First United Methodist Church (FUMC) Loveland welcomes everyone seeking a spiritual home.
Welcome!
Thanks for stopping by our site! First UMC has a long and proud history serving the community of Loveland. In fact, we were established as a congregation even before Loveland became a city!
We have a motto: Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors. And we try hard to be an open and accepting congregation.
It is important that we open our hearts wide – to each other, to the Loveland community, and to the world. It is not unusual for our congregation to be found sorting through food drive donations, volunteering for local non-profits, visiting folks in the hospital, hosting a homeless family in our building, or constructing a home in Guatemala. Whenever possible, we try to love our neighbors as best we can. That often means we find ourselves in service, in this community as well as around the world.
It is just as important that we open our minds wide. We are a diverse congregation. And because we’re not all cut from the same cloth, we want to learn from one another. This is a space where people can find opportunities to grow in their faith and to learn more about the abundant and joyful life God offers us all.
Finally, it is important that we open our doors wide. Wide enough for everyone. (Seriously. Everyone.) Whether you are white or black or brown or green, gay or straight or not sure, old, young or somewhere in between, whether or not you like “organized religion,” whether you like to attend church regularly or wonder if the building will collapse if you enter… you get the idea. It doesn’t matter who you are – we hope everybody can find warm friendship, genuine acceptance, and a spiritual home in this community of faith.
On this site you can find opportunities to serve, you can learn about our various ministries, you can search archives of sermons, and more. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please call or email.
I hope you will visit soon!
Rev. Leslie Wood
We are here to serve.
Helping others through service: Food Bank for Larimer County, KidsPak, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army and many more ways
Meet the FUMC staff
Leslie Wood
Pastor
Karen Lumpkin
Business Manager
Lee Anderson-Harris
Associate Pastor
Kathryn Peiffer
Organist/Pianist
Patty Gregory
Office Manager
Nicole Ceciliani
Chancel Choir Director
Susan Harding
Bell & Children's Choir Director
Ryan Millard
AV Coordinator
Alison Williams
Nursery Coordinator
Church Council
FUMC’s Stewardship Committee asks us to reflect on how we spend our time.
Church Council Documents
Church Council Minutes
Committee Report
Finance Reports
Charge Conferences
Church Council Minutes
Committee Reports
FUMC Church/Charge Conferences
Approximate location of property owned by FUMC indicated on the map outlined in blue. Possible sale of this property was the subject of the August 6th meeting.
—
Listening Session Responses
Compiled list of responses to questions posed in the Listening Meetings
There is a different color of print for each of the meetings
The ‘/’ symbol means the same idea was expressed by more than one person at the meeting
(click the question to read the list of responses)
- Question 1: What makes you want to come to church?
- Question 2a: What is FUMC doing well to meet your needs?
- Question 2b: What is missing? What is FUMC not doing to meet your needs?
- Question 3: How important is it to you that FUMC exists in ten years?
- Question 4a: What components of a worship service are most important to you?
- Question 4b: What is missing (from worship service)?
- Question 5: What number of worship services would you like?
- Question 6: Is there anything you would like to add that hasn’t been included in the previous questions?
Disaffiliation
Click here to read the letter compiled by FUMC’s Church Council and Pastors in April 2023.
Click here to read Bishop Oliveto’s post Annual Conference 2023 reflection.
From Adam Hamilton. June 9, 2023
“I have never felt more hope for the future of the United Methodist Church.” This was the sentiment expressed last night as I met with Resurrection’s laity and clergy attending the Great Plains Annual Conference.
Despite the Annual Conference approving 155 disaffiliations, most of the delegates from the remaining 750 churches were energized. They are proud of being a church where all are welcome. They are clear that our work is to be used by God to draw people to Christ, to help people grow in their faith, to care for the people in the congregation, and to inspire and equip their congregations to serve as Christ’s hands and feet in their communities and throughout the world.
They also know that, despite claims from some in the GMC, United Methodists continue to hold to the historic essentials of the Christian faith as captured in the creeds.
There was excitement, too, as our approach to the faith seems to be drawing young adults to want to be a part of this new beginning for United Methodism. We have the largest class of newly ordained or commissioned people I can remember (nearly 50). Most are young adults who are committed to Christ and the future of the UMC.
