PassWord
April 26, 2024
Dear Password People,
It’s a beautiful day in my neighborhood. 😊 The sun is shining on Mrs. Clave’s dogwood tree and it is a sight to behold. And while it started out chilly, it is quickly warming. Spring is glorious in Pennsylvania. I went to check on the bird's nest, expecting to see baby birds but instead I found more eggs. Now there are five! We have an amazing God.
So, we are currently doing some organizing up at the bethel, going through cupboards and closets that have long sat idle and unused. If there is anywhere that gets messier than my basement, it is probably church, and this for a variety of reasons. But this week I came across some old pictures of our Sunshiners and Encouragers; the special needs ministries that have long been part of the Middletown First Church of God. The Encouragers Sunday School Class is now defunct; both covid and the death of its primary leader, Diane Senseman, contributed to that as did simply our aging special needs population. But the Sunshiners, now under the direction of Pat Horting is alive and well and meets most every Thursday during the school year. These are some of the most joyful people I have the privilege of knowing and if you have someone who could benefit from being part of this group, please send them our way.
But both the cleaning out and the pictures reminded me of a ministry of the Encouragers that I haven’t thought about for awhile. When I came to Middletown, every Sunday morning I would find on the small shelf that sits beside the pulpit a glass of water. It was never anything fancy, understand – just a Styrofoam cup of water that seemed to appear out of nowhere each week. And it took me a while to even figure out who was putting it there, till one Sunday I caught Diane in the process of delivering the water during the Sunday School hour. “Oh, it’s you who do that!”, I say. And she responded by explaining it is a ministry of the Encouragers. And after that I would sometimes see her bringing the water, or sometimes helping one of the Encouragers carry the water and set it down. When I would be close by to witness this, I would always thank them. But honestly, it was a ministry that happened every week that went largely unnoticed – until it was no more. Lord, forgive us for not seeing things till they are gone.
Mark 9, where we are this week, finds Jesus reminding the disciples that even a cup of water that is given in His name to one of Jesus’ followers is worthy of reward. There are no “insiders” or “outsiders” in Jesus’ Kingdom but rather, all who follow Him, all who serve Him, are welcomed with open arms.
Sometimes we get this crazy idea that we don't have anything to offer God. But nothing could be further from the truth. What matters isn’t so much what we give, but why we give. Be it big or small or in between, may we give to Jesus because we love Him. And whether we give our time, our energy, our passion, our ability, or our material means, Jesus notices, even if no one else does. May we even give a cup of water in His Name.
DAILY READINGS FOR THE WEEK
OF April 28, 2024:
April 28 Matt. 26-28 & Psalm 69:1-18
April 29 Reflection
April 30 Judges 1-3 & Ps. 69:19-36
May 1 Judges 4-6 & Psalm 70
May 2 Judges 7-9 & Psalm 71
May 3 Judges 10-12 & Proverbs 18
May 4 Judges 13-15 & Prov 19:1-14
May 5 Judges 16-18 & Prov 19:15-29
CALENDAR
Saturday, April 27. 8:00 Work Day. We will be working on the grounds this morning. Any help you can give us for an hour or for the morning would be greatly appreciated. Here are the projects planned for Saturday morning:
1. Sanctuary entrance overhang - side door (repair, rebuild)
2. Install two new outdoor lights
3. Replace Library floor
4. Power wash picnic tables. Put a few up for the summer and put the rest back in the pavilion.
5. Power wash and clean front education windows (inside and out).
6. Trim and weed back parking lot flower beds. Rake up mulch.
7. Fix/re-hang wall cabinet in window room.
Sunday, April 28. Worship at 8:00 and 10:30. Today we continue our study of the Gospel of Mark and will look at Mark 9:30-50.
Wednesday, May 1. Wednesday Night Live. Supper at 5:45, Class at 6:30. All welcome.
Friday, May 3. Spring Fling for Seniors.
Thursday, May 16. 11:30. Seniors Alive!
Sunday, June 2. Graduation Sunday. Please contact the office to get a form to fill out for or by your graduate – high school, college, technical school, etc. or pick up one in the narthex. mdtcog@comcast.net
Sunday, June 30. 10:30. Service of Baptism. If Jesus is your Lord and Savior and you would like to be baptized, please see Pastor Kim.
VBS Day Camp, July 8-12, 9:00-3:00.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Jimmy and Cece Abromitis
Barbara Beaver
Cindy Brandt, friend of Peg Bryant
Doris Clave
Michael Clave
Donna Gibson
Walter Houser
Judy Kurtz
Peter Labella
Andrea Longo
Deanna McClellan
Charles Myers
Joseph Pancirov, Dawn Baumbach’s Dad
Joyce Shaffer
Jessie Willis
Kim, friend of Bonnie Benner
Unspoken
Enough. Father, some days we don’t feel as though we have enough to give. But may we simply give what you have given us. And we thank you for it.
