Pastor’s Reflections
Among the many important questions the Bible addresses is this one:
“Who is included and who is excluded?”
In other words, who should get to be part of us, one of our people, the community of true believers? It’s a big issue for the Old Testament. Jezebel, the cruel Phoenician born wife of King Ahab, was a foreigner who clearly should not have been accepted by the Hebrews. She not only promoted the worship of Baal, a false god and rival to Yahweh, but sought the death of Israel’s’ greatest prophet. Her name is still synonymous with wickedness, and after her death there were repeated proclamations –“no more foreign wives from foreign countries!” But then there’s Ruth, a saintly and courageous Moabite woman who became the wife of a Hebrew man and was eventually given a place of high honor in the community of the faithful. She was the great grandmother of King David, and even has her own book of the Bible!
So, should outsiders be accepted? Well, sometimes but not always, the Old Testament seems to say. There have to be standards, chief among them the acceptance of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In the Old Testament that means you have to be one of the Chosen People, a Jew, either by birth or conversion.
The New Testament’s questions about inclusion are similar. Who should be allowed in this new “church” we hold so dear? Would we dare to accept foreigners, people who were not first Jews, or had not gone through an arduous conversion to Judaism? This controversy was terribly difficult for the early church to resolve, but eventually it was resolved. They were not altogether comfortable with it, but they decided they simply could not exclude people who were not born into the Jewish community, and that they could not demand conversion to Judaism before becoming a Christian. Yet even after the doors of the church were officially opened to all there were still problems. Different ways of worshipping, language problems, different understanding of morality, different theologies – it was quickly understood that inclusion meant changes. The community would change, and change was difficult.
And of course, as we surely know, that sort of change has been required of all subsequent generations of the church. Who should we let in? And if we do let them in, how will their presence change us?
On February 7th, we hope to bring a number of Hispanic families into membership here at First United Methodist Church. They have been working toward this moment over the past year through weekly and sometimes twice weekly classes led by pastors Dani and Henry Folgoso. They are learning our language, but also our beliefs. They have been studying the Christian faith and the United Methodist version of that faith, and are deemed ready for this next step.
The presence of these families has already changed our church, and in most ways we can see, quite positively. The children are fully bilingual and fully participate in our children’s ministry – and that ministry is growing. But it is sometimes awkward for those of us who are not bilingual. For their part, the Spanish speaking adults who attend our church are working hard to improve their English. I can perceive progress.
But to relate to them as a pastor I see a need to improve my Spanish.
I spoke with Mike Hieber, recently retired from Miami University of Middletown, and he is trying to arrange for someone to come teach a class in Spanish to whoever in our church would like to better converse politely. Just being able to say “Good morning” or “My name is so and so, what is your name?” would be a mark of progress for me. How about you?
If you are interested, please let us know at the church office. We are not sure yet when the class would start, but we are looking at only five or six sessions, and not “Spanish 101” so much as instruction on good manners and friendliness.
We Christians are always being challenged – it’s always been part of who we are. There are days I wish it would stop, but it never does. But who knows – maybe this time a little change can be fun! We can always hope, right?
Peace,
John Wagner
Thank You from Rosa Parks
Dear Rev. Wagner and Congregation,
Thank you for providing child care while our parents attended Parenting Partners classes. We hope to see long term effects from these classes. The student loved the extra attention from your members.
Sincerely,
Joy Carothers
Rosa Parks Elementary
Jr. Church News
Saint Valentine’s Day Party
This is how we know that LOVE is:
“…that Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.”-1 John 3:16
On Saturday, February 13, 2016 Junior Church will be celebrating Saint Valentine’s Day at church in Fellowship Hall from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. All are invited to come and invite other kids or friends to this lovely gathering. You may share a dessert and/or any snack you think the children will love. The church will provide hot dogs, pizza and drinks. Let’s make it all about the children and be ready to be engaged in activities and crafts to show your love and support for this ministry!
In Christ’s Love,
The Junior Church Team
Jr. Church Volunteer Training– Feb. 7
To all Jr. Church Volunteers:
A guest speaker will be here to share some of what has worked for them at their church, and to also hear from us about our unique ministry with Hispanic children. The volunteer training will be on Sunday, February 7, right after our church service. We will do this in place of our monthly meeting, lunch will be provided, and we hope to finish by 3:00 p.m. We hope you can make it!
