Touching lives with compassion, understanding and hope

Transcription

1 The clarion May 2018 Touching lives with compassion, understanding and hope My wife and my daughter, Lilac, have been infected by a strange kind of disease. It s called rollercoaster-itus. I don t know if there is a cure, but I do know that, even if there was, they would not be interested. We have season passes to Cedar Point this year so they can get their fix of thrills. Or attempt to, because no amount of roller coaster-ing seems to be sufficient. This winter they have been watching various videos on YouTube including interviews with fellow coaster-heads, point-of-view videos where you get to see first-hand all the twists and turns and inversions, and lots of news updates about the new roller coaster at Cedar Point this summer (which is called Steel Vengeance and which you should not ask either of them about unless you are prepared for a lengthy and comprehensive diatribe about its many unique and record-breaking features). Now, while I am nowhere near as crazed as the two of them, I have come to thoroughly enjoy riding roller coasters. But I didn t start out that way. At different times in my life, I have been scared of them. They are fast, high off the ground, somewhat unpredictable, and very fast, which I know I already said, but it bears repeating. Perhaps, though, more than any of that, while riding a roller coaster I have absolutely no control over things whatsoever. I can t slow it down or make it stop. I can t control where it goes or how it twists or turns. I am held entirely captive and taken on the wildest of rides. It s a control freak s nightmare. Because of that, I ve learned that the only way to enjoy a roller coaster is to completely give in to it. I have to let myself go and trust the engineers and operators and physics and lap restraints and trust that I will not go flying out of the car to my demise. Failure to do so is a guarantee of terror. Managing to let go and trust, however, opens up a pathway to intense exhilaration that leaves me breathless and laughing from utter joy. There is another opportunity in life that parallels that same experience, and that is the opportunity of faith. Faith can be even more frightening than a record-breaking roller coaster. At least on Steel Vengeance there is a seat belt and leg restraints that you can see and feel holding you securely. And a roller coaster ride is over in a matter of seconds. The life of faith lasts, well, forever. Either way, however, the secret to experiencing it is the same. The only way to enjoy this life of faith is to completely surrender to it, to trust in the Designer and Operator, to be moved and lifted by the forces of the Holy One on the ride of life. And if you thought that roller coaster was amazing, just you wait. --Pastor Ben

2 OUR CHURCH REMINDERS Our first Discipleship Class gave us plenty to think about as we explored our beliefs about the nature of God. Class members began drafting their own personal creeds in an effort to better express for themselves just what they believe. Along the way we also got into some good Bible study, denominational identity, and theology. Thank you, all, for coming. Thanks, too, to Sally and Jan for the soup and sandwich lunch. Our next class meeting will follow worship on Sunday, May 20 where we will examine the nature of Christ. Please consider joining us. It s not too late! Pastor Ben IMPORTANT NOTE We will hold our Annual Congregational Meeting and Dinner on Sunday, June 24. If you need to submit a report to go into the Annual Report, please give them to the office no later than Monday, June 11. Celebrating the Love, Joy and Enthusiasm that shapes Canfield Christian Church on June We hope you will enjoy celebrating May and June Birthdays with us on Sunday, June 10. ELDERS Serving in May: Date Lead Elder Table Elder 6 Rodger Shuback Jan Pumphrey 13 Susan Crawford Rodger Shuback 20 Sally Ifill Susan Crawford 27 Jan Pumphrey Sally Ifill Coffee Fellowship The Host families for our Sunday morning coffee fellowship provide an invaluable service. Thank you, Lilac, Secaur, Kylee Kritz and Libby Snyder, for serving as Hostesses in April and for Pat Coy, Laurie Sharp and Starla Smidt for serving in May. BIRTHDAYS: MAY: JUNE: 1 Tom Clay 1 Teresa Shuback 9 Aimee Raymond 4 Donna Wiant 11 Michael Richards 6 Jason Samora 19 Trinidad Galizia 6 Phillip Shuback 22 Lou Raymond 8 Sally Payne 25 Bradley Hendricks 10 Rodger Shuback 29 Angela Ireland 14 Mary Payne 29 Jeff Sharp 25 Steve Brown 30 Steve Snyder 25 Pat Wiant 26 Ashley Sharp 28 Jaime Condori 28 Mary Anne Kimble ANNIVERSARIES: MAY: 7 Dylan & Starla Smidt JUNE: 3 Glenn & Terri Alcott 10 Kevin & Michelle Kimble 14 James & Susan Bowman 24 Phillip & Teresa Shuback 27 Jason & Megan Samora

