The Herald. Proclaiming the Good News in Lakewood and beyond. After School Arts Camp returns for fall

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1 AugustOctober 2013 Faith Lutheran Church The Herald Proclaiming the Good News in Lakewood and beyond Faith Mission Project Coming Up... AUGUST Free Community Meal Monday, August 12. Doors open at 5 p.m. The second Monday of each month. -- SEPTEMBER After School Arts Camp Wednesday, Sept. 4. First day of weekly camp for elementary school age kids. 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Faith. After School Arts Camp returns for fall Registration opens for second year of Faith arts camp for neighborhood kids Faith Lakewood s after school arts camp begins a new year on Wednesday, September 4. The camp is open to all students in grades K-5. Activities include painting, drawing, crafts, writing, photography and music and children are supervised by adult volunteers who have undergone background screening. Volunteers include retired teachers, a graphic designer, two former newspaper writers, a neighborhood resident and a grandparent of children in Lakewood schools. Artists from the community provide additional instruction and activities. The annual fee for participation is $10. Registration forms are available through the office at Faith or online at Enrollment is limited to 15 students. The camp opens at 3 p.m. each Wednesday that Lakewood Schools are in session. Activities wrap up by 5 p.m. Parents must pick their children up by 5:15 p.m. Children who are students at Hayes Elementary School meet volunteers after school and walk to Faith. Other children are dropped off at Faith by parents or grandparents. For more information, contact Faith s office at or by at office@faithlakewood.org. God s work. Our hands. Sunday, Sept. 8, worship, picnic and service work at Edgewater Park. 10:30 a.m. Faith Walk begins Sunday, Sept. 15, for K-High School. 9:30 a.m. at Faith. OCTOBER Pet memorial service 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, in Faith s chapel. A worship service remembering pets who have passed away. Trick or Treat night Thursday, Oct. 31. Stop by Faith for candy and refreshments; restrooms and a safe, well-lit place to take a break. AugustOctober 2013 The Herald Page 1

2 In our third year, mission opportunities abound As Faith moves into the third year of its renewed mission effort, watch for some exciting opportunities to support and participate in our ministries and nurture your faith as well. Here are some of things to look for over the next few months: Emphasis on service: Have you heard of Friend to Friend? Trials for Hope? Family Promise? Those are just a few of the ministries Faith folks are involved in. We ll bless them and invite others to join in. Connections to community: Whether it s helping to start a neighborhood group or an after-school dropin center for middle school students, we will continue to connect to people in the surrounding community. Faith Talk on Tuesdays: Thinking about God and life today -- sort of where faith meets life by engaging topics and issues through videos, books, art and music. The Herald Pastor Mark Rollenhagen pastor@faithlakewood.org Faith Walk for Kids: Equipped with a new curriculum, we will offer an engaging Sunday morning gathering for children in grades K-5, using art and the same scripture that we re focusing on in worship. Active in worship: Lighting candles, reading scripture and prayers, assisting with communion, greeting people as they arrive for worship there are opportunities for everyone. And our new Worship Team will make it easy to get involved. Varied music styles: We ve got folks who play a variety of instruments and we re looking for people who play drums and guitar. We re not going to mothball the pipe organ, but we do hope to infuse vibrant variety that offers a meaningful worship experience for all. New worship opportunity: On the second Wednesday of each month, beginning in September, Faith will offer a 30 to 40 minute worship service, with Holy Communion, followed by a light lunch sponsored by the Women of Faith. rediscover Faith: This October, Faith Lutheran Church turns 89. We ll invite friends past and present to celebrate and to look to the future and we ll ask for prayers and financial support for the mission ahead. You can find out more about these opportunities throughout this newsletter. God s Peace, Pastor Mark The Herald is the quarterly newsletter of Faith Lutheran Church / The Faith Mission Project, a faith community and mission effort of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Hilliard Road, Lakewood, OH Pastor: Mark Rollenhagen Office Administrator: Diane Bennett Music Director: Kent Cicerchi Custodian: Jim Knize Officers: Alex Verdova (president); Abbie Blocksom (vice president); Loxi Verdova (secretary); James Mattson (treasurer) Council members: Carl Bruns, David Blocksom, Louise DeBell, John Shumaker, Jeanette Weidlich. FAITH Keep up with what s happening at Faith Lutheran Church / The Faith Mission Project: Online Calendar, announcements, scripture reflections and other resources. On Facebook Like Faith to the latest updates posted to the Faith Facebook page. By Subscribe to This Faith Lakewood by sending a request to pastor@faithlakewood.org. AugustOctober 2013 The Herald Page 2

