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Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ:

Can you feel it in the air? Spring is just around the corner! The tulips and daffodils will soon sound the clarion call for the rest of nature to shut the door on another winter. Okay, maybe that is a bit optimistic, but I’m trying to be more positive about everything (don’t laugh, I’m serious).

I don’t know about you, but the gray days of winter have a “diminishing” effect on me. I seem to go from the anticipation, joy, and celebration of the birth of Christ right into an extended period of Chicken-Little like brooding. As an individual human being, that can be debilitating. As a Christian, it can blind you to the abundant evidence of God’s grace present all around us. In either circumstance, everything possible should be done to tamp down the duration and depth of such times.

For many, this requires a reboot of our awareness of what John Wesley called God’s “prevenient grace.” Wesley taught that all of us are gifted

with prevenient grace (or grace that we did not and cannot earn.) This is grace to which our only responses can be “Thank you, Lord” or “No, thanks, I’m good.” (Spoiler alert – the last response is probably not the one you should express if you want to participate in that whole eternal-life thing. Just sayin’…)

This is grace that makes infant baptism possible because it affirms, over and over, that God loves us with an unquenchable fire that prepares us for a life lived for God’s glory. Even if we were to reject prevenient grace out of denial or disappointment, God would not make it inaccessible to us. God’s prevenient grace is everlasting simply because we are God’s creation and we are dearly loved. Prevenient grace amplifies our receptivity to the unconditional love of God – and how easily we forget that gift. We must remember that God’s grace is not equivalent to a “get out of jail free” card. Grace granted is hardly an insignificant gesture by our Creator. It is, rather, a

standing invitation for us to join Jesus on a walk along the beach, making footprints in the sand. I like that imagery. I can relate to that imagery. The single most selfless act of love in all human history is approaching as we start this Lenten season. Aside from the pageantry of Palm Sunday and the sense of renewal that accompanies Easter, have you spent any time reflecting on God’s amazing grace? Have you thought about the sacrifice Jesus made for you and me? Can you imagine what a life lived outside of prevenient grace (as if we could ever accomplish such a thing) would look like? Neither can I, and by the stripes across Jesus’s back, we never will. This year let us reconnect with God’s grace. Get grace by accepting Christ into your heart. Give grace by living as Jesus taught us to - loving one another just as Jesus loves us. Gather grace shown to you by others to know the indescribable joy of the Resurrection. Have a graced-filled Lent and Easter!

MAR/APR 2020

WHAT’S INSIDE Worship News ..................................................2

Finance Summary .............................................2

The Electronic Charge ....................................3

Charge News .....................................................4

Theme for the Lenten Season .........................4

Events: Evangelical UMC ...............................5

Events: First UMC ...........................................6 Birthdays to Note .............................................7

Bible Reading Plan ...........................................8

Prayers of the Charge ......................................9

Reaching Out ................................................. 10

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WORSHIP NEWS

FINANCE SUMMARY

First UMC Monthly Budget $ Last Month Year-to-Date Surplus (Deficit)

Non-Designated $6,663.58 JAN $4,973.35 FEB $5,545.00 $10,518.35 $(2,808.81)

EUMC Monthly Budget $ Last Month Year-to-Date Surplus (Deficit)

Non-Designated $11,573 Jan $5,172.00 Feb $10,105.03 $15,277 $(7,869)

Sundays at EUMC ⇒ Casual Worship @ 8:00 am ⇒ Sunday School @ 9:45 am ⇒ Traditional Worship @ 11 am Sundays at First UMC ⇒ Worship @ 9:30 am ⇒ Sunday School @ 10:40 am CHARGE UNIFIED Worship at FIRST ⇒ Sunday, March 29 @ 10 am ⇒ No other Services/Sunday School ⇒ Fellowship meal to follow

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THE ELECTRONIC CHARGE

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CHARGE NEWS

THEME FOR THE LENTEN SEASON 2 Peter 1:3-8 Confirming One’s Calling and Election 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

SERVICES @ NOON, LUNCH @ 12:30

DATE PASTOR RESPONSIBLE LOCATION TOPIC NOTES Feb 26 Rev. Jeff Canter Evangelical UMC Goodness Noon & Evening

March 4 Rev. Nate Fugate Otterbein UMC Knowledge March 11 Pastor Josh Baker 1st UMC Self-Control March 18 Rev. Rick Hamrick Free Methodist Perseverance March 25 Mr. Phil Skerda St. Luke Catholic Godliness

April 1 Mr. Gary Landrio Saron Lutheran Mutual Affection April 8 Rev. Penny Helmbold Irvine Presbyterian Love

Mary Martha Circle Monday, March 2, Mary Martha Circle will meet in the home of Wilma Trask at 2 p.m. United Methodist Women (UMW) United Methodist Women will meet at First UMC at 1:00 p.m. in room 107 Community Lenten Services

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EVENTS: EVANGELICAL UMC (Events for the full Charge are in Red)

