Connecting in community is the heartbeat of First United. But one size doesn’t fit all. Here, worship meets you in the ways that fit your life—your season, your capacity.
In-person, Sundays at 10 ✦ Online / On Demand
Wide-Open Welcome
Life is real, messy, and meaning-full.
Church should be too.
Happy to Meet You
First United is led by a collaborative team of women pastors who guide our community and roll up their sleeves right alongside it. Meet them and other key staff members below:
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Tish is a co-equal part of the clergy team at First United, sharing in the leadership of worship, faith formation, finances, and pastoral care. Nearly two decades at First United shaped her early connection to this community. She began pastoral ministry in 2005 and joined the clergy team here in 2023.
At the core of her work is a steady belief: loving God and loving one another is what holds us together—and it’s not something we do alone. She often speaks of the “kin-dom” of God as something grounded, shared, and still unfolding among us.
Tish began pastoral ministry in 2005 and has been walking alongside people ever since.
Outside of church, you’ll likely find her reading, gardening, near the water, or spending time with her family—her husband Brian, their son Ben and daughter-in-law Mackenzie, and her grandson Teddy.
Rev. Tish Bowman (she/her)
PASTOR
Rev. Tania Dozeman (she/her)
PASTOR
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Tania is a co-equal part of the clergy team at First United, sharing in the leadership of worship and pastoral care. She holds a Master of Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (2018), along with degrees in counseling education and psychology from Hope College and Western Michigan University.
Her path into ministry began in public schools, where she worked as a teacher and school counselor. That background still shapes how she shows up—attentive, grounded, and tuned to the complexity of people’s lives.
These days, she finds joy in pastoring, writing, gathering community, and staying open to the gentle nudges of the Spirit. Rooted in the Celtic Christian tradition, she feels most at home on the edges—where there’s room for mystery, beauty, and a bit of playfulness.
She’s married to Ted, mom to two boys, and shares her home with Sophie, the family’s loyal Labrador.
Rev. LuAnne Stanley Hook (she/her)
PASTOR/DEACON
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LuAnne is a co-equal of the clergy team at First United, sharing in the leadership of the church’s life and service ministries. She’s been part of this community since 2000 and was ordained as a deacon in 2019.
Her work centers on compassion and justice, helping connect faith with real needs in the community and showing up where it matters.
Originally from Indiana, she still follows the Indy 500 and enjoys a good basketball game. Time in Nashville after divinity school at Vanderbilt added “y’all” to her vocabulary—and she means it when she says it includes everyone.
She loves to travel, but also values quiet evenings at home with her spouse Tim, their dog Piston, and time with their two grown sons—preferably with pie, ice cream, or chocolate.
Nicole Lara (she/her)
OFFICE ADMIN.
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Nicole keeps First United running smoothly, powered by her calm demeanor, knack for list-making, and an impressively large tumbler of iced tea (heavy on the ice, just how she likes it).
Years of raising five kids with her husband Felix—alongside a small backyard flock of chickens—helped her master the art of multitasking, time management, and taking chaos in stride.
She shows up with quiet confidence, a warm welcome, and a deep appreciation for the community she’s found here.
Chelsea Scott (she/her)
WORSHIP DIRECTOR
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Music is where Chelsea most easily connects with God, which makes guiding worship at First United a natural fit. From selecting songs to navigating the occasional last-minute pivot (a little cat-herding included), she loves creating moments that are deeply intentional yet open to the many meaningful ways the Spirit shows up.
Outside of Sunday mornings, she enjoys singing, cooking and baking, and spending time with her toddler—who brings plenty of joy, chaos, and crumbs. (You’ll often spot her in worship too, making her way to the front to join in with mom.)Chelsea believes worship can be deep without being stiff, and that sometimes the most connective moments happen in the middle of the unexpected.
Raquel DeGarmo (she/her)
YOUTH DIRECTOR
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Raquel serves as Youth Director at First United, walking alongside students as they ask big questions, grow in their faith, and begin to step into who they’re becoming.
Her own faith was shaped through missions, service, advocacy, and the steady presence of mentors who showed up for her. That experience now guides how she shows up—creating space where youth feel safe, seen, and genuinely excited to grow.
