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October 2006 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.
October Worship
October 1 - Commitment Sunday - Estimate of Giving cards for 2007will be completed and brought forward as an act of worship at both services. October 8 - Pastor Gary Sandberg from Trinity Lutheran Seminary will be the guest preacher at both worship services. It will be WELCA Sunday; WELCA officers will be installed during the 9:15 a.m.service
October 15 - New members will be received at both worship services. The Children’s Choir will provide special music at 9:15 a.m. worship. Also, Clara’s Club Guides will be visiting the 1st and 2nd grade classrooms at both worship times. October 22 - The Handbell Choir will provide special music at 9:15 a.m. worship. Also, welcome to Explorers’ Club at 10:30 a.m. worship; they will sing and stay for the service. October 29 - The Affirmation of Baptism (Confirmation) rite will be a part of 9:15 a.m. worship on this Reformation Sunday. A reception for those being confirmed will be held following worship in the Kinship Café. The Explorers’ Club Fall Festival will be held during both worship times.
Faith Lutheran church is very blessed in having many very talented members who are willing to share their time in providing beautiful music. For a church this size it is unusual to have five or six music majors in the bell choir as well as members who have music minors.
In order to provide these musicians with the equipment needed to play the current music most effectively, we need to purchase the fifth octave of bells which includes very beautiful low bass bells as well as high bells.
Please watch for more information on Sunday, October 22 in the church bulletin. Pat Belaney. Bell Choir Director
New ELCA Hymnal Introduced
Did you know that the ELCA has developed a new Book of Worship? It is in the process of being introduced to pastors, musicians, lay worship leaders and planners. Representatives from Faith will be attending a day-long workshop on November 4 in Brecksville to learn more about this worship resource.
In this book there are Holy Communion settings from the LBW (green hymnal) and Service of the Word settings from WOV (blue hymnal) as well as new liturgies. Also, there are nearly 700 hymns – 53 percent from LBW; 20 percent from WOV and the remainder are new to our congregation.
Following the workshop, the Worship Team and Church Council will be deciding how to incorporate this new resource into our worship life.
“I Can’t be a Stephen Minister!”
Here are the top four reasons people don’t feel they can be a Stephen Minister. As you can see, we can help overcome those concerns. PLEASE read this and prayerfully consider if God is calling you to this important new ministry.
“I’m not qualified to be a Stephen Minister.” - What qualifications are necessary to be a Stephen Minister? - You need to be a caring person who is willing to learn, grow, and serve. You must be willing and able to maintain confidentiality. You need to make a commitment to training, ministry, and ongoing education. Remember, “God cures, we (Stephen Ministers) care” “I don’t know what to say or do in a ministry situation.” - Stephen Ministry training is thorough and practical. It includes the following: Listening skills Dealing with feelings Maintaining boundaries How to begin and end your care giving relationship How to care for people who are grieving, dying, aging, divorcing Many other practical skills and helps
“I have problems in my own life. How can I help others?” - Everyone has some problems in life. It may be that your problems are so big that you need help to work through them. If you have experienced God’s help and care in your struggles, that is some of the best preparation you’ll ever receive for caring for others. Remember, Stephen Ministers aren’t problem solvers, they are problem bearers.
“I don’t have enough time to be a Stephen Minister.” - There is a way in which that is true for everyone – time is a precious commodity. Time is so precious that it makes sense to use it on activities that make a real difference – in others’ lives as well as in your own life. Once you make a commitment to be a Stephen Minister, you will find the hours you need to devote to it. The time investment is significant, but so is the contribution you will be making to building God’s kingdom.
For more information about the Stephen Ministry program, contact Carolyn today! (330-836-8811 or cjwaggs@aol.com)
Christian Caregiving
Carolyn was planning to provide a three week course on Christian care giving during the month of October. Due, however, to all the other exciting class possibilities as well as our challenge with space, we will temporarily postpone those classes. If you are interested and/or need help with some specific Christian care giving questions, you are cordially invited to contact Carolyn at church or via email cjwaggs@aol.com.
Operation Outreach
Jesus calls us to serve Him by helping others. Over the next several months you will be able to help others in a variety of ways.
