Revelations. September Dear Friends:

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1 Revelations of First Evangelical Lutheran Church Royalton Road Strongsville Ohio September 2018 Dear Friends: We are ramping up for another fantastic program year at First Church, and I want to invite you to be a part of it. If you ve been taking an extended vacation this summer it s time to come back. Here are just a few of the exciting things to look forward to this fall: We welcome David Gooding as our new organist on September 2nd. We are blessed to have such an accomplished and experienced musician join our staff and lead us in worship. Rally Day is September 9th. There will be one blended worship service at 10:30 a.m. followed by lunch in the fellowship hall provided by a number of local food trucks. Then, the God s Work Our Hands service project will commence, an opportunity for ALL AGES to participate in sharing God s love with others. This year we are partnering with Children Who Witness Violence to prepare and package at least 50 meals for people who have recently experienced a violent or traumatic act in their lives. Sunday School is back in session beginning September 16th. The program year worship schedule goes into effect on September 16th. Contemporary worship will be at 8:30 AM, Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 AM and traditional worship at 11:00 AM. A new Adult Class also starts on September 16th, 9:45 AM in the fellowship hall. Breaking News is a practical course designed to help you share God s Good News with others. Please see a more comprehensive description of the course in this newsletter. Confirmation and Bible Bonanza classes will start in early October, but orientation is scheduled for September 17th. Our youth will be busy taking a deeper dive into the Bible, studying Luther s catechism, and serving in the community. The annual Stewardship Campaign will kick off with a new opportunity to learn about God s many blessings in our lives and how to share our resources to enhance and support our congregation s many valuable ministries. Choirs and ensembles will be getting back together, youth groups will get fired up, the men are having a Bible Study and BBQ, Pub Church restarts October 2nd, and maybe there will be some special surprises. God is doing amazing things in the midst of our faith community. It is a challenging, yet very exciting time to be the Church. Come and join us as we worship, learn, and serve together in the name of Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord. In Christ, Pastor Chuck

2 Worship Notes for Pentecost 15 Sunday, September 2 9:00 AM Contemporary Worship, Eucharist 10:30 AM ELW Setting 3 Pentecost 16 RALLY DAY! Sunday, September 9 10:30 AM One Blended Service Pentecost 17 Program Year Worship Schedule Begins Sunday, September 16 8:30 AM Contemporary Worship, Eucharist 11:00 AM ELW Setting 3, Eucharist Pentecost 18 Youth Program Sunday, September 23 8:30 AM Contemporary Worship 11:00 AM ELW Setting 3 Pentecost 19 Sunday, September 30 8:30 AM Contemporary Worship 11:00 AM ELW Setting 3

3 NEW ADULT CLASS SUNDAY S AT 9:45 A.M. BREAKING NEWS A PRACTICAL COURSE DESIGNED TO HELP YOU SHARE GOD S GOOD NEWS TODAY Have you ever wanted to share your faith with someone but either didn t know how or felt uncomfortable? Do you recognize the importance of sharing the gospel with others? Would you like to learn an easy way to tell others about Jesus? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this course is for you! Breaking News is a simple, yet insightful training program for anyone wanting to become more effective in sharing their faith with others. In six weeks (or so) we will cover the following topics: + Understanding what the gospel is and getting the message right. + Friendship evangelism. Sharing with people we know. + Understanding our own faith stories and how to interweave them into the telling of God s story. + Demonstrating the good news through our actions. + How the Holy Spirit helps and empowers us. In a recent survey 77% of respondents said they came to church for the first time because a friend or relative extended a personal invitation. That means someone took the time to share their faith story and the value of having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That someone could be YOU! YOU could have an amazing impact on a person you love or care about. Join us on Sunday mornings as we discover the power of the gospel and learn how to share it with others. If you would like to order your own copy of the book Breaking News it can be found at Amazon.com.

