Leeds First Methodist Church sits in the heart of Leeds, Alabama, a small city in Jefferson County east of Birmingham. Across two campuses just a short drive apart, the congregation gathers every Sunday morning for two very different worship services - one modern and one traditional - that share the same mission of making paths for more people to know and grow like Jesus. That dual-identity rhythm, paired with a robust slate of Grow Groups, kids and youth ministry, and community outreach, is what defines life at Leeds First.

Two Sunday Morning Services, Two Different Vibes

The church's most distinctive feature is its side-by-side modern and traditional services. Modern Worship begins at 8:45 a.m. in the Family Life Center at 1189 6th Street. Worshipers step into a contemporary setting with an upgraded stage, lighting, video, and sound installed during the Smooth Spaces renovation. The music is led by a praise team, the mood is relaxed, and fresh coffee, juice, and doughnuts are served before and during the service. Holy Communion is celebrated, scripture is read and preached, and prayer is shared. The dress is described simply as "casual to Sunday best, it's up to you."

Traditional Worship begins at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary at 7833 Parkway Drive. Here the format follows the historic Methodist pattern: congregation and choir sing hymns, the organist accompanies the assembly, the Apostles' Creed is recited together, scripture is read and applied in the sermon, and Holy Communion is observed monthly. The dress ranges from "business casual to Sunday best."

Both services include a complete children's program for infants through fifth grade (more on that below). Anyone may begin attending any Sunday, and both services are broadcast live on the church's YouTube channel for those who want to join from home.

Kids and Nursery: Orange Curriculum in Both Services

Children are a centerpiece of life at Leeds First Methodist. The Kids Ministry partners with Orange Curriculum to provide an age-appropriate worship service for elementary children (K through 5th grade) during both the 8:45 a.m. Modern service and the 11:00 a.m. Traditional service.

During Modern Worship, kids meet upstairs in the Family Life Center. During Traditional Worship, they gather in the basement fellowship hall. Both groups follow the same curriculum and rotate through the same three basic truths each week:

• I need to make wise choices.
• I can trust God no matter what.
• I should treat others the way I want to be treated.

Worship time includes kid-friendly songs and dance, Bible stories, small group discussion, and games that reinforce the lesson. Every child is checked in and out for safety, and parents receive a take-home Parent Cue to continue the conversation during the week. The Pre-K and nursery programs run during both services as well, following the Safe Sanctuaries guidelines of the United Methodist Church to ensure a safe, nurturing environment for the youngest attenders.

The church's commitment to children is also visible in its staffing. Emily Rodgers serves as Children's Minister, leading a dedicated team of volunteers who welcome kids each week and organize major events like Vacation Bible School.

Youth Ministry for 6th Through 12th Grade

Led by Joseph Mendum, the youth ministry meets twice on Sundays and welcomes students in grades 6 through 12. Sunday school runs from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. in the Youth Room inside the Family Life Center, offering an interactive lesson that connects with the world students actually live in. From there, students are invited to either Modern Worship at 8:45 a.m. or Traditional Worship at 11:00 a.m.

Sunday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Family Life Center, students gather for one of two rhythms: a Service Night, which features a hands-on service project benefiting the church or community followed by refreshments and games, or a Fellowship Night built around games, snacks, and time together. Either way, the evening is a relaxed place to build friendships and grow in faith.

Grow Groups: From Pre-K to Adults

The Grow Groups ministry is the church's umbrella for Sunday school and small-group Bible study, and it covers every age. The premise is straightforward: as faith grows, knowledge and trust in God need to grow alongside it, and Bible-based teaching anchored in community keeps that growth from drifting. The church's slogan is, "The right knowledge leads to right actions."

Pre-K, elementary, youth, and adult Grow Groups meet throughout the week. The weekly schedule includes a Bible study of the Book of Acts on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. in the FLC Cornerstone Room, and a long-running Ladies' Bible Study on Tuesday evenings that begins with fellowship at 5:30 p.m. and study at 6:00 p.m. in the same room. A men's study led by Pastor Brandon Rodgers is also part of the rotating lineup. New participants can sign up through a form on the church's Church Center portal.

The Apostles' Creed and the Bible

Leeds First Methodist identifies itself as a United Methodist congregation, and its doctrine is rooted in the Bible and in the historic Apostles' Creed, which the church prints on its What We Do page:

I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The church states that its faith is "rooted in the Bible, which contains all that is needed to have and live a life of faith," and it teaches that the sacraments of Holy Communion and Baptism are central to worship. The Apostles' Creed is recited together as part of the Traditional service.

