Castle Rock First United Methodist Church has stood on South Street for over a century and a half, weaving itself into the life of a town that grew up around the butte from which Castle Rock takes its name. The congregation traces its roots back more than 150 years, and the simple mission that animates its ministry today remains the same: "Sharing God's love and light with our community and beyond."

The church sits at 1200 South Street in Castle Rock, Colorado, in Douglas County. Generations of families have called it home, and visitors are welcomed into a blended worship style that brings together the best of Methodist tradition and contemporary praise. The congregation is part of the Mountain Sky Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, specifically within the Front Range District, and is currently shepherded by Rev. Tezenlo Thong, who became Senior Pastor on July 5, 2026, succeeding Rev. Matt Franks after four years of ministry.

Sunday Mornings: Worship in the Sanctuary

Castle Rock FUMC gathers each Sunday morning in the sanctuary at 10 a.m. for its weekly worship service. The style is deliberately blended, weaving together hymns, modern praise, choirs, and instrumental music into a single Spirit-filled service. The bulletin includes prayers, scripture readings, choral anthems, sermons, and moments of silence, all anchored by the rhythm of the liturgical year. Acolytes bring in the light of Christ at the start of worship, and the service draws on both the United Methodist Hymnal and The Faith We Sing for congregational song.

Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month and on holy days. At Christ's table, all are welcome, regardless of age, background, or place on the journey of faith. Lay members serve as liturgists, communion stewards, and acolytes, and the prayers of the people include the joys and concerns shared from the congregation each week.

The service ends with a benediction, but the gathering continues. Community Faith Time follows at 11 a.m. on Sundays during the school year, a chance to connect over coffee and donuts, share a laugh, and move into classes and small groups across the church.

Summer Sundays at the Outdoor Chapel

From the second Sunday in June through Labor Day weekend, the rhythm shifts. An early service moves outside to the Outdoor Chapel at 8:30 a.m., and a Modern Service takes place in the sanctuary at 10 a.m. Volunteers drive a golf cart to help people from the parking lot to the chapel, and a pop-up choir gathers each week to sing a favorite hymn. Setting up and taking down the outdoor chapel is a beloved community effort.

A New Chapter: Pastor Tezenlo Thong

First United Methodist Church of Castle Rock has lived through a significant pastoral transition in 2026. After four years of ministry, Rev. Matt Franks preached his final sermon on June 21, 2026, and the Staff-Parish Relations Committee immediately began introducing the congregation to his successor.

Rev. Tezenlo Thong (pronounced "Deh-ZEN-low," with a silent "h" in his last name) officially began as Senior Pastor on July 5, 2026. He and his wife, Han, live in Aurora and commute to Castle Rock. Tezenlo was born and raised in South Korea, received his Master of Theology from the Presbyterian College and Theological Seminary in Seoul in 1995, and later completed a Master of Arts at Central Baptist Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in Religious and Theological Studies at Iliff School of Theology in Denver.

Across his ministry, Tezenlo has served as pastor of Vineland UMC in Pueblo, Simpson UMC in Arvada, and Littleton UMC, and spent six years on the Bishop's Cabinet as District Superintendent for the Mile High District. His first Sunday at Castle Rock FUMC featured both an 8:30 a.m. outdoor service and a 10 a.m. modern service in the sanctuary.

Rev. Sarah Steidtmann continues as an associate pastor, leading the Tuesday Morning Bible Study, the contemporary issues discussion group, and offering pastoral care. In a farewell letter to the congregation, Pastor Matt reflected: "You have welcomed me, challenged me, carried me through hard seasons, and celebrated alongside me in joyful ones. It has been the deepest honor to be your pastor."

Community Faith Time: Three Groups, One Family

Community Faith Time is the intentional gathering after Sunday worship where the congregation leans into learning and fellowship. While some might think of Sunday School as a formal class, the team at Castle Rock FUMC frames it as a space for engagement and relationship across every age and stage of faith.

Three groups make up Community Faith Time:

• Nursery for newborns through age four, a safe and caring space staffed by dedicated adults and youth while parents and older siblings join other groups.
• Living In Faith Together (LIFT) for ages five and up, which intentionally mixes generations in the Fellowship Hall for activities and conversations that bridge the gap between young and old.
• Soul Cafe for adults, a relaxed, conversational group that often uses the day's sermon as a starting point for asking questions and exploring what it means to live out faith.

Starting on the second Sunday of September each year, Community Faith Time moves to 11 a.m. to follow the indoor worship service. Coffee, donuts, and conversation fill the spaces between classes.

G.R.O.W. With Us: A Wesleyan Journey of Grace-Filled Growth

Discipleship at Castle Rock FUMC is shaped by the G.R.O.W. pathway, a Wesleyan framework that helps every person take the next step in their faith journey. The acronym stands for Gather, Reflect, Offer, and Walk.

Gather is the foundation: worshiping together weekly, receiving Holy Communion regularly, participating in small groups and class meetings, and practicing accountability and encouragement with others.

Reflect nurtures inward spiritual practices: praying daily, reading and reflecting on Scripture, keeping a spiritual journal or devotional rhythm, and attending retreats and studies.

Offer is where faith grows outward: serving others in the church and community, practicing generosity through tithes and offerings, engaging in missions and acts of compassion, and working for justice and equity in the world.

Walk is the daily journey: living out faith in everyday decisions, mentoring and discipling others, sharing testimony and story, and embracing lifelong learning and spiritual formation.

The GROW Ministry Team offers dynamic learning experiences for all ages and stages, from a one-day January retreat on the Social Principles to ongoing small groups and Bible studies. The framework reflects John Wesley's emphasis on social holiness, the conviction that faith is never meant to be lived in isolation.

Study Groups and Meal Groups

Small groups are at the heart of life at Castle Rock FUMC. Beyond Sunday morning classes, the church hosts several study and fellowship groups that meet through the week.

Tuesday Morning Bible Study gathers in the church Library at 9:30 a.m. The group has worked through books by Max Lucado, Adam Hamilton, and other authors, and is open to anyone who wants to study Scripture up close.

Rev. Sarah's Contemporary Issues Bible Study meets on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. in person in Fellowship Hall, with a parallel session on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Recent books have included Killing Jesus by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard, Forgiveness by Adam Hamilton, and Jesus Revealed by Matt Rawle. The summer session runs six weeks.

Meal Groups are a relaxed way to build community. Members sign up in September, groups are announced in October, and each group meets at least three times between October and May for a shared meal. A core group leader helps organize when and where to gather.

Stephen Ministry and Congregational Care

Stephen Ministry of Castle Rock FUMC provides one-to-one Christian care for individuals going through a time of transition or difficulty. Stephen Ministers are lay people who have completed more than 50 hours of faith-specific training in listening, assertiveness, boundaries, confidentiality, and awareness of resources for specific situations.

Stephen Ministers are confidential, trustworthy, skilled, and compassionate, and they continue receiving training and supervision throughout their ministry. They walk alongside the bereaved, hospitalized, terminally ill, separated, divorced, unemployed, relocated, and anyone facing a crisis or life challenge.

The church also maintains a Prayer Request form online and a Care Task Force that follows up with members in need. Mental health resources, including the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 211 Colorado, and the SAMHSA National Helpline, are posted prominently on the church's support page.

The H.O.M.E. Team: Hospitality, Outreach, Missions, Evangelism

The H.O.M.E. Ministry Team embodies the love and light of Christ through four pillars: Hospitality, Outreach, Missions, and Evangelism.

Hospitality ensures every person feels seen, valued, and embraced, whether inside the church or out in the community. Greeters, ushers, welcome desk volunteers, and coffee hosts make Sunday morning run smoothly.

Outreach engages with local communities, listening to their needs and sharing the love of Christ in practical ways. Ongoing projects include a Giving Tree at Christmas, food pantry collections for the Help and Hope Center, Prison Backpacks, Knot Again (a quilting and sleeping-bag-making ministry for the homeless), and Thinking of You Bags for those who are isolated.

Missions partners with local, national, and international efforts. The team supports the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) for disaster response, partners with the Help and Hope Center, Blackfeet United Methodist Parish, East Angola Pastors and Agricultural Support, and Paul's Mystery Ship, and coordinates Go, Learn, Serve mission trips. An intergenerational mission trip to Red Bird, Kentucky, is a recurring commitment.

Evangelism is grounded in the gospel, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with others and offering hope, faith, and the opportunity to experience God's transforming love.

Little Blessings Preschool

Castle Rock FUMC is also home to Little Blessings, a Christian preschool serving young families in the Castle Rock community. Children learn and play in a faith-centered environment, and the preschool is closely tied to the life of the church, especially during Advent and Christmas, when Little Blessings children present Christmas programs that fill the sanctuary with the delight of the season.

The preschool shares the church's commitment to families. Little Blessings parents and children are regularly lifted up in the prayers of the congregation, and the preschool is one of several ministries that bring young families through the doors of First Church.

United Women in Faith

Castle Rock FUMC hosts a thriving United Women in Faith (formerly United Methodist Women) chapter, including circles that meet monthly for fellowship, study, and service. The Leah Circle and Love Circle gather in Fellowship Hall for Christmas luncheons and program meetings, and members contribute to local missions such as the Help and Hope Center and birthday bag collections (cake mix, frosting, and candles).

