Who are we?
Worship: 9:30 a.m. on Sundays
Location: 1820 5th Ave. Rock Island, IL 61201
Phone: 309-788-9384
Email: office@tworiversumc.org
Community Meal: 12:00 p.m. on Saturdays.
We are a part of the United Methodist Church, which is one of the largest Protestant denominations in the world. Every United Methodist Church is unique, but the United Methodist Church has long been a place where people can “meet in the middle.” While that is getting more and more difficult in what seems to be a more angry world, we believe kindness, compassion, and the love of Christ can overcome these divisions. One of the most important parts of being a part of Two Rivers Church is that we welcome questions, discussion, creativity, and doubt. “We may not all think alike, but we may all love alike,” is a quotation from John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement.
Two Rivers United Methodist Church is a member of the Reconciling Ministries Network. We believe that loving another person is never a sin, and we advocate for the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people into the life, ministry, and leadership of the church.
What to expect if you visit
If you come to worship with us, you’ll find a friendly greeter in the west entrance, which is adjacent to the main parking lot along 5th Avenue. There is an accessible ramp if you park on 19th Street, on the east side of the church. When you come into the sanctuary, you will find a choice between sitting at the round “cafe style” tables in the back, or in the more traditional wooden pews. There is also a balcony with a pretty nice view. You are welcome to some Fair Trade coffee and a snack. Take it to your seat or wait until after worship and sit down to meet some new friends.
We consider our style of worship to be “casual traditional.” We sing mostly traditional hymns accompanied by either organ or piano. Except for the summer, there will be a choir anthem. Special musical offerings will include soloists, the bell choir, and jazz Sundays.
Pastor Robb is passionate, connecting the story of God’s love in Christ with our lives. He is an energetic preacher and seldom stays behind the pulpit. He is deeply seeped in modern scholarship and progressive theology. He usually preaches in series, meaning that blocs of 4-6 sermons are connected and built upon themes and connections.
There is no dress code. You’ll find more t-shirts than ties. Kids are welcome. There is a PrayGround – a special area for kids to sit with coloring books, activities, and some space to spread out. There is also a connected room with a full window and rocking chairs if you want a little extra privacy with little ones. Kids can also grab an activity bag to bring to their seat if they don’t want to be in the Prayground.
During the school year, there is an adult Sunday school class upstairs in Asbury Parlor. There is also a Swahili Sunday School class that meeting in a classroom off the hallway across from the sanctuary. Kids and youth usually go downstairs to Epworth Hall to start Sunday school.
Upcoming events
August 31 – Jazz Sunday and Bring Your Bible to Church Day
A Labor Day weekend tradition, Edgar Crockett will bring a group to Two Rivers to get your toes tapping in worship. A local jazz legend, Sundays with Edgar are always fun and upbeat. On this Sunday we will also present Bibles to young people. If you have a student interested in an age-appropriate Bible, please let the church office know as soon as possible so that we can present them. After church, all adults are encouraged to bring their favorite Bible and share a story about it with our Baptism class.
September 7 – Baptisms and outside worship
Young people and adults interested in baptism by full-immersion can participate in Baptism classes after worship on August 24 and August 31. After participating in these two classes, they can come for baptism in worship on September 7. We will set up in the north parking lot for worship with an outdoor pool. As United Methodists, we believe that any amount of water is sufficient for baptism, but some desire the full-immersion experience.
September 14 – Installation of Jon Hansen and Celebration of Music
On the first Sunday of a new season of music ministries, we will have a grand celebration. Jon Hansen will be installed as our Director of Music and both the sanctuary choir and the bell choir will present offerings. We will also hear a selection with Jon’s voice featured. It will be a special beginning to a new era in worship at Two Rivers, and we hope for more to be inspired to be a part of our ongoing music ministries.
Current Series
“Finding Faith for the Skeptic” is a five-part series that will begin August 10.
Gaining insight from the book “Finding God in the Waves,” by Mike McHargue, Pastor Robb will be sharing a five-part series called “Finding Faith for the Skeptic.” The series will explore the basic tenants of our faith through the lens of scientific discovery and brain science. We will delve into difficult topics such as the efficacy of prayer, the divinity of Jesus, and the nature of divinely-inspired Scripture. Some of the conclusions that McHargue comes to will not be satisfying for some people of faith, but we might fight important common ground with those who are challenged to embrace spirituality,
This is a great series to invite people who are the edge of faith. There are still many people who feel torn between modern science and embracing God. It is hoped that we will break down this false dichotomy and learn how to live in the tension of both.
Connect to Two Rivers
There are two regular communications that help you stay updated on all that is going on at Two Rivers Church. The Compass is a paper newsletter that gets mailed every month. There is a pdf version online, and you can download from the archive that goes back to 2022.
There is also a weekly email that includes a sermon recap from the previous Sunday as well as news and information about things that are coming up.
Sermon Archive
You can read a recap of every sermon since Easter 2020. There are also links here to every Worship at Home video that has been posted to Youtube. Click on the Sermons banner above to get to the archive page.
Church History
For over a century, Two Rivers Church was known simply as “First Church,” because it was the first church in the Quad Cities, organized as a house gathering in 1830, and assigned a Methodist circuit pastor in 1833. The current building was dedicated in 1890. Today, Two Rivers Church serves the entire Quad Cities Area.
- 1833: Organized as a mission church, renamed in 1836 as First Methodist Episcopal Church at Spencer cabin
- 1835: The City of Rock Island was established, although it was first known as Stephenson. It was renamed Rock Island in 1841.*
- 1844: Built first church
- 1856: Built second church
- 1889: Built present stone church, dedicating it 1890
- 1939: Changed name to First Methodist Church
- 1964: Bought Camp Milan from Central Illinois Conference for $1
- 2003: The first Saturday meal is served. At first it was served on both Saturday and Sunday. 20 years later, the only Saturdays it misses is when Saturday falls on Christmas and New Year’s Day.
- 2008: Merged with Memorial Heights UMC and became Two Rivers United Methodist Church.
- 2013: Two Rivers United Methodist Church Celebrated 180 years!
- 2014: Rev. Robb McCoy begins his ministry at Two Rivers Church.
- 2020: Two Rivers Church shifts to “Worship at Home” videos. The Meal Site however, never stopped functioning. They shrunk their volunteer crew, and converted to “carry out only” for the rest of the pandemic.
- 2023: The people of Two Rivers Church vote overwhelmingly to become a “Reconciling Congregation.” After a six-month process of study, discernment, discussion, and prayer, the church adopts a welcome statement that affirms the inclusion of LGBTQ+ in all aspects of church life and leadership.