Worship, Grow, Serve, Reach: The Four Paths

Everything at Leeds First Methodist rolls up under four words printed under the church's name: WORSHIP, GROW, SERVE, REACH. The four paths are explained this way:

• Worship celebrates God's proper place over everything and puts worshipers in their proper place as people who need God's love, grace, and guidance. It includes Biblical preaching, inspiring music, prayer, and the sacraments.
• Grow is where knowledge and trust in God expand through Bible-based teaching and the relationships that sustain believers through both the highs and lows of life.
• Serve puts faith into action. Every follower of Jesus is gifted to serve, and the church teaches that life is transformed as believers impact others inside and outside the church walls.
• Reach is the outward call to illustrate God's love and invite others to faith. Every believer is part of the Great Commission to share the Good News of Jesus.

The smooth Spaces renovation, the 3rd Wednesday Worship service, and the church's Backpack Buddies food ministry each grew out of one of these four commitments.

3rd Wednesday Worship: A Mid-Month Reset

Beginning in Lent 2026, Pastor Brandon Rodgers launched a new monthly rhythm called 3rd Wednesday Worship. The idea is simple: one Wednesday evening a month, the whole church comes together in the Family Life Center for shared dinner, intergenerational worship, and age-appropriate group time.

The service was created as a counterweight to the busyness of midweek life. In his announcement post, Pastor Brandon wrote, "There was a time when Wednesday nights belonged to the church - other activities took a back seat. We all know that isn't always the case anymore, so when I ask you to make these Third Wednesdays a priority, I know I'm asking you to do something that will require some intentionality and commitment." The evening runs from 6:00 p.m. and is designed for kids, youth, and adults together.

Backpack Buddies: A Quiet Weekly Outreach

Every Sunday at 5:00 p.m., a team meets in the Backpack Buddies Room to pack weekend food for children in the community who might otherwise go hungry between school days. The ministry runs quietly in the background of Sunday evening activities but is one of the most consistent outreach commitments of the congregation, drawing together adults and youth who want to put faith into action.

Vacation Bible School Each Summer

Vacation Bible School is the children's ministry's biggest annual event. The 2026 program, titled Illumination Station, is scheduled for July 9 through 12 and welcomes rising kindergarteners through rising sixth graders. The evenings run Thursday and Friday from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Registration and volunteer sign-up are handled online through a dedicated VBS portal.

Serving Teams: Where Every Member Has a Role

The church's Get Involved ministry lists several open Serve Teams for members and regular attenders who want to plug in: Children's Ministry volunteers, Youth Ministry volunteers, a chair set-up team, a hospitality team, the choir, the worship team (singers and musicians), and the Toolbox Team. The leadership frames serving in distinctly Wesleyan language: "All followers of Jesus are gifted to serve in advancing the mission of the church."

Smooth Spaces: Renovating for the Next Generation

In fall 2021, the church's Leadership Council launched a renovation study called Smooth Spaces. The goal was to make both the Sanctuary and the Family Life Center more usable across generations. The Family Life Center phase wrapped up on September 18, 2022 with a grand re-opening attended by more than 100 people. Phase 1 installed a new stage against the north wall, a raise-and-lower divider to protect stage equipment, and a retractable basketball goal, allowing the gym to flip between worship and recreation in roughly half an hour with only a few volunteers.

The Sanctuary phase, which is ongoing, addresses accessibility: a first-floor accessible restroom, shortening six pews for accessible seating, and a reconfigured stage and ramp that allows anyone - including members using wheelchairs - to reach the pulpit and choir row. Total project costs are estimated at $120,000 to $150,000, with half covered by church reserves and half raised through a Smooth Spaces giving campaign. Donations can be made online, in worship with a check or cash, or mailed to the church office with "Smooth Spaces Renovations" noted on the envelope.

The leadership team behind the campaign includes Pastor Chris Stallings, Ross Freind (Chair of Leadership Council), Matt Basquill (Chair of Finance Committee), Colvin Morrow (Chair of Board of Trustees), and Frank Dowdey (Trustee and Project Coordinator).

