Coming Up at First UMC

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LOVE SUNDAY 2025

Please join us and the women of UWFaith in welcoming Candice Klopfenstein, who is our featured speaker during LOVE Sunday worship on February 16 at 9:30 AM.

Candice is an award-winning children’s book author and mosaic artist. Through her writing and art, she desires to connect others with hope and beauty. Within her art practice, Candice creates mosaic art from stained glass, smalti glass, natural stone, and found objects such as shell fragments and beach glass, creating beauty from brokenness. In addition to her studio practice, leading art workshops for others who have experienced loss or trauma has been a deeply rewarding part of her creative journey. Her artwork has been on display in various exhibitions throughout the US, and internationally.

Candice’s journey of writing the children’s book “The Place Where I Belong” began when she was an in-home tutor for a newly arrived refugee family. Through this and other connections with the local refugee community, she came to understand the fundamental desire of people everywhere to have a secure and peaceful place to call home. Her personal journey of belonging has led her to create ways for others to experience a life full of peace, hope, joy, and laughter, to reaffirm value and bring hope to children and families everywhere.