CONTACT
Rev. Cynthia Paquette
Rev. Cynthia coordinates our ministries of Congregational Care at First Church. If you have a concern, know of someone who needs support, needs additional information about the ministries below, or would like to volunteer in our ongoing efforts to be a caring congregation, please contact Rev. Cynthia.
Care Ministries
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Surgery and Hospitalization
The pastoral staff is available to pray with you before your surgery and visit you while you are in the hospital. Please call the church office (970-482-2436) to let the pastors know.
Congregational Care Visitation Team
FUMC has a team of lay volunteers who visit the ill, elderly, shut-ins, and infirm from our church and community. If you would like to be a volunteer visitor, would like a visitor, or know of someone who could use a visitor, please contact Charlotte Allum ().
TeleCare Ministry
Volunteers follow up by phone with people who have just returned home from the hospital, rehab centers, those who are ill, lost a loved one, and the older people in the church. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Rev. Cynthia Paquette.
Prayer Chain Ministry
We believe in the power of prayer and trust that God works through our prayers, thoughts, and concern for others to make a difference in their lives and in the world around us. To join the team or to submit prayer requests, please contact Margaret Hotze ( or 970-420-4283).
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Volunteers knit shawls that provide a tangible form of the embracing and comforting presence of the church as the body of Christ to people who are dealing with health or other issues. Monthly Knit-Ins are held in the church parlor on the third Saturday morning of each month, from 9:30–11:30 a.m. Please come if you would like to join the team or contact Elva Alden () or Glenda Gill ().
Love In Action
This network of caring church volunteers offers short-term physical assistance to people who are in need until a more permanent solution can be arranged. This group provides a wide range of services ranging from some help with yard cleanup to a ride to the doctor’s office. Please contact Karen Waldron () if you would like to volunteer or could use some help.
Flowers Delivery Ministry
Volunteers split up flowers from Sunday worship service and deliver them to people in hospitals, rehabs, ill, lost a loved one, and the elderly. Please consider donating flowers for Sunday worship services. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Susan Block ().
Card Ministry
Volunteers make and send cards to people in the church who could benefit from receiving a card. If you would like to make or send cards, please contact Sallie Youngman () or Glenda Gill ().
Grief Books Ministry
Volunteers send booklets on how to cope with grief during the first year of the loss of a loved one. These books are from the Stephen Ministries organization. If you would like to help send these books or know of someone who would benefit from receiving the books, please contact Glenda Gill ().
Support Groups
The Grief Support Group meets weekly on Tuesdays at 4-5 p.m. in the church Conference Room to offer fellowship, support, and encouragement to those who have experienced the death of a loved one. It does not matter where you are in your grief process, just come. Join the group for dinner after the group meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays. For more information on the group, please contact JoAn Hopkins ().
OK Chorale is an informal singing support group for people with memory diagnoses or concerns and their friends. The group, led by Sandra Meyer, sings a variety of familiar and varying favorites and occasionally performs for others. Singing sessions are on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays from 3–4 p.m. Please contact Sandra Meyer () if you are interested in joining.
Other support groups will also available at certain times of the year. Please check our electronic weekly newsletter, First Wire, for updates.Sunday Transportation Team
A team of volunteers drives the church van to bring people who do not have their own transportation to church on Sunday mornings for the 9:30 a.m. worship service. Commitment time is only a half-hour before and after service once per month. If you would like to drive or assist in the van or would like a ride to church on Sunday mornings, please contact Randie Bell ().
Worship CDs and DVDs for Shut-Ins
Volunteers make CDs of the recorded Sunday worship services to send to shut-ins so they can listen to the worship services at home. If you would like to volunteer or could benefit from receiving the CDs, please contact Karen Waldron ().
Columbarium
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Columbarium
The church's Columbarium provides a secure and sacred place for the deposit of cremains, an opportunity to honor loved-ones on a Remembrance Wall, and an environment of peace and beauty for meditation.Columbarium History:
Interest in a Columbarium first surfaced in 2003 and in 2005 a Columbarium Task Force was formed. Members of the Task Force included Dorothy Eiman, Emmalie Conner, Barbara Hagen, Rod Anderson, Peter Johansen, Gene Wooldridge, Lloyd and Jean Helper, Win and Joanne Schendel, and Warren Mauk. Warren Mauk was chosen chair.Sandy Schlicht of Alpine Gardens was selected to develop a design and an initial budget. A presentation was made to the Administrative Council in October 2006 and the basic ideas developed by the task force were approved. In December 2006 a Charge Conference approved the project, the budget estimate of Sandy Schlicht, Eickhof of Crookston, Minnesota as the columbarium provider and Sinnett Builders of Fort Collins as the general contractor.Construction of the Columbarium began in October 2007 and was completed in April 2008. The Columbarium and garden were dedicated on April 20, 2008, and the cremains of David Kelly were interred. The Columbarium Garden is named after David Kelly and a stone engraved with "David's Garden" was placed in the garden.The Task Force was renamed the Columbarium Board in January 2010, and Warren Mauk continued as chairman. The first Annual Memorial Day service was held on May 30, 2010 in the Columbarium Garden to honor church members who died during the preceding year and those interred. It is anticipated that the Memorial Day celebration will continue in the future.Inurnment Options:
Many choose a wall niche. Wall niches will accommodate two urns. Niches are located on both sides of the wall.
When selecting your urn(s), consider the dimensions of the wall niche. Niches are 11 inches deep, 6.5 inches wide, and 7.25 inches high.Others may choose an in-ground niche. In-ground niches also accommodate two urns. In-ground niches are less expensive. (See COSTS below)The in-ground niches are located in the grass area in front of the columbarium (south). In-ground niches will accommodate urns with a maximum diameter of 8 inches.
Contact the Ted Schlagenhauf for your selection or for more information. (See CONTACT US below)Remembrance Walls:
Faith, Hope, and Love.The Remembrance Walls provide an opportunity for members, clergy, and those recommended by members and clergy to honor their loved ones.The name and dates of those honored are engraved on a chosen wall. In addition, a short statement regarding the loved-one may be included in the Memorial Book that is located in the east hall of the church--overlooking the Columbarium Garden.Please see the COSTS button for the price.Costs:
Wall Niches:
One-in-a-niche...............$1,000
Two-in-a-niche...............$1,400In-ground Niches:
One-in-a-niche..............$400
Two-in-a-niche..............$700Remembrance Wall:
Each Entry...................$400Contact Us:
Individuals desiring more details and information should contact:Ted SchlagenhaufPhone: 970-635-4345Annual Events:
Every Spring the Columbarium Board and others clean-up the David Kelly Garden and replant the annual flowers.In the Fall the Columbarium Board has a Garden clean-up day.Policies:
Placing live flowers on top of the Columbarium Wall or in the provided vases at the time of inurnment or at times of meditation is encouraged. The flowers will be removed when they are no longer fresh. The display of permanent flower bouquets is discouraged.The Columbarium is available for those who have had an association with, or have been involved in the ministry of First United Methodist Church, Fort Collins. Names on a Remembrance Wall may be either members of FUMC or loved ones of members.
the use of Fort Collins First United Methodist Church members and those actively involved in the ministry of First United Methodist Church who may or may not have been members.The Remembrance Walls may be used by members and clergy of First United Methodist Church in Fort Collins or individuals recommended by them.Faceplates are not permitted on the in-ground niches.