Pastor’s Reflections
Be Blessed!
“Hope Springs Eternal!”
I’ve employed that quote, consciously or unconsciously, most of my life. It works for me because it describes the way I feel when I once again anticipate the future after being down in the dumps. “Hope Springs Eternal!” I say.
Not long ago I happened upon these words in their original context. Turns out they come from Alexander Pope, a major English poet of the 18th century. His poem, “An Essay on Man,” takes a darker turn than one might expect:
“Hope springs eternal in the human breast:
Man never is, but always to be blest:
The soul, uneasy and confined from home,
Rests and expatiates in a life to come.”
I hear him saying we never really feel blessed now, today, this moment. Our beleaguered souls are always waiting for something better, like a better job, or retirement, or heaven. The “life to come,” as he puts it, is always something more desirable than the present. I don’t think the poet recommends this way of life; he is simply describing what he sees in others and in himself. We are people forever waiting “to be” blest. A rather sad commentary.
Like many others I suppose I do tend to live for tomorrow, for better days ahead. I dream of that Sunday when the church is full, or the kids all finally settled and successful. It’s natural. Then again, every so often, something calls my attention to what’s happening in the present. I’m barely conscious of it, which is probably as it should be. I’m not analyzing, not judging, not wishing I was someplace else. I feel blessed in being right here, right now. One of our church members recently shared this quote: “I’m beginning to suspect that the moment we’ve been waiting for doesn’t require waiting.” Well put! Easter is coming up soon, just a few weeks away now. I urge you to be with us here at First United Methodist, or with some other group of Christians, as we gather to commemorate the great victory of Jesus Christ over death. I ask also that we remember that Jesus wasn’t just about giving us hope for a future in heaven, but also about giving us a new hope of life in the present. “Eternal Life,” in other words, is not only living forever but living right now, feeling blessed right now. It’s about experiencing God working in this very moment of, say, a conversation with a friend, or noticing a bird in flight, or feeling a warm breeze on our cheek.
I know we can’t help talking about and living for what’s to come. It’s both necessary and very human. But we can, with God’s help, also live today. And that, I think, is the essence of our faith and our life in Christ.
Be Blessed!
John
Holy Week Schedule
Holy Thursday, April 17, 7:00pm
Taize Service, Prayer & Music
Good Friday, April 18, 3:00pm
Focusing on the Crucifixion
Easter Sunday, April 20
8:15am Sunrise Service, Begins outside around the fountain on the south side of the church, then proceed to Sanctuary for Communion
9:15am Breakfast, Served in the Weatherwax Commons
10:30am Worship Service, In the Sanctuary with Brass & Timpani
Fellowship Breakfasts: Last Saturday Each Month @ 8:00AM
For Men:
On February 22 we met at Dad’s for a fellowship breakfast and there were 22 of us! Email reminders seem to be helpful! I’m happy to email or call to remind you, just let me know what you prefer (Dave Balsmeyer 513-422-8928).
Our next meeting is March 29 at 8:00AM at Dad’s; please plan to come. Bring a friend. We can still use the coupons Dad’s puts in the paper to get 50% off your friend’s meal. So clip them out and bring some.
For Women:
Mug ‘n Muffin meets at Java Johnny’s. It’s a great time of fellowship and sharing our stories. All women are welcome. Call Barb Balsmeyer (422-8928) if you’d like to be placed on the e-mail reminder list.
We hope you’ll join us monthly! Next Meeting: Saturday, April 26
25¢ Club
Last fall the Missions Committee started the “25¢ Club.” We are taking up and supporting The United Methodist Church in fighting malaria in Africa. Malaria is found in all parts of the world, from Sicily to the Horn of Africa and throughout the Pacific.
I have seen young men in perfect health one minute to uncontrolled shaking the next. Imagine No Malaria is an extraordinary effort of The United Methodist Church, putting our faith into action to end preventable deaths by malaria in Africa. We cannot take on the whole world, but we can begin by using our “25¢ Club” as a starting point.
Please join with the Committee and support this effort by dropping your quarters in the collection plate. We are not asking for anything but quarters.
Thank you,
Frank Richmond for the Missions Committee
Easter Flower Order Forms are Available Through the Church Office. Deadline to Order is April 6. Please contact the office for assistance.
UMW May Salad Luncheon, Baked Goods & Flower Sale—May 7
Spring is here so let’s take out our recipes and start plans for the United Methodist Women’s Annual May Salad Luncheon. The UMW Salad Luncheon will be on Wed, May 7 from 11am-1pm, in Fellowship Hall. All church members are asked to prepare one (or more) salads (12-16 servings), and their favorite baked goods. Church members who want to try a new recipe will find one in the UMW Cookbook, which went on sale last year. A few copies are still available for $10 each through the UMW.
