for one year.

    Methodists have been witnessing for Jesus Christ in the City of Brighton for over 180 years.

A picture of the four corners at Main St. and Grand River Ave. in Brighton.

    

Knowing Your Gifts

Pauline's Spiritual Gifts are Administration,
Leadership and Mercy

Recently, I was talking with Pauline. She is a member of our United Methodist Women (UMW) Group and she is leading a big project this fall. Our UMW is hosting a state-wide meeting of United Methodist Women at Brighton First. She will be leading a team from our church who will plan hospitality, meals and logistics. By the time of the event over 100 people will be serving to make this event an inspirational experience for over 400 attendees.

Pauline was telling me about preliminary planning when a comment she made caught my attention. She said that it is a good thing she has the spiritual gifts for this kind of work: administration, leadership and mercy.

I was struck by Pauline's personal spiritual insight. She is aware of her spiritual gifts and has found a way to use them in the service of Jesus Christ. At Brighton First, we have been emphasizing knowledge of our spiritual gifts for two years. Pauline, like other members of our faith community, has been encouraged to step out in ministries that match her gifts, skills and interest.

According to Scripture, God has given each of us gifts for service in the world. "We have different gifts according to the grace given to each of us." (Romans 12:6b) Various gifts are evident from one person to another, and that diversity of gifts allows for God's work to be done in diverse ways.

Not everyone has the gifts of teaching, helping, praying, offering mercy or sharing wisdom. The beauty of the Body of Christ, the Church, is that when people come together to use their God-given gifts remarkable things can happen in Jesus' name.

You are most likely aware of skills you have developed over the years. You may also be very clear about your interests and passions. Do you know your top spiritual gifts? If you have not had the opportunity to take a spiritual gift assessment, click here for an online option. (You will need to create a user name and password.) We also have spiritual gift assessment booklets available at Brighton First.

Knowing Your Gifts

Pauline's Spiritual Gifts are Administration,
Leadership and Mercy

Recently, I was talking with Pauline. She is a member of our United Methodist Women (UMW) Group and she is leading a big project this fall. Our UMW is hosting a state-wide meeting of United Methodist Women at Brighton First. She will be leading a team from our church who will plan hospitality, meals and logistics. By the time of the event over 100 people will be serving to make this event an inspirational experience for over 400 attendees.

Pauline was telling me about preliminary planning when a comment she made caught my attention. She said that it is a good thing she has the spiritual gifts for this kind of work: administration, leadership and mercy.

I was struck by Pauline's personal spiritual insight. She is aware of her spiritual gifts and has found a way to use them in the service of Jesus Christ. At Brighton First, we have been emphasizing knowledge of our spiritual gifts for two years. Pauline, like other members of our faith community, has been encouraged to step out in ministries that match her gifts, skills and interest.

According to Scripture, God has given each of us gifts for service in the world. "We have different gifts according to the grace given to each of us." (Romans 12:6b) Various gifts are evident from one person to another, and that diversity of gifts allows for God's work to be done in diverse ways.

Not everyone has the gifts of teaching, helping, praying, offering mercy or sharing wisdom. The beauty of the Body of Christ, the Church, is that when people come together to use their God-given gifts remarkable things can happen in Jesus' name.

You are most likely aware of skills you have developed over the years. You may also be very clear about your interests and passions. Do you know your top spiritual gifts? If you have not had the opportunity to take a spiritual gift assessment, click here for an online option. (You will need to create a user name and password.) We also have spiritual gift assessment booklets available at Brighton First.

United Methodist Women Share Heritage and Vision

The United Methodist Women (UMW) is a vital mission group at Brighton First. Not only is UMW active in mission efforts in the community and around the world, but their vibrant ministry works to develop strong leaders.

