Rejoice Voice. From the Pastor... o u r missio n To rejoice in, and share the good news of Jesus Christ

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1 Rejoice is a congregation of the ELCA January 2017 o u r missio n To rejoice in, and share the good news of Jesus Christ Rejoice Voice Rejoice! Lutheran Church 7855 Stow Road Hudson, OH pastor Mike Conklin pmconklin@rejoicelc.org contact R e j o i c e! fax parish nurse Mary Pat DeLambo mdelambo@laurellake.org c h u r c h c o u n c i l Jim Carr Dave Boehm Janet Juliano Monica Kreiberg George Arnold Connie Cichon Monte Peterson Jennifer Radel Mike Ramsey Chris Wisbar bulletin and newsletter Sunday Worship at Rejoice! Lutheran Church Sunday School: 9:00am Worship: 10:00am From the Pastor... The New Year is upon us! In 2017 we are going to revisit strategic planning. The two major reasons are that our lender, the Mission Investment Fund, is going to ask us to do this again and we just need to do this! In this culture of attending worship less and other activities pulling people away from ministry in the congregation more and more, we have to look at what our purpose and goals are as a congregation. If you are interested in serving on the Strategic Planning Team please speak with me and I will get you hooked up. I want to be clear that I am not going to lead this team but I will be part of the team. My commitment to Rejoice this year is to continue to work toward lay ownership of the ministry. In other words, members will need to step up and take leadership roles that I have often done in the past. My job description as pastor is changing and there needs to be strong lay leadership for Rejoice to move into the future. Rejoice is well known in the community as a congregation that serves others and is a leader in reaching out to those in need. Our benevolence giving in 2016 was at an all-time high. Many of you have spoken to me how you would like to see this continue. I agree. But once again, this will require commitment and dedication on the part of the members. Commitment and dedication needs to be taught and encouraged. I know this first hand by looking around at the agencies and organizations I serve on and see us rapidly aging with no one to pass the torch on to. The reality of the being a congregation in this day and age is not much different than what congregations have experienced in the past. There is a small group of people who basically pay the bills and do most of the work. The problem is that the pool of those people keeps shrinking. We need to change that direction at Rejoice. We need to say straight up, Your involvement matters and without it this place will cease to exist. Maybe you read about Epiphany Lutheran Church in Macedonia that was foreclosed on by their own church body, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. It isn t because there are not good people there. It is because there are not enough good people there. If you know me, I hate to talk about the numbers but I will talk about the numbers. While Rejoice is not a business that operates by the numbers, if we do not show the numbers to the Mission Investment Fund they will not continue to carry us. If we cannot produce the numbers we will continue to cut staff and programs until there is nothing left. We cannot be resigned to this fate as we look at other congregations facing the same problems. We cannot accept this new reality. Rejoice has been a leader in the past and we need to continue to lead. God is with us! Our Emmanuel has come into our world so we are not stuck in this Hot Mess. (Christmas Eve Sermon is on our website.) Peace, Pastor Mike

2 PAGE 2 R EJOIC E VOIC E Thank You! Thank you to everyone for their cards and gifts. Thank you to the congregation for the generous gift at the Christmas Eve Service. I am truly blessed to be at Rejoice. I look forward to 2017 being a year of change and growth at Rejoice with all your kind and generous support. Pastor Mike and Family Altar Flowers We want to share a change in how we will handle altar flowers in the new year. We will have several faux arrangements for the altar every Sunday, depending on the season. If anyone wants to sponsor a live floral arrangement, for any Sunday during the year, that option is available. Please contact Carla in the Rejoice office at least one week before the Sunday you would like to have them. Carla will order them and have an announcement in the bulletin. They will be ready for pickup by noon on the Saturday before. The family who requested the arrangement, will need to pick them up, pay for them at Acme in Hudson and deliver them to church before worship on Sunday. The reason for the change is the increasing difficulty to have volunteers to do the pick up and delivery throughout the year. As always, we welcome the dedications with flower arrangements. Thank you for your understanding. Chad Bryant Worship and Music Committee New Council Members Rejoice welcomes to the 2017 Church Council the new members elected at the 2016 Annual meeting. They are: Rob Clary, Scott Morgan and Jeanne Verser. We thank outgoing Council members: Jim Carr, Jen Radel and Chris Wisbar for their service. The installation of the new Council will be on Sunday, January 8 th. Coffee Maker Contributions Our commercial coffee maker in the kitchen has finally given up the ghost. In our preliminary research we are finding that a replacement will cost $250- $300. There will be a basket at the kitchen window for donations toward a replacement or you may put a contribution in the offering marked coffee maker. If anyone has any leads or contacts where we might get the best price, please let Michelle Conklin know. Auction Update Thank you to everyone who supported the youth pasta dinner and auction! We are very grateful to all those who contributed items for the auction as well as those that purchased items and dinner tickets. We raised $1,274 which will go toward expenses to attend the 2018 Gathering in Houston. Thank you everyone! Dinner for Eight Christmas Party Thank you to Matt and Monte Peterson for hosting the Dinner for Eight Christmas party! A great time was had by all in attendance, especially when some played basket head by attempting to throw balls into a net on Pastor Mike s head. We will begin our regular rotation of groups after the first of the year. New members are always welcome! Dinner for Eight is a great opportunity to get to know other Rejoice! members while enjoying a night out with good food. For more information or to join Dinner for Eight you may pick up an application at the Welcome Station or contact Michelle Conklin.

