Pastor’s Reflections
Honoring Easter
It was Easter Sunday morning. I was a teenager and part of the youth group, and likely pleased to be part of all the festivities that morning. I had probably participated with the other youth in the Easter Sunrise service, then enjoyed the big breakfast in the fellowship hall, and may have actually been looking forward to the main service in our sanctuary full of flowers and people. My guess is our youth choir was going to sing, and I would get to be up in the chancel where I could get a good view of the huge crowd that had assembled that day.
And that’s when I saw him, and I’m sure everyone else did as well.
His name was Fred Taylor, and he was the coach of the Ohio State men’s basketball team. A legend in the Columbus area — he’d brought a national championship to us fans in 1960 and had frequently come very close to doing it again. He was famous. He was also pretty tall and was very noticeable, even sitting down. Kind of like a long-stemmed dandelion in the middle of your front yard. One couldn’t help but see him.
Now as I said, I was a teenager at the time, and empathy is not something teenagers are particularly good at. We are much better at making fun of people, and I had some gifts in that area. I could tease and mock and ridicule with the best of them. But I found I had just the opposite feeling toward Coach Taylor. He looked so very uncomfortable. If he ever thought he could blend in, just be one of many in the Easter crowd, perhaps even pretend he’d been coming regularly, he’d been much mistaken. Like any newcomer he wasn’t sure about the protocol, referred to his bulletin frequently, wasn’t standing up or sitting down at the right times, and of course kept looking around to see if anyone noticed … which of course we all did. All eyes were on him, he knew it, and I remember feeling great sympathy toward him. We all knew he wasn’t a regular attender, and he knew we knew.
But he was with us on Easter Sunday morning, and stayed through the whole service. Good for him.
On April 5th we will have a crowd as well. We will likely not get anyone as famous as Fred Taylor, but we might. What I can guarantee is that some of the folks there will be relative strangers to us and to the ways of a United Methodist worship service, and they will probably feel awkward and not know quite what to do. And our job, of course, is to make them feel welcome. It’s not easy — sometimes newcomers feel so self-conscious that any interaction makes them feel even more on display than they already are. But we do have to try. They’ve chosen to brave the implicit disdain for the “C and E” crowd — the Christmas and Easter attendees — and join with us in sincere celebration. We need to recognize this, and applaud it somehow.
On Easter Sunday, all over the world, saints and sinners and everyone in between will once again humble themselves before the cross of Christ. We will once again do our best to comprehend the mystery of life and death, and trust that God has a plan and that we are a part of it. So often this is hard to believe, but on Easter it tends to come alive. The sights and sounds and smells work together to bring the message home. This is what all human beings are looking for ultimately, whether we are young or old, rich or poor, famous or not so famous. So let’s figure out a way, for once, for everyone to blend in. Let’s figure out a way to lose ourselves, and our self-consciousness, in heartfelt gratitude and celebration with all the others motivated to honor the resurrection.
Peace,
John Wagner
Holy Week Schedule
Holy Thursday, April 2 @ 7 p.m.
Remembering the Last Supper,
Tenebrae Service
Good Friday, April 3 @ 6:30 p.m.
Focusing on the Crucifixion,
Ecumenical Good Friday Service at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church
1000 Yankee Road, Middletown
Easter Egg Hunt & Potluck, April 4 @ 12:00 p.m.
In the grass lot behind FUMC
Easter Sunday, April 5
8:15 a.m. Sunrise Service
Begins outside around the fountain on the south side of the church, then proceeds to sanctuary for Communion
9:15 a.m. Breakfast
Served in the Weatherwax Commons
10:30 a.m. Worship Service
Celebration in the Sanctuary
Easter Egg Hunt—April 4 @ 12 p.m.
FUMC is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt for children ages 12 and under. Join us on Saturday, April 4, at 12 p.m. Festivities begin in the church parking lot. Lunch will follow at 1 p.m. Chicken and drinks will be provided. Families are invited to bring a side dish or dessert.
Prostate Cancer Support Group—April 7 @ 7 p.m.