You may be able to support OPEN M by attending the FALL BRUNCH AND FASHION SHOW on October 21 (Call Melissa Johnson for details 330-334-7080) ; You may be able to provide transportation to one of our elderly members from time to time.
Everyone will be asked to support our team going to Guatemala. Stephen Minister training will begin in February of 2007. We’re going to make it as easy as possible for a wide range of you to take these classes. We have a group working on ways to provided tutoring to underprivileged children.
Explorers Club
Rally day was a fantastic, faith filled morning of flabbergasting fun, fabulous food and fellowship! We would like to especially thank the following people for their efforts and hard work: Chuck Baltes, Judy Lee, Carolyn Wagar-Hier, Michael Sayre, Melissa Johnson, Lois Chaffee, Diane Christoff, Debbie Gottas, Dana Singer, Greg Stafford, Norma White, Bob Hartz, Norma White,
Thank you to all the dedicated Explorer’s club teachers and assistant teachers!
Fall Festival
Explorers’ Club Fall Festival is coming…Sunday, October 29
Fall Festival will run during your child’s normal Sunday school hour. The same program will be repeated at both 9:15 and 10:30 class times.
The morning will be filled with a costume contest, games, crafts, snacks, and entertainment by Faith Preschools very own “Show-n-Tell with Trish and Mel” show. Please wear your non-violent, church friendly costume to the festival. We hope to see you there!
High School News
The overnight retreat scheduled for Oct. 7 and 8 has been POSTPONED! This decision was made due to the original date conflicting with homecoming and band commitments. The new date for the high school retreat will be December 2 and 3. Remember, this date is for all youth members in 9th -12th grade! Mark your calendars!
October 1 and 15 - High School Class to Panera (10-12th grade) 9:15-10:15 a.m.; October 8 and 22 9th grade class in Kinship Cafe 9:15-10:15 a.m.; October 25 - High School Get -Together (9th - 12th grade) 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.; October 29 Confirmation during 9:15 a.m. service followed by cake in the Kinship Café
Don't forget!!! Our Fall Retreat is scheduled for Saturday, November 4 from 10 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Parents if you can help with transportation - please call Wendy!
October 8 and 22 Class with Lucius and Janice, 9:15 a.m. -10:20 a.m.
October 11 Evening class with Pastor Jean, 6:30 p.m. -8:00 p.m.
10/22/2006 Fellowship Activity following the contemporary service (see below)
October 29 Confirmation during 9:15 a.m. service ("Counts" as class and service )
On October 22 the Confirmation Class will take part in the first fellowship activity of the year. We will come together that Sunday for class and contemporary worship. Following worship we will have lunch (at the church) and then go to Laser Quest (at approx. 12:30 p.m.). Each student should wear appropriate clothes and shoes and will be asked to bring $10. Parents must arrange for transportation to and from Laser Quest. Please pick up your child AT LASER QUEST at 2:30 p.m. Permission slips in church boxes!
Faith Fall Festival
Saturday, November 18 - 9 a.m. to Noon at the church
Featuring - Leo's Ark, Show and Tell with Trish & Mel Coffee House & Fall Goodies Bake Sale Face Painting & Crafts
Entrance fee: $10 per child $25 for three or more children (adults stay, but are “free”)
100 % of proceeds to Faith Lutheran Youth Global Orphan Outreach Mission Trip
Hannah's Hope Orphanage Guatemala - Summer 2007
Bishop Election Update
On Sunday, October 1, all seven of the Synod’s conferences will gather. These meetings will be attended by pastors and rostered lay people (Associates in Ministry, Deaconesses) as well as lay voting members from each congregation. Faith will be represented by Bill Evans and Alison Seefeldt who were the voting delegates to the Synod Assembly in June.
Those in attendance at these conference meetings will suggest – through a ballot – potential nominees for the office of Bishop. Any pastors in the ELCA may be nominated. The 10 pastors who receive the most nominations will be asked to provide information that will distributed to the voting members before the special Synod Assembly on December 2.
