A Brief History of Manistique First United Methodist Church

 

It is believed that the first Methodist services were held in Manistique around 1873 by the Reverend J.D. Paul.  The first regularly appointed pastor the Reverend H.W. Thompson who preached his first sermon on November 6, 1881.  His circuit covered a distance of 88 miles and required two full weeks to reach all the appointments.  The services were on alternate Sundays and was first held in the school house  after that, in the old band hall (Union Hall).

The church society was formally organized Sunday, August 12, 1883.  Later the same year, a Sunday School was organized.  The Ladies Aid Society (now known as United Methodist Women) began its existence December 5, 1883.  The Epworth League Chapter (now known as Youth Fellowship) was organized in 1889.
       

 
The church building was erected in 1887.  The old parsonage was built in 1896.  Our present parking lot was the land on which the old parsonage stood.  The church owns two quilts: the oldest was completed in 1898 and was a money making project.  Each name on the quilt represents a dime.  The newest quilt was completed in 1983 for the church Centennial and contains all the names of the congregation at that time.  In 1923, the basement was built under the entire church as it is today.
Between 1939 and 1943, Reverend Otto Steen and Dick Hoppins went to Munising and brought back the old reed organ (now stands behind the choir loft behind the alter).  It was used by former organist Margaret Mueller (now deceased) until the first electric organ was purchased in 1957.  Mary Prater became organist in the fall of 1973 and the present organ was purchased in 1980.

The present pews were installed in 1968.  In 1963, the present pulpit, lectern and pulpit chairs along with other memorials, were dedicated.  The present parsonage on New Delta Avenue was purchased in 1972 and the morgage was paid in full by June of 1982.  The Detroit Conference helped out by paying $150 as rental per month plus half of all utilities.

 

 
         
For over 120 years, the First United Methodist Church (formerly Methodist Episcopal Church) have been a part of proclaiming God's name and Christ's message at the corner of Cedar and Elk Streets and beyond.  Our church building has received several changes inside and out throughout the years.  Our church family has also undergone several changes.  As time has passed, we have witnessed times of prosperity and times of recession; times of joy and times of sorrow; times of sowing and times of reaping.  Many people have experienced worship in our church.  Some have moved to other communities while others moved here from other communities, others have remained here until their deaths.  Then there are those who have stayed here through the years and continue to play a vital role as our church grows.

Even though our building and face have changed many times, we still confess Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and the name of God to all who will hear.  We thank you for choosing to be a part of our church family, and welcome you to our journey in helping to bring the Kingdom of God to our world.

Church and Society

 

We Act in Society

Taking an active stance in society is nothing new for followers of John Wesley. He set the example for us to combine personal and social piety. Ever since predecessor churches to United Methodism flourished in the United States, we have been known as a denomination involved with people's lives, with political and social struggles, having local to international mission implications. Such involvement is an expression of the personal change we experience in our baptism and conversion.

The United Methodist Church believes God's love for the world is an active and engaged love, a love seeking justice and liberty. We cannot just be observers. So we care enough about people's lives to risk interpreting God's love, to take a stand, to call each of us into a response, no matter how controversial or complex. The church helps us think and act out a faith perspective, not just responding to all the other "mind-makers-up" that exist in our society.

To help guide our thinking and acting about how we live in and are in engaged in ministry in the world, The United Methodist Church has created statements to guide the church in its efforts to create a world of justice.

"Our Social Creed" is a basic statement of our convictions about the fundamental relationships between God, God's creation and humanity. This basic statement is expanded in a more lengthy statement called the "Social Principles." This statement explains more fully how United Methodists are called to live in the world. Part of our Book of Discipline , the "Social Principles" serve as a guide to official church action and our individual witness.

Here is an overview of the six sections of the "Social Principles:"

The natural world

We affirm that we're responsible for the way we use the Lord's creation. We support social policies that promote the wise use of water, air, soil, minerals, and plants. We support the conservation of energy and oppose energy-using technologies that threaten human health. We're concerned for the humane treatment of animals and the respectful use of space.

The nurturing community

We affirm the family and work to strengthen its relationships. We affirm the sanctity of marriage and shared fidelity between a man and a woman. We recognize divorce as regrettable and intend to minister to the members of divorced families. We affirm the integrity of single persons. We recognize that sexuality is a good gift of God and that sex between a man and woman is only to be clearly affirmed in the marriage bond. We recognize the tragic conflicts of life with life that may justify abortion and urge prayerful consideration by all parties involved. We assert the right of every person to die with dignity.

The social community

We affirm all persons as equally valuable in God's sight. We reject racism and assert the rights of racial minorities to equal opportunities in employment, education, voting, housing, and leadership. We urge social practices that will uphold the rights of religious minorities, of children, youth, young adults, and the aging, of women, and of disabled persons. We affirm our long-standing support of abstinence from alcohol and illegal drugs, and we support the rehabilitation of drug-dependent persons.

The economic community

All economic systems are under the judgment of God. We believe the private ownership of property is a trusteeship under God and must be responsibly managed. We support the right of employees and employers to organize for collective bargaining. We affirm the right of safe and meaningful work and creative leisure. We support efforts to ensure truth in pricing, packaging, lending, and advertising; and we urge people to evaluate their consumption of goods in the light of the quality of life. We call on Christians to abstain from gambling and to be in ministry with persons who are the victims of this societal menace.

The political community

We hold governments responsible for the protection of people's basic freedoms. We believe that neither church nor state should attempt to dominate the other. We call for freedom of information and quality education. We defend the right of individuals to practice conscientious, non-violent civil disobedience. We support government measures to reduce crimes consistent with the basic freedoms of persons; and we urge the creation of new systems of rehabilitation.

The world community

God's world is one world. We hold nations accountable for unjust treatment of their citizens. We affirm the right of people in developing nations to shape their own destiny; and we applaud efforts to establish a more just international economic order. We believe war is incompatible with the teachings of Christ, and we claim that it is the primary moral duty of every nation to resolve disputes peacefully. We endorse the United Nations and commend all who pursue world peace through law.