Orchard United Methodist Church sits on Farmington Road in Farmington Hills, just west of Detroit, where it has gathered a faith community defined by openness, mission, and a wide range of musical worship. The congregation lives out a simple calling: "Transforming the world by growing in faith, serving others and sharing Jesus." A core value, repeated in nearly every communication, welcomes and invites all persons to join in the full life of the church regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ability, or economic circumstances.

Rooted in the United Methodist tradition that grew from John Wesley's 18th-century movement in England, Orchard emphasizes both grace and practical service. The denomination's mission, in the words of the church's own statement, is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, and Orchard carries that mission forward through a 2020-2025 Blueprint laying out how it intends to keep meeting the needs of its neighbors.

Two Services, One Welcome on Sunday Mornings

Sunday mornings at Orchard are built around two distinct services during the regular schedule. At 9 AM, the Praise Band & Singers lead a more contemporary-leaning service, while at 11 AM the Chancel Choir and organ fill the sanctuary in a traditional setting. Between them, from 10 to 10:55 AM, the congregation gathers for coffee hour and Sunday classes for all ages. In the summer months, those services merge into a single 10 AM combined worship led by both the choir and the praise band; the 2026 summer schedule ran from May 24 through September 13, with the regular two-service rhythm returning September 20.

For those who cannot attend in person, services are livestreamed on YouTube and remain available for replay. Inside the sanctuary, anyone is welcome to wear a mask at any time, and congregants are asked to stay home if they are feeling unwell. A virtual Connection Card lets first-time guests introduce themselves, and online giving is handled through PushPay.

Mission at the Heart of Orchard

A monthly Mission Box in the narthex collects items for rotating community partners. The August 2026 drive supported the Wayne State University Student Food Pantry, focusing on the most-requested item: cooking oil of every kind. Other recent partners have included Hospitality House, Farmington CARES, Lighthouse (formerly South Oakland Shelter), and Central UMC in Detroit. Past collections have ranged from school supplies and Thanksgiving meals to diapers, pet food, and cleaning products. In November and December, Orchard joins with Farmington Public Schools on the Adopt-a-Student program to fulfill holiday wish lists for students currently experiencing homelessness.

Each May, Orchard turns out for the Farmington/West Bloomfield CROP Walk - Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty - which the church helped launch and lead in 1985 and continues to anchor. Walkers choose a two-mile or six-mile route on the first Sunday of May; 25 percent of every dollar raised stays in the local community for hunger relief while the rest supports safe drinking water and international disaster relief.

The Knit & Crochet Ministry distributes items year-round to a long list of agencies: washcloths for SOS, helmet liners for soldiers, blankets for Baldwin's warming center, scarves and hats through the Spirit and Song Institute for Peace, and cage liners for cats at the Michigan Animal Rescue League. The knitters also create prayer blankets and shawls for members of the congregation facing major illness. Each November and December the annual Mitten Tree collects hats, scarves, and mittens - handmade or store-bought - for community distribution.

Children and Youth at the Center

Orchard takes its next generation seriously, with safety rules built around the United Methodist Church's Safe Sanctuary policies: background checks for all volunteers, "Doors Open" and "Two Person" rules, child check-in and check-out policies, and a nut-free children's wing.

• Nursery. Care is available during both Sunday services for children from birth through age 3. The crib nursery welcomes infants up to two years old; the toddler nursery invites creative play for two- and three-year-olds. Parents sign children in and out and receive a pager so staff can reach them during worship. An adjacent mother's room is open for feeding, diaper changes, or a quiet moment.
• W.O.W. (Worship Our Way). Preschoolers through fifth graders begin in the sanctuary with their families and, after the Children's Message, are dismissed for an age-appropriate worship experience. Families who prefer to stay together can pick up an activity bag at the Welcome Desk.
• Sunday Classes. Held during the 10 AM hour from September through May, classes rotate between Bible learning and special-topic offerings in music, art, and dance. Each February, third graders receive their own Bible and follow it with a Bible Basics class.
• Kids Bells. A children's handbell choir that rehearses seasonally and plays in Sunday worship.
• Vacation Bible School. A weeklong summer program built around games, music, and a culminating Sunday performance.
• Family events. An Easter Egg Hunt on Palm Sunday, a Harvest Festival in October, and Breakfast with Santa and the Santa Shop in December round out the year, alongside a Parents' Night Out each semester.

