July, August, September
St. John/St. Paul Lutheran Church
20L4
Messenger
Rev. Rlchard R. Gordon' Pastor Ann Streharsky' Office Secretary
FROM THE PASTOR My Dear Friends
in Christ, to
I begin this reflection offering for ihe grand effort and great success of our June L, 2Ot4 100'h Anniversary of our Building celebration. our theme was "A Century of Faithful Building." I thinl< it is important to note the i ntenti on of the pl anni ng commi ttee i n us-ing thi s theme. "Bui1ding" is a verb and not a noun' "Bui1ding" is something we do, not just a place or structure where we go. In the same way it is important to remember that "Church" is more about what we do than it is a place we 90. "Church" shoul d al so be thought of as not on1 y a noun, but my thanl<s
Mission Statement
God
also a verb.
In thi s 1-ight I thi nk of St. Paul ' s words , "Do you not l<now that you are God' s templ e and that God's Spir-it dwells in you?" (I Cor. 3:16)Here we are reminded that the "bui1ding" of a Church is not about the "bui1ding." To say it differently, the church is not about places, it is all about the faces. The people gathered make up "God's temple"
St. John/St. Paul Lutheran Church is a community of Christians bound together in joy and thanksgiving by God's saving gi'ace in Jesus Christ. Our mission is to grorv in faith, love, ancl obedience to God as we are empowered through the \\rord and Sacraments by the HolY SPirit. To carry out this mission, we:
.
Nurture one another in Faith,
.
Evangelize all people,
.
Worship God, and
.
Serve those in need.
lnside this issue:
Pastor's Report
1_-3
Pr. William's Letter
A
News to the Pews
5
LUMA NEWS
6
Birthdays
7
Anniversa ries
7
Calendars
8-10
Schedules
TI
and His Church.
In the New Testament "church" is the Creek word ekklesia which Iiterally translates as "to be calIed out by Cod." So, "Church" is meant to be a gathering of warm, loving, gracious' welcoming, outreachi ng , Cospel procl ai m'ing peopl e "cal I ed out and together" by the Spir-it of God in Jesus Christ. So, "bui1ding" a church is buiIding and we1coming and gathering a people together in Christ. "A Centu ry of Fai thf ul BUILDINC" i s cel ebrat'i ng "bui'lding" as a verb, not a
noun.
the
Page2
Historically speal<ing, until the fourth century AD the "church" was a "gathering of the calIed out in Christ" meeting in private homes, catacombs, v'ineyards, and threshing floors, on beaches, oh hillsides and in small "upper rooms." It was also in these centuries that the Church of Jesus Christ was the most successful in her growth and i nfl uence i n the worl d. The fi rst dedi cated "church bui I di ngs" were actually built by the government (the Roman Emp-ire) as a way to politicize and control the activity of the Church and Christians. Most church history scholars believe that Constantine's Edict of Milan in 315 making Christianity the favored religion of the empire was the biggest blow aga-inst the true faith in history. Never doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ is at its root paradox'ical .
0n June I, I preached a sermon based on I Peter 2:5, "Like living stones, 'let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." This too says clearly that the church of Jesus Christ is not built with brick and mortar, but with "1iving stones" ( men and women) who are willing to as priests reach out to others with the word and wi I I of God i n Chri st whi 1e niak-ing "sacri fi ces" of resource, preferences, desires and security that are acceptable to God. "Church" i s about what we are wi 11i ng to do together as "cal I ed out" fol l<s i n
Christ.
Church
is not about where we gather.
are at a point in time that demands that we think agai'n about our "Faithful Building" together. Like most of the inner-city and urban congregati ons i n Al<ron we are dwi nd1 i ng i n numbers , manpower resources and energy. The cost of the upl<eep and utilities of our physical build'ing is a real stewardship concern that needs our honest
We
,
sacrificial attention. (Please see Pastor Dick William's letter in this newsletter) Is it the Lord's desire that we serve and give to a physicai building or to "the ongoing build-ing of the church?" Is it "acceptable" to the Lord that we struggle to maintain a building we cannot afford, or that we focus on the "living stones" that are the true make up of the church? and
ft
with this in mind that I ended that June 1 sermon with a proposal that was meant to create some surprise and wonder. It was
has
been interest-ing to receive some feedback on what many of you thought you heard in that. So, 1et me interpret. YES, f proposed a new "Bui 1d-i ng Prog ram" wi th fou r rel ated parts .
#7...
WE SHALL SOMEHOW BECIN we must l<now that everything
T0 BUILD A
TOGETHER. Surely is a "New Creation." Paul/Firestone Parl< has
NEW CHURCH
that is in Christ For 100 years the congregation of St. iohn/St. been "building a new creation in Christ." Nothing has changed in this except the historical context, the local community, and the mal<e-up of
the people involved, availability of resources and the best methods of actually communicating the Gospel to modern foll<s. We need to consider that the church needs to be a new creation in Christ.
