Monroe Free Methodist Church

On this 3rd Sunday in Eastertide Pastor Kevin Eccles preaches from I Peter 1.

On this Transfiguration Sunday, Pastor Melanie shares honestly what’s been going on behind the scenes, describes her own “Moses in the cloud” kind of experience, and calls us all to prepare ourselves for spiritual revival in Lent.

On this 6th Sunday after Epiphany Pastor Kevin preaches on the call to master the “basics” of the Christian faith.

On this 5th Sunday in Epiphany, Pastor Melanie Eccles preaches on the Isaiah 58 text: “Let’s bring to light what is festering in the darkness so that we might be healed and made whole, so that we might be called ‘repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in’.”

On this third Sunday in Epiphany Pastor Kevin Eccles preaches on the I Corinthians text urging unity in Christ.

On this 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany, Pastor Melanie Eccles preaches from the Gospel text on how John sets the example for how to live a truly Good News life.

On the first Sunday in Epiphany, the Lectionary text on the Baptism on the Lord guide the sermon by Pastor Melanie Eccles. When people see your life, what do they see? Do they see Jesus?

On this 2nd Sunday in Christmastide, on the eve of the Epiphany, Pastor Kevin Eccles preaches a stirring sermon on living out your faith, asking yourself what are you willing to bleed for?

On this final Sunday of the year (and the first Sunday in Christmastide), Local Ministerial Candidate, Clayton Blackwell preaches a message on the prevenient grace of God and the invitation to find that grace in community.

On the 4th Sunday of Advent, Pastor Melanie Eccles preaches on the collaborative and communal nature of Christian spiritual formation. We can’t be Christians alone. She introduces the discipleship methods of John Wesley known as the Class Meeting. Learn more in Kevin Watson’s book, The Class Meeting: Reclaiming a Forgotten (and Essential) Small Group Experience.

On this 3rd Sunday in Advent Pastor Kevin Eccles preaches from what it looks like being saved so you can go and do Jesus’ work in the world.

On this second Sunday of Advent, Pastor Larry Winckles brings us a message on the Three Simple Questions everyone asks. Larry is a Monroe native. He and his wife, Katie, have been working as ministers in Budapest, Hungary. Visit their blog at www.winckles.typepad.com and email katie.winckles@fmc-europe.org if you would like to receive their weekly prayer updates.

On the first Sunday of Advent (Year A), Pastor Melanie Eccles preaches a sermon on how following Jesus is about waking up and staying awake, and just how to do that.

On this Sunday, Local Ministerial Candidate Mark Thornton preaches on the lectionary text concerning the mocking of Christ the King and how we can follow Jesus’ example. Luke 23:33-43

On this 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Season, Pastor Kevin Eccles preaches a message on the Gospel – what it is and how we are (or aren’t) living it out.

Rev. Dr. Kevin Austin of the Set Free Movement preached on justice work flowing out of our praise (Psalm 1113).

On this All Saints Sunday, the 21st week after Pentecost, Pastor Melanie Eccles preaches a message on seeing God and how to cling to hope and stubbornly wait for God in the dark times of life.

On this twentieth Sunday after Pentecost, Pastor Melanie Eccles preaches about who can receive the Holy Spirit and the responsibility that comes when the Holy Spirit is poured out. https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu//texts.php?id=285

Pastor Kevin Eccles preaches on this 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Listen in on this month’s Ordinary Reflections,  letter from Pastor Melanie Eccles, including her own spiritual discipline practice, reflections on our year of transformation, and an eager invitation to hear how God has been speaking to you and changing you this past year. How have you been hearing from God this year? What has Jesus been … Continue reading "On Unplugging and Giving in the Direction of Freedom"

On the 18th Sunday after Pentecost, Pastor Kevin Eccles preaches on the doctrine of free will and how God is inviting us into his work in the world.

On this 17th Sunday in Pentecost, Pastor Kevin Eccles preaches on lamentation and thanking people even when there’s no obligation.  We owe it to God to do what is right…because it we all do what God is asking us to do, everyone wins. Read the Texts here

On this Sunday before Freedom Sunday, Pastor Melanie invited Pastor Tanya Rosado, Free Methodist Missionary to Greece, to preach with her heart for God’s justice.

This week Pastor Kevin preaches on the parable of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin (with a little prelude which included this gem of a comment: “Find those little moments of grace and collect them.”)

On this 13th Sunday after Pentecost, Pastor Kevin preaches on the text from Philemon and weaves in the allegory of Chronicles of Narnia.

On this 12th Sunday after Pentecost, Pastor Melanie preaches from Luke 14 (and calls back to last week’s sermon on Luke 13) of the lectionary selections on the command of Jesus to love God and love all people.

Join us in becoming like Jesus and bringing his healing into the world in this simple, but life-changing practice of asking meaningful questions. See 9 Arts of Spiritual Conversations

On this 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Pastor Melanie Eccles preaches a message that invite us to grapple with whether we have a spiritual or religious practice that might be getting in the way of actually loving God and loving people. (Also, the one day when Pastor Kevin skipped church to do just that.)

On August 15, 2019, Pastor Melanie sent out a letter to friends of Monroe FMC. She wrote about her personal spiritual practice of reflecting and resetting and invites you to do the same. Plus she extends an invitation to join her in exploring spiritual formation through the lens of the enneagram. Listen in!

