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October 2002 Newsletter
    
Member Visits
Member Visits With Pastor Jean
This Fall Pastor Jean will focus on visiting potential members of the congregation. However, she has set aside some dates in October and November to continue getting to know current members of Faith. The sign-up sheet is posted on the bulletin board across from the mail boxes; she would enjoy getting to know you better!
Organist Bob Mollard
Faith Welcomes Organist Bob Mollard
FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH will soon welcome a new organist! Robert (Bob) Mollard will be joining the Faith staff in October. Bob is an accomplished and well-known musician who most recently was Minister of Music at the First Congregational Church in Akron where he served for 12 years. He also was the Acting Senior Pastor at that congregation from 1998-2000.
Bob is the founder and president of Mollard Conducting Batons, Inc. and also serves as Associate Conductor of the Summit Choral Society.
We give thanks that God has called Bob to Faith and look forward to his music ministry among us. We also will welcome Bob's wife, Connie, and their children Patrick, 15 and Lauren, 3. The Mollards also have a daughter, Jill, who is married and has two young children.
Staffing Updates
Staffing Updates What's Happening Next?
*An organist, Robert (Bob) Mollard has been hired and will begin in October. (See the article printed on page 5 in this "Beacon of Faith".)
*Preliminary job descriptions have been written for two full-time positions, as recommended by the Church Council following its August retreat. The two positions are: Administrative Manager and Minister of Christian Growth and Development (covering the areas of youth ministry - under age 21, spiritual gifts and small groups). These job descriptions and salary guidelines have been approved by the Church Council.
*Job descriptions were mailed to congregation members in preparation for "Town Hall Meetings" on September 29 and 30.
*The Church Council will consider the input from these meetings to determine if revisions should be made in its proposals.
*At the annual meeting on November 24 the voting members of the congregation will consider the proposed budget that will include funding for these positions. Copies of the proposed budget will be mailed two weeks prior to the meeting.
*Pending budget approval, a Search Committee will be formed to seek additional staff.
Anyone with questions should contact Pastor Jean, Bill Beers, congregation president or Barry White, congregation
vice president.
October 13
Bishop Kenneth Sauer, Pastor Paul Lintern Special Guests on October 13 Mark Your Calendars!
October 13 is a day of celebration! All three services that day will be held in the sanctuary. There will be no Explorer's Club or youth classes/gathering. Families - adults and children - are encouraged to worship together at the 9:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. services.
Here is the plan for the day:
*Bishop Kenneth Sauer will be one of our guests. He will preach at the 8 a.m. worship and bring greetings during the 9:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. services. Bishop Sauer is the congregation's first pastor (1955-1973) and retired Bishop of the Southern Ohio Synod (ELCA).
*There will be a FAMILY FOCUS at the 9:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. services. Pastor Paul Lintern, who takes his creative and musical ministry "on the road", will be our guest leader at both of these services. There will be activities particularly for the children at these services, and a meaningful message for the adults.
This special day is the culmination of the fall stewardship emphasis; the congregation will celebrate FAITH. The theme for the day is: "Out of faith came FAITH (Lutheran Church) and in faith FAITH ministers and multiplies!"
As an act of worship on that day, Estimate of Giving cards will be turned in during the services.
Other changes for October 13 are that the choir and Light Band will have a day off to worship with their loved ones and ALL services will be held in the sanctuary.
"Clara's Club"
Sunday, November 17, at the 10:45 a.m. worship service will be the initial gathering of "Clara's Club". During the service there will be an acknowledgement of Explorers and their adult mentors.
Adults and their mentored child will meet three to four times before during a Sunday 10:45 a.m. worship service.
New adult mentors will be asked to purchase and autograph a Bible and present it to their child at the first gathering. All adult mentors and children are asked to worship together as "Clara's Club" members at these times.
There are no meetings to attend, and no reports to prepare. Additional time spent between an adult and the 'mentored' child is recommended.
Contact Bill Pope, 330-867-4946, if you are interested in this meaningful mission.
Rite of Confirmation
Sunday, September 22, 2002 we gave thanks for John Rausch, son of Darlene Richmond and Joseph (Joey) Weisand, son of John Weisend,
who became confirmed members of Faith Lutheran Church during the Affirmation of Baptism service at the 10:45 a.m. worship service.
A reception followed the service in the Fellowship Hall.
* New times! Explorers meet from 9:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Be on time or you'll miss something fun!
* We've added music to the morning. Each Sunday, Explorers will be experiencing a new way to praise God. Music man Bob Hartz and Choir Director Scott McVey add a new dimension to the morning.