4 Upcoming Events New Organist We are pleased to welcome David Gooding to our staff and First Church family beginning September 2. There will be a special welcome reception for David on Sunday, September 16 following the 11:00 AM service. Please join us to greet David! God s Work. Our Hands. Join us on Sunday, September 9, following the 10:30 AM Rally Day service for our annual God s Work. Our Hands. service project. This year we will be preparing and packaging meals to distribute through Children Who Witness Violence. Meals will be received by people who have experienced a recent violent or traumatic event in their lives, as a visible and tangible sign of God s love. This project is for ALL AGES. Program with Men of New Covenant All men of First are invited to join the men of New Covenant at First Church in the Fellowship Hall at 4:00 PM on Sunday, September 23 for a program on the topic "The Power of Forgiveness" led by Pastor Chuck. The program will run for approximately one hour followed by a meal, also in the Fellowship Hall. We will provide drinks and will pick up food from Carolina BBQ at a cost of $11 per person, to be collected when we meet. If you are interested in attending, please contact Pastor Chuck or Bruce Holderead. Contact Bruce at vancepack@wowway.com. Pub Church Pub Church returns on Tuesday, October 2, 6:30 PM at TGI Friday s in Strongsville. Join us for conversation on relevant contemporary topics, prayer, communion, and fellowship. All are welcome! Over 50 s Group Over 50 s Group will meet Tuesday, September 11 at 12:15 PM. Bring your bag lunch and meet us in the Fellowship Hall. Save The Date To Save A Life. First Church will have their annual blood drive on Sunday, October 7, 8:00 AM-1:00 PM. Appointments are encouraged but not required; sign-up at the Welcome Center or at

5 Gather Together for God! Rally Day 2018 On Sunday, September 9 We invite all to the picnic for God. Sunday school students are invited to register and meet their teachers at 9:45 AM in their classrooms. Worship service at 10:30 AM Immediately following worship, we will have food trucks available for our congregation, our friends, and our community members to purchase lunch. All are invited! After lunch, all are welcome to prepare meals to donate to local families who have experienced trauma. Sign-up at the Welcome Center! Mark your calendars, bring your lunch money and chef hats. Be ready to do God s Work. Our hands!

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9 KIDS HOPE USA September is the month when many programs resume, and KIDS HOPE will be up and running before the month is over. The KIDS HOPE mentoring area is ready decorated in keeping with the school s circus theme: Whitney The Greatest School on Earth. Scheduling of mentoring times has begun. A mentor/prayer partner get-together is planned. And the kids they are really ready to see their mentors again! Every time I see one of our mentees in the halls, they ask, When are we going to see our mentors again? I can only imagine the joyous reunions that will occur as mentors and mentees see each other for the first time this school year. Since ten of our mentees from last year have gone on to middle school, and four have transferred to another school in Strongsville or moved, we begin the year with fifteen mentees. Thirteen of them attend Whitney, and two of them attend Surrarrer. As our tenth year proceeds, our numbers will grow just as they do every year. Mentors will meet with their mentees for one hour every week to help them with school work, listen, play, and establish wonderful relationships. Prayer partners will hold their mentors and their mentees up in prayer and help make miracles happen. By the end of September, this amazing program will be underway, creating new futures for kids. If you would like to be a part of KIDS HOPE as a mentor, substitute, or prayer partner, contact me using the information below. Also needed are people to serve as Celebration Coordinator and Encouragement Coordinator. Please prayerfully consider being a part of this mission which is making positive differences in the lives of children in our community. Gloria Reichert Director KIDS HOPE USA g.reichert68@gmail.com KIDS HOPE Story of the Month KIDS HOPE is all about relationships. Some of these relationships last well beyond elementary school. A mentor told me that he had recently had lunch with a former mentee and his mother. The mentee is now a senior in high school, and they meet periodically to catch up. How cool is that! Some relationships extend beyond the walls of the schools. One of our mentees recently lost a family member and was upset, so his mentor was called to see if she could come and visit, which she did. Support was also given in other ways, and the family expressed their gratitude. Hope always finds a way.

10 WOW EVENTS WOW Board Meeting Wednesday, September 5 at 7:00 PM. WOW Book Club Saturday, September 15 at 9:00 AM, Stongsville Market District. We will discuss Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. Please sign up at the Welcome Center. The Cleveland West Cluster fall gathering Saturday, September 29. Registration, breakfast & fellowship at 8:30 AM. Meeting & program at 9:30 AM and lunch at 11:30 AM. Reservation must be made by Sunday, September 23 to Mary Ann Filipow at Checks payable to NEOSWO. Women s Day Weekend at New Covenant Women s Day Tea on Saturday, October 13 at 11:00 AM. Please sign up at the Welcome Center. Women s Day Service on Sunday, October 14 at 11:00 AM. Bake Sale The WOW Board is seeking donations of baked goods for a fund raiser. Date will be determined at our next Board meeting. If you would be able to help out, please sign up at the Welcome Center or contact Bonnie Eggers directly.

