April The Pilgrim Spire. Pastor s Parable. Thank you!

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1 The Pilgrim Spire April 2018 P i l g ri m U n ited Ch u r ch o f C h ris t B r o ad Bo u l e v a rd C u y a h oga Fa l l s, O H Pastor s Parable CONTACT INFORMATION Office: Phone: Fax: Staff & Pastor: Reverend Kirk Bruce pilgrimpastor@ameritech.net Faith Formation Director: Marilyn Freeman pilgrimce@ameritech.net Music Director: Secretary: Website: Kyle Kelvington kelvingtonk@gmail.com Kelly Gerstenberger pilgrimoffice@ameritech.net You ll find electronic versions of The Pilgrim Spires; Calendar; Facility Use Policies; Wedding & Funeral Information; Act-It UP! Community Theatre; History and more! The Pilgrim Spire is published once a month. If you have something to share with your fellow Pilgrims, please contact the church office to have it included in the next edition of... The Pilgrim Spire. An electronic version of the Monthly Spire is available by , if you would like to save postage. Just contact the church office. Address changes? Contact the office. Thank you! Does anyone know how many Easter eggs you can put into an empty basket? Think about it. The answer is, only one because, after that it's not empty anymore. Easter sure does have a lot of wonderful and strange traditions that we all enjoy: Easter baskets with eggs, that the bunny rabbit delivers (I wonder where a rabbit gets eggs from?), chocolates, marshmallows, candies. Did you notice that most of these center around sweet treats for children? But, Easter really is what the church is all about, and for people of faith that is a sweat treat. The central theme of our faith is He lives and so can we. We can have life both now and life eternal because of Christ Jesus gift to us. Easter is in the spring time, because of its connection to Passover, but there is more. Death is not the end of life, only a new beginning. Easter is in the spring because, as life returns to the world all around us, it can and will also return to us as well, in a new way. Though the world will not see it, we trust in faith that there is more than the world can know. Easter really is the big church holiday, far more than Christmas. Easter is what we are all about. All of the children s Easter toys and candies carry with them a common theme, life. Rabbits are all about proliferation: life abounds. Eggs are not about breakfast but, about life and jelly beans are made in what shape? They are little eggs. Easter is the celebration that in Christ we can have life both now, and evermore. This is what our faith is all about. This is what we celebrate. In Christ we find life. See You Sunday. Shalom, Pastor Kirk 1

2 Happy Anniversary Date Name No Anniversaries this month! Meetings are open to all! Diaconate: Monday, April 6:30 p.m. Stewardship: Sunday, April 11:45 a.m. Trustees: Monday, April 6:30 p.m. Faith Formation: Sunday, April 11:30 a.m. Community Connections Committee (CCC): Monday, April 6:30 p.m. Council (Official Board): Monday, April 7:00 p.m. Music Committee: Sunday, April 11:30 a.m. A Note from the Treasurer... As of February 28, 2018: Income: $29,000 Expense: $35,000 John Richards Blessing Jar: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Psalm 103:2 KJV In Him we live, and move, and have our being. Acts 17:28 KJV The God of love and peace shall be with you. II Corinthians 13:11 KJV In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength. Isaiah 30:15 KJV Be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things. Joel 2:21 KJV God is able to make all grace abound toward you. Happy Birthday Date Name 04/14 - James Van Horn 04/19 - Laura Obenreder 04/19 - Reba Rayman 04/19 - Shari Schneider 04/22 - Kelly Gerstenberger 04/27 - Gabriel Ing (11) 04/27 - Stella Subichin (3) 04/28 - John Richards 04/28 - Lisa York Plan to celebrate the joy of Easter with family and friends on Sunday, April 1st at 10:30 a.m. Enjoy special music, scriptures, and an uplifting sermon by Rev. Kirk W. Bruce. Although there will not be communion, there will be the blessing of the children. Then stay for fellowship hour. 2

3 Stewardship Board Thank you to Pilgrim s faithful community who donated to the Chicago, United, & Eden Seminaries (CUE) on February 25th. A total of $ was gathered and will be sent to CUE Seminaries. Thank you for giving generously to the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) on March 18, 2018!! $ was collected and will be sent on to OGHS. Thank You! Stewardship Board FREE COMMUNITY LUNCH (FCL) needs... The number of outside volunteers are down. We are having trouble meeting the needs of the 120 folks we feed every month. If you have time between 10 am and 2 pm on Saturday, April 14, 2018! Come Join Us! PRAYERS FOR PILGRIMS Touch a life... Become a Hospice Volunteer. Hospice is a philosophy of care, not a place. WE care for our patients wherever they call home. As a vital part of our team, volunteers come from all walks of life, and have a variety of skills, talents and abilities. Opportunities to serve are diverse: visit patients and families to provide companionship, socialization, and comfort, help with legacy work, sit vigil with dying patients (By Your Side), provide transportation to patients being served at home, provide help with light housework, meal preparation, run errands, make phone calls, help with clerical work, assist with the reception desks, share your musical talents, represent the agency at health fairs and more. Volunteers with specialized professional qualifications and training are also needed: attorneys, licensed hair dressers, Massotherapists, pet therapy dogs and their handlers. Volunteer education is held frequently throughout northern Ohio. Teen and most volunteers not having contact with patients take 4 hours of training while patient care volunteers take 16 hours. Visit us at for more information OR to fill out an application OR call us at Thank You! Please Pray For... Amy, a co-worker, with hearing loss due to an ear infection. Pray that medicine will restore some of her hearing. Sister who needs help and guidance with addiction problems. Mark Poling, step-son of Dr. Don, recovering from a stroke. Jane (92), a friend, in the hospital dealing with several medical issues. A friend with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), & the family, who are struggling. Friends Carole and Jed. Kelly K., so she gets her transfer back home closer to her parents. My family to be healed & reunited together. To keep us close to God & allow his grace to work out a miracle for our situation. Rev. Stephen Szilagyi for healing from surgery & positive outcome for his cancer diagnosis. Healing for those who are sick or dealing with a difficult diagnosis. 3