3 Worship Worship Services Every Sunday 10:30 a.m. Worship, with Holy Communion in the sanctuary. First Sundays (Sept. 1, Oct. 6) 2 p.m. Pets Are Welcome, with Holy Communion and blessing of pets and their people. In Fellowship Hall. Second Wednesdays (Sept. 11; Oct. 16) 11 a.m. Worship, with Holy Communion in chapel or sanctuary. Followed by a light lunch sponsored by the Women of Faith. Worshiping together on ELCA anniversary Sunday Faith is making plans to observe the 25th anniversary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America with two of its ELCA neighbors St. Thomas (Cleveland) and Trinity (Lakewood). Plans are being made for a joint, outdoor worship service in Edgewater Park on Sunday morning September 8. That s the day the ELCA designated as God s hands. Our work. Sunday, encouraging congregations to engage in a community service project that afternoon. Following worship, we ll enjoy lunch together. Some folks will help clean up the park. God s hands. Our work. Sunday September 8 Edgewater Park Others may choose to sand crosses to give to area hospital chaplains or stuff squares that will become part of mission quilts distributed worldwide by Lutheran World Relief. Many details are yet to be worked out, so stay tuned by checking out Faith s website, weekly s and worship bulletins or check in with the office. The ELCA was founded in 1988 in the merger of the American Lutheran Church, the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches, and the Lutheran Church in America. It now has about 4.8 million members in 10,500 congregations throughout the U.S. The theme for the anniversary is: Always being made new: 25 years together in Christ. Can you read, sing, smile or light a match? Special Services Sunday, Sept. 8 God s work. Our Hands, joint outdoor worship at Edgewater Park with St. Thomas (Cleveland) and Trinity (Lakewood). Saturday, Oct. 5 Pet memorial service, 5 p.m. in the chapel or sanctuary. Beginning in September, there will be more opportunities to help out in worship services at Faith. We re looking for more ushers / greeters so that we have a friendly face at every door. We re also looking for people to help prepare and serve communion, read prayers and scripture and, yes, light the candles. Music Director Kent Cicerchi is hopes to find more cantors for the liturgy and singers for the intergenerational choir, as well as musicians to offer occasional musical gifts in worship. Wonder what s involved? Worried about expectations? Relax. Pastor Rollenhagen is putting together an A to Z guide for all worship roles. On Saturday, August 24, you can learn more at a Worship Workshop. We ll gather from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. for a rundown on various worship roles. It s important for experienced worship assistants to attend to find out about a few new practices that will begin in September. WORSHIP WORKSHOP August 24 9 a.m.11 a.m. And folks considering getting involved can check things out, ask questions and decide where they think they might fit in. Following the workshop, a new lay-led Worship Team, led by Diane Bennett and Loxi Verdova, will begin scheduling worship assistants for the fall. Questions? Ask Pastor Rollenhagen or Diane or Loxi. AugustOctober 2013 The Herald Page 3

4 Explore Faith Walk resumes on September 15 Faith Walk (formerly known as Sunday School resumes at Faith on Sunday, September 15, at 9:30 a.m. Children in grades K-5 will gather for Faith Walk for Kids downstairs in Fellowship Hall. Leaders Joy Avallone, Louise DeBell, Alison Rollenhagen and Sue Schlessman will be using a new curriculum that emphasizes art and the same scripture readings that we will hear in worship that Sunday. Enjoy working with children? Check with one of the leaders as to how you can help. Middle and high school students meet with Pastor Rollenhagen upstairs in the youth room and occasionally at other times and places as we explore the Christian faith and a Lutheran view of the world. Adults gather for Faith Talk either in the chapel or downstairs in the Ada Doepker Lounge. Have little ones who are too young for Faith Walk? Bring em along. There s room to roam in both locations. Faith Talk: in the chapel, in a tavern Got questions? About God? About life? About church? About spirituality? Theology? Let s talk about it. Making sense of the world, faith and God is an essential part of our ministry. We offer a couple of weekday opportunities for adults to explore their faith and, maybe, wrestle with God a little bit. Faith a Tavern is a monthly Wednesday night Faith Talk - Tuesdays 1st & 2nd Tuesdays 7 p.m. gathering at a local pub. We might use the Faith Weekly post on Faith s website as a starting point, but it s an open conversation. Faith Talk at a Tavern will resume on Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. at a tavern to be determined. Faith a Tavern 2nd Wednesdays 7 p.m. Faith Talk on Tuesdays meets at 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month in the chapel at Faith, beginning Sept. 17. We ll consider everything from spiritual practices to rock music to the basics of Christianity and Lutheran theology. We ll also look things we all face at times: grief, illness, life transitions, financial concerns. Watch for a schedule for this fall to appear on the Faith website, weekly or Facebook. Explore your faith Faith Walk for Kids (beginning Sept. 15) 9:30 a.m. Sundays Grades K-5, focusing on Bible stories, scripture and art. Faith Walk for Teens (beginning Sept. 15) 9:30 a.m. Sundays Grades Exploration of Christian and Lutheran faith and belief through scripture and the church year. Faith Talk on Sundays (beginning Sept. 15) 9:30 a.m. Sundays Conversations on faith, theology and scripture led by Pastor Rollenhagen or Bible Study led by Lynn Schlessman. Check website and weekly note for current schedule. Faith Talk on Tuesdays (beginning Sept. 17) 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays in the chapel Conversations regarding faith and life, using videos, books, music. Led by Pastor Rollenhagen. Faith a Tavern (beginning Sept. 11) 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month Openended conversation over a beverage and a bite at an area pub. Check weekly for current location. AugustOctober 2013 The Herald Page 4

