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November 2005 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.
Clara's Club
Bibles will be presented to First Grade Explorers at both worship services.
Newly formed "Guide Groups" will attend First and Second Grade Explorer Club classes at 9:15 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. and present Bibles during worship at the alternate time.
Contact Bill Pope or Julie Magons for details.
SERVICE of THANKSGIVING and PRAISE
Sunday, November 20 - One Worship Service - 9:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary
We will give thanks for God's blessings, especially for our Family of Faith!
Come and join the celebration!
Immediately followed by the congregation's Annual Meeting. The Kinship Café will be open 9-9:25 a.m. in the West Market Lobby. The nursery will be available, and there will be activities for children (6th grade and younger) during worship and the meeting. (Watch the Weekly Beacon for details.) Adult and Youth groups will not be meeting. Please plan to attend!
Note: In the past the congregation's Annual Meeting was held at Noon and included a congregational lunch. For a variety of reasons the Church Council made this change. It is hoped that attendance at the meeting will increase, and that the day's business will be completed efficiently.
Community Thanksgiving Service
Hosted by the West Akron Churches - 9 a.m., Thursday, November 24 - St. Sebastian Catholic Church, 352 Elmdale Ave.
The offering supports the Dictionary Project of the Akron Public Schools. Everyone is invited to worship with our brothers and sisters in faith on this special day.
The Season of Advent
A Time of Preparation - The Season of Advent begins on November 27, which is the first Sunday of the church year. In the Lutheran church Advent is a time of joyful anticipation and preparation as we look forward to the arrival of Jesus as a baby born in Bethlehem and also to his second coming in glory.
We strive to allow this theme of anticipation to be the focus during Advent. This is especially important in a world that begins to celebrate Christmas in October. For that reason, we refrain from fully decorating and from using Christmas music until the Fourth Sunday in Advent.
In recent years the lights on the church's Christmas trees have remained unlit until Christmas Eve, when we celebrate the arrival of the Light of the World.
The Advent Wreath - What's the "right" color for the candles? For nearly 30 years in the Lutheran Church the color for Advent has been blue, which symbolizes hope. In the past, purple was the liturgical color for Advent, and the Advent wreath had three purple and one pink candle. This was before the lectionary (list of Bible readings for each Sunday) was revised; then the focus was on repentance rather than hope. The pink candle was used to symbolize the "toning down" of this repentant theme because Christmas was drawing near. Now that blue is the color, it is no longer appropriate to use a pink candle unless one is maintaining the older tradition of using purple as the season's color.
The Christmas Season
The Christmas Season begins at sundown on Christmas Eve and continues through January 5. This year both Christmas Day and New Year's Day are on Sundays. This is the time when Christians should be celebrating the arrival of their Lord and Savior Jesus … just as the Mall is being undecorated!
The Advent Wreath - What's the "right" color for the candles? For nearly 30 years in the Lutheran Church the color for Advent has been blue, which symbolizes hope. In the past, purple was the liturgical color for Advent, and the Advent wreath had three purple and one pink candle. This was before the lectionary (list of Bible readings for each Sunday) was revised; then the focus was on repentance rather than hope. The pink candle was used to symbolize the "toning down" of this repentant theme because Christmas was drawing near. Now that blue is the color, it is no longer appropriate to use a pink candle unless one is maintaining the older tradition of using purple as the season's color.
Christmas Worship
What better days to be in worship but on these days of celebration for Christians!
Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24 - Holy Communion Candlelight Services - 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25 - Celebrate the Birth of Jesus! - One Service at 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary
First Sunday After Christmas, January 1 - The Celebration Continues! One Service at 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary
(No Christian Education on December 25 or January 1) Watch your December "Beacon of Faith" for details!
ADULT EDUCATION
IT'S A GOOD THING! - Remember that we now offer several Sunday morning adult Bible studies and discussion groups. If you've never attended, don't be afraid to "drop in". . .you will be warmly welcomed!
