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May 2007 Newsletter
    
Deadline for Newsletter Articles for next month is the 15th of the month.
Email the Church Office or fax the office at 330-836-8872
Use Newsletter submission form here on the website or place in church office newsletter mail box.
Services Combine
To Celebrate Pentecost!!
The Day of Pentecost - Sunday, May 27, ONE service at 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary Featuring: “Pentecost Wind and Fire”, a Dramatic Narration in One Act Written by
Faith member DuWayne Hansen
Presented by a talented host of FLC narrators It’s the birthday of the Christian church! Be festive…wear red!
Explorers Club
Explorers Club Year End Celebration - May 20 - at the 9:15 a.m. service
Explorers’ from both times will attend, sit with their classes, and participate in the service.
Come and celebrate with the children and their teachers as another year of Christian Education draws to a close! (No Explorers’ Club, youth or adult classes will be held on May 20. Sunday Christian Education resumes on Rally Day, September 9.)
The 10:30 a.m. service WILL be held as usual in the Fellowship Hall on May 20.
Change in June, July
Due to Pastor Jean’s traveling and vacation schedule, and the difficulty of finding an ordained person to serve as supply pastor on particular dates, Holy Communion will be held on the second and fourth Sundays in June and July at 9:15 a.m. worship. Therefore, Communion Sundays will be June 10 and 24, July 8 and 22.
STEPHEN MINISTRY TRAINING
Do You Want to Join Us?
Several people talked about considering Stephen Ministry training but were unable to begin in February due to travel or other considerations. Thanks in large part to the success of the 24 people already involved with this training, I am ready to begin another session!
If you would like more information about becoming a Stephen Minister and might consider attending the training, please contact me. (Call the church office or email cjwaggs@aol.com.) The class schedule can be set up to meet the needs of most of the people participating.
Mission Possible!
Your mission should you choose to accept it - is to uncover a way to become involved with … Vacation Bible School 007 - June 18—22, 2007
If you can chop fruit, tell stories, decode secret messages… If you know how to use a pair of scissors or a glue bottle, or a magnifying glass… You could be a special agent in God’s Mission to reach the children of our community!
Seek out Director of VBS Intelligence Julie Magons for your next assignment! There will be a Special Registration Event after Explorer Worship on May 20. Register that day and receive a free family CD to take home.
Youth News for May
All Youth Members 9th-12th Grade - Sunday, May 6 - LAST PANERA!!! Join us at Panera for our last Sunday get together. We will meet from 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. (PLEASE NOTE: This includes the 9th graders as well!)
Confirmation - Wednesday, May 9 - Confirmation Picnic from 6 - 8 p.m. with Pastor Jean. Join us for a good food and team building activities with Leo. Sunday, May 13 - Last Confirmation class with Lucius and Janice at 9:15 a.m. Thank you all for a super year! Have a great summer! Wendy and Leo
SPECIAL OFFERING ON MAY 6
On Sunday, May 6 we will receive a special offering for our Guatemalan Youth Mission Team. This offering will be used in two ways; to assist in the final funding needed for the trip AND to be used for mission works in Guatemala. We so very much appreciate all of the support we have received from our “Family of Faith” thus far.We truly could not have achieved this goal without all of your help! We humbly ask for your continued support and for your prayers as we approach our departure date.
Yours in Christ, Faith Youth Mission Team
CSI Reports To Council
At the Monday, April 16, Church Council meeting, the CSI (Church Space Investigators) Team presented a report of their findings regarding the possible purchase of the Twin Sisters building to the Council, Building Team and Building Finance Team.
Building - The CSI Team (Randy Cole, Dineen Dowling, Diane Christoff, Mark Watkins, Wendy Boes, Sheila Knops, along with Pastor Jean and Carolyn Wagar Hier) had spent the last two months researching information about the building two doors down from Faith, consulting with architect Eric Beach about cost for renovation, arranging an inspection and appraisal, reviewing maintenance and utility history, envisioning preschool, youth and outreach possibilities at this new space, and projecting a six year budget plan should Faith consider purchasing this building for ministry.
Their research compared the original building project which would expand our current facility (drawings on display in the hallway) with the alternative option which would include acquiring the Twin Sisters building and making improvements to Faith. The team presented an extensive list of benefits and drawbacks for each option, as well as a thorough cost analysis for each. They concluded that the cost to pursue option 2 (purchase the new building, renovate it for preschool, youth and outreach ministries, and make improvements at Faith) is significantly higher than the Cargill study suggests the church can manage.
The Council and Building Teams voted to support a recommendation to pursue the original building project. We offer many thanks to the congregation for your patience and prayers throughout this investigation. We learned a great deal. We trust that God’s hand has been guiding us along the way. Now we will move forward with a building plan that enhances this space for children and youth ministry and provides a welcoming gathering space for all who enter our doors. We do not intend to remain focused solely on ourselves. We will continue to pursue outreach ministry possibilities beyond our walls, giving thanks to God for opening up doors for us to be disciples in the world.
