Praise Service 9:00 a.m. Church School 9:55 a.m. Traditional Worship 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, May p.m.

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1 FOCUS ON FIRST Become Part of God s Family at First UMC Praise Service 9:00 a.m. Church School 9:55 a.m. Traditional Worship 10:45 a.m. Rev. Mark Finfrock, Pastor John Fisher, Director of Music Vicki Wheeler, Administrative Assistant MAY EVENTS May 13 May 20 Family Promise Host Week May 2018 Volume 12, Issue 5 Inside this issue: Wednesday, May p.m. Family Promise Fundraiser Chick-fil-A Voice of America Location 7733 Voice of America Park Dr. West Chester, OH Pastor s Page 2 Prayer Concerns 3 Church Happenings 6 Birthdays and Anniversaries Worship Leader Schedule 6 6 Greeter Schedule 6 Calendar 7 Friday, May 25 6:00 p.m. Movie First Heaven is For Real Special points of interest: 4F s Schedule Family Promise Update Family Promise Fundraiser Outreach Committee Update UMW Update A young boy suffers a near-death experience in which he claims to have visited heaven in this earnest inspirational drama based on the best-selling book of the same name.

2 Pastor s Page Friends, During my walk this past week, I have noticed some friends who traveled south for the winter are now returning home. First we noticed the swallows and the hawks, the red-winged blackbirds are in full song and the robins are moving through the fertile fields snatching up worms. Leaves have begun to pop out on the branches of the trees as the redbuds are displaying their full beauty. All of God s earth is coming back alive. May is a good month, not too hot, not too cold. All of the work we did in the yard in March and April is now starting to come into its own. The threat of a freeze is over by now and we can look ahead to the peonies blooming as the daffodils fade. We see the periwinkle and the candy tuft begin their spring show. It should not be long until the roses begin to display their crimson blooms. Spring is the result of winter faith that it will arrive. The gloriousness of spring lets us know that God is faithful. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 What a blessing God gives us in spring. Blessings to you all, Pastor Mark 4F s Schedule for 2018 May 17 June 21 July 19 August 16 September 20 October 18 November 15 December 20 La Piñata (Village Green) Spinning Fork Lindenwald Station 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. 5 Issue Date: May 2018 First United Methodist Church, 225 Ludlow St. Hamilton, OH JUNE NEWSLETTER DEADLINE: May 20 Page 2 For newsletter submissions, contact Stacey Morefield, newsletter editor, at edsjmorefield@gmail.com FOCUS ON FIRST

3 Prayer Concerns Those who do not know the peace of Christ. Let us offer Christ, who will heal their souls. Pastor Mark Barb Jones 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 Dave Cochran Mary Alice & Steve 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 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 Lisa Stephens father, Nick Nate Uttley, bipolar issues Mary Ann Sanders Minerva Abbott Noah Trumbull, lung transplant Scott Wilson, cancer Al Shiplet, cancer Ruth Mullins, Alzheimer s Those families mourning the loss of loved ones. 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. Volume 12, Issue 5 Page 3

4 Family Promise Update Next Family Promise Host Week May 13 th May 20 th Watch for sign up boards in church on April 29 th and May 6 th or call Teri Trent to sign up to help or donate. We now have 3 support churches helping us to host. Cornerstone UMC has two small groups that each provide dinner and evening hosts on Tuesday and Wednesday, Bethany UMC has one small group providing dinner and evening hosts on Friday and a group from Park Avenue UMC has joined in providing dinner and evening hosts on Monday. First UMC continues to provide dinner and evening hosts the other 3 nights of the week. If you d like to help with one of those 3 meals, please call Teri Trent. First also provides all of the overnight hosts, breakfast hosts, and supplies. Members at First make beds before families arrive and help gather laundry after they leave. We have 3 or 4 people from First who launder all of the linens. We are blessed to have volunteers from Sojourner who come and carry in and out our mattresses. It truly is a community effort to enable First to act as a host for Family Promise. In 2017 there were an estimated 775 school age children homeless in Butler County. This number does not include children younger than school age or the adults in those families. In 2017 Family Promise of Butler County assisted 22 families, which was 40 children and 25 adults. The average length of stay for a family was 75 days. In 2017, Family Promise estimates that a value of $333,884 was given through donated volunteer hours, meals, shelter and services. Without these inkind donations, Family Promise could not continue helping homeless families. Also, a total of $148,686 was raised by individuals, churches, businesses, foundations (grants) and fund raisers. Watch for our Club 180 fundraiser coming up in June. Thank you all for what you have given. Family Promise Fundraiser SPIRIT NIGHT Benefiting Family Promise of Butler County Wednesday, May 16 from 4-8 p.m. Chick-fil-A Voice of America location 7733 Voice of America Park Dr. West Chester, OH Come out and support Family Promise and we'll donate 15% back! Mention this fundraiser when ordering your food and we'll press our Spirit button! Page 4 FOCUS ON FIRST

