PASTOR’S REFLECTIONS
UM Fans
One of the first people I met after coming to Middletown was Bob Bradley. He had played his guitar during a worship service, we got to talking, and I discovered he had a sideline auto repair business. He soon worked on a car of mine, later found a second hand car for my daughter after hers was wrecked, and has generally been helpful along those lines. A good guy.
But then, of course, there’s the big block “M” that was hanging over his garage when he lived on Queen Avenue. He’s a UM fan – University of Michigan. He has a Michigan shirt and jacket, has a Michigan bumper sticker. We spoke about it. I don’t remember the details, but as I recall his is an inherited loyalty. He has always loved the University of Michigan, always hated Ohio State, doesn’t really seem to care who knows it. That’s not to say he’s terribly obnoxious about it. He won’t bring it up unless you do, but I’m sure he’s put up his block M somewhere outside his new home in Liberty Township, and I’m sure it’s been noticed.
I’m an Ohio State fan, and can actually be a bit obnoxious about it, but I admire Michigan fans like Bob. He maintains his commitment to his team, is defiant in the face of adversity. Those folks up north have had tough years recently, losing to the Buckeyes pretty regularly, but Bob is still true to the maize and blue, and in hostile territory to boot.
We United Methodists have had some tough years as a Christian denomination, and some of the tougher ones may yet be on their way. An international commission of United Methodist leaders has recently been formed and tasked with finding out whether we can maintain our unity or split up over our different understandings of human sexuality. We are in a kind of wait and see time. A lot of people I know are very worried about what will happen to us.
But to use the Bob Bradley approach, this is precisely the time to be defiant. The United Methodist Church is struggling, we don’t know what the future holds, difficult choices are looming, but in the mean time we can still show our colors. Yes, we may get hostile comments from folks from other religious persuasions; we may receive some ridicule from those who think we are losers, but no matter. We can decide we are in this for the duration, and if we do that, I think it’s something to admire. Of course we can still have opinions over which direction our team should go. I’ve heard Bob express himself rather colorfully with regard to mistakes he believes his team is making. But he still flies the flag.
A few years ago we offered some small lapel crosses to our membership, something we could wear during the season we call Lent. I’d like to ask us to do the same thing this year with the so-called United Methodist cross during those 40 days of re-dedication, which in 2017 starts March 1. We have sent in an order and they will be made available at the entrance to the sanctuary. There will be an opportunity to contribute a couple of dollars to offset the cost to the church – they look like this:
I must admit I have more reason than most to feel loyalty to the United Methodists. I’m the son, grandson, nephew, brother and cousin of UM clergy. My ultimate loyalty is to Christ, of course, and in the end I will go where I feel he is leading me, but I am proud of my denominational heritage, proud of what we’ve accomplished in the past, proud of what we do around the world. You can make your own choice, but still I challenge you to “sing your song in a strange land” as it says in Psalm 137. Let the world know you are proud to stand with your fellow UMs.* Show your true colors.
Peace to you. And go Bucks.
John Wagner
*Just to be clear, UM as in “United Methodist,” not University of Michigan – except of course for you, Bob.
MISSION MOMENT
Being On Call in Nepal
Update from Dr. Les and Debbie Dornon, missionaries to Nepal working in the Tansen Hospital
Being on call these days here at United Mission Hospital Tansen (UMHT) is much easier than it used to be. Since I am one of the senior doctors, there is always a resident, and sometimes an intern as well, also doing on call with me. Many nights I don’t get called at all. But this past Wednesday was different from the usual night. One of our senior Nepali surgeons and his wife were expecting their first baby – and she had been in labor all day. In the end, she needed to have a vacuum delivery – and everyone asked that I be the one to come and do that. I was able to safely deliver a beautiful baby girl and everyone was happy. Later that same night, I was called back in to do another vacuum delivery – this one for a woman who had a C section 9 years previous, and then a miscarriage after that. She was ready now to deliver and decided to try a vaginal delivery – and I was able to help the young resident do her first successful vacuum delivery for a healthy baby boy. That kind of night on call – even though it meant interrupted sleep – is one that makes me happy to be able to be here and to be part of helping the miracle of birth – and part of teaching the residents and interns how to safely deliver babies and take care of their moms.
