Existing to create: A Faithful, Caring and Joyful Community of God
This coming Easter,  the Ionia Ministerial Association will present "Passion Play 2010 The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ according to the Gospel of John". Click HERE for more details   ...   Our church pictorial directory is now available each Sunday during worship times   ...   The March ~ April 2010 Newsletter is now online   Click "Newsletter" on the menu bar above this  message     ...    On Monday 12/21/2009 members of 16 churches joined together in our sanctuary to present Handel's "The Messiah". Videos are available HERE   ...   Our choir sang the cantata "A Christmas Carol Gallery" on Sunday 12/13/2009. Click HERE to view the video   ...    DeAnn Eddy shared with us her work with the mission group Hands of Grace during Sunday 10/11/2009's Services. Click HERE to learn more about this mission   ...    Anika Kasper shared a presentation of her recent mission trip to Uganda, Africa with us during Sunday's (9/27/2009) services. CLICK HERE for a video of her presentation.   ...   Community Vacation Bible School 2009 "Crocodile Dock" A journey to the bayou and into God's word. We started August 9th and continued through the 13th from 6 PM to 8:30 PM (4 yrs to 5th grade) Watch a video of the kids singing praises to the Lord by clicking HERE    ...      On Tuesday August 4th we had an outdoor picnic followed by an evening of praise music. Singers from 12 local churches joined with us to praise the Lord. This event was held on our church lawn. Videos of the event can be seen by clicking HERE   ...   On 8/2/2009 the District Superintendent Rev Bill Dobbs presented our church with the 2009 Helen Smith Hunger Award for our service to those that are hungry. A video of this presentation can be seen by clicking HERE   ...  Join Pastor Larry in a Bible study program called "Closer Walk".  Closer Walk is a devotional guide to the New Testament . Reading one chapter a day, the entire New Testament will be read over the course of one year. We have created a Blog here on the ioniafirst.com website for you to read Pastor Larry's reflections on the day's reading and to add your own insights and/or questions. To access the blog either click HERE  or on the header above where it says: New Testament Reading Blog.  ...    Every Friday morning at 10 AM our Women's Bible Study Group meets at the Parsonage.  Childcare is provided    Click HERE for more details  ...    The 3rd Annual Pipe Organ Festival was held at Ionia First United Methodist Church on November 7, 2009 The Guest Organist was Richard Newman. Also featured were Organist Sari Mercer & Vocalist Mindy Talbot.  Click HERE for videos  ...   Ionia First offers two ways to worship.      A traditional Methodist service held at 9:30 AM & a contemporary service is held at 11:00 AM    ...    There is a coffee fellowship every Sunday at 10:30 AM for both services    ...        DVD videos and audio CDs of our services are available at no cost in the hall outside the sanctuary. We encourage you to share our services with your friends, particularly those who are unable to attend our services            



What's New!
Ionia First United Methodist Church
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Joel Kilgore
11/15/2009


Joel sang:
"Higher Ways"
for the offertory at our Contemporary Service


Elisha Stock
11/01/2009


Elisha sang:
"Open the eyes of my heart"
for the offertory at our Contemporary Service


Cally Redder
10/25/2009


Cally (our choir director) sang
O Mio Babbino Caro
for our offertory at the Traditional Service


Steve Mortinson
10/18/2009

Steve is the newest member of our praise band.
He sang "23" for our Contemporary Service,
accompanied by fellow band member Elisha Stock on drums.


David Youngman
9/13/2009

David played:
"The Lord's Prayer"
for both our Services



Mindy Talbot
8/30/2009

Mindy sang:
"Prayer"
for our offertory of our Traditional Service
She was accompanied by Sari Mercer


T.J. & Gwen Hardy
8/23/2009


The Hardys sang for both our services.
Here they sing: "He's been Faithful"
For more of their music visit their website by clicking HERE


Kim Paton
Joel Kilgore
8/16/2009



Kim & Joel sang:
"How Great Thou Art"
for the offertory of our Contemporary Service



R.J. Gardner
8/9/2009


R.J. sang:
"Hallelujah"
for the offertory of our Contemporary Service



Savanna Curtis
8/2/2009


Savanna sang:
"Breathe"
for both our services


Steve Marshall
7/26/2009


Steve sang the gospel classic:
"The Lighthouse"
for both our services



Steve Bestrom
7/19/2009



Steve played for both our services
Steve plays "First Trombone' in the Ionia/Maple Valley Community Band