5 Outreach Update The Outreach Committee is working on developing a packet with information about our church and its many ministries to be provided to the community. Mark your calendars now for next year: We will have our bicentennial church picnic on Saturday, August 10, 2019 at the Colligan Lodge at Veterans Park in Hamilton (west side) overlooking the river. The next day our celebratory church service with a banquet on Sunday afternoon will be at First. The committee is planning other events to occur throughout UMW News Notice any flood buckets?? They ve been filled to the brim and delivered!! Just in case you re confused about bringing in Box Tops, the Henderson Settlement and Red Bird Mission are under the same umbrella of the United Methodist Appalachian outreach. So, bring those Box Tops in soon. They do have an expiration date. First UMC is such a giving congregation keep up the good work!! UMC Numbers Quiz (from 1. How many United Methodist churches are there around the world? 42,779 27,479 24,779 To infinity and beyond 2. How many hospitals in the United States are affiliated with The United Methodist Church? Not sure, but the cafeteria food is strangely warmed 3. In how many countries does The United Methodist Church have a mission presence? Under 75 Every country and six other planets 4. What is the ratio of women to men in The United Methodist Church (in 2016)? 42% female, 58% male 58% female, 42% male 52% female, 48% male Too close to call Answers: 1) 42,779; 2) 52; 3) 120+; 4) 58% female, 42% male Volume 12, Issue 5 Page 5

6 What s Happening in May at First Church Friday, May 18, :00 Brandenburg s 23 Calan Court Fun and fellowship 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 favorite board game. Pocket Change Sunday May 20, 2018 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 5/10-10:00 a.m. Haith Room-Berkeley Naomi Circle 5/10-7 p.m. First UMC 9 a.m. - Praise Service 5/6 - Rusty Haid 5/13 - Jim Sebastian 5/20 - Kerry Bossert 5/27 - Dave & Alice Stephenson 10:45 - Traditional Service 5/6 - Noel Hinrichs 5/13 - Leslie Jewett 5/20 - Kathy Conrad 5/27 - Linda Creach Bley Praise Service 9 a.m. 5/6 & 5/13 - Steve Young 5/20 & 5/27 - James Dunivan Traditional Service 10:45 a.m. Nancy Mabis & David Puckett 5/1 Jennifer Pflanzer 5/2 Teri Trent 5/8 Tracie Jewett Kevin Williams 5/10 Nicholas Blauvelt 5/11 Terry Spurlock 5/15 Dick Haid 5/16 Beth Day John Harper John Sebastian Page 6 5/17 Marilyn McGilliard Carolyn Purvis 5/23 Tammy Hall 5/24 Lois Gleason 5/27 Jackie Jewett Caroline Williams 5/30 Kathy Conrad 5/1 David & Lois Ziels 5/2 Scott & Mikola Fuhrman 5/11 George & Linda Creach Bley 5/12 James & Cynthia Huff 5/18 John & Melanie Schmitt 5/23 Steven & Erin Theobald 5/27 Ron & Carolyn Purvis 5/29 David & Alice Stephenson FOCUS ON FIRST

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8 First United Methodist Church 225 Ludlow Street Hamilton, OH 4501 Phone: Non. Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit NO. 43 Hamilton, Ohio Address Service Requested Kids Klips