Our purpose is to reflect the image of God through a thriving artistic community within FirstMC.

Our Mission is to create inviting spaces for the people of FirstMC to express Truth, enrich worship, and deepen community through the arts.

Our Values

● Creativity - reflecting the creative character of God
● Community - welcoming a variety of ages, experience levels, and stylistic expressions
● Whole-hearted effort - serving humbly to the best of one’s ability
● Encouragement - growing and learning together
● Prayer - asking God to lead and empower the community’s artistic endeavors.

Creative Arts Community Monthly Newsletter

The Creative Arts Community Council (CACC) is now creating monthly newsletters to provide information on various events the CACC is producing as well as to highlight other opportunities to support the arts both within and outside of FirstMC. These newsletters will contain more information than what will be included in the Midweek Messenger.

The June newsletter was sent out on Friday, May 30. If you would like to receive our future newsletters to your email, you must opt-in by filling out the form below. If you would like to opt-out of receiving these newsletters, please unsubscribe to the email or contact Rachel Wilhelm.

Sign up for CAC Monthly Newsletter

In case you missed the June newsletter, you can check it out below! There are also copies available at church or you can download and print your own.

Download June Newsletter

Possible Future Events Survey

The Creative Arts Community Council wants to know how much interest there is in these events.

Thank you for filling this out!

Possible Future Events Survey

Our current exhibit in The Gallery is being presented by the Missions Committee and features works from around the world. 

This will be open from Sunday, May 18 until Sunday, June 29. 

Important Dates:

May 18 - June 29, 2025: Exhibit open during church hours
June 29 - July 3, 2025: Artwork picked up during church hours

Our next exhibit in The Gallery is open to all FirstMC creatives of all ages and abilities with their original two and three-dimensional art.

Open Call for Art - No Theme

Important Dates:

September 7 - 11 & 14, 2025: Artwork dropped off during church hours
September 15, 2025: Submissions juried
September 18, 2025: Exhibition installed
September 21, 2025: Meet the Artist*
September 21 - November 2, 2025: Exhibit open during church hours
November 2 - 6, 2025: Artwork picked up during church hours

*All artists with artwork in this exhibit should plan to attend this special reception and opening of the exhibit!

Call for Entry

Trip to Toledo's Art Museum

Take a trip with us on Saturday, June 28 to the Toledo Art Museum where we will have Sonja Strahm providing us with explanations and deeper insights of certain pieces. This is open to anyone ages 15 and up.

We will meet at church at 9 AM to carpool to Toledo and return to church at 6 PM. If you are riding with someone, please bring $5 towards their gas.

The museum and parking are free! Please pack a cold lunch or bring money to eat in the cafe. Please also bring any spending money you want for the gift shop.

The deadline to register is Sunday, June 22. If you have questions, please contact Rachel Wilhelm.

Sign up for Toledo Art Museum Trip

Artistic Interests Survey

As we continue to develop this community, we want to know what your gifts, talents, and interests are in any artistic field. We also want to know if you might be interested in being involved with future projects or a part of new initiatives as we work to incorporate various arts into the life of FirstMC.

To get to the Creative Arts Community Survey, please click the button below. Be sure to click the red submit button at the bottom of the survey when finished.

Creative Arts Community Survey

One of the components of the Creative Arts Community is to allow for more of the many talented musicians within our congregation to share their gifts by providing live music near the Coffee Connection Café on Sundays starting at 10 AM. We hope that you will make a habit to come to church early to enjoy the yummy drinks and treat, cherish the time of fellowship with one another, and savor the music.

There is a piano available in the hallway, but this is not limited to only pianists or soloists.  Groups of two to three people are welcome to join together.  We will not be using a sound system as this is acoustic, background music to help calm our spirits and prepare us to gather for worship.  

This can be any style: jazz, classical, gospel, traditional hymns, contemporary.  It should not be anything with secular lyrics that people would recognize.

If you have questions, please contact Julie Gerig. 

If you would like to provide 20 to 25 minutes of music on a Sunday before church, please fill out the form below. Be sure to click the red submit button at the bottom of the form when finished.


Submit

Arts in the Community

If you are involved in the arts outside of FirstMC and you would like your event announced in the Creative Arts Community’s Monthly Newsletter, please provide us with the relevant information by clicking the button below to fill out the form.

Please note that the Creative Arts Community Council reserves the right to promote only events
considered appropriate for the entire FirstMC community.
Form for Arts in the Community