On March 6^th, First United became a Lighthouse Congregation, by vote of the Church Board.  Lighthouse congregations are those United Methodist Churches in our Conference who are willing to be a place of welcome, rest, and friendship for United Methodist people who have lost their own congregation through disaffiliation or closure.  They may choose to stay with us for a while as they decide on their next faithful steps, or they may choose to join FUMC.  In either case, they are welcome and we will love and care for them.  We have already welcomed a few into membership who had lost their former church homes.  The Board voted unanimously to become a Lighthouse congregation because, as they said, “this is who we are and who we have always been.”  There is nothing more we are committing to in taking this step beyond letting people who are looking for a loving United Methodist Church know that we are here for them.