* Faith's Fall Festival is Sunday, October 27th during Explorer Club. This year's theme is "Noah's Ark". Non-violent costumes could be anything from chickens to Noah! Vee Robinson is coordinating the party. Helpers are welcome!
* On October 13 Explorer Club members will sit with their parents in the sanctuary for a special program. This Sunday counts for (perfect) attendance awards!
* Out of change for the offering basket at Explorers? Bring a can of food instead! All canned goods will go to OPEN-M.
Preschool By-Laws Revision To Be Considered
Council will be presenting a revision to the by-laws as they pertain to Faith's Preschool, specifically the funtion of the FLC Preschool Board. The revision follows. Please read this carefully, as the Congregation will be voting on this revision at the Annual Meeting this November. Original by-laws pertaining to Preschool may be obtained from any Council member.
BY-LAWS (REVISION)
PROPOSED PRESCHOOL BY-LAWS (REVISION):
Section 8. Preschool Board
S8.01. There will be a board for Faith Lutheran Preschool. The board of directors will represent parents and members of Faith Lutheran Church. When possible, the majority of board members and the board president will be voting members of the congregation. The preschool director will be a voting member of the board. The board will be held accountable to the Church Council of Faith Lutheran Church. A representative from Church Council will serve on the board but will not serve as board president.
S8.02. The function of the board will be:
a. to carry out the statement of mission, vision and values of Faith Lutheran Preschool;
b. to assure adherence to the licensing standards of the State of Ohio;
c. to approve a yearly budget that has been developed by the preschool director, which will make the preschool self-supporting through tuition and registration fees;
d. to develop a handbook for the board which will be approved by Church Council;
e. to inform the congregation and the community of the philosophy and activities of the preschool.
W-ELCA
Wednesday October 9, 2002 9:30 a.m.
Tour The Northeastern Ohio Synod Center for Mission and Ministry 1890 E. Bailey Road Cuyahoga Falls Karen Kaufman, Leader
Explore materials at the Resource Center. Devotions will be given by Arleen Birdsell in the chapel.
Both a regular offering and a Thank offering will be collected. A business meeting will be conducted by Vee Robinson, President, in the Conference Room. Restaurant reservations will be at the Triple Crown. Meet at Faith Parking lot at 9:30 a.m. to caravan to Synod together. Note the time change to 9:30 a.m.
New Members
Attention Potential New Members
New Members To Be Officially Welcomed On Sunday, November 24
New members will be received during the 10:45 a.m. worship on November 24, and then will have the opportunity to meet other Faith members during the congregational dinner that follows the service and precedes the Annual Meeting.
Anyone who is interested in joining Faith Lutheran Church should sign up for an individual visit with Pastor Jean. A sign-up sheet with available dates is posted by her office. The visits may occur in homes or at the church. If none of the dates on the list are possibilities, please contact her individually.
There will be a "Welcome to Faith" gathering for all new members from 11:50 - 1:50 p.m. on November 10 in the Fellowship Hall. It is hoped that all new members will participate. Lunch will be provided, and members of the congregation will be invited to greet the new members and share about their ministry areas.
Those who are coming to Faith from a non-Lutheran background are asked to contact Pastor Jean by October 6 to make arrangements for a "What Lutherans Believe" group.
New members will be officially welcomed twice a year, in November and in the spring, on Pentecost Sunday (June 8, 2003), if possible.
Rummage Sale
Rummage Sale and Bake Sale Saturday, November 2 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Rummage Sale is the BIGGEST fellowship event of the year with over 75 members lending a hand! It provides a HUGE opportunity to help others. The anticipated recipients of the proceeds are:
John Maroni Seminary Fund Lutheran Outdoor Ministries of Ohio (LOMO) for Faith VBS Youth on Mission Boy Scouts
Busy Fingers Heifer Project International - "Fill the Ark" Explorer Project
Do not be weary in doing what is right. 2 Thessalonians 3:13
So ... roll up your sleeves, clean out those drawers and closets, and clear those attics and basements! Leave the nasty junk at your curb and bring CLEAN, USABLE items. We also need PAPER BAGS. Tax Exempt forms are available.
Due to the church's busy schedule on Sundays and Mondays, please begin bringing items no earlier than Tuesday, October 29.
Sale set-up starts Wednesday evening, October 30, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. and continues Thursday, October 31, and Friday, November 1.
Members Preview Night will be Friday, November 1, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Come for Soup and Sweets Dinner, Silent Auction to bid on valuable rummage, and shop the sale early to get the best stuff! If you're not into rummage sales, please come to eat - This is for everyone! Proceeds will go to the John Maroni Seminary Fund.
