First United Methodist Church of Pottstown, PA

Moving Forward!

firstumc — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:39:07 +0000

On Sunday, April 15th, the members of First Church voted 62-4 to “do whatever it takes” to grow. This vote was the first step in many that we will be taking over the next few months as we seek to implement the recommendations that Bill Tenny-Brittian has laid out for our congregation.

Next up, we will be scheduling a “Day Apart” for Church Council (and other interested leaders/members) to work on our Vision, Mission, Core Values, and membership/leadership covenants that will guide us in our transformation and beyond. If you are interested in participating in this, just leave a note below and I will put you on the list.

Holy Week Schedule

firstumc — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 03:17:12 +0000

Maundy Thursday – April 5th
Our Maundy Thursday Service this year will be at Shenkel UCC, and we will be worshiping with the folks there and members of Temple UMC. Shenkel UCC is at 1580 Shenkel Road, and is right around the corner from Temple. The service will begin at 7:00 pm on April 5th.

Good Friday – April 6th

Community Prayer Processional at 10:30 a.m.
We will gather on the green between Zion’s United Church of Christ and Emmanuel Lutheran Church, on Hanover Street. Children and strollers welcome! Parking is available behind the churches. In case of rain, we’ll walk inside. A “Time for Children” with our younger walkers will begin the processional. Please note: We make this one-mile walk so we can pray together for the peace and well-being of our community and bear witness to Christ’s love for the world.

Community Service
This annual community service will be held at 12:00 Noon, and will feature messages from Pottstown area pastors of tbe “Seven Last Words of Jesus.” The service will be hosted by Bethel AME Church located 401 Beech Street, Pottstown.

First Church Service
Our Good Friday service will begin at 7:00 pm on April 6th. During the service we will read from John’s gospel, the Chancel Choir will provide service and special music, and Pastor Will will deliver a short meditation on scripture lessons.

Easter Breakfast – April 8th
It will soon be time for the annual FUMC Easter breakfast! Please plan to come and enjoy fellowship with your church friends on April 8th from 7:45 to 8:45 in the Community Room. A donation to offset the costs is kindly appreciated so that we can continue this tradition. We are looking for donations – financial or food at this time. Please see Kendra Waters or Lisa Harner to make a donation.

Easter Worship – April 8th
Our regular services at 9:00 am (Modern Worship) and 10:15 am (Traditional Service) will be held. The 10:15 am will feature all of our choirs – Chancel, Alleluia Ringers and First Church Chimers. Plan now to attend one of these worship experiences.

How to Read Scripture

firstumc — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 05:30:57 +0000

This article, from a blog written by Lawrence Wilson, is essential reading for those who read the scripture during our worship services. Wilson begins by saying:

Most Christians never read the Bible outside of church. So when you have an opportunity to read Scripture aloud during a worship service, you are providing all the Scripture most people will hear that week. That makes Scripture reading a critically important part of any worship experience.

Too often we think of the public reading of Scripture as a perfunctory part of the service or as a fill-in between the offering and the sermon. That’s tragic, because Scripture reading has always been a cornerstone of worship among Christians, and it is always an opportunity for God to speak.

Reading the Bible aloud is more difficult than it seems, however. When I was a seminary student, our first assignment in preaching class was to read Scripture to the class. “This will be easy,” I thought. “You just stand there and read it.” I didn’t bother to prepare.

What a mistake! The passage was from one of Paul’s letters, so there were lots of long, awkwardly worded sentences. And I encountered a couple of names I couldn’t pronounce. When I stumbled over a a word, my throat began to tighten and I turned beet red. The next two minutes seemed to last an hour. I slurred through the last couple of verses and quickly sat down.

Your Bible reading opportunity can become the high moment of the worship service, a time when God speaks powerfully to people. Here’s what you can do to make that happen.

To read the rest of what Wilson has to say, please click this link: How to Read Scripture Aloud

Report on Our Consultation

firstumc — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 05:23:30 +0000

Bill Tenny-Brittian spent three days with us at First Church. During his time here he examined all aspects of our ministry, interviewed church leaders, members and committees and made insightful and challenging presentations each evening. Attendance was good, with 31, 35, and 52 people in attendance on Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively.

With the extensive data we provided Bill, demographic statistics gathered from our ministry area, information from his interviews, and his knowledge of the realities of ministry in today’s culture, Bill developed a series of recommendations for our church on Sunday evening. Please note that these were only initial recommendations, and that Bill’s full report (which he will send to us very soon) may very well include more.

Having said all that, below you will find Bill’s presentations for each evening. Please take the time to read them for the first time if you were not able to attend the meetings, or review them if you were actually there. Our Church Council will make a recommendation to our church as to the path we should pursue, and a congregational meeting will be held on Sunday, April 15th to officially adopt a course of action. Plan now to attend!