It was fun to hear from pastors and churches that are growing and reaching new people. An African pastor serving a predominantly Anglo church in Kansas told me how they had tripled in size in the last couple of years, from 100 to 300 in worship. One female pastor working 1/4 time came to tell me that her church had grown from 13 people to 21 – her church had grown by 62%!!! Another pastor told me the church she serves has grown from 20 to 55 over the last couple of years! A lay woman with small kids shared her story during Conference reporting that, after her church voted to disaffiliate, she and 30 others from her congregation that wished to remain United Methodist started a new congregation in a borrowed space. Her enthusiasm was contagious!
There were, of course, pastors and laity that reported that their churches had gone through the discernment process regarding disaffiliation and had lost people, but most of these pastors and laity seemed hopeful too. One woman noted that the people who remained in the congregation were more passionate about their faith and that the conflict had actually led them to a deeper commitment to Christ and to the church’s mission and its welcome of everyone in their community.
I wish God’s blessings on each of the church’s that disaffiliated. These are our brothers and sisters and they will reach people our UM congregations may not reach. But I’m proud to be a United Methodist and excited about what God is doing, and will do, through United Methodist Churches in the years ahead!
The chart shows the latest data we have on disaffiliations in the US. Of those churches disaffiliating, it appears 2,000 to 3,000 have or will join the GMC and the GMC will have about 450,000 members. Another 2,000 will be non-denominational or join another Methodist denomination. The UMC will have 24,000 to 26,000 churches with about 4.5 million members.
Finance Meeting Notes
Finance Reports
FUMC Loveland Financial Information
through July 2024
Income YTD $ 389,590
Expense YTD $ 398,534
Surplus/Deficit YTD $ (8,964)
Budgeted Income YTD $ 362,634
Budgeted Expense YTD $ 430,397
Budgeted Surplus/Deficit YTD $ (67,763)
Thank you for your generous giving. Feel free to contact Karen Lumpkin at Business@fumcloveland.com if you would like additional financial information.
Property Sale Information
On January 31st the sale of the 10 acre church property on 57th Street was completed. We received $412,041 in proceeds from the sale. Many thanks go out to members of the Trustee Committee including Vicky Shields and Debbie Tikka for their management of this process. Rob Proctor managed the real estate transaction on behalf of FUMC and Mike Westbrook worked with the Finance Committee on the investment strategy.
There are restrictions on how the funds from the sale can be used. These limits are based on the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church. We have followed up with the District Office for precise information. Essentially, proceeds from the purchase can only be used for capital expenditures. FUMC will be able to use dividends, interest and capital appreciation on our investments for any church expenses.
– The definition of capital expenditures is, funds used by the church to acquire, upgrade and maintain physical assets such as property, buildings, technology or equipment.
– The minimum amount for such expenditures will be $1500 (and expenditures would come through Trustees/Church Council).
– FUMC (via Finance Committee) intends that the proceeds from the sale will be managed by the United Methodist Foundation through the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado. This approach will save on overall cost of investments and provide us with a professional organization on which to rely.
Sundays at 10:00am,
in person and online
Fellowship is held after worship on the first Sundays of the month.
Childcare is available on Sundays during worship, beginning at 9:45.
Worship Online
Click the play button below to join us for our live-stream
Sunday Worship Service
at 10:00 am MDT on YouTube or watch later at your leisure.
Altar Flowers
FUMC welcomes the addition of flowers on the altar for Sunday services. If you would like to purchase flowers to decorate the altar, here’s what you can do:
- Choose the date. Click here to go to a sign up page where you will choose your date and enter your name and contact info.
- Contact Rowe’s Flowers to place your order (970-667-2300). Rowe’s will deliver the flowers to the church on Saturday for the next day’s church service. Rowe’s advises that you place your order either the Monday or Tuesday before the service. If you choose another floral shop for your order, you will need to bring the flowers to the church before the 8:30 service on Sunday.
- Contact Patty in the church office (970-667-0876 or office@fumcloveland.com) to let her know the occasion or person you are honoring with the flowers and the date; this will be printed in the Window that week.
Sunday Morning Volunteer Roles
Worship Liturgists
Help share the word. Sign up to read during one of our Sunday worship services. Click here to find an available Sunday and sign up.
Greeters
Welcome people into the building and help visitors find their way on Sunday mornings. Click here to find an available Sunday and sign up, or sign up at the Ask Me Desk in the building.