Please support this fund-raiser. Where else can you touch so many lives?
HYMN FEST
Lutherans Gather At Severence Hall For Hymn Fest
Can you imagine thousands of area Lutherans gathering at Cleveland's premier cultural venue for an evening of fellowship and singing? That dream becomes a reality at the first annual Lutheran Hymn Fest, slated for November 11 at 7 p.m. at Severence Hall! Tickets are now on sale ($10 for general admission; $25 for box seats) and may be ordered by calling Severance at (800) 686-1141. The evening will include performances by Concordia (Ann Arbor) University students; Barbara MacGregor, Professor of Organ at The University of Akron; a mass choir and handbell choir. All proceeds will help continue the event for years to come. This event is being jointly coordinated by Building Hope in the City, a ministry of Trinity Lutheran Church (LCMS) and Messiah Lutheran Church (ELCA).
The event's music committee is seeking individuals who would like to be part of the mass choir for the Hymn Fest's Grand Finale. This finale will include several well-known (but still unselected) hymns. Each church is invited to send a double-quartet of SATB (soprano, alto, tenor, bass). However, because Severance's stage can only accommodate about 100 additional vocalists, individuals will be accepted on a "first come, first serve" basis. Robert McCormick, Concordia Ann Arbor's director of choirs, will be sending a separate letter about this to your director of music, including more details on hymn selection, rehearsal dates, etc.
Please contact Pastor Jean by October 28 if you are interested in attending this event. Tickets can be ordered as a group.
Christmas Tea
Christmas Tea Set For December 7
It's summer, but mark your calendars now for the Christmas luncheon "Tinsel and Tea" on December 7th in the Church Fellowship Hall.
Table hostess are needed to decorate a table in a Christmas theme. You will also need to provide Christmas dishes, (paper plates, etc. may be used) flatware, and napkins for a table of 6 or 8.
Please contact Lois Chaffee (330-239-5505) if you would like to host a table for this wonderful women's event. She will provide more details.
Soup Supper Fund Raiser
Soup Supper Fund Raiser Friday, October 25, 2002
COME ONE, COME ALL!!!! Mark your calendars now. For only $5, you can enlighten your palate with some great soups and dessert and help some others that are in need. Further, you will also be entertained by our Flashlight Band, and, finally, be with your friends. What an evening!
Tickets will be available after each service beginning on October 6th. PLEASE BUY YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE so that we (the Service Team Ministry) will know the numbers attending.
OPEN-M
It has now been six years since the government enacted "Welfare Reform", scaling back its responsibility for the poor. The Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) Act is up for reconsideration this fall in Congress and this seems a good time to see some of the results.
· More people receive food from private charities, such as OPEN-M's food pantry (our pudding), over the course of the year than participate in the government's food stamp program.
· Women account for nearly 2/3 of the adults receiving emergency food aid.
· Almost half of the households receiving aid include children under the age of 18.
· People receiving food stamps made up nearly one-third of those seeking emergency food aid. They reported their food stamps, on average, covered only half their monthly need.
· In a survey done by the Hunger Network of Ohio, half the people receiving food aid said they were regularly forced to choose between buying food or paying for utilities or heat.
· Working families make up 40% of the people receiving food aid.
Instead of homeless people dying from starvation on the streets, hungry Americans are working families, skimping on food to meet their monthly bills. They are children whose parents eat the family leftovers. They are the elderly poor, rural and suburban Americans, and the permanently unemployed who scrape together government payments like Social Security and food stamps. And they are people who have dropped from federal social services since the 1996 welfare overhaul who are finding their sole support in the lines at food pantires and at hot meal sites such as OPEN-M.
The picture of hunger in America is a subtle one. It is more likely to be a child who puts her head down on the school desk because she's too hungry to concentrate, or an elderly person who skimps on meals to pay for medicine, or even a parent who skips a meal to feed a child.
In this country, hunger tends to creep into a family's life gradually. First a struggling family cuts back on the extra's, then they frequently reduce the quality of the food they buy, filling up on inexpensive and often unhealthy foods. Millions in this country are undernourished, lacking for adequate calories and essential nutrients.
So the question is: Has welfare "reform" made a difference? and the answer is, "Yes". But is it a change for the better?
Norm Schmidt
Thanksgiving Preparations
Faith and St. Hilary Join in Thanksgiving Preparations for OPEN-M
For each of the past 23 years the churches of OPEN-M have prepared and served a Thanksgiving Dinner to people who lack the resources to enjoy their own. This year the congregations of Faith Lutheran Church and St. Hilary Catholic Church have been asked to prepare the turkeys.
