Mid-April Update

Author: Mark Fenstermacher
April 16, 2021

Dear Friends at First,

This morning I began my day talking with a farmer about planting soybeans. He told me that some seeds are designed for a short growing season and some are intended for a longer season. Sometimes the soybeans that take longer to germinate and mature are actually very high quality.

I share that with you because I think there is a lesson in this for us: some of us come to faith quickly and for others it takes more time for our faith to fully form. Have hope—don’t give up if your soul life is sometimes a struggle. Paul, in Ephesians 2:5, reminds us how God “even when we were dead in our trespasses” made us “alive together with Christ.”

Here are some things we would like you to know:

• The Walk: We’ve just finished a series called “The Walk.” What one spiritual practice have you made a part of your daily life so you can grow in Christ and change your world?
• Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: How does letting God’s love into your life help you grow into emotionally healthy spirituality? Join us for the current sermon series!
• Bibles to preschool students: Last month our church—because of the generosity of our Gifts & Memorials Committee—gave approximately 110 Bibles to the children in our School of Early Learning. Each family also received a sheet helping parents know how to read the Bible to/with their children.
• Meals on Wednesday nights: Our Wednesday night food ministry has grown from less than a hundred meals given away weekly to well over two hundred! In the last month we have given away over 1,000 meals to the people of Auburn and DeKalb County!
• Easter Sunday: more than 250 people worshipped in person on Easter while many others continued to join us online.
• Opportunities for You to Serve & Grow & Connect: people who are part of a serving team often discover what a blessing that is as they serve God and connect with others. Sign up to join one of our teams in:

• Welcoming people on Sunday morning (ushers and greeters)
• Staffing the sound and light booth for worship
• Changing lives and shaping the future through our Sunday School outreach
• Resourcing our office team and welcoming people as office support

• Our financial condition is good.
• The Trustees have approved a plan to upgrade lighting and sound in the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall. You should be able to see and hear better, and our online worship production can be more creative.

Staff News:

• Pastor Nikki gave birth to Caleb this past week, and everyone is good!
• Pastor Steve Connor, who has served as Lead Pastor at Covenant UMC and Taylor Chapel UMC, will be serving as a part-time pastor for us during Pastor Nikki’s maternity leave. Steve will be available for pastoral care emergencies when needed, help lead worship, and preach one weekend during his eight weeks with us. Steve and his wife, Jada, live on the northside of Fort Wayne.
• Katie Pfister, Director of the School of Early Learning, has resigned effective the end of this school year to be a full-time “stay at home” Mom. A search for an outstanding leader to continue this great outreach ministry of the church is underway!
• Linda Hirschfield has joined our staff as Director of Finance & Administration. She’ll work with Finance, Endowment and other administrative teams here.
• Lindsey Miller’s responsibilities have shifted and she is now Director of Communications & Media.

Finally, two things. First, pray that our congregation—and we, individually—would be a source of healing in our world, helping lead the way in addressing the virus of racism in all the forms it may take. Second, someone asked me this morning how long I anticipate serving here at First United Methodist. The initial agreement was one-year, but I have been appointed to serve as your Lead Pastor through June of 2022. I am blessed to share your life and join you in living out the Good News of God’s love in Jesus Christ for the whole world!

Grace and peace,
Pastor Mark Fenstermacher

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