The Prostate Cancer Support Group will meet on Tuesday, April 7, at 7 p.m. We will meet in the Asbury Room at First United Methodist Church. Any questions or concerns please call Mike Snyder: 513-423-7092.
“Healing a Heart” Spring Grief Support Group
Hospice Care of Middletown is sponsoring two grief support groups that will meet for six weeks beginning the end of March. The evening sessions will meet on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m., March 26 through April 30. Afternoon sessions will be Fridays from 1 to 2:30 p.m., March 27 through May 1. The groups are open to the public and free of charge and will be held a the Hospice Care of Middletown, which is the building behind the Middletown Senior Center.
Call 513-424-2273 for more information or to register.
Presentation from the Dornons—May 3
Please join us in welcoming the Dornons home! Les and Debbie Dornon, missionaries to Nepal, are returning to the United States for a visit and will be presenting a program at First United Methodist on Sunday, May 3, at 4 p.m. They will give an overview of their work in the Tansen Hospital and provide time to answer questions. We have invited other United Methodist churches to this event. If you would like to help the Mission Committee with hospitality, please contact the church office.
UMW May Salad Luncheon: Baked Goods & Flower Sale—May 6
Spring is here, so let’s take out our recipes and start planning for the United Methodist Women’s Annual May Salad Luncheon. The UMW May Salad Luncheon will be on Wednesday, May 6, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Fellowship Hall. All church members are invited to prepare one (or more) salads (12–16 servings), and their favorite baked goods.
Tickets for the luncheon are $7, and can be purchased from the church office. Proceeds benefit local organizations and UMW district special missions. For more information or to learn about joining UMW call the church office, 513-423-4629.
Flower Sale Order Forms are available from the church office. To have your flowers available for pick up on May 5 or May 6 you must order by noon on Tuesday, April 14. Order forms must be returned to:
Betty Moles (513-424-3922) or Rose Morgan (513-422-4631)
Danielle’s Dream—April 17 @ 4:30 p.m.
Dear Friends in Christ,
Every spring, girls across America hunt to find the perfect dress for what will be the first fairy tale moment of their lives. They are not finished with just the dress, however; this magical night is expensive indeed and requires additional accoutrements such as hair, nails, jewelry, fine shoes, flowers, dinner, tickets to the event itself, and, in some cases, fancy transportation. Not all girls come from families who can afford to provide for all this magic, and without a fairy godmother, they must make excuses and sit this dance out.
Our cousin Danielle was one of these girls, and she always regretted missing her Senior Prom. As a young adult, Danielle had hopes to build a charity that could do something to help them. Unfortunately, Danielle had to sit this one out too as she lost her life at the age of 21 due to a rare heart condition.
Her heart was not strong, but it was big, and it seemed only right to help make Danielle’s dream a reality. Danielle’s Dream, organized on her behalf, has teamed up with
Middletown City Schools and First United Methodist Church to host an event that will grant dreams to young girls who could not have otherwise made it to the prom. On Friday, April 17, at 4:30 p.m. we will provide personalized dress fittings, drawings for gift cards, and appetizers for all girls who have been referred to the program. All will be provided with dresses free of charge.
Please keep in mind anyone you know who might benefit from this event. If you would like to refer a girl, please contact Kelly Kidd at kellenjane@aol.com to request a referral form. Once the referral has been made, the student will receive a formal invitation to attend the event.
Thank you so much for your support of this special event.
Kelly L. Kidd
kellenjane@aol.com
How You Can Help …
- Refer someone
- Donate a prom dress
- Donate accessories (shoes, purses, jewelry, etc.)
- Volunteer to assist with the event on April 17
Returning from Nepal
Update from Dr. Les & Debbie Dornon, missionaries to Nepal working in the Tansen Hospital
It had been a long night on call — and I was called again to the ER to see an alcoholic who was going through bad withdrawal. I gave more sedative to this man than I have ever done — an amount that probably would have killed me!
