PASTOR’S REFLECTIONS
Remember Me!
One of my better college professors reached out to me last week. She’d found some of my papers from way back when I was taking a world history course, and photocopied them so she could send them in an email, thought I’d be interested. It was nice to be remembered, but when I looked at the papers themselves I was mystified. I hadn’t done very well on them, they were all marked up, lots of spelling and grammatical errors, tepid and tentative conclusions … no signs of budding genius whatsoever. Cleary I was a very average history student.
I’m thinking that instead of me being particularly memorable for her, it’s more likely that the professor wanted to be remembered herself, hoping I’d write back with some word of thanks (which I gladly did).
I can sympathize with her fully. Deep down I know I want someone, anyone, to notice what I have done with my life, to be impressed or grateful. This need for personal attention competes with my more spiritual values – it’s a kind of wrestling match that goes on all the time. And my ego seems to win most of those battles, as I suppose it does from time to time even with this graceful and unpretentious college professor.
But this is what Jesus said: “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
We know this don’t we? We are Christians. And yet we often have the hardest time denying ourselves the attention we crave.
We press for it in many subtle and unsubtle ways, and if we don’t get positive attention we sometimes settle for negative attention. We have this strange temptation to play the spoiler, the obstructionist, the provoker, the villain. It’s almost as if we are crying out “Say whatever you want about me, just don’t forget me!” It’s a kind of sickness that seems to infect most of us.
But there is a cure for it.
After the resurrection it’s thought that Jesus followers were so overwhelmed by the power of that moment they forgot about their own needs, and gave themselves over completely to spreading the Good News. Denial of self became a joy rather than grim duty. They were part of something greater than themselves, something that was perfect and divine and eternal. Their enthusiasm created the church we are part of today.
Each Easter we try to remember this, remember that we are part of something far larger, grander, more beautiful than anything we will be able to piece together in our individual lives. Our careers, our individual accomplishments, are all very important, but not ultimately important.
Here is my boast: Deep down, even deeper down than my own need to be personally remembered, I want to be part of something that has eternal importance. I believe you do as well.
At Easter, and the season after Easter, we will once again focus on bringing this deeper and more spiritual part of ourselves to the surface. The more of us who commit to this, the better it will be for the God’s everlasting Kingdom, and the greater our ultimate joy.
I call you to be part of that grand effort.
John Wagner
The 16th Season of SHALOM Comes to an End
On March 11th, the 16th winter season since the start of the SHALOM homeless shelter came to end. They finished up their last week here at First Church. Our church hosted about 21 guests during the week of March 4th to March 11th. We would like to thank all those who volunteered their time to help with meals, supervision, laundry, and donations. Your service is much appreciated. During the 16th season, the SHALOM homeless shelter lightened the burden of 116 different homeless individuals. We thank SHALOM coordinator, Bill Fugate, our church coordinator, John Tack, as well as other members of our church family including David Harris and Chris Watkins, who help throughout the whole SHALOM season to make sure things go smoothly.
To learn more about SHALOM and how you can help out visit the new website at www.shalomhomeless.com.
MISSION MOMENT
Update from Dr. Les and Debbie Dornon, missionaries to Nepal working in the Tansen Hospital
Giving Tours In Nepal
One part of (my) Debbie’s work here is giving tours to visitors and new arrivals. This past week, I have given three hospital tours. One was for a new group of Peace Corps workers here in the district of Palpa, and the other two were for families who lived and worked in Nepal many years ago.
It is always nice to show people around the hospital and talk about the work we do here – but when it is for “old” families, it is also interesting for me, as I always learn something new.
One of the families had an amazing story – their child was born here by an emergency C-section, and the child needed medical intervention that wasn’t available here, so they had to leave Tansen to return to their home country within 3 days. This was their first visit back to Tansen with their child in over 30 years. Another child born here returned with his wife – and we spent some time finding where the actual delivery room might have been 29 years ago…
It was a reminder again to us that the work we are doing here is ongoing – it was started by God – and carried out by His faithful workers for 36 years before we arrived for the first time in 1990. It has continued these past 28 years – some of the time with us, and some without. We are thankful for the gift of God’s people who worked here, who gave to support the work, and especially, for those who have prayed. We count you among those. Thank you!
