Did you invite someone to church today? God bless the mail carrier who delivers this newsletter. Cross Talk

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1 Address Service Requested PO Box 40 Sandyville, Ohio To Our Beloved Friend and/or Member: Did you invite someone to church today? God bless the mail carrier who delivers this newsletter. Cross Talk Address: 4796 Crossroads Road NE PO Box 40 Sandyville, Ohio Office Phone: Monthly Longform Newsletter for January 2019 Find back-issues online at Please join us on Sundays for Worship! Worship Service at 9:30 AM with Pastor Scott Anderson Find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Scott Anderson, Pastor Mary Drotleff, Secretary Susan Kaschak, Musician Joe and Melinda Farber, Custodians Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 9 AM-1 PM Closed Thursday and Friday

2 Cross Talk Longform Newsletter for January 2019 Back-Issues Available at A Special Message from the Pastor s Desk [But now, thus says the Lord] I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? (Isaiah43:19a) And the One who was seated on the throne said, See, I am making all things new. Also he said, Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true. (Revelation 21:5) Happy New Year! As the calendar starts anew, we make New Years Resolutions to start our lives anew. For example, we may look at ways to improve ourselves physically by resolving to diet (especially after Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year s Eve) or exercise. We may want to improve ourselves mentally by resolving to read more or by going back to school. We may see the beginning of a new year as a way of wiping the slate clean and starting over. We may resolve to break a bad habit, like smoking or drinking. We may make a greater effort in rekindling the romance in our marriage. As good as our intentions are in our resolutions, we realize from past experience, that somewhere during the year we are probably going to fail in these resolutions rather than succeed. Maybe it s through these past failures that we realize that we cannot do this on our own. Even if we get help from others, there is no guarantee for success, but we have, at least, increased our odds for success. Maybe, it is through these realizations, in humble failure, we come to the realization that we need someone greater than ourselves. We suddenly realize that we really need God for help in our lives. The good news is that God is there for us. We see this through the death and resurrection of Jesus. God gave His only Son out of love for the world. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God gives us more gifts, victories over sin, death, and the devil; victories we could never win on our own. By His Grace, God gives us salvation over own sins and failures. So then, if we are truly interested in making this a new year, rather than looking inward in making resolutions, maybe need to look outward by resolving to follow God. Our Sunday worship is a great place to start because it is here that we receive God s grace through Word and Sacrament. Once we receive this gift of grace from God, we are called to share that same grace with others. And through that giving, we are once again blessed and graced, so much so that we and our lives are renewed to give even more. You see, God is in the business of making things new. Jesus gives us a new commandment to love one another as Jesus loved us (John 13:34). Jesus creates a new relationship between God and us by giving us a new covenant in His body and blood (Luke 22:20: I Corinthians 11:25). We remember that promise of love every time we take the sacrament of Holy Communion. In the future, God gives us a promise of a new heaven, a new earth, and a new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1, 2). Even in the present, God gives us a new perspective in Him. As St. Paul writes, So, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! (II Corinthians 5:17). Martin Luther saw this new perspective each morning when he encouraged others to remember their baptism each day. Each morning is a shared experience based on the death and resurrection of Jesus. Each morning, from the death of sleep, we arise to a new life in a new day by the grace of God. So, this year, let us begin a new year made new by the grace of God. Let us begin this new year by reaffirming our personal commitment to God, whose words are trustworthy and true. Let us trust the One who says, not only in the New Testament, but also the Old Testament as well, See, I am making all things new. (Revelation 21:5; Isaiah 43:19) Yours in Christ, Pastor Scott

