March Dear Friends,

Transcription

1 EMANUEL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 16 EASTERN RD. DOYLESTOWN, OH EMANUELUCC@OHIO.NET REV. GAYE SANTORO, PASTOR March 2016 A crowd showed up, Judas, the one from the Twelve, was in the lead. He came right up to Jesus to kiss him. Jesus said, Judas, you would betray the Son of Man with a kiss? When those with him saw what was happening, they said, Master, shall we fight? One of them took a swing at the Chief Priest s servant and cut off his right ear. Jesus said, Let them be. Even in this. Then, touching the servant s ear, he healed him. - Luke 22: Dear Friends, Last Wednesday evening twenty of us gathered for food, fellowship and reflection down in fellowship hall as we began our Lenten journey together. Lent for me has always been about reflection as Jesus did during his forty days in the wilderness. We reflect on our priorities. We reflect on our commitment to Christ and the cross. And we reflect on whether our thoughts, words and actions really represent what we say we value. This year we are reflecting on these things through the lens of Brene Brown s best-selling books. Brown challenges us to keep our hearts open and vulnerable. This is imperative because when we close our hearts to the pain of self-evaluation, we also close our hearts to the joy that comes with the final realization that we are indeed loved and cherished beyond our comprehension by the Creator. The Gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus in the final week leading up to his crucifixion, had opportunity to avoid his capture, humiliation and death on the cross, yet he remained steadfast, keeping his heart open and defenseless even as those around him were ready to take up arms. In was through his vulnerability that he showed us the way to the resurrection. I invite you to join Jesus (and us) on the journey of self-discovery each Wednesday evening & Sunday morning during the remainder of Lent as we travel to our final destination of celebration - Resurrection Sunday! May your journey through this holy season bring you closer to the one who gave his life to light our way to life eternal. Blessings, Pastor Gaye One Great Hour of Sharing offering will be taken Easter Sunday, March 27 th. It is part of our UCC Church Wider Missions. Through One Great Hour of Sharing, lives are literally changed. OGHS responds to disasters in the U.S. and globally. They provide clean water, food, medicines, shelter, education, and heath care. Ten years ago in Absarakee, Montana, the ranchers had a fire, a lot of them lost their homes and barns. A little UCC church in the community received support from One Great Hour of Sharing and the office of National Disaster Ministries. When the church gave to OGHS, they never dreamed they would one day be on the receiving end. OGHS responds to many disasters in the U.S.. Right now, the disaster team is in Flint, Michigan for the water crisis. They are supporting the works of a UCC Woodside Church to set up refilling stations in the church to make free, filtered water available to the community. Each donation no matter how large or small reveals our unity that in Christ Jesus we are one family. Please give it prayerful consideration.

2 CHURCH BUDGET PERFORMANCE JANUARY 2016 JANUARY Y-T-D BUDGET YTD ACTUAL vs. BUDGET Total Income $ 13, $ 13, $ 13, Total Expense 13, , , NET $ $ $ Andrea S. Sammons, Church Treasurer CONSISTORY MINUTES - January 12, 2016 Present: Pastor Gaye Santoro Carl Hummel, Helen Tritt, Harriet Neiser, Forrest Swain, Andrea Sammons, Jean Holden, Ralph Lengacher, Ernie Lyons, Cheri Nemes, Amy Wagner, Rachael Weigand Absent: Holly Poetter Secretary s Report was reviewed & accepted as corrected. Treasurer s Report was reviewed and accepted. Pastor s Report: discussed separation of Missions and Stewardship to be voted on by congregation at annual meeting as amendment H in the by-laws Old Business: Brad Kurtz accepted nomination to replace Jean Holden as Consistory member. New Business: - Out-of-date pew picture directories to be removed - Year-long planning calendar for Emanuel events handed out. Monthly meeting with pastor, secretary, and Christian Ed chairperson 1 st Tuesday morning of month to update and plan future events - Consistory/Elders retreat March 12, 2016 Standing Committees: Missions- - Starting to discuss 200 th church anniversary in Barberton Soup kitchen coffee pot & vacuum purchased with donation as well as $150 to other churches also volunteering at soup kitchen Christian Education- - Successful Polar Express program 35 people (4 saw church sign out front & came) - Beach Party Sunday, January 17 for all ages - Planning for Lent/Easter Property classrooms being painted, waterproofing is working, altar furniture moved from CIC room to downstairs classroom Pastoral Relations next meeting February 11 Elders, Evangelism, Music- No Report Respectfully submitted, Harriet Neiser, Secretary DATE ATTENDANCE TOTALS January 3, January 10, January 17, January 24, January 31, Total Attendance 383 Average weekly 77 Avg. attendance per week for the year 77 Missions - Thank you for your generous contributions to Blanket Sunday; $611 was collected. Our Doylestown food pantry box in overflowing! Thank you for your increased giving especially donations towards the Easter baskets. AWE (After Worship Eaters) will be gathering at Thano s, on 5th St in Barberton, on March 20. Please make your reservation with Jean Grigalunas by Thursday, March 17th. Over 50 Fellowship - There will be no Over 50 in March due to Easter. The Men's Fellowship Breakfast will be March 19th at Sweet Henrie s at 9am. The Choir will begin practicing after worship service. We are planning to sing in the months of April and June.