Thank you,
The Junior Church Team
Adult Sunday School: Who is Jesus?
Please join us in our Adult Sunday School before worship service from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. We will be learning together from the Gospel of Mark, “Who is Jesus?” The schedule and themes for each class are listed below:
| Jan. 31 | “A Leper, a Paralytic, and a Tax Collector” | Mark 1:40-2:17 |
| Feb. 7 | “Conflict in Galilee” | Mark 2:18-3:35 |
| Feb. 14 | “Kingdom Parables | Mark 4:1-34 |
| Feb. 21 | “Desperate Straits” | Mark 4:35-6:6 |
| Feb. 28 | “Understanding the Loaves” | Mark 6:6-52 |
| Mar. 6 | “Violating Tradition” | Mark 6:53-7:37 |
| Mar. 13 | “Who Do You Say I Am?” | Mark 8:1-9:1 |
| Mar. 20 | “Review” | Mark 1-8 |
College/Military Care Packages
The college/military snack boxes will be assembled for mailing on Sunday, February 28. If there are any changes to the mailing list addresses or persons receiving the boxes, please contact the church office at (513) 423-4629. We also are happy to receive donations towards mailing costs and cookies for the boxes. If you are donating cookies on the 28th, please bring 8 bags of 6 medium-sized cookies to the conference room. Thank you for your help! –Imogene Orts
Our Sacred Space: 125 Years
The year 2016 marks 125 years of worship and Christian Education in our sanctuary building. Our Anniversary celebration will be on May 1 , 2016. Be sure to mark the date on your calendar!
First United Methodist Church
Emergency Weather Closing Procedure
In the event of a Weather Emergency, the Senior Pastor and leadership at First United Methodist Church may cancel any and all events held the day of the severe weather event. This includes the Food Pantry. Your health and well being is paramount to us. That being said if you don’t feel conditions are safe for travel, please stay home.
If the county calls a Level 3 Emergency (no unauthorized persons allowed on the roads) the church and all events scheduled will be cancelled.
There are two ways to check if the church will be open:
- Check the FUMC website (www.myfumc.net) or call the church at 513-423-4629. The message will be updated to reflect any change or closing.
- Check the school closings on WKRC-TV Local 12; Cincinnati. They will scroll along the bottom of the screen. Also, check the web at www.local12.com under Weather> SchoolWatch.
UMW End of Year 2015
It seems like the UMW is always selling something….for good reason. Again this year we were able to donate over $5,000 to local missions, and $1400 to district missions. With the support of this congregation the following local groups received a donation: Art Central Foundation, Dove House women’s shelter, Hope House, MANY, and the Pregnancy Center. Our church received donations for Breakfast Club, Shalom, the Neighborhood, and Whiz Kids. Ladies, please consider joining us in 2016.
Altar Flowers
Reminder: It’s not too late to sign up for altar flowers in 2015! There are still Sundays available. To place an order, please contact the church office or see Mary Maurer.
Music Notes by Mary Ellen Clinard
The Season of Lent/Special Ash Wednesday Services
The beginning of Lent arrives a little early this year, but in the midst of the darkness of winter weather, we begin to prepare our hearts and minds for the glory of Easter.
ASH WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 10 This year there will be several opportunities to experience the beginning of Lent with the placing of the ashes on our foreheads. All services are in the sanctuary and about 20 minutes in length.
Ash Wednesday services will be held 8:00 am, 12:00 pm, 5:30 pm, 7:30 pm.
It’s Choralfest Time!
The big day of Choralfest is Saturday, March 5th when we go to Loveland and practice with 100 other children from 10 different churches. This is a great opportunity for our children to participate in a children’s choir singing of God’s glory! A bit of history: This idea was started by Clem Burton as a way for Middletown churches children’s choirs to get together. Since then it has become more regional, and Choralfest in its present form is now in its 30th year. FUMC has participated every year! Thank you for your support!
