First United Methodist Church FOCUS ON FIRST. Become Part of God s Family at First UMC

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1 Praise Service 9:00 a.m. Church School 9:55 a.m. Adoration Worship 10:45 a.m. First United Methodist Church FOCUS ON FIRST Become Part of God s Family at First UMC Rev. Mark Finfrock, Pastor John Fisher, Director of Music LENTEN EVENTS Wednesday, March 1 Ash Wednesday 3:00 p.m. Berkeley 7:00 p.m. First UMC Sunday, April 9 Palm Sunday 9:00 a.m. Praise 10:45 a.m. Traditional March 2017 Volume 11, Issue 3 Inside this issue: Pastor s Page 2 Prayer Concerns 5 Church Happenings Birthdays and Anniversaries Worship Leader Schedule Greeter Schedule 6 Thursday, April 13 Maundy Thursday 7:00 p.m. Friday, April 14 Good Friday Noon Way of the Old Courthouse 7:00 p.m. First UMC Calendar 7 Special points of interest: Lenten Volunteers Lent F s Schedule for 2017 Sunday, April 16 Easter 7:15 a.m. River s Edge 9:00 a.m. Praise 10:45 a.m. Traditional

2 Pastor s Page Happy March! This is the month when nature begins her come back from the doldrums of winter. March is also the time for Lent this year. Lent is a time of reflection and rededication of ourselves to the spreading of the Good News. To help us discover the Good News we will be offering a Lenten Devotional Jesus and the Gospels for daily reflection. We will also be covering the basics of our religion in a sermon series called, This is a Football. Starting with who Jesus is and progressing through who God tells us we are. Our worship schedule will start with Ash Wednesday, March 1, with two Ash Wednesday services. One will be at Berkeley, in conjunction with Joe Schrock and Paul Stanbury of Zion Lutheran at 3:00 pm, the other will be in our sanctuary with the music of John Fisher and the First United Methodist Church choir at 7:00 pm. We will impart the ashes at both services. Mark your calendars for Easter's Holy Week starting April 9th with Palm Sunday and a full set of Holy week services. I want to urge you to take the time, this year, to deepen your relationship with the God we serve. Whether it be fasting, food or an activity, or increasing your prayer life. You may want to add something to your walk, like greeting at one of our services, visit a shut in, or attend Bible study. It is a relationship you won't regret. 24 Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life. - John 5:24 See you Sunday. God Bless, Pastor Mark Lent 101 What is Lent? Lent is a season of the Christian Year where Christians focus on simple living, prayer, and fasting in order to grow closer to God. When is Lent? It's the forty days before Easter. Lent excludes Sundays because every Sunday is like a little Easter. Basically, it's about one-tenth of a year (like a tithe of time). Mardi Gras is the day before Lent, which begins with Ash Wednesday. This year it's from March 1 (Ash Wednesday) to April 16 (Easter), Mardi Gras? What does that have to do with JESUS?? Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday." It refers to the day before Lent starts. Since Lent always starts on a Wednesday, the day before is always a Tuesday. And it's called "Fat" or "Great" because it's associated with great food and parties. In earlier times, people used Lent as a time of fasting and repentance. Since they didn't want to be tempted by sweets, meat and other distractions in the house, they cleaned out their cabinets. They used up all Page 2 FOCUS ON FIRST