In Him,
लेस (Les) and देबी (Debbie)
Want more stories & photos? Check out our blog at dornonnepalmission.wordpress.com
NEWS FROM THE PEWS
UMW Spring Salad Luncheon
By: Barb Hoffman
NEW! NEW! NEW!
“FLIP FLOP INTO SPRING”
WITH A “BRAND NEW 2018”
SALAD “PLATE” LUNCHEON, FLOWER, AND BAKE SALE
Presented by The United Methodist Women
Mark Your Calendar WEDNESDAY, MAY 2nd, 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM In Fellowship Hall.
We are offering you a “NEW SALAD LUNCHEON DINING EXPERIENCE.” On each plate you will find:
Hot Chicken Salad
Potato Salad
Deviled Eggs
Broccoli Salad &
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Served at your table: Rolls & Butter & Tossed Salad (with your choice of dressing). You also will receive your beverage of choice: Coffee, Tea or Water. And your dessert of choice: Chocolate or White Cake.
Tickets: $7.00 adults, $3.50 children 12 years of age and under.
Don’t miss out on this wonderful “Flip Flop Spring” Luncheon Experience.
Stop by the “BAKED GOODS” table and take home a Pie, a Cake, a Cupcake, a Brownie, or a bag of Cookies. Such a SPECIAL TREAT!
Remember all proceeds benefit in-house and local missions. THANK YOU in advance, the women of the UMW appreciate your faithful attendance and support.
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2018 UMW Flower Sale
Are you ready for your spring gardening this year? Order your flowers through the UMW Flower Sale. There are a variety of flowers from Bern’s Garden Center. They offer hanging baskets, flats, quarts, 9” pots, as well as gift cards. PICK UP an order form today in the church foyer. The flowers would also be a lovely gift for someone and will be here just in time for Mother’s day! All proceeds from the flower sale goes to church and local missions.
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UMW NEWS
By: Barb Orth
Each month we’ve been featuring the various ministries the UMW gives an end-of-year donation to; today it’s our own Neighborhood Ministry. The neighborhood is served in two different ways: First is the Pauline Stalker Pantry which is open for business every Tuesday afternoon. Local customers are able to buy goods at reduced prices. These items have either been purchased by the church or otherwise donated. This ministry is run by several of our congregants, who are doing the Lord’s work. They do all the shopping, organizing, and working on pantry day. This is where our November “Harvest of the Heart” bags go, and other donations can be made at any time; they usually let the congregation know what they’re low on.
Another crucial part of our Neighborhood Ministry is Emergency Food. Anyone who has been at the church during the day has probably seen one of these bags being given out. People who need food are given a bag filled with basic food essentials. There is no charge, but there is a limit to how often someone can get one. The bags are all the same; the list of items are found on the big blue barrels near both foyers. If you wish to donate any of these items just place them in those bins, and Catherine Brown and her “helper children” will take them down to their storage room and prepare the bags for distribution.
Thank you to all who serve in these important ministries!
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5th Sunday Church Potluck this Month!
Mark your calendars for Sunday, April 29th and join us for a church potluck after our 10:30 a.m. worship service in Fellowship Hall. It is sure to be an afternoon filled with fun, fellowship, and lots of good food! In order that we have a good balance of food, we are assigning you what to bring in. If your last name starts with a/an:
A through J: Please bring a dessert.
K through R: Please bring a main dish.
S through Z: Please bring a side dish.
The 5th Sunday also features the Hymn Sing during the 10:30 a.m. worship service. The Hymn Sing involves singing more hymns than usual and the hymns come from the congregation’s list of favorites we collected last year. We hope you will come sing & worship with us Sunday, April 29th! Bring your friends and family to worship and the potluck!
MUSIC NOTES BY MARY ELLEN
EASTERTIDE!
For those of you wishing we could sing more Easter music than just on Easter, you are in luck!
If we follow the Liturgical Year (Advent, Epiphany, Lent, Eastertide, Pentecost, Kingdomtide, generally), Easter Sunday will usher in Eastertide–“the most joyous and celebrative season of the Christian Year,” according to the United Methodist Book of Worship. Sometimes called the “Great Fifty Days,” denoting the number of days between Easter and Pentecost, we focus on Christ’s resurrection, ascension, and the works of the Holy Spirit.
