First on Chatham

What a week we had at Camp Firelight! Psalm 56:3 says, "When I am afraid, I put my trust in You,” and Vacation Bible School campers learned to trust God to go with us, to lead the way, to share wisdom, to give us peace, and to spark joy! A big thank you to all who made VBS possible – it is a gift to be in community together!

What an awesome Sunday it was welcoming new members and celebrating Pentecost together!

What a joy to celebrate and welcome these confirmands Sunday!

Christ is risen!

📸 Beth Dickerson

This morning Pastor Kollin led our Methodist Children's Center preschool Chapel with his son’s “fast shoes” and this classic book. No matter how fast we are at running, God is faster, coming after us in love like the mother bunny!

We had some technical difficulties this morning, so if you missed today’s livestream, please check out the recording here!

First on Chatham – April 7, 2024

Always grateful for our children in worship!

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“God we give thanks for these past ten years at First on Chatham,
For today
And for the hope of ten years more.
May we continue to serve the heart of Christ from the heart of Cary with courage.
For You did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love.
Amen.”

Join us this Sunday as we kick off our new series for the season of Lent!

Such a gift to receive a Transfiguration Spoken Reflection from our Pastoral Intern Emily Willson this morning 🙏

“Some of us have taken a long time climbing up the mountain 
We’re looking forward to the lookout at the top
The breathing-taking view 
When the meaning of the journey is revealed 
That mountaintop moment 
 
Some of us have taken a while to prepare for the trek 
We’ve broken in new boots
We’ve been disciplined and created habits so we know what to expect 
Maybe collected a few blisters along the way
 
What happens when our precautions don’t prepare us for what we experience at the top?
What happens when our anticipated lookout is covered by a surrounding fog? 
Do you hear God’s voice?
Or are we too distracted by the cloudy view to forget to make the choice 
To just be still
Just be present 
Click. 
What if the sun is too bright,
creating an overexposed picture, ruining the attempted memorialized sight? 
Will we still remember Jesus in his dazzling white? 
 
Or like Peter will we be too overwhelmed by the paralyzing fright 
 
That we’re missing it 
We’re missing the moment 
 
Frantic
Grasping at the right words to say
Am I humble enough? Is it really good for me to be here? 
Am I doing this the right way?
Wait. Listen. A Voice is coming from the cloud.
 
Here’s the offering of grace 
The end then of the story is not Christ’s transfigured face 
But the journey back down the mountain at a sanctifying pace 
Lead by the path paved before us by the saints 
And the good news? Well, Christ is right behind us 
Journeying alongside us the entire way.”

We were reminded at the Village Gathering we hosted yesterday that it was during a speech in Raleigh in 1960 that Dr. King said, "Our ultimate end must be the creation of the beloved community." May we do all we can to expand our community to share God's love with all!

Join as Sunday at 11am (Building C) as we kick off the new sermon series, “As It Was In The Beginning.”

How do the oldest parts of the Bible still impact our lives and have relevance in the world today? Join us for worship Sunday in First Sanctuary (8:30 and 11:00 a.m.) and First on Chatham (11:00 a.m., Building C) as we kick off a new worship series, "As It Was In The Beginning." This four-week series will help focus on four key stories from the first 12 chapters of Genesis. To help us dive deeper, Lead Pastor Ben Alexander has written a brief book as a companion piece with reflection questions. Learn more and download the book here: linktr.ee/firstcary

Sunday we will worship in one community-wide service at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary — join us!

Join us this Sunday, December 31st, as we continue to celebrate Christmastide with the observance of Epiphany, when we remember the journey of the wise men from the East to Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-12). We will have one service for the whole campus at 10:00 am in the Sanctuary!

“All is calm, all is bright.”
Wishing you and yours a merry Christmas season!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Advent! Join us Sunday as we kick off the season with “The Carols of (Almost) Christmas.” Shoutout to our for decorating 🙌

Had a blast embodying Christ’s Kingdom Upside Down by flipping our worship order upside down on Sunday.

One our treasured traditions as a worship community. Celebrating communion with our saints, past and present 🙏

“It has been my experience that what makes us the saints of God is not our ability to be saintly but rather God’s ability to work through sinners.” -Nadia Bolz-Weber

What at "treat" Sunday was! We had a blast at this year's Trunk or Treat, and are already looking forward to next year!

Trunk or Treat is right around the corner! Please join us for hot dogs, candy, games, costumes, and SO MUCH FUN! We can’t wait to see you October 29 from 5-7 p.m. in the First Cary UMC parking lot — all are welcome!

What a joy it was to bless these Confirmands and Third Graders as they received Bibles Sunday!

Hope you can join us on Sunday afternoon!

🚨 Friends, the First Cary food pantry is in an urgent need situation. Currently there are many low-stock shelves, and any donations would be appreciated. Donations can be dropped off or shipped directly to the church (117 S. Academy St, Cary 27511). Learn more: linktr.ee/firstcary 🚨

Last Sunday we kicked off our new sermon series, "The Heart of the Matter." Sharing the heart of Christ from the heart of Cary shapes how First Cary moves toward community together, but what does that really look like? This Sunday we will continue the series as we get to the Heart of the Matter to define our covenant with the God who loves us, the community that calls us neighbor, and the truest self God is calling us to become.

Such a fun fall kick off! 🍦🤠🎉

What a joy to be in community together this morning!

Don’t miss worship this Sunday - join us for one churchwide service in the Sanctuary at 9:45 followed by an awesome service opportunity with Rise Against Hunger!

THIS SUNDAY, September 3, the First Cary family will join together for one worship service at 9:45 a.m. in the Sanctuary, with a churchwide service opportunity to follow (please feel free to dress for comfort for worship and serving)! You are invited to join us to serve alongside friends and family to pack meals for Rise Against Hunger. Ages 4+ are welcome - nursery will be provided for children under the age of 4. Unable to attend? Help support our fundraising goal of $10,000! Learn more: linktr.ee/firstcary

Loved wrapping up our Summer Movie Series with a proper movie night!

We ❤️ VBS! What an awesome week!