PassWord
February 14, 2025
Dear PassWord People,
Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you! It is a breezy day here in Middletown; the bamboo in my backyard is dancing. Winter here, in all her glory. Currently, 25 degrees in our backyard.
So, I got my hair trimmed this week. I can’t speak for all women but getting my hair cut is never fun. It is not the same kind of angst as the dentist understand, but it is still angst. And I avoid it. I had a hairdresser in a shop in town who seemed to understand my hair but that shop closed up and I don’t know where the hairdresser is now. A few times I had family cut my hair. Rose’s boyfriend is a barber and does a decent job. And my daughter, Kara can cut hair – like not officially cut hair, understand, but she has taught herself and can do the basics. The trouble with this is I love my kids and grandkids. And I want to continue loving them, even if I hate the hair they leave me with.
Anyway, back in November I forced myself to go to another local shop. And I tried to explain what I wanted, while also asking what they thought. After all, they are the experts, not me. And the lady that I was assigned to, though fairly young, seemed to understand and I ended up with hair I liked, which is not always the case. So, this time it was a no brainer to just return there. I had taken one of the shop’s cards and she had written her name down and so I called to make sure this was where she still worked. And she does! And so I just showed up one day hoping she was on the schedule. And she was! I think she actually remembered me. And she was not phased by the hearing aids and the whole deafness thing.
She cuts my hair and it is all good. I like it, or at least think I do. And everything is fine till I get home that night and actually start playing with it, and realizing it is not exactly how she first cut it, back in November. Or at least not how I remember it. So, I am ready to fix it but talk myself out of it, at least till I wash it and see what it looks like after that. Still, I stand in front of the bathroom mirror debating with myself. I think about all this. The scissors are right there in the bathroom closet, just waiting for me to grab. I just paid this lady a decent amount of money for her ability to cut my hair, and more, for her expertise. She is good at what she does and she does it obviously, with care. She is respectful of my feelings, my deafness, my wants and needs. It is to her advantage – and mine – to make me look good. And now, I’m going to mess with her creation. I’m going to lop off the parts I don’t like. And unlike Kara, I haven’t a clue how to actually do this. Basically, I end up asking the woman in the mirror, “What’s wrong with you?” and go to bed.
And really, that is the sum of 2 Corinthians, believe it or not. The Corinthians have been given an apostle who loves them, cares for them, has carried the message of Jesus to them, and feels a responsibility to watch over them spiritually. And he’s not even getting paid for it. He knows, because He has been empowered by God to know, what is best for them. And some of them, certainly not all of them, are finding reasons to criticize him instead of appreciating what he is doing for them. We finish out our study of 2 Corinthians this week – a down to earth letter from Paul to his congregation with things to teach us along the way. See you Sunday. And keep your hands off the scissors😊
Worship Song: Blessed Assurance - CityAlight
The Gospel Alphabet (Take off on a Bible Adventure):
In 2025 we are memorizing scripture together as a congregation. These scriptures are alphabetical meaning the first letter of each one corresponds to the alphabet. You can pick up the new verse to add to your ring from the basket in the narthex. \
D Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. - James 4:8a
ATTENTION LADIES! There's still time to register for the Church of God's Women's Ministries' Flourish Conference planned for March 7-9 at Grand Point Church in Chambersburg. 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.
Donations requested - From Makayla Detweiler: As part of my dental hygience school service project I'll be educating the residents of Paxton Street Ministries, a home for adults with intellectual disabilities on dental hygienc and providing them with essential dental supplies. I'm asking for your help in collecting the following items:
Soft-bristled toothbrushes
Denture cleaning tablets
Denture brushes
Tubes of toothpaste
Floss picks (bags)
These items can often be found at Dollar Tree or a local drug store. Any donations not used during the session will be left for future residents. Donations can be placed in the clear box labeled "Paxton Street Ministries Dental Drive" in the church narthex through March 9th.
Thank you for your generosity in supporting community dental health!
Community Dinner: A roast beef dinner will be served at Evangelical United Methodist Church, 157 E Water St., on Saturday Feb. 15 from 4:30-6:00pm. Cost is $13 for adults and $5 for children under 12. You can dine in or take out. Call (717) 944-6181 for more information.
CALENDAR
Saturday, February 8. 8:00 JourneyMEN's breakfast. Speaker is Pastor Corey Britcher from McClure's Gap Church of God.
Saturday, February 8. 5:30 Sweetheart Banquet. More information above.
Sunday, February 9. Worship services at 8:00 and 10:30 am. Today we look at 2 Corinthians 11-12.
