 We are Christ First United Methodist Church – Loving, Growing, Serving: Putting Christ First! If you have been in church recently, this probably sounds familiar. I hope it does! This is who we are and what we are about.
In our Recalibration meetings, we asked three important questions. 1) WHAT do we do here? Answer: Make Disciples. 2) HOW do we do this? Answer: Go, Baptize, and Teach. 3) WHY do we do this? Answer: Because God has done an amazing work in our lives and we want everyone to know this reality and join us in our journey as disciples. In order to accomplish this, we obey the great commandment: Love God and love our neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40). We commit to growing as disciples – both individually and corporately as the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:14-16). And we serve one another and the world as Jesus demonstrated by his ministry and exemplified in the washing of the disciple’s feet (John 13:1-17). Through these steps, we seek first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33) and put Christ first in our lives and in our church. Jesus Christ is the foundation on which this church and our faith have been built (1 Corinthians 3:11) and this is the rock in which we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). We pray that our light will shine in our community and in our world, so that through our good deeds, God will be glorified (Matthew 5:16). If you are a member of Christ First UMC, take time to ask yourself how you will be involved in Loving, Growing, Serving: Putting Christ First. If you are not currently a member, maybe now is the time to commit to the work and the future of this church. May God richly bless our work in the Name of Jesus Christ!
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 Did you ever wonder why there are so many special days during the week before Easter Sunday? This week is sometimes called Holy Week or Passion Week and follows the activities of Jesus during the last week before his death and resurrection.
Day 1: Palm Sunday is one week before Easter and we celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. On this day, we proclaim Jesus as King and Savior. Day 2: Monday was a busy day for Jesus. He curses the fig tree and clears the temple. These acts represent God’s judgement on those who are spiritually dead and demonstrate that genuine faith is more than just outward religiosity. Day 3: On Tuesday, Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives. He speaks of the end times, his second coming, and the final judgement. He teaches his disciples about what will come. Day 4: Jesus and the disciples had a few tough days and tomorrow is Passover. This was probably a day of preparation and also some rest. Day 5: Holy Thursday, Passover, Last Supper, Maundy Thursday – the day of many names. “Maundy” comes from the Latin word “mandatum” meaning “commandment.” Jesus and the disciples celebrated the Passover together. They recalled the escape from Egypt and Jesus made the connection between the Passover lamb and himself. He taught the disciples about true service, instituted the Lord’s Supper (communion), and prayed in the garden of Gethsemane. Day 6: Good Friday is the day that Jesus was tortured, tried, mocked, and crucified. Day 7: Saturday was a day of waiting and reflecting. It was a day of uncertainty and fear. The disciples were still not certain about Jesus’ resurrection and had no idea what was going to happen next. Their hope and their friend were both gone. Day 8: Easter Sunday. Jesus is risen! Jesus had told the disciples that he would die and three days later he would rise from the dead. Easter returns our hope of abundant life now and eternal life after our death. We may get excited about Palm Sunday and Easter, but each day of Holy Week is unique and it is a wonderful way to experience Jesus and our relationship with him. Let’s be aware of each day and what this all means to us as disciples of Jesus. Rev. Jenni Piatt  We are the church together!Since January 1st we have been focused on the words of Jesus about our Treasure, the state of our Heart in relationship to God and our service in his Name. In March we are Diving Deep into Recalibration! This is an exciting time, but as we know, our church is bigger than the building, the programs, and the history. As the song says “I am the church. You are the church. We are the church together!”
