FOCUS ON FIRST. First United Methodist Church. Kids Klips. Address Service Requested. First United Methodist Church. March Inside this issue:

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1 First United Methodist Church 225 Ludlow Street Hamilton, OH Phone: Address Service Requested Non. Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit NO. 43 Hamilton, Ohio Praise Service 9:00 a.m. Church School 9:55 a.m. Adoration Worship 10:45 a.m. First United Methodist Church Become Part of God s Family at First UMC Rev. Mark Finfrock, Pastor John Fisher, Director of Music March 2018 Volume 12, Issue 3 Inside this issue: Kids Klips Palm Sunday March 25 Regular schedule 9:00 a.m. Praise Service 10:45 a.m. Traditional Service Maundy Thursday March 29 7:00 p.m. in the undercroft modified Seder and communion (undercroft) Good Friday March 30 Noon Way of the Cross Meet at the historic courthouse Easter Sunday April 1 7:15 a.m. Sunrise Rivers Edge Amphitheatre 9:00 a.m. Praise First 10:45 a.m. Traditional First Pastor s Page 2 Prayer Concerns 3 Church Happenings Birthdays and Anniversaries Worship Leader Schedule Special points of interest: 4F s Schedule Worship Survey UMCOR UMW Flood Buckets Church Directory Book Club UMW Meeting Info Thank You Outreach Committee Update Leadership Retreat Greeter Schedule 10 Calendar 11 Here Comes the Bride!

2 Pastor s Page Friends, As I am writing this, the temperature is 74, the sun is shining brightly, and the daffodil shoots in my yard are at least 4 tall. All of this means that Easter will be full of flowers. My yard will be a riot of daffodils, hyacinths, and magnolia. I can hardly wait. But before we can get to Easter there are some days ahead that will require some patience. The false summer will not last. We know that cold and rainy days are ahead. Our Lenten study of Esther is revealing that same patience is required just to get through life. There are days full of joy, like Esther s coronation and days of patience when it is cold and not very friendly as Hamman (the villain) arrives on the scene to cause problems. Lent is that time when we can reflect on both the days of joy and patience. Don t know the story of Esther? There is still time to join us and be with us as we reveal the exciting conclusion as God works behind the scenes. Blessings to you and yours this Lenten season. Grace and Peace, Pastor Mark As I write this, I have just heard Billy Graham has gone home to be with the Lord. Dr. Graham was 99 years old at his passing. He was counselor to presidents, titans of industry, and remotely to children and grown ups through out the world. When a Billy Graham crusade was on the television, our house would stop to listen. Dr. Graham was a great influence on me and a great comforter to my mother. When he would take the pulpit, I would think of how grand a figure he appeared to be. Yet in an interview (I cannot remember who conducted it) when asked what he thought Jesus would ask him when he got to heaven Dr. Graham wondered if he had read the Bible enough. Grand and humble. I relish the experience of hearing Dr. Graham s preaching. 4F s Schedule for 2018 March 15 April 19 May 17 June 21 July 19 Bee s Buffett Houston Inn La Piñata (Village Green) Spinning Fork Lindenwald Station August 16 September 20 October 18 November 15 December 20 Cancun Snow Lake Twin Dragon Golden Corral Perkins (Fairfield) Join us for a great time of fellowship and food. Please RSVP by Wednesday prior to the lunch to Ruth Stanton at if you plan to attend. Focus on First - ISSN Published Monthly, Issue No. 3 Issue Date: March 2018 First United Methodist Church, 225 Ludlow St. Hamilton, OH APRIL NEWSLETTER DEADLINE: March 20 Page 2 For newsletter submissions, contact Stacey Morefield, newsletter editor, at edsjmorefield@gmail.com Volume 12, Issue 3 Page 11

