Pastor’s NoteDear friends, I am glad it is summer. The hydrangeas are blooming. Baseball is on the radio. People are getting out to pools, parks, and cook-outs. Summertime is often thought of as a time of “easy-living,” where things slow down with the heat of the day. This summer, however, feels different because activity is also picking-up. In this newsletter, you’ll see a lot of opportunities to either be or get engaged in our ministry. As we do this, I encourage you to consider what we do and why we do it. Maybe we don’t need to re-engage in everything as before, and this can allow us to deepen and grow our focus on glorifying God. God has invited us into a time of self-examination and intentionality; let’s move forward with a sort of reverence for God and one another. Grace and peace, Michael Opportunities to get involved!!There are lots of opportunities at the church right now to get involved: Welcome Team: Be the first face someone sees when they walk into FPC on a Sunday morning. This is a really important ministry, and we need you to welcome people at the church. The Welcome Team is booting back up in July, but you can start anytime. Office Helpers: We typically have two ways to help in the office. We need people to help count the offering on Mondays, and we also have people come in to provide coverage to the office throughout the week. We currently have need for counters. The office will be operating at full capacity in August. Liturgists: Do you like to read scripture? We are always looking to involve more people in worship leadership on Sunday mornings. We can meet you at your comfort level. Sound Techs: It “sounds” scary, but is not! We’d love to train a few more people on how to run sound for our worship services. Sunday School: Join the circle on Sunday mornings as we share Godly Play stories, wonder together, and respond in creative and playful ways. Many of the Circle Time messages this year have modeled the tone and rhythm of sharing Godly Play stories. Perhaps you have enjoyed this format and would enjoy sharing the experience with children and youth. Intergenerational relationships are deeply meaningful and so very important in the journey of faith formation. The only requirements: be you, be kind, be loved. We will help equip you with anything else that is needed to support the circle. Nursery Care: Welcome children and families each Sunday morning as they arrive for worship. Provide a safe and engaging space for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers to play and explore while their guardians participate in worship. We are hiring a second Childcare Team Member, contact the church office for the position description if you or someone you know would like to apply. Must be 18 years old or older and working toward or have obtained a high school diploma or GED. Occasionally, we will need helpers when the Childcare Team Members are unavailable.
Please let sandy@fpcmiddletown.com know if you are interested in serving in any of these ways. Session NotesCOVID-19 Update from June 22 Session MeetingSession continues to work diligently to be safe, responsible, and faithful to God and neighbor. After discussion, reflection, and prayer, here are the recent updates for our COVID-19 response. The physical office will fully re-open on August 2, including for those who wish to volunteer throughout the week. The nursery and Sunday school will resume in September. We will be hiring a second nursery attendant to provide consistent staffing and diligence about safety protocols. The Welcome Team will be resuming their ministry of greeting on Sunday mornings. Would you like to participate in this way? If so, let Sandy know in the office. Fellowship Hour will remain outside, but will move inside in the event of rain. Masks remain encouraged and social distancing remains in place in the sanctuary. Session also discussed a helpful reflection from a church leader in another setting about the pace of ministry at this time; it is titled Hitting the Ground Running? Read it here: https://mministry.org/hitting-the-ground-running
Session appreciates everyone’s diligence and patience. Sunday Morning Building SecuritySession has been reviewing building safety and security. At our May meeting we approved a policy that only doors that open directly into the Narthex and Gathering Area will be open after 10:10. On Sundays, the front sanctuary doors and Door A (Gathering Area) will remain open. Door C (Circle Drive) and Door H (Side Sanctuary) will be open until 10:10. All other doors will only be suitable for exiting the building. Worship & Music NotesSave the dates!Phil DeGreg Jazz Trio will be in worship on August 29 Kirking of the Tartans is scheduled for October 10 Central State University Choir will be in worship on November 14.
Christian Education NotesCompassion Camp: Changing the World with Loving KindnessJoin the fun on the FPC front lawn on Saturday, July 3, 9:30 a.m. for games and supply pick-up! All are welcome! Beginning July 7, join us each week in July as we explore what it means to have compassion for others, ourselves, and the world. Activities for all ages will be available online each Sunday and we’ll connect online via Zoom each Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. Sign up for Compassion Camp, so we can send you more detailed information about receiving weekly content and participating in online gatherings. Contact Lisa Kaufer for more information (lisa@fpcmiddletown.com). Summer Theology Study: Mondays at 6:00 p.m.On Mondays in July at 6:00 p.m. join a reading discussion group on Diane Glancy’s collection of poetry titled Island of the Innocent: A Consideration on the Book of Job. The poetry is from the perspective of Job’s wife and the Native American experience. On July 5, we will begin with the poems a “Treatise on the Suffering of Uz” and “Now You are More Yourself” from Part One and all of Part two. We will meet in the Youth Room. Stories of God at HomeThe Purple Table is offering resources for you to share Godly Play stories at home! Email Lisa (lisa@fpcmiddletown.com)to sign up to borrow a story kit. Story videos are easily accessible online (https://www.storiesofgodathome.com/events). Stay connected through The Purple Table and Compassion Camp!The Purple Table is a pop-up welcome space, online and in-person, that builds community, and affirms and supports healing. Let us encourage one another as we play, share stories, listen, and find a way through, together! Connect instantly with The Purple Table by visiting the website: https://the-purple-table.mn.com Stewardship NotesIRA Charitable RolloverIf you're 70 ½ or older, you can make a tax-free contribution from your IRA. You are allowed to make a charitable gift directly from your IRA without counting the donation as income. You can use your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) to pay your church pledge or donate to a charity… all without having to pay income tax on those dollars! Odds & EndsPre-K Readiness We have openings for our Pre-K program this fall! Learn more at https://www.fpcmiddletown.com/prek In MemoriamWe give thanks for the life of. . .Dickie Greathouse, who died on June 8. Lee Landis, who died on June 19.
Online CalendarThe church calendar is now online! Go to https://www.fpcmiddletown.com/calendar.
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