Explore our ministries
Click the photos below to learn more
Young Adult Ministries
Adult Ministries
Senior Ministries
Children's Ministries
Youth Ministries
Caring Ministries
Missions & Service
Music Ministries
New Members
New Member Classes are Postponed
But you can still join!
Should you have any questions about joining, contact the church office at 970-667-0876 or office@fumcloveland.com.
How To Join
You can become a member of First UMC in one of the following ways:
• Confession of Faith – the initial entrance into membership in the church when you confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
• Reaffirmation of Faith – renewing your initial confession of faith after a period of inactivity, or not being on a church membership roll.
• Transfer of Membership – from another United Methodist Church or a Christian church of another denomination. We recognize baptism from all other Christian churches.
Get Involved
Committees
Life at FUMC
(click photo to enlarge)
Our History
The Church Comes to Larimer County
From memoirs of W. B. Osborn: “ln the month of June, 1863, a modest Methodist preacher by the name of Antes rode up to our door, and rapped thereon with his whip still sitting in his saddle. He made known his wants, informing me that he was a Methodist preacher and that he had been directed here by Captain Norton of Boulder, a fine Christian gentleman, whom I had met in the mining camp by the name of Gold Dirt in 1860. Here he was informed that he would find a Christian family to entertain him. He requested that I should announce a meeting for that evening. I did so by going to all of the neighbors and requested them all to come, as there would be but a few at most-if they all came. All told, there were 13 including the minister. The names of those at the first service in this county were: W. B. Osborn, Margaret C. Osborn, Millard F. Osborn, Milo Y. Osborn, Ella C. Osborn, Samuel Heffner, John N. Hollowell, John E. Washburn, Mrs. John E. Washburn, Winnie Washburn, and Joseph Markley and wife, and Brother Antes, the preacher. Here was sung the first hymn, the first prayer offered for church service, and the first sermon preached in Larimer County. Arrangements were made for services monthly.”
Our First Church Building
In 1880 David Barnes, on whose homestead Loveland is situated, extended the offer of a building site to any church that would erect a building in the new town. The three churches responding were the Methodists, the United Brethren and the United Presbyterian. The Methodists selected the site on Cleveland Avenue. It was dedicated on August 8, 1880. Loveland was three years old. A. N. Fields was Pastor.
Our Second Building
In 1887 Barnes Chapel was named in memory of David Barnes, “Father of Loveland.” Mr. Barnes had been killed by falling from a load of hay the preceding year. A generous gift by his wife, Sarah Barnes, made the chapel possible. She was for many years, until her death, a faithful member and liberal supporter of this building.
Our Third Building
Our third building was dedicated December 29, 1901. The “Loveland Reporter” of January 2, 1902, carried an account of the dedication. “The largest indoor audience ever assembled in Loveland was the one that gathered at the Methodist Church last Sunday morning to see the new edifice properly dedicated. Through professional courtesy, every minister in town abandoned regular service, and, with his members, attended the Methodist service and participated in the program.”
Tragically, 40 years later, the building caught fire on a Sunday morning and was completely destroyed. Thankfully, everyone was able to exit the building and there was no loss of life.
Our Fourth and Present Church Building
This building stands on the corner of Grant and Sixth Streets. It was consecrated on February 18, 1951. The sanctuary has a seating capacity of four hundred, a Fellowship Hall beneath the sanctuary, a well equipped kitchen, and a parlor with a seating capacity of one hundred. The building is of salmon rose brick, concrete and steel, as nearly fire proof as possible. It is of Gothic design.
On February 26, 1956, an educational wing to the south of the main building was dedicated, It matches the sanctuary in design. It was built on three levels. In 1976 the Florence Coy Memorial Hall was built and dedicated. Coy Hall now houses our kitchen, overflow for worship and our Youth Range. In 2008 we completed the redesign of our Children’s education area, updating both the look and feel of Sunday School and Children’s Education.
Archives
Senior Newsletter
Charge Conference Documents
Charge Conference Minutes
We look forward to hearing from you!
Call Us
970-667-0876
Office Hours
T-W 8:30 am - 2:30 pm
Th 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
Email Us
office@fumcloveland.com
Location
533 North Grant Avenue
Loveland, CO 80537
Your support of the ministries of
FUMC Loveland
is very much appreciated!
Donations are tax-deductible.
Prefer to set up an automatic recurring donation?
