PassWord
January 3, 2024
Dear PassWord People,
Cold this morning in Middletown. Farm Show week is almost upon us😊. Seriously, it is winter in Pennsylvania – cold is the norm. Currently, 27 degrees in our backyard.
So, I went to Hershey Medical Center yesterday to make a visit. And it was cold then, also. And I really wasn’t dressed well to be outside – I have yet to figure out what to do with winter since my daughter, Kate has informed me that no one under 60 wears stockings anymore. I have a drawer full of knee socks but most of them don’t work with my skirts, either. Kate implied that everyone just has bare legs now. I somehow don’t believe this. But I digress….
I go to Hershey Med and I am feeling …distressed. I don’t mind going to hospitals, understand. But there is a lot of walking involved and the worst of it is parking up on the hill and walking down to the main doors and then walking back up. I dread it. It is not fun in the summer but in the winter (with no stockings) it is cold. (Before covid I would always park in another garage and take the elevator down to the south entrance. They have since blocked that entrance off unless you are an employee, and I can no longer get in that way.) Anyway, I decide that today, I am going to use valet parking. Understand, normally, I am too cheap to use valet parking, and in fact except for a couple of times – for reasons I no longer remember – I never use valet parking. But yesterday I decided to splurge and ease the feeling of dread by going the easy route.
I leave my car with an attendant. Go in and do my visit. And return to the outside kiosk to await the return of my car. The valet kiosk is tucked into a corner, away from the wind and behind it is some sort of small office, that was radiating heat and I was just fine standing there out of the wind and with the residual office heat but some kindly, older gentleman who works as a valet says to me, “There is heat coming up over there.” and motions to what looks like a large metal plate in the sidewalk. So, of course, I get out of his way and move over there and onto the metal plate. And the next thing I know the skirt of my dress is flying sky high, like Marilyn Monroe in that famous picture – except I’m not Marilyn Monroe! For indeed there is heat coming out of that metal plate and now the world has seen more of Pastor Kim than they bargained for. The lady beside me on the metal plate is laughing to beat the band – the lady of course is wearing slacks – while I desperately try to hold things down and together. And then I start to think really bad thoughts, like that nice old man is really a dirty old man who had this all planned out. But honestly, given a little distance from the situation, I don’t think he thought about me wearing a dress and since he is a man, he has never had to deal with flying skirts.
The good thing is that when my new friend on the metal plate stopped laughing, she asked me how my holidays were. And since by this point, she had seen more of me than 99% of the rest of the world, I had no problem responding that my holidays were good and how were hers? I think I could write a book. And maybe someday I will😊. I’ll disguise all your names, but the stories will be true.
Sunday, we will be talking about Epiphany. A holy revealing (very unlike yesterday’s) for God, being God, uses many ways to make Himself known. I think what I like best about Epiphany is that when the wise men find the house where the Child, Jesus and his mother were, “they rejoiced with great joy”. When God shows up, how can you not rejoice? And the amazing thing – lots of amazing things here – is that God continues to reveal Himself to those who keep their eyes open. Come Sunday as we look at Matthew 2.
Wednesday Night Live Classes Being Offered
Starting January 8, 2025
Classes at 6:30
Supper at 5:45
GRIEFSHARE SPRING 2025: A new Grief Share group for spring 2025 starts Wednesday January 8, 2025 from 6:30-8:00 PM. This group meets for 13 sessions in Room 306. This is a comprehensive program that covers all aspects of grief recovery. The objective of this program is for each participant to find their new normal along with understanding everyone has different issues. Preregistration is recommended but not required. www.griefshare.org/groups/250213 or email fflury37@gmail.com. Led by Fred and Ann Flury.
ROUTE 39: An Old Testament Survey. We will cover the highlights of one Old Testament book in each class beginning with Genesis. Led by Pastor Jack Selcher.
