Explore our topics page for a collection of news and information relevant to church ministry. Each tag connects you to resources, insights, and discussions aimed at supporting various aspects of ministry life at the United Church.
Over the past year, new teams within the Care Ministry have quietly stepped up to support church members in times of need. From offering rides, preparing meals, visiting with those who are homebound or recovering, helping to move furniture and sim...
We are excited to introduce six wonderful individuals who are stepping into a new role within our church family–as Care Ministers. Each of these individuals has a heart for serving others and a meaningful history of offering care, encouragement, ...
We’re delighted to welcome Jim H. as the newest member of our Senior Companion Circle–a ministry of presence and care for those who are 90 and above or living with ongoing health challenges. Through regular visits, phone calls, cards, and compassi...
Have you ever prayed for God to show you a way to serve? A way to make a real difference in someone’s life? What if the answer is as simple as changing a lightbulb, raking leaves, or picking up groceries? The needs within our church family are ma...
We want to ensure that our church family stays informed when it matters most. If you’re comfortable, we invite you to complete a Consent-to-Text Form, allowing us to send you urgent messages through Planning Center. These texts will be used only ...
“Guided by our love for the Lord and a deep commitment to serving others, the Board of Stewards seeks to extend God’s love through acts of humility, kindness, compassion, and faithfulness. Our mission is to provide companionship, support, and care...
February 25 Happy Birthday Bob Ledgerwood! Bob has been a member of the United Church for many years. He regularly attended services until his health declined. He still attends a weekly Bible Study. Bob has two daughters and eight Grand Children...
North Carolina Missions Trip (Apr 13-18) - Several young adults and adults are also attending this Disaster Relief mission trip (to accompany the youth as mentioned above in the Youth Ministry section). Summer Outlook - Save the dates for our Adu...
I recently had the privilege of facilitating a Sunday morning worship service while Pastor Wade was out of town. This is a responsibility I am grateful to have; it is not a given that someone in my position is permitted to serve as pulpit supply. ...
Exploring Membership at Our Church Sunday, February 16 at 9:45 AM Are you interested in learning more about our church community and what it means to be a member? We warmly invite you to join us for our upcoming Exploring Membership Class, where...
Youth Club Update and Service Project: Our Youth Club numbers have grown. We invited friends to Youth Club in February and now we have 64 children enrolled in Youth Club. What a joy to share the love of Jesus with so many children each week! On M...
As Christians, we often are looking for ways we can be more like Jesus. We might try to be more loving, or more patient. Or, maybe we are striving to be more peaceful or to be more self-controlled. While all of those are worthwhile endeavors, I ...
North Carolina Missions Trip (Apr 13-18) - Our youth are included in an important mission trip to serve those in need down in North Carolina. Check out the Missions Page for details. Please keep our group in your prayers! Summer Outlook - Save th...
North Carolina Missions Trip (Apr 13-18) - Several young adults and adults are also attending this Disaster Relief mission trip (to accompany the youth as mentioned above in the Youth Ministry section). Summer Outlook - Save the dates for our Adu...
I recently had the privilege of facilitating a Sunday morning worship service while Pastor Wade was out of town. This is a responsibility I am grateful to have; it is not a given that someone in my position is permitted to serve as pulpit supply. ...
Join us this summer for True North VBS: Trusting Jesus in a Wild World. Our VBS is free and runs July 14-18, 2025, 9am – 12noon. We have a special kick-off on Sun., July 13, 2025 at 6:30pm. All children, ages 4 years old through those who complete...
What’s happened… We invited friends to Youth Club on February 12 since our original date for Bring a Friend night was canceled due to a snow day. We had 19 friends join the regular group of 60 kids who come to Youth Club. What a joy to share the...
I recently came across a quote that stuck with me: ‘The more we build a life we can’t wait to live, the more time and passion we find to live it.’ The author suggests that building a life you ‘can’t wait to live’ doesn’t always require adding more...
Saturday, March 22, 5:30-7:30pm Roseland Bowl, 4357 Recreation Drive, Canandaigua. $10 adults per person ($40 maximum per family) covers bowling, pizza, drinks, & dessert. Register and pay here or contact Mary Beth Fortunato. Registration d...
Small Groups: The women’s group (a 20/30-something ministry) continues to meet at our church. The Christian club at FLCC also continues, with Wendy Bacon supporting this club and keeping us informed as to how we can best support them. Other adults...
