Who we are
Arise is a United Methodist church. We believe that God loves all people and that we share in expressing that love. The United Methodist tradition emphasizes God's grace and in serving others. We believe that Jesus Christ is the fullest expression of God's love--showing us the fullness of God's care through Jesus' teachings, death and resurrection.
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Arise United Methodist Church expresses its commitment to these beliefs through its mission and vision statements:
Our mission: Calling people to follow Jesus Christ, participate in a welcoming community and transform the world with Good News.
Our vision: We envision Arise Church to be a caring presence in our community and a place where everyone experiences kinship and belonging, while finding a pathway toward spiritual growth.
Arise Church — where everybody is family.
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See Questions and Answers to learn more about Arise United Methodist Church and our Sunday services.
Our staff
Pastor Jonathan Vitale
Zoe Wurster
Mary Foerster
Pastor Jonathan Vitale has been the Arise pastor since July 2023. He has served churches across the Midwest and as a missionary in Asia. He is convinced the church is the hope of the world, and that we, as a church, our called to be a faithful presence of Jesus in the community.
Pastor Jonathan and his wife, Allison, have three teenage children.
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He can be reached at:
Zoe Wurster is the church assistant and an active participant in Arise activties. She manages the church office and responds to inquiries that come to the church email or phone:
734-878-1928
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She can be reached directly at:
Our music director, Mary Foerster, is a recent graduate of Great Lakes Christian College. She and her husband, Chuck, have six children and 10 grandchildren scattered throughout Michigan (with youngest daughter Kaydee still at home). Mary has led or accompanied worship services in many midwestern states since she was 11 and has played as far away as Russia during a music-filled mission trip.
She can be reached at: mafoerster@glcc.edu
Your church family welcomes you
Our hope is that whether you attend a service, join one of our groups, receive groceries from our food pantry, participate in any of our events, or simply bring your pup to our dog park, you will see our church as a place of hope and encouragement.
Arise Church started in 1996 as a fresh approach to bringing the Good News of Jesus to the Pinckney community. We are still looking for new ways to continue loving and serving our neighbors. We see serving all of our neighbors as our mission—we want you to experience God’s hospitality through our efforts as a church.
If you ever need anything, please let us know. You can email me at pastorjonathan@arisechurch.org or call the church at (734) 878-1928.
Questions and answers
What are your services like?
Our services are casual -- no need to dress up. Nursery care begins shortly before the hour-long 10 a.m. service. Children are dismissed from the service after the children's message to attend Arise Kids. Our music is a mix of traditional and contemporary, led by our Praise Singers. Messages explore the beauty of ancient Scripture and connect us to the story God is still telling. There is a time of giving for members; we do not expect guests to donate.
May I take communion?
All people are welcome to Christ's table in our denomination. You do not need to be a member of this church or any church. People of all ages are welcome. Communion is offered at the front of the church or can be brought to your seat. We generally celebrate Communion on the first Sunday of the month. It is open to everyone.
Is someone like me welcome?
Absolutely. Everyone is welcome at Arise. No matter your background, what you look like or who you love, you are loved by God and are most welcome to worship with us. Services are relaxed and friendly. Dress is casual. Our building is easy to access -- no steps to navigate. We have hearing assist devices. Let us know if you need any accommodation or if there's anything we can do to make joining us more comfortable for you.