St.
tohn/St. Paul Lutheran Church
January, February, March
2074
Messenger
ReY, Rlchard R. Gordon, Pastot Ann Streha.sky, Office Secretary
FROM THE PASTOR
Dear Friends
in Christ,
Happy New Year and
a bl essed Epi phany
!
i kel y get the mean-ing of "Happy New year, " but do we understand the "blessed Epiphany?" Epiphany is a date and season of the Church
ln/e
1
that commemorates the visit of the Magi to the Christ child in Bethlehem. "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one born king of the Jews? lnte saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." (Matthew 2= t-2) The early Christian Church gave little attention to the birth of Christ. The resurrection was celebrated every Sunday and the annual event of Easter was of central r'mportance. By the end of the 2nd century the Eastern Church Year
(Today's Eastern Orthodox Church) kept the Ep-iphany (f rom the Creek word mean-ing "manifestation"). The date of Epiphany was set as January 6. Our Eastern Orthodox brothers and sisters celebrate the birth of Christ on this date yet today. The Eastern Church associated the day with the bapt-ism and incar-
nation of Christ.
earliest mention of December ZS as Christmas occurs in a calendar of 336 AD. There is little evidence of a general observance of
The
Mission Statement St. John/St. PauI Lutheran Church is a community of Chi.istians bound together in joy and thanksgiving by God's saving grace in Jesus Christ. Our mission is to grow in faith, love, and obedience to God as we are empowered through the Wor.d and Sacraments by the Holy Spir.it. To carry out
o
this mission, we:
Nurture one another in
the
Faith,
.
Evangebze all people,
.
Worship God, ancl
.
Serve those in need.
Inside this issue:
Pastor Report
t-2
News to the Pews
3-5
G.P.S.
5
Lent
6
Stewardship Form
7
Birthdays
8
Anniversaries
8
Calendars
9-10
Schedules
tL
Page2
or Epiphany in the West before the early part of the 4"h century. But, by the 5'h century Ep'i phany had become a "feast of 1ights", identified with the visit of the Magi and representing "the manifestation of Christ to the Centi I es . " (Matthew 2: 1-0ff) The Lutheran Churches have followed the pattern of the Western Church, designating December 25 as the Festival of the Nativity and January 6 as the Epiphany, thus providing for a Christmas Season know as "Twel fth N-ight" or the better l<nown "Twel ve Days of Chri stmas. " So, "Happy New Year and a Blessed Epiphany" translate this way; May 20i.4 be a joyful year of manifesting Christ, mak-i ng his truth and presence real, to as many people as possible. This is the mission of the Church and the hopes of your St. lohnlSt. Christmas
Paul congregation. We need your help and your support,.. Your prayers and your presence.
Season and emphasis, help us keep in 2014 and this Epiphany'l -ight shine" with us. the lights on and "let your Son
Peace
,
Pastor
Ri ck
NEWS TO THE- IEWS
a grand celebration. christmas Eve the amazotr"r"o another outstinding concert featuring i ng tal ents of so many of orl tal ented musi ci ans and \nle a re bl es sed wi th tal ent . Ch ri stmas Eve s i nge rs . worltlt p was al so very wel I attended. We had a ful I house and I must say there were so many folks that I (Pr. Ri ck) di d not recog ntze. Several fol ks thanked me for the fact that they felt so very welcome at our church. That thank you goes to all at slsP.
cHRrsrMAs 2013 was
ouR woRsrp AREA was parti cu-l arl y beauti ful for the Chri stmas *o.rl1i p. r thank al I who decorated and prepared fo r the occasi on . Speci al thanl<s to Ann St reharhave r f.V fo r o rde ri ng the most beauti f u1 poi nsetti as I ever seen and disp-l ayi ng them for al I to en joy ' Al so special thanks to Dave Six, Beth Haas and Bev Gorman
f'or helping set up the chureh for Chs'istmas Eve servi ces. The 91 ow of the candl el i ght servi ce sti I I shi nes and warms many a heart.
is now officially moved into their new location at g47 Crouse St. (formerly The St. Michael's Orthodox church) . Thi s si te offers more space for basl<etbal I and recreati onal acti vi ti es for thi s mi ni stry ' Pastor Li sa Arl edge addressed our Church counci I on January L4, z1t4 oit"r'i ng her thanks to SJSP for the years of support , wel come , nu rtu ri ng and shar-i ng . She reported th;i during the last six or seven years OASIS has I touched th; lives of over 600 teenagers in Akron' too thank SISP for the grace and acceptance that allowed us to help give birth to this truly vital and life changing *inistry. We should feel like "proudSynod parents". OASrS is now considered by the NE Ohio Communi ty) ; SAWC (Synodi ca1 1y Autho rtzed tnlorshi ppi ng'ncong regati on"
OASIS
.
