A Note Of Welcome

Welcome Sarah Dukes, Director of Children’s Ministries (See the full article below) and Katie Heath, Contemporary Worship Leader (See the full article below)

Bowling's Alley

I officially became a “head banger” on May 23rd.  Now, most associate that term “headbanger” with hard rock music (ie, hard rock fans are sometimes called “head bangers”—a reference to shaking one’s head back and forth in time with the music in what appears to be a violent manner). My reference; however, is associated with me actually banging my head against my desk after reading a news article about a recently deceased rock and roll singer: Ronnie James Dio. You may never had heard of him.  I can remember watching  his videos in high school.  Even then I was jealous of his hip-long hair. Dio died on May 16th of cancer.  He was associated with “heavy metal” and various signs and symbols that go with the rock ‘n’ roll persona.  It was on May 23rd that I read an article about a specific church that made the news due to the fact that they announced they were going to boycott his funeral.  Pastor Fred Phelps asserted that Ronnie James Dio: “taught rebellion against God, in the form of glorifying atheism…Thank God for the dead brute.”  Personally, I thought that was a bit harsh (especially in light of the fact that Dio was never known to be an atheist and was apparently a very generous and good
natured man).

I wasn’t surprised to learn that Phelps was the pastor of the Westboro
Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas.  Phelps often makes anti-Semitic remarks, anti-Roman Catholic statements and the church itself has gained a “reputation” in recent years for picketing military funerals as idolatrous!  Their church website has gained attention with the domain name of: www.godhatesfags.com.  No: I’m not kidding.  (And let me be very clear here: Westboro does not speak for all Baptists; it is an independent congregation).
 
Are you now ready to bang your head against something?    …And if you
are getting angry—I say: “Good!”  Christians everywhere should be angered by the disrespectful, arrogant, condemning attitudes and actions of this church.  You see: this Bowling’s Alley is not about rock ‘n’ roll, Ronnie James Dio, Westboro church, or Pastor Phelps (though the conduct of the congregation mentioned has no doubt damaged the integrity of all believers—let’s not kid ourselves).  Me bringing this to your attention  is about us as believers being  judgmental.  Set aside your personal subject matters.  I am not addressing these topics/issues—I’m  addressing our attitude toward people.

John 3:17 tells us: “Jesus came into the world not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.”   I don’t believe it is my “role” to condemn any person (as a believer or as a pastor).  I may choose to speak against a certain behavior or lifestyle or idea, but I believe the ethic of Jesus is clearly that of embracing others despite what we may think of them (cf, John 8:11).   … And, really, this is what got even Jesus into trouble.  I  suppose when facing the religiosity of the Pharisees and the like he too was a “head banger.”

My desire as a pastor and as a follower of Jesus is simple: to share the grace and love of God.  Some may reject it, but all persons remain valuable to God.  That is what I want my life to be about. That is what I want my ministry to be about.  And I certainly want that to be the message and experience people have at FFUMC.  Let us all be resolved to that end.
 

John

Meet Our Director of Children's Ministries

My name is Sarah Dukes.  Many of you already know me and my family, Greg & Cadence.  We joined Franklin First UMC in August 2008.

In May 1997 I graduated from Elizabethtown Community College with an Associate of Applied Science in Business Management.  I moved to Bowling Green, KY that same month to complete my education at Western Kentucky University. In May 1999 I graduated from WKU with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing.  After graduation I moved to Franklin and went to work in Nashville, TN. For eight years I worked as a Sales Representative selling document solutions, equipment, and software.

My husband Greg and I just celebrated our 10 year anniversary!  Through-out our 10 years of marriage we have traveled the country, experienced amazing opportunities, worked hard, and enjoyed life.  Although, THE most wonderful experience was the birth of our daughter, Cadence Rebecca Dukes. She is the love/joy of our life. I am sure you have all seen her running around the Church.

My husband, Greg, works for the Kentucky State Police.  He is a Kentucky State Trooper and is currently assigned to the southern squad from the Bowling Green Post.  After our daughter was born, I left my job in Nashville and adopted a new work title known as “MOM”.

I am very excited about this new opportunity that God has placed in front of me.  It is not to be taken lightly but with great care and passion.  I do believe the Children are the future of Franklin First UMC and what an amazing group of kids we have.  Thank you!  

Meet Our New Contemporary Worship Leader: Katie Heath

Katie comes to us from Belmont Univer-sity, where she will graduate in May with a B.A. in Music. If you hear a song or two this summer that's unfamiliar, it might be because Katie is sharing one of her original worship songs with the congregation. Since writing her first song at the age of 15, Katie has worked with profes-sional Christian songwriters and producers in both the Nashville and Philadelphia areas. Katie feels a very strong call on her life towards church music ministry, and she is thrilled to have the opportunity to use her talents for God's glory at FFUMC. May will be an extremely busy month for Katie - close on the heels of gradua-tion is her wedding to Josh, her college sweet-heart. In their spare time, Katie and Josh enjoy watching movies, exploring new places and spending time with friends and family. They are very excited to become a part of the FFUMC family, and they can’t wait to meet you!

Katie will begin, officially, on Sunday, June 6th. She is currently volunteering at a church near the Belmont campus, but we hope to have Katie in both worship services on May 16 so you will have an opportunity to meet her.  Pray for Katie and Josh and for her in this new position.