June 2020

Volume 14, Issue 6

Inside this issue:

Special points

of interest:

Outreach Update

UMW News

2020 Graduates

Pastor’s Page 2

Prayer Concerns 3

Church Happenings 6

Birthdays and

Anniversaries 6

Scriptures 7

Live Streaming via Facebook

10:00 a.m.

Sundays

Rev. Mark Finfrock, Pastor

John Fisher, Director of Music

Vicki Wheeler, Admin. Assistant

FOCUS ON FIRST

June Events

June 14 Flag Day

June 20 First Day of

Summer

June 21 Happy Father’s Day

Page 2 Volume 14, Issue 6

PASTOR’S PAGE Last June we were so busy. Conference was happening the first week, Family Promise was moving in, there was Vacation Bible School, and the Unity Picnic. All things to look forward to doing. This June the feel is quite different. It seems we have not had a real holiday since Christmas and all the aforemen-tioned events have been cancelled. A person could get depressed if he/she allowed themselves. While I am lamenting over the loss of holidays, there are reminders everywhere that life will go on. God does not follow the path of the media. This spring our flowers have never been more abundant. We are seeing plants, listed as annuals on the packaging, reemerge as volunteers, ready to bring a little joy, and hummingbirds to our humble estate. My point is, just like Solomon told us in Ecclesiastes 3: “There is a time for everything, and a sea-son for every activity under heavens.” We may be holding in place but the end to this pandemic will come and the prophecy will be fulfilled. Though weeping occurs in the night, joy will rule the morning. We are Easter people, resurrection people, our light shines through the darkness.

Blessings, Pastor Mark

2ND QUARTER BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

Due to COVID-19 we will be postponing our celebration of members who are 85+ during the 2nd quarter until we can safely gather. Here are the names of those we will be honoring later this year:

4/02 Joan Sebastian 5/16 John Sebastian 4/10 Lois Fields 5/24 Lois Gleason 4/19 Phyllis Halstead

6/4 Norma Daneff 6/14 Maxine Steed 6/16 Carolyn Horn 6/28 Patsy Bernhardt

Focus on “First” - ISSN383367-148 Published Monthly, Issue No. 6

Issue Date: June2020 First United Methodist Church,

225 Ludlow St. Hamilton, OH 45011 JULY NEWSLETTER DEADLINE: July 20

For newsletter submissions, send to Vicki at firstumc@ firstumc-ham.org

Focus on First Page 3

Those who do not know the peace of Christ. Let us offer Christ, who will heal their souls.

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.

Do you have someone you would like us to pray for? Please call or email the office. 513-896-LOVE (8653) or firstumc@firstumc-ham.org.

**If you have someone that you would like to continue/add to this list, please mark your prayer card on Sunday (include the words “long term”) or e-mail the office (firstumc@firstumc-ham.org.) We believe this will keep our monthly newsletter list more current.**

Pastor Mark Kim Johnston’s mother, cancer

Bill & Donna Coombe Dan Johnson

Noah Trumbull Marilyn Rumpler, Nancy Chaney’s sister

Please continue to pray for all our area first respond-ers (fire, police, and medical) during this uncertain time. Per our commitment to last year’s prayer breakfast, we continue to pray for these special folks and their families.

Thomas Puckett, Firefighter Matthew Fishwick, Police Officer

John Fischer, Police Officer Joshua Gabbard, Police Officer Brian Gleason, Police Officer Amanda Cox, Police Officer Patrick Erb II, Police Officer

The Ministry Committee would like to remind us

during this time of separation to reach out to one another. Let your neighbors know you are think-

ing about them. They are not alone. Also, if you are able, offer any assis-

tance they may need. We are all in this together. Stay healthy!

Page 4 Volume 14, Issue 6

OUTREACH The Festival of Sharing (FOS) is tentatively scheduled to move forward with FOS 2020 on September 19th at Otterbein University.

Due to the Coronavirus, the hygiene kits we assemble are in high demand right now. Our gifts have been supporting COVID-19 responses across the nation, including one shipment of hygiene kits that went to the Mid-Ohio Foodbank last month.

The status of FOS hygiene kit items we have already purchased is:

Item On-hand Needed for goal Fingernail/Toenail Clippers 72 18 Toothbrush 40 50 Wide-tooth combs COMPLETED!!

The remaining items needed by month are:

June Ten (10) standard size Band-aids July One washcloth August One hand towel measuring approx. 15”x28” to 16”x32” (no fingertip, bath, dish towel or Micro-fiber) September $2.00 processing fee per kit

Items already brought to the church are included in the on-hand number. If you have not turned them in, please notify Diane Hinrichs (dhinrichs@verizon.net) of the item(s) and the quantity you bought.

If you prefer to donate a monetary contribution, the Outreach Committee will do the shopping for you.

UMW NEWS

Your UMW board continues to support FUMC's commitment to feed our neighbors under the guidance of our resourceful and inspiring community lunch organizers. Thanks to several donations and their personal generosity and creativity, every guest was given a face mask of their choice with each meal on May 2. It was such a blessing validating our guests' needs for safety during such challenging times. Plans for June's carry-out are in the works!

