Pastor’s Reflections
On the Inside
A long time ago — for me — I was a new pastor with a false concept. I thought I was supposed to know it all. I’d been trained by experts, and felt I had to show it and be sure about everything. This is a bad way to be a pastor.
A teenager had run away from home, and the family was very worried. I went over to express my concern, and it was genuine. I knew the boy and I was also worried. But I tried to commiserate by suggesting I knew how they felt since my dog had recently run away. Sally was the mother, and one of the nicest and most affirming people I’ve ever come across in any church. With tears in her eyes, and just a tinge of anger, she told me it wasn’t the same thing.
The son came home, all was forgiven, but I never forgot my shame over Sally’s comment. It’s still a painful memory. I truly didn’t know what she was going through — how could I? What made it so bad is that I truly thought I knew.
As time has passed and my experiences accumulated, I’ve made fewer of these mistakes.
When my father passed away a few weeks ago, and I started to talk to people about it, I had the strange sensation of suddenly being on the inside of something. Before, I was more like the sportscaster who knows a lot about a sport he’s never played, who has far more words at his disposal than the athletes he describes, but in some ways knows very little. Today I am a bit less like that sportscaster. I haven’t accumulated any more words, but I know something I didn’t know.
I was talking with someone before church last Sunday, and did something I probably don’t do as often as I should. I listened … or to be more precise, I offered some space for her to share her story. She was remembering the death of her own loved one, and it was a far more tragic death than losing a parent who has been sick a long time. I somehow knew she didn’t need my advice or even my commiseration as much as she needed her moment. And this time, with this person, I didn’t try to fix her feelings, or put her experience into my own context. I just listened attentively, and now we have a connection we didn’t have before.
My sister once wrote an article entitled, “Don’t Just Do Something, Stand There.” She had been a missionary in the Philippines and at that time it was a place of terrible violence and suffering. Instead of “don’t just stand there, do something!” she learned the value of reversing that piece of advice. Ultimately it’s not so much about sharing our wisdom, as valuable as that might be, but rather opening ourselves to something inexpressible that is nevertheless essential to being human. She found out that suffering people needed this more than anything else.
When people ask what makes our religion special, I think it’s just that. We have faith in a God who is truly with us, giving us his time, offering us space to share our deepest and least comprehensible hurts. I think this is the value of a “personal relationship” with Christ, and why so many pictures show him in a state of quiet and loving attention.
In our religion we have a God who is not only the creator of stars and planets and galaxies, but with us on the inside. And that makes all the difference.
Peace,
John Wagner
The Gift that Keeps on Giving
On September 13, a Sunday, there will be a brief meeting after church to discuss the idea of a “Legacy Fund.” Our Trust the Future committee has been talking for some time about facilitating a way for people to put the church in a will or bequest, and we’d like to talk to you about it, and share some of our ideas. Then on Sunday, September 20, we will vote as a congregation on setting up a special committee to oversee the fund.
You should have received a letter by now explaining all of this. Please let us know if there is anything you have questions about, and we will do our best to provide answers.
Thanks so much,
Dr. Mark Frazer and John Hoffman, co-chairs, Trust the Future
Rev. John Wagner, pastor
The United Methodist Women are back in action for the month of September. The monthly UMW meeting will be September 11 at 10:00 a.m.
Within UMW, there are three “Circles” that meet once a month. All ladies of First Church are invited to attend whether you are new to the church or you’ve been here awhile. The women in these groups would be delighted to have you!
Mary Deborah Circle
3rd Thursdays @ 10:00 a.m.
Meets in the FUMC Commons
Contact Phyllis Richmond for more
info (513-423-1664)
Elizabeth Circle
3rd Mondays @ 7:00 p.m.
Meet in various homes
Contact Belinda Hausman for more
info (513-423-0586)
Hope Circle
3rd Saturdays @ 9:00 a.m.
Meets at Bob Evans (Towne Mall)
Contact Susan Beagle for more info
(513-539-8001)
Prostate Cancer Support Group
The next meeting of The Prostate Cancer Support Group will be Tuesday, September 1 at 7:00 p.m. in the Asbury Room at First United Methodist Church.
Calling All Millennials!
This fall, we are beginning a small group for young adults ages 21 to 35. All are welcome! This will be a relaxed environment to spend time together and explore issues of faith. Please let us know if you would like to join us and what topics are of interest to you. Our first gathering will be in October, date TBD.
Sarah Dean and Rachel Hurley 513-423-4629
Safe Sanctuary Training–September 27
FUMC is committed to providing a safe environment for our children and youth to ensure physical and emotional support, as well as spiritual growth. For this reason, there will be a training session for all volunteers who work directly with children and/or youth including: FUMC staff and volunteers who are involved in the Nursery, Junior Church, Sunday School, Acolyte program and Hispanic Ministry childcare.
The Safe Sanctuary training session is after worship service on Sunday, September 27. If you can’t make it that day, you may attend the Whiz Kids Safe Sanctuary training on Monday, September 14 at 4:30 p.m. at the church. It should only take about 15 to 30 minutes of your time. The Safe Sanctuary policy will be reviewed, and forms need to be filled out by all volunteers and staff who work with children and/or youth. Even if you have attended a training session in the past, you still need to be present. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the church office. Thank you for all your help and discipleship here at FUMC!
Junior Church News
We were so happy to give out ten Bibles to the children of the congregation grades 3rd–8th on August 9. After church, we had about 50 people stay for a pizza lunch to celebrate.
For the Fall, the children’s Sunday School class will introduce a new curriculum, called “Deep Blue.” It is based on the award-winning “Deep Blue Kids Bible.” For the month of September, the message that the children will learn is “Everything that God makes is supremely good.” The Bible verse of focus is from Genesis 1:31: “God saw everything he had made: it was supremely good.”