Brian Calley
6/21/2009


Brian is our State Representative
He sang for our offertory at both services


Kim Paton
Joel Kilgore
5/31/2009


Kim sang "Great is Thy Faithfulness" accompanied by Joel on guitar
for our offertory during the Contemporary Service



Sari Mercer
Sue Manciu
Mindy Talbot
5/17/2009


Sue and Mindy sang:
"The Gift of Love"
for our 175th Anniversary service
with Sari accompanying them on keyboard



Savanna Curtis
4/19/2009



Savanna sang "God Help the Outcasts" for our offertory


Joel Kilgore
3/8/2009



Joel sang "More than Words" for our offertory



Our Praise Band
2/8/2009


Our ever growing Praise Band has been playing for our contemporary services.
A recent addition to their repertoire is this song:
"God of this City"



Kim Paton
1/11/2009


Kim sang a soul felt a capela rendition of the hymn:
"It is Well with my Soul" for our offertory.
Kim is a vocalist in our praise band.


Joel Kilgore
12/28/2008




Joel (our custodian and audio/video tech) sang:
"Waiting for Lightning" for our offertory.

Our Choir,
The Bible Venture Kids
&
The Ionia Community Theatre
12/14/2008




"A 1940's Christmas Homecoming"
Our Christmas Cantata


Bible Venture’s Kids

10/12/2008


Our Bible Ventures’ Kids (Sunday School)
sang two songs for both our services


David Youngman

8/3/2008


David, a graduate of Spring Arbor University and a personal friend of Larry & Bev, played an instrumental for our service



Bryant Adams

7/26/2008


Bryant sang the classic hymn:
“In the Garden”
at the funeral of Lester Dunn



Joel Kilgore

7/20/2008


Joel, our tech man and custodian, sang
Stephen Curtis Chapman’s
“Way Beyond the Blue”


Mindy Talbot

7/6/2008


Mindy, a long time favorite vocalist here at Ionia First, sang a wonderful rendition of

“My Lord, What a Morning”


Easter Cantata

3/19/2008


Our choir singing the thrilling cantata
The Rose of Calvary


Ionia Pipe Organ Festival

11/10/2007




Last November we held the first annual Ionia Pipe Organ Festival
Among the many guest organists, Chris Decker

Ionia Pipe Organ Festival

11/10/2007
and our own Sari Mercer thrilled all in attendance.
Sari is one of our two staff organists.

Handel's
Messiah

12/20/2007

Six local church choirs gathered at Ionia First to sing selections from Handel’s Messiah.
Directed by our own Pastor Larry Brown this was a tour de force performance.

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Special Music Videos

Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing the glory of His name;
give to Him glorious praise!
Psalm 66

At Ionia First we know the power of music.
It lifts our hearts and souls to the glory of God, our Father.
Often we showcase local musical talent in our worship services.
Here are videos of just a few of the more recent examples of this mission.

Click on the icons below to view the video

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BIBLE VENTURES

GENESIS GENESIS GENESIS

We are zooming along through Genesis with our preschoolers through 5th graders! They have learned so much about the people God taught lessons to in the Old Testament. We’ve learned that those people can teach US lessons too. We’ve also seen how God was with people back then and that He promises to be with us.

Now we are headed into learning about Jacob (we’ve already learned about Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah and the rest of the family). Jacob had a twin brother, Esau, and things weren’t always smooth between them, to say the least! So he had LOTS of adventures that got him into LOTS of trouble. But, you know what? God was with him through it all! When he did  good things and when he did bad things. God NEVER gave up on Jacob and...He won’t give up on us! If you’d like to read his story, try reading Genesis 25:19 through Genesis 35. I know it is long, that is why it is taking almost a month and a half for us to learn about him at Bible Ventures. Then, we will study Joseph. Now, there’s a hero you’ll want to know about!

Come and join us each Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. in the fellowship hall. We enjoy a good Bible story together, play a game, have a snack, and learn even more about our wonderful God.


*Important Note: There will be an Easter Egg Hunt at 9:30 a.m. during Bible Ventures on Easter Sunday.