3 Wear RED for Pentecost - May 20 Pentecost is the birthday of the church, the day the Holy Spirit came to the followers of Jesus uniting them into one people. We wear red on Pentecost to remember the symbol of fire that rested upon the heads of each of the disciples. Come help us celebrate our special day together. AS YOU CONTINUE YOUR PRAYERS FOR OTHERS Please remember those who are in assisted living/nursing homes with your prayers, phone calls, and visits: AustinWoods: DeNise Martin Blossom Rehab and Nursing Center: Virginia Knauf The Inn at Christine Valley: Irene Lehtonen Shepherd of the Valley: Barbara Hepplewhite The following individuals and families do appreciate your continued prayers on their behalf: Helen Bush Susan Crawford Theresa Alcott David Bush Martin Crawford David Dishong Karen Hunt Larry Kimble Jeff Nape Colt Schmidt (Great Grandson of Pat Wiant) Roseann Lobaugh (Sister of Anita Powell) Joseph Novacich (Father of Theresa Murphy Rosa and Maria Arcenio (Sisters of Trinidad) Doug Lewis (Brother of Joyce Coy) Ted Harris (Nephew of Jerry & Dolores Hanna) Melissa Miskell Tabbara (Friend of Sally Ifill) Scott Chepke (Received a transplant) Margrit Galano (Mother of Cindy Stackhouse) Sandra Jeffries (Friend of Dorris Baringer) Rhonda Jones and David Beach (Friends of Sally Payne) It is important to remember our service members in your daily prayers.

4 Easter 2018 Lila s Confession of Faith

5 A thank you received by On behalf of the volunteers at Operation Blessing, and the many needy persons served through its food ministry, thank you for a recent gift from the Canfield Christian Church in the amount of $ Your generous support helps to feed the hungry in our valley through Christians who care. God bless you richly. Donald Christensen, Operation Blessing Treasurer From Protestant Family Service s Newsletter: These are our ongoing needs: For Office: Postage stamps (immediate need), White-Out, brown grocery bags, reams of 28 lb. white paper, reams of 20lb. letter and legal size white paper For Clients: Personal care products for men and women: disposable razors, face soap, lotion, pads, toothpaste Laundry and dish detergent Bus passes Paper products Cleaning Supplies Gasoline cards and food always welcome

6 Jaki Payne New U.S. Citizen Jaki Payne, wife of Kevin, took her Oath of Citizenship on April 26. Judge Theresa Dellick administered the oath to twenty people who came to the United States from twelve different countries. Congratulations, Jaki!

7 Pastor Ben and mother Diana Rodger Shuback led the congregation in prayer, and our Regional Elder Dr. Bernard Oakes presented Ben to be Installed as our new Settled Pastor on Sunday, May 6 Former Pastor Rev. Lou Raymond and his wife Aimee congratulated Ben with Rev. Rebecca Zielke of Lord of Life Lutheran Church Susan Crawford presented Evaluation of a Minister Sally led the singing and was joined by Samantha Secaur, Jean and Jane Shackelford, Trinidad Galizia and Alan Coy We were joined by several members from Ben s home church in Kent, including Pastor Julie Cory

8 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat May Wednesday Weight Watchers 8-9 am Pastor Ben s Installation, 2 pm Wednesday Weight Watchers 8-9 am 10 Operation Blessing 10 am AA Meeting 7 pm 13 Worship 10:30 am Mother s Day Baby Dedication of Braxton Smidt 14 MEETINGS: Worship Committee, 6 pm General Board, 7 pm AA Meeting 7 pm Wednesday Weight Watchers 8-9 am 17 Operation Blessing 10 am 18 Alzheimer s Support Group 10 am Worship 10:30 am Pentecost Sunday Wednesday Weight Watchers 8-9 am Discipleship Class AA Meeting 7 pm Pentecost Offering for the Disciples 27 Worship 10:30 am 28 Memorial Day Pentecost Offering for the Disciples AA Meeting 7 pm

9 Thank you, Sheely Foundation From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded (Luke 12:48). Canfield Christian Church would like to thank everyone at the Sheely Foundation for entrusting to our care a gift of $500. We have been faithful stewards of your generous gift as we have lent aid to multiple people in our community in their time of need. Thank you for your love put into action. Our community is stronger because of you. WAGONS OF HOPE Thank you for supporting our children s efforts to help others while filling their Wagons of Hope on Sunday, June 10. Individuals and families who depend on your generosity will benefit through Operation Blessing and Protestant Family Service.

10 CANFIELD CHRISTIAN CHURCH 123 S. Broad St. Canfield, Ohio Website: canfieldchristianchurch.org NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID YOUNGSTOWN OH PERMIT NO. 28 Electronic Service Requested Canfield Christian Church Disciples of Christ, Canfield Ohio Touching Lives with Compassion, Understanding and Hope while Modeling the Love of Christ since 1829