November 20, 2025

Greeting First United Methodist Church Family,

 More than four years ago, the FUMC Church Council created a Task Force to research the potential of a new alternative-style worship service in the life of the church. About two years ago, then, the Ignite service was born, fulfilling our desire for such an alternative worship experience. Over the past two years a core group of individuals has worked diligently to plan and coordinate monthly worship services on the first Thursday of each month. In that time, many wonderful Ignite worship services have been created, experienced and shared by members of the church family and many from outside our church, and a fair number of us hold many wonderful Ignite memories.

 Over these past two years, the Ignite Team has become a solid group of musicians, creating excellent music and meaningful worship experiences. Yet despite much effort and truly wonderful music and worship, Ignite has not gained the momentum that was originally hoped for. Perhaps a weeknight is not conducive to people’s availability, or maybe we just haven’t been able to get the word out about the hidden Turlock gem that exists here at First UMC on the first Thursday evening of each month.

 As a result, it has been decided to make a transition with Ignite. Therefore, following the 2025 Ignite Christmas service, Thursday December 4th at 6:30pm, the Ignite alternative worship experience will no longer be held on the first Thursday of each month. Instead, about once a month beginning in January, various members of the Ignite worship team will begin to participate in creative ways with our Sunday morning worship leadership to complement our excellent Sunday morning traditional worship service.

 The goal is not to insert the Ignite service on Sunday mornings. The vision is that the gifts and abilities of various members of the Ignite Team will bless and complement the gifts and abilities of members of our current Sunday morning worship leadership in ways that will enhance our wonderful traditional worship service, and make it even more meaningful to our church family.

 I want to extend a HUGE thank you to TJ Lake and his family, the members of the Ignite Worship Team, Jim Hull and others who have served in audio-visual roles with Ignite during these past two years, the Ignite Task Force, who met regularly and prepared diligently for more than two years prior to the start of the Ignite service, and then periodically for at least the first year of its existence, as well as many speakers, attendees, child-care helpers, snack attendants, and those pushing the service out into the community on social media platforms. You all know who you are! Thank you!

 In this season of Thanksgiving, please join me in a prayer of gratitude for all those who have made Ignite special and for God’s hopes and dreams to be fulfilled in the next chapter of our Ignite journey.

Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Pastor Steve Judson