the the FALLSGR ANOTHER YEAR ANOTHER CHANCE K Everyone at one time or another has said, Give me another chance. It may have been in school, on the job, or in a relationship. A New Year has arrived and along with it you are going to get another chance at life. Perhaps you did not fair so well in 2012. Maybe you made a mess of a relationship. Maybe you did not spend enough time with your family. Whatever your problem, opportunity is birthed out of them. The bigger the problem the bigger the opportunity. 2013 brings with it an opportunity to start over, to undo some things and to try some new things. 2013 is an opportunity to make a fresh start. The one ingredient that is absolutely necessary in making a fresh start is change. Someone has said, The New Year is like a new baby, many changes will be necessary, some of which will be neglected. Change is difficult. Many people are willing to change, not because they see the light, but because they feel the heat. Be open to change this new year. The process of change and growth has lasting value. at Dr. Mike Thomas Senior Pastor www.fallscreekcc.org God delights in giving people second chances. All through the Bible there are examples of people to whom God gave a second chance and they made the best of their opportunities the second time around. FallsCreek Community Church is filled with "second chance" people but no "second class" people. Everyone is accepted wherever they are on their spiritual journey. Together we can make the 2013 journey. Why don t you give us a chance in 2013, we will give you one! January - Stewardship Month Daylight Savings Time Begins: March 10, 2013 H O L Y W E E K Volume 10 January March 2013 March 24, 2013 March 29, 2013 March 31, 2013 FallsCreek Community Church 149 Northmoreland Ave. Munroe Falls, OH 44262 (330) 686-1400
TEACHER TALK by Gary Varner MIRACLES Several weeks ago, I heard on the radio that the lead guitarist for Jefferson Starship, had passed away. I am at the stage of my life, that when someone younger than myself dies, I am surprised by it even though I shouldn't be. I remember my parents going through this same phase about twenty years ago. The reason we are surprised by this phenomenon, is that it forces us to face our own mortality. Jefferson Starship, was never one of my favorite bands, but they did have one song I was particularly fond of - it was called "Miracles". I particularly like the line, "if only you believe in miracles so would I". I found spiritual meaning where none was intended. dominated by Peter and Paul, who stressed repentance and the resurrection of Christ. Today, the power found in repentance is often replaced with the power of comforting felt needs. The miraculous resurrection of Christ, takes a secondary role to the humorous illustration. Sacred scripture, is used in support of the subject of the sermon, as opposed to being the basis of the sermon. Paul stresses that teachings are to be drawn from scripture. In short what we have today, is the church focusing on the mundane (felt needs, humorous stories, pop psychology). The public can get this anywhere. The church needs to focus on the miraculous, not the mundane. I truly believe that if the church "believes in miracles", so will the public. Perhaps they will even show up. In the Bible Discovery Class, we have been studying the book of Acts. Acts (Acts is short for the Acts of the Apostles) is the history of the apostles and the early church. The book is full of miracles. It would seem that one happens almost on every page. Acts can be divided into two sections. The first half focuses primarily on Peter. He preaches primarily on repentance and Christ crucified. The second half, focuses on Paul. He preaches primarily on repentance and Christ's resurrection. Miracles are performed by both. In the early church thousands of converts were added daily. Repentance requires change. Not everyone likes change, but that's where the power of the gospel lies. The belief in the resurrection of Christ requires accepting the miraculous. Not everyone is willing to do this. Recently, there was a Pew poll that stated for the first time Protestants were no longer a majority in the United States. The main reason, is that a growing number of people consider themselves religiously unaffiliated (this group is known as "the nones"). They represent about 20% of Americans and have grown 15% in the last five years. Most of the nones, are not seeking to join any religious group. Analysts today, are massaging the data of the Pew poll, trying to figure out why the nones are growing. I think I know why. If we look at the early church, as described in the book of Acts, and contrast it with the church of today, we see major differences. The early church, as mentioned earlier was Louis E. Burns went home to be with the Lord on November 25th. He was much loved by his family and many at FallsCreek. Our love and prayers go out to his dear wife, Charlotte, and his daughters, Janet and Cathy and their families. Known for his laughter and wit, Louis worked for the Lord for over 35 years at FallsCreek, serving as a bus driver, usher, deacon, trustee, and Sunday School teacher. He also served our country and was an Army veteran. A verse that comes to mind when thinking of Louis is 2 Timothy 4:7, which says, I have fought the good fight, I finished the race, I kept the faith. And as Louis entered his eternal home I am sure he heard the words we all hope to hear, Well done thou good and faithful servant. Please pray that God will comfort these families in their time of loss.
