Worship
One Community, Many Voices.In-Person and Online Worship
We offer two unique worship experiences every Sunday—both rooted in connection, music, and spiritual growth.
Our 9:00 am service is casual and family-friendly, with music led by a band and a variety of instruments and vocalists that create a fresh, dynamic sound. Kids and youth help lead on the first Sunday of each month, when we also share in Communion.
Our 11:00 am service offers a more traditional feel, featuring choir, handbells, organ, and piano, along with meaningful readings and prayers. Communion is also celebrated on the first Sunday.
Both services are available in person and via livestream—we’d love to worship with you wherever you are.
Beauty
January 18, 2026
Scripture: Job 33 | Psalm 27
Now I will open my mouth; my tongue and lips will form words.
And those words will come from an upright heart, and my lips will speak about what I know to be true. The Spirit of God is what made me; the breath of Shaddai gives me life. – Job 33 (Inclusive Bible)
One thing I ask of you, YHWH, one thing I seek: that I may dwell in your house all the days of my life, to gaze on your beauty and to meditate in your Temple. – Psalm 27 (Inclusive Bible)
“We live between the act of awakening and the act of surrender. Each morning we awaken to the light and the invitation to a new day in the world of time; each night we surrender to the dark to be taken to play in the world of dreams where time is no more. At birth we are awakened and emerged to become visible in the world. At death we will surrender again to the dark to become invisible. Awakening and surrender: they frame each day and each life; between them the journey where anything can happen, the beauty and the frailty.” – John O’Donohue, Beauty: The Invisible Embrace
“When we naturally notice and appreciate the beauty around us, it can lead to all kinds of different benefits. Studies show it can make us feel more satisfied in life, have a stronger sense of meaning, and act with more kindness towards others and the environment.” – Shuka Kalantari, about the research of Rene Proyer (creator of the 9 beautiful things practice), “Why We Should Seek Beauty in the Everyday Life (The Science of Happiness Podcast),” Greater Good Magazine
Beauty is complex. We call something “achingly beautiful” when it creates a pathos within us–a sense of something so precious that we want it to last forever–from the plump cheeks of a newborn to the wrinkled face of an elder. But alas, we are all mortal and not meant to exist in this bodily form forever. We open ourselves to the awe that is the beauty of life in between the first and last breath.
Music Ministry
Music Ministry at Chelsea First
At Chelsea First, music is a vital part of how we worship, grow, and serve. Our Music Ministry invites people of all ages to share their gifts in a variety of styles—traditional hymns, anthems, gospel, contemporary praise, and more—all offered to glorify God and inspire our community. As Colossians 3:16 reminds us: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly… with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with gratitude in your hearts to God.”
Sanctuary Choir
The Sanctuary Choir leads worship at the 11 am service from September–May and sings for special events such as Hometown Holidays and Christmas Eve. Open to high school students and adults, the choir shares God’s love through music while enjoying community and fellowship. Rehearsals are Wednesdays at 7 pm and Sundays at 10:15 am.
Rezound Handbell Choir
Rezound Handbell Choir rings five octaves of bells and chimes, offering music monthly at the 11 am service and for special events from September–May. No prior ringing experience is required, though music-reading skills help. Rehearsals are Sundays, 12–1 pm, in the Handbell Room.
For more information about joining any of our ensembles, contact Randy Umfleet, Director of Music Ministries.
Worship in Action
Chelsea First
Our church culture
Chelsea First United Methodist Church (Chelsea First) is a Christ-centered congregation with a positive, open, and engaging spirit. We are a church for everyone, at all seasons of life, and bring a grounded, engaged, and supportive approach to Christian worship while working passionately toward making a positive impact in our community.
© 2025 Chelsea First UMC
CONTACT US
Chelsea First UMC
128 Park St., Chelsea, MI 48118
📞 (734) 475-8119
✉️ info@chelseaumc.org
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