9:30 a.m. in the library, led by Matt and Ingrid Harpster (currently doing "No Experience Necessary") 10:30 a.m. in the library, led by Jim and Sara Shook (Currently studying Philippians) 10:30 a.m. in the youth room, led by Carrie Miller (Currently looking at science and Christianity) IN addition, Carrie is doing a science/Christianity discussion on Wednesdays in the library at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.. . .choose which time works best for you!
NEW GROUP FOR GUYS
- - - IT'S EARLY! What an awesome way to focus your day on Christ before the busyness of life takes over! Thanks to Matt Harpster and Randy Cole for jumping in to start and lead this brand new group. They would like to invite you to join them. The guys meet at Randy's work place: GovTech, 302 N. Cleveland- Massilon Rd. in the Commonwealth Complex. Currently the group is meeting the first and third Tuesday of every month from 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. (November 2 and November 16) For more information, you can call Matt at 330-721-2488 or Randy at 330-867-4151. If you cannot attend, please pray for the success of this endeavor.B16
Advent Adventure
Food! Fun! Fellowship for the Entire Family! - Help keep Christ at the center of your holiday preparations by gathering here as the family of God. This is also the perfect event to which you may bring a neighbor or friend.
This year's mid-week Advent family nights will begin Wednesday, November 30 at 6 p.m. For the first 3 weeks, here's how the schedule will go: 6:00 - 6:40 p.m. Arrive and have dinner (the first week will be a potluck) 6:45 - 7:40 p.m. Music activities and classes for children, youth and adults (keep reading for details) 7:45 - 8:00 p,m. Closing devotion
The final week (December 21) we will meet at 6 p.m., have dinner and travel together across the road to sing Christmas Carols to the shoppers. Even if you can't carry a tune, you will enjoy an evening of carols followed by a return to church for hot chocolate and cookies.
More exciting news is that our closing devotion will center on some of the people who were important leading up to the birth of the baby Jesus. Our own DuWayne Hansen, who wrote the dialogues, will be on hand to give insight and lead discussion about each character before the service. As an additional choice, Tom Antal and Dineen Dowling will lead a group focusing on the "sounds of Christmas" to share stories of favorite carols and explore other holiday music.
Children will be able to make crafts, hear stories, and sing AND our youth groups will be providing gift wrapping during the first three weeks as well! So get your shopping done, bring your gifts, kids, and an appetite, and plan to join us beginning Wednesday, November 30. Who knew church could be so much fun?
HANNAH"S HOPE
HELPING HANDS for HANNAH"S HOPE
Beginning November 1and running through December 1 the youth of Faith are asking for your help with a very special service project. Last Sunday in church you (or your child) should have received a gift bag. We are asking that each day at dinnertime or at bedtime you place one dollar into the bag and say a prayer for the children in Guatemala & all over the world who are living in orphanages. Special prayers were attached to the gift bags to help you in this process. The donations collected will allow us to provide for Christmas gifts for the more than 100 children currently living in Hannah's Hope orphanage in Guatemala City. Additional information about the orphanage & children was attached with the gift bags. If you did not receive your bag and/or you would like further information, please contact Wendy Boes at #330-414-0300. We greatly appreciate your help with this project!
Youth
High School Retreat Saturday, November 5 - Sunday, November 6 High School youth members will be picked up at the Church at 4 p.m. on Saturday and will return on Sunday at noon. Please wear old clothes (an extra set of clothes is always a good idea!) and bring whatever you will need for a sleepover including sleeping bag or blanket & pillow. We will sleep inside! We also ask that you bring a snack to share with others. Please call Wendy at 330-414-0300 to let us know if you will be in attendance! No High School class on Sunday, Nov. 20 due to the combined 9:30 a.m. Service.
Confirmation Classes on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 9 a.m. followed by the Contemporary Service at 10:30 a.m. and bowling at Riviera Lanes from 12-2 p.m. No Confirmation Class on Wednesday, November 23 due to the holiday! Confirmation Class as normal on Sunday, Nov. 27.
All Youth - "Advent Adventure" on Wednesday, November 30, December 7 & 14.
We will meet for dinner at 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. From 6:45 - 7:45 we will be wrapping gifts for & selling cookies to the congregation. Proceeds will go towards our "Helping Hands for Hannah's Hope" project! (Confirmation students are required to attend one of the three Wednesday evenings!) We will end our evenings with a brief service from 7:45-8 p.m.