First Night Presentation

Our Current Situation

Recommendations for First Church

A Word from St. Basil

firstumc — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 19:09:20 +0000

“The bread which you do not use is the bread of the hungry; the garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of him who is naked; the shoes that you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is barefoot; the money that you keep locked away is the money of the poor; the acts of charity that you do not perform are so many injustices that you commit.” – St Basil

Consultation Schedule – March 23-25, 2012

firstumc — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 03:29:17 +0000

It is vital to the success of this consultation that as many church members as possible participate in this weekend’s events. If you are listed for a one-on-one interview with Bill Tenny-Brittian and cannot attend at that time, please let Pastor Will know as soon as possible.

The luncheon on Saturday should be attended by all Church Council members. The same is true for each evening presentation for all church members and friends. Sunday Dinner will be a covered dish; sign-up sheets are available at the back of the church.

Friday, March 23rd
8:00 am – Breakfast with the Pastor
9:00 am – Tour of Ministry Area
10:00 am – Tour of Church Facilities
11:00 am – Interview with Merry Sands, Director of Music
12 Noon – Lunch with available Church Staff and Leaders
5:30 pm – Dinner with Pastor Will
7:00 pm – Presentation by Bill in the Community Room (A biblical and cultural foundation for this weekend and our consultation)

Saturday, March 24th
9:00 am – Meeting – Board of Trustees
9:30 am – Meeting – Tina Etze, Church Treasurer
10:00 am – Meeting – Merrill Umstead, Financial Secretary
10:30 am – Meeting – Staff-Parish Relations Committee
11:00 am – Meeting – Donna Ecker, Christian Education Coordinator
11:30 am – Meeting – Lisa Harner, Church Council Chairperson
12:00 Noon – Lunch at Church with all Church Council Members
5:30 pm – Dinner with Dan Waters (Lay Leader) and Kendra Waters
7:00 pm – Presentation by Bill in the Choir Rehearsal Room (The strengths and weaknesses of the congregation)

Sunday, March 25th
Morning – Bill worships with us at First Church and visits Sunday School classes
12 Noon – Lunch with Pastor Will and Merry Sands
1:00 pm – One on One time with Pastor Will
6:00 pm – All Church Supper in the Community Room
7:00 pm – Presentation of Recommendations by Bill in the Community Room (Time-dated, measurable recommendations based on the data we’ve given Bill, the interviews, and the strength of the congregation. Questions will be entertained “for as long as it takes” to get them all answered)

2012 Mission Project – Heifer International

firstumc — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 03:17:57 +0000

Our Church Council has chosen HEIFER International as our global mission for 2012. HEIFER is a nonprofit, humanitarian organization dedicated to ending hunger and poverty in the world. It has been in operation since 1944 in all 50 states and 125 countries worldwide. Further, HEIFER provides livestock and training in environ-entally sound agriculture to those with genuine need. Recipients must agree to “Pass on the Gift” of one or more of their animals’ offspring to others in need, creating an ever-widening circle of hope.

Donations can be made using the blue “global mission” envelopes in the pews. You can donate in one of two ways: • by making a general donation, which will be added to other donations to purchase animals to fill our “2012 F.U.M.C. Joy to the World Gift Basket”. • by donating the price of one animal in honor or in memory of a loved one. If you donate an animal in honor or memory, please fill out a slip located in the back of the church so we can record your gift in the bulletin. Pastor Will and Sandy Swann have honor cards which you can give to your honoree, letting him/her know of the gift.

List of Heifer Animals and Prices:

Flock of chickens, ducks or geese…..$20
Honeybees…..$30
Trio of rabbits…..$60
Pig…..$120
Sheep…..$120
Goat…..$120
Llama…..$150
Water buffalo…..$250
Heifer…..$500
Camel…..$850

The One You Feed

firstumc — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:46:51 +0000

“An old Cherokee told his grandson, “My Son, there is a battle between two wolves inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, inferiority, lies and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, empathy and truth.” The boy thought about it, and asked, “Grandfather, which wolf wins?” The old man quietly replied, “The one you feed.”

Special Guest Preacher – Feb. 19th

firstumc — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:39:15 +0000

The Rev. Katie Mulligan, a Presbyterian minister from New Jersey, and the leader of our Spiritual Life Retreat in March will be our guest preacher on Sunday, February 19th. Because of this, we will only have one service on this Sunday at 10:15 am.

Spiritual Life Retreat – March 16-18, 2012

firstumc — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:57:13 +0000

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that this measureless power comes from God and not from us. We are troubled in every way, but not distressed; see no way out, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; cast down, but not destroyed; always carrying in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be visible in our body. For while we live, we are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be visible in our mortal flesh. Therefore, even though death is at work in us, so too is life.” – 2 Corinthians 4:7-11

Pastor Will is planning a retreat for the members and friends of First UMC at Kirkridge Retreat Center on March 16-18. The cost will be approximately $225.00 for two nights lodging and five meals. If you are interested, please let him know asap and make a deposit to reserve your space. We are close to having the 12 people we need to make this happen, and a maximum of 20 people can attend.