GOSPEL-SHAPED WOMANHOOD: “Women struggle with questions about their value, purpose, belonging, and identity. In Sarah Rice’s “Gospel-Shaped Womanhood,” we will explore the need to lose ourselves in order to find our identity in Christ and how that transforms and changes us. Sarah takes us on a journey through Ephesians to discover what having a Jesus-centered identity really means. He alone is the only One with the power and authority to define us.”
Led by Amy Burghdorf
ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING: “Do you feel weighted down with worry? Does the uncertainty and chaos of life keep you up at night? Are irrational fears your constant companion? Could you just use some calm? As you follow the biblical prescription for anxiety—celebrating God’s goodness, asking for his help, leaving your concerns with him, and meditating on good things—you will learn how to experience God’s peace. This is a peace that “transcends all understanding” and will help you reframe the way you look at your fears.”
Led by Ruth Yanek.
MANLY MEN OF THE BIBLE: “A journey exploring the lives, lessons, and legacies of thirteen remarkable men from the Scriptures. This study is designed to inspire and challenge men (and women) to grow in these biblical heroes.”
Led by Mike Knaub
SERMON ON THE MOUNT: “This 12-week study examines the Sermon on the Mount passage by passage and helps readers apply Jesus’s words of wisdom in their daily lives.” Led by Pastor Kim
CRAFT CLASS: Bring your own handiwork or come and learn something new. Led by Peg Bryant and Katie Lewis
PICKLEBALL: Come and learn or come and play.
Led by Paula Schram and Tommi Nace
BANDS CLASS: Led by Dori Vargo and Paulette Fusselman
YOUTH GROUP: Middle school and high school students. Led by Ryan Long and Rose Shifler
CHILDREN’S CLASS: Kindergarten through 5th grade. Led by MaryBeth Rank and Makayla Detweiler
NURSERY: From birth through pre-school. Led by Autumn Howarth and Makenzie Hostetter.
The Gospel Alphabet (Take off on a Bible Adventure):
Join us in 2025 as we memorize scripture together. Every two weeks we will provide you with a new memory verse for us to learn as a congregation. We might even incorporate into worship some fun ways to remember scripture. These scriptures are alphabetized, meaning that the first letter of each one corresponds to the alphabet. Some of the scriptures are only part of a verse to make this more doable. Be sure to pick up your verses every two weeks and we will provide you with a ring to keep them handy.
Ready for your first verse?
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
Women's Ministries:
ATTENTION LADIES! Early registration for the Flourish Conference closes TODAY, January 3rd. The Church of God's Women's Ministries' Flourish Conference is March 7-9, 2025 and this year it will be in Chambersburg instead of Findlay, OH. You can go for the whole weekend or just for a day. Registration forms are available in the narthex or online at https://www.theflourishconference.org.
Annual Church Retreat:
Time to register for the All Church Retreat at Camp Yolijwa, Friday Jan. 31 - Sunday Feb. 2. Our theme this year is "Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread". Come join us for a time of relaxation & renewal. Whether you're an adult, youth or child there's something for everyone. Invite some of your friends to come along too. We will have times of worship, time to do fun things together and time to just hang out.
CALENDAR
Sunday, January 5. Worship services at 8:00 and 10:30 am. Today we look at Matthew 2:1-12. Administrative council installation at 10:30 service.
Sunday, January 5. 9:30. Season Four of “The Chosen”, continues in the chapel. All welcome.
Monday, January 6. 9:00 Exercise Class with Peg Bryant. All welcome.
Wednesday, January 8. New season of Wednesday Night Live begins.
Saturday, January 11. 8:00 JourneyMEN. All men welcome.
Thursday, January 18. 11:30 Seniors Alive!
Friday, January 31-February 2. Annual all-church Retreat at Camp YoliJwa - "Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread" . More information above.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Jimmy Abromitis
Megan Burghdorf
Tammy Frank
Karl Krodel, Jr.
Pastor Bill Reist
Unspoken
Enough. Eyes open? God is working. May we see Him. And may we rejoice.
