About Us
What We Believe
At Hollidaysburg First United Methodist Church, we are a welcoming community of faith committed to loving God and loving our neighbors. We believe everyone is invited to experience the life-changing grace of Jesus Christ and to grow in faith together through worship, fellowship, and service.
As part of the United Methodist Church, we believe in:
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God’s grace for all people — freely given and always available.
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Faith in action — serving others as an expression of our love for God.
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The authority of Scripture — guiding our daily lives and spiritual growth.
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Community and connection — growing together through prayer, learning, and care for one another.
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The sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion — as signs of God’s love and presence in our lives.
Our mission is simple:
To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Core Beliefs
Loving Jesus entails our worship and devotion. The greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Our reason for being is to love God holistically. We want to love Jesus and worship Him forever. Our worship services provide opportunities for corporate worship, and people are encouraged to worship God daily.
Our faith cannot become stagnant. Followers of Jesus are always growing in their love for God and others. We continue to develop, mature, and become more like Jesus. Various life groups and Sunday School classes provide opportunities to grow together on the journey of faith.
Sharing Jesus with all includes the mission and outreach of our congregation. A wide variety of ministries in the life of the church provide opportunities for service and avenues for living out faith and sharing the love of Christ with all. We are blessed to be the hands and feet of Christ, reaching out to Blair County and to the world.
As a United Methodist congregation, we are sinners saved by the grace of God through Jesus Christ.
For a more in-depth look at our denominational beliefs, visit
Basics of Our Faith – The United Methodist Church.
Location & Times
We offer three worship services every Sunday to help you connect in the way that feels most meaningful to you:
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8:00 a.m. – Blended Service
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9:30 a.m. – Contemporary Service (includes Sunday School after worship and prayer)
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11:00 a.m. – Traditional Service
Infants and toddlers are welcome in our nursery during all services, and children & youth are invited to stay for songs and worship at 9:30 before heading to their own engaging lesson time.
Wherever you are on your faith journey, you’ll find a place to belong, grow, and serve at Hollidaysburg FUMC.
In Person
Online
Our Staff
We’re blessed with a wonderful team who help our church grow and thrive.
Pastor Joleen Willis
Pastor Joleen Willis leads with a heart full of compassion and a deep love for Jesus. She has a gift for connecting with people in every season of life. Listening, guiding, and encouraging others to walk closely with God. Her messages inspire faith in action, reminding us that following Christ means loving people well and serving with joy.
Whether preaching on Sunday morning, praying with a family, or sharing a laugh in the hallway, Pastor Joleen embodies the grace and kindness of Christ in all she does.
Crissy Edmundson
Administrative Assistant
Cindy Storm
Big Fish Preschool Head Teacher
Susan Hamilton
Director of Traditional Music
Martin Lacki
Financial Secretary
Jeremy Jack
Children's Director
Jeffrey Cogan
Organist/Accompanist
Linda Holland
Director of Financial Operations
Ross Hoover
Director of Contemporary Music and AV/Tech
Ray Rettig
Facilities Manager
Joel Locke
Custodian
Sherry Locke
Custodian
Contact Hollidaysburg First United Methodist Church
We’re here to help. Whether you have a question, prayer request, or want to get connected.
Our staff is happy to assist you or direct your message to the right ministry area.
Jeffrey Cogan
Organist/Accompanist
Crissy Edmundson
Crissy joined the staff in November 2019. She has always been a local girl, growing up in Roaring Spring then moving to Duncansville when she married. She is a very proud mom of her teenage son, Jon. She lost her husband to ALS in 2015. Crissy graduated from Messiah College with a B.A. in secondary English education. She taught in both public and private schools, worked as a terminal operator in the petroleum industry, and now serves at the church. Her passion to serve the Lord can be seen by anyone who enters the office. She greets everyone with a warm, welcoming smile. She strives daily to live out her favorite chapter in the Bible 1 Corinthians 13 “love is …”
Jeremy Jack
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Susan Hamilton
Susan is originally from Somers Point, New Jersey. She graduated from the University of Dayton (B.S. Music Education) and completed graduate work at Morehead State University and Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. She has served as organist, choir director, and minister of music in Methodist churches across the country. A mother of three and grandmother of two, she has made music her lifelong passion. Her favorite scripture is “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). Susan and Steve moved to Hollidaysburg in December of 2016 when she began her work at FUMC. Her favorite thing about work are the people!
Linda Holland
Director of Financial Operations
Ross Hoover
Director of Contemporary Music and AV/Tech
Martin Lacki
Marty has been a member of First United Methodist Church Hollidaysburg since 2010. He became a part-time member of the staff in 2014. He works full-time as an Assistant Director of Financial Aid at American University, and he lives in Hollidaysburg with his wife, two children and two dogs. His favorite scripture is Ecclesiastes 7:8, “The end of a matter is better than it’s beginning, and patience is better than pride.” His favorite thing about serving as Financial Secretary is witnessing first-hand the incredible way in which the Holy Spirit moves Jesus followers to support the church, the community and the world.
Joel Locke
Custodian
Sherry Locke
Custodian
Ray Rettig
Facilities Manager
Cindy Storm
Cindy’s favorite word is “Happy.” She came on staff with First UMC in 2017, when Big Fish Preschool was established. Cindy’s favorite thing about her “Happy Place” is getting the students ready for the next step of their educational experience. Cindy’s students know they are the luckiest kids, because they are a gift from God. Her favorite scripture is Mark 9:23, Jesus said to him, “All things are possible for one who believes.”
