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Tuesday, March 9 - Lenten Luncheon at the Newman Center
12:00 PM
222 Temple St., Fredonia - 4-H sewing (Deland Rm.)
4:00 PM to 5:15 PM
- Prayer Time (Deland Rm.)
6:00 PM
- Praise Team Practice
7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- SPRC MTG. (Deland Rm.)
7:00 PM
Wednesday, March 10 - Prayer Time (Deland Room)
7:00 AM
- Fredonia Place Study
3:30 PM
- Zumba Dance Fitness Class $6 (Comm. rm.)
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Community Room Downstairs
Thursday, March 11 - Bible Study led by Somporn (Deland Rm.)
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
- 4-H sewing (Deland Rm.)
4:00 PM to 5:15 PM
- Zumba Dance Fitness Class $6 (Comm. Rm.)
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Community Room downstairs - BUILDINGS & GROUNDS MTG. (W)
6:30 PM
- Choir Practice (Choir Rm.)
7:15 PM to 8:30 PM
Chancel Choir Room is downstairs
Saturday, March 13 - Spring ahead one hour tonight
- Unitarian Mtg. (35)
10:00 AM to 3:30 PM
- 4-H (Comm. Rm.)
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
- AAUW Program (Deland & Sanct.)
10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
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Staff
Rev. Matthew H. Stengel became a Licensed Local Pastor in 1986, was ordained in 1988, graduated from Colgate Rochester Divinity School, and has previously served United Methodist Churches in the Western NY Conference in Limestone, Medina, Marilla, and Macedon Center & South Perinton. He has been pastor of First UMC Fredonia since July, 2007.
Our ancient ancestors witnessed two battles, waged simultaneously. They had no control over either, and they watched them with awe. The first was the battle of light and darkness in the sky. They watched as Night swallowed up Day to a greater and greater extent, until in late December, Night had pushed as far as could be allowed. Then Day began the slow process of pushing Night back.
The second battle was the battle for the earth. This was a battle of Cold and Warm. Just at the time when Day began to turn the tide against Night, Cold was gaining a stronger and stronger grip on the earth. Warm did not begin to win until March. Then, as with the battle for the sky, the progress was maddeningly slow.
Science has reduced our awe, if not our aggravation, when it comes to these processes in the world around us – the cycles of the sun and the seasons. We can look at charts and graphs and be assured that by a certain date, the length of the day will be a certain number of hours, minutes, and even seconds. Our Christian faith has given us an assurance over our ancient ancestors, since we view the world and its processes as a creation of God, who is just and loving, and can be trusted to be consistent. We do not have to wonder whether Night will be stronger than Day this year, because we trust that God has ordered creation according to consistent principles.
However, we still have to live through these cycles and seasons, and they affect how we live. They remain powerful metaphors for life, and for the way God has intervened in life through the birth, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Jesus birth was the beginning of the victory in human lives of God’s grace over evil, just as the winter solstice begins the lengthening of days. Jesus’ resurrection is the “spring of souls” (to quote the hymn Christ the Lord Is Risen Today) which is the final victory over the “winter” of sin and death.
March finds us in between, in a period we call “Lent.” If winter is a metaphor for sin, then Lent is “late winter.” Just as we look forward to spring, we also look forward to Jesus’ victory over sin and death. However, just as the cold stubbornly continues to surround us outdoors, we continue to be immersed in our sin. We continue to fear death. In the physical world, we make preparations for spring, while still shoveling snow. In Lent, we recognize and prepare for Easter, while still recognizing and struggling with our sin.
As surely as spring will come, Jesus’ victory will come as well. Let us take time this Lent, from now through Easter on April 4th, to contemplate the battle of Love versus Evil in our world and in each of our lives. And let us prepare for the victory of Love, for the battle has already been won!
In Christ’s love,
Pastor Matt Stengel
Rev. Matthew H. Stengel became a Licensed Local Pastor in 1986, was ordained in 1988, graduated from Colgate Rochester Divinity School, and has previously served United Methodist Churches in the Western NY Conference in Limestone, Medina, Marilla, and Macedon Center & South Perinton. He has been pastor of First UMC Fredonia since July 2007.
Richard Ricker - Visitation Pastor/Pastor Emeritus I am an ordained elder in the Western New York Conference of the United Methodist Church. I retired July 1, 2004. I served as Interim Pastor from August 2006 to June 2007 at Fredonia First United Methodist Church. On March 15, 2009 I was consecrated as Pastor Emeritus and Visitation Pastor at Fredonia. When called, I am open to preaching in other churches in our community. I am confident that there are no small churches and no great preachers, only our great God! My focus and goal is to be an encourager in the Christian faith! At your convenience, please allow me the joy of hearing about your faith in Jesus Christ. Oh Yes! Amen! To God be all the glory!!!