The children's ministry is led by Colleen Aben, Director of Children's Ministries, with Tracey Huber coordinating the nursery and early childhood program. Kelly Sheckell, Director of Discipleship, oversees the youth program. Middle School Youth Group (grades 6-8) meets Sundays from 5:15 to 6:15 PM for games, laughter, and faith formation. High School Youth Group (grades 9-12) gathers from 6:30 to 8:00 PM for conversation and discussion of where God is at work in the world.

A Week of Small Groups and Shared Tables

The week after Sunday offers a busy calendar of small groups, Bible studies, and shared meals, organized into Sunday classes, weekday groups, and interest-based Life Groups.

• Tuesday Book Discussion meets Tuesday mornings at 10 AM in Room 200-202, led by Rev. Paul Hahm.
• Eve's Girls, a women's book discussion and spiritual growth group, meets the first and third Monday of each month at 7:15 PM in the Parlor.
• Sisters 4 Christ meets the second and fourth Monday of the month from 6:00 to 8:30 PM in the Sanctuary.
• Knit & Crochet brings crafters of every skill level together on the first Thursday of each month at 1:30 PM in the Parlor.
• Pub Theology, a men's group, gathers on the first and third Thursday at the Library Sports Pub in West Bloomfield for conversation about current events, sports, films, and a series of theological and philosophical questions. All are welcome; no Bibles (or beer) required.
• Men's Mall-Walkers meet every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8 AM at the Twelve Oaks Mall food court entrance for fitness and fellowship.
• The Lunch Bunch / Hot Dog Guys gather weekly for a hot dog lunch at the Great Lakes Coney Island on Grand River on Tuesdays at 11:15 AM.

LAF (Life After Fifty) brings together adults in their 50s and older - married, single, retired, working - for social events and mutual support. The Women's Retreat in March is a weekend of introspection, laughter, and rest. Advent by Candlelight in December is an evening tea and worship service for women and their guests. Men of Orchard (MOO) come together for service projects such as Rebuilding Together and Breakfast with Santa, men's retreats, speaker breakfasts, hockey games, and curling.

A Garden Set Apart for Memory and Prayer

Just outside the church building sits the Memorial Garden, dedicated in September 2009 as the gift of Frank Stevens and his family in loving memory of Catharine Stevens. Inspired by John 11:25-26 - "I am the resurrection and the life" - the garden is designed as a place for quiet communion, baptisms, weddings, devotionals, private and collective moments of reflection, and the receiving of ashes of loved ones.

Care and maintenance are administered by the Memorial Garden Committee. The garden is sustained entirely through donations and personalized brick purchases; no general church budget funds are used for its upkeep. The church's prayer for the place runs like this: "The Garden says 'Come' to those who find their way here. May this be a place where the gift of laughter will rise above our troubles, where treasured stories will be shared to make us wiser, where the pain of loss will be embraced with arms of hope and trust."

Prayer as the First Calling

The Intercessory Prayer Group meets every Monday morning to pray for the people of Orchard, their loved ones, the staff, the community, and special requests, and to plan occasional prayer vigils and special prayer services. Prayer concerns are distributed through the Caring Connection, a weekly email prayer list published on Wednesdays alongside Orchard's Weekly Email on Saturdays. Requests can be submitted online, by emailing prayer@orchardumc.org, or by contacting the church office. The congregation sums up its first calling this way: "the number one thing we can do for Orchard is pray."

The People Who Lead Orchard

Rev. Paul Hahm began his appointment as Lead Pastor in July 2021, after serving congregations in New York, Chicago, and Michigan. He also serves as Candidacy Chair on the Michigan Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. Marianne Rinker joined the staff as Director of Congregational Care in May 2025, bringing more than 40 years of experience in geriatric and rehabilitation nursing, education, and clinical care to her role.

The music ministry is a particular point of pride. Dr. Tom Clark has served as organist since 2000; he is a clinical psychologist by profession and has given concerts at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, and St. Andrew's Cathedral in Honolulu. Jantz Black became full-time Director of Music Ministries in July 2019, bringing experience in piano, organ, handbells, praise band, conducting, and composition. Minjung Byun has accompanied the Chancel Choir since 2018.

The church office at 30450 Farmington Road is open 10 AM to 2 PM Monday through Friday. The phone is 248-626-3620, the general inbox is ministry@orchardumc.org, and prayer requests go to prayer@orchardumc.org.