Date Event Location March 3 Trustee’s Meeting @ 7 pm EUM Chapel March 4 Breakfast Before the Bell EUM Fellowship Hall March 4 Lenten Services/Luncheon 11:30 @ Otterbein UMC March 4 Wesleyan Weekly Prayer Group @ 6 pm 2nd Street Parsonage March 11 Breakfast Before the Bell EUM Fellowship Hall March 11 Lenten Services/Luncheon 11:30 @ First UMC March 11 Wesleyan Weekly Prayer Group @ 6 pm 2nd Street Parsonage March 15 Glory Way Quartet Concert 4:00 at EUM March 17 EUM Council Meeting @ 7 pm EUM Chapel March 18 Breakfast Before the Bell EUM Fellowship Hall March 18 Lenten Services/Luncheon 11:30 @ Free Methodist March 18 Wesleyan Weekly Prayer Group @ 6 pm 2nd Street Parsonage March 25 Breakfast Before the Bell EUM Fellowship Hall March 25 Lenten Services/Luncheon 11:30 @ St. Luke’s Catholic March 25 Wesleyan Weekly Prayer Group @ 6 pm 2nd Street Parsonage March 29 Unified Service @ 10:00 am At First UMC April 1 Breakfast Before the Bell EUM Fellowship Hall April 1 Lenten Services/Luncheon 11:30 @ Saron Lutheran April 1 Wesleyan Weekly Prayer Group @ 6 pm 2nd Street Parsonage April 7 Trustee’s Meeting @ 7 pm EUM Chapel April 8 Breakfast Before the Bell EUM Fellowship Hall April 8 Lenten Services/Luncheon 11:30 @ Irvine Presbyterian April 8 Wesleyan Weekly Prayer Group @ 6 pm 2nd Street Parsonage April 10 Good Friday Journey of the Cross @ 11 am Starting at Free Methodist April 12 Easter Sunday @ 11 am At EUM April 21 EUM Council Meeting @ 7 pm EUM Chapel

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EVENTS: FIRST UMC

Date Event Location Mar 1 First Sunday in Lent / Communion Sunday Mar 2 Mary Martha Circle @ 2 PM Home of Wilma Trask Mar 4 Prayer Group @ 6 PM 2nd Street Parsonage Mar 8 Second Sunday in Lent / Daylight Saving Time begins Mar 9 Trustees’ Meeting @ 7 PM FIRST Room 107 Mar 10 United Methodist Women @ 1 PM FIRST Room 107

Mar 11 Community Lenten Service @ NOON Community Lenten Luncheon to benefit ministerium

FIRST Sanctuary FIRST Fellowship Hall

Mar 11 Prayer Group @ 6 PM 2nd Street Parsonage Mar 12 Finance Meeting @ 1 PM FIRST Room 108 Mar 15 Third Sunday in Lent Mar 18 Prayer Group @ 6 PM 2nd Street Parsonage Mar 22 Fourth Sunday in Lent / UMCOR (offering) Sunday Mar 22 Rouse Home Vespers @ 4 PM Rouse Home Mar 23 Rouse Manor Luncheon @ NOON Rouse Manor Mar 25 Prayer Group @ 6 PM 2nd Street Parsonage

Mar 29 Fifth Sunday in Lent Unified Worship Service @ 10 AM NO Sunday School FIRST Sanctuary

Apr 1 Prayer Group @ 6 PM 2nd Street Parsonage Apr 5 Palm Sunday / Communion Sunday Apr 6 Mary Martha Circle @ 2 PM Hostess TBD Apr 8 Prayer Group @ 6 PM 2nd Street Parsonage Apr 9 **NEWSLETTER DEADLINE** Apr 9 Finance Meeting @ 1 PM FIRST Room 108

Apr 10 Good Friday Ecumenical Cross Walk @11 AM Begin at FREE METHODIST Davis St. Apr 12 Easter Sunday Service @ 9:30 AM

Fellowship Breakfast to follow NO Sunday School

Apr 13 Trustees’ Meeting @ 7 PM FIRST Room 107 Apr 14 United Methodist Women @ 1 PM FIRST Room 107 Apr 15 Prayer Group @ 6 PM 2nd Street Parsonage Apr 22 Prayer Group @ 6 PM 2nd Street Parsonage Apr 23 Handbell Practice @ 4 PM FIRST Room 107 Apr 26 Rouse Home Vespers @ 4 PM Rouse Home Apr 27 Rouse Manor Luncheon @ NOON Rouse Manor Apr 29 Prayer Group @ 6 PM 2nd Street Parsonage

(Events for the full Charge are in Red)

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BIRTHDAYS TO NOTE

March April Betty Sanford 1 Carol Carter 1 Robert Cutshall 2 Joshua Clough 2 Wes Augenstein 4 Dora Bower 3 Jimmy Cowan 6 Mailee Eckstrom 4 Shirley Ranier 6 Samuel Hoover 7 Diane Shannon 6 Midge Nelson 7 Conrad Quinn Walton 7 John McKinney 14 Dave Garris 10 Michael Peate 16

