First United Methodist Church
March 11, 2010
Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 27 at Galt Park
A great day is being planned for the children and adults of our church and community on Saturday, March 27, at Galt Park, beginning at 11 am. There will be an egg hunt for toddlers and children through 6th grade beginning at 11:15 sharp, as well as a story, games and a craft. Middle and High School kids are invited to ride the church bus back to the church for a dodge ball tournament. There will also be games for adults and a lunch at noon that includes hotdogs, chips, baked beans, drinks, cookies and brownies. After lunch we will have a drawing for over 50 door prizes for adults and children. Invite your friends and neighbors for a fun afternoon for all ages!
Epworth Choir Tour & Home Concert
Our Epworth Choir (Grades 7-12) will be heading for New York City during the 46th annual Epworth Spring Tour which this year will feature a new musical, Keeping Vigil with Jesus, with texts by Rev. Susan Lausch and music by Director of Music and Organist, Dean Wagner. The choir will take their message to six churches and enjoy sightseeing in New York City where they will see the Broadway show, Phantom of the Opera. Their itinerary includes:
- March 21 at 7 pm - Spencer UMC, Spencer OH
- March 28 at 7 pm - Heritage UMC, Ligonier PA
- March 29 at 7 pm - West Chester UMC, West Chester PA
- March 30 at 7 pm - Christ UMC, Groton, CN
- March 31 at 7 pm - Mendham UMC, Mendham, NJ
- April 1 at 7 pm - Centerport UMC, Centerport NY
The choir invites you to their final concert which will be in our Sanctuary on Sunday, April 11 at 7 pm.
Book Sale This Sunday, March 14
This Sunday, March 14, in Asbury Hall there will be a sale of used children’s books and VHS tapes that had been in the church library. A committee is in the process of updating the library’s material and the proceeds of the sale will go toward the purchase of new items. Come down to Asbury before, between and after the services and see what we have.
Isn’t it wonderful – a sure sign of spring! Don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead one hour this Saturday, March 13, before going to bed.
Gift & Memorial Contributions
Donors since January, 2010 have contributed to the Gift & Memorial Fund of our church in memory of Doris Angheld; Frank and Virginia Sencindiver; Mary Lowdermilk; Lois Carter. Unless otherwise designated, gifts given in memory of loved ones and friends are added to the endowment portion of our Gift & Memorial Fund. The interest from the fund is used only for special projects in our church as determined by the Trustees. All gifts are acknowledged to the donors; families of those for whom the donations are received are notified of donor names and addresses.
One Great Hour of Sharing This Sunday
This Sunday, March 14, is One Great Hour of Sharing Sunday and United Methodists all over the country will be receiving an offering to support the work of UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Gifts received in this offering cover UMCOR’s administrative costs so 100% of all other contributions, like the $13.8 million raised to date for Haiti relief efforts, go directly to their designated projects. UMCOR has also released $10,000 to the Methodist Church in Chile for relief efforts there. We invite you to keep these efforts going with a gift to One Great Hour of Sharing. Giving envelopes will be included in Sunday bulletins. Checks may be made out to First Church and marked UMCOR.
FYI
Brunch ... This Sunday, March 14 - 9:30 am - 12:30 pm in Wesley Hall. $7 for adults, $5 for children, 3 and under eat free.
Project Linus ... meets Saturday, March 20 - Rm. 105 at 10:30 am. For those who want to make blankets for children at Children’s Hospital. They may be knitted, crocheted, sewn, quilted or fleece, 30"x36" or larger. For more info, call Sylvia Burch at 330-928-7161.
Coming up: Childhood Memories Tea on Sunday, May 2. Save the date, ladies.
Education News
Sunday School Clean Sweep. We have a group that has started cleaning out, reorganizing and sprucing up our downstairs Sunday School classrooms. If you have a gift for cleaning or organizing, we ask that you join us on Tuesdays from 1 – 2:30 pm each week. Come and help us make our classrooms an exciting place for our children to be.
Items needed for Community Easter Egg Hunt, Lunch and Party for Kids and Adults. Will you help with needed items: plastic eggs, candy and small toys to put in the eggs; cookies or brownies for the lunch. There is a basket under the breezeway for you to drop off your donations. We are also in need of door prize items for adults such as note cards, gift cards, small items. Those may be brought to the Education office. Also if you would like to help with the lunch, please contact us at Ext. 218. Thank you for helping us to provide this wonderful outreach into our community.
