Our Mission Statement
Navigating in a changing world
we step into the community with faith as Jesus followers.
Fall Church Fair Meeting
Join us for Holy Communion during Lent 2024
Monday March 18 at 3:30pm Apple Rehab Cromwell 156 Berlin Road
Thursday March 21 at 10:00am Heritage Commons Middletown 38 Boston Road
Monday March 18 at 3:30pm Apple Rehab Cromwell 156 Berlin Road
Thursday March 21 at 10:00am Heritage Commons Middletown 38 Boston Road
Bishop's District Day
Monday, March 25
6:00pm - Dinner with Bishop Bickerton
7:30pm - Rally with Bishop Bickerton
at the New Room Meriden campus
159 East Main Street, Meriden
7:30pm - Rally with Bishop Bickerton
at the New Room Meriden campus
159 East Main Street, Meriden
Lenten Letter from Bishop Bickerton
In the early days of the Christian movement, a deep devotion emerged around intentional practices of faith that would lead to spiritual renewal. It was out of that devotion that the season of Lent emerged: the setting aside of forty days, not including Sundays, as a time of spiritual preparation in order to rightly and significantly celebrate the annual observance of the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday.
This period of intentional sacrifice was focused not only on penitence and forgiveness, but also on reconciliation and restoration as a way of entering into a full relationship with God and one another. All of this was designed to remind Christians of the mercy, love, and forgiveness offered by God through Jesus Christ. In other words, Lent was an intentional season of renewal, restoration, and faith development.
As we enter into this Lenten season, the need for deep devotion, spiritual renewal, forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation is unquestioned. We enter this season shortly after a painful season of disaffiliation and separation. We enter this season shortly before the General Conference gathers to shape the future direction of our beloved United Methodist Church. We enter this season in the midst of an election year where politics seem to grow more toxic and polarizing with every passing day. We enter this season where the sin of racism, exclusion, and violence has grown not diminished.
Given these painful realities, we not only need this season of Lent, we need the disciplines and devotion this season calls us to remember.
In our United Methodist liturgy for Ash Wednesday, near the end of the service these words are spoken:
In the early days of the Christian movement, a deep devotion emerged around intentional practices of faith that would lead to spiritual renewal. It was out of that devotion that the season of Lent emerged: the setting aside of forty days, not including Sundays, as a time of spiritual preparation in order to rightly and significantly celebrate the annual observance of the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday.
This period of intentional sacrifice was focused not only on penitence and forgiveness, but also on reconciliation and restoration as a way of entering into a full relationship with God and one another. All of this was designed to remind Christians of the mercy, love, and forgiveness offered by God through Jesus Christ. In other words, Lent was an intentional season of renewal, restoration, and faith development.
As we enter into this Lenten season, the need for deep devotion, spiritual renewal, forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation is unquestioned. We enter this season shortly after a painful season of disaffiliation and separation. We enter this season shortly before the General Conference gathers to shape the future direction of our beloved United Methodist Church. We enter this season in the midst of an election year where politics seem to grow more toxic and polarizing with every passing day. We enter this season where the sin of racism, exclusion, and violence has grown not diminished.
Given these painful realities, we not only need this season of Lent, we need the disciplines and devotion this season calls us to remember.
In our United Methodist liturgy for Ash Wednesday, near the end of the service these words are spoken:
I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church,
to observe a holy Lent:
by self-examination and repentance;
by prayer, fasting, and self-denial;
and by reading and meditating on God’s Holy Word.
to observe a holy Lent:
by self-examination and repentance;
by prayer, fasting, and self-denial;
and by reading and meditating on God’s Holy Word.
That is my invitation to the people of The United Methodist Church as we enter this holy season of Lent. Use this time to pray for forgiveness and reconciliation. Discipline yourself to pray for healing in the midst of trauma, peace and direction at the upcoming General Conference, civility in upcoming elections, a clear pathway for dismantling racism, a resolve to open our arms in a posture that welcomes everyone into family of faith, and an end to violence that has spun out of control in every part of our world. Pray for a spirit that will reclaim, revive and renew not only our church but every heart that longs to be restored.
In her wonderful book, Circle of Grace, Jan Richardson shares this wonderful prayer for Ash Wednesday entitled, “Will You Meet Us”,
In her wonderful book, Circle of Grace, Jan Richardson shares this wonderful prayer for Ash Wednesday entitled, “Will You Meet Us”,
Will you meet us in the ashes,
will you meet us in the ache
and show your face with our sorrow
and offer us your word of grace:
That you are life within the dying,
that you abide within the dust,
that you are what survives the burning,
that you arise to make us new.
And in our aching, you are breathing;
And in our weeping you are here
within the hands that bear your blessing,
enfolding us within your love.
will you meet us in the ache
and show your face with our sorrow
and offer us your word of grace:
That you are life within the dying,
that you abide within the dust,
that you are what survives the burning,
that you arise to make us new.
And in our aching, you are breathing;
And in our weeping you are here
within the hands that bear your blessing,
enfolding us within your love.
May God bless you, and the church that we love, with a holy and renewing Lenten Season as we focus upon and await a glorious resurrection.
Amen.
Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton
President, Council of Bishops
The United Methodist Church
Amen.
Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton
President, Council of Bishops
The United Methodist Church
See All the New York Annual Conference current news including the Connecticut District at www.nyac.com
Church Home Building
First UMC Middletown brings God's transforming and healing message in the Bible to life through worship, service, spiritual growth, and fellowship in a growing community filled with open minds and hearts.
Our worship services are being held on Sundays, 10 AM, in-house and on the Zoom link above. Come and praise God with us through Bible messages, prayer and song! You are invited to our fellowship time immediately following Worship, with coffee and refreshments. Sunday school for children during worship. Convenient handicap access.
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First UMC Middletown is a safe and supportive place to grow in faith, no matter what your background. People new to exploring faith or reconsidering faith will find an environment in which they can encounter faith in Christian fellowship without pressure or judgment. Our Methodist traditions offer you a powerful way to grow in God with open minds and hearts.
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First UMC Middletown expresses our gratitude for God's love through service that helps us to share that love, and that teaches us how it grows in everyone's hearts. Our volunteer activities address very real needs at a personal, local and global level. We encourage people to find new ways to express their passions through joyful, faith-filled service.
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Let's connect!We look forward to you visiting and contacting us, and getting to know you! Contact us now or stop by one of our worship or fellowship events.
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