Lindsey Sanford 11 LaRue Gross 17 Ben Holcomb 11 Ian Proctor 17 Philip Baumgardner 12 Pat Chriscaden 19 Peter Eckstrom 13 Emily Clough Poole 20 Ardelle Johnson 13 Levi Ecelberger 24 Tate Shaffer 14 Karen Ecelberger 25 Barb Sanford Lutton 15 Margo Strickland 26 Bob Green 16 Mary Lou McKinney 27 Maurice Bennett 17 Justin Lake 28 Bonnie Shirey 18 Mindy Kane 29 Ann Snavely 18 Don Loomis 30 Doris Lake 20 Barbara Shannon 24 Scott Holcomb 26 Lucy Witherow 26 Ashley Hummer 27 Nancy Schwanke 29 Flossie Loomis 30 Paul Clough 31

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BIBLE READING PLAN Tips on Reading the Bible Daily Set aside a specific time each day. Set your schedule and then stick to it. Mornings are great, but

feel free to use any time that works consistently for you. Read the Bible for the sake of learning, not simply to accomplish your next reading. Say a short

prayer to God before you begin, asking the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and understanding, then be refreshed by the words you read!

March April 1 Ex. 29-30; James 1 1 Prov. 25-26; Heb. 3 2 Ex. 31-33; James 2 2 Prov. 27-29; Heb. 4 3 Ex. 34-35; James 3 3 Prov. 30-31; Heb. 5 4 Ex. 36-38; James 4 4 Lev. 1-3; Heb. 6 5 Ex. 39-40; James 5 5 Lev. 4-5; Heb. 7 6 Job 1-2; 1 Cor. 1 6 Lev. 6-7; Heb. 8 7 Job 3-4; 1 Cor. 2 7 Lev. 8-10; Heb. 9 8 Job 5-7; 1 Cor. 3 8 Lev. 11-12; Heb. 10:1-18 9 Job 8-10; 1 Cor. 4 9 Lev. 13; Heb. 10:19-39

10 Job 11-13; 1 Cor. 5 10 Lev. 14; Heb. 11:1-19 11 Job 14-16; 1 Cor. 6 11 Lev. 15-16; Heb. 11:20-40 12 Job 17-19; 1 Cor. 7:1-19 12 Lev. 17-18; Heb. 12 13 Job 20-21; 1 Cor. 7:20-40 13 Lev. 19-20; Heb. 13 14 Job 22-24; 1 Cor. 8 14 Lev. 21-22; Rev. 1 15 Job 25-27; 1 Cor. 9 15 Lev. 23-24; Rev. 2 16 Job 28-29; 1 Cor. 10:1-18 16 Lev. 25; Rev. 3 17 Job 30-31; 1 Cor. 10:19-33 17 Lev. 26-27; Rev. 4 18 Job 32-33; 1 Cor. 11:1-16 18 Dan. 1-2; Rev. 5 19 Job 34-35; 1 Cor. 11:17-34 19 Dan. 3-4; Rev. 6 20 Job 36-37; 1 Cor. 12 20 Dan. 5-7; Rev. 7 21 Job 38-40; 1 Cor. 13 21 Dan. 8-10; Rev. 8 22 Job 41-42; 1 Cor. 14:1-20 22 Dan. 11-12; Rev. 9 23 Prov. 1-2; 1 Cor. 14:21-40 23 Eccle. 1-3; Rev. 10 24 Prov. 3-5; 1 Cor. 15:1-28 24 Eccle. 4-6; Rev. 11 25 Prov. 6-7; 1 Cor. 15:29-58 25 Eccle. 7-9; Rev. 12 26 Prov. 8-9; 1 Cor. 16 26 Eccle. 10-12; Rev. 13 27 Prov. 10-12; Titus 1 27 Num. 1-2; Rev. 14 28 Prov. 13-15; Titus 2 28 Num. 3-4; Rev. 15 29 Prov. 16-18; Titus 3 29 Num. 5-6; Rev. 16 30 Prov. 19-21; Heb. 1 30 Num. 7-8; Rev. 17 31 Prov. 22-24; Heb. 2

“The Holy Scriptures are our letters from home.” – Augustine of Hippo

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PRAYERS OF THE CHARGE

Those in need of EXTENDED/CONTINUED Prayers *(SI) denotes Shut-In Philip & Pauline Baumgardner (SI) Martha Koehler (SI) Laura Freeborough

Barb Hill (SI) Don McNitt (SI) Brian Lutton Mary Lou McKinney (SI) Louise Rensma Midge Nelson (SI)

Peg Peters (SI) Jeanne Soliday (SI) Nyla Warner (Kreiger’s daughter) Lana Williams

(Jodie Brown’s granddaughter) Tiffany & Chuck Williams

Please pray for our missionaries on the field/missionary organizations/sponsored child

Missionary / Missionary Organization Serving In: Ben & Cathy Bidelspach /China Outreach Ministries Penn State University – State College, PA – USA

Jonathan Long/One Mission Society Hungary Budapest, Hungary – Europe Chuck Egbert/MMS Aviation Coshocton, Ohio – USA

YEMS/Salvation Army Second Harvest Food Bank

Warren County Jail Ministry/Prison Ministry Women’s Care Center of Warren

Love INC UMCOR

Imagine No Malaria

Vision Trust (Sittipong Laokawee – Sponsored Child in Thailand) Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Ministry

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REACHING OUT