Youth Groups: Our weekly high school program (known as The Cause, an extension of our Youth Club ministry) continues with the curriculum titled “Can I Ask That? Hard Questions about God and Faith”. Our middle school program (part of our Youth Club...
This article is part three of a larger reflection on the mission of the Church in a post-Christian culture. In December, I wrote about the importance of publicly proclaiming the faith (A belief that is rooted biblically and historically). In Janua...
It’s already February, but the year is still fresh with possibilities! As is my yearly tradition, this time of year prompts me to reflect and set some intentional goals to grow, both spiritually and practically. I know many of you do the same, and...
A group of young adults (our group this year is primarily college-aged students) are preparing for the January 2025 trip to Atlanta for the Passion Conference! Please keep them in your prayers as they prepare their hearts and minds to worship the ...
Small Groups: The women’s group (a 20/30-something ministry) continues to meet at our church. The Christian club at FLCC also continues, with Wendy Bacon supporting this club and keeping us informed as to how we can best support them. Other adults...
Youth Groups: Our weekly high school program (known as The Cause, an extension of our Youth Club ministry) continues with the curriculum titled “Can I Ask That? Hard Questions about God and Faith”. Our middle school program (part of our Youth Club...
The Parent/Child Library in the upstairs chapel has been refreshed with LOTS of new books! You may borrow a book off either the display shelf or the regular book shelf. All families are welcome to use the Parent/Child library at any time. Please s...
North Carolina Missions Trip (Apr 13-18) - Our youth are included in an important mission trip to serve those in need down in North Carolina. Check out the Missions Page for details. Please keep our group in your prayers! Summer Outlook - Save th...
North Carolina Missions Trip (Apr 13-18) - Several young adults and adults are also attending this Disaster Relief mission trip (to accompany the youth as mentioned above in the Youth Ministry section). Summer Outlook - Save the dates for our Adu...
Drawing from Psalm 118, this Easter sermon explores how God turns rejection into redemption through Christ’s resurrection, focusing on the powerful image of the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone of our faith. The sermon weaves together ancie...
Through an examination of Jesus’ anguished prayer in Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-49), this sermon explores the tension between cultural messages of self-fulfillment and Jesus’ example of submitting to the Father’s will, challenging us to pray against t...
In John 12, Mary’s lavish gift of perfume to anoint Jesus demonstrates what extravagant worship looks like when we withhold nothing from Christ. Through her example, we explore how true devotion often defies conventional wisdom and involves sacrif...
Through three parables in Luke 15, Jesus reveals God’s passionate pursuit of lost people, showing us a Father who eagerly runs to embrace those who have strayed, challenging us to join in His mission of seeking and celebrating the found.
Through Jesus’s teaching on tragic events and the parable of the fig tree, this sermon explores how we often misunderstand God’s judgment and calls us away from religious finger-pointing toward authentic repentance and a life-giving relationship w...
In this sermon on Luke 13:31-35, we explore Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem through the metaphor of a mother hen yearning to gather her chicks, revealing both God’s protective love for His people and the tragedy of their rejection, while ultimately p...
This sermon from Luke 4:1-13 explores Jesus’s forty-day wilderness temptations and how he remained faithful through the power of the Spirit and Scripture. By examining the three specific temptations - using power for personal comfort, taking short...
After Peter declares Jesus is the Messiah, and after Jesus prophecies his death and resurrection, Jesus brings a few disciples onto a mountain and appears to them in glorious light, in a well-known scene often called The Transfiguration. In our se...
Jesus’s radical command to love our enemies goes far beyond natural human inclinations, as demonstrated powerfully in his own love for Judas and his death on the cross for sinners. In Luke 6:27-38, Jesus calls his followers to respond to hatred wi...
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, particularly as recorded in Luke 6, radically redefines what it means to be blessed by God, challenging both ancient and modern assumptions about spiritual success. Rather than providing a checklist of behaviors to foll...
This sermon explores Jesus’ calling of his first disciples in Luke 5:1-11, focusing particularly on Simon Peter’s journey from a fisherman to a follower of Christ after witnessing a miraculous catch of fish. The sermon emphasizes the distinction b...