20th Karen Mason 21st Doris Antonetti January Logan Naylor Linda Reynolds 23rd Gregg Stanley February 14th 1st 4th 5th Julia Maloney Jackson Pemberton Cathe Maloney 24th Kaitlin Maloney Diane Marks 26th Gregory Brunk Kayleigh Miller 7th Gary Peters 10th Ruby Chaney 11th Wayne Anderson 16th Jack Igleheart 17th Barbara Heiner Blaine Mayer 18th Dave Kelley 20th Brian Frank 23rd Terrie Campbell 26th Dave Law 27th Joanne Kelley 29th Bev Mellon February 1st Cynthis Boles 9th Russ Bulgrin 10th Homer Pack 11th Caleb Lear Rochelle Stein Todd Smith Dana Handschumacher Stephanie Underwood 27th Tracie Studer March 1st Judy Kaylor 3rd Gary Varner 10th Ryan Campbell David Hupp 14th Michael Gay, Jr. 16th Julie White 19th Kourtny Skiljan 21st Steve Chaney 24th Carol Burks Melissa Skiljan 25th Janice Israel 27th Tracy Stanley 28th Eddie Burks Dennie Carroll 31st Candy Grubb 97 Boxes were sent this year. Thank you! Many of the boxes sent from our church found their way to the country of Zimbabwe, in Africa. Forty-one percent of Zimbabwe s 12.6 million people are 14-years-old or younger. Operation Christmas Child offers a follow-up discipleship program to our ministry partners in conjunction with the shoe box gifts. This year in Zimbabwe, these Bible lessons will be offered to 11,200 children who receive a shoe box gift. After receiving a shoe box gift, boys and girls are invited to participate in the voluntary Bible study course produced by Samaritan s Purse. The 12-lesson set guides children through a study of who Jesus Christ is, what it means to follow Him, and how to share this exciting message with others. To help these boys and girls continue to grow in their faith, they are provided with their own copy of the Greatest Gift New Testament. This special edition also includes select Old Testament stories, a dictionary, and a section that encourages the children to memorize Scripture. 14th 15th 16th 19th Jeanne Richardson Dale Skiljan Henry Pemberton Gio Patti Operation Christmas Child is a program whose impact will only truly be seen when we reach our eternal home. If you are interested in more information go to the website: www.samaritanspurse.org/ occ
What a tremendous night of entertainment for all attending this year s Dinner Theater! The play was outstanding and the food, catered by Old Carolina BBQ Co., could not have been better. A big THANKS to all who made this such a great evening at FallsCreek.
Director & Lighting: Chuck Grubb Sound: Matt Gilbert Videographer: Jeff Stein Stage Hand: Mark Igleheart, Jimi Chaney
Cast of Characters Stephanie Underwood: Sandy Austin Underwood: Chad LaVonThomas: Margaret Candy Grubb: Dan Lenc: Dave Mike Lutey: Uncle Oscar Chuck Heiner : Ranger Rick Susan Rennie Long: Aunt Ethel Steve Chaney: Robert Dale Skiljan: Mikey Mark Igleheart: the Bear
Set Design: Chuck Grubb, Mike Lutey, Steve Chaney Table Design: Stephanie Underwood Costume Design: Rennie Long Script Consultant: Candy Grubb Servers: Jimi Chaney Sherl Dreier Chuck Grubb Mark Igleheart Tricia Igleheart Dawn Kensinger Cindy Terry Lillian Turano Aaron Turano
An Old-Fashioned Family Christmas was held in December. After lunch Justin Raper led the singing of Christmas Carols while Donna Peters led the sharing of Christmas traditions past and present. Barb Brunk read the Christmas story from Luke 2....that FallsCreek has many more bikers than I originally knew about that in addition to the Grubbs, Brunks and Chaneys, Donna Cook, Dan Campbell, Rennie and Larry Long, John and Stephanie Underwood, Dennie and Michelle Carroll, and Dale Skiljan all enjoy riding...that we are also starting a Corvette Club with Larry Long and Dan Campbell sporting their cars...that the Heart2Heart Group were very excited to introduce their new baby, Karen Mason s granddaughter, Kylee Grace, when she and her parents were in the service Christmas Sunday...that Linda and John Reynolds are getting very excited about the arrival of their first grandchild, Grason James Ison...that Pastor and LaVon were able to enjoy Christmas time in New York City for a few days...that Mickey Knight was able to enjoy an early Christmas with Afton and Brad and the two grand fur-babies...that if you were not in attendance, you really do need to see Janice Israel perform her version of the Angel Chicken Dance...that Jeromy Clark headed up a project to collect money for women in need associated with Access Inc. in Akron that $785 was donated by those at FallsCreek and when Jeromy and some of teens went to present the gifts, two of our senior girls filled out applications to serve as volunteers with the organization that Dan Campbell is a man of many interests. There is virtually nothing he does not enjoy doing. You must see his salt-water fish tank and collection of animals he has hunted that I have heard Tom Likovetz makes the best fried chicken around (maybe he will share his recipe???) that God does not call us to be perfect, He calls us to be persistent...did you know these things? I thought you should! Donna A. Peters, Editor