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March 2001 Newsletter
    
Lent Continues in March and April
The forty days before Easter-Lent-began Wednesday, February 28 with our two
Ash Wednesday services at 12:30 PM and 7:30 PM. That day, Pastor began a
seven week series titled, "By What Faith: The Basics." That night he talked
about "How Can I Know God?' The spirit of Lent has always been that of
study and preparation, similar to the Jewish Day of Atonement. Ash
Wednesday marked the beginning of this special spiritual emphasis in the
Christian church.
The mood of the of Lent is reflective, concerned with spiritual growth in
the ways of our Lord Jesus. It goes on to climax with the freedom and peace
of Maundy Thursday's Holy Communion on April 12th at 7:30 PM. Good Friday
completes Passion Week on Friday 13, 2001. Members of Faith Lutheran Church
are encouraged to attend a production of the Cleveland Performing Arts
Ministries presentation of "Tetelestai" (Greek for "It is finished"), the
Passion of Jesus at Fairlawn Lutheran Church, Fairlawn.
Lenten Soup Supper
Each Wednesday night beginning March 7 with a soup supper
courtesy of our Ministry Teams and LIFE Groups at 6:30 PM. Devotions will
follow at 7:15 PM in the Great Room of the Fellowship Hall for supper.
Pastor will continue with his seven week series titled "By What Faith: The
Basics." Each evening will be devoted to one area of the Christian faith.
March 7 "Who Is This Jesus?"
March 14 "Why Bother About Sin?"
March 21 "How Do I Become a Christian?"
March 28 "How Do I Live a Christian Life?"
April 4 "How Do I Grow as a Christian?"
April 12 "Is There Hope for the Future?"
Maundy Thursday
12:30 and 7:30 PM
Order of Foot Washing at 7:30 PM
Cleveland Performing Arts Ministries production of "Tetelestai"
Coming in April--Good Friday, Cleveland Performing Arts Ministries production of "Tetelestai" (Greek "It is Finished"), the Passion of Jesus on Good Friday, April 13, 2001 at 8:00
PM at Fairlawn Lutheran Church, 3415 West Market Street, Akron, OH. The
admission is free but a free will offering will be taken.
Summer Camp Registration
Did you know that you can register for Summer Camp online at
www.lomocamps.org.
First Communion for Fifth Graders and above
Pastor Sneeringer would like to invite our Fifth Graders and above to
prepare for their First Communion by meeting with him first three Saturday
mornings of this month. On Saturday, March 3, youth preparing for their
first Communion will meet for an hour at 9 AM in the Youth Room (Parents
please attend for the first fifteen minutes). First Communion will be March
18, 2001 at the 10:45 AM Celebration Service. The office knows of the
following young people eligible for their first Communion: Christopher
Butler.
Sarah Carano, Erin Marie Carpenter, Tyler Johnson, Mary Gsellman, Kailin
Hurley, Erin Lathem, Brandon Lightle, Brianna Lloyd, Alexandra Singer.
If your son or daughter is not listed or listed by mistake, please call the
office immediately at 836-8811. Communicants will celebrate their First
Communion on Palm Sunday at the 10:45 AM Celebration Service.
Confirmation Recess
Confirmation classes will recess for the Lenten season and resume on April
18, 2001. They will conclude on May 30, 2001 with a potluck supper and
awards celebration bringing to a close this year's study of the Bible and
the story of the mighty acts of God. This spring we will conclude with a
study of the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus. That will be
followed by a look at the beginnings of the early Christian church.
Home Bound Communion Team
The Home Bound Communion Team will again be sharing the Sacrament with our
home bound members beginning March 5, 2000 following the consecration of the
bread and wine during the 10:45 AM Service. Led by Bill Pope, this ministry
team represents our congregation and the care that members of Christ's body
are to have for one another. God bless them!
"Discover Faith" Seminar for New Members
DISCOVER FAITH - the seminar for individuals considering becoming part of
the Faith family -- will be held on Sunday, March 18, 2001 from 12:00
PM-5:00 PM following a pizza lunch in the Fellowship Wing. New members will
be received the next Sunday, March 25, 2001 at the 10:45 AM Celebration
Service.
Pastor will lead discussions on the basic teachings of Jesus as witnessed to
in the Bible. This discussion will lead to what it means to be a Christian
in the 21st Century. Questions about the interpretation of scripture, the
importance of worship and the sacraments, the purpose of the church, all
will be answered.
Those currently members of another Lutheran Church who would like to unite
with Faith may do so by calling the church office (330-836-8811) and request
a Letter of Transfer from their previous congregation. Those baptized in
another denomination will be received by Affirmation of Faith. Those who
wish to be baptized are asked to attend the class and thus be prepared to
receive the Sacrament of Baptism. For further information contact Pastor
Stan.
