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

Transcription

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 February 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 February 2019 Back-Issues Available at A Special Message from the Pastor s Desk God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God in them. (I John 4:16b) In the month of February, we may think of various Presidents, especially George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, both of whom were born this month. As Lutherans, we may even think of Martin Luther whose heavenly birthday (the day of his death) is remembered on February 18. As a baseball fan, I get excited in February because spring training starts. In the midst of winter, there is hope that spring is not far behind (even when we experience a White Easter in Northeastern Ohio). However, maybe there is another day to remember, St. Valentine s Day, February 14. (Please consider this a public service announcement to all husbands out there.) This is a day in which we are reminded about love, especially with all the decorations of hearts found in any Hallmark store, florist, Target store, etc. However, even with these commercial reminders, we should not diminish the importance of love in our Christian faith. During this season of Epiphany, we heard those words from Isaiah 43, [Thus says the Lord,] you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you. Even in the midst of troubling times when we feel like we are drowning when the water is up to our necks (I have had it up to here, Lord see Psalm 69:1) or when we feel like we are getting burned, God is there in such times, loving us and protecting us. This loving presence of God is there in all times and in all places. This is the reminder of the name of the Christ child, Emmanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:22-23 and Isaiah 7:14), whose birth we just recently celebrated. Love was the basis for why this Jesus was born: For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish, but have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him (John 3:16-17). But, this love needs to be reciprocated; Jesus pointed out that out of all the laws in the Torah, the greatest commandments are as follows: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:37-40; Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18). This love is not to be held back or even qualified. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls us to even love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us (see Matthew 5:43-48). Radical words then and now! As Christians, we are called to an even greater love in following Jesus as his disciples to love one another as Jesus has first loved us (see John 13:34-35). Again, when we remember the love Jesus showed us on the cross, we stand in awe of how big a love that we need to share. We are called to love simply because love is the essence of God (see the quote from I John above). If we are to be Jesus disciples, we must begin by loving. So, during this February, when we see all of the hearts surrounding us, let us remember a greater love by making the sign of the cross (+). Yours in Christ, Pastor Scott

3 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 and Art Pontones as they continue healing. MaryLou Cooper is home now recovering from heart surgery. Robert Kuhns and Dan Mason for continued healing.continued prayers for Pastor Scott. 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. SEASON OF EPIPHANY: This year our service projects will co-inside with the seasons of our church. Epiphany is dedicated to Barney Bear Project. Fleece (of any kind), ribbon (of any kind) fiber fill, and postage stamps can all be donated through this season of epiphany. This mission project is being supported by a $ action grant received from Thrivent. Prayers do heal and we have witnessed that many times through this outreach. Thank you again to all. MARK YOUR CALENDAR FEBRUARY: Softball Signups! Check the calendar insert for days and times for the signups. This is a great program for the youth. MARCH: Wednesday, March 6: Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday occurs late in the calendar year in 2019, on Wednesday, March 6. We will have a special service that night at 7 PM. During our worship on Ash Wednesday, we will offer the imposition of ashes and Holy Communion. Please make plans to attend this significant and meaningful worship service in preparing your heart for this upcoming Lenten season. Peace Lutheran Church Fish Fry: Every Friday, starting March 8 April 12, 4:00-7:00pm, in the fellowship hall. Peace is located at 3828 Cleveland Ave. S. in the Canton South area. Get out and support our neighbor up the street!

4 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. UPDATE: The MP3s will be loaded each week with the sermon and weekly Bible readings so that our shut-ins and those who are ill or hospitalized can enjoy the Good News as if they got to be with us on Sunday to hear it. Check out online our 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! You can subscribe now to the Shepherdcast wherever you get your podcasts! You can learn more at

5 The Month at Shepherd of the Valley Our calendar of events is online at Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Communion Shepherd s Softball Kitchen Signups Bingo 3:30 PM 10:00 AM - Meal 4:30 PM Noon Council Meeting 6:30 PM Softball Signups 6 8 PM Softball Signups 10 AM 1 PM Valentines Day Refuge Of Hope 4:30 PM 19 Newsletter Deadline Softball Signups 6 8 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.

6 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 5 Darik Garber, Edna Navarra, Don Wohlin 6 Andrew & Matthew Neary, Don Pontones 13 Bill Bowman 16 Lisa Zastawny 17 Michelle Ward 21 Alexis Crone 23 Erika Crone 24 Morgan Murray 27 Pat Kovach Anniversaries This Month 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 Mark your calendars for early March: Sunday February 3 Jeremiah 1: 4-10 Psalm 71: Corinthians 13: 1-13 Luke 4: Sunday February 10 Isaiah 6: 1-13 Psalm Corinthians 15: 1-11 Luke 5: 1-11 Sunday February 17 Jeremiah 17: 5-10 Psalm 1 1 Corinthians 15: Luke 6: Sunday February 24 Genesis 45: 3-11, 15 Psalm 37: 1-11, Corinthians 15: 35-38, Luke 6: Wednesday, March 6: Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday occurs late in the calendar year in 2019, on Wednesday, March 6. We will have a special service that night at 7 PM. During our worship on Ash Wednesday, we will offer the imposition of ashes and Holy Communion. Please make plans to attend this significant and meaningful worship service in preparing your heart for this upcoming Lenten season. 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

