The Friday Five - 03.20.26
1. A Moms’ Small Group is starting at Milford First!
The first meeting will take place this Sunday following the first service. The group will meet from 10:15–11:15 a.m. in the Children’s Library, and childcare will be provided.
As a mom of two young children — Luke (2½) and Kendall (9 months) — I’ve found myself in a season of discerning where the Lord is calling me to be. As I navigate the daily joys and challenges of motherhood, I’ve felt a growing desire to connect with other mothers and share this journey together. Now feels like the perfect time to begin this meaningful ministry at Milford First, and I’m looking forward to building community with other moms as we grow in faith and motherhood side by side.
This group is designed to be flexible and will typically meet on the first and third Sundays following the first service, with occasional gatherings or fun activities on fifth Sundays. Because we are beginning during the Easter season, our initial schedule will look a little different. Our first meeting is this Sunday, with our second gathering on Sunday, March 29. There will be no meeting on Easter Sunday.
All moms are welcome — no matter what stage of motherhood you are in — and you are invited to join us anytime!
If you’re interested in trying or joining the group, please contact me at (513) 309-6586 or beurketfamily@gmail.com. I look forward to connecting with you in motherhood and faith!
Katie Beurket
Small Group Leader
2. Join Us for Holy Week at Milford First
Holy Week invites us to walk together through the sacred story of Jesus’ journey — from celebration and remembrance to reflection and resurrection hope. We invite you, your family, and your neighbors to join us as we gather for worship throughout this meaningful week.
Sunday, March 29 — Palm Sunday:
We begin Holy Week by celebrating Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Join us at our regular worship gathering times and locations as we prepare our hearts for the week ahead.
Thursday, April 2 — Maundy Thursday Worship:
We will gather for a joint Maundy Thursday service with Calvary UMC at 7:00 p.m. in the Milford First UMC Sanctuary. This meaningful service remembers Jesus’ last supper with his disciples and invites us into a time of reflection, communion, and prayer.
Friday, April 3 — Community Good Friday Worship:
Our community Good Friday service will be held in the Calvary UMC Sanctuary. This will be a come-and-go experience available anytime between 12:00–3:00 p.m., offering space for quiet reflection and prayer as we remember Christ’s sacrifice.
Sunday, April 5 — Easter Sunday Celebrations:
We celebrate the joy of resurrection together!
Sunrise Service at the River — 7:00 a.m.
Gather with us on the riverbed near the corner of Cash & Elm Streets as we welcome Easter morning together.Easter Worship Services
Join us again at our regular worship gathering times and locations, with special treats and fellowship between services as we celebrate the risen Christ.
Holy Week is a powerful reminder that hope is born through love, sacrifice, and new life. We hope you will join us for any — or all — of these meaningful gatherings as we journey together toward Easter.
Rev. Kenneth Stewart
Lead Pastor
3. Bake Sale & Pie Auction to Support Pikeville Mission Trip!
Another reminder to stick around right after church on March 29 — that’s Palm Sunday — and join us in the Great Hall for our Milford First Bake Sale & Pie Auction.
Here’s how it works: show up with your famous chocolate chunk cookies, homemade buckeyes, or everyone-needs-it sugar pie, and we’ll set everything up to be purchased or bid on. Be sure to come with a name for your baked goods and at least a brief description, especially for the bigger auction items.
If baking isn’t your thing but enjoying sweet treats definitely is, that’s OK too! Come with cash, Venmo, or a checkbook so you can claim some goodies for yourself.
And the best part? Also up for bidding are the participants going on the trip to Pikeville this summer. Just like we voted on the best chili last month, you can use your dollars to vote on who will get a pie in the face at the end of the event. Everyone wins — except maybe whoever “wins” a pie in the face.
All proceeds will go directly to our Pikeville mission. It is sure to be a fun afternoon, and we hope to see you there!
One more thing, there is still room on the trip for anyone interested in joining the Pikeville mission team this summer. Check out the video on the topic if you haven’t seen it already! If you’d like more information, email Corina!
Corina Atherton
Director of Family Ministries
4. A Testimonial on Fuel for Flight from Staff at Pattison Elementary
Earlier this week, Anne Kuhn, Director of Fuel for Flight, and I visited schools in the Milford School District to gather testimonials from staff about the impact of Fuel for Flight — Milford First’s ministry providing weekend food bags for children facing food insecurity in our community.
Because our role often ends once the bags are delivered, we wanted to hear directly from the people who see the impact firsthand each day. Speaking with school staff helps us truly gauge how this mission is affecting children across the district.
At Pattison Elementary, we spoke with Principal Rob Dunn and school secretary Kendra Bangert, who shared what they have witnessed through the program.
Click this link, or press the button below to watch their testimonial.
Don’t forget to spread the word about the Milford Meander on May 9, a scavenger hunt through historic Milford - all proceeds benefit Fuel For Flight. Share our Facebook event (find it here!), tell a friend, grab a yard sign, and come show up for children in Milford this May. Buy your tickets now!
5. Mission Sunday Worship Preview
This Sunday is Mission Sunday, our monthly opportunity to celebrate and engage with the ways our congregation participates in God’s work in the world. While Mission Sunday typically falls on the fifth Sunday of the month, we’ll gather this week to focus on mission ahead of Palm Sunday next week.
With Pastor Kenneth in St. Louis, this week’s worship will feature students from Wesley Campus Ministry at the University of Cincinnati sharing a message from their recent social justice trip in place of a typical sermon. Their reflections will give us a window into the work being done beyond our community and invite us to consider how God is calling us to serve.
We hope you’ll join us for this special Mission Sunday worship and engage with the stories and experiences these students bring!