3 Announcements for the Start of the Month, cont d News breaks all the time during a month from our church! Find it anytime at THANK YOU FROM PASTOR SCOTT: Thank you to those who went Christmas Caroling. Thank you to everyone who went Christmas caroling on Sunday, December 9 th. Thank you for sharing the Christmas spirit through the gift of music to some of our members. Thank you to all for your time and talents. A big thank you to Janine Garber for all that you did that day and Janine and Michelle Ward for driving all of the carolers around. Thank you for the Christmas Cantata! Thanks to all who sang in our Christmas Cantata, Sing with the Angels. Your dedication is appreciated, especially considering that practices began in September. Thank you to Valerie Kuhns and Becky Bowman for providing the delicious refreshments afterwards. A special thank you to Susan Kaschak for her musical direction and insights to the cantata. Thank you everyone for sharing the gift of music for this musical event. Thank you to our outgoing church council members: Karen Broadwater, Max Lebold, and Chris Pontones. We appreciate your service as council members during a very difficult Thank you so much for all that you did through your service for Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. Thank you to our 2019 church council. Congratulations to our newly elected church council members: Jacob Schandel, Sally Nesselrode, and Tim Farber, and those willing to run for another term: Susan Lux, Jeff Ward, and Fred Drotleff. Thank you to those council members returning: Bill Bowman, Marilyn Mason, and Terri Wanner. Thank you to all for giving of your time and talent to God and the church. Congregational Plan. At our congregational meeting on December 16 th, a very preliminary plan was distributed to our congregation. This is the vision that church council is in the process of forming where we would like to be as a church in 5-10 years. We are currently in the process of gathering blessings and growing areas as well as identifying objectives and goals. Since this is a plan for the whole congregation, we are asking for your input. If you have any ideas that you would like to share please pass them on to Pastor Scott (in writing, either by paper or ). Thank you in advance. Sunday, January 6: The Day of Epiphany. We will have a special worship service on Sunday, January 6 as we celebrate the Day of Epiphany. Sunday, January 13: Church Council Installation. On our worship service on Sunday, January 13, we will officially install our church council members. January 18-25: The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The Week of prayer for Christian Unity is framed by two commemorations, the Confession of Peter (January 18) and the Conversion of Paul (January 25). We ask that you pray for Christian Unity during this time and to include this prayer in your daily prayers: God our Father, your Son Jesus prayed that his followers might be one. Make all Christians one with him as he is one with you, so that in peace and concord we may carry to the world the message of your love, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. The following Scriptures may be a help in your daily readings and devotionals: Isaiah 2:2-4; Psalm 133; Ephesians 4:1-6; John 17:1-26.

4 Announcements for the Start of the Month News breaks all the time during a month from our church! Find it anytime at PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS: Nancy Tolfo is home now. Please continue your prayers for her complete recovery. Mary Lou Cooper will be having cardiac surgery in a few months. Pray for Pastor Scott and his continued improvement. THANK YOU: I would like to express my thanks to everyone for the generous Christmas gift, the words of encouragement and appreciation for my work. May God bless you in the New Year and fill your hearts with the warmth of his love. Happy New Year! Mary D., Secretary A SPECIAL THANK YOU: I would like to thank the congregation for their generous Christmas gift, and the choir for the wonderful gifts they gave me at the Christmas cantata. All of the choir members attended many practices and worked hard work to make the cantata a success. Not only did they "Sing with the Angels", they also "Sang LIKE the Angels!!! I would also like to thank Jacob Schandel for all of his efforts to allow us to do podcasts of not only the pastor's sermons, but also the cantata and some of our choir songs. Last, but not least, I would like to thank Valerie Kuhns and Becky Bowman for the beautiful reception after the cantata. This has been a rough year for me, and I'm convinced that God is carrying me through each day with people who continually uplift me with their support and acts of love and kindness. God Bless all of you, and may 2019 be a Happy New Year! Susan Kaschak AmazonSmile: Please continue to use AmazonSmile throughout the year. Through this, without costing users any extra, it takes 0.5% of your purchase on eligible items (marked on their product page with the AmazonSmile logo) and gives back to our church. Try it out today by going to smile.amazon.com and searching for Shepherd of the Valley Evangelical Lutheran Church. MARK YOUR CALENDAR Sunday, January 6: The Day of Epiphany. We will have a special worship service on Sunday, January 6 as we celebrate the Day of Epiphany. Sunday, January 13: Church Council Installation. On our worship service on Sunday, January 13, we will officially install our church council members.

