Pastor’s Reflections
“And a Little Child …”
I was walking through a local department store the other day minding my own business. So was everyone else. We do that in department stores, or on the street, or in public places. We mind our own business, we don’t make eye contact, we stick to our agenda. Perhaps a quick glance to see if it’s someone we know, and that’s about it. Nothing terribly sinful in such behavior, by the way. We just don’t have the time or capacity to acknowledge everyone we see, especially when we are in crowded places.
But this is not the case with little children, apparently.
I’m walking through the store, and I see a toddler sitting in his mom’s shopping cart. Mom is busy looking over some kitchen utensils, not paying attention for a moment, and he glances at me and sees me. He looks me right in the eye, and then this expression of utter delight comes slowly over his face, just utter joy at simply finding my face in the crowd. It was a kind of transcendent moment, like we were the only two people in the world, and had found each other. I can only imagine what was actually going through his mind, but I’m guessing it was something like “Oh my goodness!! Another person!! And he’s looking right at me!! A new friend!! Hooray!! I love this place!!”
And what did I look like to him? What expression was on my face? Why utter delight of course. My mask of indifference was dropped in an instant, and I connected to him with everything in me. I smiled and waved, acknowledged him as best I could without getting weird about it, and moved on more refreshed and optimistic about the human condition than I had been just 15 seconds before.
Friends, this has happened to me more than once. How about you? And isn’t it great?
I am writing this on a Sunday after we had over thirty children in worship, which is unusual for us. To be sure, they were real children – which means some were happy, some sad, some complaining, some a bit too exuberant. Also, several of them were special guests of their grandparents, and we may not see them again soon … but it was so nice to have them all with us. It seems like the congregation is transformed by them; we become both more joyful and, I think, more intentional in pursuing a loving and joyful Christian way of life. Perhaps subconsciously we try harder to be the kind of people Christ wants us to be.
We often associate Christmastime with children, and when it rolls around we tend to recall this prophecy from Isaiah and re-claim its message for this season:
The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them.
Isaiah 11:6 NRSV
We don’t receive this prophecy correctly if we over sentimentalize our feelings about children and ignore their need to grow and mature, to learn right from wrong. We owe them that instruction; they need us to be adults. “Child-ish” is not the way to go for persons of any age.
And yet we do need to connect with the child within each of us. It may sound clichéd, but we need to recall what it means to be “child-like,” and see the world with more appreciation, and the people around us as marvelous gifts. We need to remember that Jesus actually called all of us to be “like children” (Matthew 18:3). We can do this more easily when children are around us.
Advent season, the season before Christmas Day, goes from November 29 to December 24. On those four Sundays of Advent children will light the Advent candles, read a verse of scripture and take part in the service. Also, during church and on Saturday, December 12, we are trying to get as many children as possible to rehearse for our Christmas Pageant, which will take place on Sunday evening, December 13. If you know of some children you can bring who may want to participate, please contact the church office. Everything starts at 5 pm, and it’s a potluck, so bring a dish to share. Even if you are longtime empty nesters, like JoAnn and I, please come anyway… please come and receive that special blessing only a child at Christmas seems to be able to bestow.
Peace,
John
Christmas Traditions at First Church
Friday, Dec. 4, noon First Friday Concert with Leslie Stratton, Harpist
Saturday, Dec. 5, 11:30 am UMW Christmas Luncheon @ Browns Run Country Club
Tuesday, Dec. 8, 5:30 pm Free Community Holiday Dinner @ Fellowship Hall
Saturday, Dec. 12, 10-12 pm UMW Cookie Walk @ FUMC
Sunday, Dec. 13, 5 pm Children’s Christmas Program & Potluck Dinner
Sunday, Dec. 20, 2 pm Christmas Caroling to Shut-Ins (all are welcome to participate) meet at church
Monday, Dec. 21, 2 pm Christmas Caroling to Shut-Ins
Thursday, Dec. 24, 7:30 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (Communion at 7:00 pm in chapel and pre-service music begins at 7:10 pm)
Trustee Year-End Review
Our beautiful church has had many improvements this year–both inside and out. In the basement, both kitchens were professionally degreased, and with the help of the UMW thoroughly cleaned. On the second floor, the computer lab is completely rewired, and the choir room has a new ceiling. The office’s outdated phone system has been replaced, and Weatherwax Commons has had improvements made to the men’s restroom. Also the carpets in the Commons and North Foyer were professionally cleaned.
As we move outside we see two major projects that have just been completed: the outside wall by the flagpole has had the mortar in the stones redone to prevent leaks, and the small roof above the South Foyer has been replaced. In the back, the parking lot cracks were repaved, and after working with the city we now own the two lots behind us. Other maintenance tasks are in the planning stages. Thanks to you we will also be starting some of the “Trust the Future” projects in 2016. Special thanks to Greg and Dr. Burley for their service!
