our history - 151 Years and counting
First United Methodist Church Lexington was established in 1872 as the Plum Creek church by a small group of thirty people who wanted to connect with the benefits of American Methodism, with its emphasis on personal holiness, social outreach and dynamic worship. The founders of the church met for teaching, preaching and prayer, followed by worship in the homes of the people under the direction of lay people. Once each quarter they would attend a quarterly conference led by a Methodist preacher. When they built the first church facility in 1877, it was out of a desire for Christ to be at the center of their lives and the church to be at the heart of the community.
Over the years First UMC would prove itself to be a church where people were willing to widen the circle for those who were searching for a community in which to worship and to live. The church became a center of community functions. It was a place where school graduations were held, weddings and funerals of community members took place, and cooperative ministries were shared with other congregations. First UMC Church members over the decades have reached out to others to offer programs and ministries that blessed the lives of local residents, displayed compassion to those in need, and met real needs in the community. In the late 1800’s our church hosted an ecumenical Union Sunday School. We are a living testament to the importance of ecumenical work with partner churches throughout the community yet today!
First UMC Lexington has always been a place where people have shown a special devotion to the Christ’s teachings and the work of the church. Our story is one of people who are willing to worship, grow and serve in community, sharing Christ and transforming the world.
In the early 1900s, when the Lexington community rapidly expanded with the development of what used to be called Plum Creek,, First Church Lexington members made bold decisions when it came to buildings and parsonages. We were a mobile people, a people who did with what they had until what they had no longer fit the mission and ministry of the church. Multiple church buildings, multiple parsonages, and in the words of our 100 year celebration history booklet, “It is true that churches and parsonages do not a church make…Great sacrifices have been made with the confident expectation that we will not fail to justify these sacrifices as we strive to meet the needs of a changing world.”
In 1910 our current location was dedicated. There would be additions and the reworking of spaces to accommodate the changing needs of the ministry. These would include the addition of classrooms, administrative offices, handicap accessible features, and a number of updates. There would be the addition of the preschool on the northeast corner of 8th & Jackson, the purchase of the current parsonage at 15th & Jackson in 1963.
Between 1957 and 1972 the local Committee on Missions made it a priority to participate in the International Christian Youth Exchange Program. This program brought international students into the homes and community of church members. There were also a number of families who sent their own children into the world as well. All with the goal of creating opportunity for the exchange of ideas, traditions, hopes, and ambitions.
The dynamic changes the community of Lexington has seen through the years could be seen and experienced in a number of ways. But this church has a proud history of widening the circle of welcome, of valuing the sharing of culture and common dreams. May we continue to flourish as the people of God as we remain true to the ideals of the pioneer folks who founded our church, all who have served and sacrificed for the church’s ministry and mission, may we hold to the vision of being the church where people live with Christ at the center of their lives and loves and serves our neighbors in the heart of our community.
Over the years First UMC would prove itself to be a church where people were willing to widen the circle for those who were searching for a community in which to worship and to live. The church became a center of community functions. It was a place where school graduations were held, weddings and funerals of community members took place, and cooperative ministries were shared with other congregations. First UMC Church members over the decades have reached out to others to offer programs and ministries that blessed the lives of local residents, displayed compassion to those in need, and met real needs in the community. In the late 1800’s our church hosted an ecumenical Union Sunday School. We are a living testament to the importance of ecumenical work with partner churches throughout the community yet today!
First UMC Lexington has always been a place where people have shown a special devotion to the Christ’s teachings and the work of the church. Our story is one of people who are willing to worship, grow and serve in community, sharing Christ and transforming the world.
In the early 1900s, when the Lexington community rapidly expanded with the development of what used to be called Plum Creek,, First Church Lexington members made bold decisions when it came to buildings and parsonages. We were a mobile people, a people who did with what they had until what they had no longer fit the mission and ministry of the church. Multiple church buildings, multiple parsonages, and in the words of our 100 year celebration history booklet, “It is true that churches and parsonages do not a church make…Great sacrifices have been made with the confident expectation that we will not fail to justify these sacrifices as we strive to meet the needs of a changing world.”
In 1910 our current location was dedicated. There would be additions and the reworking of spaces to accommodate the changing needs of the ministry. These would include the addition of classrooms, administrative offices, handicap accessible features, and a number of updates. There would be the addition of the preschool on the northeast corner of 8th & Jackson, the purchase of the current parsonage at 15th & Jackson in 1963.
Between 1957 and 1972 the local Committee on Missions made it a priority to participate in the International Christian Youth Exchange Program. This program brought international students into the homes and community of church members. There were also a number of families who sent their own children into the world as well. All with the goal of creating opportunity for the exchange of ideas, traditions, hopes, and ambitions.
The dynamic changes the community of Lexington has seen through the years could be seen and experienced in a number of ways. But this church has a proud history of widening the circle of welcome, of valuing the sharing of culture and common dreams. May we continue to flourish as the people of God as we remain true to the ideals of the pioneer folks who founded our church, all who have served and sacrificed for the church’s ministry and mission, may we hold to the vision of being the church where people live with Christ at the center of their lives and loves and serves our neighbors in the heart of our community.