5 Opportunities to Serve Community Meal (Second Monday of each month : Aug. 12, Sept. 9, Oct. 14). From set up in the afternoon to cleanup up about 6 p.m. Contact David David at or dvid316cox.net. When I was in prison, you visited me. (Matthew 25:36) With these words Jesus invites us to seek him in a surprising place. Serve Program fosters friendships with people in prison Opportunity Friend to Friend A prison visitation ministry of Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry. By Lynn Schlessman Friend to Friend, a program of Community Re-Entry of Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry has enabled scores of volunteers to become friends with men and women who are in prison, visiting once a month and exchanging cards and letters. Men visit men at the Grafton Correctional Institution south of North Ridgeville and women visit women at the Northeast Pre- Release Center on East 30th near downtown Cleveland. A match between a prison resident and a volunteer is normally for two years or less and the volunteer can use the address of Friend to Friend to receive mail from the prison so that the home address is not used. Here is what one longtime volunteer who was moving out of the Cleveland area recently wrote to Steve Messner, the retired manager of the program: I wanted to thank you for allowing me to be a part of the Friend to Friend program. It really opened my eyes to our justice system, the incarcerated and their families. Although challenging at times, overall, I found my visits/matches to be very rewarding. I met a lot of great ladies!! And some nice correctional officers, too. If you are interested in learning more about Friend to Friend speak to Lynn Schlessman or call him at Or stop by the Sunday morning Bible Study at Faith on Sundays during August at 9 :30 a.m. in the Doepker Lounge and speak to him there. Lynn Schlessman, a member of Faith, is the coordinator to the Friend to Friend program. Find out more about Friend to Friend at: lutheranmetro.org/friend-to-friend.html Family Promise Furniture (third Saturday morning of each month Sept. 21, Oct. 19) Pick up donatons or deliver furniture to homeless families moving into stable housing. Contact JoAnn Dickey at or at joanndickey@gmail.com. Have an idea for a service project or looking for a way to live out your faith in service to others? Contact Bill Fink, one of Faith s service coordinators at or bfink06@yahoo.com. Help a child improve their reading Faith folks will again be helping out at our neighborhood elementary school this year by reading with children in Project MORE Mentoring in Ohio for Reading Excellence. Volunteer mentors spend 30 minutes reading with a student at Hayes Elementary School, one to four days a week, depending on availability. Reading sessions use easy-to follow materials and a training session is held at the beginning of the school year. Sessions are held just before or immediately after school. The school district does a criminal history background check on all volunteers, through a simple electronic finger-printing process at the board office. There is no charge to volunteers. If you re interested in helping out, ask one of the Faith folks who have volunteered over the past two years: Louise DeBell, Verna Fink, Jerry Hoegner or Pastor Rollenhagen. Application forms are available in the Faith office or on the table in the chapel. Hayes Project MORE coordinator Holly Bucci will match volunteers with students based on needs of the student and the availability of the mentor. AugustOctober 2013 The Herald Page 5