3 PAGE 3 REJOICE! VOICE From Community Wellness Coordinator, Mary Pat DeLambo, MEd, BSN, RN January 2017 Please contact me whenever I may be of assistance at address: mdelambo@laurellake.org or my cell phone Website: A new year is upon us and many of us look to make resolutions to start the year off right. Older adults may benefit from these resolution suggestions from Kendal At Home ( Improve Balance: Getting older doesn t have to mean decreasing stability during everyday activities. Getting exercise to strengthen your muscles is one strong way to start to improve your balance and prevent falls. Get a Good Night s Sleep: The foundation to good health is getting a good night s sleep. Goals like eating right and exercising more can be more difficult when your body is tired. Take an honest assessment of your sleeping habits. Fulfill a Dream: This year, do something for you and make one of your dreams a reality. Try Some Brain Games: You know what they say: Use it or lose it. When it comes to your health, working out your brain can be just as important as working out your body. Consistent brain stimulation improves memory and brain function and reduces the risk of cognitive diseases. Fit & Fall Proof I invite you to join me in a new class called Fit & Fall Proof that will be offered twice in January on January 4th and 18th at 1:00 PM at Christ Church Episcopal/ In March, the instructor will return to do a month long series. Reasons to Try Fit & FallProof More than 1 in 4 persons 65 and older fall every year. Falling once doubles your risk of falling again. One out of five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head injury. This class is designed to promote better strength, balance and mobility. The class will be taught by certified Personal Trainer and FallProof instructor Jill Rango. This class will be a combination of strengthening exercises and balance challenges designed to help each participant lead a healthier, more confident, and more active lifestyle. In order to participate in this class safely, you must be able to walk without an assistive device, be able to get out of a chair by yourself, and be in generally good health. Upcoming Events & Programs Blood Pressure Screening Sunday, January 22nd New for January! Fit & FallProof January 4th January 18th 1:00 PM Christ Church Episcopal 21 Aurora Street, Hudson FREE & instructor led Lunch & Learn 12:00 1:00 PM Christ Church Episcopal 21 Aurora Street Jan. 12, 2016 Posture! Dr. Bob Graves Hudson Chiropractic Programs at St. Mary Church: Contact Lori Joseph as schedules & fees may vary: ext. 233, ljoseph@stmaryhudson.cc Mondays 1:00 PM Fall Fit Tuesdays 1:00 PM Tai Chi Wednesdays 9:30 AM Yoga Fridays 11:30 AM Faithfully Fit Wednesday Evening Yoga 7:00 PM Hudson United Methodist Church

