Our Palm Sunday worship service featured First UMC Middletown members of all ages enacting the dramatic and spirit-moving story of Jesus' last days, as told in the Gospel of John. The enactment brought to live the seven major symbols of Jesus' Passion -the palm leaves of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the jar of ointment poured upon Jesus, a bowl of water and towel used by Jesus to wash the disciples' feet, the bread and cup of the Last Supper, the thirty pieces of silver paid to Judas for Jesus' betrayal, the cross and nails of Jesus' crucifixion, the linen cloth used for Jesus' burial. Our members were moving and moved by these performances, and also by music from guests Tim and Josh Pfeiffer, who performed "Were you There, a bassoon solo by Stephanie Buggie, a full choir, and two original songs performed by Eric Buggie, our Music Director. This worship service was living proof that disciples living the story of Jesus are the heart of the church - no matter where the church decides to be the church. More photos below. Our thanks to all for their dedication to Christian faith.
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"Hosanna!" They shouted as Jesus entered Jerusalem on a young donkey - "Save us, please!" Cries of joy and of promise will sound at our worship service this Sunday, 10AM, 44 Maynard Street in Middletown. Special songs by Eric Buggie and vocal performances by Tim & Joshua Peiffer will add special grace to our Palm Sunday celebration. Come join us!
Third Sunday in Lent
Sermon “Are You thirsty?" by Pastor Barbara Marks Children's Sermon 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: Isaiah 55:1-9 & Luke 13:1-9 ~ Announcements: Please join me in wishing Dawn Amell many blessings! This will be her last Sunday with us in worship before moving to FL. We are all grateful for the many dedicated years of service she has given the Lord through FUMC. Thank You Dawn for blessing us! ‘IF’ - New Study Series. Starts THIS SUNDAY and runs Sundays, February 28th – March 20th at the parsonage following worship. Make this YOUR Lenten commitment! Our Church has made a decision to move forward...to set the wheels in motion. This series will help encourage us! Wrestling with regrets? Let God take your "if onlys" and use them as a springboard to a future filled with great possibilities! With his trademark enthusiasm and joy, Mark Batterson helps us embrace a confident, ready-to-conquer attitude based on the astounding question posed in Romans 8: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Sign up and join usthis Sunday. In honor of Black History Month, NYAC Commission on Archives and History (CAH) would like to highlight the biographies of some African-American luminaries in our conference. Throughout 2016 we will celebrate 250 years of United Methodism in the New York area. This morning we are featuring Shirley I. Parris, the First Woman District and Conference Lay Leader. In this Lenten time it is good for us to reflect and be proud of our history. It is also right to be in the present and look to the future to see how far we still need to go. Please see the insert attached, discuss it at home, and visit the NYAC.com website for other featured articles. One Great Hour of Sharing – March 6th. One Great Hour of Sharing is a Special Sunday of the United Methodist Church which calls us to share the goodness of life with those in need throughout the world. The offering is to be used for a variety of relief programs. The funds collected are administered by the United Methodist Committee on Relief Department, General Board of Global Ministries. Amazing Grace Donations can now be brought to church any Sunday. 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. 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 ~ * Please Note: Church cancellations can be found on WFSB (channel 3) and NBC30. Make sure we have your email for additional notifications. Thanks. ~ First United Methodist Church 221 Ridge Road Middletown, CT 06457 churchoffice@fumcmiddletownct.org 860-346-3689 Do not hesitate to call the church office with any questions or concerns.
Our worship was blessed also by special performances from Eric Buggie, our new Music Director, and his wife Stephanie, who provided the heartbeat of our soul-filled worship experience. We thank Unique, Tina, their Wesleyan friend Jonathan, Eric, Stephanie, and everyone who came to worship on Sunday to share in the miracle of faith in Jesus Christ.
Second Sunday in Lent
Sermon “Warning! Warning!" by Pastor Barbara Marks Children's Sermon by John BlossomSpecial musical guest, Unique Xue. Please join us for worship Sunday at 10:00 a.m. at The Elk’s Lodge 44 Maynard Street, Middletown, CT ~ Scripture: Psalm 27 & Luke 13:31-35 ~ Announcements: ‘IF’ - New Study Series. Sundays, February 28th – March 20th at the parsonage following worship. - Make this YOUR Lenten commitment! Our Church has made a decision to move forward...to set the wheels in motion. This series will help encourage us! Wrestling with regrets? Let God take your "if onlys" and use them as a springboard to a future filled with great possibilities! With his trademark enthusiasm and joy, Mark Batterson helps us embrace a confident, ready-to-conquer attitude based on the astounding question posed in Romans 8: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Sign up today. In honor of Black History Month, NYAC Commission on Archives and History (CAH) would like to highlight the biographies of some African-American luminaries in our conference. Throughout 2016 we will celebrate 250 years of United Methodism in the New York area.This Sunday we will be featuring James Varick the first Bishop of the AME Zion Church. In this Lenten time it is good for us to reflect and be proud of our history. It is also right to be in the present and look to the future to see how far we still need to go. Please see Sunday'sbulletin insert, discuss it at home, and visit the NYAC.com website for other featured articles. 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. 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 ~ * Please Note: Church cancellations can be found on WFSB (channel 3) and NBC30. Make sure we have your email for additional notifications. Thanks. ~ First United Methodist Church 221 Ridge Road Middletown, CT 06457 churchoffice@fumcmiddletownct.org 860-346-3689 Do not hesitate to call the church office with any questions or concerns.
January 31, 2016
Third Sunday after Epiphany Sermon “Are Those Words Coming From Me?!” by Pastor Barbara Marks Children's Sermon also by Pastor Marks Please join us for worship Sunday at 10:00 a.m. at The Elk’s Lodge 44 Maynard Street, Middletown, CT ~ Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-10 & 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ~ Announcements: Thank you Carolyn for your wonderful Spirit and guidance. We praise God for your gift of music and we are so blessed that you have shared it with us. Of course, this is not goodbye! "The Future of First UMC Middletown - Implementing the Vision" - Your voice matters for the future of our church! THIS SUNDAY, January 31st, after fellowship, everyone is invited to listen and to speak on how we will begin to implement the future of our church this year. John Parent, the Chairperson of the Church Council, will chair the meeting, and John Blossom, Seminarian Associate, will present materials to help facilitate the discussion. This will be the first of a series of meetings in which we begin to make informed decisions for action on facilities, ministries, and outreach, defined around long-term goals. Choir Rehearsal. Please join our new music director Eric Buggienext Saturday, February 6th at 10 a.m. at the Parsonage for an informal, 'getting to know you' choir rehearsal. All current members of the choir and anyone wishing to join the choir are encouraged to attend. Church Council Vision Meeting. Immediately after worship and fellowship on Sunday, January 31st, all members and regular worshipers are invited to join us for a Church Council meeting, at which we will discuss the future of the church, taking actions as needed to take further major decisions. Your voice and your vote matters - please come! Coffee and Devotion at the Parsonage is held the second Mondayof each month. Please join us Monday, February 8th, 9:30-10:30 a.m.Just stop in with Joys, Concerns and Thoughts. Sew ‘n’ Sew meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month. They will next meet Tuesday, February 9th. Please contact Barbara Hendershot for further information at 860-346-0467. Ash Wednesday Service. February 10th. Will be held in the Parsonage following a fellowship soup dinner at 6 p.m. All are invited and welcomed to bring friends. 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. 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). ~ *Please Note: Church cancellations can be found on WFSB (channel 3) and NBC30. Make sure we have your email for additional notifications. A message will also be left on the church's answering machine if service is canceled. ~ First United Methodist Church 221 Ridge Road Middletown, CT 06457 churchoffice@fumcmiddletownct.org 860-346-3689 Do not hesitate to call the church office with any questions or concerns. |
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