3 Lent 101 (continued) the sugar and yeast in sweet breads before the Lent season started, and fixed meals with all the meat available. It was a great feast! Through the years Mardi Gras has evolved (in some places) into a pretty wild party with little to do with preparing for the Lenten season of repentance and simplicity. Oh well. But Christians still know its origin, and hang onto the true Spirit of the season. So the real beginning of Lent is Ash Wednesday? Yes. Ash Wednesday, the day after Mardi Gras, usually begins with a service where we recognize our mortality, repent of our sins, and return to our loving God. We recognize life as a precious gift from God, and re-turn our lives towards Jesus Christ. We may make resolutions and commit to change our lives over the next forty days so that we might be more like Christ. In an Ash Wednesday service, usually a minister or priest marks the sign of the cross on a person's forehead with ashes. Why ashes? In Jewish and Christian history, ashes are a sign of mortality and repentance. Mortality, because when we die, our bodies eventually decompose and we become dust/dirt/ash/whatever. Repentance, because long ago, when people felt remorse for something they did, they would put ashes on their head and wear "sackcloth" (scratchy clothing) to remind them that sin is pretty uncomfortable and leads to a sort of death of the spirit. This was their way of confessing their sins and asking for forgiveness. Where do the ashes come from? On what we now call Palm Sunday, Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem while people waved palms and cheered him on. Less then a week later, Jesus was killed. The palms that were waved in joy became ashes of sorrow. We get ashes for Ash Wednesday by saving the palms from Palm Sunday, burning them, and mixing them with a little oil. It's symbolic. What do Christians do with ashes? At an Ash Wednesday service, folks are invited to come forward to receive the ashes. The minister will make a small cross on your forehead by smudging the ashes. While the ashes remind us of our mortality and sin, the cross reminds us of Jesus' resurrection (life after death) and forgiveness. It's a powerful, non-verbal way that we can experience God's forgiveness and renewal as we return to Jesus. So what is LENT? At Jesus' baptism the sky split open, the Spirit of God, which looked like a dove, descended and landed on Jesus, and a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, My Beloved, with whom I am pleased." Afterward, as told in Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus was sent into the wilderness by the Spirit. Where he fasted and prayed for 40 days. During his time there he was tempted by Satan and found clarity and strength to resist temptation. Afterwards, he was ready to begin his ministry. Maybe Jesus needed some time with God to sort through the major changes happening in his life. Maybe he needed to get away from family, friends and the familiar routine in order to see God (and himself) more clearly. Perhaps he wanted some intentional time with God as he searched for direction and answers like you. Like Jesus, we may need to take some serious time to pray and listen for God. Why "DO" Lent? How do I start? Are you searching for something more? Tired of running in circles, but not really living life with direction, purpose or passion? It's pretty easy to get caught up in the drama of classes, relationships, family, and work. Our lives are filled with distractions that take us away from living a life with Christ. We try to fill the emptiness inside us with mindless TV, meaningless chatter, stimulants, alcohol, too many activities or other irrelevant stuff. We run away from life and from God. Volume 11, Issue 3 Page 3

4 Lent 101 (continued) Lent is a great time to repent -- to return to God and re-focus our lives to be more in line with Jesus. It s a 40 day trial run in changing your lifestyle and letting God change your heart. You might try one of these practices for Lent: FASTING: Some people have been known to go without food for days. But that's not the only way to fast. You can fast by cutting out some of the things in your life that distract you from God. Some Christians use the whole 40 days to fast from candy, tv, soft drinks, cigarettes or meat as a way to purify their bodies and lives. You might skip one meal a day and use that time to pray instead. Or you can give up some activity like worry or reality tv to spend time outside enjoying God s creation. What do you need to let go of or fast from in order to focus on God? What clutters your calendar and life? How can you simplify your life in terms of what you eat, wear or do? SERVICE: Some Christians take something on for Christ. You can collect food for the needy, volunteer once a week to tutor children, or work for reform and justice in your community. You can commit to help a different stranger, co-worker or friend every day of Lent. Serving others is one way we serve God. PRAYER: Christians also use Lent as a time of intentional prayer. You can pray while you walk, create music or art as a prayer to God, or savor a time of quiet listening. All can be ways of becoming more in tune with God. Visit The Upper Room Living Prayer Center. Christians from many different traditions celebrate Lent. How will you use the time to grow closer to God? Volunteers Needed This Lenten Season Once again First will be participating in the Way of the Cross on Good Friday, April 14 at noon. We are looking for a group of folks that will be willing to be here at First when walkers stop here on their journey to help pass out small pieces of burlap. If you are interested in helping with this, please contact the church office or talk with Pastor Mark. We also need a few volunteers to help place the Easter flowers on Saturday, April 15, in the sanctuary and fellowship hall. This most likely will take place in the morning. If you are able to help with this contact Alice Stephenson (worship committee chair) or call the church office. Focus on First - ISSN Published Monthly, Issue No. 3 Issue Date: March 2017 First United Methodist Church, 225 Ludlow St. Hamilton, OH APRIL NEWSLETTER DEADLINE: March 21 Page 4 For newsletter submissions, contact Stacey Morefield, newsletter editor, at edsjmorefield@gmail.com FOCUS ON FIRST