She’s passionate about helping students discover their purpose and their voice—as advocates, servant leaders, and thoughtful participants in the world around them. For Raquel, it’s a joy to serve, encourage, and grow right alongside them.
Beth Peter (she/her)
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
DIRECTOR
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Beth serves as Children’s Ministry Director at First United, creating space for kids to explore wonder, ask questions, and begin to grow a faith that feels real and their own. Her background in child development and family systems shows up in how she leads—with attentiveness, care, and a deep respect for each child’s experience.
In her full-time work, Beth is a physician partner at Lakewood Family Medicine and serves in medical staff leadership at Holland Hospital. But on Sunday mornings, she trades her stethoscope and clinical work for bubbles, glitter, and songs—showing up with the same attentive care, just in a different setting.
She brings a grounded presence, a sense of play, and a genuine love for the kids and families who make up this community.
Tom Pier-Fitzgerald (he/him)
VOLUNTEER PASTOR
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Tom is part of the pastoral team at First United, serving in a volunteer role and sharing in the care and life of the community. His presence is marked by a generous spirit, a bit of playfulness, and a willingness to show up where he’s needed.
He describes himself as a bit of a leprechaun—mischievous in the best sense, and generous with his time, gifts, and resources.
Outside of his pastoral rhythm, Tom spends time with his grandsons, studies Celtic spirituality, takes long walks (often with a friend), and enjoys a steady rotation of word games.
His prayer life is rooted in reflection and listening—through scripture, spiritual texts, and the natural world. As he puts it, God is just as likely to speak on a quiet walk as during a worship service—and he’s grateful for both.
Julia Colingsworth (she/her)
ORGANIST
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Julia serves as organist at First United, bringing a deep love for the role music plays in shaping worship.
She started playing in churches at age 15 and has been “on the bench” ever since (now 71 years and counting). She holds degrees in elementary and music education from Western Michigan University, along with a Master’s in Organ from WMU and a Master’s in Family and Child Ecology from Michigan State University.
She has been active in the American Guild of Organists since 1974, serving in leadership roles across several Michigan chapters and currently as Co-Dean of the Holland Chapter.
Julia’s depth of experience and servant’s heart are a treasured part of this community.
Questions Encouraged
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Here, you’re invited to worship your way—in person, online (live or on demand), or out in nature through Worship in the Wild.
In-person worship: Sundays at 10am
57 W 10th St, Holland, MI 49423 | Directions
Online / On Demand: Watch -
Classes + Togetherness + Service are the fabric of our community at First United.
We invite you to jump in as fits your needs, your season and your capacity:
Little Kid Learning Hour – for children under age 5
Big Kid Learning Hour – for grades 1–5 or Busy Bags for older kids who participate in our multi-generational worship gatherings
Youth Group – for grades 6–12
Adult & intergenerational classes and discussion groups offered seasonally
Small groups (Core Groups) that gather around shared interests, life stages, or rhythms
Refresh – a hands-on ministry meeting tangible needs in the unhoused community through meals, hygiene supplies, and relational support
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Life at First United is shaped by people who show up as they are, with what they have, and make room for others to do the same.
Our space and the way we operate are well-loved and well-worn, reflecting our commitment to being used in service of our neighbors.
Our intergenerational worship gatherings are relaxed, relevant, and a bit eclectic—with a variety of traditional hymns and modern music and teaching styles. You’re free to participate however you are comfortable.
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Yes—fully. LGBTQIA+ people are affirmed, celebrated, and trusted as leaders and full participants in every part of our community.
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Not in a formal or prescriptive way. We’re rooted in the United Methodist tradition, but we prioritize belonging over belief and trust that faith unfolds differently for each person.
Questions, exploration, and diverse perspectives are an integral part of shared life here.
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We acknowledge and repent of the harm the church has caused, both historically and in the present.
We are especially sensitive to religious trauma and welcome those who are healing, deconstructing, or pursuing spirituality without formal beliefs. Here, you’re invited to move at your own pace, with no pressure to arrive anywhere.
You’re invited, just as you are:
Land Acknowledgement
We honor the original stewards of this land—the Anishinaabe peoples: Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi.
First United is a Reconciling Community
All of You is affirmed here, and invited into full participation. First United is a member of the Reconciling Ministries Network.
In Continued Collaboration with Our Community Partners:
