Welcome to First Wayne Street!
Who are we? First Wayne Street, like any church, is its people. And if we do say so ourselves, our people are pretty terrific. Together we form a rich tapestry of differing interests, theological perspectives, senses of humor, cultures, educational backgrounds, occupations, socioeconomic backgrounds, and talents.
When our people are asked what First Wayne Street means to them, they talk about the wonderful and uplifting music, the supportive and inspiring messages, the friendliness and diversity of the members, and the physical beauty of our building and its contents. When you visit us, we believe you’ll discover all of this and more.
We are a historic downtown congregation with a contemporary personality, drawing membership from the greater Fort Wayne metropolitan area. We honor our rich Wesleyan heritage with serious and open theological reflection; our mission is to make, nurture, and empower disciples of Jesus Christ. We claim and offer the best of Mainline Christianity – inclusiveness, informed and open dialogue, social holiness, and service.
Today many of us have begun to view traditional institutions and their leaders with suspicion; after all, we have seen them compromise their principles too many times. What would Jesus do, you might ask?
At First Wayne Street, we believe that just asking that question is a good place to start. Jesus always began by offering an informed view of God’s Word, by inviting those who heard him to engage in reflection, open dialogue, and fellowship. It’s called a New Covenant Community – led by acceptance, toleration, and unconditional love – because most of all, Jesus sought to create unity among all people.
That is what we do here at First Wayne Street United Methodist Church: we encourage informed discussion that’s centered on God’s Word and Jesus’ example. Everyone is invited to the table, and no one is judged. That’s what holds us together, and that’s what we love about First Wayne Street.
No matter who you are, you are always welcome here.
Our Nursery opens at 8:45 a.m. on Sunday morning. Sunday School is from 9:00 to 9:50 a.m., with Morning Worship starting at 10:00 a.m. We encourage everyone to visit informally before Sunday School, between Sunday School and Worship, and after Worship. To encourage relaxed conversation both before and after the morning service, we provide coffee, tea, orange juice, and doughnuts! Please join us.
Our Sunday service is a fusion of contemporary and traditional styles. Each service includes music from our Praise Team and either our Sanctuary Choir (during the school year) or a traditional soloist or instrumentalist (during the summer, when our Sanctuary Choir takes a break). You can also expect to hear beautiful music from our fantastic Yamaha grand piano and our extraordinary Beckerath organ, as well as from our handbell choir and our children’s choir.
Want to discover more about FWS? We invite you to browse our website: discover how we serve others, learn about our super staff, our shared beliefs, and our extensive history. You can also read Pastor Jason’s blog, check out our upcoming events, or learn about our beautiful stained glass, our landmark carillon bell tower or our majestic organ. But the very best way to get to know us is to visit us in person – we can’t wait to meet you!
Welcome to First Wayne Street. Uplifting. Inspiring. Downtown.