5 Announcements for the Start of the Month, cont d News breaks all the time during a month from our church! Find it anytime at CHOIR PRACTICE: Every Wednesday at 7:00 PM. SERVICES AVAILABLE :Our church s Media and Technology Committee has some exciting news! With the acceptance of a Thrivent Action Team grant, we have purchased loaner MP3 players as well as the accessories required to go with them so that we can lend them to our shut-ins and those who may be ill or hospitalized and cannot come to church. These MP3s will be loaded each week with the sermon and weekly Bible readings so that they can enjoy the Good News as if they got to be with us on Sunday to hear it. Additionally, we will be doing something brand new! In addition to distributing the sermon and weekly readings as an audio recording to our shut-ins, we will be delivering it online as a weekly podcast which we are calling the Shepherdcast! So, whether you are on the go and still want to catch the weekly sermon, are looking for a new church home, or would just simply like to hear the Good News brought to you in a weekly podcast, we hope you will check out the Shepherdcast! The sermon distribution to the shut-ins will begin soon after the first full episode of the Shepherdcast comes out. You can subscribe now to the Shepherdcast wherever you get your podcasts! You can learn more at

6 The Month at Shepherd of the Valley Our calendar of events is online at Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Epiphany New Years Day Office Open 9AM 1PM Office Open 9AM 1 PM Office Closed Shepherd s 12 Of Our Lord Communion Kitchen Bingo 3:30 PM Meal 4;30-5:30 PM Council Meeting 6:30 PM Refuge Of Hope 4:30PM 22 Newsletter Deadline Shepherd s Kitchen Fundraiser 4:00 PM? Assembly Angels 11:00 AM About Due Dates If you have an announcement to go into the Sunday bulletin, please have it to the church office by 10 AM on the Tuesday before. Unless it is a change of address announcement, it will be automatically posted to the website on the Latest News blog and go out with Cross Talk Online on Sunday morning. (Need to send something sooner digitally? Jacob Schandel at media@sotvchurch.com for help.) Newsletter items for the upcoming month are due to the church office by the third Monday of the month prior.

7 Other Dates and Information If it s a note from a friend or member, a birthday, or anything else, we have it here. Birthdays this Month Sunday Readings for This Month Council Members 1 Chris Pontones, Kirsten Wallace 3 Amber Ward 10 Dottie Scott 11 Jeff Hunter 12 Fred Drotleff 21 Pastor Roger Thompson 24 Jacob Schandel Anniversaries This Month Gary & Sharon Davis (1/10) Brian & Susan Lux (1/12) Did we miss your birthday or anniversary? Did we have the wrong date? We apologize! Please let the church office know, and we will fix it on our end! Special Messages for the Congregation Sunday January 6 Isaiah 60: 1-6 Psalm 72: 1-7, Ephesians 3: 1-12 Matthew 2: 1-12 Sunday January 13 Isaiah 43: 1-7 Psalm 29 Acts 8: Luke 3: 15-17, Sunday January 20 Isaiah 62: 1-5 Psalm 36: Corinthians 12: 1-11 John 2: 1-11 Sunday January 27 Nehemiah 8: 1-3, 5-6, 8-10 Psalm 19 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31a Luke 4: January 26, 2019 Italian Feast Shepher d Kitchen Fundraiser see flyer Susan Lux, President Jeff Ward, Vice President Jacob Schandel, Secretary Bill Bowman, Officer Fred Drotleff, Officer Tim Farber, Officer Marilyn Mason, Officer Sally Nesselrode, Officer Terri Wanner, Officer Please Remember the Shut-Ins We have members of our flock who are not able to attend our Worship Services on a regular basis. Please remember these members in your prayers and with your cards. Addresses can be obtained from the church office upon request. Church members living in assisted facilities: Canton Christian Home Carl Wanner Country Club Residential Campus Alexa Dazey Inn at Northwood Village Rose Orlando St. Lukes Lutheran Community Roberto Techi Church members living independently and/or with family: Guy & Joyce Aultman Debra Campbell

8 Worship Leaders for the Month If you are unable to come the day you are scheduled for, please notify the church office as soon as you can! January 6 Music Susan Kaschak Greeters/Ushers The Bowman Family Lay Reader Bill Bowman Communion Assistant Karen Broadwater Acolytes Jack Bowman Junior Communion Assistant Counters Jeff & Dan Altar Care Karen Broadwater January 13 Music Susan Kaschak Greeters/Ushers Iva Campana & Dottie Scott/Tim F & Jim H Lay Reader Janine Garber Communion Assistant Acolytes Jack Bowman Junior Communion Assistant Counters Brian & Mary Altar Care Karen Broadwater January 20 Music Susan Kaschak Greeters/Ushers Thelma Nixon& Cindy Sundheimer/Tim F Lay Reader Jennifer Crone Communion Assistant Acolytes Zoe Ward Junior Communion Assistant Counters Dan & Jeff Altar Care Karen Broadwater January 27 Music Susan Kaschak Greeters/Ushers The Dan Wanner Family Lay Reader Michelle Ward Communion Assistant Acolytes Zoe Ward Junior Communion Assistant Counters Michelle & Linda Altar Care Karen Broadwater