Music in Both Services

Music is a major thread across both worship styles. The Modern service is led by a praise team that rehearses on Sundays at 4:30 p.m. in the FLC Gym, while the Traditional service is anchored by Sandra McGuire, Choir Director, and Emalyn O'Barr, Organist. The choir rehearses on Sundays at 5:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary and sings hymns each week with the organ, blending into the historic Methodist musical heritage.

Pastoral Leadership

The pastoral team is led by Pastor Brandon Rodgers, who joined Leeds First Methodist in spring 2025. His weekly blog has become a steady rhythm of the church, walking through current sermon series and the church calendar. He writes theologically rich letters on books of the Bible (recent series have walked through Philippians and the Gospels), the liturgical seasons (Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Advent), and the rhythms of parish life.

Joseph Mendum serves as Minister of Modern Worship, Youth, and Connections, leading the contemporary service alongside the youth ministry. Emily Rodgers serves as Children's Minister, directing the Kids Ministry program in both services. Sandra McGuire directs the traditional choir, and Emalyn O'Barr plays the organ for the 11:00 a.m. service. The staff also includes church members who lead the Women's and Men's Bible studies, coordinate hospitality, and serve on the church's One Governance Board.

Pastor Chris Stallings preceded Pastor Brandon and concluded his ministry at Leeds First Methodist on March 2, 2025. His blog archive remains online and includes a long-running series on faith foundations, the theology and practice of prayer and scripture reading, repentance and belief, family, and the journey of discipleship.

Holy Week and the Church Calendar

The church observes the full sweep of the Christian year. Pastor Brandon's blog walks through Holy Week day by day - Monday through Saturday - leading up to Easter, often with a sermon series that takes the congregation through a Gospel narrative or epistle. Lent brings 3rd Wednesday Worship, a Shrove Tuesday Community Pancake Dinner, and a Lenten series of reflection. Advent pairs with a churchwide devotional (recently Mark Sorensen's The Wonder of It All) and sermon series that prepare hearts for Christmas. Each year's plan is released through the blog and worship bulletin as the season approaches.

One Governance Board

In late 2023 the church moved from a traditional committee structure to a single One Governance Board that combines the responsibilities previously held by Finance, Trustees, Staff-Parish Relations, and Leadership. The board has twelve members plus the pastor and streamlines decision-making so more members can engage in ministry roles outside committee work. Josh Argo currently chairs the board.

Tithes, Offerings, and the Smooth Spaces Campaign

Tithing is a regular teaching theme at Leeds First. In one of his blog posts, Pastor Brandon lays out the case for tithing as a Kingdom Investment, and the church teaches that members and regular attenders fund the mission of transforming lives by giving a tithe, or 10%, with offerings from others honoring that same work. Donations can be made securely online through Church Center, with recurring or one-time options, or in person during either worship service. Smooth Spaces donations are also accepted online or by mail.

Connection Beyond Leeds

Pastor Brandon writes often about the United Methodist connection that runs through Leeds First Methodist. In a September 2026 post titled "It's About Connection," he reminded the congregation that their local church is part of a global movement: like-minded Christians covenanted together across North Alabama, across the United States, across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Central and South America. The post was written during the denomination's General Conference, and Pastor Brandon tied the moment back to the Apostles' Creed: "We believe in the holy catholic church. That little 'c' word catholic means universal." Sermon podcast episodes from both pastors are available on Spotify, and recent sermon videos are posted on the church's YouTube channel.

Visiting Leeds First Methodist

For first-time visitors, the church makes the logistics straightforward. The Family Life Center and church office sit at 1189 6th Street, Leeds, AL 35094. The Sanctuary is just up the road at 7833 Parkway Drive. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The phone is (205) 699-8575, and email is staff@leedsfirst.org. Worshipers can attend either the Modern service at 8:45 a.m. or the Traditional service at 11:00 a.m., with kids programs available in both. Dress is up to the visitor, coffee and doughnuts are on hand at the Modern service, and the church notes that "you may begin attending any Sunday." Those unable to attend in person can join the livestream on YouTube.

A Church in the Middle of Its Story

Leeds First Methodist describes itself as a community of faith rooted in the truth and love of Jesus, on a mission to make paths for more people to know and grow like Him. From the Smooth Spaces renovation to a new Children's Minister role funded by an extra $10 a month per regular attender, from the launch of 3rd Wednesday Worship to weekly Backpack Buddies packing, the church is in a season of intentional growth. As Pastor Brandon put it in his first-anniversary letter to the congregation, "Through it all, we've sought the Lord, and the best part is, we're just getting started."