In Him,
लेस (Les) and देबी (Debbie)
Want more stories & photos? Check out our blog at dornonnepalmission.wordpress.com.
Jr. Church Mission Sunday—Feb. 5
Join the Jr. Church crew Sunday, February 5 after worship service for some pizza and fun activities. All children and parents/grandparents are invited to come. At 1:30 p.m., we will travel to the nursing home to visit with the residents.
NEWS FROM THE PEWS
Trust the Future Update
Our collections continue to be ahead of schedule. For the first half of the pledge period, ending December 31, 2016, 66 percent of the funds pledged have been received. That is $215,425.00 of $328,188.00. Funds expended total $43,955.00, with the biggest item being the education building roof ($40, 995.00).The balance was used for Children’s, Hispanic, and Visitation ministries. Please accept our sincere appreciation for your continued generosity.
—John Hoffman, Co-Chair of Trust the Future Comm.
Thank You Notes
A word from the Worship Committee,
We want to simply express our warmest and sincere THANK YOU for sharing in our joy of displaying the “1000 Paper Cranes” during our Advent season. The cranes have touched lives in many different ways. So many of you expressed joy in being a part of the project. And for this we give thanks.
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Dearest parishioners of the First United Methodist Church, the members of the United Methodist Women want to take this opportunity to THANK YOU for all your participation in the Annual Cookie Walk. This was another very successful year. Without your baking of cookies and purchasing of the wonderful cookies we would not of made our goal of raising the funds necessary for funding the in house and local missions of the UMW. Thank you again for your participation.
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Our church family has again exhibited great love and concern for others by the outpouring of generosity at Christmas time. We donated 30 individual gift bags of personal items (shampoo, lotion, toothbrushes and toothpaste, journals and pens, etc.) to the Hope House for women. This gave each woman a gift at the Christmas party at the Hope House. The toys that were donated acted as a “store” for the men at the Hope House. It meant that the men who have contact with their children, even though it is not frequent, were able personally select gifts for the children to receive at their Christmas party. And the children at The Gathering were blessed with gifts selected for them of clothing and toys at their party. We were told repeatedly that the response from FUMC was amazing and so appreciated.
Many new faces were seen at the Community Christmas dinner. It was a time of fellowship, good food and mugs filled with candy and good memories to take home.
Thank you so very much to everyone who has helped with these expressions of our church’s motto “Christ Our Life—Service Our Lifestyle.” —The Community Ministries Committee (CMC)
Pictures Needed
We are planning a celebration for our Community Ministries on April 2, including the Food Pantry, Breakfast Club, Emergency Food program, Whiz Kids tutoring, Hispanic Ministry, SHALOM (homeless shelter), and seasonal Community Meals. We are in need of recent pictures of these various ministries in action for a special project. If you have any photos, please send them to the church office or email them to office@myfumc.net. Please snap some photos!
It’s Choralfest Time!
Did your child enjoy singing in the Christmas Pageant? If so (between 2nd and 8th grade) we would love for them to be a part of this year’s Choralfest. Rehearsals are underway on Sundays from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. until the concert. During these rehearsals, the children will also be learning handbell music to accompany hymn singing.
The big day of Choralfest is Saturday, March 4th when we go to Mason and present a concert 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 31st year. FUMC has participated every year! Thank you for your support!
China Cabinet Collectables
Do you have a collection that others might enjoy? If it can fit in the china cabinet in the Commons, then this is for you. Contact Sally Jo Inwood at (513) 594-1314 or Mary Ellen Clinard at the church (513) 423-4629 about being a part of this rotating display. Besides having a pretty display, this will help us get to know our congregation better by learning about each other’s interests. The cabinet is lockable, so your belongings will be safe. Space can be shared for smaller collections. Thank you!