Church Council Meets March 19
After another meeting of the entire leadership team of Faith Lutheran Church
on Monday, February 19th, the Church Council will be meeting this month to
review our ministry in light of Faith's Vision statement and celebrate the
many "mission moments" that was shared in the ministry area meetings that
night. It is always a celebration to hear stories of the transforming power
of Jesus Christ in the lives of individuals and the congregation.
Lenten Coin Folders
Each year, Faith Lutheran Church receives from $400-$600 to assist in a
global or care ministry of the church. This year, these funds will be
earmarked for the Pastor's Discretionary Fund. Your gifts to this fund help
those needing financial assistance while counseling with one of our two
counselors, members temporarily in need of financial assistance, those
coming to our doors in need of a meal, and help with gasoline for stranded
travelers.
Ribbon Festival
Ohio Music Educators Ribbon Festival held here Saturday, March 10
Twice a year the Ohio Music Educators Association holds its Ribbon Festival
for piano students of area music teachers. This year one of those area
Festivals will again be held here at Faith Lutheran Church on our new Boston
Grand Piano in the sanctuary. The Festival offers students of the piano a
chance to play in front of judges who review each student's playing for
skill, phrasing and musicianship. The student is judged based on his or her
musical level. Each student then receives a Ribbon for participating.
Faith to Host Conference Clergy
Led by Rev. Mark Sherwindt, the clergy and associates in ministry of the
Akron-Wooster Conference will be meeting here at Faith on Tuesday morning,
March 6, 2001 from 10 AM until 12 PM. They will be meeting in the Youth
Room.
Synod News
Companion Synod Committee Meets here March 6, 2001
Pastor Stan chairs the Companion Synod Sub-committee of the Global Mission
Committee of the Northeastern Ohio Synod. Its mission is to give
opportunities for the Northeastern Ohio Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America (ELCA), and the Northern Diocese, Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Southern Africa (ELCSA) to share our commitment to Christ in the community
of faith and to give expression to our oneness in Christ. This has been
accomplished by exchanged visits between Bishops, pastors, youth and
leadership conferences. Last fall the Northern Diocese sent Jacob Mthembu
to teach us the music of the South African church. His impact was felt all
over the Synod. Next summer, Rev. Mark Sherwindt will be traveling to South
Africa to teach several seminary in preaching for lay people.
From the Website
Faith Webmaster Ed Rich reports that in any one week Faith's website
receives about 500 unique "hits" i.e. visits by new computers. Here are a
couple of those stories. 1) A person from Germany emailed the Pastor saying
he was "surfing our newsletter and I noticed that Ken Nouse had passed away.
I knew Ken when we lived in Loudonville, Ohio. I want to make a donation in
his memory to the soup ministry for hospice. Can you send me your church's
address?' 2) A pastor from Alaska emailed Pastor to write "These messages
have encouraged and quickened me to more than what I have been doing in the
kingdom of God." Faith is an outreach congregation thanks to our ministry
and the efforts of our webmaster Ed Rich.
P.S. By the way check out the new Faith Lutheran Church Endowment Fund web
page and learn more about our Endowment Fund is doing.
FLC Friendship Callers Call Again
Last month members of Faith received a friendly phone call from a host of
their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. It was a friendly phone call
wishing everyone a Happy Valentine's Day and an invitation to Ash Wednesday
services February 28 to celebrate the greatest of love of all, the sacrifice
of Jesus for our salvation.
Thursday Feb 15th 17 members of Faith attempted to call each member of Faith
(just to say "Hi, how are you, hope you & your family are OK). Some calls
were not completed (no one home, line continued to be busy), but those that
we did complete gave all an opportunity to share "God's peace" with other
members and some comments (with permission) were passed on to Pastor Stan
for "follow-up". My thanks to all those that volunteered for this event and
I would invite more to join us Thursday Apr 5 6:30PM-8:30PM in "the Great
Hall" for prayer, pizza, soft drinks, a brief instruction and then to make a
minimum of 10 phone calls.
Callers that evening were Lour Sullivan, Bill Pope, Jean Butler, Jean
Gombert, Kelly Lockheart, Vanessa and Chuck Wondra, Alison Seefeldt, Judy
Schmidt, Polly Dobkin, Debbie Rose, Sheila Knops, Joyce Lightle, Hal Wilson,
Dee Miklos and Hans Zbinden. Bringing phones that evening were Ken
Rosebrock, Darlene Richmond, Becky Strimple, Franny Barcus and Don Johnson.
Bless them all for helping to make Faith the community that it is.
Faith welcomes new Celebration Choir Director
Mr. Scott McVey accepted last month the position vacated by Richard Gaylord
last summer as Faith's Celebration Choir Director. (Richard is now working
as a Director of Music near Pittsburgh, PA.) Scott eager to begin, directed
our choir for the first time on Sunday, February 18.
