EVENTS

Stephen Ministry: Caring One-to-One

Stephen Ministry provides confidential, Christ-centered care through trained lay volunteers who walk with people in hard seasons. If you have a heart to listen, pray, and be present, consider serving.

• Recruitment opens: Sun, Oct 5, 2025

• Training: Jan 2026 (~50 hours) on listening, grief/transition care, healthy boundaries/confidentiality, and when to pray, be present, or refer.

• After commissioning: meet 1 hr/week with a care receiver, join monthly supervision, and commit to about 2 years.

No counseling degree needed—just a teachable, faithful spirit.
Next step: complete the interest form; our Pastor of Prayer & Congregational Care will follow up with details and an interview.

Are you ready to take your next step at First Church? The Partnership class is a 90-minute gathering where you’ll learn about our history, core beliefs, and the vision that drives us in Restoring God’s Ideal.

You’ll discover how First Church is making an impact locally and globally, while also connecting with pastors and leaders, asking questions, and exploring what it means to belong here. Whether you’re brand new or have been attending for a while, this class will help you see how your gifts and story fit into God’s work at First Church.

Sunday, November 9, 2025
First Church – St. Joseph Campus

Take the next step. Discover the heart of First Church.

Bring the kids to run, play, and make friends—while parents connect, share, and support one another. This monthly gathering isn’t just for First Church members; it’s open to the whole community of adoptive and foster families. No registration required—just come.

When: First Tuesday of every month, beginning October 7, 6–8 PM
Where: St. Joseph Campus – Life Center & Commons

Come as you are, stay as long as you’d like, and meet other families walking a similar road.

New to First Church—or just getting connected? We’d love to meet you!
Join us right after any service at any campus for a quick Meet & Greet. In just a few minutes you can:

• Say hello to a pastor and our team

• Ask questions about First Church

• Learn easy next steps (Table Groups, serving, Kids/Students, and more)

Upcoming dates are October 12th, November 23rd, and December 14th.

No RSVP below.

🍂 Stevensville Fall Fest 🍂

Join us for an evening of fall fun at Stevensville Fall Fest on Saturday, October 11, from 6–9 PM! Bring your family, invite your friends, and come enjoy outdoor activities for all ages—hayrides, a pumpkin patch, delicious food, fellowship, a cozy bonfire, and a time of worship under the autumn sky.

Be sure to bring a chair or blanket to relax by the fire and a dish to share for the meal. It’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate the season, connect with others, and make lasting memories together.

📍 Location:675 East Shawnee Rd, Baroda

✅ Registration: Click to join the fun below.

Come ready for laughter, good food, and a night of fall fun with your church family! 🍁✨

Child Dedication is a special moment for parents to commit to raising their children in a Christ-centered home while our church family surrounds them with prayer and support. It’s a celebration of the gift of children and a public declaration to guide them in faith as they grow.

This fall, Child Dedications will take place at:

• Benton Heights – Sunday, November 2

• Stevensville – Sunday, November 9

• St. Joseph – Sunday, November 23

Parents are invited to attend one of the required Dedication Classes held at the St. Joe Campus:

• Sunday, October 12 at 1:00 PM

• Tuesday, October 14 at 6:00 PM

We’d love to walk with you in this meaningful step as together we celebrate your child and God’s call on your family.

Middle School Ministry is heading to Airway Fun Center in Portage for an afternoon packed with fun!

When: Saturday, October 18
Meet: 1:00 PM at First Church
Return: 6:30 PM to First Church
Cost: $40 per student

We’ll travel together from First Church and enjoy a variety of activities at Airway. Our MSM leaders will be with students the entire time.

How to join: Click the button below to register and secure your spot. After you sign up, we’ll send a confirmation with any final details you need.

Life to the Full Fall Banquet

📅 Saturday, October 18, 2025
🕠 Doors open at 5:30 PM | Dinner at 6:00 PM
📍 First Church – St. Joseph Campus Fellowship Hall, 2627 Niles Ave, St. Joseph, MI 49085

Come discover the Life to the Full initiative that’s taking shape at Warner Camp! This special evening will cast vision for the exciting future of Warner Camp while celebrating its rich history of life-changing ministry.

✨ Hear the story. See the vision. Be part of life-changing experiences.

Enjoy a delicious meal, hear from leaders about upcoming plans, and learn how you can play a part in strengthening Warner Camp’s mission for generations to come.

The Gathering is a specially designed worship service planned for those with disabilities in mind.  This service offers a unique, authentic service that caters to the special abilities of all.

Come give it a try!

The next Gathering is OCTOBER 19TH!

Other upcoming dates include:  November 16th, December 21st and January 18th, 2026.

Get away with High School Ministry for a weekend to grow closer to Jesus and your friends. Expect powerful worship and teaching, small groups, bonfires, and plenty of fun and free time.

Dates: Friday–Sunday, October 24–26, 2025
Location: Warner Camp
Cost: $130 per student

After you register, we’ll email drop-off/pick-up times, packing list, and consent forms. If cost is a concern, let us know—help is available.

Ready to go? Click the button below to register.

Trunk or Treat is one of our biggest community outreach events of the year—and we can’t do it without YOU!

We need:
🍬 Lots and lots of candy! Bags can be dropped off at any First Church campus through Sunday, October 19.
🚗 Trunks to decorate—get creative, have fun, and hand out candy to kids from your decorated car.
🙌 Helping hands to pass out candy, direct traffic, and assist wherever needed.

This is a fun, family-friendly way to serve our church and community. Whether you bring candy, decorate a trunk, or step in to help, your involvement makes a huge difference.

👉 Click the button below to sign up for a volunteer position today!

Celebrate the season with Kidzone! Join us for a cozy evening of games, food, a short family devotional, music, and more—a perfect night to make memories together.

When: Saturday, November 8, 2025 • 5–7 PM
Where: St. Joseph Campus – The Commons
Who: Kidzone kids and their families (siblings welcome). Kidzone volunteers are welcome to attend!

Register by Sunday, November 2 so we can plan food and activities.
Click the button below to save your spot. We can’t wait to see you!