Heritage. The UMW has a colorful and inspiring heritage at Brighton First. The women's group (formerly known as Ladies Aid and then the Women's Society for Christian Service) has been active for over a century. Early in the life of the church, it was often the women's group that moved the church forward in ministry. When a new church was needed early in the 20th century, the women of the church tore down the old church brick by brick (as reported in a local newspaper!). When Brighton First closed for lack of attendance during World War I, it was the women of the church who continued to meet. Eventually, they raised enough money to hire a pastor and the church was opened again.

Vision. In recent years, our UMW has continued to move forward for the work of Jesus Christ here in this community and around the world. They have done so by being open to adapting to current leadership styles, group dynamics and the use of communication media. They have formed small groups ("circles") that fit with the diverse interests of women in our church. The UMW has offered programming to women of all ages and are communicating and marketing through the internet and social media. The UMW is addressing urgent mission needs, like the Flint Water Crisis and making sure that its outreach is timely and relevant.

Our local United Methodist Women is part of a movement with over 800,000 members across the world. The focus of the UMW is on mission including: providing opportunities to grow spiritually, equipping women and girls to be leaders, providing transformative educational experiences, organizing for growth and flexibility, and working for justice through service and advocacy.

Members of Brighton's United Methodist Women hosted a recent event
that featured speaker, Rev. Faith Fowler of Cass Community UMC.

The United Methodist Women strive to develop a creative, supportive, fellowship among women of all ages in our church, and to participate in the global missions of our greater church.

We can be thankful to Brighton First's UMW for its continued strength through faithful service and its example of creatively adapting to remain relevant to its members.

One of the most important lessons that the Vital Church Initiative has taught me is that technical fixes to problems are not going to help the church to remain vital. We must instead, honor our strong heritage of ministry and mission and creatively adapt what we do, looking toward the future. I am thankful to the United Methodist Women of Brighton First for demonstrating this heart for moving forward in the name of Jesus Christ.

United Methodist Women Share Heritage and Vision

The United Methodist Women (UMW) is a vital mission group at Brighton First. Not only is UMW active in mission efforts in the community and around the world, but their vibrant ministry works to develop strong leaders.

Heritage. The UMW has a colorful and inspiring heritage at Brighton First. The women's group (formerly known as Ladies Aid and then the Women's Society for Christian Service) has been active for over a century. Early in the life of the church, it was often the women's group that moved the church forward in ministry. When a new church was needed early in the 20th century, the women of the church tore down the old church brick by brick (as reported in a local newspaper!). When Brighton First closed for lack of attendance during World War I, it was the women of the church who continued to meet. Eventually, they raised enough money to hire a pastor and the church was opened again.

Vision. In recent years, our UMW has continued to move forward for the work of Jesus Christ here in this community and around the world. They have done so by being open to adapting to current leadership styles, group dynamics and the use of communication media. They have formed small groups ("circles") that fit with the diverse interests of women in our church. The UMW has offered programming to women of all ages and are communicating and marketing through the internet and social media. The UMW is addressing urgent mission needs, like the Flint Water Crisis and making sure that its outreach is timely and relevant.

Our local United Methodist Women is part of a movement with over 800,000 members across the world. The focus of the UMW is on mission including: providing opportunities to grow spiritually, equipping women and girls to be leaders, providing transformative educational experiences, organizing for growth and flexibility, and working for justice through service and advocacy.

Members of Brighton's United Methodist Women hosted a recent event
that featured speaker, Rev. Faith Fowler of Cass Community UMC.

The United Methodist Women strive to develop a creative, supportive, fellowship among women of all ages in our church, and to participate in the global missions of our greater church.

We can be thankful to Brighton First's UMW for its continued strength through faithful service and its example of creatively adapting to remain relevant to its members.

One of the most important lessons that the Vital Church Initiative has taught me is that technical fixes to problems are not going to help the church to remain vital. We must instead, honor our strong heritage of ministry and mission and creatively adapt what we do, looking toward the future. I am thankful to the United Methodist Women of Brighton First for demonstrating this heart for moving forward in the name of Jesus Christ.