4 Pilgrim UCC Family, Your comforting expression of sympathy will always be remembered with deep gratitude. I laugh that we got three cards from our church family. But all of them were much needed. We appreciate your prayers during Chandler s treatment and the final weeks as well as for our Hope and Healing. Love, Terry, Jason & Jamie VanHorn The bulletin boards have several postings that may be of interest to you or someone you know! Take a moment to take a look. You may find something of interest! Plan to celebrate the joy of Easter with family & friends on Sunday, April 1st at 10:30 a.m. Come & Enjoy... Special Music, Scriptures, An Uplifting Sermon by Rev. Kirk W. Bruce, and The Blessing of the children. Then stay for Fellowship Hour. Happy Easter SAVE THE DATE: Healing Service Sunday, April 8th after 10:30 a.m. Worship Healing services bring our congregation together to bless one another while specifically asking for healing in our world, nation, community, families, and friends. This may included those we know or don t know enduring serious illnesses, stress, concerns and/or natural or man-made disasters. This ritual offers us a time and place to pause, lift up concerns, and encounter the healing energy through the laying-on-of-hands. EVERYONE is welcome! Interested in another opportunity to Worship? Chris Tomlin Worship Night in America with Kim Walker-Smith, Matt Maher, Christine D Clario, Tauren Wells, & Pat Barrett Friday, April 7 pm at Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University 2000 Prospect Ave., E., Cleveland, OH Ticket Prices: Depending on the seating area $41.00 to $70.00 See the bulletin boards for the next 4 Marriage Encounter Weekend (Lutheran) April 27-29, 2018 Marriage Encounter helps married husbands and wives celebrate their special relationship - and provides them with unique insights and tools to improve their communication for the long haul. The experience is a whole weekend away from chores, jobs, and kids to celebrate their love, learn a delightful new method of communication, and reap joyful long-term rewards for them, their family, and their faith journey. If you have questions, call the contact number on the flier OR contact Dan & Kelly Gerstenberger! SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, May 26, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. One (1) load of mulch will be delivered to the church and needs to be spread. Bring your wheel barrel, shovel, garden rake and gloves. Many hands will make lighter work. If you have questions, see one of the trustee board members, Dan, Chuck, John, Joel, Steve or Carol. Thank you!

5 Trustee s The Trustee Board would like to make the congregation aware that this is the year to paint the exterior of Pilgrim. Currently, the cost quoted is $20,000. If any member or friend of Pilgrim would like to donate specifically to this endeavor, please write PAINT on the line following Other on the monthly or weekly envelopes. Thank You! Faith Formation Senior High Youth Leadership Camp at Templed Hills April What is sexual harassment? How do I know? #MeToo? Am I guilty of locker room talk? What does God and my faith have to do with all this sexuality thing? Senior high school youth are invited to come to connect with other teens and adults as we engage in these tough and important conversations. And there will be fun, too! After all, it is CAMP! Online Registration is open. If you are interested, contact Marilyn Freeman April 15 Faith Formation Board 11:30 am in Adult Library. Pick up your social hour treats and join us as we plan the Pet Blessing and begin the Spirit of Service summer project. The Pilgrim Garden is also on the agenda. All are welcome. April 29 ~ 2 pm ~ Pet Blessing Bring your real pets, virtual pets, pet pictures and/or pet memories and we ll bless all God s critters! Even snakes! April Faith Focus Lessons: Faith Focus invites all of our little ones to come enjoy stories, music, crafts, games and light snacks. It is designed for children 2 through 8 years of age. We leave the sanctuary after the Children s Moment and go to the Children s Library. We will be moving some of our classes to the Art/Drama Room upstairs over the next few weeks as we will be planting seeds for the Pilgrim garden and painting! Lots of messy fun! April 1 st Easter Party in the nursery. There will be an Easter Egg Hunt, and Easter cupcakes April 8 th Jesus Heals a Blind Man Mud Painting (It s just chocolate pudding, really!) April 15 th Dorcas Sews for the Poor a lacing project April 22 nd The Quiltmaker s Gift, a book by Jeff Brumbeau about giving and receiving gifts making a quilt one for me one for a friend April 29 th - Because Nothing Looks Like God a book by Lawrence and Karen Kushner we will be in the Art Drama Room for a painting project Marilyn Freeman, Pilgrim s Faith Formation Director, is working on a family trip to the Cleveland Children s Museum. Date is to be determined. More information will be in the Weekly Spire and Sunday Bulletin when it is available. 5

