Pastor’s Reflections
Patriotic Feelings
It was December of 2001, I was shopping in a Kroger supermarket in Huber Heights, the suburb of Dayton where I served for 8 years. There was a family walking through the store – a mom, dad and two kids who were all clearly Middle Eastern. The woman was wearing a hajib that covered her hair, and perhaps was also wearing a traditional garment, and the man had a beard as I recall. They were trying desperately to control their children, who were pulling them this way and that, asking for this or that – various treats I assume. The kids were loud so it was hard to ignore them. But what struck me was not this family so much, but the other people in the store. There was no staring, little sense that this family was in any way unusual or unwelcome. The kids were not only loud but cute, and a few people even smiled at such a typical family dynamic.
This scene has stayed with me through the years because right then I felt this great surge of patriotism. I clearly remember thinking we have a wonderful country, one where persons of any race or nationality have a chance to make it. The people already here will give them that chance, even if they don’t look the same. This is one of the great things about our nation.
I once heard that the United States is the only nation in the history of the world founded not on the basis of ethnic identity, but on an idea. This is a remarkable insight. We aspire to the notion that all people are created equal before God. All have rights. All have worth. Anyone can come here and expect to at least be given a chance.
This is a Christian principle as well, as we should know by now.
Of course, we don’t always uphold our Christian principles or our American ideals. We discriminate, we make some groups of people out to have less worth than others, or essentially more dangerous. We distrust foreign accents, foreign customs, foreign faces. I’ve exhibited such behavior. You may think this well out of character for me, and I guess I hope you do, but in 2002 while waiting for a plane I subjected a rather suspicious looking gentleman to a vigorous interrogation before I let my family board with him. Turned out he was from India, and a visiting professor at the University of Dayton. I was embarrassed, but I had to know.
Friends, we all act out of fear, and sometimes very understandably. But we need to recognize that being an American, like being a Christian, means taking the risk of giving others the benefit of the doubt.
I mentioned I was serving in Huber Heights, which is near the Wright Patterson Air Force base. One of the things I learned was how much experience military families tend to have in dealing with different kinds of people and cultures. Many of these folks had lived overseas at some point, and tended to value tolerance. I think our church has a similar story to tell. The Promises Program with Japanese Christians, our current Hispanic outreach, the SHALOM program – all of them have contributed to our cultural sophistication. I’m proud of that aspect of our church.
It’s a cliché to say we are almost all descended from immigrants, but it’s still true. I hope this 4th of July, with all the family activities and fireworks, we can take a moment to celebrate America as a land of opportunity for all kinds of people, including our own ancestors, and thank God for the ideals that make it possible.
John
Sinkhole in Parking Lot: What Caused It? How Was it Repaired?
The sinkhole developed because the cover of a dry well broke. The dry well was placed 125 years ago to get rid of rain water that fell on the new church building. It was a tank, nine feet in diameter, made of brick walls and brick top with no bottom. The water collected and seeped out into the gravel.
We think that when the roof of the main church building was replaced, about five years ago, the heavy crane used cracked the top of the dry well and it slowly broke over time.
We repaired it by making a new dry well, six feet in diameter with concrete walls. A concrete top, five inches thick, was placed and a manhole cover to clean it out if necessary. You may drive over this without fear of it breaking.