The Cookie Walk, held annually in early December, raises funds for mission work in and around Castle Rock. Anyone is welcome to join a circle as a guest.

Marking the Seasons of the Christian Year

Castle Rock FUMC marks the seasons of the Christian year with intentional worship and community events.

On Ash Wednesday, ashes are offered at two moments: "Ashes to Go" from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the corner of Wilcox and South Streets, and a traditional Ash Wednesday service at 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.

Lent includes Stations of the Cross, often self-guided over several days; A Holy Potluck on the Wednesday of Holy Week, a shared meal that begins the Paschal Triduum; and a contemplative Maundy Thursday service.

Good Friday is observed with a 6 p.m. service centered on music and scripture readings, walking through the story of Jesus' death on the cross.

Holy Saturday and Easter round out the week. An Easter Egg Hunt follows the Palm Sunday service, and Easter morning brings the joy of resurrection with special music and proclamation.

Blue Christmas, a quieter service for those for whom the holidays carry grief or longing, takes place in mid-December. Rev. Sarah Steidtmann often leads this contemplative worship.

Christmas Eve is a highlight of the church year, with three services that speak to different needs and traditions:

• 4 p.m. Modern Christmas Eve Service for all ages, with youth, children, and adults moving throughout the sanctuary lighting candles and taking their places at the manger.
• 6 p.m. Traditional Christmas Eve Service filled with beloved carols, choral music, Scripture, candlelight, and Holy Communion.
• 11 p.m. Candlelight and Communion Service for those who long for a slower, gentler celebration of Christmas, with scripture by candlelight, Holy Communion, and reflection.

Music at First Church

Music is woven into nearly every corner of Castle Rock FUMC. The chancel choir meets on Wednesday evenings at 5:30 p.m., the bell choir rehearses at 4 p.m., and instrumentalists contribute to special services throughout the year. Guest artists have included John Redmond and the Colorado Brass, who perform a holiday concert in the sanctuary each December.

During summer worship, a pop-up choir gathers at the 8:30 a.m. outdoor service to sing a favorite hymn, and the church invites members to suggest hymns they love. During the rest of the year, the chancel choir presents anthems each Sunday, with special music at Christmas, Easter, and other holy days.

Congregational singing draws from both the United Methodist Hymnal and The Faith We Sing, with a mix of classic hymns and contemporary praise songs.

Staying Connected: Online Worship, Bulletins, and Prayer

Castle Rock FUMC is an active online community. Worship services are livestreamed on the church's Facebook page and YouTube channel, and recordings remain available for later viewing. The church maintains a single hub called the Connection Point, where members and visitors can check into worship, download the current bulletin, submit prayer requests, give online, and find all the church's social media links.

The weekly email blast goes out by Wednesday afternoon with upcoming events, prayer concerns, weekly lectionary readings, a quote, and a prayer. The First Church Communicator newsletter, sent at the end of each month, carries longer reflections, announcements, and updates. Members can join the email list online.

The church is active on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook, and uses a Linktree page to put every connection in one place.

Generosity and Giving

Tithes and offerings support the ministry of Castle Rock FUMC, the local community, and the wider United Methodist connection. Giving is available in several ways:

• In-person offerings may be placed in the offering box in the sanctuary at the entry and exit on Sundays.
• Offerings can be mailed or dropped off at the church office at 1200 South Street.
• Online giving is available through the church's giving platform.
• Text "GiveTo FUMCCR" to 73256 to access the giving form.
• Through a bank or credit union via auto-check.

The church also participates in community rewards programs at King Soopers and Safeway, which return a percentage of qualifying grocery purchases to the church. The NPO number for King Soopers is QM168.

Rooted in Methodism, Open to All

Castle Rock FUMC is part of the United Methodist Church within the Mountain Sky Annual Conference and the Front Range District. The congregation affirms the historic Methodist commitment to a connectional church, with Bishop Kristen Stoneking serving the annual conference and District Superintendent Jessica Rooks supporting the local pastors.

What makes Castle Rock FUMC distinctive is the way its members live out the call to "share God's love and light with our community and beyond." From Knot Again quilts to Red Bird mission trips, from Ashes to Go on Ash Wednesday to the 11 p.m. candlelight service on Christmas Eve, the congregation shows up with consistency, warmth, and a willingness to try new things.

"No matter where you are on your faith journey, we would love for you to connect with us," the church's I Am New page reads. "All are welcome to join us in worship no matter where you are on your journey of faith. Just come as you are. We will welcome you."