FYI
Can you say "CHEESE" !!! The Boy Scout Troop sponsored by Faith is assisting the congregation in creating a new Photo Membership Directory, while working on their Communication and Photography merit badges. Please watch for further updates
New To Our Church
Karen Callahan; Steve and Meggan Dunn and their children Allison and Lily; Joe and Fran Gedraitis; Chuck and Judy Gerdes; Alice Gilmore; Christine Harder and son Kirby; Gwen Johnson; Tiffini Klingensmith and son Jonathan; Steve and Carla Ringer; Cindy Veitch
Marissa Veitch; John and Cathleen White
Easter Basket - Thank You
Thank you to all those who participated in making Easter baskets -- 168 Easter baskets were filled with candies and toys. All were taken to Children’s Services for distribution. Every donation of time and Easter items is greatly appreciated. Vee Robinson
Dear Members: On behalf of the Board of Trustees, staff and children served, thank you so much for your incredibly generous donation of 168 Easter baskets ..an unbelievable quantity. We have already begun to distribute them to the staff for delivery to the children. This year, we anticipate providing more than 2200 Easter baskets and stuffed animals to vulnerable children in our community. We truly appreciate your willingness to make Easter so much brighter for children, and we are most grateful for your continued support of this agency and program.
Your Church members continually help the children in this community year in and year out. I hope your members had as much pleasure in putting the baskets together as the children do in receiving them. Your ongoing support of the Easter program (and so many others) is commended!! Again, thank you for your donation. Sandy DeLuca, Volunteer Services Coordinator
Thank You
Pastor Jean and her helpers,
Thank you so much for the beautiful (new member) brunch and making us feel so welcome. We are looking forward to becoming members and sharing our faith with everyone! Steve and Carla Ringer
Thank You
Dear Christian Friends, Mille and I wish to apologize for taking so long in wrting and thanking each and every one of you for the lovely prayer shawl you gave us through our Pastor Eric Van Sayre. What a gracious and lovely thing to do. As we use it we will always remember where and who it came from. Thanks to all for the many heartfelt prayers and dedication of this unusual gift to us. The softness and beauty will give us much comfort. Yours in the Risen Lord, Millie and Betty Kirnel
U2charist - Be the Miracle!
Share a unique worship celebration and help provide direct relief to the orphans of Zambia. Recently featured in The Lutheran, First Lutheran Church of Strongsville is hosting a U2charist on May 6 at 6 p.m. The service features the music of the Irish rock band U2 set within a creative Communion liturgy. The live band rocks! For more information call 440.238.7890 or log onto WWW.firstchurchalive.org and www.orphanmedical.net.
WELCA
WELCA - Wednesday, May 9, 10 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall Companion Synod 2005 Youth Mission
Pastor Dee Miklos and her family were a part of a 21 day mission trip to South Africa. Once the group arrived at our Companion Synod the 21 participants traveled in four rented mini buses to various locations within the Synod, painting and doing repair work at churches, parsonages and retreat centers. Seven participants were under 18 years of age, seven were between 18 and 25, three were sponsors and four were pastors. Pastor Dee will include slides of their mission adventure. WELCA welcomes everyone who would enjoy hearing about this mission trip. Barbara Dillahunt will share devotions and prepare the refreshments.
For our April program, Steve Thompson gave an excellent presentation on the church windows. He gave out brochures with a page for each window which we took into the church following the presentation. We are blessed with beautiful and very interesting windows, and a thank-you to Steve for sharing this information.
Greeters Workshop
Greeters Workshop - Did you see them on Easter Sunday? At each entrance they were there, waiting in the wings, eager to proclaim a hearty “Happy Easter!” and “Good Morning!” and “Welcome to Faith!”
They were that once extinct creature, the greeter. Well, we are excited to reinstate the Ministry of Greeting at Faith Lutheran Church. This month we are going to re-establish a Greeters Program, beginning with workshops on how to serve as a Greeter. Sure, it’s not rocket science, but there are some helpful hints on how to be an effective Greeter of a caring congregation. We hope to identify a Greeter Coordinator and create a schedule for the summer months and into the fall. If you are someone who feels called to extend a warm welcome those who enter our doors on Sunday morning, please consider sharing your gifts in this way. You are invited to attend a Greeters Workshop, offered at two convenient times:
Wednesday, May 16 from 7-8:30 pm in the Youth Room, Saturday, May 19 from 10-11:30 am in the Fellowship Hall For more information, contact Dineen Dowling, 330-873-1869 or dineend@neo.rr.com Child care will be provided.
Mark Your Calendars
For Pastor’s Summer Book Study - Each summer Pastor Jean offers an adult study; recently the Bible and The Lutheran Handbook have been featured. This year’s topic is the book Mother Teresa’s Prescription: Finding Happiness and Peace in Service by Dr. Paul A. Wright, M.D. The author, a cardiologist from Youngstown, Ohio experienced a dramatic shift in values and life-style, even in the way he practiced medicine, following his encounter with Mother Teresa. He details 10 spiritual attitudes that accompany such a life. The book is only 116 pages long and lends itself to group reflection and discussion.
BOOK STUDY - Mother Teresa’s Prescription: Finding Happiness and Peace in Service by Dr. Paul A. Wright, M.D. 7-8 p.m. on Wednesdays OR 1:30-2:30 p.m. on Thursdays (Same session both times, pick the one that works for you that week.) Five Weeks
July 11/12 through August 8/9 Led by Pastor Jean
The books will be available in the church office by June 25 for those who wish to participate in the study. A donation of $10 to cover the cost is appreciated, but is not necessary.
In Our Prayers:
Health Concerns: Faith member Don Dillahunt, Faith member Karen Shepherd
Special Prayers: For all who are serving in the military, particularly those who are in the midst of conflict, that they would sense God’s presence. And that peace may prevail in our hearts and in the world, particularly in Iraq and all places where people are suffering due to war and violence.
In Times of Loss: For Faith members Chuck and Louise Baltes, and family, upon the unexpected death of Chuck’s brother Jonathan, that they would be comforted. Pastor Jean presided at his graveside service on April 14.
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