. In Corinthians 12, we read that we are all part of the body of Christ and as we know, if one part of our body does not work right, everything seems to malfunction and nothing gets done. In Paragraph 125 of the UMC Book of Discipline, it says, “All Christians are called through their baptism to this ministry of servant-hood in the world to the glory of God and for human fulfillment.” This is many words which simply say—because of our baptism, we are ministers to the world, so that God will be glorified and everyone will be fulfilled. If we are not working in Christian ministry—which is everything from preaching, serving on committees, plowing snow, singing in the choir, giving of money, to cleaning the bathrooms—God is not being glorified, people are not being nurtured in Christ, and we are not fulfilled in life. It may seem that something is missing in our church. It may seem that something is missing in your life. Maybe we are not sure what it is, but this I know. If all baptized Christians are doing the one thing that God has designed them for, the body will function like a well-oiled machine. For all the saints who have gone before us — We give thanks to God. For all the saints who are working tirelessly to be the church today — We give thanks to God. For all the saints who are learning and growing or maybe not even born yet — We give thanks to God. “I am the church, You are the church. We are the church together!” Rev. Jenni Piatt  One Little Step
Happy New Year! IT is a new year and fresh start! Even if we do not admit it, many of us secretly make resolutions. We will do this or not do that. We will improve on something or begin something new. If we do noting else this year, I want to suggest that we all determine we will take one step in this new year. One little step. Not run a race of travel for miles, but one step. Take one step closer to God. How do you take a step closer to God? Which way do you go? What does it look like? It is different for everyone. Each person must decide how that step will be taken. Maybe it will be praying a few minutes a day. Maybe it will be reading a verse from the Bible each day. If you are already doing these things, maybe your step will look more like leading a small group or attending a Bible study that you have not attended before. Whatever your step is and however much time it takes (one minute per day or one hour a day) just take the step. No matter who we are, we all need to take this step. Along with taking a little personal step, I want to encourage you to find a small group and get connected. It is important to have the encouragement and support of people who love and care for you. We currently have three adult Bible Studies: Wed AM, Wed. pm & Thur. am. Check one out! IF you have thought that a Bible Study, Discussion Group, or Prayer Time would be nice to have, but the current times do not work for you, let’s talk! Be bold and find 4-5 people with a similar interest. Be creative and let’s do something on Zoom or at someone’s home. Be flexible and figure out what works for you! Maybe we do a short-term topic discussion, current events conversation, or book study. I pray that God will touch you and your family in this new year. I pray that you will get to know God more.. I pray that our entire church family will be connected to the body in more ways than just Sunday Morning. May you have a blessed new year. Rev. Jenni Piatt  Comfort and Joy!
Christmas is probably a favorite time of year for many of you. It is for me! There is something about the smell of wood in the fireplace, cookies baking, warm cinnamon, and pine that can bring back special memories. There are familiar carols that make us smile as we realize we know the words and can sing along. We see friends and family that we may not see at any other time of the year and we remember how much we love and are loved. We can recall the sound of wrapping paper, shopping and snow crunching under our feet. Our senses seem to come alive during the holiday season and we rest in the familiarity of tradition. This year, it will be much the same. Carols, cookies, Christmas trees, and lights. There will be words read from the Bible that many of us have almost memorized without even realizing it. One Scripture that is read every year comes from Luke 2:8-14 and says, “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sing unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward me.’ “ Read this passage over and over this holiday season. Let the words remind you of the comfort and joy that comes from a relationship with Jesus. Let God speak to you in the comfort of the familiar. It is my prayer that we would also remember that this amazing event—God coming to earth in human flesh—calls us to action. Mary stepped up to the task of Mother, Joseph took Mary and Jesus as his own, the shepherds and wise men went to see and then spread the word, and the angels proclaimed the message of Immanuel! In the comfort and Joy of this season, may we also break out of our comfort zone and proclaim to the world that God is here! Merry Christmas! Rev. Jenni Piatt  I have heard it asked, “Why should I go to church?” That is a good question and there is a good answer. There are other reasons as well, but my top four reasons have to do with God, you, your family, and others.
First, God has done great things for us. He has given us life and hope for the future. The Sunday church service is only one (1) hour. It is not much to give in return for all he has given us. Second, we all have needs and what better place to have our needs met than with family. The Bible ets us know that the church is the family of God and we are there for one another. You are never alone and the church family is where we can best understand that truth. Third, if you have a family with a busy life, Sunday morning may be the only time that you can spend one hour, relaxed and all focused on the same activity. This s a good time to spend together, regardless of age. Church also gives you something to talk about as the week goes on and it can teach you to pray together. Lastly, others have needs and you can help them. The Bible also tells us that we all have things we are good at and things we need help with. If we all pitch in and help with the things we are good at, all the work is easier. We can all do our part. Coming to church is more than an obligation or just something that we do. It is an opportunity to worship God and hear from God. God wants to have a relationship with YOU and wants to meet you in many ways, including church. Come and also connect with others. Be encouraged. Encourage others. Be part of a viable body. Come and join us this Sunday and bring someone with you! Rev. Jenni Piatt  I have heard it asked, “Why should I go to church?” That is a good question and there is a good answer. There are other reasons as well, but my top four reasons have to do with God, you, your family, and others.