9 Council Minutes for November 2018 By council mandate, a backlog of minutes are available on the website. You can find them at Shepherd of The Valley Lutheran Church Council Minutes November 12, 2018 Members Present: Pastor Scott, Karen Broadwater, Bill Bowman, Fred Drotleff, Susa Lux, Marilyn Mason, Chris Pontones, Terri Wanner, Michelle Ward, Jeff Ward(via phone). Absent: Max Lebold. Meeting opened with prayer and devotion. Minutes from October reviewed. It was noted that for clarification purposes that Internet upgrade and Shepherd Cast are two different items. Fred Drotleff motioned to accept minutes Chris Pontones seconded; motion carried. Treasurer s Report. Members reviewed report. It was noted that there are some expenses that are carry over from previous month. The parking lot needs to be budgeted every three years so it can come out of the general fund. Marilyn Mason motioned to accept treasurer s report. Fred Drotleff seconded; motion carried. Lion s club asked if SOV wanted to be added to the community business phone book at a cost of $ Bill Bowman motioned to pay the fee so that SOV could be added to the phone directory. Chris Pontones seconded; motion carried. Thrivent As of 09/30/2018 : $74, // $61, Bills. None OLD BUSINESS Budget recommendations. Jeff Ward presented information and changes that will be needed for 2019 budget that were different form 2018 budget. The Pastor s continuing education(that will include Synod Assembly) and Faith and Family needs to have a budget even if there was not a bill submitted. The bottom line is that there needs to be more income generated in the form of giving. If here is an increase in giving, then there can be more money allotted to other areas. Terri Wanner motioned to accept the budget recommendations. Jeff Ward seconded. Motion carried. Council 2019 Members who have agreed to seek another term: Fred Drotleff, Susan Lux, Jeff Ward, Jacob Schandel. There are five members needed. Michelle Ward to continue to serve as treasurer. Elections to be held on December 16 and voting on 2019 budget. The 2019 Council members to be installed in January NEW BUSINESS Pastor s Health care. The amount is to remain the same Staff Christmas Bonus. Persons to be included are: Pastor, secretary, custodian, musician and treasurer. There will be green envelopes designated for this. At December meeting there will be discussion on the specifics of how the donations will be divided. Chris Pontones motioned to use formula of 20 percent plus 5 positions. Terri Wanner seconded; motion carried. Community Christmas Parade. Parade is scheduled for November 30 in Waynesburg at 6 pm. After discussion, members decided to pass on participation due to the short notice of the event. Christmas caroling. December 9 after worship and catechism class

10 Council Minutes for November 2018, cont d. By council mandate, a backlog of minutes are available on the website. You can find them at Poinsettia Orders. Need to decided where to get the poinsettias. Will contact florest for assistance. Committee Reports. Annual reports due by January 14, 2019 for the annual meeting on January 27. Clean out and Clean up. There are some items that are not being used(drum set, old furniture, stored items and touch up paint). After discussion, members felt that selling these items should be considered. Subject tabled. REPORTS Membership Report. Pastor is doing follow up with interested persons Evangelism and Outreach. Report submitted. Committee feels that it is important to be sure that SOV is known utilizing community sources. Financial Stewardship. No report Fellowship and Family Life. No report. Property. Report submitted. Parking lot is done. Worship and Music. No report Youth. Catechism classes are being held Technology. Report submitted. Pastor s Report. Report reviewed. Marilyn Mason motioned to accept report. Terri Wanner seconded; motion carried. Calendar. November 25 (decorating); December 2(First Sunday in Advent); December 16(choir cantata); December 30(worship leader to be determined) Fred Drotleff motioned to adjourn; members seconded. Respectfully submitted, Karen Broadwater, secretary.