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 UWM call the church office, 513-423-4629.
You’ll find a UMW May Salad Luncheon Flower Sale Order Form enclosed and extra copies are available at church. To have your flowers available for pick up on May 6 or May 7 you must order by Noon on Wednesday, April 16. Order forms must be returned to:
Betty Moles (513-424-3922) or Rose Morgan (513-422-4631)
Getting to Know Jesus In Nepal
Update from Dr. Les & Debbie Dornon, missionaries to Nepal working in the Tansen Hospital
Mithu (pronounced like “me too”) has been a nurse here at Tansen hospital for many years. She is quite senior – serving as one of the supervisors. She and her husband live near the hospital lower gate – almost directly under the large sign proclaiming, “We serve, Jesus heals.” 
Her son did his residency here, and now is in China getting certified in surgery. Her daughter is married and living in Australia. Mithu had a good life. Until – it was discovered that she had cervical cancer, and it was already advanced. (Pap smears are not widely available in Nepal and are not part of regular medical care.) So, Mithu had to undergo chemotherapy and radiation treatments which are not available here in Tansen – traveling to another city in Nepal for this. (At one point the radiation machine was broken, so she had to wait an extra week.) Many of us have been praying regularly for Mithu. This morning, we were very pleased to have Mithu at our church service. We don’t remember her ever coming before. After the service, she came up to the front and was in tears as she thanked people for their prayers. Even though she is not completely out of the woods, we were thankful that God has used this difficult time in her life to show her the love and healing of Jesus Christ. Sometimes you can hear the truth and know about Jesus – but now we are praying that she will really KNOW Jesus.
In Him,
लेस (Les) and देबी (Debbie)
P.S. To see more photos and stories, please check our blog: http://dornonnepalmission.wordpress.com/
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.
Music Notes by Mary Ellen Clinard
Miserere Mei Deus
On Maundy Thursday (April 17 @ 7pm), a small ensemble from the Temple Choir will be singing an excerpt from “Miserere Mei Deus” (Have Mercy on Me, O God) by Gregorio Allegri as part of the candlelight worship service. This chant-like piece was written in 1638 for the Good Friday Service at the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. It has been sung there every year since! Until 1770, it was not allowed to be written down and only the Vatican choir could sing it. As a matter of fact, if it was sung anywhere else, those people faced ex-communication from the Church!
In 1770, however, a young boy was in the audience and had the skill to write the notes and words down. He took it to his home church and they sang it the next year. It was quite a serious scandal! The Pope got wind of the infraction and sent for the young boy. But instead of ex-communicating him, he praised him for allowing this beautiful song to be shared with the masses! The name of the boy?
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart!
Choralfest 2014
From left: Savannah, Isabella, Mackenzie & Erin
First Friday Concert Series 2014
APRIL 4 BACCHANAL STEEL DRUMS
A First Friday favorite, this Caribbean ensemble entertains and educates with calypso, soca, reggae, and pop, all played on instruments made from 55-gallon drums. Now that’s what we call recycling!
MAY 2 THE MUSICAL HISTORY OF IRVING BERLIN
Steven Stuhlbarg, of Cincinnati Klezmer Project, brings this brand-new program to First Fridays. Learn about American composer with Steven on guitar/vocals, and Irina Bernadsky on Ukrainian mandolin.
This concert series wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Middletown Community Foundation, the Miriam G. Knoll Charitable Foundation, The Barnitz Fund and the congregation of First United Methodist Church, Middletown. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for helping us make downtown Middletown a destination for the arts!
Community Ministries Corner
Helping Those In Need
One of the things the Community Ministry Council does is oversee expenditures from the Benevolent Fund. What is the Benevolent Fund? This is a fund that is used to assist individuals/families in our community who find themselves in need. The needs vary. In the past year we assisted with rent, utility bills, medicine, gasoline and even lunch for a hungry homeless man.
Rev. Wagner and Jaime Albaugh make the primary decisions on all payouts from the fund. They try to work closely with case workers and others familiar with the situations of those in need. Where does the money for this fund come from? The proceeds from the garage sale the church holds once every few years goes into this fund. The UMW donated to the fund and the rest comes from individual donors with a heart for those in need.
Is it making a difference? Here is just one thank you note sent to us from Joy Carothers who works at Rosa Parks Elementary for the Butler County Success Program:
April Birthdays
1 Kathy Larison
2 Sharyn Edelen, Patricia Livzey
3 Lorena Trinkle
6 Dave Balsmeyer, Mary Ittel
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
25 Debbie Taylor
26 Don Beasley
27 Gene Keister
29 Bob Duffey
30 Evelyn Hudson