Scott is a scholarship student at Cleveland State University where he is
majoring in choral conducting having earlier transferred from the Kent State
University Music School where he studied with C.M. Shearer. At CSU he is a
student of Professor of Choral Conducting Betsy Burleigh who recommended
Scott to our Choir's Search Team.
Scott has had as his goal from an early age to be a choral conductor. His
first experience as a choral conductor was when in the eighth he conducted
his middle school choir. He has played the piano since the age of five. He
has also performed as a baritone soloist with the Cleveland State Chamber
Orchestra and Choir.
Please welcome Scott to Faith Lutheran Church.
W-ELCA
Wednesday, March 14, 2001 10:00 a.m.
The crucifixion scene was VERY impressive! It was extremely realistic - you feel you are there! Speechless - Overwhelmed!
Remembering Oberammergau
The Passion Play with a cast of hundreds and full orchestra and chorus. We have the opportunity to learn about all of this without having to go to Germany. The Greenawalts, Johnsons and Sneeringers were there in July. They will tell us about the live action scenes that begin with Palm Sunday and culminate with Jesus' resurrection. Christians from the entire world were watching this play together. There will be slides, photo albums, books, music and discussion so you will get the real flavor of this drama that is acted out every ten years by the citizens of Oberammergau. Please join us for a very interesting morning.
Our president, Elaine Johnson, will have a brief business meeting.
Devotions will be given by Bettemae Ramsey.
Hostess is Bettemae Ramsey.
Explorer Club
Do you know what your child is learning in Explorer Club? As fun as Explorer Club is, first and foremost it is an educational experience.
Take a quiz. Go ahead. It makes great dinner table conversation.
- Dinner prayer
- Bedtime prayer
- Lord's Prayer
- John 3:16 (remember the guy with the rainbow-colored wig at all the sporting events?)
- Apostles' Creed
Easy so far? Try these.
- The Ten Commandments
- Recite Psalm 23
- Books of the Bible. All of them!
- Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10)
Whew! Can you believe this?
- Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20)
- Now, the very biggest education experience! Learning how to organize and manage a service project. That's right. They learn how and why we should reach out with our hearts to help one another .... for love's sake.
Harry London Candy Fundraiser
A Harry London Candy Fundraiser to help fund improvements to the classrooms used by the Preschool and Sunday School children will be held from March 1 through March 16. (The Preschool receives 50% profit) You will find information and order forms in your mail boxes. Church members who wish to order products through this fundraiser may turn their order forms into the preschool box outside the Preschool office.
ALL ORDERS MUST BE TURNED IN THE PRESCHOOL OFFICE BY MARCH 16TH
Payment is due at the time the candy is ordered. Candy will be delivered the week of April 2 (to the church office) in plenty of time for Easter. If you have any questions, please contact Debbie Sinopoli, Preschool Fundraising Coordinator, at 330-836-1394. Thank you for your support!
New Name Tags are in the Making
Our newly designed church name tags have arrived and are being labeled with members' names. The previous name tag supply was put to use by the many, many members of Faith Lutheran Church. The new tags are again white, 3" by 2" in size with the "bulldog" clip fastened on the back; on the front is the new logo printed in red ink.The name tags will be put in the Church mail boxes as they are labeled with members' names.
Community Outreach
This past year we continued to call on our shut-ins three times during the year. They are most appreciative of our visits. We take them some "goodies" such as valentines from the children's Sunday School classes, flowers, soup, baskets, candy, lotion, etc. It is a good feeling to visit with them as we both gain.
Our committee hosts one Wednesday evening Lenten Soup Supper each year.
We encourage our congregation to provide Easter Baskets for the Children's Services Board. This year we contributed 150 baskets for these less fortunate children.
We help support OPEN M which is a food pantry and free clinic for the poor and working poor. Throughout the year, members of Faith Lutheran bring in pudding for their food pantry. Keep it coming!
We help to provide school supplies for the Summit County Children's Services Board each August.
In the fall we hosted a successful Soup Supper fund-raiser for World Hunger/OPEN M. In conjunction with Lutheran Brotherhood, we were able to furnish funds to help feed 600 people at Thanksgiving.
Faith Lutheran is know at OPEN M as the "brown sugar church" and this past year donated 200+ bags of brown sugar during the holiday season.
We set up and decorated the Salvation Army "giving tree" and many children were pleased with their Christmas gifts that otherwise would have been non-existent.
We give annually to Habitat for Humanity toward construction of another home for some needy family.
As a group, we feel good about our service to our fellow man and hope with God's help, we can do more this coming year. Norm Schmidt
Easter Baskets
It is about time to be thinking about Easter Baskets. You have always done such a wonderful job of making Easter Baskets for Childrens' Service Board. Their aim is to distribute at least 400 a year and Faith has really chipped in toward that goal, fantastically.