Don Burley
Chairman of Trustees
Mission Moment
Queen of the Night in NepalUpdate from Dr. Les and Debbie Dornon, missionaries to Nepal working in the Tansen Hospital A couple of nights ago, Les and I were checking on something in the evening, and heard a group of people chatting. This is rather unusual for 9 pm around here – most of us are inside and quiet or sleeping by then! (We call it “missionary midnight.”) 🙂 We found people gathered around a flower – they call it the “Queen of the Night” – which only opens one night in a year. For a few hours only, this beautiful flower blooms and spreads its lovely aroma to those who are watching for it. The next morning, it is closed and drooping. We were in awe of this small bit of God’s design and creation – how amazing He is! While we were standing and watching, a friend commented that over the past 4 years that she has been watching this flower bloom, the expats (missionaries) who have come to watch have been different every time. Only a couple of Nepali ladies have come each year. Kind of like the flower, the missionaries here come and go – some very quickly, it seems! But – all who come add something to the work which God is doing here. We had a new family arrive yesterday – and in the coming several weeks, we will be saying goodbye to 6 families or singles all leaving. It sometimes is quite hard! How wonderful that God’s work continues in spite of our short life span, or our short attention span, or our lack of whatever is needed. We are thankful that it is He who is doing the work here – and we continue to covet your prayers that we can be vessels for His love and work on this side of the world. In Him, लेस (Les) and देबी (Debbie) Want more stories & photos? Check out our blog at dornonnepalmission.wordpress.com |
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News from the Pews
Thank You for Your Help!
The CMC would like to thank Vickie Frazer for organizing and producing the wonderful Last Day of School picnic. The children had a marvelous time with water balloons, Frisbees, ring the flamingo, hopscotch and just being kids. Bob Caldwell was the grill master serving hot dogs done to perfection. Thanks to all of the volunteers for cupcakes and their time assisting wherever and however needed.
A Word from the Worship Committee
As many of you know the Worship Committee has been working on a Christmas project called, “1000 Origami Paper Cranes.” Thanks to all the circles of First Church and the Children of Junior Church we have reached our goal of 1000 Paper Cranes. For those of you that are curious, we will have more information about the cranes in the Ambassador closer to Christmas, so watch for an update in the November/December Ambassador.
The Folgoso Family Revisits Home
As you may know, our brother and sister, Henry & Dani, are originally from Colombia. They have left for a short visit to Colombia and will return to the U.S. on July 26. A friend of theirs will oversee the Hispanic Ministry during their absence, and the student intern, Hiram, will be helping out as well. Please pray for safe travels for the Folgoso Family as they revisit family, friends, and sites of their home country.
Would You Like to Host a Student Intern?
From July 3 to August 13, our church will be hosting Hiram Daniel Cardenas Mendez, a United Methodist seminary student from Mexico. We were asked to do this by our annual conference leadership as part of a student exchange program. Our responsibility will be room and board, plus transporting him back and forth to the church. Katie and Michael McNeil are helping us find host families. We are also looking for families that could have him over for dinner or join them to a family or civic event. If you are interested in either request, please call the church office.
Thank You!
We would like to express our heart felt thanks to the Congregation of First Church for your sincere thoughts, prayers, phone calls, cards, and spiritual support during Mavene’s illness and after her passing. It is so wonderful to be a part of the family of First Church.
Thank you,
Tom Atkinson and Son, Ray
Men’s Breakfast: Saturday, July 30 @ 9:00 AM
All men are welcome to join us at Dad’s Restaurant for breakfast, a brief word of encouragement and fellowship. The breakfast takes place every last Saturday of the month at 9:00 a.m. Please note the change in start time.
Debbie’s Retirement PartyDebbie Taylor has been the Financial Secretary at First United Methodist Church for 10 years. Her dedication to her job and the church is something to be admired. As Financial Secretary, Debbie brought not only her expertise to the position, but also her wisdom and graciousness to all those she encountered at the church. Although Debbie is retiring from her position, she can’t stay away and, quite frankly, we can’t let her go. She will be volunteering her time to help us out in the Finance Office when need be. Of course, you will continue to see her on Sundays in the choir loft and at other church events. On Sunday, July 31, we will be celebrating Debbie’s retirement and her many years of service to First Church. Please join us after our 10:30 worship service in Weatherwax Commons. We will also be taking up a love offering for Debbie during worship service. Please look for the designated “Love Offering” envelopes in the pews. We hope you can join us in this joyous occasion! |
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Jr. Church News
Outdoor Movie Night At Goldman Park
Join our Jr. Church crew on Friday, July 22 at Goldman Park in Middletown for a movie showing under the night sky. The event is free of charge. Come around 8:00 p.m. to reserve your place to sit. The movie will begin around 9:00 p.m. They are showing STAR WARS: The Force Awakens. It is sure to be a great time of fellowship for the children. We hope you can make it!