3 An Easter stewardship celebration By: David S. Bell Stewardship Corner Easter provides a great opportunity to celebrate stewardship. Why? Easter is one of the poignant displays of God s giving to us. We have a tremendous opportunity to respond to this gift by offering ourselves our prayers, presence, gifts, witness, and service to God. Some scholars might suggest that Easter is the defining moment of God s ceaseless ability to give. God gave Jesus, God s own son, who died on a cross for our sake yours and mine for the gift of everlasting life. Frankly, the Bible is sprinkled no saturated with stories of God s ability to give and give and give. The Creation Story, Noah and the Flood, the Ten Commandments, the Birth Narrative of Jesus, and the Woman at the Well are among a few of these biblical depictions of God giving to us throughout the generations. I believe that we have a responsibility and an opportunity during this season of Easter to remind people that we are called to share with God by sharing with one another the bounty of God s gifts in our own lives. However, consider what God might be calling you to give before you start reminding others of this responsibility or inviting them to consider this invitation. God might be calling you to spend more time with your children. God might be calling you to renew your own body through a retreat. God might be calling you to serve on a church work team. God might be calling you to invite a friend to church, or to volunteer at a homeless shelter, or to get out of debt, or to consider a major financial gift, or to reach out to a friend. If you re not sure where your opportunity lies, stay alert! I m confident that an opportunity to be a steward in the name of the One who died for us will arise along your Easter journey. Technology Committee Updates: The committee reviewed and discussed directory profiles from ServantKeeper. Each family will be presented with a printout of our records containing the family s current address, phone, , birthdates and anniversaries. Thank you to those who updated their records during the February 2 nd Sunday Social. Tom and Chris will be taking pictures, and Janel and Bob will hand out the profiles during our next two socials in March & April. Members can also send pictures in. They need to be in JPEG format. We also talked about digital methods of storage and file-sharing for the church office. Our current method of using Dropbox is running out of space, and it will cost the church $9.99 per month to increase the storage. Tom Blanar suggested we get an icloud drive for the office. He will install it and show us how to use it. It will replace Dropbox. We will also be able to back up the office computer on it automatically. It was also recommended that we purchase a backup bulb for the sanctuary projector. The Easter Egg hunt will follow the worship service on Palm Sunday, March 20. Bring your Easter basket. The hunt will be outside, weather permitting. The children are going to make planters out of recycled items on Earth Day in April. Please save the following items and give them to Helen Tritt- empty & clean half gallon cardboard juice or milk cartons, 2 liter pop bottles, egg cartons, and clay pots. DOYLESTOWN FOOD PANTRY REQUESTS: Peanut butter, jelly, cereal, spaghetti & sauce are needed to fill Easter baskets. Please place donations in marked box in narthex by March 13. Presenting an Eileen Moushey Audience Participation Murder Mystery Wake the Dead will be performed beginning at 6 pm on Saturday, March 12, at Emidio s Party center at 48 East Bath Rd. in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Tickets are $50 per person and include the show, a buffet dinner and beer and wine. There will also be a 50/50 raffle! Ticket sales will benefit the New Horizons Band of Summit and Stark Counties. For reservations, call Sandy Bee Lynn at This band supports our Arts Fest.

