Pastor’s Reflections
Two People I Want You to Meet
Friends, on the second Sunday of September we had a wonderful time celebrating the 125th anniversary of our church building. We not only got to see a whole bunch of folks we hadn’t seen in a long time, but we also sang many of the wonderful hymns the church has treasured throughout its history. We were able to honor Everett Sherron on the occasion of his 100th birthday, and likewise celebrate our two other centenarians – Daisy Byrum and Mary Ittel. We even got to meet W.H. Todhunter, one of the key figures who helped get our church built back in 1891. He bore more than a passing resemblance to our friend Peter Bakich, but no matter. We appreciated his apology for whatever made it impossible to locate the time capsule we were hoping to open. To date it has not been found. We are still curious as to what is in it – the speculation will doubtlessly continue for a long time.
You know, we are fascinated by our past, aren’t we? We really would like to find that time capsule! We wonder about those people, what was on their minds.
Here is what I think about them. I think we can assume our forebears in this congregation were forthright people who faced the future head on, with courage and realism. They knew they needed a building, and they built a building.
And I also think we honor them best if we face the future head on in our own day and time.
The United Methodist Church, our denomination, is changing. It’s changed before, but the next few years could see a major change. There is a profound disagreement around several issues, but the chief one is human sexuality and sexual orientation. Will persons who are not heterosexual be accorded all the same rights and privileges as those of us who are, or will we continue to adhere to our present rules? Our United Methodists bishops are convening a committee to help decide that question. They hope to complete their work in three years. The result of their deliberations will no doubt impact our future…even here in Middletown. We need to be a part of the process in some way or another.
On Sunday, October 9th, our new Assistant District Superintendent, Rev. Dr. Suzanne Allen, will be preaching – and she is very good at it, so please come. She will also be leading an adult Sunday School class at 9:00 a.m. in the chapel. I strongly urge you to attend this as well. She will share her perspective on the future of the United Methodist church, but also listen to our concerns, and I trust will convey those concerns to our superintendent and our bishop.
Then, the following Sunday, October 16th, my recently retired colleague Greg Stover will be with us. Greg is one of the most honored pastors ever to serve in West Ohio, and very well known throughout the United Methodist world. I am proud to know him. He is also very conservative, and someone with whom I disagree on most issues. Even so, I respect him greatly as a man of integrity, and think you will as well. Greg will not preach, but he will speak to our 9:00 a.m. Sunday School class.
As a church, we need to face the disagreements that may forever change the United Methodist denomination. You and I need to be a part of that discussion, however difficult it may be. You’ve heard my views over the last four years, but I need to say clearly that your views, your thoughts, your questions are welcome. We are all trying to follow Jesus, in my opinion, and need to be humble and accepting of others, but also honest.
So please mark these dates:
Sunday, October 9th: Rev. Dr. Suzanne Allen – Assistant District Superintendent of the Ohio River Valley District will be teaching Sunday School at 9:00 a.m., and preaching at 10:30 a.m. worship service.
Sunday, October 16th: Rev. Greg Stover – prominent denominational leader – will be teaching Sunday School at 9:00 a.m.
Peace,
John
Mission Moment
The Other Dornon in Nepal
Update from Dr. Les and Debbie Dornon, missionaries to Nepal working in the Tansen Hospital.
It was wonderful to be part of the worship at First Church in Middletown last month. We loved singing with the choir, and greeting so many of you after the services. We are so appreciative of your love and support for us.
We had great visits with friends and families in the U.S., and now we are back in Nepal. We were happy to be able to get back in time to see Hannah’s school musical production of “Honk.” She spent many hours in August and September helping to prepare and organize the bi-annual KISC show.
Hannah is in her third year of teaching music at the Kathmandu International Study Center (KISC). She teaches all the students in grades Kindergarten – 11th and really enjoys that. She has learned much about teaching – and about the British system of music education! She is also the director of the Kathmandu Chorale and has fun working with adult singers. Hannah is supported by gifts from people here in the U.S. She originally went to Nepal for two years, but has stayed on for one more. Next July she plans to move to the U.K. where she hopes to teach for a year before she marries Nathan Voyle in July 2018.
We are looking forward to having both Nathan and Hannah with us for Christmas in Tansen this year, and we have loved having Hannah in Nepal with us – even though it is a day’s journey from where we live to where she is located.
Thanks for your prayers for Hannah – as she teaches, and as she tries to share God’s love through music in Nepal. She does great video blogs – if you are interested, please check some out!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQcDPrv-KbAXIuqChjYhnKQ
In Him,
लेस (Les) and देबी (Debbie)
Hannah directing the chorale.
Hannah’s classes are fun!
Want more stories & photos? Check out our blog at dornonnepalmission.wordpress.com.
Baking Reminder *Cookies needed Nov. 6th*
Those who plan to make cookies for the Care Packages for College Students and Military should mark your calendar to bake and bring cookies in on Nov. 6 (boxes will be packed that day, then shipped).
We are asking for you to bake cookies that are small to medium in size (2” or less) and the quantity should be 8 baggies of 6 cookies each; the size and quantity is important as boxes only allow so much space, and we wish the cookies to make it in one piece. Please contact the church office to let us know that you will be baking so we can make sure there is enough for all the packages.
Please contact the office or Imogene Orts for questions or to help with this outreach.
Memorial Committee Update
The Memorial Committee of our church meets quarterly to administer the Memorial Funds requests and disbursement of funds. These funds typically come to us in small donations after a funeral in honor of loved ones. Some gifts are given for a specific request while most are given with no specific purpose indicated. The committee oversees the spending according to the Policies and Procedures adopted by the Administrative Council. To date during 2015, some of the fund has been spent for paraments, hymnal supplements, sound transmitters and listening devices. The Memorials Book found in the case in the north foyer is in the process of being updated. Anyone who has donated specific items in the last several years should call the church to make sure your donation has been included in the book. Any questions may be directed to the committee members: Rev. Wagner, Duane Gordon, Mary Maurer, J. J. Peil, John Tack, or Chairperson Imogene Orts.