You will notice that our Easter flower boxes will remain in the windows throughout this time and we will be using many of the great Easter hymns found in all three of our hymnals. As a choir director, I am excited to be able to use many of the other “Easter Sunday” anthems we have in our library since we only get to select ONE on Easter morning! As an organist, I look forward to playing variations of Easter Hymns that are rather limited in their use outside of the Easter Season. Since Easter comes early this year on the calendar, I hope these 50 days will also be spent enjoying the blooming of colorful flowers, warmer breezes, and a general sense of renewal, adding cheeriness to the cold and dark winter we have had this year.
I recently attended a one-day worship workshop at United Theological Seminary that revolved around the “Great 50 Days.” It was encouraging to see churches both traditional and contemporary in worship style finding importance and relevance in the seasons of Liturgical Calendar as a way to create structure and pattern in our worship and yet finding creative ways to keep it fresh, interesting, and relevant. I look forward to experiencing this “50 Day Celebration” of Christ’s great love for us with all of you!
Up From the Grave He Arose indeed! See you Sunday!
2018 First Friday Concert Series @ First UMC
Free Concert at Noon
APRIL 6 | EDDE OSBORNE: Edde returns as he brings his unique style of R&B Jazz and pop standards to flute and saxophone. A flawless and engaging performer, he has always been an audience favorite!
MAY 4 | US, TODAY: They’ve barely unpacked their suitcases from a first-time appearance at the revered SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas when they take the stage this month. We love watching the world discover what First Friday audiences knew all along…this is a totally incredible group! If you love the inventive avant-garde blending of post-rock minimalism, jazz and electronic music, you won’t want to miss this band!
This concert series would not be possible without the support of the Middletown Community Foundation, the Barnitz Fund, Miriam Knoll Foundation, the Middletown Symphony Legacy Fund, and the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Middletown. Thank you for your support!!
FUN FACTS
Famous People You Didn’t Know Were Methodist
(from “Celebrity Facts” on Ranker)
Think of your favorite celebrity. Can you name their most famous role? Their significant other? How about their religious affiliation? You probably can’t name many famous people who are Methodist – but that’s because you haven’t looked at this list yet. A number of famous actors, singers, and politicians were raised in the Methodist church or consider themselves a member of the faith.
Who will you find on this list of celebrities who are Methodist?
Beyoncé Knowles was raised in the United Methodist church. “God is real and God lives inside of me and inside of all of us and it doesn’t matter where I am, I know that and I feel it,” she has said of her faith.
Star Wars director George Lucas was brought up in a Methodist household, but he now refers to himself as a “Methodist Buddhist.”
Author Stephen King attended a Methodist church “I went to Methodist church for years as a kid, and Methodist youth fellowship on Thursday nights,” Stephen King has said of his religious upbringing.
Other Methodists on this list include George W. Bush and Hillary Clinton, who both attend church regularly. Vice Presidents Hubert H. Humphrey, Walter F. Mondale and Dick Cheney were all Methodists. Christopher Walken was raised Methodist. He said, “God is very mysterious to me, but I know the power of belief. It’s my source of strength.” Civil Rights leader Rosa Parks was a lifelong member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Jackie Robinson was a Methodist, as was Branch Rickey. So was serial killer Ted Bundy.
The list goes on and on and even includes Superman, also known as Clark Kent or Kal-El. The character was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, both of whom were Jewish, but Superman has always been depicted as having been raised with a solidly Protestant upbringing by his adoptive Midwestern parents – Jonathan and Martha Kent. Of Clark’s parents, Martha is the more devout churchgoer. Clark Kent was raised as a Methodist. The Kents are Methodists, although Jonathan is not as regular a churchgoer as his wife. The fictional character of Supergirl was an active Methodist.
And you are probably a Methodist, too!
APRIL BIRTHDAYS
1 Kathy Larison
2 Sharyn Edelen
3 Lorena Trinkle
6 Dave Balsmeyer, Mary Ittel
11 Ryan McLaughlin
12 J.C. Shew
13 Betty Risner
14 Eleanor Imhoff
15 Anita Shew
16 Alex Wieneke, Sandy Yaple
18 Michael McDaniel
20 Elois Duff
25 Debbie Taylor, Sue Moore
26 Don Beasley
29 Bob Duffey