by Rev. Glen Miles, Senior Minister

I have a running joke with my wife. Often, she will ask me in the middle of the week, "What is your sermon about this Sunday?" I almost always answer, "Jesus." I then laugh my head off while she tries to remind me that I am not very funny and wonders out loud if I will ever grow up.

I crack myself up, and it is indeed a silly joke, but there is truth in my reply. Almost every sermon I have delivered is about Jesus or, in some way, inspired by his life and teaching. I love the way Jesus takes on the most critical issues of his day, ones that continue to resonate in our world and culture and pours himself into the moment. Sometimes he tells stories. A man once asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus answered by telling a story about some poor guy who was robbed, beaten up, and left by the side of the road to die. A church deacon came by, but he was too busy to stop. A preacher came by, and he had a sermon to deliver, so he hustled on past as well. The third person walking by was someone the person asking the question despised, maybe even hated. He stopped, cared for the man, took him to get medical help, and left his platinum American Express card with the emergency room nurse and said, "I'll pay for all of his medical bills."

Jesus pointedly asked the guy, "Who was the neighbor?" You already know the answer. We can almost see the guy who asked the question sheepishly looking down, drawing something in the dirt with the toe of his sandal, and finally saying, "The guy I hate is the neighbor." This is why I love Jesus. This is why I love preaching about Jesus. He constantly challenges me to get out of my prejudices and simplistic mindsets to see the world in a broader perspective, a heavenly perspective if you will, one where there are no invisible borders between nations. One that invites us to look in the eyes of every human we encounter and see within them the stamp of God's creative beauty.

In another story, Jesus tells about a shepherd who is missing one of a hundred sheep. The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine behind to go looking for the lost one. I love the story because it makes no sense. What kind of a shepherd does this? Not a successful one. Robert Capon says, "any Shepherd who makes a practice of leaving ninety-nine sheep to chase after a lost one quickly goes out of the sheep-ranching business." Jesus clearly does not have an MBA from Harvard.

The stories Jesus tells are about the ways of God. The stories are, as Capon says, "about the foolishness by which Grace raises the dead. They apply to no sensible process at all - only to the divine insanity that brings everything out of nothing."

Yes! Amen! Can I get a Hallelujah? You and I don't need a bookkeeping God making a list, checking it twice, trying to find who is naughty or nice. We need a God who cares about nothing more than raising you and me out of the hells we create for ourselves so that we can live in the fullness of Grace Itself.

 Oh, and by the way, my sermon this Sunday is about Jesus.

by Cydney Philbin, Governing Board Chair

The Governing Board is grateful for Rev. Glen Miles and First Community clergy and staff, as the church returns to a full complement of in-person worship services starting June 6. In addition to worship, there are many opportunities to engage in socializing with church friends and family. Attending these events is a great way to support the efforts of FC staff. The time has come to return to First Community.

Pam Shisler, chair of the Strategic Planning Team, presented Strategic Planning Trends and Data to the Governing Board on May 26. She summarized themes from the Appreciative Inquiry Meetings, and all-church survey, the community interviews, the local and national church trends, and the church visits summary. The Governing Board assisted the Planning Team by attending approximately twenty other churches in person or virtually and invited friends to attend First Community and review our website. The Governing Board discussed how our evaluators viewed First Community and how the church aspires to be. Alice Finley summarized all the concepts and ideas around four themes; Worship Experience, Missions, Community Engagement, and Diversity; yet another section of the Strategic Planning Team's data.

Governing Board members are pleased to see that the church financials continue to remain positive in a still less than average year. Executive Director of Operations Paul Anderson and Church Treasurer Jason Milligan, along with Liz Compton, Controller, continue to do an excellent job of balancing the budget while we return to expanded operations.

Click the button below to read updates regarding the new summer worship schedule, our updated COVID Ministry Plan, Sunday School and Childcare updates.

You are invited to join with First Community this summer in a variety of events and services. We hope you will join us! Listed below are the June and early July events. For a full list, please click here.

Join us for the Park With Pride Festival!

This celebration will take place in the parking lot at First Community North. Participants will be invited to decorate their car with Pride (kids are invited to decorate their bikes, wagons, and scooters).

The Chancel and Cambridge Choirs, featuring soloists from both choirs will present a Musical Theatre concert. The program will consist of music from Rent, Dear Evan Hanson, Wicked, and others.

We hope to see you for this fun family event complete with music (provided by the FC choir), food trucks, bounce house, and activities for adults and children!

2 pm - Join us at First Community, North under our big tent for a fun family friendly concert presented by string quartet Carpe Diem. Families should plan to bring your own chairs and blankets. We will supply music to be enjoyed by people of all ages and a delicious treat from Rita’s Italian Ice.

