Long before Wesley United Methodist Church in New Haven and First United Methodist Church in West Haven were merged in 2006, each church’s founders gathered together and worshiped God. First & Wesley United Methodist Church has served God and the world for more than 150 years. We are thankful for God’s continued guidance, our church ancestors’ sacrifices, and congregants’ sincere dedication to our church. Over the past 150 years, we have fulfilled three important and fundamental functions as a church.
First, we worship together, praising God and receiving God’s grace. The opening page of our Book of Worship states, “Our worship in both its diversity and its unity is an encounter with the living God through the risen Christ in the Holy Spirit.” We come to church to experience God, so that we may always remember who we are (God’s people) and who God is (our Lord).
Second, we as a church share the love of God with sisters and brothers in Christ. During the worship service we share love and peace in Christ. After the service we have a coffee hour, where we share joys and concerns. During the year we have several opportunities for working on mission projects, fundraisers and social activities. We also have Christian conversation in homes or visit our church family in hospitals. We have a Caring Ministry where members and friends of First and Wesley United Methodist Church are contacted at least twice a month to see how everything is going, if there is a specific need, and joys or concerns to be shared with the church. In addition, we communicate with our church members and friends by sending out The Messenger, our monthly newsletter. As is often said, we are the church family.
Third, we as a church serve the world together, practicing Jesus’ teachings of love and inclusiveness. Our church is connected with the community: the building is used for Special Olympics, fundraisers (i.e. Harvest Fair, Pancake Day, etc.) and we have a gym that has been used for volleyball and basketball. Our church also participates in mission/evangelist projects, including WHEAT (West Haven Emergency Assistance Taskforce), Hill Health Center in New Haven, Native American Ministries, and so on.”
Over 150 years, we as a church have shared many valuable experiences as God’s people: faith, hope, love, and friendship in Jesus Christ. Together may we continue to mature and to grow in doing ministry and fulfill our functions as a church.
Amen.