There are three ways to do that
Contact Karen Lumpkin at business@fumcloveland.com to schedule automatic bank drafts
Schedule thru your bank’s bill pay
Click the PayPal/CC button above and select the monthly donation option (church does pay a fee)
Prayerfully consider leaving a Legacy Gift to the church
- A bequest in your will
- A gift of real estate
- Naming the church as a beneficiary to your life insurance or retirement plan
- The creation of a gift annuity
Bequest
Make a gift after your lifetime through your will or trust. This can be a fixed dollar amount, a specific asset, or a percentage of your estate.
Retirement Account
This can be the most heavily taxed asset in many estates. Choosing this as your gift might leave your less tax-burdened assets to your loved ones.
Real Estate
Contributing property after your lifetime or when it is no longer needed can be a game-changing gift.
Charitable Trust
Trusts can combine flexible benefits including a generous income, tax benefits and a powerful gift to First United Methodist Church.
Life Insurance Policies
Paid up whole life policies can be ideal items to donate to the church.
Endowed Gifts
General Endowment
Gifts to the General Endowment fund special needs and ministries as determined by our church leaders. This type of fund is also referred to as an “unrestricted endowment.”
Designated Fund
You can designate that your gift be used for specific purposes, for example, Youth, Music, TV Ministry, Missions, etc. This type of fund is also referred to as a “restricted endowment.”
FUMC receives a percentage of your purchases at King Soopers. Please sign up to support your church .
Log in or create an account at KingSoopers.com.
Click Community Rewards at the left or bottom of the page.
Search UK667 and click enroll
Shop online or in store to support FUMC!
For assistance please call 303-698-3403
Show your FUMC Loveland pride
Large Logo
Short sleeve t-shirt with FUMC logo centered
100% Cotton
$10
Small Logo
Short sleeve t-shirt with FUMC logo centered
100% Cotton
$10
Light Blue
Long sleeve t-shirt in light blue
100% Cotton
$25
Dark Blue Mock Turtleneck
Long sleeve t-shirt in dark blue
100% Polyester
$25
Polo Shirt
Polo shirt in light blue
100% Cotton
$15
Please contact Andrea at ortega.andrea.m@gmail.com to request a shirt.
SUPPORT THE
HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE
IN UKRAINE
United Methodists and others wishing to provide
humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people in the wake
of the Russian invasion of their country may contribute to
Advance #982450, UMCOR International Disaster Response and Recovery
This fund will provide direct assistance to those
in Ukraine as well as assistance to Ukrainians fleeing to neighboring countries.
Gifts to support the people of Ukraine can be made in the following ways:
● Online at https://umcmission.org/advance-project/982450
● By toll-free telephone: 888-252-6174
● By check made out to Global Ministries/UMCOR with “Advance #982450-Ukraine” written on the memo line, either mailed and addressed to:
Global Ministries/UMCOR, GPO
P.O. Box 9068
New York, NY 10087-9068
or given at or through any United Methodist church
One hundred percent of all Advance contributions go to the designated cause.
The United Methodist community in Ukraine, though quite small, is actively engaged in assisting neighbors in need. Global Ministries is in touch with the church’s leadership as well as with church leaders in countries welcoming those who are fleeing from violence in Ukraine.
Interested in Joining our Team?
First UMC, Trinity UMC and Union Spiritual Community are seeking an enthusiastic and adaptable Family Programming Coordinator to inspire and engage families across our three vibrant communities. This unique role blends the best of both traditional and modern approaches to faith, making it ideal for a creative, community-oriented individual.
About the Role:
We’re looking for someone warm, imaginative, and passionate about bridging time-honored traditions with fresh, inclusive community engagement. While prior experience in family programming or ministry is a plus, a willingness to think outside the box is essential! This part-time role, with regular Sunday morning and Monday afternoon commitments, offers a flexible schedule that can easily complement a full-time position.
Our Communities:
– Trinity and First UMCs are established congregations with a rich history.
– Union Spiritual Community is a new, inclusive gathering space sponsored by the Mountain Sky Conference Church Vitality Committee.
Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted through November 15, 2024, or until the position is filled.
Send applications to unionloveland@gmail.com
Rev. Bryson P. Lillie
Pastor
Serving Loveland, CO with the people of Trinity United Methodist Church
801 N. Cleveland Ave, Loveland, CO 80537
970-667-4381 – www.tumc-loveland.org
Send website feedback to it@fumcloveland.com