Won't you please do it again?
Suggested items: Basket, Stuffed Animal, Candy (just a little), Books, Coloring Books, Crayons, Toothbrush and Paste, Hairbrush, Toys, Silly Putty, Games, Puzzles
The deadline for the Easter Basket contributions is April 1.
Thank you all. Jean Butler
Faith Lutheran Church Counselors
Cheryl Pelka of Lutheran Children's Aid and Family Services is now available every Wednesday by appointment here at Faith Lutheran Church. Fees are based on a sliding scale based on need. She is now taking appointments 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. Appointments may be made by calling her directly at (216) 281-2500.
Giancarlo - John - Scalzi is a psychotherapist, consultant and licensed social worker. He takes appointments on Thursday evenings. His counseling skills come also with the dimension of being Christ-centered. Fees for his services are based on a sliding scale and will be subsidized for members of Faith based on need. For more information please call (330) 653-3190.
The TODDLER NURSERY
Cindy Callen is the new caregiver for the children in our Toddler Room Nursery while parents attend church services and functions. She will provide a nurturing and caring environment and be willing to entertain and interact positively with a small group of children.
The hours are generally 9:00 a.m. to noon on Sundays. The caregiver will receive one Sunday off each month.
Responsibilities include caring for children of walking age up to 7 years old, maintaining a friendly, orderly, safe environment; and cleaning up the room after the children leave.
For more information please contact Susan Seeley at 330-864-0160 or thomasseeley@compuserve.com.
We are also looking for volunteers to care for children in the Toddler Nursery Room during church services on the Sundays that Cindy has off. There is a signup sheet in the Toddler Nursery and in the Narthex on Sundays. For more information, please contact Susan Seeley at 330-864-0160
Opportunity Knocking
Need a neat, all occasion, useful card?
We have available folded cards printed with our Faith Angel on the cover and blank on the inside for your own message.
richly colored the 5 x 7 inch cards are made of flexible stock that can be run through a printer.
They are based on our church brochure cover without the words "Follow Me" printed on there.
Bought singly with envelope the cost is $1.00 or 12 cards and envelopes for $10.00.
Where to take advantage of this opportunity? Come to the church office!
Thank You
Dear Friends,
OPEN M has made an ongoing commitment to serve the under served persons in our city relying on the goodwill and support of a broad base of concerned residents. Your financial support, last year, demonstrated a concern for the families in the community. Your gift enabled us to strengthen our programs and continue our work in the new Neighborhood Center. I could relate to you the wonderful achievements of OPEN M in the year 2000, when we handed out over 3,000 food bags and served over 11,000 hot lunches. But our mission isn't to produce large numbers it is to serve. The Bible says "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." This is our challenge to be there when someone, sometimes only one, has a crisis and we can provide assistance.
We thank God for your commitment to OPEN M and we will continue to minister to this neighborhood in a way that warrants your support. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
Yours truly,
William V. Brown
Chief Operating Officer OPEN M
Upon hearing that VNS Hospice on Ridgewood Road was without Bibles and hymnals, Hospitality team under the guidance of Lou Sullivan decided to purchase 12 Bibles and 6 copies of the Lutheran Book of Worship for the Hospice. The following letter was received from them.
On behalf of Visiting Nurse Service's Hospice Care Center, I would like to thank you for the very generous donation of 12 Bibles and 6 hymnals from Faith Lutheran Church.
Your gift and thoughtfulness are greatly appreciated by our staff, patients and their families. We appreciate you thinking of us and helping us to fulfill the concept of Hospice.
Sincerely, Sharon Dietzel, Director of Development
Your generous Advent Coin Folders donation of $553.50 was received yesterday. You are a blesing to children! Your gift to Lutheran Children's Aid and Family Services supports our work with newborn infants, elementary school children, pregnant teens and children from families in conflict. They don't know you and the importance of your gift. We know!
We know that somehow the cost of infant foster care has to be paid and you are helping. We know that children of divorce need supportive counseling. We know that young people haven't been born with the skills necessary to deal with the stresses of their life and they need our help. We know that parents haven't had the benefit of good parenting themselves and need to learn healthy parenting skills. We know that babies need permanent families through adoption.
Your very generous gift helps us to maintain our ministry as an arm of the Church. Blessings on your ministry.
Rev. Robert L. Cline, Executive Director
Lutheran Children's Aid and Family Services
Great Appreciation
From John and Lori Van Antwerp, members who live in Medina County: the Society for Handicapped Citizens has name their office complex The Eugene G. Glick Office Complex. The naming of the complex is in honor of the many years of outstanding service he has provided the SHC and surrounding community. Gene is the husband of our own Midi Glick. Congratulations, Gene, on this honor.
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