6 Weekly Monthly & special events this fall at Faith SUNDAYS Faith Walk/Talk, 9:30 am Worship, 10:30 am AA Group, 6 pm MONDAYS AA Group, 5:30 pm TUESDAYS Faith Talk, 7 pm (1st & 3rd begin Sept. 17) WEDNESDAYS Quilting, 9:30 am Bell choir practice, 1 pm Arts Camp, 3 pm (begin Sept. 4) Choir practice, 6:15 pm AA Group, 8 pm THURSDAYS AA Group, 7:30 pm FRIDAYS AA / Al-Anon, 7:30 pm AUGUST Saturday, August 17 Men s Breakfast, Café Stratos, 8:30 am Family Promise furniture, 9 am Sunday, August 18 Introduction to Faith, noon. Saturday, August 24 Worship Workshop, 9 am Saturday, August 31 Clothing Closet open, 10 am to noon SEPTEMBER Sunday, September 1 PAWS pet-friendly worship, 2 pm Monday, September 2 Labor Dayoffice closed Saturday, September 7 Lakewood Community Madison Park, 10 am Sunday, September 8 ELCA 25 th anniversary, joint worship, lunch, service projects at Edgewater Park AA, 6 pm Monday, September 9 Community meal, 5:30 pm AA, 5:30 pm Wednesday, September 11 Worship/Lunch, 11 am Sunday, September 15 Faith Walk/Talk resumes, 9:30 am Saturday, September 21 Men s Breakfast, Café Stratos, 8:30 am Family Promise furniture, 9 am Clothing Closet open, 10 am to noon OCTOBER Saturday, October 5 Pet memorial service, 5 pm Sunday, October 6 PAWS pet-friendly worship, 2 pm Sunday, October 13 rediscover Faith Sunday Meal after worship Monday, October 14 Community meal, 5:30 pm Thursday, October 31 Halloween Treats, refreshments Dusk. Birthdays and anniversaries are listed in this space in print editions and in digital editions sent directly to people who are part of the community of Faith Lakewood. AugustOctober 2013 The Herald Page 6

7 Help Wanted ART CAMP VOLUNTEERS Help out at After School Arts Camp. See Louise DeBell or Pastor Rollenhagen. BELL RINGERS For the bell choir. Practice at 1 p.m. on Wednesdays Contact Director Sue Schlessman at or sueschlessman@gmail.com CLOTHING CLOSET Help distribute free clothing Aug. 31 & Sept. 21. HANDY PEOPLE For volunteer home repairs, painting, etc. in Lakewood. Contact Bill Fink or Pastor Rollenhagen. MUSICIANSDrummer, guitarist, horns, flute players, others for worship. See Music Director Kent Cicerchi. Classified SINGERS Add your voice to Faith s multi-generational choir. Contact Music Director Kent Cicerchi. TABLE-SETTERS, SERVERS, DISHWASHERS For monthly community meal. Contact David David or the church office. Items Needed BIBLES For the Free Bibles in Fellowship Hall. Leave in collection box in the chapel. CLOTHING Clean, gentlyworn children s clothing for Faith Clothing Closet. Bring to church. FURNITURE To set-up new apartments for homeless families moving into stable housing. Contact Family Promise of Greater Cleveland at Thank You! The people of Faith are grateful for these generous recent contributors to the Faith Mission Fund. Thanks be to God! Frederick and Nancy DeBell, Baltimore, Md. In memory of Fred s mother and father, Marion and Frederick; in honor of his sister, Louise, and long-time friend Bill Fink; and in thanks to all parishioners of Faith past and present, especially those from the 1960s and 1970s Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Chicago. Mission support Good Samaritans, mission group from Knapp and Third Reformed Churches in Grand Rapids, Michigan Messiah Lutheran Church, Fairview Park. Mission partner. Support Faith Yes, I would like to help sustain Faith and its facilities as an important community asset to southwest Lakewood and beyond by making the following contribution: $ in honor of (Please make checks payable to Faith Lutheran Church and write Faith Mission Fund in the memo line. Your contribution is tax-deductible.) Name Address Phone FAITH L A K E W O O D It is OK to publish my name on a list of supporters Yes No G a t h e r. E x p l o r e. S e r v e. AugustOctober 2013 The Herald Page 7

8 rediscover FAITH Sunday, October 13 Worship at 10:30 a.m. Oktoberfest lunch at noon. Join us for worship or lunch or both. Support the renewed mission effort at Faith Lutheran Church, Lakewood, and celebrate the anniversary of its founding as a mission church on Oct. 13, Faith Lutheran Church The Faith Mission Project Hilliard Road Lakewood, OH AugustOctober 2013 The Herald Page 8