In this sermon about Jesus’s return to Nazareth in Luke 4, we see how his hometown’s initial warm reception quickly turned violent when he challenged their lack of faith by comparing them unfavorably to two Gentiles - the widow of Zarephath and Na...
This sermon reflects on Jesus’ bold proclamation in his hometown of Nazareth, declaring himself the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in Luke 4:14-21. It challenges listeners to move beyond familiarity and embrace Jesus’ authority, recognizing his ...
This sermon explores Jesus’ first miracle at the Cana wedding feast, explaining how He transformed water into wine not merely to solve a practical problem, but to reveal His identity as the Messiah and point to God’s greater work of redemption. Us...
We are called to embrace humility and dependence on God as modeled by John the Baptist and Jesus during His baptism, recognizing our roles in God’s greater plan and our need for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. By following their example, we to...
This sermon explores the celebration of Epiphany, emphasizing its roots in the early church as a continuation of the Christmas season, culminating on January 6. Drawing from the story of the Magi in Matthew 2, it highlights the significance of the...
This prayer service brings the church together to pray for each ministry area, from family and missions to worship and church leadership. Through a mix of Scripture, hymns, and focused prayers, we’re asking for God’s guidance and strength for ever...
We are called to embrace the disruptive presence of God in our lives as Mary did, willingly submitting ourselves to His purposes despite personal inconvenience or societal judgment. We should actively respond to God’s call with obedience and joy, ...
We are called to rejoice in all circumstances, trusting that our joy is rooted not in our present situations but in our eternal relationship with God. God instructs us to respond to life’s challenges with gentleness and to place our anxieties in H...
The sermon on Philippians 1:3-11, given during Advent, focuses on Paul’s sense of urgency and expectation as he anticipates the return of Christ. The message emphasizes Paul’s confidence that God, who began a good work in the believers at Philippi...
This sermon, focused on the first Sunday of Advent, emphasizes the importance of living with urgency and expectation as we await both the celebration of Christ’s birth and His promised return. Through exploring Luke 21:25-36, the message encourage...
The sermon explores the biblical concept of gratitude as we approach Thanksgiving. Reflecting on Psalm 107 and the story of the ten lepers in Luke 17, the message emphasizes the importance of giving thanks for God’s unfailing love and wonderful de...
As we explore Matthew 22:1-14, we examine the parable of the wedding banquet, illustrating the Kingdom of Heaven through God’s open invitation to all, both good and bad. While many initially reject the invitation, the king (representing God) invit...
This sermon reflects on the closing scene of Genesis, focusing on the deaths of Jacob and Joseph and the continuation of God’s promise to their descendants. Despite their deaths, the story of God’s deliverance and grace is not over, as Joseph expr...
This sermon explores Genesis 49, where Jacob offers blessings and prophecies for each of his sons before his death. These words reflect the character and actions of Jacob’s sons and point forward to the future of Israel’s tribes, with a particular...
This sermon explores Genesis 48, where Jacob, defying cultural expectations, blesses his younger grandson Ephraim over the firstborn Manasseh. This act highlights how God’s blessings often come in surprising ways that defy human plans, encouraging...
As we journey toward Easter morning, there’s a growing sense of anticipation. We move from the shadow of the cross into the brilliant light of the empty tomb. This Easter begins a worship series that will take us all the way to Pentecost, focusing...
North Carolina Missions Trip (Apr 13-18) - Several young adults and adults are also attending this Disaster Relief mission trip (to accompany the youth as mentioned above in the Youth Ministry section). Summer Outlook - Save the dates for our Adu...
I recently had the privilege of facilitating a Sunday morning worship service while Pastor Wade was out of town. This is a responsibility I am grateful to have; it is not a given that someone in my position is permitted to serve as pulpit supply. ...
Lent invites us into a journey that mirrors Christ’s own path. As we enter this season of reflection, our Scripture readings illuminate a narrative that moves from the Father affirming the Son through wilderness testing to the ultimate expression ...
As a church family, we have established a tradition of celebrating the season of Epiphany, which commences on January 6 and continues until Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. This season invites us to reflect on the ministry of Jesus as the light t...
December 01 - Living with Urgency and Expectation: Preparing for Christ’s Return Primary Reading: Luke 21:25-36 Additional Readings: Psalm 25:1-10, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 December 08 - Expectant Hearts: Waiting on God Primary Rea...