Thank You Church Family!
A heartfelt THANK YOU to all who gave so generously to this year’s Harvest of the Heart! It is a comfort to see the extra stock on the Pantry and Emergency Food shelves. Please note, however, that the Emergency Food program depends on your year round donations in order to keep operating. Remember: You can’t out-give God.
Promises Photos
Do you have any photos from the Promises Program? Rev. Wagner would like to see them. He hopes to have a celebration of that extraordinary time in the life of the church sometime in the near future. Thanks!
UMW “NUT SALE”
NUTS, NUTS, NUTS! The United Methodist Women are having a fundraiser this fall, and they are selling, yes; you guessed it “Nuts!” Do you need NUTS for the upcoming holidays? Do you need NUTS for a healthy snack? Do you need NUTS to give as a gift? Well the United Methodist Women are your source for this wonderful! Highly Rated! Healthy Treat! Do you have a sweet tooth? Something new has been added to the order form. Along with the traditional nuts they are selling Dark Chocolate covered Almonds; Milk Chocolate covered Pecans and Peanuts.
Ask any UMW Member and you can acquire a Fantastic Bag of NUTS. Money is due with the order. You can make your orders now through October 21st.
Remember all proceeds from this fundraiser benefit in house and local missions.
We have a lot of fun Jr. Church events coming up during the Fall/Winter that we wanted to share. So please be sure to mark these on your calendars!
October 2: Jr. Church Mission Day
Our Jr. Church crew is participating in a Mission Day at Spring Hills Assisted Living Facility in Middletown at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 2. All children and their parents are invited to a pizza lunch after worship service. After lunch, the children will practice the songs they will sing for the residents. This is sure to be a fun and great experience for the children!
November 11-12: Night in the Church
What’s more fun than spending the night at the church? On Friday night from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., the children will be introduced to the Christmas Story, followed by games, a movie, snacks, and then lights out for bedtime. Saturday morning, they will enjoy a bible lesson from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Pick up time will be at 10:00 a.m. Hope you can come!
More dates to write on your calendar:
December 10, 2016: Christmas Program Rehearsal
From 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Church
December 11, 2016: Annual Christmas Program
Potluck in Fellowship Hall at 5:30 p.m.
Program in Sanctuary at 7:00 p.m.
One more thing regarding Junior Church during our worship services. The Jr. Church committee has decided to do a 3 month trial of having NO Jr. Church during worship service on Communion Sundays, or the first Sunday of the each month. The trial will begin Sunday, October 2. Please be aware that the Nursery for children 4 years and younger will remain available on those Sundays at 10:30 a.m. The cry room with video of the service is also available.
Music Notes by Mary Ellen Clinard
NEW HYMNAL SUPPLEMENTS TO BE PRESENTED!!
We have received a wonderful gift that honors the life of Virginia Barber (mother of Mary Davis). On October 16, her family will present us with the newest United Methodist Hymn Supplement “Worship and Song.”
Music from the new hymnal will be presented as the Prelude, Offertory, Anthem, etc., so you in the pews can become familiar with some of the wonderful songs in this collection. We will then begin to sing from this hymnal as we use songs that are appropriate for the season and theme of worship. Through this new hymnal we honor Virginia Barber and the forward thinking people who built our church and laid the foundation of its future in the life of our faith community.
SPOOKY ORGAN MUSIC MINI-CONCERTS
On Saturday, October 29 our church will host a series of mini organ concerts every hour on the hour between 3:00-8:00 p.m. in conjunction with Downtown Middletown’s “Hocus Pocus Halloween.” Each 20 minute concert will include favorites such as “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor,” Boellman’s “Toccata,” organ music from “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and even the Haunted Organ theme from Disney’s “Haunted Mansion” theme ride. We will need volunteers to hand out programs and be ambassadors for our church, and help return the sanctuary so that it’s “worship-ready” for Sunday morning!! You don’t need to stay the entire time, just a few minutes before and after a concert. We don’t know how many to expect at each concert, maybe just a few, but it’s important that we take part in community events as part of our downtown location.
SAVE THE DATE!—Looking ahead to upcoming activities in November.
November 6: All Saints Sunday
November 20: Hanging of the Greens
November 27: First Sunday in Advent
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2016 First Friday Concert Series @ First UMCOCTOBER 7 | NEW HORIZONS GERMAN OOMPAH BANDEins, zwei, g’suffa! Couldn’t resist starting out the month with a fun-loving German Band to ring in the season of Oktoberfest! Anyone wearing lederhosen or a dirndl dress gets a prize! NOVEMBER 4 | MIAMI UNIVERSITY MEN’S GLEE CLUBCome early to get a seat for this phenomenal opportunity to enjoy Miami’s best known choral group since 1907! Stay late to purchase Miami Glee Club Coffee, CD’s and more! 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!! |
October Birthdays
1 Glenn Slama
2 Mary Emmert, Nevin Markle
4 Virginia Jenkins, Bob Rogers, Jennifer Tucker
5 Charles Beck, Kelly Kidd
7 Bette Fletcher
11 Wanda Forster, Bob Wieneke
15 Hilda Trent
17 Michael McNeil
18 Jeff Dickson
23 Karen Walke
26 Becky Rutledge
27 Sue Diefenbach, Sue Irwin, Charlene Mackall
30 Kay Fraley, Vera West
31 Jonah Rogers
Happy Birthday!