That
bas-i tal l
y meahs that oAsrs i s not a
Page 4
th "membeFS", but a mi ni stry wi th "parti ci pants. " Wi th thi s i n m'i nd , SJ SP has been desi gnated as "the partne r cong regati on" wi th 0ASIS. Thi s means that al I bapti sms and other pastoral acts (i .e, weddi ngs, affi rmati on of fai th, confi rmati ons etc. ) wi I I be added to our congregational records. So, we still have a relationship with OASfS, and we plan to continue to enter i nto joi nt events and worsh-i p opportuni ti es i nto the future... \n/e too thank God for 0ASIS and pray for the continued success of the ministry and for all the parti c-i pants. SJSP's CONGREGATfONAL MEETING is scheduled for SUNDAY, MARCH 2, 20L4. This date is made possible by a recent change in our by-laws to allow for a more convenient and ti me sensi ti ve date -i n regards to ou r Feb ruary to J anuary fi scal year wi
.
ALL ANNUAL REPORTS NEED TO BE IN OFFICE BY NOON-MONDAY, February 10, 2014 PLEASE EMAIL REPORTS TO ann@stjohnstpaul.org
A
1OOTH
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION FOR OUR
S]SP BUILDING i
S
ng pl anned. The date i s yet up i n the ai r, but wi I I be 1ike1y in June. A committee has a1 ready been formed and wi I I be seel<-i ng vol unteers and f i nanci al support to cover expenses. You can contri bute by desi gnati ng "l-00'h" . Sue Harmon i s headi ng up thi s commi ttee and we are I ooki ng forward to a g rand SJ SP cel ebrati on . A1 so, we ask you to inform the church office via e-mail or in writing of people (past members and friends of SISP) that you woul d I i ke us to fo rma-l 1y i nvi te . Al so , stay tuned for updates and further detail ! ! be'i
!
Page 5
: Pl ease cl ear you r cal endars for the weekend of June 21-th at lnlest Branch. To secu re you r rese rvati on & name tags , Art wi I I need $10 ASAP. The planning committee in charge of festi vi ti es fo r thi s , ou r 39th year, wi I I advi se us of the chosen date when i t becomes known . on'l y L45 days f rom now .that is all..Thanks! Campers
EAl'fF NE}IS
ACME CASH BACK: Receipts: Cash Back from Acme * are starting. Please save and give to Audie or put in box on desk in upper narthex. ACME RECEIPTS
of Topics 2014
God's Positioning Service Schedule
Jan. 26 What is (where is) Feb.
Heaven?
2 Are there angels among us? Has anyone seen one ?
Feb. 9
16
SPONTANEOUS
is it
TOPIC.. (Choi
ce
of the day) !
!
to talk to God, but considered "nuts" for Cod to tal k to me? Feb . 23 tn/hat i s worshi p? Does God demand that we
Feb.
why
okay
worshi
Mar
.2
How
p hi m?
do we cope wi th good s u ffe rt ng?
peop-l
e who a re
Page 6
Hfiten
LENT AND EASTER 2014 i s comi ng upon us . At thi s wri ti ng we know that Sl SP wi I I host (wi th LUMA, BethanY and Ho] y Tri ni ty) ASH WEDNESDAY SER-
on March 5, 20L4. A noon servi ce wi I I be conducted at Bethany SERVICE and a & PM Service at SISP. Our pastor will lead the liturgy and prepare the servi ce and bul I eti n and Pasto r Davi d ou r musl c fol ks wi I I provi de the musi c. -l of HTLC will be the preacher. Neve rgal VICES
SISP LENTEN SERIES wi I I be offered at our GPS Sunday Servi ce i n the season of Lent (Mar.
OUR
9, ]-6, 23,30, Apr. 6 and 1-3). We wi I I fol I ow the GPS format featu ri ng the wonde rful tal ents of The Aci d Cats but w-i I I of f e r interactive discussions on Lenten Themes (to be communicated later). So, we encou rage YOU to p-l an to focu s on Lent at ou r GPS se rvi ce at LL AM during the 20L4 Season of Lent' Enjoy coffee and pastries at our Continental Breakfast ealh Sunday Morning at 10:30am in the Firestone Park Lounge. Thanks to al I who he'l p serve and cl eanup. If you would like to volunteer to host a Sundayn the sign up sheet i s i n the l<i tchen off the Lounge. Th-i s event is funded by donations of generous volunteers and the Endowment Fund. We look forward to seeing you next Sunday
!
Page 7
Foll
SIe\tvcrrdshif>
Ccltrrpclign PLEDoE FORM
NAME
AMOUNT
$
WEEKLY
MONTHLY
YEARLY
115ince
there will never cease to besome in need on the eorth,T therefore commond you, "Open your hond to the poor ond needy neighbor in your lqnd." Deuteronomy 15:11
5t.