The intention of this process is to help lay people gain familiarity with pastors who may be nominated to serve as Bishop. However, at the December assembly, nominations are not confined to those 10 pastors; the process for the election is an ecclesiastical ballot.
Please keep the Northeastern Ohio Synod in your prayers during this election process.
The Perfect Gift
Remember our Faith cookbook ($15) when you are in need of a gift for an occasion: birthdays, wedding (shower gift for the new bride), hostess giftor just “I am thinking about you” gift , and, of course, a gift for everyone on your Christmas list.
Contact Debbie Gottas at 330-836-6135 or the church office to purchase one.
What We’ve Been Reading
For the better part of last year, the Thursday morning Women’s Bible Study has been reading from C.S. Lewis’ classic The Screwtape Letters. We want to recommend this book to our brothers and sisters in Christ, although with some caution ...it makes serious demands on the reader! We had the help of a study guide and each other to seek understanding of Lewis’ writing, which required a dictionary on hand! We also found it helpful to read the letters aloud when we met for study. Then we could better hear the dialogue and appreciate Lewis’ clever humor throughout the text.
The book is really a collection of fictional letters Lewis wrote in an effort to teach and defend the Christina faith. The plot of the book—one man’s journey of faith, from beginning to end– is told through the eyes of a demon who writes to his superior about the struggle to tempt the man. We see the diabolical side of the universe and yet there is also a clear lesson in who God is and how He relates to His people. Since the writing is from the demonic point of view, God is called the Enemy and Satan was referred to as Our Father Below. It required some level on concentration to remember this.
We wanted to share some of the quotable passages that captured out attention (remember that the Enemy is really God and this is from the demon’s point of view):
It is funny how mortals always picture us putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out. There’s nothing like suspense and anxiety for barricading a human’s mind against the Enemy. All mortals tend to turn into the thing they are pretending to be. It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.
The Enemy wants humans to learn to walk and must therefore take away His hand; and if only the will to walk is really there He is pleased even with their stumbles. Even of his sins the Enemy does not want him to think too much; once they are repented, the sooner the man turns his attention outward, the better the Enemy is pleased. Hatred is best combined with fear. The Enemy aims at a contradiction. Things are to be many, yet somehow also one. The good of oneself is to be the good of another. This impossibility He calls love, and this same monotonous panacea can be detected under all He does and even all He is - or claims to be. For more impressions of C.S. Lewis’ classic, talk to any of the Bible study women: Flo Mackall, Maxine Heldridge, Linda Latham, Kathy Zbinden, Dineen Dowling, Dana Singer, Julie Magons, Joanne Caton, Lorna Melby, Denise Henkel and Anita Sears. We meet at each others’ homes every other Thursday morning.
ADVENT
This Advent, join us for an international journey of Christmas around the World
We will discover the stories and traditions of how Christians in other countries celebrate the birth of Jesus. We will highlight foods, costumes, songs and decorations that surround the preparation of Christmas in foreign lands.
We are appealing to the members of Faith to share their stories, recipes, favorite ornaments or decorations, and annual family traditions with us. If you have a special way to celebrate Christmas that has roots in another country, please contact Dineen Dowling, 330-873-1869 or dineend@neo.rr.com. Let us lift up the many and various ways people around the world observe this sacred holiday!
Akron-Wooster Cluster
Women of the ELCA
Fall Gathering “Global Health Ministries” Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 9:00 am to 1:30 pm - Hosted by Messiah Lutheran Church - 4700 S. Main St., Akron
Heal the Sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you’ Luke 10:9.
A Love Offering will be given to Global Health Ministries. Please bring In Kind Gifts: (A list of urgently needed medical supplies) Exam Gloves Ace bandages (elastic), Surgical Gloves, Tongue depressors, Sterile Needles, Sterile Syringes, Sutures, Q-tip applicators and containers, Dressings, Bandage scissors, sterile and unsterile guaze, Bandages, Band-Aids, Scrub/prep (surgical scrub, iodine, brushes, sponges, Cotton tipped applicator, Gowns and bed linen, cloth Bath towels and wash cloths, Lubricating jelly (“K+Y” and others), Disinfectant sponges and swabs
Contact Elaine Johnson at 330-666-6949 for more information.