3 What s Happening in March at First Church Friday, March 16, :00 Marjorie Quick s Home 545 Wencella Dr., Hamilton Join this fun-loving group of adults for lots of laughter, pizza, games and fellowship. Just bring $5 for dinner, your own beverage and a favorite board game. 3/1 Oliver Allen-Day Richard Davenport 3/2 Stephanie Schubert 3/4 Bill Lowe Eric Spurlock 3/5 Carolyn Hacker 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 Pocket Change Sunday March 18, 2018 During worship services a special collection of pocket change (dollars, too) will be taken as an offering for the Saturday Community Lunch Program. UMC Women s Circles Dorcas Circle 3/8-10 a.m. Haith Room-Berkeley Naomi Circle 3/8 Family Promise Dinner 5:30 p.m., Ross Room 3/19 - James & Emily Fuhrman 3/24 - Austin & Lois Gleason 9 a.m. - Praise Service 3/4 - Larry Bell 3/11 - Kerry Bossert 3/18 - Jim Sebastian 3/25 - Rusty Haid 10:45 - Traditional Service 3/4 - Noel Hinrichs 3/11 - Kathy Conrad 3/18 - David Puckett 3/25 - Linda Creech Bley Prayer Concerns Those who do not know the peace of Christ. Let us offer Christ, who will heal their souls. Pastor Mark Barb Jones, brain tumor Kathy Conrad s mother, health concerns Ann Montgomery Geneva Holloway Jessie Postell, cancer Tammy, fighting addiction Ruby Crothers Dave Spurlock Sister of Michael Stidham, cancer Tammy Jones, complications from MS Sheila Messersmith Lois Maida, cancer (Alice Stephenson's sister) L.T. and Sue Williams, health issues Nell Bassitt Family Promise Program Dr. William Krall Mary Lee Nichols, lung cancer Elaine Tragesser s son, Don, cancer Gladys & Paul Perkins, health issues Carolyn & Bob Parker Ashley Rose Those families mourning the loss of loved ones. Dave Cochran Mary Alice Hensley Tiffany Brunner Dale Kinkaid Andie Hutton, leukemia Nancy Pryor, cancer John Trent Alan & Elaine Haid Michael Lathey Janet Agnew Vernon Huber, cancer and eye issues Debbie Molter Casarcia, breast cancer Maurice Stokes wife, Angie Dick Haid, health issues Robin Montgomery, cancer Kriss Phelps, lung cancer Don Farwick, appendix cancer Joan Ronneberg, Parkinsons Leslie Jewett s cousin, breast cancer Lisa Stephens uncle, Ernie Nate Uttley, bipolar issues Mary Ann Sanders, hip replacement 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. Praise Service 9 a.m. Traditional Service 10:45 a.m. Do you have someone you would like us to pray for? Please call or the office LOVE (8653) or firstumc@firstumc-ham.org. 3/4 - Rusty Haid All Month 3/11-3/25 - Larry Bell Nancy Mabis & David Puckett Page 10 Volume 12, Issue 3 Page 3

4 Worship Survey The Worship Committee and your Church Council want to know what you find most meaningful in our worship services. How are our services helping you to connect with God and grow in your faith? What are we doing well and how can we do a better job? You will soon receive a survey (or may have already) in your inbox or your USPS mailbox. Please fill it out and submit or return it. If you don t receive one by the end of March and would like one, let the church office know and we ll get one to you. UMCOR Sunday - March 11th What is UMCOR? The United Methodist Committee on Relief was founded in 1940 and in the 77 years since, WE have been ready to help and share the goodness of life to those who hurt. Together, WE have been there after hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wars, and wherever relief is needed. WE are able to act as the arms and legs of Christ s church, moving toward the most vulnerable in their darkest days. I say WE because the United Methodist Church is a connectional church and it is the support of every congregation working together that makes UMCOR possible. On United Methodist Special Sundays, we have the opportunity to give above and beyond our pledge to our local church to impact the world with the love of Christ. On UMCOR Sunday (formerly One Great Hour of Sharing), the gifts we give will cover the administrative and operational cost that make UMCOR s relief efforts in over 80 countries possible. Because of our generosity on this special Sunday, UMCOR is able to apply ALL other incoming donations (often given after a disaster occurs) to specified relief efforts. All donations given to a specific program of UMCOR s or to a specific Special Advance are used 100% to the specified relief effort. There will be special offering envelopes in our bulletins on March 11 th that can be used to donate to UMCOR Special Sunday. If you won t be at services that day, checks marked UMCOR Special Sunday in the memo line can be sent to the church office. You can also learn more, read stories of those who have been impacted, and donate, at or Here Comes the Bride... Here comes the bride, here comes the bride. If that is true, then not far behind is the Wedding Marketing Team. The team members are Carol Brandenburg, Karen Epperson, Alta Hamblin, Lisa Stephens, Karen Whalen and Vicki Wheeler. The team s mission is to promote, advertise, and communicate the