March Family Mission Workout ... We are challenging each family to engage in the Outflow missions together as a family. we would like to encourage your family to try and to do all of the wonderful outreach opportunities together for your family, your community and your world. Check out the Family Mission Workout for details on the web, at the Welcome Center or in the Education office.
Lenten Boxes Are Available ... If your child has not already picked up a Lenten Box, please feel free to pick one up in the Education office or at the Welcome Center. During Lent, help your child learn the joy of giving. The children will have the opportunity to bring the boxes up during the worship services on Easter Sunday.
Will You Help Us Easter Sunday? ... We can use your help Easter Sunday caring for our Nursery (babies and toddlers) and Preschool age children (ages 3-5). We need help in the nursery at the 8, 9:30 and 11 am services and the preschool area at the 9:30 and 11 am services. If you will help, please call the Education office, Ext. 218.
VBS Planning ... We have begun planning and staffing our Vacation Bible School which will be held June 21-25 from 9 am until noon, with our Extreme Day camp going until 5 pm. The theme this year is Galactic Blast. We are looking for people to help in all areas of the program, either in the morning or afternoon. Our special needs ministry is also looking for access pals that will be able to help with some of our kids that need a little extra guidance or support – this would entail no planning or teaching, just friendship. If you would like to be a part of this great ministry to the children of our church and community, contact Brenda Hipkins at 330-922-0314 or Lynda Schmidt at 330-929-9225.
Montgomery Scholarship Open for College Bound Students
Applications for the Reid and Roberta Montgomery Scholarship may be picked up at the main office any weekday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The deadline for returning the application to the office is Friday, April 16. Applicants must be members of First Church, high school graduates and plan to be enrolled in college this coming fall. The scholarship is awarded every spring and the money will be given to the chosen recipient in early October.
New Beginnings
Spring is coming and with it comes New Beginnings, a class for all persons ready to make a new beginning as members of First Church. There will be four classes on consecutive Tuesday nights beginning on March 23 and concluding on April 13 from 7-8:30 pm, except the last session which will begin with a meal at 6:30 pm. Class members will be welcomed into membership on Sunday, April 18. New Beginnings considers the meaning of our membership vows and the ways we live them out. It also includes refreshments and time to meet other members and staff. Child care is available upon request. You may register on our website or by calling the church office, Ext. 214.
New Request ... Infant Clothes Needed for Haiti
We’ve had a tremendous response from folks donating material for children’s clothes for Haiti and clothes are now being made by women of the church. Our appreciation goes out to those cutting and sewing and all you who have donated fabric. We have just recently learned that new or nearly new infant onesies, infant sweaters and infant receiving blankets are desperately needed in Haiti. If you are able to donate any of these items you may drop them off at the church office. On behalf of the babies of Haiti, many, many thanks!
Easter Flowers to adorn our altar Easter Sunday are $8.50 each. The deadline for ordering is Monday, March 29, at noon. Please pay at time of ordering. Make checks payable to First Church and please mark “flowers” on your memo line and envelope.
Personals
THE GIFT/MEMORIAL BOOK is located in the parlor and is open to Shirley Marrs.
OUR SYMPATHIES to members Douglas Kuhlke and Andrew Kuhlke and family on the death of their father, Denis Kuhlke, on 2/24/10; to members Melody, Don, Ashley and Nicole Youngkin and family on the death of Melody’s father, member Ray Garrett, on 3/6/10.
BAPTISMS AT FIRST CHURCH on March 7: Cameron Elise Barker, daughter of Steven and Mary (Wengert) Barker; Aiken Kate Davnee Beasley, daughter of William and Melissa (Crabtree) Beasley; Lucy Alyce Benson, daughter of Jeff and Christine (Heydorn) Benson; Gabriel Evan Jones, son of Shawn and Gwendolyn (Murphy) Jones; Benjamin Dean McCue, son of Steven and Michelle (Jarvis) McCue.
NEXT OPPORTUNITY FOR BAPTISM AT FIRST CHURCH is Sunday, Mother’s Day, May 9 at the 11 am service. To sign up, call Rev. Brown’s office at 330-923-5241, x212, by Friday, April 30.
PLEASE REMEMBER to call in and let us know of the birth of your child – we want to share the wonderful news with our First Church family!
THANK YOU EXPRESSION: From Mary Beth Milford: Thank you for the altar flowers given to me. They were beautiful and much appreciated. Roger and I have been unable to get to church due to health issues and ask that you keep us in your prayers.