Blessings,
Pastor Kim
Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/middletowncog/
Our Website: www.middletowncog.org
Dear PassWord People,
Cold this morning in Middletown. Farm Show week is almost upon us😊. Seriously, it is winter in Pennsylvania – cold is the norm. Currently, 27 degrees in our backyard.
So, I went to Hershey Medical Center yesterday to make a visit. And it was cold then, also. And I really wasn’t dressed well to be outside – I have yet to figure out what to do with winter since my daughter, Kate has informed me that no one under 60 wears stockings anymore. I have a drawer full of knee socks but most of them don’t work with my skirts, either. Kate implied that everyone just has bare legs now. I somehow don’t believe this. But I digress….
I go to Hershey Med and I am feeling …distressed. I don’t mind going to hospitals, understand. But there is a lot of walking involved and the worst of it is parking up on the hill and walking down to the main doors and then walking back up. I dread it. It is not fun in the summer but in the winter (with no stockings) it is cold. (Before covid I would always park in another garage and take the elevator down to the south entrance. They have since blocked that entrance off unless you are an employee, and I can no longer get in that way.) Anyway, I decide that today, I am going to use valet parking. Understand, normally, I am too cheap to use valet parking, and in fact except for a couple of times – for reasons I no longer remember – I never use valet parking. But yesterday I decided to splurge and ease the feeling of dread by going the easy route.
I leave my car with an attendant. Go in and do my visit. And return to the outside kiosk to await the return of my car. The valet kiosk is tucked into a corner, away from the wind and behind it is some sort of small office, that was radiating heat and I was just fine standing there out of the wind and with the residual office heat but some kindly, older gentleman who works as a valet says to me, “There is heat coming up over there.” and motions to what looks like a large metal plate in the sidewalk. So, of course, I get out of his way and move over there and onto the metal plate. And the next thing I know the skirt of my dress is flying sky high, like Marilyn Monroe in that famous picture – except I’m not Marilyn Monroe! For indeed there is heat coming out of that metal plate and now the world has seen more of Pastor Kim than they bargained for. The lady beside me on the metal plate is laughing to beat the band – the lady of course is wearing slacks – while I desperately try to hold things down and together. And then I start to think really bad thoughts, like that nice old man is really a dirty old man who had this all planned out. But honestly, given a little distance from the situation, I don’t think he thought about me wearing a dress and since he is a man, he has never had to deal with flying skirts.
The good thing is that when my new friend on the metal plate stopped laughing, she asked me how my holidays were. And since by this point, she had seen more of me than 99% of the rest of the world, I had no problem responding that my holidays were good and how were hers? I think I could write a book. And maybe someday I will😊. I’ll disguise all your names, but the stories will be true.
Sunday, we will be talking about Epiphany. A holy revealing (very unlike yesterday’s) for God, being God, uses many ways to make Himself known. I think what I like best about Epiphany is that when the wise men find the house where the Child, Jesus and his mother were, “they rejoiced with great joy”. When God shows up, how can you not rejoice? And the amazing thing – lots of amazing things here – is that God continues to reveal Himself to those who keep their eyes open. Come Sunday as we look at Matthew 2.
Wednesday Night Live Classes Being Offered
Starting January 8, 2025
Classes at 6:30
Supper at 5:45
GRIEFSHARE SPRING 2025: A new Grief Share group for spring 2025 starts Wednesday January 8, 2025 from 6:30-8:00 PM. This group meets for 13 sessions in Room 306. This is a comprehensive program that covers all aspects of grief recovery. The objective of this program is for each participant to find their new normal along with understanding everyone has different issues. Preregistration is recommended but not required. www.griefshare.org/groups/250213 or email fflury37@gmail.com. Led by Fred and Ann Flury.
ROUTE 39: An Old Testament Survey. We will cover the highlights of one Old Testament book in each class beginning with Genesis. Led by Pastor Jack Selcher.