First, God has done great things for us. He has given us life and hope for the future. The Sunday church service is only one (1) hour. It is not much to give in return for all he has given us. Second, we all have needs and what better place to have our needs met than with family. The Bible ets us know that the church is the family of God and we are there for one another. You are never alone and the church family is where we can best understand that truth. Third, if you have a family with a busy life, Sunday morning may be the only time that you can spend one hour, relaxed and all focused on the same activity. This s a good time to spend together, regardless of age. Church also gives you something to talk about as the week goes on and it can teach you to pray together. Lastly, others have needs and you can help them. The Bible also tells us that we all have things we are good at and things we need help with. If we all pitch in and help with the things we are good at, all the work is easier. We can all do our part. Coming to church is more than an obligation or just something that we do. It is an opportunity to worship God and hear from God. God wants to have a relationship with YOU and wants to meet you in many ways, including church. Come and also connect with others. Be encouraged. Encourage others. Be part of a viable body. Come and join us this Sunday and bring someone with you! Rev. Jenni Piatt  Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ!Once again, it is the time of year when we consider our financial commitment to the Christ First UMC. For some of us, this is just what we do and you will do what you did last year. Others may throw this letter away without reading any further. Still, others may put it in a pile to be lost or discarded at some point in the future. (Please Don’t!) Christ First UMC has had some significant changes in 2022 and 2023 looks exciting! The Finance Team, Staff Pastor-Parish Relations Committee, and the Advisory Council are all working to reduce expenses, right size staffing, increase mission and ministry, and increase income. All of this takes time and effort. All of this takes YOU! Personally, I have five initial goals for the coming year: 1) Continue building our children’s ministry, which has already begun with the addition of two new classes and upgrades to our nursery. 2) Get to know our neighbors and make a difference in their lives. 3) Build our adult ministries and develop small groups for accountability and learning. 4) Continue supporting the conference by paying our shared ministries at 100%. 5) Meet our budget through the generosity of our members and constituents with no more funds drawn from our endowments. All of this takes money. As the leadership and staff of the church work to reduce expenses, we need you to increase income. Everyone can do something and many of us can do more. I am asking you to seriously consider what God is asking you to give to support and grow the ministries of Christ First UMC. Please fill out the pledge card located on the back page of the newsletter and bring it to church on October 9, 2022. If you cannot attend, please return your pledge card to the church office before that date. In Generosity and Gratitude, Rev. Jenni Piatt   Getting Started!
Luke 10:1 tells us, “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go”. This was a great verse for our first Sunday together. Even though it might be a bit daunting to go where we do not know and give up control over what is familiar and comfortable, we can trust that Jesus knows what is best. Now is the time to trust Jesus to lead us “to where he is about it go”. If this is truly what we want to do, it demands a closer look. This is the first verse in chapter 10 and it begins with “After this”. That begs the question: After what? In chapter 9, Jesus sent out the first twelve disciples, feeds the five thousand, heals a demon-possessed boy, is transfigured on the mountain, and predicts his death. The disciples had seen a lot and Peter declared that Jesus was the Messiah. At the end of the chapter, Jesus lets them know that all of this is amazing stuff, but it is not easy. Following Jesus is not comfortable and following must be first priority. He ends with, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God”. Then, “after this”, the seventy-two were sent out. What does this mean for us? First, it is an important reminder that answering the call of God is amazing and exciting, but it is not easy. Second, it requires “all hands-on deck.” There is something for everyone to do. Lastly, it reminds us that once we determine to go where Jesus is about to go, we cannot look back. Our mission is to “Make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world”. We are committed to doing this by reaching all people and showing God’s love to them, nurturing them in their growth in relationship to God, and helping them to do their part in ministering God’s love to the world. As we travel on this journey, let us remember to walk together and keep each other in our prayers. Pastor Jenni Piatt  Getting To Know You!
As I sit at my desk and begin to write, I am aware that I do not know you yet. One of the first things that I learned as a speaker is that we need to know our audience. Since I have not had the honor and privilege of meeting you, I am very mindful that each of you is unique and each of you has a story to tell. I look forward to hearing your story and telling you mine. In the words of a great writer, “Ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” (Paul, Ephesians 1:15–23) I am committed to praying Paul’s prayer for you and I ask that you would pray the same for me. We are all in ministry together and we will accomplish the great plan that God has for us, if we work together as the Body of Christ. I look forward to meeting and getting to know each of you! In Christ’s service together, Pastor Jenni Piatt |
AuthorRev. Susan Hadley Archives
May 2023
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