Blessings,
Pastor Kim
Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/middletowncog/
Our Website: www.middletowncog.org
Dear Password People,
It’s a beautiful day in my neighborhood. 😊 The sun is shining on Mrs. Clave’s dogwood tree and it is a sight to behold. And while it started out chilly, it is quickly warming. Spring is glorious in Pennsylvania. I went to check on the bird's nest, expecting to see baby birds but instead I found more eggs. Now there are five! We have an amazing God.
So, we are currently doing some organizing up at the bethel, going through cupboards and closets that have long sat idle and unused. If there is anywhere that gets messier than my basement, it is probably church, and this for a variety of reasons. But this week I came across some old pictures of our Sunshiners and Encouragers; the special needs ministries that have long been part of the Middletown First Church of God. The Encouragers Sunday School Class is now defunct; both covid and the death of its primary leader, Diane Senseman, contributed to that as did simply our aging special needs population. But the Sunshiners, now under the direction of Pat Horting is alive and well and meets most every Thursday during the school year. These are some of the most joyful people I have the privilege of knowing and if you have someone who could benefit from being part of this group, please send them our way.
But both the cleaning out and the pictures reminded me of a ministry of the Encouragers that I haven’t thought about for awhile. When I came to Middletown, every Sunday morning I would find on the small shelf that sits beside the pulpit a glass of water. It was never anything fancy, understand – just a Styrofoam cup of water that seemed to appear out of nowhere each week. And it took me a while to even figure out who was putting it there, till one Sunday I caught Diane in the process of delivering the water during the Sunday School hour. “Oh, it’s you who do that!”, I say. And she responded by explaining it is a ministry of the Encouragers. And after that I would sometimes see her bringing the water, or sometimes helping one of the Encouragers carry the water and set it down. When I would be close by to witness this, I would always thank them. But honestly, it was a ministry that happened every week that went largely unnoticed – until it was no more. Lord, forgive us for not seeing things till they are gone.
Mark 9, where we are this week, finds Jesus reminding the disciples that even a cup of water that is given in His name to one of Jesus’ followers is worthy of reward. There are no “insiders” or “outsiders” in Jesus’ Kingdom but rather, all who follow Him, all who serve Him, are welcomed with open arms.
Sometimes we get this crazy idea that we don't have anything to offer God. But nothing could be further from the truth. What matters isn’t so much what we give, but why we give. Be it big or small or in between, may we give to Jesus because we love Him. And whether we give our time, our energy, our passion, our ability, or our material means, Jesus notices, even if no one else does. May we even give a cup of water in His Name.
DAILY READINGS FOR THE WEEK
OF April 28, 2024:
April 28 Matt. 26-28 & Psalm 69:1-18
April 29 Reflection
April 30 Judges 1-3 & Ps. 69:19-36
May 1 Judges 4-6 & Psalm 70
May 2 Judges 7-9 & Psalm 71
May 3 Judges 10-12 & Proverbs 18
May 4 Judges 13-15 & Prov 19:1-14
May 5 Judges 16-18 & Prov 19:15-29
CALENDAR
Saturday, April 27. 8:00 Work Day. We will be working on the grounds this morning. Any help you can give us for an hour or for the morning would be greatly appreciated. Here are the projects planned for Saturday morning:
1. Sanctuary entrance overhang - side door (repair, rebuild)
2. Install two new outdoor lights
3. Replace Library floor
4. Power wash picnic tables. Put a few up for the summer and put the rest back in the pavilion.
5. Power wash and clean front education windows (inside and out).
6. Trim and weed back parking lot flower beds. Rake up mulch.
7. Fix/re-hang wall cabinet in window room.
Sunday, April 28. Worship at 8:00 and 10:30. Today we continue our study of the Gospel of Mark and will look at Mark 9:30-50.
Wednesday, May 1. Wednesday Night Live. Supper at 5:45, Class at 6:30. All welcome.
Friday, May 3. Spring Fling for Seniors.
Thursday, May 16. 11:30. Seniors Alive!
Sunday, June 2. Graduation Sunday. Please contact the office to get a form to fill out for or by your graduate – high school, college, technical school, etc. or pick up one in the narthex. mdtcog@comcast.net
Sunday, June 30. 10:30. Service of Baptism. If Jesus is your Lord and Savior and you would like to be baptized, please see Pastor Kim.
VBS Day Camp, July 8-12, 9:00-3:00.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Jimmy and Cece Abromitis
Barbara Beaver
Cindy Brandt, friend of Peg Bryant
Doris Clave
Michael Clave
Donna Gibson
Walter Houser
Judy Kurtz
Peter Labella
Andrea Longo
Deanna McClellan
Charles Myers
Joseph Pancirov, Dawn Baumbach’s Dad
Joyce Shaffer
Jessie Willis
Kim, friend of Bonnie Benner
Unspoken
Enough. Father, some days we don’t feel as though we have enough to give. But may we simply give what you have given us. And we thank you for it.
Blessings,
Pastor Kim
Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/middletowncog/
Our Website: www.middletowncog.org