Ionia Easton UMC

2025 Graduates

Seeking 2025 Graduates

Easton UMC would like to recognize 2025 Graduates!!!  If you have someone in your family who is graduating from high school, trade school, community college, university, or with a specialized degree, we would like to celebrate THEM with you.  Please email the office at eastonoffice@gmail.com as soon as possible with the graduate’s name, the school they graduated from, and any future dreams/plans that they may have, so we can bless them at a Sunday Service (TBD). Thank You!

Ionia Easton UMC

Upcomming Events

April 6, Sunday – Holy Communion/Worship 11am
April 8, Tuesday – Ad Board Meeting at 6pm (Date Change)
April 8, Tuesday – Bible Study at 1pm at EUMC
April 9, Wednesday – Lenten Study and snacks 6pm at Easton
April 13, Sunday – Worship 11am
April 16, Wednesday – Lenten Study and snacks 6pm at First
April 17, Thursday – Maundy Thursday joint Worship 7pm at First
April 18, Friday – Good Friday Service 4pm at EUMC
April 20, Sunday – Easter Sunday Worship 11am
April 23, Wednesday – Game Night 6pm at Easton
April 27, Sunday – Worship 11am
May 1, Thursday – National Day of Prayer
May 1, Thursday – Easton at Zion Community Dinner located at Ionia First, 4pm to 7pm
May 4, Sunday – Holy Communion and Healing Service at 11am
May 11, Sunday – Worship 11am
May 12, Monday – United Women in Faith meeting at noon (bring a dish to pass)
May 14, Wednesday – Ad Board meeting at 6pm
May 18, Sunday – Worship 11am
May 25, Sunday – Worship 11am

Ionia Easton UMC

Welcome

Easton UMC is holding a potluck to welcome Pastor Lamarr and his wife Linda to Easton UMC and First UMC. The potluck will be held after Easton Worship at noon. RSVP by September 30 with your name and number attending, using the sign-up sheet in the narthex, emailing eastonoffice@gmail.com, or calling 616-527-6529.

Chapel Dedication following potluck

Ionia Easton UMC

New Pastor (effective 7/1/24)

Greetings in the Name of Christ!

I am delighted and excited to have been appointed to serve with the Ionia First and Easton churches as pastor for the next few years. It is an honor and privilege to be in ministry with you.

First, a brief introduction: I am Lamarr V Gibson, an ordained elder of the Wisconsin Conference. I began my ministry career in the Detroit Conference as a local pastor in 1993 and was ordained elder in 1997. Over a span of 30 years, I served four churches in Detroit, one church in Lansing, and three churches in Wisconsin. I have also served as hospital chaplain in Detroit and Madison and have a passion for pastoral care.

I am married to Linda Lee and we have three children (2 sons and a daughter), twelve grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. Linda is also clergy and served the Detroit Conference as pastor, district superintendent and later was elected bishop and assigned to the Michigan Area for four years, after which she was assigned to Wisconsin and I followed her there.

I am a native of Chicago, Illinois, living there for 43 years. I moved to Detroit when Linda and I were married. Before moving to Grand Rapids where we presently reside, Linda and I lived 13 years in Michigan and 17 years in Wisconsin.

Linda and I met in Nashville at a BMCR caucus convention and a year later were married. We have been married for 33 years and are looking forward to more delightful years together.

I was born into the Baptist faith but became a United Methodist in 1977 while tutoring

children in a summer program at a United Methodist church. Because I liked the music and the what the pastor said when he preached, I joined the church. I liked the ministries and activities of this church and soon became an officer of the church. Being a member of this congregation brought me to a greater awareness of God in my life and I began feeling called to ministry in the church.

I began my ministry journey seeking to become a diaconal minister, but soon realized I was called to ordained ministry. I pursued that path and gained the necessary educational credentials to be eligible for full membership in the Detroit Conference. But my educational pursuit did not end with graduation.

As I became more familiar with the demands of ministry and the needs of the persons I provided ministry for, I realized my knowledge for assisting people in need was inadequate. As a result, my educational pursuits continued as I served numerous churches and I earned several graduate degrees, including 2 doctorates.

I consider my theological views to be quite eclectic, ranging from conservative to very liberal views. I believe in viewing the scriptures critically and trying to understand the message the stories and writings contain. Thus, I do not take a literal view of the scriptures and am not bound by specific doctrines.

I am hopeful we can share our beliefs and experiences in a manner that is rewarding and fruitful for all. I look forward to visiting, worshipping, having fellowship, and creating ministry with you. Because God is with us, I know we will do good things.

Blessings,

Lamarr

Ionia Easton UMC

8/27/2023 EUMC Worship Location

Easton UMC Church does not have power and we are unsure when power will return.  First UMC has graciously invited EUMC to join them for Sunday Worship tomorrow at 11am with their Lay Speaker.  There will be a time for coffee before Worship.  

Pastor Terry will not be preaching at Easton or Ionia First tomorrow.  He is unable to make it due to no power and trees down at his home in Webberville and is currently running on a generator.   

Ionia Easton UMC

Welcom Pastor Terry and Linda Melton

First United Methodist Church and Easton UMC of Ionia extend a warm welcome to our new pastor, Terry Melton. Terry and his wife Linda currently reside in Webberville, where they enjoy gardening, crafts, working with computers, and spending time with their wonderful animals. Pastor Terry will be conducting weekly services at Easton UMC at 9:00am and First UMC at 11:00am and plans to establish a pet loss support group and other services for the community. Please join us as we welcome him!