The Friday Five - 02.27.26

Mar 2

1. Calling All 2026 Graduates! Info Needed & Scholarship Application Now Available

Graduation season will be here before you know it, and preparations are already underway to honor our graduates this spring! Whether you’re graduating from high school, college, or completing post-graduate studies, if you’re part of the Milford First church family, we want to celebrate you. This includes graduating seniors who are members of Milford First or personally involved in the life of our church through worship, ministries, or programs. We’re putting together our list of graduates now, so please contact Corina Atherton to share your information.

Applications are now available for the Kelly Bynum Scholarship for high school seniors! Thanks to the generosity of her parents and Milford First members, Gary and Joyce Ertel, at least one $1,000 scholarship will be awarded annually in Kelly’s memory to graduating seniors based on the following criteria:

Student must be a member or an active participant of a MFUMC ministry
Student must be pursuing further education (post-secondary education, vocational training, etc.)
Student must have faced personal challenges and worked to overcome obstacles in their academic pursuits

Forms are available in the church office, on our Family Ministries webpage, or you can print out the PDF attached to this article. Scholarship applications are due by April 15th. Contact Corina Atherton with any questions.

Corina Atherton

2. Let’s Grow! Milford First’s Spring Seed Drive is Underway

Throughout the entire month, Milford First is collecting vegetable seeds for Jackson Area Ministries, or JAM for short. This simple but powerful ministry serves neighbors in under resourced communities, including low income families, senior citizens, and those living on fixed incomes, by providing seeds that allow them to grow their own fresh food.

This year, we are asking for donations of vegetable seeds to support JAM’s long standing gardening program. Since 1972, this ministry has helped increase both the quantity and quality of food available to the people they serve through seed distribution and education.

There is a lovely wooden cabinet in the Welcome Center near the Stitch-N-Fun display where you can drop off your seed donations any time you are at the church. Thank you in advance for helping plant hope!

"Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food." (Genesis 1:29 NRSV)

3. ‘Simply Give’ to Meijer this Month to Benefit Milford Miami Ministries

From now until March 28, you can help those in the Milford area experiencing hardship by purchasing a Meijer $10 Simply Give donation card from the Milford Meijer store at the register. The card allows Milford Miami Ministry to purchase food and baby items best suited for MMM clients. If you purchase a Simply Give donation card at Meijer on Saturday, March 7 or Saturday, March 21, Meijer will double match it, increasing the value of your donation from $10 to $30! Meijer will give your donation card directly to MMM on your behalf.

Mike Beurket

Milford Miami Ministries

https://meijercommunity.com/simply-give

4. Auditions Still Open for our Praise Band

We’re expanding our worship team in 2026!

Auditions are still open for vocalists and instrumentalists (drums, guitar, bass).

Those auditioning should have the ability to play/sing in time and in key while following the worship leader, have a passion for current praise & worship music, and have the time and willingness to practice and improve their skills. Experience singing or playing in a group is helpful but not required.

We will provide you with the music needed for your audition. Potential Praise Band members must be available for rehearsal (Wednesdays 7:15-8:45pm) and Sunday mornings 8-10:15am.

Currently our members are scheduled an average of two weeks per month.

To schedule your audition, please text Beth Reimer at (937) 875-3126

Beth Reimer

Praise Band Leader

5. Counterculture - A Recap

Last Sunday was a wrap on our Counterculture series. We were reminded in simple but powerful ways that generosity is spiritual, that Jesus speaks openly about our relationship with money, and that giving is one of the clearest expressions of our trust in God. All of that said- this conversation is not always easy!

We heard powerful testimonies from friends and church members Steve Rogers and Carol and J.C. Eckman, who shared their “why.” Their stories inspired us and opened the door for even more conversation. We then talked amongst each other and shared stories about our own relationship with giving. For some, generosity is about seeing the direct impact, watching resources turn into ministry, outreach, and lives changed. For others, it is about experiencing God’s faithfulness in return, discovering that you cannot outgive the One who first gave to us. For all of them, giving has been part of becoming the disciples Jesus calls us to be.

If you have not yet turned in an estimate of giving card, there is still time. You can submit your commitment in person or complete one through our website, linked in this article. We encourage you to prayerfully ask, “Lord, where do you want me to be in my giving?” and take your next faithful step.

Thank you for leaning into this conversation with courage and openness. This is how we grow.

Rev. Kenneth Stewart

Lead Pastor