Community Quest VBS at The Gathering
The Gathering invites all children ages 5 to 11 years old to join their Vacation Bible School on July 18-21 from 5 to 8 p.m. The cost is $5.00 per child which includes dinner and crafts. During their time at VBS, they will go on three small field trips to the local library, art center, and park. Please register by July 10. Call or stop by the First Church’s office (513-423-4629) for a registration form.
Music Notes By Mary Ellen Clinard
This summer I am taking a short class on music composition. It’s mostly for piano teachers on how to teach their students to compose their own pieces, and while I don’t intend to aspire to be the next George Frederic Handel, there are times when I need to write little snippets of a modulation or an instrumental part and thought that this would be a good chance to expand my musical skills a bit. Our first assignment was to come up with a melody and write it down. At our second lesson, a woman had written a profoundly beautiful piece because she had felt moved to do so because of the Orlando shooting. This woman had never composed before and when she played it, there was no criticism the group could offer. We sat there in stunned silence as we soaked in the sound of the piece. We were basically strangers but yet we were bound together by this single national tragedy and her musical reaction to it. This musical notation, so fresh from the emotions of this piano teacher about that tragedy, demonstrated the power of music and our need to hear it, experience it, and express our feelings through it.
I thought of the banned music in war-torn areas because of how it can “stir up” the people. I reflected on the music of our patriotic holidays and how hearing “America” or the national anthem can bring a tear to the eye of the most stoic citizen. I recalled how residents at nursing homes perk up and can sing verses of hymns and songs learned from childhood but they can remember little else. I thought of how thousands of strangers at a concert can sing along with each other to songs they came to hear.
Music has the ability to allow us to express our deepest joys, sorrows, and common experiences. It helps us remember times of our lives that otherwise might be forgotten. It connects us, even as strangers, together for that moment.
In worship, it is our prayer that there is a musical moment each Sunday that helps you connect with God. With younger people in our congregation, it is also important that we are building a musical foundation for them that will spiritually connect them for the rest of their lives. In our hymn medleys, we try to span the generations and through repetition, create that foundation. This fall we will be learning some new songs and some in Spanish. We pray that we will continue to find ways to create deeper connections between members of our congregation and with God through the gift of music.
Mary Ellen
2016 First Friday Concert Series @ First UMC– Noon
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JULY 1 | MY BROTHER’S KEEPERFresh from a 24 state summer tour in 2015, this up and coming bluegrass band brings acoustic folk, bluegrass, and gospel to a new generation. Not many more years before this band breaks into the bigtime national scene. Catch them at this concert and you can say “I saw them when…..!” You won’t regret it! AUGUST 5 | ACCLARIONThis dynamic duo comes from Canada to pull us into the magic of music for clarinet and accordion. An unusual combination you say? Well, yes, but the results are something you will never forget! An energetic blend of classical, Klezmer and original music. Guaranteed to leave a smile on your face! 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!! |
July Birthdays
1 Mike Snyder
2 Debbie Dornon
3 Don Burley, Scott Hines
4 Gene Goecke, Dani Ortega
6 Dan Hausman
8 Debbie Ellis
10 Samuel Burnett
15 Jeff Caldwell
16 Barb Balsmeyer
19 Esther Williams
20 Kyle Wilson
22 Frank Richmond, Noah Rogers
23 Gene Schaefer
25 Austin Jutte
26 Chris Buchert
27 Sheila Crowe
29 Betty Moles
30 Fred Parrella
31 Lee Bachelor, Briley Dickson