As a United Methodist Church, Sesser First is founded on a rich tradition of faith and connectedness. Our mission is to respond to God's love by sharing generously, accepting others, enjoying one another and God, seeking spiritual growth, and caring for others. Here you will find people who:

• Help others in our community

• Accept you for who you are

• Offer a place to belong

• Show respect for other religions

• Support people facing difficulty

• Welcome diverse opinions and beliefs

• Guide others to find deeper meaning

• Support state and world missions

 Our services are warm, inviting, and positive. We work hard to ensure that those who choose to worship here have many ways to express their spirituality, and that they leave our presence with a brighter outlook on the week ahead. Our staff is available and willing to serve you. Please do not hesitate to contact us at any time.

As United Methodists:

We believe that Jesus Christ is “the way, the truth, and the life.” Through Jesus, we discover what God is really like – a loving God, full of compassion, forgiveness, and grace.

We emphasize the primacy of God’s grace in the life of salvation. We affirm the sacred dignity of each and every human being. We believe that faith must be put into action.

We look to scripture, tradition, experience, and reason as guidelines for our faith, and we understand the Bible to be the primary source and foundation of our Christian witness.

We are a part of a global “connectional church” through which we share in mission and ministry throughout our world.

Church History

The town of Sesser in Franklin County of the state of Illinois was surveyed on the 29^th and 30^th days of June 1905.  As the community was established and continued to grow, the vision of organizing a Methodist Episcopal church was realized.  During the annual conference of the Mt. Vernon district of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Rev Thomas J. Davis was appointed to Sesser, which convened, September 19-24, 1906, in Vandalia, Illinois. This appointment confirmed the establishment of the Sesser Methodist Episcopal Church in 1906.

The trustees of the church met March 17, 1909 to consider purchasing lots on which to construct a church building at the northeast corner of West Florence and State Highway 148.  The first church building was erected in 1909 with the first service meeting in September 1909.

Charter Members were: Mrs. James McCollum, Mrs. H. A. Patterson, a. E. Warren, Mrs. A. E. Warren, John Dugan, Anna Dugan, Mrs. Walter Sulcer, F. A. Dycus, Mrs. F. A. Dycus, Alice Dycus Ray, Effie Dycus Kirkpatrick, Demonia Dycus Crain, Lizzie Thompson.

As we respect and reflect on the vision of those who made it possible for us to gather as a church family in the First United Methodist Church, we are humbled as we ponder, “What is our vision for the Methodist Church in the Sesser Community—what is the legacy we are prayerfully making for those who follow?”

(“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same spirit.” I Cor. 12:4.)

Source: Archives, McKendree College, Local church records.