Ten people from Faith Lutheran and ten from St. Hilary are being asked to work from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, November 25 to roast turkeys and prepare the dressing and gravy. The group will meet at OPEN-M at 8 a.m. to travel by van to the production kitchen at Kent State University. Or those participating may drive to the University to be picked up in the Stadium Parking Lot and taken to the kitchen.
Five people from each congregation are needed to work from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26, to prepare the food for transportation to the eight locations where it will be served. On this day the group will meet at OPEN-M at 9 a.m.
About one-half ton of turkey and 800 pounds of stuffing will be prepared with guidance from experienced chefs and help from students.
A sign-up sheet has been posted on the bulletin board across from the youth room. Please consider giving of yourselves to assist with this project.
Children's Services
Summit County Children's Services
The mission of Children's Services is to protect the abused, neglected and dependent children of Summit County and promote their well being. The agency shares the community's belief that each child has a right to be reared in a safe, permanent family, and strengthening families is society's most effective way of preserving this right. Working within its mission, the agency respects the dignity, integrity and uniqueness of each family and adheres to the philosophy that governmental intrusion is warranted only when children are thought to be at risk.
In 2000, concern was expressed regarding 15,884 children from 7,388 families. On the average, 615 families per month were referred to the agency for assessment services. Approximately 10,556 families and 2,267 children received agency protective services during 2000. The Independent Living Program prepares youth to make transition to adulthood by offering weekend retreats, a life skills group curriculum, counseling, peer support, an opportunity for apartment living and aftercare. During 2000 the unit served 76 adolescents. An average of 146 youths per month resided in paid institutional care. Eighty-three adoptions were finalized in 2000. Two hundred seventy-nine families inquired about adoptions. Seven hundred thirty-nine individuals inquired about foster care licensure in 2000. An average of 524 youths per month resided in foster care. Tweny-one youths were served by therapeutic foster care in 2000. During 2000, 81 young mothers were served by the Mentoring Mothers Program. During 2000, the Family Resource Unit provided a wide variety of needed items to client families. These items included furniture, bedding, car seats, strollers, and appliances. Supportive services were provided to 877 families.
Norm and Judi Schmidt
In Our Prayers
Faith member Vee Robinson
Faith visitor Carol Roll
Faith visitor Betty Internoscia
Faith Member Walter Grigas
Faith member Nathan Dial
Faith member Jacob Hurley
Faith member Shirley Kmet
Faith member Audrea Woodall
Faith and St. Hilary members Randy, Teresa and Alex Cole
Kathy Miller, Bishop Marcus Miller and family
To Faith Congregation
To Faith Congregation
Your outpouring of kind words, warm wishes, good will and congratulations will forever warm our hearts. We have been blessed to be a part of the Faith family and have enjoyed our working together. CLN, thank you for the delightful reception. It was beautiful, thoughtful and delicious.
Congregation, thank you for your gifts. We will treasure the quilt and have fun on our tour. In Christian love, Kathy and Hans Zbinden
Kittens
Dear Faith,
Once again, I am asking for your help in finding homes for some stray animals.
We took on a stray female cat and now we have six (!) kittens that need a home. Is there someone out there who would like to adopt one (or two) of them?
Thanks so much, Loralee Daily
Thanks to Jean Butler
Thanks to Jean Butler and Faith Lutheran Church
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, staff and the children we serve, I would like to express my deep appreciation for your generous support of the agency's school supply project. Thanks to your donation of school supplies, we were able to provide more than 1,400 children with necessities such as book bags, pencils, pens and paper.
Education is a guaranteed way of preparing children for a better future. Children Services is committed to providing abused, neglected and dependent children with the tools to build a brighter future. Partnerships with organizations, businesses and individuals make it possible for us to furnish more than what tax funds can provide. This also sends the message to children that people care and will help. We look forward to working with you again on this project next year.
Thank you, again, for your donation and for your continuing support.
Sincerely,
Joseph W. White, Jr.
Executive Director
Summit County Children Services
Thanks
My thanks to the sixteen volunteers that helped out calling other members of our church on Thursday, September 5th. Hopefully they and others will join me again on Thursday, November 21st at 6:30 p.m. when we attempt to share God's love with other members of our church. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall, for just two hours, to call no more than ten individuals - just to say, "Hi, how are you? I hope you and your family are OK." - and remind them of the upcoming special Christmas season at Faith.
Sincerely, Bill Pope
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