Worship - Norwalk First United Methodist Church

We gather each Sunday with open hearts to encounter God's presence through inspiring music, meaningful prayer, the reading of Scripture, and messages centered on the hope and saving grace of Jesus Christ. Rooted in the rich tradition of the United Methodist Church, we believe God's grace is offered freely to all and that everyone is welcome to experience Christ's love. Whether you are a lifelong follower of Jesus, new to the Christian faith, or simply seeking a place to belong, you will find a warm and welcoming community here. As we are renewed through worship, we are sent into the world to live out our faith by serving others, sharing God's love, and becoming the hands and feet of Christ in our community.

Aerial view of First United Methodist Church, Norwalk, Ohio

Stairwell with hanging lantern and stained glass windows

Join Us

Sunday Worship Service

Every Sunday at 10:30 a.m., our congregation comes together for a meaningful time of worship, prayer, and biblical teaching. We invite you to join us before and after the service in our Common Grounds Cafe to enjoy complimentary hot and cold beverages, fresh pastries, and warm fellowship. Whether you are visiting from out of town, searching for a church home, or simply looking for hope and encouragement, our doors are open to you. If you cannot join us physically, you can still experience our community from anywhere by tuning into our live stream online.

When

Sunday mornings

Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday morning. Doors open early so you can settle in, grab a cup of coffee, and greet your neighbors before the service starts.

Where

In Person & Online

Join us at 60 W. Main St. in Norwalk, Ohio, or tune in from home through our website or our Facebook livestream.

What to Expect

A Warm Welcome

Whether you have been a part of our church family for years, looking for a church to call home, or you are visiting for the first time you will find a warm welcome at Norwalk First United Methodist Church. Our Sunday morning worship service blends meaningful traditions with relevant, Christ-centered messages that inspire, encourage, and challenge us to grow in faith. Through uplifting music, heartfelt prayers, Scripture, and a message rooted in God's Word, we seek to worship God with joy and praise. Come as you are-there is no dress code, only an open invitation to experience God's grace, connect with others, and discover the hope and peace found in Jesus Christ. Children are always welcome and encouraged to join us in worship. During our worship service, we offer KidVenture, a fun, safe, and engaging children's ministry where kids discover God's love through age-appropriate Bible lessons, music, crafts, games, and hands-on activities while parents participate in the worship service. We celebrate Holy Communion on the first Sunday of each month, and all who seek Christ are welcome at the Lord's Table. We invite you to join us as we worship, grow, and experience God's grace together.

Music Ministry

Give 'Em Heaven Praise Band

Our Give ’Em Heaven Praise Band leads worship every other Sunday, blending contemporary praise music with beloved hymns in a joyful, spirited style. This combination honors our faith tradition while embracing modern expressions of worship, creating an uplifting experience for every generation. During the summer, the band has also brought Praise on the Porch beyond the sanctuary and into the community. In addition, our first outdoor service, held August 9, 2026, featured these talented Christians sharing their love of Christ through music. Whether worshiping in our beautiful sanctuary, on our historic porch, or under a tent in the parking lot, we seek to glorify God, deepen worship, and welcome our neighbors, our family, our friends and our community to experience His love and grace.

Interested in learning more about the praise band or joining in? Contact Dale Hildreth at ehildreth@neo.rr.com.

Give 'Em Heaven Praise Band in the sanctuary

Tiina Ruffing, Pianist

Music has the unique ability to inspire, comfort, and draw us closer to God, and we are blessed to have Tiina Ruffing as part of our worship ministry. As our church Pianist, Tiina faithfully shares her exceptional musical gifts, helping to create meaningful worship experiences that inspire our congregation to praise God through music.

Joining with us on Sunday mornings during a time of transition, Tiina graciously answered God's call to serve. Her talent, humility, professionalism, and deep faith are evident in every service, helping to lead our congregation in worship through the gift of music.

Beyond Sunday mornings, Tiina shares her gifts during special services and concerts, including our annual Christmas Concert, and she and her husband, Tom, generously volunteer at Night to Shine. Their servant hearts and willingness to share their time and their talents have become a true blessing to our church family.

We are grateful for Tiina's faithful ministry and the beautiful way she uses music to glorify God, inspire worship and enrich the life of our congregation.

Caitlin Schwanger, Pianist

When Caitlin Schwanger, her husband Dustin, and their five children came to our church searching for a new church home, we were blessed to welcome them into our church family. As we got to know Caitlin, we discovered her love for music and her gift for playing and teaching piano. She has graciously shared those gifts with us through piano recitals at our church and filling in as our pianist when needed. Caitlin has provided beautiful music for funerals, Sunday worship services, children's events, and will soon be providing dinner music for our Free Community dinners each month. In addition to all of this, Caitlin serves as our Acolyte Leader, making sure our Acolytes are ready to bring in the Light for each Sunday morning service. She gives of her time with a servant's heart and a love for Jesus that is evident to all. We are so thankful for the beautiful music she brings to our church and, even more, for the blessing she and her family have become to all of us here at Norwalk First. We truly believe that God sent Caitlin and her family our way, and we are grateful to call them part of our church family.

Generosity

Give Online

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"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." ~ 2 Corinthians 9:7

Your gifts help us share God's love, support our ministries, and serve our community and beyond. Whether you worship with us each week or simply want to support the work God is doing through Norwalk First United Methodist Church, your generosity makes a difference. Thank you for giving faithfully and helping us make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Give Online

Livestream

Watch Online

Our Sunday worship service is livestreamed every week on our website and our Facebook page so you can join us from wherever you are. The stream begins at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday. Past services are also available to watch anytime on our Facebook page for up to 30 days.

Watch the Livestream Watch on Facebook