Men of Faith
– Come Join the Guys!
The Men of Faith group is changing day, time, and venue. Plus they are looking a few more good men. The group meets twice a month and chats, prays, and studies the Bible. All men are welcome.
When: 1st and 3rd Saturday (October 7 and 21) 7:30 a.m. Where: Faith Lutheran Church – come to the back (parking lot) door For more info call Matt Harpster at 330-721-2488 or Randy Cole at 330-867-4151.
Team Leaders
Team Leaders Meet October 7 (please make this big and important!)
Leaders from every team are invited and encouraged to attend our quarterly Team Leader Meeting Saturday, October 7 at 9:15. Breakfast and childcare will be provided. This is a working meeting and your input is important. See you there!
WELCA
Wednesday, October 11 - 10:00 a.m. Fellowship Hall
In baptism we are a new creation in Christ. We are aware that we should keep a balance within our lives even though we are besieged by people and causes to do more and more. Carolyn Wagar Hier, our Minister of Christian Growth, will help us to focus our lives with a Bible Study “It’s All About Balance.”
Devotions: Marlene Unger
Hostesses: Ann Chastven and Mary Ann Crutcher
The September program was well attended by 13 members and guests who carpooled to Stan Hyett to enjoy the butterfly exhibit.
Progressive Dinner
Saturday, October 14, 2006 - Meet at the first location at 5:30 p.m. … Enjoy hors d’ oervres, beverages and socializing, and then at 6:30 p.m. we’ll be on our way to Pasta Pleasure.
By 6:45 p.m. we’ll be dining on ... Yummy pasta dishes .... Meat lasagna, veggie lasagna, penne pasta, manicotti or chicken parmesan, and garlic bread.
At 8:15 p.m. we’re off again .. At our final destination … We’ll be treated with evening’s finale - dessert. $7 per person (This charge covers the cost of the paper products and beverages.)
A very pleasant evening is in store for everyone. Be sure to mark your calendar. Sign up sheets are posted outside the fellowship hall and the main sanctuary. Directions will be provided for all host homes. For further information please contact Penny Thompson at 330-666-5065 or Diane Christoff at 330-835-9669.
Soup Supper Benefit
Annual Soup Supper Benefit - Friday, October 20, 2006, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. All proceeds will benefit Special Assistance Fund to help our members in need. Tickets on sale beginning October 1st Adults $5.00, Children $3.00
Enjoy a variety of delicious soups and vote for your 3 favorite. Prizes awarded!
Scrumptious desserts and beverages included. Football game that night? Come early and enjoy before you head out to the game This annual event is sponsored by the Service Team.
Rummage Sale
15th Annual! Faith Lutheran Rummage Sale “Operation Outreach”
Friday, November 3, 2006 - Saturday, November 4, 2006
Biggest fellowship event of the year – over 100 Faith volunteers, Enormous outreach program - local, regional, and global ministries, $60,000 has benefited numerous ministries over the past 14 years!Friday, November 3, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Faith member Early Bird Sale, Silent Auction and Supper Please join us to support Operation Outreach Saturday, November 4, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Rummage Sale We need clean, useable, saleable treasures. Please wash clothing. Tuesday, October 31 - Begin dropping off items from 9:30 am-3:30 pm to the Market St. side of the Fellowship Hall. Do not leave items at the doors. * Please note: No items will be accepted after 10 a.m. on Friday, November 3. Wednesday, November 1 - Set-up is 9 a.m.–11 a.m. & sorting is 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Thursday, November 2 - Sorting is 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Friday, November 3 Sorting is 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. No sale items after 10 a.m.Faith Member Early Bird Sale, Silent Auction and Supper from 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
SATURDAY, November 4 Rummage Sale is 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.; volunteers are needed from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
In Our Prayers:
Health Concerns:Faith member Bob Morrison. Faith member Dede Morrison. Faith member Geri Peterson. Faith member Thelma Ottiger
Special Prayers: For Faith members Tim and Joan Keifling as they arrive home from Guatemla with their 6-month-old daughter, Karla.
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