4 REJOICE! VOICE PAGE 4 Christian Unity Prayer Service and Luncheon scheduled for January 19, 2017 The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated each January. A worldwide observance, this week is also an important expression of ecumenical events at the local level. Hudson churches will join together on Thursday, January 19, 2017 at 10:00 AM to celebrate this annual event with a prayer service and luncheon. This interdenominational service will be held at Hudson United Methodist Church, located at 2600 Hudson-Aurora Rd. January Birthdays Each year, a Scripture verse is selected to set the theme for the week. For 2017, the theme is, "Reconciliation The Love of Christ Compels Us" (2 Corinthians 5:14-20). After the prayer service, ticket holders will be treated to a luncheon catered by Hudson s Restaurant. William Nagy Marybeth Willett Sharon Straka Marisa McLelland Sarah Tiemann Dana Bryant Charlie Binger Ellen Ackerman Jen Radel If you do not see your birthday or anniversary listed or it is incorrect, please help us update our info. Contact Carla Maurer at Our featured speaker after the luncheon is Judge Linda Teodosio. Judge Teodosio was elected to the Summit County Juvenile Court bench in She has received local, statewide and national recognition for her innovative programming and progressive approach to juvenile dispositions and rehabilitation. Her topic will be "Keeping the Faith through the Trials of Life". Ticket price is $14.00 per person and may be obtained from Carla Maurer or Ginny Pillsbury. Make checks for tickets payable to Rejoice. Reservation deadline is January 15, Thank you all for your cards, greetings and generous gifts this Christmas! The prayer service is open to all and does not require a ticket to attend. May God Bless you in the coming year! Carla Maurer November 2016 Financial Report 2016 INCOME: General Revenue Capital Revenue Total Income EXPENSES: General Expense Capital Expense Total Expenses VARIANCE Total Variance Benevolence Giving Nov Actual Nov Budget Nov Variance YTD Actual to Budget YTD Budget YTD Variance 2016 Budget to Budget $15, $4, $19, $14, $5, $19, $ $161, ($1,231.67) $51, ($349.70) $213, $158, $60, $218, $3, ($8,722.37) ($5,376.38) $173, $65, $238, $16, $5, $22, $16, $5, $21, $ $173, $47.42 $57, ($730.74) $230, $177, $57, $234, ($4,115.28) $ $4, $193, $62, $255, ($2,516.75) ($1,436.31) ($17,174.39) ($15,799.41) $ $ $5, $4, ($145.46) ($17,235.00) $1, $5,000.00

5 REJOICE! LUTHERAN CHURCH 7855 Stow Rd. Hudson, Ohio Phone: Fax: We re on the web! Thank You from the Fellowship Team Thank you to those who donated Christmas cookies for after services on December 18 th and Christmas Eve. We had lots of delicious choices. We are currently looking for volunteers to share goodies with us each S u n d a y m o r n - ing. Please consider v o l u n t e e r i n g f o r Rejoice s Sunday morning hospitality ministry. A sign up is located at the kitchen window. Paying it Forward Rejoice has been so blessed by many mission partners. Let us pay it forward to others who need our blessings! January s 3 rd Sunday of the month loose offering will be given to Lutheran Campus Ministries. Many thanks to those who contributed in December to the Rejoice Samaritan Fund. We collected $ Men s Group Rejoice Men s Group will meet at Perkin s restaurant on January 21 at 8:00 a.m. Please come out and join us for breakfast and conversation. Peace, Pastor Mike Acme Community Cashback The Acme Community Cash Back program ends on December 31 st. Please check your purses, drawers, kitchen counters, etc. for any receipts from September-December with a Community Cash Back amount listed at the bottom. Acme will donate 5% of the total Community Cash Back dollars turned in. Proceeds will go to the youth for expenses for the 2018 Gathering. Please have all receipts turned in by the middle of January. Thank you! Annual Rejoice! Chili Cook Off Mark your calendars and dust off your recipes for the annual Rejoice! Chili Cook Off on Saturday, January 28 th beginning at 5:00 pm. We ll have prizes for each category Traditional, Most Original, Vegetarian, Hot and Spicy. Tasters vote by dropping tickets (purchased for 5/$5) into the baskets of the recipes they like best. Those receiving the most tickets for each category are declared winner. This is always a fun filled evening and is also a fundraiser for youth attending the 2018 Gathering in Houston. Sign ups for entrants and for food (cornbread, drinks, etc.) will be at the Welcome Station after the first of the year. Teenage Mutant Jesus Praisers (Youth Group) Teenage Mutant Jesus Praisers will meet Thursday, January 26 th from 7-8:30 at the church. All youth in grades 6-12 are welcome to attend! Please bring a snack to share. We ll be working on Valentines for the residents at Hattie Larlham as a community service project. We will be co-hosting the Chili Cook Off on January 28 th. This will be a fundraiser for the 2018 Gathering. Those who will be working should let Mrs. Conklin know. Volunteers will need to arrive at 4:00 pm to set up and should stay after to help with clean up.