It's freezer pop time! We hope to be able to collect these once church reopens for congregant worship. Living Water Ministries is reinventing their summer program to keep their kids safe, they welcome our support. If you have been collecting cardboard tubes and 2-liters, call 513-887-8404 and leave a message. You will be contacted, and we will be glad to swing by and pick up any of your donations. We can also pick up freezer pops if that would be easier for you.

While circles are on summer break, as our social gatherings become less restrictive, we may meet for much needed support in venues allowing for recommended distancing. Our hopes are to resume our "normal" gathering schedules in early fall. And we do plan on selling nuts later this year!!

Praising the Lord with you and praying for your safety, Nancy Puckett, President

Focus on First Page 5

COMMUNITY LUNCH NEEDS

Though we are not gathering on Sundays, the mission of the church to feed our neighbors continues every Saturday. Having stated that, our Community Lunch is in need of your donations, as we are unable to hold our 3rd Sunday of the month Pocket Change collection. If you are able, please forward your donation to the church. We will be sure to put it to good use.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR GRADUATES!

Kylee Blundell (Aimee Epperson’s daughter), a junior at Hamilton High School, is also a member of the class of 2020. She has worked diligently since the very be-ginning and has challenged herself the entire way through to be able to graduate a year early. Currently, Kylee babysits and plans to continue to work even more hours. Kylee is deciding which direction to take her bright new future; possibly exploring cosmetology school.

Bryan Fuhrman (Scott & Mikola’s son) graduated from Hamil-ton High and plans to attend Wright State University, major-ing in music performance. Bryan was awarded two scholarships from the Hamilton Community Foundation, an academic schol-arship from Wright State University, and a music scholarship from the School of Music at Wright State University.

Kylee & Bryan were presented with gifts from the Church and Naomi Circle.

Jessica Wheeler (Vicki’s daughter) graduated from Savannah College of Art & Design magna cum laude majoring in UX Design and a minor in Graphic De-sign. Jessica plans to stay in the Cincinnati area and currently has opportunities that are on hold due to COVID-19 hiring freezes.

Page 6 Volume 14, Issue 6

Women’s Circles

On Summer Break

Pocket Change Sunday

Please send your Pocket Change donation

to the church (with a notation

in the memo line).

6/1 Nancy Chaney Melissa Schmitt

6/4 Norma Daneff Steve Young

6/6 Donna Coombe Greg Scherzinger

6/9 Kim Johnston

6/14 Maxine Steed

6/15 Leesa Finfrock

6/16 Scott Fuhrman Carolyn Horn

6/20 Vicki Wheeler

6/26 Kay Sallee

6/28 Patsy Bernhardt

6/2 Peggy & Wade Ketron 6/9 Nancy & Dan Chaney

6/12 Janice & Nick Blauvelt

6/16 Carol & Phil Brandenburg

6/25 Betty Jean & Don Hann Kara & Rob Tegge

Check back next month to see if Game Night and 4F’s have

been able to resume.

10:00 A.M. SUNDAY SERVICES

VIA FACEBOOK

Focus on First Page 7

SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR SUNDAYS IN JUNE

With the restrictions of no in-person church services, below are the scripture readings that Pastor Mark will be using for his Sunday messages at 10:00 a.m. via live streaming. We hope that you will take time to read these bible passages while staying home and keeping healthy.

June 7 June 14 Matthew 28:16-20 Luke 15:11-32 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 Genesis 37:29-36 Trinity Sunday Father’s Day Worship Leader: Kathy Conrad Worship Leader: Karen Epperson

June 21 June 28 Matthew 10:24-39 Matthew 11:16-19; 25-30 Jeremiah 20:7-13 Zechariah 9:12-23 Spirit Driven Sermon Title Worship Leader: Linda DiBenedetto Worship Leader: Teri Trent

Note that any committee meetings will be held via ZOOM.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2

5:00 PM Trustees 7:00 PM GA Meeting

3

4

7:00 PM GA Meeting

5

6

11:00-1:00 Community Lunch (First UMC cooking)

7:00 PM GA Meeting 8:00 PM NA Meeting

7

10:00 AM Livestream Service

Via Facebook

8

9

4:30 PM Finance 6:00 PM Ministry 7:00 PM GA Meeting

10

11

7:00 PM GA Meeting

12

13 11:00-1:00 Community

Lunch (Zion Lutheran cooking)

7:00 PM GA Meeting 8:00 PM NA Meeting

14

10:00 AM Livestream Service

Via Facebook

15

16

7:00 PM GA Meeting

17

18

7:00 PM GA Meeting

19

20

11:00-1:00 Community Lunch (Islamic Center cooking)

7:00 PM GA Meeting 8:00 PM NA Meeting

21 10:00 AM

Livestream Service Via Facebook

22

23

7:00 PM GA Meeting

24

25

7:00 PM GA Meeting

26

27

11:00-1:00 Community

Lunch (Princeton

Pike Church of God cooking)

7:00 PM GA Meeting 8:00 PM NA Meeting

28

10:00 AM Livestream Service

Via Facebook

29

30 7:00 PM GA Meeting

Kids Klips

Non. Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID Permit NO. 43 Hamilton, Ohio

45011

Address Service Requested

First United Methodist Church 225 Ludlow Street Hamilton, OH 45011 (513) 896-5683