5 Prayer Concerns Those who do not know the peace of Christ. Let us offer Christ, who will heal their souls. Pastor Mark, next phase of cancer treatments Barb Jones, brain tumor Kathy Conrad s mother, health concerns Ann Montgomery Leesa Frederick's father, John Camp, health issues; her mother for strength Tammy, fighting addiction Geneva Holloway Jessie Postell, cancer Dwight Pflanzer Ruth Stanton Ruby Crothers Dave Spurlock Jodi Graf, melanoma Sister of Michael Stidham, cancer Tammy Jones, dealing with MS Sheila Messerschmidt Lois Maida, cancer (Alice Stephenson's sister) L.T. and Sue Williams, health issues and strength Carol Lee, lymphoma, in remission Nell Bassitt Family Promise Program Those families mourning the loss of loved ones Dr. William Krall Elaine Tragesser s son, Don, cancer Gladys & Paul Perkins, health issues Carolyn & Bob Parker Phyllis Scales, cancer Ashley Rose Silva Mike Ketterer Dave Cochran Mary Alice Hensley Tiffany Brunner Jason Schubert s Aunt Marilyn, cancer Dale Kinkaid Andie Hutton, leukemia Nancy Pryor, cancer Anne Wheeler Community lunch, missionaries, Peace Corp workers, and those who work for international peace. Military members and their families and national leaders. Concerns of the people in places of war, famine and social unrest. Those who are sleeping outside. Those who have no food. The Imagine No Malaria campaign (INM) (imaginenomalaria.org) as it works to eliminate malaria in our lifetime. INM has made a big difference where it used to be at a person died from malaria every 30 seconds this rate has decreased to every 2 minutes. Our goal is zero. Do you have someone you would like us to pray for? Please call or the office LOVE (8653) or firstumc@firstumc-ham.org. 4F's will be meeting on Thursday, March 16, at Olive Garden at noon. Join us for a great time of fellowship and food. If you would like to carpool, please contact the church office. Here is the schedule for the rest of 2017 (3rd Thursday at noon). Mark your calendar now and make plans to join us. April Houston Inn July Walt s BBQ October Golden Corral May Silver Tee August Richard s Pizza on Nilles November Houston Inn June Spinning Fork September Olive Garden December Perkins Volume 11, Issue 3 Page 5

6 What s Happening in March at First Church Game Night Friday, March 17, :00 The Epperson s 833 Miami Way Phone: The fun and fellowship continues for any and all fun-loving adults. Join this merry group for lots of laughter, pizza, games and loving fellowship. Just bring $5 for dinner, your own beverage and a favorite board game. Pocket Change Sunday March 19, 2017 During worship services a special collection of pocket change (dollars, too) will be taken as an offering for the Saturday Community Lunch Program. Dorcas Circle Tuesday, March 14, 10 First Naomi Circle Thursday, March 9, 7 Puckett/Itkoff Home 24 Annie Lou Drive 3/1 Oliver Allen-Day Richard Davenport 3/2 Stephanie Schubert 3/4 Bill Lowe Eric Spurlock 3/6 Christopher Rybarcyk 3/7 Julia Tegge 3/17 Jackson Binegar 3/18 Alan (Rusty) Haid 3/21 Donald Hann 3/24 Lynn Kinkaid 3/27 Barbara Pierson 3/19 James & Emily Fuhrman 3/24 Austin & Lois Gleason Praise Service Traditional Service 9:00 a.m. 10:45 a.m. 3/5 - Larry Bell 3/5 - Karen Epperson 3/12 - Jim Sebastian 3/12 - Diane Hinrichs 3/19 - Kerry Bossert 3/19 - Linda Creach-Bley 3/26 - Rusty Haid 3/26 - Leslie Jewett Praise Service Traditional Service 9:00 a.m. 10:45 a.m. 3/5 Leesa Frederick Every Sunday in March 3/12 Jim Sebastian Carol Brandenburg 3/19 Leesa Frederick and 3/26 Jim Sebastian Karen Whalen Page 6 FOCUS ON FIRST

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8 First United Methodist Church 225 Ludlow Street Hamilton, OH Phone: Fax: Non. Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 43 Hamilton, Ohio Address Service Requested Kids Klips