First Friday Concert Series 2016
FERUARY 5 | JIMMY ROGERS
A perennial favorite, Jimmy warms up February with honky-tonk piano and old time rock n’ roll! A little bit rock, a little bit roll, a little bit blues and a whole lot of funk!
MARCH 4 | The Dedication Band
If dulcimers, banjos, and fiddles are your instruments of choice you won’t want to miss this Band. Learn about the origins of Early American music as it moved across the ocean to the New World and melded into what we know as truly American music and the grandfather of bluegrass.
This concert series wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Middletown Community Foundation, The Barnitz Fund and the congregation of First United Methodist Church, Middletown. Thank you for helping us make downtown Middletown a destination for the arts!
Community Ministries Corner
Farewell to Sarah
The Pantry/Emergency Food Committee wishes Sarah Danzeisen well as she leaves our community to relocate to Indianapolis for her new job. Sarah has been putting together and sending out the weekly shopping list to our Pantry Buyers for a few months now and we so appreciate the time she has given to do this. We will miss you, Sarah! May God bless and keep you!
Women’s Shelter Tree Project
The Women’s Shelter Tree project of filled Christmas gift bags for the residents of the Hope House Center for Women and Children was a tremendous example of the spirit of our church to reach out to our community members. Thirty gift bags were delivered for the Christmas celebration. The women have expressed appreciation for feeling the love from others who do not personally know them but who want to share. Thank you for all of the support that was given to this project! The next CMC meeting is Feb. 11 at 6:30 pm.
Laxmi in Nepal
Update from Dr. Les and Debbie Dornon, missionaries to Nepal working in the Tansen Hospital
Happy New Year! We would like to take the next several months and share with you how the blockade between India and Nepal has been affecting the people here in Tansen.
Laxmi is our gardener, and she works for several other missionary families, as well. Her home was ruined during the earthquake. Thanks to the donations of many people, she has the funds to build a new, sturdy home. Unfortunately construction has halted as the cold season has begun because the cement from India is not available. She is able to live in a nearby relative’s home, but now even as supplies are starting to become more available, she is concerned that the money won’t be enough because everything has become much more expensive due to the blockade. (Cement used to be 600 rupees a bag – now minimum is 800 rupees.) Laxmi is a widow and lives with one of her sons (who works at the hospital) with his wife and 2 daughters. She is one of the most generous people I know – always inviting us over for meals and sharing delicious feasts – which probably is more than her family eats in a week! We are humbled by people like Laxmi. Thanks for your prayers for her and her family – and for many others like her.
One last request – please do pray for rain. Our hospital water tanks are running empty – we have to buy tankers of water to keep running.
In Him,
लेस (Les) and देबी (Debbie)
P.S. To see more photos and stories, please check our blog: dornonnepalmission.wordpress.com
First Friday Concert Series—2016 Schedule
February 5 | Jimmy Rogers (Honky Tonk and Boogie Woogie piano)
March 4 | The Dedication Band (Early American Music)
April 1 | The Jazz People (Jazz vocals and guitar)
May 6 | Douglas Blue Feather (Native American flute)
June 3 | Mike “Elvis” Davis (Elvis tribute artist)
July 1 | My Brother’s Keeper (bluegrass and contemporary folk)
August 5 | Acclarion (Clarinet and Accordian)
September 2 | The Reen Family (a family barbershop group)
October 7 | University of Dayton New Horizons German Oompah Band
November 4 | Miami University Men’s Glee Club
December 2 | Harps of Grace (harp ensemble)
February Birthdays
1 Matthew Dixon, Hannah Dornon, Christian McLaughlin
3 Kathy Lambert, Sandy Mills
5 Dr. Mark Frazer
6 Kenna Marie Jenkins
7 David Wittman
8 Anita McLaughlin
9 Mary Davis, Lynda Goecke
10 John McDaniel
11 Roy Ickes, Gene Saylor, David Wieneke
12 Kira Wills
13 Jack Diefenbach, Martha Gill
14 Mary Roehll
16 Mary Ellen Clinard, Daphne Murphy
17 Phyllis Richmond
19 Bill Alderton, Dean Prushing, Helen Tucker
21 Johnny Schmitt
22 Mark Mills
24 Joni Bachelor
28 Donna Burley