Donald Modisher - Pastor Emeritus
Hi! My name is Tammy Zybert and I am usually the voice you will hear on the other end of the phone when you call the church office. I have been the Church Secretary here at First United Methodist Church of Fredonia since November 11, 2002. I am blessed to be a part of this church family and hope you will be blessed by us also!
 If you would like to get the monthly newsletter "The Twin Tower Tidings" by e-mail, please contact me at the church office 679-1513 or Tammy@FredoniaFirst.org and I will put you on our e-mailing list.
 God bless you and have a great day!
Tammy
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Chad has been with First UMC of Fredonia since 2003 and has been serving with multimedia since 2006. Currently, Chad is a Master's degree candidate at SUNY Fredonia working on his Master of Music. He lives in Fredonia with his wife Jessica.
Over the past 3 years, the multimedia ministry at FFUMC has grown. Our services combine a mixture of traditional and contemporary styles with integrated multimedia creating a hands-free worship environment. Beyond worship, the multimedia team works closely with the Communications Team to carry out our video ministry, broadcast services and church events on local cable, website design, and many other creative adventures.
The multimedia ministry is always looking for volunteers. No prior experience is necessary. We ask that our volunteers are flexible, willing to learn, and excited to do the work of the Lord. If this sounds like you--please contact Chad at chad@FredoniaFirst.org.
A Fredonia native, Hannah Petersen has studied at both Ithaca College and SUNY Fredonia. After establishing a career as a concert violist and studio teacher, she has returned to college to study voice and also plans to pursue a second calling in psychology upon completion of schooling. She first began attending Fredonia First around the age of ten, sitting in on choir rehearsals with her mother. The choir has been a second family throughout the years, and it is a pleasure to Hannah to return to church life in a position of leadership such as it is. Future goals include pursuing further degrees in music and psychology, establishing a career in early music performance, and perhaps... starting a childrens' choir for the church?
Casey R. Gray is currently a graduate student at the State University of New York College at Fredonia, pursuing the Master of Music Degree in Voice Performance as a student of Prof. Laurie Lasher Tramuta. In May 2009, he earned the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music: Voice, cum laude from Bethany College where he was a Voice student of Prof. David J. Rudari. He is a native of Wheeling, WV, a 2005 graduate of Wheeling Park High School, and is the son of Jeff and Cindy Gray. Mr. Gray was the Senior Fellow for Spring 2009, and served for four years as accompanist for the Bethany College Choir and studio accompanist to Prof. Rudari.
In the summer of 2008, as the recipient of the Benjamin Chandler Shaw Travel Award, Mr. Gray spent three weeks at the Schlern International Music Festival in Fie all Schilar, in the Tyrol region of Italy, where he appeared in a number of solo recitals and ensemble programs. He has appeared as the Tenor soloist in the Bethany College Choir performances of excerpts from Händel's Messiah; in Dubois' The Seven Last Words of Christ, and as the Defendant in Gilbert and Sullivan's Trial by Jury. He was a member of the College Choir Quartet and he appeared in two theatre productions at Bethany. Mr. Gray is a Bethany Kalon Scholar, Kalon Society member, a member of Alpha Phi Omega, and was the President and Vice President of Phi Chapter, Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity at Bethany. Also, he is a member and past President of Sigma Tau Epsilon, the Bethany College Honor Society in Music. He received a Circle of Vision Scholarship Award through the Bernard McDonough Foundation, a Bethany College Music Service Scholarship, and the George Hauptfuerhrer Award for excellence in Music.
In addition to his Music studies at Bethany, Mr. Gray was, for four years, the Organ Scholar/Assistant Organist, and a Choral member at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Wheeling, WV; and a two-year scholarship recipient to the Royal School of Church Music, New York. A former Piano student of Mrs. Yih-Ching Wang Schoolar, and former Organ student of Mr. Robert F. Troeger of Wheeling, West Virginia, he has accompanied numerous solo, choral, and musical theatre performances in the Upper Ohio Valley. Moreover, he has appeared as a Cantor for St. Joseph's Cathedral, Wheeling, as part of their live Saturday night mass broadcast. Mr. Gray continues to be active as an accompanist, as well as, a church musician. He is a member of the Fredonia State Opera Theatre and the Fredonia College Choir.
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