Christmas Bazaar
Our neighbor church Bethlehem Lutheran has organized a Christmas Bazaar for Saturday, December 5 from 10:00 to 4:00 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the renovation of a Sunday school room. They will have 31 direct sales consultants, like Mary Kay, plus crafts, chair massages, and a caricature artist! Hot dogs and chips as well. It will be a fun event!
Bethlehem Lutheran and their pastor Michelle Terry have been so kind to let us use their parking lot at times. They would welcome our support.
UMC #GivingTuesday
Think one day of giving thanks isn’t enough? On Dec. 1, United Methodists will once again come together to support the work of Advance projects and missionaries on UMC #GivingTuesday. This is an opportunity for you to give either to support us (Les and Debbie) or to give to the work of the Tansen Mission Hospital.
If you are interested, please go online to umcmission.org/give and either enter one of our names with our number (Lester Dornon – 10919Z or Deborah Dornon – 10920Z) or the Tansen Mission Hospital (13421A). Global Ministries will allocate matching funds dollar for dollar up to the first $1 million in gifts to Advance projects received online on Dec. 1, 2015, between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. CT. A maximum of $2,500 per individual gift to a project will be dispersed as matching funds. A project may receive a maximum of $25,000 in matching funds.
If you want, you can also give by phone (888-252-6174) or by snail mail: Make your check payable to ADVANCE GCFA. Write the name of the ministry and the Advance code number on the memo line of the check. Send your check to:
Advance GCFA
P.O. Box 9068
New York, NY 10087-9068.
Thanks so much for your love and support and for considering this extra giving opportunity.
Love and blessings, Debbie & Les.
Prostate Cancer Support Group
The Prostate Cancer Support Group will meet with The Breast Cancer Support Group on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at 7:00 pm. The guest speaker for the combined meeting will be Sheila Agee, RN who will speak on, “Natural Path Holistic Health.” All men and women are welcome to this meeting in the First United Methodist Church Commons area. For more information please call Mike at (513) 594-1722. The first meeting of 2016 will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. at FUMC in the Asbury Room.
Jr. Church News
The Jr. Church unit for December is “Away in a Manger” and the message “Jesus is God’s gift to all people.” For January, the unit is “Jesus’ Ministry Begins” and the message “God chose Jesus; Jesus chose God.”
Women’s Shelter Tree
FUMC has a history of being a church family committed to following our mission statement “Christ our life. Service our lifestyle.” This year we will be expressing this with the Women’s Shelter Tree. The women living at the shelter, Hope House, are frequently overlooked during the holidays. We will be providing gifts for the women that will give them a sense of dignity and specialness. Gift bags will be hung on the tree; each bag represents one woman living at the shelter. The tree is up now in the Commons. We hope that you will participate in this holiday act giving to someone whom you do not know but who is a sister with us in Christ.
Thank You from Holy Family Parish
Dear Friends in Christ,
Thank you for your generous gift of $675 to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Holy Family Parish in Middletown for Thanksgiving baskets. Your thoughtful and kind contribution is deeply appreciated. It will help us continue our mission of serving those who are in desperate need in our community.
As you know, the St. Vincent de Paul Society is a volunteer organization that depends solely upon the generosity of caring people like you to allow us to fulfill our mission of assisting those who request our help.
Thank you again for your donation which will help us provide baskets to 52 needy families in our area.
God Bless You,
Ray Kelly, President
St. Vincent de Paul Society
Holy Family Parish
Blockade in Nepal
Update from Dr. Les and Debbie Dornon, missionaries to Nepal working in the Tansen Hospital
Can you live without gasoline, cooking gas, or electricity? This is what people in Nepal are being forced to do since the closing of the border with India 2 months ago. When the new constitution was promulgated (after 7 years of negotiations) it was greeted with cheers in some quarters, but not in all of Nepal, or its neighbors. India had attempted to influence the new constitution prior to its promulgation, but when the Nepali assembly did not include any of their “suggestions”, India joined in support of strikes led by people living along the southern border of Nepal. The result has been that for the past 2 months, the border crossings between India and Nepal have been closed to all vehicular transport. Since most products come into Nepal from India, this has caused major shortages. People are cooking with wood again. Only a few buses and cars are running. The hospital has run out of several important medications, and stocks of others are dangerously low. People who were already devastated by the earthquake are now facing the winter cold with no home and no heat. The economic impact of the blockade has now greatly exceeded that of the earthquake. Pray for the people here, as well as for us and for the churches in Nepal trying to help them. Also pray for wisdom for the political leaders, that they may humble themselves, and work to find a solution to save people, rather than making sure they “save face.”