Advent Adventure
Join us for our "Advent Adventure" and Leave the wrapping & baking to us!
On Wednesday, Nov. 30, Dec. 7 & 14 from 6 -8 p.m. the youth at Faith will be wrapping gifts (we'll supply the gift wrap!) and selling oh so yummy cookies! Gift wrapping is for donations & cookies will be $3 a dozen. All proceeds will go towards our "Helping Hands for Hannah's Hope" service project. What a great way to save yourself some work & help others at the same time! We thank you for your support.
Candidacy Journey Begins!
We give thanks that Faith member Carrie Miller has begun the candidacy process in the ELCA, with the goal of attending Trinity Lutheran Seminary in the fall. Carrie, a former Youth Leader at Faith, has felt called to ordained ministry for a number of years.
She has now begun a six-month process of completing applications and undergoing evaluations and interviews. An important step in that process is registration by the congregation which commits itself to offer personal and financial support. The Church Council made this commitment to Carrie, on behalf of the congregation, at its September meeting.
Faith Lutheran Church is indeed privileged to play an important role in the ministry of the wider church by offering this support. Currently Carolyn Wagar Hier also is in the midst of the candidacy and seminary journey. In recent years the congregation has under girded Pastors Dee Miklos and John Maroni with prayers, finances and words of encouragement.
May God continue to bless us with such opportunities!
Tutoring Program
Building Hope in the City's Akron/Zion tutoring program is underway with 14 students enrolled. The Channelwood community has been very receptive. They have mailed flyers about the program to all the residents, given us a room to use free of charge and have helped with both access and security. They want this program for their residents and their welcome has been uplifting.
Since most of our current students are in Grades 1-3 and the emphasis will therefore be on reading, we havel a need for a small permanent library of gently used children's books. Books such as Dr. Seuss, Berenstine Bears and the I Can Read series are fun and can also be used to teach more than reading (ie: Cat in the Hat-pick up your messes and Horton Hatches the Egg-responsibility for your actions). Are there any parents or grandparents whose children have outgrown their books that would be willing to donate one or two of them to this tutoring project? Please bring them to your church office. We will collect them with much gratitude.
Please keep this ministry in your prayers. If you would like to be included call Shirley Duffy (330-650-6716)or Zion Lutheran Church (330-253-3136).
What Lutherans Believe
7-9 p.m. on Thursdays - November 3 in the nursery - November 10 and 17 in the library
This group is for anyone who wishes to join Faith Lutheran Church and has not previously been Lutheran OR anyone who wishes to do an overview of Lutheran history and beliefs. New members will be received during 9:15 a.m. worship on November 27.
Please contact Pastor Jean by October 31 if you are planning to attend.
Brown Sugar Collection
For OPEN M - We are the "Brown Sugar" church for OPEN M.
So, bring in your 2 lb.brown sugar bags to help the disadvantaged. Are we up to the challenge of attaining our goal of 200 bags? They are due by Sunday, December 9.
Cookbooks
Faith Lutheran Church Cookbooks . . . are on sale now. $15.00
Bible Study "Deborah"
Wednesday November 9, 2005 - 10:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall - Arlene Birdsell will lead our Bible study of Deborah, an Old Testament prophetess, who had her personal way of acting boldly. Deborah's story is found in Judges, chapters four and five. Arlene will have devotions within the Bible study. Bring your Bible.
Act Boldly is the WELCA theme for the next three years. Each woman is encouraged to find her own way to act boldly on her faith in Jesus Christ.
Hostess: Betty Kesti
In Our Prayers:
Health Concerns: Faith member Dick Kesti; Faith member Barbara Micucci; Faith member Milan Rolik; Faith member Blanche Werrbach
Special Prayers: For all military personnel who have been deployed to Iraq and surrounding areas, and for their families, with special prayers for those who have endured injury or loss.; For Faith members Bill and Susan Henke as he begins a new job in Arkansas, and they prepare to move.; For all those who have suffered loss of homes and loved ones, or have been injured, due to natural disasters in Pakistan and Guatemala.
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