11 SEPTEMBER VOLUNTEERS September 2 September 9 September 16 September 23 September 30 9:00 & 10:30 10:30 8:30 & 11:00 8:30 & 11:00 8:30 & 11:00 Communion One Worship Communion Youth Service Acolytes Ellen Kolman 10:30/11:00 Brielle Rugar Brielle Rugar Caroline Haggett Caroline Haggett Abbey Uline Owen Smith Jadyn Crane Ushers Maureen Shorts 8:30/9:00 Maureen Shorts Linda Browning Alice Treiber Bob Strong Dave Chaya Gladys Otto Mary Barnes Alli Thellman Renee Chaya Margaret Bewie Hank Pekkola Al Hoffman Dave Bewie Gayle Pekkola Shelley Hoffman Dawn Evangelista 10:30/11:00 Wayne Mosley Alan Evangelista Ron Warzel John Brinzo Dawn Evangelista Mary Jane Warzel Bob Snyder Eddie Forse Chuck Kaskey Heather Snyder Lori Forse Sandy Kaskey Readers & CA Barb Krueger 8:30/9:00 Joy Blankenship - RCA Jan Kappus RCA Josie McNamara Comm Assts: Kurt Blankenship Gayle Kovach Herb Simpson Maureen Shorts Pam Simpson Chuck Whitecar Bonnie Bailey Mary Whitecar 10:30/11:00 Lori Forse - RCA Dawn Evangelista Rae Alexander - R Bob Lindsey Comm Assts: Barb Krueger Ben Blake Cindy Shoens Jerry Krueger Ron Warzel Barb Krueger Jerry Krueger Debbie Dudas Nursery 8:30/9:00/10:30 Bonnie Bailey Margaret Bewie Jennifer Paine Erin Edwards Kelly Worsencroft Counting Teams Jim Gist Reiner Mueller Gayle Kovach Sam Reichert Terri Mosley Terri Mosley Sheri Gist Shelley Hoffman Rita Ross Rolf Gaab Bob Jacob Gary Walters Al Hoffman Chris Hamel Jackie Wojciehowski Bob Snyder Mary Walters Pierre David Carol Paulini John Brinzo Heather Snyder Dick Kiplinger Altar Guild Sandy Rath Pat Sauernheimer Beth David Billie Hoffman Janet Kaiser Karen McFarland Sandy Kaskey

12 September 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Labor Day :00 Praise Band Rehearsal 9 9:00 Praise Band Rehearsal Rally Day! 9:45 Sunday School Meet the teacher 10:30 - One Worship 11:30 - Gods Work Our Hands Service Project 16 Office Closed! 7:00 - AA 10 7:00 AA 17 6:00 Crossroad Stitchers 7:00 Toastmaster s 7:30 Al-Anon 11 12:15 Over 50 s Group 7:00 Cabinet Meeting 7:00 Toastmaster s 7:30 Al-Anon 18 7:00 WOW Board Meeting :00 Sunday School Teacher Orientation 6:30 Praise Band 20 10:00 Prayer & Care :30 Strongsville Food Bank 9:00 WOW Book Club Program Year Schedule Begins 8:30 KHUSA Leadership Team 10:00 Lydia Circle 8:30 Contemporary 9:45 Sunday School 10:00 Chancel Choir 11:00 Traditional 23 7:00 Bible Bonanza/Confirmation Orientation 7:00 - AA 24 7:00 Council Meeting 7:00 Toastmater s 7:30 Al-Anon :30 Praise Band 7:00 KHUSA Mentor/Prayer Partner Meeting Youth Sunday 9:45 Sunday School 10:00 Chancel Choir 4:00 Men s BBQ 30 7:00 - AA 7:00 Safety Forces Service at St. Joe s 7:00 Toastmaster s 7:30 Al-Anon 6:30 Praise Band 9:45 Sunday School 10:00 Chancel Choir Pastor Charles Knerem Pastorchuck1@gmail.com First Evangelical Lutheran Church Royalton Road Strongsville OH Pastor Kathleen Kluck Office hours: Monday & Friday 8-2, revklk@gmail.com Tuesday Thursday 9-2 firstchurchalive@hotmail.com