Inviting a deeper love of God and neighbor across Hermiston.
A little bit of history…
Shortly after the clocks turned over into the 20th century, in 1904, a group of Methodists began gathering at the H.G. Newport residence. This group of Methodists (better known as a committee of Methodists or an agenda of Methodists) carried on in the Newport home for three years before moving to the Newport-Skinner building on Main Street. They continued to hold worship in this new building until 1909 when they transitioned into the bungalow church on 3rd Street between Gladys and Ridgeway. Later, this location would become the parsonage and be in use through the 1940’s!
In 1920, our fearless potluck lovers broke ground on the building we still inhabit today! A fellowship hall, which is now known as Davis Hall, was added on to the building in 1967 and then remodeled in the early-90’s into the space we share snacks every week after service. Along with the David Hall remodel, we updated our kitchen and installed our elevator. Both of which are in regular use still.
But, as our community shifts and grows, as we continue to accept the call and invitation God has for Hermiston First, we now look to every possible tomorrow and try to imagine how to better love God and neighbor in each of them. And, call us silly, but we think that tomorrow is better with your participation and presence in our community.
ALL
MEANS
ALL.
It really is that simple. When we say we are fully welcoming, completely affirming, and wholly inclusive, we mean it. We’re not going to hide hate behind phrases such as “We welcome all,” knowing full well that welcome only applies to those who already fit or are willing to shrink themselves to fit.
That’s not us. We want to gather around you in community. We want to come alongside you with genuine, relational presence. We want to face every tomorrow with you, as you are and as you become. Most importantly, we want to fully embrace and celebrate who you are, not who we want you to be.
You are already so very loved in this moment and all the moments that follow.
TO
THAT
END…
You’re already welcome here. You’re already celebrated here. You’re already invited into wholeness here. All that’s left, then, is for you to show up.
So, we’re saving a seat for you. We’ve got coffee brewing and a table full of post-service deliciousness. We won’t try to embarrass you. We certainly won’t guilt you, judge you, or shame you for who you are or where you’ve been.
Our services start at 10:30am on Sunday mornings. We’re starting a Bible study on Tuesday mornings at 11am and Thursday evenings at 6pm. And, if all of that feels too much like church for you, how about you come have a bowl (or three) of soup with us on Wednesday’s at 11am?
WHAT
TO
EXPECT
We like to think of ourselves as fun and we’re pretty certain that we are welcoming and oh-so hospitable.
Whether you walk in through the front door, or ride the elevator up from the back door, you’ll be greeted with a smile. The smell of coffee and the comfort of smiling faces in conversation with each other will be, more or less, a second greeting as you fully enter our space.
When the time comes, you’ll be invited to join us as we move into our beautifully cozy Sanctuary for worship. Simple, liturgical services with all of your favorite hymns (and even some songs written after 1954) and pretty okay preaching fill the hour before we scamper from the Sanctuary to find a plethora of snacks and company in Davis Hall.
We celebrate the mystery of Holy Communion on the first Sunday of each month and firmly believe that all are invited and welcomed at God’s table to participate in the ongoing feast of grace.
Meet Ryan, our pastor…
Ryan is honored and humbled to have been appointed as a Licensed Local Pastor to Hermiston First in July of 2026.
He is married to, according to him, the epitome of grace and mercy. Ryan and his wife, Stephanie, recited their vows in the upstairs of a comic book shop in Muncie, Indiana. They are overjoyed and terrified as they prepare to welcome their only (human) child, a daughter named Alma, to the world in early September.
Ryan is putting the finishing touches on his masters degree at Iliff School of Theology before moving on to Claremont School of Theology for their Philosophy of Religion and Theology PhD program. He is also excited to be releasing his new book, Somewhere Between Sparrows & Supernovas: A Theology of Divine Neglect, with The Pilgrim Press.