In Him,
लेस (Les) and देबी (Debbie)
P.S. To see more photos and stories, please visit our blog: dornonnepalmission.wordpress.com
Khims mom cooking on firewood.
Music Notes by Mary Ellen Clinard
Response to Hymn Sing Marathon
Thanks to everyone who sang, played, brought snacks and donuts, and moral support for our Hymn Sing Marathon in October. Franklin UMC brought a good crowd to help get us through the night singing and playing and we had a few members of our community at large there for support. The results are in and we raised a little over $1,200 to send to Community UMC in Middletown, CA to help rebuild that community after the devastating fires there this summer. We learned a lot about the hymnal and celebrated the variety of songs and meaningful readings found there. It took us about 21 hours non-stop to complete the challenge. Below is a copy of the thank you that Community’s minister sent to share with us:
Hi Mary Ellen and Greetings to our Sister City and to our fellow Methodists in Middletown, Ohio.
What a delightful way to raise money for a good cause! We cannot thank you enough for such a wonderful donation!
My heart is warmed by such a generous response to our need! We have been heart sick here at the devastating losses, but your loving donation will assist us in moving forward toward healing.
Sincerely,
Pastor Claudia Listman
Community UMC
Middletown, CA
Opportunities to Catch the Christmas Spirit at FUMC!
Both old and new traditions will be arriving as the season of Advent and Christmas unfold in the next week or so. What’s new? During the worship service, our children will be leading us in the Advent Candle lighting through scripture and the “creation” of the manger scene in the chancel area. Each Sunday, a child will light the Advent Candle, read a scripture, and add a figurine to the manger scene as the Christmas story unfolds. Special thanks to Ken and Carolyn Tucker and Kira Wills, for taking the time with our children to make this possible. Children’s drawings will also be featured on the bulletin covers as part of our Advent theme, “A Little Child Shall Lead Them” which is part of a biblical passage about the kingdom of Peace that God will create. You can find the passage in Isaiah 11: 1-6.
Our ongoing traditions include:
Children’s Christmas Pageant and Potluck Sunday, December 13 at 5:00 pm Bring a dish to share in Fellowship Hall and then enjoy the Children’s Program in the Sanctuary.
All-Church Christmas Caroling Sunday and Monday, December 20 & 21 meet in commons at 2:00 pm each day to carol to some of our most beloved members who are unable to worship with us any longer, yet support us with prayer and love throughout the year. All ages welcome (they love to see young children!!)
Candlelight Christmas Eve Service Thursday, December 24 Pre-service music begins at 7:10 pm and worship begins at 7:30 pm. Communion begins at 7:00 pm in the chapel.
First Friday Concert Series 2015
DECEMBER 4 | Leslie Stratton
Let the craziness of the holidays be swept away by the relaxing sounds of the harp. Leslie has planned a wonderful mix of classical, Broadway standards, and Christmas favorites sure to recharge our soul for this busy season!
*JANUARY 8 | JIMMY ROGERS
It’s become a tradition that Jimmy Rogers start off our season with his infectious “feel-good” music. What a way to begin the year! A little bit rock, a little bit roll, a little bit blues and a whole lot of funk!
* Note date change due to New Year’s Day.
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!
December Birthdays
1 Pat Lyke
2 Elizabeth Evers
3 David Irwin
4 Justin Daniels, Tommy Dixon-Gordon
6 Jean Jordan
7 Allison Palmer, Fred Sander
8 Helen Hackney, Jared McDaniel
10 Henry Folgoso
11 Esther Johnson
13 Don Stamper
14 Terry Hines
16 Marcia Greenham, Cecil Jackson
17 Rev. John Wagner
18 Dorothy Youtsler
20 C.M. Jenkins, Kelli Wilson
22 Kathy Wright
23 Joyce Thompson
24 Tom Buchert
25 Rick Lyke, Miriam Melloh
26 Ashley Palmer, David Young
27 Johnny Nichols
28 Hayden Jenkins, Dee Markle
29 Nita Driscoll
30 Duane Gordon, Belinda Hausman, Matthew Youtsler
January Birthdays
2 Mindi Dickson, John Keeny
6 Sylvia Maynard
9 Glenna Combs
10 Dave Kramer, Chris Urso
12 Bob Beagle
13 Kathy Hieber
18 Jim Hogg
19 James Irwin, Eric Taylor
22 Pat Schaefer
25 Brett Dickson, James Thomas II Irwin, Phyllis Lolli
26 Alex Mills
27 Christopher Keaton, Dr. Walter Roehll
28 Wilma Mucha, Andrew Youtsler
30 Shelby Grace Rutledge, Carolyn Tucker
31 Dixie Davis