Pleose moil forms to: John/St. Pqul Lutheron Church 282 W Bowery St Akron, OH 44307
Page 8
& Anniversaries
Bi rthdays Koehl, Millie
1/L
Blissman, Diane
Hilbert, Denise Demuth, Karl
Fanz, Katharina
Coch, Roger
t/3 rl4 t/6
Bell, Rosalie
1/7
Schaadt, Calvin Schweikert, Thomas
Boxler, Jill
r/8 r/8
Whidden, Carol Mullen, Jason
Herchenroeder, Jeremy Moore, Derrick
March
Februarv
Januarv
Allen, Christine
2/1
Szentes, Jillian
3/4
2/L 2/2 2/4 2/4 2/s 2/6 2/8 2/s 2/s
Cook, Gregory Hall, Shirley
3ls 3/8 3/8 3/8
Moneypenny, Samantha
Popio, Heather Cooper, Allison Szentes, Milton Wright, James Callahan, Dorothy
1./ 1.1.
Nagy, Norma
Kaufman, Cheri Clark, Brandi Szentes, Olivia
1/t2 r/17
Redington, Jennifer Trunko, Emily Mowen, Benjamin
2/1,0
Kaufman, Sarah
1./20
Futrell, Elaine
2/1r
Lewis, Timothy
1./26
Benya, Spasia
Leon, Cameron
Herchenroeder, Ann Reyes, John
rl27 r/30 t/31
Coy, Donald McAdory, Cameron
Lewis, Krista Magnus, Brittany Gutekunst, Alma
Redington, Dale
2/12 2/L2 2/12 2/12
Wagoner, lrene
1./31.
Keeler, William
2/1.4
Peterson, Pete Streharsky, Ann
2/17 2/17 2/18
Dascoli, Adrienne Trunko, Michael Lyle, Mary
1./14
Coy, Ryan
Herchenroeder, Darla Butts, Martin Cooper, Jordan Lehman, Michael Dawson, Ryan Kaufman, Arthur Plumlee, Ruth Coy, Pamela Keeler, Timothy Nagy, Gary
Lehman, David Lehman, Jennifer
Smith, Denise
Reyes, Sarah
3/Is 3/te 3/2o 3/20 3/22 3/22 3/22 3/22 3/23
3/2s 3/26 3/26
3/3t
2hs 2/22 2/22 2/22 2/23 2/23 2/23
2/24 2/24 2/24 2/2s 2/26 2/26
March
Januarv Tim & Linda Lewis
Lewis, Linda Fitt lll, Robert Leon, Raymond
3/L8
01-/08/72
Rev Tim & Martha Keeler
03/re/7t
e'ffi&#w&
*
WAPery&&9b83"
PageLT
WORSHIP SCHEDULE
9:30 AM.....Traditional Worship 10:00 AM.....Bible Study 1O:30 AM....Gontinental Breakfast 1tO0 AM....c.P.S. Worship
liri onre I I oltosnq I
I otnznl I | 01/19/14 | I olnan+ | I oztoznq I | 02109114 | I oznan+ | I ozlzglt+ |
|
03102114
L_9?J99!14
|
I
I ogltolta | | 03/23114 | | 03/30/14 |
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rvtingier
i
READER SCHEDULE DATE
Reader Chris Allen Sue Harman Martha Keeler Catie Lehman Carole Lintner Tim Lewis David Lehman Heather Parr Linda Reyes Jennifer Lehman David Six Charmaine Streharskv Tom Lehman
I
geth Haas
Kaufman
I
01t05t14 01112t14 01t19t14 01126t14 02t02t14 02t09t14 02t16t14 02t23t14 03t02t14
__q*!r_Ha1s_=
,
0aa9n4
nrt
Kaufman
I
Jeanne Gardner Ruoie Dascoti Art Kaufman __l aeth Haas Jeanne Gardner Ruoie oascoli
I
I
nrt
.leanne caroner Audie Dascoli Gary Nagy
I
I
03t16t14 03t23t14 03t30t14
SACRAM ENTAL SERVER SCHEDULE Communion
Gommunion
Communion
Server
Server
Set-Up
01t05t14
Tim Lewis
Jenny Demuth
Tim Lewis
01t19t14
Art Kaufman
Beth Haas
Art Kaufman
02t02t14
Pete Peterson
Geoff Whidden
Pete Peterson
02116t14
Judy Harrison
Linda Reyes
Judy Harrison
03t02t14
Geoff Whidden
Tim Lewis
Geoff Whidden
03t16t14
Linda Reyes
Beth Haas
Linda Reyes
DATE
ll
HAUcEN
ScHEDULE
ll
St. Johnl St. Paul Lutheran Ghurch
282 W. Bowery St. Akron Oh 443OT Phone: 330-253-6835
Fax:
330-253-131G
E-mail: karux4o@aol.com (pastor Rick) ann@stjohnstpau Lorg
www.stjohnstpaul.org
'How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.' Genesis 28:17
tanuary, February, March
20L4