O.F.F. Group Ministry
Tired of staying in on a Saturday? Looking for a group of friends to have fellowship with? Look no more, here at First UMC we have a group who goes out on the town every third Saturday of the month. Organized in 1982, this ministry was created for the sole purpose of having fun with friends just as its name states “Out For Fun (O.F.F.).” New members are always welcome to join! Women, men, young and old, all are welcome! Dues are $7.00 per year and a fee of $2.00 with each outing to help pay for gas of the church van, which they take on trips.
Every third Saturday the O.F.F. Group goes out on the town to visit restaurants, such as the Greyhound Tavern and the Golden Lamb, and museums. The members are always looking for new and exciting places to venture to. One of the co-founders of the O.F.F. group is First UMC member, Dede Day. Dede appreciates the O.F.F. group because she states it has “kept us all together as friends.”
The next O.F.F. Group Outing is Saturday, February 18th. If you are interested in joining this group, please call the church office and we will get you in contact with the group leader.
MUSIC NOTES BY MARY ELLEN
One Sunday in mid-January, unannounced, while we were singing the last hymn, I stopped playing the organ and we sang the last verse “a cappella.” It seemed the right thing to do and I felt confident that the choir and congregation would carry the hymn successfully to the end. I received a lot of comments about the wonderful sound of all our voices blending together, not in unison, but in beautiful four-part harmony.
There is something about a cappella singing that is special. I think about John Wesley and his experience with singing while on a boat to America to minister to the people of Georgia. The sea was rough and there were storms, and the German Moravians who were on the boat with him began to sing hymns. The sound of those voices singing together both expressed their strong faith in God and served to calm their fears. John Wesley grew up singing the Psalms in the Anglican church. The congregation didn’t sing many hymns, but Wesley began to realize the importance of “Singing our Faith” as a congregation. His brother, Charles, wrote hundreds of texts reflecting not only theology, but a personal relationship with Christ. John introduced this new idea of singing to the followers of the Methodist movement and they became known for the large amount of congregational singing in worship.
While we can enjoy the enthusiasm of the pipe organ or the excitement of a thrilling piano accompaniment, a cappella singing exposes the text like nothing else. It strips away all the embellishments and puts us in direct contact with the harmonies of those around us. We all come from different places in our lives when we come to worship, and yet we worship as one body. When we sing four-part harmony, we sing different lines of music and singing together makes a beautiful sound. True “oneness” is felt as we with our many voices are making our own music to God. Congregational singing has always been at the core of Methodist Worship. There are even “Directions for Singing” that have been a part of Methodist hymnbooks since the late 1700’s! I hope that we can continue this great heritage with more a cappella singing when the chance arises. Sing out!!
2017 First Friday Concert Series @ First UMCFree Concert at NOONFEBRUARY 3 | BACHANNAL STEEL DRUMS Back in the area after a national Broadway Tour, this great band returns to our line up to transport us to the lands of sunny skies and umbrella drinks! No passport needed! MARCH 3 | THE JEWISH SOUL TRIO Originally the “Cincinnati Klezmer Project,” this group honors the legacy of it’s founder, the late guitarist Steven Stuhlberg, bringing life to his passion for the stirring music of the Eastern European Jewish culture. Always a moving experience! APRIL 7 | TRIBUTE TO LAS VEGAS STARS (Tribute artist) MAY 5 | SCHOOL OF THE ARTS JAZZ BAND (Students of Butler Tech’s Music Prgm) JUNE 2 | SMOOOTH (Motown, soul, “doo-wop” singing group) JULY 7 | MY BROTHER’S KEEPER (Bluegrass and contemporary folk) AUGUST 4 | THE FAUX FRENCHMEN (String instruments playing “gypsy jazz”) SEPTEMBER 1 | YUN KIM HUGHES (Concert organist) OCTOBER 6 | MIKE HEMMELGARN (Comedian & ventriloquist) NOVEMEBER 3 | OXFORD ARTS TRIO (Strings trio) DECEMBER 1 | HARP DUET (Classics and Christmas) This concert series would not be possible without the support of the Middletown Community Foundation, the Barnitz Fund, Miriam Knoll Foundation and the congregation of First United Methodist Church, Middletown. Thank you for your support!! |
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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 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
Happy Birthday!