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7 April 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 Easter Sun. 9 am Choir 10:30 am Worship Rev. Kirk Bruce 11:30am Fellowship, SH 8 9 am Choir 10:30 am Worship Rev. Kirk Bruce 11:30 am Healing Service, SA 11:30am Fellowship FCL,SH 11:45 pm Stewardship, 2:45-5:15 pm GS Troop #501, AL 6-8 pm GS Troop #169, AL 2 Easter Mon. Offices Closed 5:30-8 pm SCTI, SH 6:30 pm Diaconate Board Mtg., AL 9 1-1:30 pm AMMS- TKD, SH 6-8pm GS Troop #840, AT 6:30 pm Trustees Board Mtg., AL 3 10:30am Bible Study, AL 6-8 pm AAAG, SH 8pm FOTS AA, 10 10:30am Bible Study, AL 6-8 pm AAAG, SH 8 pm FOTS AA, 4 11:00 am Staff Mtg. 1-2:30pm AMMS- Dance, SH 2:15-9:00 pm WRSS Cello/ViolinLessons, 3:45 pm Hand Bell Rehearsal, MR 7 pm Bible Study, :30pm AMMS- Dance, SH 2:15-9:00 pm WRSS Cello/Violin Lessons 3:45 pm Hand Bell Rehearsal, MR 7 pm Bible Study, 5 3 pm - 12 am AMMS Set-Up Dads & Donuts, SH 6-8pm CS Den Mtg., 7 9 pm EA, pm CS Den Mtg., 7-9pm EA, am AMMS - Dads & Donuts, SH am - 2 pm CS Committee Mtg, AL 11:30am-3:45pm WRSS-Cello Lessons, CL 8:00 pm AA, SH 9 am - 2 pm FCL, SH,K 11:30am-3:45pm WRSS-Cello Lessons, CL 8:00 pm AA, SH 15 9am Choir 10:30 am Worship Rev. Kirk Bruce 11:30am Fellowship Team 3, SH 11:45 am Faith Formation, AL :30 pm AMMS- TKD, SH 5:30-8 pm SCTI, SH 6:30pm CCC Mtg., AL 7pm Council Mtg., 17 10:30am Bible Study, AL 6-8 pm AAAG, SH 6-8pm GS Troop #244, AL 8 pm FOTS AA, :30pm AMMS- Dance, SH 2:15-9:00 pm WRSS Cello/ViolinLessons, 3:45 pm Hand Bell Rehearsal, MR 7 pm Bible Study, pm CS Den Mtg., 7 9 pm EA, 20 5:00 p.m. DEADLINE for May SPIRE! 21 11:30am-3:45pm WRSS-Cello Lessons, CL 8:00 pm AA, SH am Choir 10:30am Worship - Rev. Kirk Bruce 11:30am Fellowship Team #4,SH 6-8 pm GS Troop #169, AL 1-1:30 pm AMMS- TKD, SH 6-8pm GS Troop #840, AT 10:30am Bible Study, AL 6-8 pm AAAG, SH 8pm FOTS AA, 2:15-9:00 pm WRSS Cello/ViolinLessons, 3:45 pm Hand Bell Rehearsal, MR 7 pm Bible Study, 5-8 pm Donato s Nite, State Rd. & Chestnut Blvd. 6-8pm CS Den Mtg., 7 9 pm EA, AL 11:30am-3:45pm WRSS-Cello Lessons, CL 8:00 pm AA, SH 29 9am Choir 10:30am Worship - Rev. Kirk Bruce 11:30am Fellowship, SH 2 pm Pet Blessing 30 Strengthen the Church promotion begins! AL=Adult Library AT=Attic C=Classroom CL=Children s Lib. =Heritage Room K=Kitchen MR=Music Room N=Nursery RGR=Rev. Greene Room SA=Sanctuary SH=Social Hall AMMS=Absorbent Minds Montessori School AAAG=Akron Area Actor s Guild AA=Alcoholics Anonymous CS=Cub Scouts EA=Emotions Anonymous FCL=Free Community Lunch FF= Faith Formation FOTS=Fellowship of the Spirit GS=Girl Scouts SCTI=Summit County Teen Institute WRSS=Western Reserve Suzuki School 7

8 Pilgrim United Church of Christ 130 Broad Blvd. Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Address Correction Requested April 2018 The Pilgrim Spire Sunday Schedule: 10:30 am Worship Nursery Care available 11:30 am Fellowship Contact us at: Pilgrim United Church of Christ Staff: Pastor Rev. Kirk Bruce, Faith Formation Director Marilyn Freeman, Music Director Kyle Kelvington, Secretary Kelly Gerstenberger, 8