GOSPEL-SHAPED WOMANHOOD: “Women struggle with questions about their value, purpose, belonging, and identity. In Sarah Rice’s “Gospel-Shaped Womanhood,” we will explore the need to lose ourselves in order to find our identity in Christ and how that transforms and changes us. Sarah takes us on a journey through Ephesians to discover what having a Jesus-centered identity really means. He alone is the only One with the power and authority to define us.”
Led by Amy Burghdorf
ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING: “Do you feel weighted down with worry? Does the uncertainty and chaos of life keep you up at night? Are irrational fears your constant companion? Could you just use some calm? As you follow the biblical prescription for anxiety—celebrating God’s goodness, asking for his help, leaving your concerns with him, and meditating on good things—you will learn how to experience God’s peace. This is a peace that “transcends all understanding” and will help you reframe the way you look at your fears.”
Led by Ruth Yanek.
MANLY MEN OF THE BIBLE: “A journey exploring the lives, lessons, and legacies of thirteen remarkable men from the Scriptures. This study is designed to inspire and challenge men (and women) to grow in these biblical heroes.”
Led by Mike Knaub
SERMON ON THE MOUNT: “This 12-week study examines the Sermon on the Mount passage by passage and helps readers apply Jesus’s words of wisdom in their daily lives.” Led by Pastor Kim
CRAFT CLASS: Bring your own handiwork or come and learn something new. Led by Peg Bryant and Katie Lewis
PICKLEBALL: Come and learn or come and play.
Led by Paula Schram and Tommi Nace
BANDS CLASS: Led by Dori Vargo and Paulette Fusselman
YOUTH GROUP: Middle school and high school students. Led by Ryan Long and Rose Shifler
CHILDREN’S CLASS: Kindergarten through 5th grade. Led by MaryBeth Rank and Makayla Detweiler
NURSERY: From birth through pre-school. Led by Autumn Howarth and Makenzie Hostetter.
The Gospel Alphabet (Take off on a Bible Adventure):
Join us in 2025 as we memorize scripture together. Every two weeks we will provide you with a new memory verse for us to learn as a congregation. We might even incorporate into worship some fun ways to remember scripture. These scriptures are alphabetized, meaning that the first letter of each one corresponds to the alphabet. Some of the scriptures are only part of a verse to make this more doable. Be sure to pick up your verses every two weeks and we will provide you with a ring to keep them handy.
Ready for your first verse?
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
Women's Ministries:
ATTENTION LADIES! Early registration for the Flourish Conference closes TODAY, January 3rd. The Church of God's Women's Ministries' Flourish Conference is March 7-9, 2025 and this year it will be in Chambersburg instead of Findlay, OH. You can go for the whole weekend or just for a day. Registration forms are available in the narthex or online at https://www.theflourishconference.org.
Annual Church Retreat:
Time to register for the All Church Retreat at Camp Yolijwa, Friday Jan. 31 - Sunday Feb. 2. Our theme this year is "Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread". Come join us for a time of relaxation & renewal. Whether you're an adult, youth or child there's something for everyone. Invite some of your friends to come along too. We will have times of worship, time to do fun things together and time to just hang out.
CALENDAR
Sunday, January 5. Worship services at 8:00 and 10:30 am. Today we look at Matthew 2:1-12. Administrative council installation at 10:30 service.
Sunday, January 5. 9:30. Season Four of “The Chosen”, continues in the chapel. All welcome.
Monday, January 6. 9:00 Exercise Class with Peg Bryant. All welcome.
Wednesday, January 8. New season of Wednesday Night Live begins.
Saturday, January 11. 8:00 JourneyMEN. All men welcome.
Thursday, January 18. 11:30 Seniors Alive!
Friday, January 31-February 2. Annual all-church Retreat at Camp YoliJwa - "Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread" . More information above.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Jimmy Abromitis
Megan Burghdorf
Tammy Frank
Karl Krodel, Jr.
Pastor Bill Reist
Unspoken
Enough. Eyes open? God is working. May we see Him. And may we rejoice.
Blessings,
Pastor Kim
Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/middletowncog/
Our Website: www.middletowncog.org