This Sunday, January 31st, after worship and fellowship, you have the opportunity to begin to shape the future of First United Methodist Church, Middletown. Your voice and your efforts will matter and make all the difference!

This first in a series of all-church meetings will begin to explore how to take concrete steps towards implementing the mission and the means to fulfill God's plan for United Methodism in Middletown. John Parent, our Church Council Chairperson, will chair the meeting, and we will be able to shift to acting as a voting Church Council quickly as required to make important decisions. Our new Lay Leader Debbie Camp and Pastor Barbara Marks will also be helping to lead the meeting, listening to your voices and helping to lead us towards the promising future that God has prepared for us. Seminarian Associate John Blossom will provide presentation materials to help frame and moderate the discussion. All voices will be heard without dominance and with respect and good moderation, so that we can begin the work of discerning the way forward through the exciting opportunities that lay before us.

Our mission is the key focus of this first meeting, but we will also be discerning how to move in a deliberate and committed way to defining the mission fields and the means to fulfill our mission. Bring yourself, your ideas, your hopes, your dreams, open hearts, and open minds. May God help us to do the rest, for in God, all things are possible, indeed!

You're welcome to join us 9.30 Monday mornings in our parsonage at 221 Ridge Road in Middletown for fellowship and reflection on Sunday's worship message, church activities, community concerns, prayers and devotions. If you're a neighbor not familiar with us, stop by and get to know us in a friendly, informal setting. People tend to bring their own refreshments, and you're welcome to bring a special treat for others. See you there!

What would we do if we suddenly discovered that God was standing right in front of us? What if God was not just in the Bible, or "up there," but alive, right now?

The people of a small town called Nazareth had to answer these questions when a man called Jesus declared to them that the living God was standing before them, ready to help the world. Centuries later, though, people still have that experience, right in their own hearts, when the living God is upon them. Are we ready to have it happen for us? And how will we use it to help God's world? Explore the answers to these questions in worship this Sunday, 10 AM, 44 Maynard Street.

Second Sunday after Epiphany
WESLEY’S COVENANT SERVICE 

 Sermon
“Just (Re)Married”
by
John Blossom, Seminarian Associate, CLS
 
Children's Sermon  also by John Blossom
Please join us for worship
Sunday at 10:00 a.m.  

 at

The Elk’s Lodge
44 Maynard Street, Middletown, CT 

~
Scripture:

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10  
 &
John 2:1-11
 ~
 
Announcements:
  
Thank You Church for the special Christmas basket filled with thoughtful goodies and to SPRC for your gracious gift! We are humbled and grateful. Pastor Barbara & Dave. 
 
Coffee and Devotion at the Parsonage this Monday, January 18th,9:30-10:30am. Just stop in with Joys, Concerns and Thoughts. 
 
Pastor Barbara will be away on business and pleasure January 12th-24th. In her absence John Blossom will be covering. In a pastoral emergency John can be reached at (203) 293-8511, otherwise, you may leave a message with the Church Office (860) 346-3689 during regular business hours.
  
2016 District Resourcing Days - Save the Date. Come and learn at workshops focusing on Worship Design, Technology in Worship, Godly Play, Older Adult Ministries, Disaster Preparation and HUB Churches, Staff Parish Relations, Trustees, Church Finance, Facebook, Immigration and Incarceration, Prayer, and “Telling Our Story: Celebrating 250 Years of Methodism.” Sunday, January 31st,  Westport UMC 49 Weston Road, Westport, CT 06880 2:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. Saturday, February 6th,  Woodbury UMC 4 Church Street, Woodbury, CT 06798 9:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Amazing Grace Donations can now be brought to church anySunday. In addition to tuna and cereal, they are looking for donations of oatmeal, coffee and soup.  The Missions committee will collect these items every Sunday and deliver to Amazing Grace.  Please contact Marsha Judson with any questions at 860-346-0005.
 
Amazing Grace Food Pantry would like to thank everyone at First United Methodist Church, Middletown for the generous donations made in 2015.  In total FUMC donated 355 lbs. of food! It is only with the continuing commitment of so many generous members of our church and our community that Amazing Grace is able to provide food for families who are most in need.  They are extremely grateful for your continuing support of this mission.
 
The Coordinator of Rides to The Elk’s Lodge in Middletown is Jill Bennett.  Please contact Jill at 860-345-7382 if you are in need of a ride to our new location.
 
Our mailing address has changed! All mailings should now be sent to First United Methodist Church at 221 Ridge Road, Middletown, CT 06457. Thank you!
 
We have a Facebook page! Help spread the word about the church by “liking” the church page and “sharing” posts.  (http://www.facebook.com/pages/First-United-Methodist-Church/109638702407308).

  ~

   First United Methodist Church
221 Ridge Road
Middletown, CT 06457
 churchoffice@fumcmiddletownct.org
860-346-3689

*Please Note:  Church cancellations can be found on WFSB (channel 3) and NBC30.  Make sure we have your email for additional notifications. Thanks.

Do not hesitate to call the church office with any questions or concerns.
​

Love playing music? Want a place to share a spiritual message through music? First United Methodist Church Middletown is a place where you can do that, with appreciative and ecouraging audiences - for up to $100 per performance. We call it #FirstMusic.

​We are now holding auditions for monthly performances at our church by local musicians who have a message that they'd like to share with others. We do not require specifically Christian music, though it is welcome, and previous experience with worship music is not necessary. If you have instrumental, vocal, or a group music talent that has something to say, in any musical genre, then let us help you to say it!

Auditions will be held on an appointment basis at our church parsonage, 221 Ridge Road in Middletown. Our Music Director will be available to encourage and support you in your performance, and can help you to succeed. For more information and audition scheduling, please contact John Blossom by voice or text at (203) 293.8511, via email at outreach@fumcmiddletownct.org, or send us a message on Facebook or Twitter. We hope that you will share your music with us some time soon!

​Downloadable Poster: