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New to FPC?

About Us

Pull up a chair, and let us tell you a little about who we are!

 

First Presbyterian Church strives to offer something for everyone who desires to know and follow Jesus Christ. We invite you to join us today and allow God to lead you on your own personal path of spiritual growth.

First Presbyterian Church

When you visit First Presbyterian Church, you will find a warm and caring group of Christ-followers who are eager to welcome you. Yes, our name is traditional, and our beliefs are firmly rooted in the reformed understanding that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation, but we strive to live out that faith with vibrant worship, relevant study, and life-changing mission.

Come, join us!

405 N. M-37 Highway · Hastings, MI 49058

269.945.5463

Sanctuary

A CHURCH FOR ALL AGES

 We offer worship on Sunday at10:00 AM. Our service features uplifting music and personal, life-changing messages based on the truths of God's Word. Our goal in worship is to include something for all ages.

JOINING US AS A FAMILY?

We are blessed to have families and children as a part of our congregation! We encourage children to learn about God and scripture through children's sermons, during Children's Worship, and through Noah's Ark Preschool.

For those times when your child is unhappy in worship, we encourage you to take advantage of our nursery, or to make use of the Quiet Room.  Our Quiet Room (entrance to the right of the Sanctuary doors) is intended to serve as a place of refuge for parents whose children are, shall we say, "uninterested" in the sermon, while allowing you to continue to be part of the worship service. We are working hard to be a Church for all Ages, and we hope these accommodations help you!

OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE CHRIST

We offer many ways to serve Christ, and we encourage you to follow your own interests and skills as they will lead you to the best ways you can serve. Within our congregation, service opportunities include music and worship, participation or leadership in Bible Studies, numerous volunteer roles with our children and youth programs, administrative support, creative opportunities in our just-for-fun fellowship events, or becoming involved with our Noah's Ark Preschool.   We invite you to become part of our church family, focused on growing OUR VISION.

Our local, national, and worldwide involvement includes many opportunities for youth and adults, including support of our local food bank, Barry County Cares,  offerings to support programs through the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., such as One Great Hour of Sharing, and the Disaster Assistance program. We serve on annual mission trips which are open to both adults and youth! Please see the Mission ministry page for further details!

Membership Information

Join Us

To Become A Member:

JOIN US IN WORSHIP
At First Presbyterian Church, you will find friendly faces and voices to welcome you, open and loving hearts and minds, & music to stir your heart and soothe your soul. We are glad you have chosen to visit!

YOU'VE ATTENDED- WHAT'S NEXT?
So you’ve attended a Worship Service and you’re wondering how you can get connected or become more involved? One way is to attend Bible Study, or small group, for fellowship, fun, and spiritual growth during the school year! We also have fellowship time year round in between services to give the congregation a chance to visit with old friends, and make new friends. Our Pastor and ministry leaders would be happy to speak with you, and help guide you toward what works for you.

WANT TO BECOME A MEMBER?
If you are interested in becoming a member and choosing First Presbyterian as your church home, we would love to hear from you!

Fill out the electronic application on this page. 

Please contact our pastor with any questions you may have, too!

Meet The Pastor

I was born and raised in Williamston, Michigan. Due to the influence (indoctrination?) of my family, I bleed green—John Deere green and Spartan green. While I did not grow up in a very observantly religious family my mother did instill the importance of prayer by praying with my brother and I every night when we were young. It was through the ministry of Young Life that I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior and my faith was nurtured through a Presbyterian college ministry and an Assembly of God college ministry. Needless to say, becoming a pastor was never a thought that occurred to me as a possibility. But after getting married and working as a Park Ranger at Cape Disappointment State Park in Ilwaco, Washington, I began to sense a call to ministry. My pastor at the time and the congregation we were members of affirmed the call, my wife, Kortney, was a little more reticent (it is a great story, so ask me about it sometime). She reluctantly agreed and in the ten years since I have been ordained, we have both come to see that God has called me to the pastorate. Our family is glad to be back home after spending the last 18 years living outside of the mitten. I look forward to meeting you, hearing your story and the ways God has been at work in your life, and helping each other grow in our faith together.

Meet The FPC Staff

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Nick Marlatt

FPC's Pastor

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nmarlatt@firstchurchhastings.org 

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Julia Bachman

 

FPC's Administrative Assistant     x3001

office@firstchurchhastings.org 

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Nancy Allerding

FPC's Financial Manager

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nallerding@firstchurchhastings.org 

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Angie Stanton

FPC's NAPS Director

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noahsark@firstchurchhastings.or

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Liz Allerding

FPC's Kitchen Manager

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 slallerding@gmail.com

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Brandon Johnson

 

Church Life Director / Youth Leader / IT

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bjohnson@firstchurchhastings.org 

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Casey Raffler

 

FPC's  Church Administrator

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craffler@firstchurchhastings.org 

Custodial Staff

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Jim Daniels

Lead Custodian

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custodian@firstchurchhastings.org 

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Wade Nitz

Custodian

Musicians

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Robert Oster

Organist

First Presbyterian Church

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2023 Boards Listing

SESSION ELDERS

Session will downsize to 12 Ruling Elders by 2025. They are the ‘head’ of the church. This board governs the local church according to Presbyterian polity. 

 

Meets 4th Monday of each month at 7:00 pm

Nick Marlatt, Moderator

Rev. Scott Crane, Transitional Counselor

Cindy Preston, Clerk of Session
 

2023

Michael Behrendt

Tracy Solmes

Sandi Drummond

Steve Laubaugh

Gary Kimble

2024

Jim Bruce

Dave Allerding

Scott Allerding

Sally Keller

2025

Sunny Andersen

Sandra Billingsley

Kim Bosma

Cindy Preston

DEACONS

The Deacons serve persons in need. Deacons are called to show sympathy, witness, and serve after the example of Jesus Christ.

They will downsize to 9 Deacons by 2025

 Meet 2nd Tuesday in Jan, Mar, May,

Aug, Sept, Nov at 6:30 pm.

Nancy Allerding and Pat Cassell- Co-Moderators

2023

Rex Brown

Sue Oom

Bernie Oom

Pat Cassell

Nancy Allerding

2024

Sue Granner

Deb Carpenter

Kristen Laubaugh

Susan Pachulski

2025

June Behrendt

Barb Bell

Audrey Deming

Stewardship Committee

Meet 3rd Monday each month at 5:30pm

Gary Kimble - Moderator

Family Ministry

Meet 2nd Monday each month at 6:30 pm.

Scott Allerding - Moderator

NAPS Ministry

Meets periodically

Tracy Solmes - Moderator

Worship and Music Ministry 

Meet 2nd Monday each month at 5:15 pm.

Sally Keller - Moderator

Mission

 Meet 2nd Tuesday alternating months with Deacons at 7:00 pm.

Steve Laubaugh - Moderator

Personnel Committee

Meet every 1st Monday at 7:00 pm.

Larry Winkler - Moderator

Nominating  Committee 2023

Jim Bruce - Kim Bosma - Debbie Rang - Dale Billingsly - Eldon Cassell - Lisa Brown

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