4 Written with love for Shirley: Shirley dear; it's time to go, The Savior gently said, It's time to leave this earthly realm, New life is just ahead, I'm taking you to paradise, You'll have the perfect place, Among my saints in glory, Safe and sound in Rick's embrace, Such beauty lies before her now, Her eyes can finally see, The wonders that await us all In heaven's majesty. What a blessing Shirley was to us, Throughout her earthly life, Devoted in her calling As a mother and a wife, Living with conviction through The good times and the bad, Her heart was full of gratitude, For everything she had. But now her journey is complete The daily struggle done, Her faith has stood the test of time And now her rest is won, Though tearfully we say goodbye, We thank the Lord above, For all the years we shared with her, We'll cherish all the love, Until the day our eyes meet hers, Upon that golden shore, Together then we'll share God's peace And joy forevermore. Poem written by: Karen Foster Family of Shirley Poetter Janine Gottwalt Marge La Roche Lucy Rich Brian Sammons Elden Tritt Family of Jim Baughman Family of Louie Kun Family of Mike Stoner Family of Spiros Vasilatos Family of Patricia Young Cheyenne Adams Paul Barnes Jim Baughman Bennett John & Vicky Bennett Tom Braman Claude Casey Bob Frase Margaret Fuller Gen Millie Gerak Nicole Hahn June Hardy Jeff Hill Paul Karina John Kiener Troy Kiener Cheri Lancaster Vicki Martin Matt & Julie Russ McCune George Moyer Lynnea Postek Joe Rohrig Joan Speicher Dick Tackett Kathy Toth Lisa Tripp Church World Services Blanket Sunday Offering - $611 was collected! Thank you children for your program. Thank you all for your generous contributions!

5 Church Office Hours Rev. Gaye Santoro, Pastor Tues. - Thursday: 10 am - 1 pm May Sweet, Secretary Tuesday - Thursday: 9 am - noon In case of an emergency, you may contact Rev. Santoro at home (330) SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Doylestown Pantry Items of the Month: Noodles, peanut butter, jelly Shoebox Items of the Month: Bar soap, Washcloths Communion American Legion breakfast 8AM 7 8 Consistory Consistory/ Elders Retreat 13 2nd Sunday Social Profile updates & pictures Flower orders due Missions Elders Technology * Newsletter Deadline Men s Breakfast Sweet Henrie s 9AM Easter Egg Hunt AWE - Thano s 27 OGHS offering SERVICE Sunday Schedule 9:15 am Adult Class 10:30 am Worship Nursery care available for ages 5 & under. Sunday School for children during worship. 1 Greg Foster 4 Paul Cordray Nancy Perry 5 Marge LaRoche 6 Donald Baker Lois Nedrow Kenny Sutton 7 Jill Sutton 8 Matthew Perry 11 Nathan Miller 18 Izzac Dean Randy Huckriede Geraldine Wagner 21 Melody King 22 Callie Weyand Claire Weyand 25 Bertha Himelrigh 27 Lisa Blythe 28 Corrinne Foster 29 Virginia McCallum 31 Micah Sutton 30 Jon & Sara Skuza Mark your calendars! Condensed Vacation Bible School weekend June 16-18, 2016 Hildegard's Farm is a spiritually green Vacation Bible School promoting sacramental respect and stewardship for God s Good Earth.

6 Liturgist March 6: Dave Poetter March 13: Ernie Lyons March 20: Karen Foster March 27: Bonnie Kurtz Acolyte March 6: Jillian Painting March 13: Micah Sutton March 20: Addison Painting March 27: Alexa Foster-Bishop PowerPoint March 6: Kristen Robison March 13: Chris Formet March 20: Tom Blanar March 27: Julie Huckriede Sunday School Teachers March 6: Holly Poetter March 13: Janel Baughman March 20: Carol Baker March 27: Greg Foster March 6: Betsy Painting March 13: Georgia Hummel March 20: Jean Holden March 27: Betsy Painting Revised Acolyte and Liturgist schedules will be mailed out. Please refer to this new calendar for the rest of Thanks! EMANUEL U.C.C. 16 Eastern Road Doylestown, OH «AddressBlock»