The children will be journeying through the Bible with thrilling stories, arts and crafts, and lively games.
Carnival Event
One of Jr. Church’s biggest events this month is the Magical Missions Carnival on Saturday, September 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Funds raised through the carnival will support the Jr. Church mission project, The UM Children’s Fund for Christian Mission. Money donations are needed for prizes and supplies for games and events. Cakes/baked goods are also needed for the cake walk. Anyone willing to man a game, help with set up/clean up, or help serve lunch please get in touch with Kira Wills or Belinda Hausman (423-0586).
We need a volunteer for the following stations:
Duck Pond
Lollipop pull
Ring Toss
Cake walk
Whiffle Ball throw
Entrance/Ticket Sales
We will also need two volunteers to serve lunch as well. This is sure to be a exciting and fun event. Don’t forget to mark it on your calendar!
Gulmi Prison in Nepal
Update from Dr. Les & Debbie Dornon, missionaries to Nepal working in the Tansen Hospital
Last Wednesday, Les, along with another doctor, a dentist, and a church worker, all got into a very small car and drove on the windy, mountainous road to Gulmi district — the district just west of Palpa (where our hospital is located.) They endured the 3-hour ride in order to help the patients and staff at the jail in Gulmi. There were about 7 women prisoners and 66 men. Les, Rachel, and Roshan were able to see all the prisoners and staff and provide needed health and dental treatment — and to just listen to and encourage the people there. The jail itself is quite small, so prisoners are crowded into small areas.
At the end of the time there, the warden had everyone (prisoners and staff) gather in the courtyard of the prison. He then spent time thanking the group from the Mission Hospital (as it is known around here) for taking the time to come and help their people. He specifically was grateful that they had come because he said that not many people took the time to care about the prisoners, and it meant a lot to them that “important” people like doctors and dentists would use their day off for the week to travel to Gulmi prison to care for “the least of these.” Hmmm — sounds pretty biblical to me!
Thanks for your prayers for the people of Nepal — and please pray that our lives here would continue to be lights for Jesus and that many would be drawn to Him.
In Him,
लेस (Les) and देबी (Debbie)
P.S. To see more photos and stories, please visit our blog: dornonnepalmission.wordpress.com
Music Notes by Mary Ellen Clinard
Back in Action
The FUMC music program is back for the Fall season. Choir Retreat will be on September 20 (beginning with lunch right after church) and the Handbells will begin on September 27. We look forward to some good fellowship and some exciting new music!
Please consider joining us. Regular choir practice is held every Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., beginning September 9. Handbells meet on Sundays at 4 p.m. Both groups meet in the choir room/music office, which you can get to by entering the church from the door that opens directly into the back parking lot. Please call if you have questions about joining the choirs we have here at First Church!
LOOKING AHEAD — Plans are being made for one of the most unique events in the history of our church…and according to Google, maybe even the United Methodist Church as a whole!!! We are planning a marathon Hymn Sing in October. We’ll start with “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” and sing every verse of every hymn until the very last hymn! It will take us about 20 hours of non-stop singing. Start warming up your voices and getting extra sleep for this record-setting experience!
First Friday Concert Series 2015
SEPTEMBER 4 @ Noon| JAMESON’S FOLLY
One of the best Celtic bands in the area compiled of seasoned musicians from the Ohio Renaissance Festival. This bunch kicks off the season with a concert of lively traditional tunes just for us. We won’t be serving giant turkey legs but you’ll still have fun! (Family friendly, of course!)
OCTOBER 2 @ Noon| SPITTIN’ IMAGE
Before you make an eye appointment for seeing double, stop by and see why these entertainers are twice the fun! The First Friday crowd keeps asking for them to come back — even after making some audience members wear silly hats and sing off-key… go figure! It must be their great musical talent that has audiences asking for more!
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!
Community Ministries Corner
Whiz Kids is recruiting tutors for the 2015–2016 school year. Whiz Kids is a one-on-one tutoring program that meets at FUMC from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Mondays from October to April. We meet every Monday that the Middletown Schools are in session during those months.
Right now we have more interested students than we have tutors. Each additional tutor means we can help another child. A background in teaching can be helpful, but some of our best tutors have never worked in education. They have learned from their own experiences!
If you cannot commit to being here every week, you can be a substitute tutor and fill in when a regular tutor has to miss a week. If you do not want to work directly with a child, we also have a great need for an administrator to check the children in and out each week.
If you are interested in tutoring or have any questions, contact Debbie Ellis at 513-423-7012 or via email at dlellissv@gmail.com.
Emergency Food Request
Help! We are running low on cans of soup, evaporated milk, corn and green beans. We also need packages of spaghetti. If you could help out by donating some of these items we would be most grateful. You may place them in the blue barrels outside the sanctuary. Thank you!
September Birthdays
4 Sonya Kramer, Braeden Wills, Brooke Dickson, Destiny Hurrigan
7 Nina Markle
8 Bob Boonstra
9 Mary Jane Frazer
10 Rachel Dornon, Gary Rutledge
11 Lyla Liljestrand
12 Everett Sherron
13 JoAnn Wagner
14 Paul Brewer
15 Gordon Hughes, Robert Livzey
17 John Hoffman, MacKenzie Rutledge
19 Medreth Bingham, Megan McLaughlin
20 Diane Wilson
21 Matthew McDaniel
23 Jerry Slama
24 Juanita Harsh
25 Mary Jane Fairchild
26 Melanie Alderton, Jim White
27 Jonathan Goecke
28 Barb Hoffman