7 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! February 3 Music Susan Kaschak Greeters/Ushers The Bowman Family Lay Reader Bill Bowman Communion Assistant Karen Broadwater Acolytes Jack Bowman Junior Communion Assistant Counters Janine & Terri Altar Care Michelle Ward February 10 Music Susan Kaschak Greeters/Ushers Iva Campana & Dottie Scott/Tim F & Jim H Lay Reader Fred Drotleff Communion Assistant Acolytes Jack Bowman Junior Communion Assistant Counters Brian & Mary Altar Care Michelle Ward February 17 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 Michelle Ward February 24 Music Susan Kaschak Greeters/Ushers The Dan Wanner Family Lay Reader Karen Broadwater Communion Assistant Acolytes Zoe Ward Junior Communion Assistant Counters Michelle & Linda Altar Care Michelle Ward

8 Council Minutes for December 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 December 12, 2018 Members present: Pastor Scott, Bill Bowman, Karen Broadwater, Fred Drotleff, Max Lebold, Susan Lux, Marilyn Mason, Jeff Ward, Michele Ward, Terri Wanner. Absent: Chris Pontones. Meeting opened with prayer Minutes from November Council meeting reviewed. It was noted that custodians should be custodian. Fred Drotleff motioned to accept minutes with the change; Jeff Ward seconded; motion carried. Treasurer s Report. Report reviewed. Jeff Ward motioned to accept report. Terri Wanner seconded; motion carried. Report to be filed for audit. Bills. Pastor s mileage. Jeff Ward motioned to pay pastor s mileage based on cents per mile. Marilyn Mason seconded. Motion carried. OLD BUSINESS 2019 Budget. Members reviewed budget proposal. It was noted that the Pastor s continuing education was a separate line item and the taxes are those associated with the MWCD. Bill Bowman moved to accept the Budget. Max Lebold seconded; motion carried. Constitution update. Members reviewed the update motions from the November meeting. All in agreement. Proposed council members nominees running for office. Terri Wanner motioned to accept the nominees, Fred Drotleff seconded; motion carried. New Members. Jeff Ward motioned to accept Gary and Sharon Davis as new members to SOV and Sally Nesselrode in good standing. Max Lebold seconded; motion carried. Pastor s Report. Report reviewed. It was noted that Pastor will be on vacation December 30 but will return January Jeff Ward motioned to accept the report. Marilyn Mason seconded; motion carried. Congregational draft. Pastor presented a congregational draft to be discussed at future meetings with the goal of completion by June Constitution updates. Please see update sheet. Max Lebold motioned to adjourn; Members seconded. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Karen Broadwater

9 Special Announcement News breaks all the time during a month from our church! Find it anytime at Members Present: Congregation Shepherd of The Valley Congregational Meeting December 16, 2018 Meeting opened with prayer. Everyone was handed a copy of the proposed budget. Jeff Ward explained details of budget. It was noted that the budget was $15,000 less than income due to decline in membership and money being given. Questions were answered about the budget. Jeff challenged the congregation to increase giving in the new year. Brian Lux motioned to accept the budget proposal. Max Lebold seconded; vote by hand raising motion carried. Election of Council. Ballots handed out to congregation with candidates seeking election. On the ballot were Fred Drotleff, Tim Farber, Susan Lux, Sally Nesselrode, Jacob Schandel, and Jeff Ward. While members were marking their ballots, Susan Lux expressed thank you for members who served this past year on council. They were Karen Broadwater, Max Lebold, and Chris Pontones. Congregational 5-year Plan Draft. Everyone was given a copy of congregational 5-year plan draft. Pastor Scott explained that this is a draft and we are currently working on updates as it applies to the needs of SOV. Objectives and goals. Congregation encouraged to read their copies and welcomed input/feedback via or note. Vote. Results counted. All candidates running for council elected unanimously. Thrivent update. Jennifer Crone informed congregation members that there are Thrivent funds that can be used for projects and needs. Meeting adjourned. Prayer given by Pastor Scott. Respectfully submitted, Karen Broadwater.

10 Meeting of Elected Council News breaks all the time during a month from our church! Find it anytime at MEETING OF NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS FOLLOWING THE CONGREGATIONAL MEETING ON DECEMBER 16, 2018 Members present: Bill Bowman Fred Drotleff Tim Farber Susan Lux Marilyn Mason Sally Nesselrode Jeff Ward Terri Wanner was not present due to illness The meeting was called to order by Susan Lux following the congregational meeting and election of 2019 council members. The purpose of the meeting was to elect council officers. It was moved by Jeff Ward And seconded by Sally Nesselrode to elects Susan Lux as President. Motion carried It was moved by Sally Nesselrode And Seconded by Fred Drotleff To elect Jeff Ward as Vice President, Motion carried It was moved by Marilyn Mason And seconded by Sally Nesselrode To elect Jacob Schandel and Secretary, Motion carried Moved to adjourn Respectfully, submitted,