Sunday, February 9. 9:30. Season Four of “The Chosen”, continues in the chapel. All welcome.
Monday, February 10. 9:00 Exercise Class with Peg Bryant. All welcome.
Tuesday/Wednesday February 11/12. 10:00 "What's Your Mission?" 5-week video study led by Linda Whiteman.
Wednesday, February 12. Wednesday Night Live, supper at 5:45 & classes at 6:30.
Thursday, February 20. 11:30 Seniors Alive!
Sunday, February 23. 8:00 and 10:30 services Camp Sunday
Wednesday, March 5. 6:00-7:30 Ash Wednesday service
PRAYER REQUESTS
Sunday, February 16. Worship services at 8:00 and 10:30 am. Today we look at 2 Corinthians 12:14-13:14.
Sunday, February 16. 9:30. Season Four of “The Chosen”, continues in the chapel. All welcome.
Monday, February 17. 9:00 Exercise Class with Peg Bryant. All welcome.
Tuesday/Wednesday February 18/19. 10:00 "What's Your Mission?" 5-week video study led by Linda Whiteman.
Wednesday, February 19. Wednesday Night Live, supper at 5:45 & classes at 6:30.
Thursday, February 20. 11:30 Seniors Alive!
Sunday, February 23. 8:00 and 10:30 services Camp Sunday
Wednesday, March 5. 6:00-7:30 Ash Wednesday service
Friday, March 7 - Sunday March 9. CGWM Women's Flourish Conference. More information above.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Jimmy Abromitis
Sherry Belton
Megan Burghdorf
Michael Clave
Jean Geist
Karl Krodel, Jr.
Linda Matio
Loretta Reigle
Pastor Bill Reist
Unspoken
Our condolences go out to Chuck Frank in the loss of his wife, Tammy Frank, Friday, February 7, 2025. Tammy’s service will be here at the First Church of God Middletown on Saturday, February 15. Visitation at 10:00, service at 11:00.
Our condolences to the family of Renee Byers. Renee went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, February 9th. Her services are today, February 14. Visitation at 11:00, service at 12:00.
Our condolences to the family of Donna Gibson. Donna went home to be with Jesus on Monday, February 10th.
Enough. May the wisdom of God and the love of Jesus abound in us this Valentine’s Day.
Blessings,
Pastor Kim
Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/middletowncog/
Our Website: www.middletowncog.org
Dear PassWord People,
Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you! It is a breezy day here in Middletown; the bamboo in my backyard is dancing. Winter here, in all her glory. Currently, 25 degrees in our backyard.
So, I got my hair trimmed this week. I can’t speak for all women but getting my hair cut is never fun. It is not the same kind of angst as the dentist understand, but it is still angst. And I avoid it. I had a hairdresser in a shop in town who seemed to understand my hair but that shop closed up and I don’t know where the hairdresser is now. A few times I had family cut my hair. Rose’s boyfriend is a barber and does a decent job. And my daughter, Kara can cut hair – like not officially cut hair, understand, but she has taught herself and can do the basics. The trouble with this is I love my kids and grandkids. And I want to continue loving them, even if I hate the hair they leave me with.
Anyway, back in November I forced myself to go to another local shop. And I tried to explain what I wanted, while also asking what they thought. After all, they are the experts, not me. And the lady that I was assigned to, though fairly young, seemed to understand and I ended up with hair I liked, which is not always the case. So, this time it was a no brainer to just return there. I had taken one of the shop’s cards and she had written her name down and so I called to make sure this was where she still worked. And she does! And so I just showed up one day hoping she was on the schedule. And she was! I think she actually remembered me. And she was not phased by the hearing aids and the whole deafness thing.
She cuts my hair and it is all good. I like it, or at least think I do. And everything is fine till I get home that night and actually start playing with it, and realizing it is not exactly how she first cut it, back in November. Or at least not how I remember it. So, I am ready to fix it but talk myself out of it, at least till I wash it and see what it looks like after that. Still, I stand in front of the bathroom mirror debating with myself. I think about all this. The scissors are right there in the bathroom closet, just waiting for me to grab. I just paid this lady a decent amount of money for her ability to cut my hair, and more, for her expertise. She is good at what she does and she does it obviously, with care. She is respectful of my feelings, my deafness, my wants and needs. It is to her advantage – and mine – to make me look good. And now, I’m going to mess with her creation. I’m going to lop off the parts I don’t like. And unlike Kara, I haven’t a clue how to actually do this. Basically, I end up asking the woman in the mirror, “What’s wrong with you?” and go to bed.