availability of First Church as a wedding venue (ceremony location). In 2017 we met with other location spots (Marriott, Pyramid Hill, Fitton Centre, Mulhauser Barn, Lake Lindsey, to name a few) to promote First Church s distinctive sanctuary and pipe organ. We left brochures for them to share with prospective brides. As we have discovered, it is all about building relationships with individuals in our community. On January 28, we participated ( first-ever ) as a location venue at a bridal show held in Fairfield by Receptions. Our thanks go to Julia and Jessica Tegge, who assisted at the booth. Also, a huge thanks to the Fig Tree which donated a beautiful all-white bridal bouquet for our vendor table. Alta Hamblin and Karen Whalen were instrumental in setting the booth up for the maximum advantage. We interacted with brides and their families; made contacts with event planners and wedding coordinators; also, this now positions us with Receptions and their Preferred Vendor List as a preferred Ceremony Location. Finally, we are now on Facebook, check us out at First United Methodist Church Wedding. Thanks to Lisa Stephens who has made this happen. Our 21 st century brides check on Facebook first. Our first wedding of the season at FUMC is on April 14 th, here comes the bride. Respectfully submitted, Carol T. Brandenburg UMW Flood Bucket Challenge UMCOR-- the United Methodist Committee on Relief--is a non-profit global humanitarian outreach of the United Methodist Church. Often among the first responders to catastrophic events, UMCOR distributes needed supplies to support clean up and alleviate human suffering. In response to the need of others, the UMW unit here at First Church is issuing a "FLOOD BUCKET CHALLENGE" to help in these vital relief efforts. Over the next 3 months, 5 flood buckets with color-coded content lists will be placed in the Narthex and east Alcove. Simply tear off the item(s) you wish to donate and return to the corresponding bucket. These containers are packed to the brim with specific clean up supplies and will need all of us to fill! THE CHALLENGE--5 FLOOD BUCKETS IN 3 MONTHS!! READY...SET...GO!!! Page 4 Volume 12, Issue 3 Page 9

5 Dream Like Jesus Leadership Retreat To the congregation, I want to challenge you to "Dream Like Jesus". First I want to thank you for sacrificing your time by serving at the Community Lunch allowing your leadership team to attend a seminar last month titled "Dream Like Jesus'. Please pray for them as they continue the lead us on an exciting journey. Those attending were: Pastor Mark Finfrock, Noel Hinrichs, Linda DiBenedetto, John & Dee Harper, David Puckett, Nancy Mabis, Kerry Bossert, George Taylor, Teri Trent, John Haid, Rusty Haid, Rob & Lisa Stephens Bodine, Jim Sebastian and myself. Our key note speaker, Rev. Rebekah Simon-Peter, gave us five keys: 1. Dreaming Like Jesus expands assumptions of what is possible. 2. A Jesus like dream is bigger than we are. 3. It has to scare you! 4. It is not about the survival of the institution. 5. It inspires and unifies. Our speaker challenged us and I would love to challenge you to be bold and risky. She said "A prayerful vision breaks new possibilities and shifts reality". "Jesus selflessly shared His powers." "Disciples follow, Apostles lead." Please pray for your leaders and that we all will catch the vision to Dream Like Jesus. In His Service, Dave Stephenson, Lay Leader Church Directory Update Have you moved recently? Have you changed your or maybe no longer use ? Have you disconnected your land-line and only have a cell phone? We are going to reissue our church directory and want to have the latest and greatest information on each of you. Please send an or call the church office and let me know of any updates you may have made since the last directory (Spring 2017). If you are unsure about what we have on file, call and I will be glad to go over the info we have. In celebration of our 200th anniversary next year, we are planning to put out a pictorial directory. Book Club Book Club meets the last Thursday of the month at Pauline Zink s home at 5 Wheelright Crescent. Curious? Call Kerry Bossert at We would love to have you join us. UMW Meetings for March Naomi Circle In lieu of our normal 2 nd Thursday meeting, Naomi Circle will be providing the Family Promise dinner March 8th at 5:30 in the Ross room. The circle will also serve as after-dinner