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March 12, 2010
Dear PassWord People, It’s been a warm, beautiful week here in Middletown….it smelled so good the last day or two…I could smell the rain coming, but I could also smell the earth warming up, coming back to life. Beautiful. Of course, now...the rain is here…and that is what we need to achieve what we all want….new life. So no complaining, hear? I spent some time this week raking the yard. It was a mess…in fact, it is still not great, but it is much improved. A winter’s worth of dried dog dirt plus a million pine cones and needles. Jeff has been threatening to take down this pine tree ever since we moved in and as I was raking it did occur to me that maybe I should have just let him - rather than pleading for its life. Same with Dog….I knew when Dog came into our lives that there would be this refuse that came with him…but maybe I wasn’t quite prepared for how much of this would happen with a big dog and a small yard. Poop and pine cones, rake, rake, poop and pine cones, rake, rake… Actually they look a lot alike though they smell vastly different…. I wasn’t even a quarter of the way done when I wanted to quit raking….My arms and shoulders, tired, sore, the piles large. Eventually I got smart and dug out the wheelbarrow and used it to haul my newly raked piles to the large compost pile. Lucky Jeff will have all kinds of great nutrients to feed his tomatoes in a couple months…. But truthfully…I love my pine tree. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever met a tree I didn’t love. And Jeff loves Dog…they are great pals. In fact, Kara loves Dog, Donny loves Dog…and even I like Dog – most of the time. But even with things we love there come things we don’t care for….poop and pine cones, rake, rake, poop and pine cones, rake, rake…. Eventually I did finish the yard, finish the raking despite my tired arms…I come from stubborn stock and that of course, is half the battle of life; keeping on when you want to quit. But I am reminded this week that I can choose to find joy in God’s gifts to me or I can choose to complain …its all in my perspective. I remember the story that Bob Welsh told at his mother’s funeral that described Mrs. Welsh to a T…a story about a little girl whose father was concerned that she had this unquenchable optimism and who would be hurt by life…To give her a dose of life’s hard reality he takes her out to a farm and has her help him do mundane chores, including raking a huge barnyard full of manure. At the end of hours of raking he is exhausted but his young daughter still has a smile on her face, her cheery voice is still peppering him with questions and chatter. He turns toward her and asks, “Child, why are you still so happy?” “Because”, she replies, “with all this manure there has to be a pony in here somewhere!” Today may you find your pony…your dog…and your beautiful pine tree.
Announcements: Time Change this Weekend! Come to Church….be on time…but not an hour early! I think we lose an hour’s sleep Saturday night but you might want to check other sources than your pastor since she has trouble with this concept. e
CUSTODIAL SERVICES As some of you know, we lost our custodian the end of February. Stewardship and Property Management (SPM) commission has been cleaning our facilities since then. We have decided to attempt to develop a volunteer custodial team to clean both of our facilities. It is understood that we do have a potential volunteer to care for the older classrooms. This could involve as little as a few hours per week or as much as you could offer. It would not involve any outside work (snow or grass). Not sure how this would all be broken down, but if you are willing to help in this attempt, please contact Jay Whye or any member of SPM. Thank you.
Fellowship Hall Coffee Hour will run on Sundays from 8:45 A.M. till 9:20 A.M.
The monthly dinner for March will be on the 22nd. The menu is Baked Pork Chops, Baked Potatoes, Vegetable and dessert. Again, we will need desserts. You gave a great response in February, and we could use a repeat. As usual serving begins at 4:30 PM. Our last dinner was a GREAT success we want to THANK all of you who provided desserts, helped serve and clean up. We can use that help again. To help serve see Sandy Robbins.
Angel Food Ministries at Middletown First Church of God had their last distribution in February. Angel Food has decided to close due to fewer amounts of food boxes being bought. We thank all our volunteers and all who participated in this ministry.
CALENDAR Friday, March 12th Youth Lock In beginning this evening. Contact Cameron for details.
March 14th. Worship at 8:00 and 10:30. SUNSHINER SUNDAY AT 10:30! Come and worship together. “Connected”, John 15. Classes for everyone at 9:15.
EVERY SUNDAY: FROG Pond for all kids, 1-5grades. 9:15. FROG Pond Kids…we got Eggs! Baby Chicks to arrive Easter Week! Come and see!
Sunday, March 14th. 6:00 Betesda Church of God, Worship in the Sanctuary (Our Latino sister Church)
Sunday, March 14th, 2010. 8:00 YACH (Young Adult Coffee Hour)
Wednesday, March 17th. WEDNESAY NIGHT LIVE. Supper at 5:45, Class at 6:30. Financial Peace University begins at 5:45.
Thursday, March 18th. 8:00 Breakfast Club, Church office. EVERYONE WELCOME.
COMING ATTRACTIONS:
Sunday, March 28. Palm Sunday, Adult Choir Easter Cantata
Thursday, April 1 Maundy Thursday service
Thursday, April, 2 Good Friday Service at Wesley United Methodist Church on Ann Street.
Saturday, April 3rd. Easter Egg Hunt! 10:00 am. ALL KIDS WELCOME FROM AGE 0-5TH GRADE!
Sunday, April 4th, Easter Sunrise Service – 6:30 A.M. Narthex, followed by breakfast in Fellowship Hall at 7:00 A.M.
Sunday, April 4th. Easter Sunday! He is Risen! Worship at 8:00 and 10:30.
Saturday, May 8th. Aaron Wood Fundraiser, including chicken barbeque, on church grounds. More details to follow.
Sunday, June 6th Graduation Sunday.
Sunday, June 13th. MiKiWoGo begins!
Monday – Friday, July 12-16 VBS Day Camp! More details to follow but plan ahead now for this great all day experience. Come and bring a friend!
Prayer Requests:
Mansberger Family. Services for Bob and Helen Mansberger are today at noon.
Benjamin Gingrich, son of Erin and Nate Gingrich, is home! We give praise. Continue to remember Ben and his family in your prayers.
Rich Pelletier is back in the hospital. Rich had surgery to help clear infection, hopes to come home tomorrow.
Bob Gibson is doing rehab at Select Specialty at the Polyclinic Hospital. Continue to remember Bob and Donna.
Jim Abromitis is home and doing well. Thank you for your prayers on Jim’s behalf.
Glenn Figard is in the Rheems Nursing Home for rehab. Continue to remember Glenn, please.
Mary Blessing will be having surgery next week.
Bob Burns Jr. will be having surgery March 22nd.
Enough. Smile…God is bringing you good things in the rain….and in all kinds of other disguisesJ
Blessings, Pastor Kim
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