Register here so we are sure to have enough Rita’s for everyone

Young Adults are invited to join Rev. Sarah Kientz for dinner, community, and conversation. RSVP’s required to ensure enough food. RSVP for Dinner

Youth Ministry staff and leaders will host grades 6-12 for games and snacks before outdoor movies begin in the FC North parking lot. Younger siblings may attend if accompanied by a parent. Bring your own chair. In case of rain, we will move inside Grace Hall and wear masks. No RSVP required. Please email Rev. Sarah Kientz with questions.

"Hot Peanuts, Popcorn! Get Your Programs Here--Cotton Candy While It Lasts!"

Come enjoy a day at the ballpark with First Community and cheer on the Columbus Clippers! Game day is Sunday, June 27 at 2:05 pm. Seats will be grouped closely together while maintaining current COVID regulations. A bus will be provided for those who are interested in carpooling. We will meet at First Community, South at 1 pm and drive to the game from there. Sign-up here. Contact Robin Hood with questions.

American Religious History Online Program

Tuesdays at 8 pm, Beginning July 6

Led by Rev. Jim Long

Watch on FCchurch.com or on Facebook

Reverend Jim Long will present four lectures in July on American Religious Traditions. He will discuss the pluralistic religious history, theology, politics, and ethics of the immigrant and indigenous religions in our nation, as well as the relationship of church and state in our democratic society.

Camp Akita is “Making a Comeback” and we’re so excited to get campers back to Akita for summer camp! With additional safety and health measures in place this summer, including for camp check-ins and returns at North Campus, we could use your help to get our campers safely checked in and loaded on the buses to go down to camp.

Our check-in process will look very different this summer than from years past. We are hosting Akita Volunteer Training sessions in Grace Hall at North. More specifics of each volunteer opportunity will be explained, and we’ll distribute Volunteer shirts, which are a new style and color this year. Our Columbus staff will contact volunteers to schedule a session for you.

To sign-up to volunteer at one or more Akita check-ins or returns, click HERE.

Thank you for your continued support of Camp Akita and our summer ministry! For questions, please email Info@CampAkita.org or call

(614) 488-0681 ext. 113.

Updates on the blog this month from:

by Ralph Griffith, Chair of the Foundation Board

Despite the pandemic, the First Community Foundation has been active. The Board has met every month to oversee the investments, approve grants, and plan upcoming events for when in-person activities can resume safely.

The Foundation’s assets are managed by Johnson Investment Counsel and total almost $9.5m. The Foundation continues to experience strong investment returns in 2021 after returns of 10.6% in 2020. The Foundation’s Investment Committee meets with representatives of Johnson every quarter to review investment allocation, performance, and cash needs.

Contributions received total almost $30,000 so far this year. Many of these gifts have been memorials for loved ones or friends and gifts from Guilds or individuals to previously established funds. Additionally, we received bequests from the estate of Homer Mincy and Carolyn Copeland. We were recently notified that the Foundation is the recipient of a bequest to support the music ministry from the estate of Glen Tamplin. The Foundation and Church are very grateful for these generous gifts and the foresight of those who have included the Foundation in their estate plans.

The Foundation Board has approved $155,000 in grants thus far in 2021, almost all of which are to First Community Church programming and facilities. These grants include improvements to South for painting, carpeting, and flooring for the second floor and modifications to the Weist Room. Grants to Camp Akita include monies for a tent, COVID equipment, and replacement vehicles. A grant provided monies to replace an HVAC system at North. There was also a grant to First Community Village to support residents who have outlived their assets. These grants are possible due to the generosity of our donors.

The Foundation is pleased to sponsor the Welcome Back All-Church Barbecue on June 6 to kick off the Church’s summer activities.

Four families have stepped forward this year to create new funds in the Foundation, reflecting their passion for First Community’s ministries and its extensive missions. If you are interested in discussing a current or planned gift to the Foundation, please contact our Director Paul Anderson.

Click here to securely give online.

The Mary Evans Child Development Center is hiring for the position of Team Teacher. Please download the full job description below to learn more. Contact Leigh Anne Easterling, Director of Mary Evans Child Development Center, with questions or to share your resume.

The K-5 program at First Community is looking for a part-time coordinator. Work with our team to provide opportunities for elementary children to worship, serve and connect. Please download the complete job description below. Contact Julie Richards, Director of K-5 Ministry, with questions or to share your resume.

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Join our Achieving Your Career Success Group and find the career that best fits you. Our next session begins June 29 for three weeks at 6 pm lasting 90 minutes. Register here. Contact Robin Hood for more information.

We need you! Please consider donating blood at our next blood drive on June 15 from 10 am - 4 pm in Grace Hall, North.  You can register several ways.

Red Cross continues to test all blood donations for COVID-19 antibodies. You will receive your results within one to two weeks through your donor account on RedCrossBlood.org and through the Blood Donor App.

More Questions? Email April Howe

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