On this Sunday, we receive a loving greeting and a sermon which invites us to let go of our anger (or whatever keeps us from loving the way Jesus loves.) “We can’t love those we’re feeling angry towards.” Pastor Glenn Lorenz, our guest preacher this morning serves in Costa Rica along with his wife Wendy … Continue reading "August 25, 2019: Love over Violence"

On this 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Clayton Blackwell (Local Ministerial Candidate) preaches a messages on the love and welcome God extends to us. Hosea 11:1-11 and Psalm 107:1-9, 43 • Colossians 3:1-11 • Luke 12:13-21

Pastor Kevin Eccles preaches on this 7th Sunday of Ordinary Time on the Luke version of the Lord’s prayer and the story that follows about a really insistent neighbor who knocks until he gets what he needs. What is God asking us to do with our prayers?  Hosea 1:2-10 and Psalm 85, Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19) … Continue reading "July 28, 2019: Persistent Prayer"

This week’s discipline is a huge help during the summer blur. Join us in Practicing the Presence in all things.

On this 6th Sunday after Pentecost (the 6th week in Ordinary Time), Pastor Melanie Eccles preaches a messages that calls us to examine our lives, asking “What fruit am I producing? How am using my power? Am I exerting my authority or am I protecting others and bring Jesus’ healing into the world?”

The first 6 minutes of this episode includes the joyful reception of another individual into full membership. Be sure to listen in on Marina’s personal testimony and desire to be part of MFMC. Then Pastor Kevin preaches from these lectionary passages and honestly shares how God is asking him to change. How might God be … Continue reading "July 14, 2019: Actually Loving Our Neighbors"

Pastor Melanie Eccles preaches during the final day of Bible Quizzing on the story of the Prodigal son from Luke 15. Our God is not a god of scarcity but of abundance! “There is only grace and love and the biggest party you can imagine with all of your favorite foods.”

Pastor Melanie Eccles speaks at Free Methodist Bible Quiz Finals concerning the chance to leave it all behind Luke 14:25-35.

In this July 2019 letter, Pastor Melanie reflects with gratitude on the partnership of those who are giving financially to support the work she and Pastor Kevin are doing in Monroe. And with great joy, she anticipates the season of generous stewardship as a congregation, making plans to give away 10% of the sale of … Continue reading "Ordinary Reflections: Giving Generously"

Join us in seeking to live like Jesus by being intentional about noticing others and seeing how they are imprinted with God’s image.

What would happen if we listened to what God is asking of us? Listen in to Mark Thornton’s sermon on this 4th Sunday in the season of Ordinary Time. 2 Kings 5:1-14 and Psalm 30 • Galatians 6:(1-6), 7-16 • Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

On this third week in the season of Pentecost and on the fifth Sunday of the month, we excitedly welcomed in 4 new members and anointed 4 new Local Ministerial Candidates. Listen in to learn what all of that means, what commitments they’re making, and how we’re all part of their journeys. You’ll also hear … Continue reading "June 30, 2019: A Day of First Steps"

On this 2nd Sunday after Pentecost in the Season of Ordinary Time, Pastor Melanie Eccles preaches on the Gospel passage depicting the healing of the Gerasene Demoniac. 1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a and Psalm 42 and 43 • Galatians 3:23-29 • Luke 8:26-39

On Trinity Sunday we explore the Art of Noticing, paying attention to where God is at work and listening closely to how Jesus might invite us to bring his healing into the world. Reading more on the 9 Arts of Spiritual Conversations by John Crilly and Mary Schaller

On this Trinity Sunday we hear motivating reports about the state of the Southern Michigan Conference of the Free Methodist Church. Delegate Mark Thornton was moved by a message from Bishop Kendall: “No one will give a serious listen to what you have to say unless they are stunned with love.” Clayton Blackwell, soon to … Continue reading "June 16, 2019: Stop Playing with the Wrapping Paper"

As we embark on a 33 week long season of Ordinary time we prepare to put feet to our faith and act out the compassion Jesus showed everyone he encountered. Let’s be brave and take this simple but necessary first step.

Pastor Melanie Eccles preaches on how the story of Pentecost continues to demonstrate how God wants to be with us. Genesis 11:1-9, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b, Acts 2:1-21, John 14:8-17, (25-27)

We invite you to try out the Spiritual Discipline of Prayer Walking this week. May we open our whole selves to the work of the Spirit around us.

Pastor Kevin Eccles preaches on this final Sunday of Eastertide from the Acts reading.  Acts 16:16-34 • Psalm 97 • Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 • John 17:20-26

Today’s message comes from Free Methodist Missionaries to the Philippines – Matt and Christine Sauder. Pastor Matt preaches from I Samuel 3, sharing his own call to ministry and inviting us to sit in stillness and seek to listen for the voice of God calling to us. Follow them on Facebook and sign up for … Continue reading "May 26, 2019: Hearing the Voice of God"

We invite you to practice Centering prayer with us this week as we seek to open ourselves to the power of the Holy Spirit in this season of Eastertide.

Pastor Kevin preaches on this 5th Sunday of Eastertide on how following Jesus often looks un-kosher. Lectionary passages for Sunday: Acts 11:1-18 • Psalm 148 • Revelation 21:1-6 • John 13:31-35