And really, that is the sum of 2 Corinthians, believe it or not. The Corinthians have been given an apostle who loves them, cares for them, has carried the message of Jesus to them, and feels a responsibility to watch over them spiritually. And he’s not even getting paid for it. He knows, because He has been empowered by God to know, what is best for them. And some of them, certainly not all of them, are finding reasons to criticize him instead of appreciating what he is doing for them. We finish out our study of 2 Corinthians this week – a down to earth letter from Paul to his congregation with things to teach us along the way. See you Sunday. And keep your hands off the scissors😊
Worship Song: Blessed Assurance - CityAlight
The Gospel Alphabet (Take off on a Bible Adventure):
In 2025 we are memorizing scripture together as a congregation. These scriptures are alphabetical meaning the first letter of each one corresponds to the alphabet. You can pick up the new verse to add to your ring from the basket in the narthex. \
D Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. - James 4:8a
ATTENTION LADIES! There's still time to register for the Church of God's Women's Ministries' Flourish Conference planned for March 7-9 at Grand Point Church in Chambersburg. 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.
Donations requested - From Makayla Detweiler: As part of my dental hygience school service project I'll be educating the residents of Paxton Street Ministries, a home for adults with intellectual disabilities on dental hygienc and providing them with essential dental supplies. I'm asking for your help in collecting the following items:
Soft-bristled toothbrushes
Denture cleaning tablets
Denture brushes
Tubes of toothpaste
Floss picks (bags)
These items can often be found at Dollar Tree or a local drug store. Any donations not used during the session will be left for future residents. Donations can be placed in the clear box labeled "Paxton Street Ministries Dental Drive" in the church narthex through March 9th.
Thank you for your generosity in supporting community dental health!
Community Dinner: A roast beef dinner will be served at Evangelical United Methodist Church, 157 E Water St., on Saturday Feb. 15 from 4:30-6:00pm. Cost is $13 for adults and $5 for children under 12. You can dine in or take out. Call (717) 944-6181 for more information.
CALENDAR
Saturday, February 8. 8:00 JourneyMEN's breakfast. Speaker is Pastor Corey Britcher from McClure's Gap Church of God.
Saturday, February 8. 5:30 Sweetheart Banquet. More information above.
Sunday, February 9. Worship services at 8:00 and 10:30 am. Today we look at 2 Corinthians 11-12.
Sunday, February 9. 9:30. Season Four of “The Chosen”, continues in the chapel. All welcome.
Monday, February 10. 9:00 Exercise Class with Peg Bryant. All welcome.
Tuesday/Wednesday February 11/12. 10:00 "What's Your Mission?" 5-week video study led by Linda Whiteman.
Wednesday, February 12. Wednesday Night Live, supper at 5:45 & classes at 6:30.
Thursday, February 20. 11:30 Seniors Alive!
Sunday, February 23. 8:00 and 10:30 services Camp Sunday
Wednesday, March 5. 6:00-7:30 Ash Wednesday service
PRAYER REQUESTS
Sunday, February 16. Worship services at 8:00 and 10:30 am. Today we look at 2 Corinthians 12:14-13:14.
Sunday, February 16. 9:30. Season Four of “The Chosen”, continues in the chapel. All welcome.
Monday, February 17. 9:00 Exercise Class with Peg Bryant. All welcome.
Tuesday/Wednesday February 18/19. 10:00 "What's Your Mission?" 5-week video study led by Linda Whiteman.
Wednesday, February 19. Wednesday Night Live, supper at 5:45 & classes at 6:30.
Thursday, February 20. 11:30 Seniors Alive!
Sunday, February 23. 8:00 and 10:30 services Camp Sunday
Wednesday, March 5. 6:00-7:30 Ash Wednesday service
Friday, March 7 - Sunday March 9. CGWM Women's Flourish Conference. More information above.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Jimmy Abromitis
Sherry Belton
Megan Burghdorf
Michael Clave
Jean Geist
Karl Krodel, Jr.
Linda Matio
Loretta Reigle
Pastor Bill Reist
Unspoken
Our condolences go out to Chuck Frank in the loss of his wife, Tammy Frank, Friday, February 7, 2025. Tammy’s service will be here at the First Church of God Middletown on Saturday, February 15. Visitation at 10:00, service at 11:00.
Our condolences to the family of Renee Byers. Renee went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, February 9th. Her services are today, February 14. Visitation at 11:00, service at 12:00.
Our condolences to the family of Donna Gibson. Donna went home to be with Jesus on Monday, February 10th.
Enough. May the wisdom of God and the love of Jesus abound in us this Valentine’s Day.
Blessings,
Pastor Kim
Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/middletowncog/
Our Website: www.middletowncog.org