After he was finally stabilized, I walked back to the on-call room — rather grumpily, as it was about 3 in the morning by this time. As I came around the corner on the way to the guest house, a wonderful, sweet smell awoke my senses! It was from a beautiful bunch of jasmine flowers — blooming and wafting its scent through the night air. I felt so revived, and once again stood in awe of God’s amazing love for us, and His beautiful creation.
As we enter our last week before we leave Tansen for our home assignment in the U.S., we are keeping busy organizing our work for others to do while we are away, and organizing our home, as others will live here while we are gone. We are looking forward to our time in the U.S. — seeing family, friends and enjoying long, hot showers! J But we will be leaving part of our hearts in Tansen — with our friends here, the hospital staff, the patients, and the many needs that arrive daily.
Thanks for your prayers — both for our time in the U.S., and for the continuing work of Tansen Mission Hospital.
In Him,
लेस (Les) and देबी (Debbie)
P.S. To see more photos and stories, please check our blog: Hope for the Hills
Remember, every third Sunday of the month we collect donations to support Les and Debbie’s work in Nepal.
You may drop your donation in the collection jars or add it to your regular offering using your envelope; just write “Dornons” along with the designated amount.
Jasmine flowers
Music Notes by Mary Ellen Clinard
Easter: A Fresh Start
What is there to look forward to after Easter? Throughout Lent, our thoughts are focused on the approaching Easter season. The anticipation builds as the weather changes and the spring flowers begin to emerge from ground still saturated with melted winter snow. Now Easter will soon be past us, and we want to continue that excitement and joy in ALL of our Sundays throughout this time of year.
Perhaps you would like to try something new and fresh! Consider joining our Bell Choir or our Temple Choir as a way to get involved and get acquainted with one of the small groups at the church. Our Music Department also does outreach to nursing homes each month, as well as a concert series. We are in the beginning stages of planning a Music Camp for Kids in the summer.
All of these are opportunities to get involved and “emerge” into a life of service and mission to our church family and community. Give me a call and let me know how you would like to get a fresh start in serving Christ through music!
Music Ministries at FUMC
Handbell Choir
- 7th grade to adult
- Sunday @ 4 p.m.
Temple Choir
- high school to adult
- Wednesday @ 7:30 p.m. and each Sunday worship service
Singing Outreach at the Woodlands
- all ages
- every third Friday @ 10:30 a.m.
First Friday Concert Series 2014
APRIL 10* | THE JAZZ PEOPLE
Hipster Alert! Their tasty swinging sound is coolness defined. Popular in Mt. Adams, Yellow Springs, and Mason—and, after this concert, they’re sure to be popular in Middletown! Groovy! Check them out at thejazzpeople.com then call all your friends to meet you—be there or be square!
*NOTE: date change due to Easter Weekend
MAY 1 | KETTERING BANJO SOCIETY
…and now for something COMPLETELY different! What could be crazier than a room full of enthusiastic banjo players? A favorite of the First Friday crowd, we welcome this fun bunch back to our line-up this year. Last time they played, they snuck in a tuba!! See what surprises come from this bunch of riverboat showstoppers.
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
Food Pantry Volunteers Needed
Since we’ve had no one volunteer to replace Pat Beasley as Pantry Coordinator, the CMC is presently exploring new ways to operate the Pantry by breaking it down into smaller jobs with hours that will permit working people to participate. Jobs will be on a rotating basis.
Once this is completed, and in order for this nearly 45-year-old ministry to continue, we will need more people to become involved. Please pray and ask if this is a ministry to which you are being called. Contact Patty McGraw at 937-746-9487 for more information.
Thank you!
April Birthdays
1 Kathy Larison
2 Sharon Edelen
3 Lorena Trinkle
6 Dave Balsmeyer, Mary Ittel
11 Ryan Joseph McLaughlin
12 J.C. Shew
13 Betty Risner
14 Eleanor Imhoff, Sarah Irwin
15 Anita Shew
16 Alex Wieneke
18 Michael McDaniel
20 Elois Duff
21 Pat Bowman, Kaiden Bradley
25 Frank Summers
26 Debbie Taylor
27 Gene Keister
28 Nicole Kidd
29 Bob Duffey
30 Evelyn Hudson