hosts that evening. Dorcas Circle will change their meeting time to 2 nd Thursday of the month at Berkeley. They are going to meet March 8th at 10:00 a.m. at Berkeley in the Haith Room. Thank You!! Thank you for your gift of $ during 2017 in support of the Open Door Pantry. Your generosity allows us to provide food and encouragement to hungry persons in the Hamilton/Butler County community. In 2017, the Pantry provided food equivalent to approximately 150,000 meals to its clients. In addition to the food distribution, over 1,800 clients received fresh produce each month throughout the year. On behalf of those we serve, thank you for your financial contribution and the support it represents. Sandy Sanders, President The Board of the Open Door Food Pantry Page 8 Volume 12, Issue 3 Page 5

6 Outreach Committee Update We continue to keep our eyes open for churches in the area who might be willing to help us with Community Lunch once a month or once a quarter. When you are out in our community talking to others, you might see if their church would be interested. If so, have them call the church office Thanks to everyone who has stepped-up when we were short on help. Not only those who came on Saturday, but many have helped behind the scenes, cutting lettuce, preparing on Fridays, baking desserts etc., you all make it possible! SAVE THE DATE! The Salad Lunch this year will be April 24th. More details will follow such as: ways you can help, cost of tickets etc. KEEP THE DATE OPEN! Movie Night at First Last month, Movie First had a presentation of God Is Not Dead. So, appropriately, we will be showing God Is Not Dead 2 on March 23. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. This event is always free and you are welcome to bring your friends the more the merrier! Here is a synopsis of this month s movie: Welcome back to Hope Springs - home not only of Hadleigh University, but also Martin Luther King Jr. High School, where beloved teacher Grace Wesley helps students understand and enjoy history. Her love of teaching, her love for her students, and her love of life all come from the same place: her love of Christ. So when Brooke, a hurting student grieving the loss of her brother, reaches out to Grace, their coffee-shop conversation naturally leads to Grace sharing the hope she finds in Christ. When Brooke later asks an honest question about Jesus in the classroom, Grace's reasoned response lands her in big troublealmost before she even finishes giving her answer. With the principal and superintendent joining forces with a zealous civil liberties group, Grace faces an epic court case that could cost her the career she loves and expel God from the classroom-and the public square-once and for all! Save the Date! It s never too early to plan for a summer outing! First will be going to the Dayton Dragons baseball game on Friday, July 13. We have 50 tickets this year, so there is enough for everyone AND a few of your friends. This is a great family outing that has become an annual event. Mark your calendar now and watch upcoming newsletters and bulletins for information on tickets. Questions can be directed to Dave Stephenson, via at drstephenson6@gmail.com Easter Flowers It s time to order Easter flowers. Order forms will begin appearing in the March 4th Sunday bulletin or you can use the form below and drop in the offering on Sundays. The deadline is March 18. Also, if you are available, we could use help with the placement of the flowers on Saturday, March 31, at 1:00 p.m. ********************************************************************************************************** Flowers for Easter It is time to order your Easter flowers! Please choose your flowers from the list below. Plants may be picked up after 10:45 worship service on Easter Sunday. Fill in the form below and return with your check made payable to First United Methodist Church before March 18. Bryan's will be providing this beautiful variety of flowers. There was no increase in costs this year! ORDER NOW!!! Return with check by March 18 Number Ordered: (please indicate number beside flowers) In Memory of In Honor of Lilies - 6" - $15.00 Daffodils - 6" - $15.00 Hyacinths - $15.00 Hydrangeas - $20.00 $ Total Enclosed Given By: Phone: If I do not pick up my flowers after the Easter service, please deliver them where they can be enjoyed by others. Page 6 Volume 12, Issue 3 Page 7