#2...
THE NEW PROPOSED CHURCH WILL BE FIRMLY LOCATED ON THE SAME FOUNDATION, THE ROCK 0F THE RISEN CHIRST. Again, this is as it has
always been. The foundation of the Church is our Risen and Living Lord . Yet, wâ&#x201A;Ź must l<now that 1 i vi ng means changi ng , adapti ng , movi ng around, re-thinking, creating, letting go of the old and grasping the new. We are el<l<lesia, "the called out to follow our living Lord." To live is to be about change. #3.
T0
..
THE LIVING STONES OF THIS CONCRECATION WILL BE THE MATERIAL USED BUILD THE NEW CHURCH. So, "lil<e living stones, LET YOURSELVES be
built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to Cod through Jesus Christ." We, you and I, are the only resource we have to build with. We must be w-i11r'ng to begin now in mal<ing decisions and sacrifices (communal and individual) that will support and encourage SISP becoming a new creation in Christ. It will not be easy. ft will be at times troublr'ng. But it can and it needs to be "faithful." How else can we real1y honor "A CENTURY 0F FAITHFUL
#4. . .
\^JE
\dILL
CONTINUE
T0 USE (AS BEST !ilE CAN) OUR OLD PHYSICAL
BUTLD]NG UNTIL THE NEUilLY CREATED
MINISTERINC.
BUILDfNG?"
I do not think this
CHRIST CHURCH IS COMPLETED needs further comment.
IN
AND
Your newly formed Church Counci I and off i cers are a1 ready address'ing this "faithful bui 1ding" that we all share. We need your prayers. We need your support. We need your encouragement. We need you to be a "1 -ivi ng stone" of Cod's grace and love. It is simp'ly "A TIME 0F FAITHFUL BUILDING FOR A NEW CENTURY. " h/e Go
in
Peace
Pastor Ri ck
to
Serve the Lord.
Page 4
St. John/St. Paul Lutheran Church 2BZ W Bowery St
Akron, OH 44307 May 28,20L4 Dear members and friends,
Thank you for inviting JiI and me to join you for this anniversary. My duties at Zion, Valley City, preclude my being with you today.
It is appropriate that you are observing the 100th anniversary of your house of worship. Just imagine the joy and tears, sermons, h;rmns and anthems, promises and confessions, friendships made and enjoyed, within those walls! Over the years I have been in many sanctuaries, large and small, new and old. I know of none that are as accommodating and user friendly as yours. It is a Iarge sanctuary, capable of seating 400 people, but it doesn't seem big. From whatever angle, the line of sight is good and unobstructed. The chancel is spacious and able to accommodate a variety of activities, from huge wedding parties to small and intimate worship gatherings. The architect and building committee were thoughtful and ahead of their time.
I recall two occasions when the sanctuary was full to over-flowing-the funerals of Andy Bell and Doris Klotz. It served us weII for those important occasions. Even the balcony served the congregation well. Oh, the music that has flowed there, from the voices and the organ! I could go on and on...but I won't.
On the other side of the coin, I do not enr,y the pastors who used the office this facility provided. Size and accessibility didn't compare with the office I enjoyed while with you. AIas, the time when this sanctuary hears the sermons, prayers, h1.mns, and anthems of a vibrant congregation is drawing to a close. You are wrestling with how to understand and what to do with these local "end times." May the Holy Spirit bless and inspire you in you difficult conversations and decisions. Sincerely,
Pastor Dick Williams
Page 5
NEWS TO
THE
PEWS
INTO BIBLE BREAKFAST. At the same t"ime the Women's Circ]e Bib]e is evolving into the Men's and Women's B-ible study. Tuesday mornings wi-11 be SISP BIBLE STUDY for ALL at 9:30 AM at Pillitiere's on biaterloo Rd. The group has decided that the monthly fun should be weekly. S0 BE IT AND AMEN!! So all are invited to join in for breal<fast and bible on Tuesdays. Enjoy coffee and pastries at our Continental Breakfast each Sunday Morn'ing at 10:30am in the Firestone Parl< Lounge. Thanks to all who help serve and c'leanup. This event is funded by donations of generous volunteers and the Endowment Fund. We look forward to seeing you next Sunday! If you would l'il<e to host a Sunday, please use the signup sheet on the bulletin board in the narthex by the front entrance.
BIBLE
BRUNCH HAS EVOLVED
study
to be a qreat evangelist? Before you start gett'ing sweaty paims and rubber knees, consider this: when you "1il<e" sjspal<ron on Facebook you witness to your Facebool< friends that St. John St. Paul is an important part of your"life. And when you click the "share" button at the bottom of an SJSP post, whether it is for the coming Sunday's CPS theme, a song by the Acid Cats, or the coming Sunday's scripture lessons, you share a message of faith and'invitation to all who see it on your timeline. Becom'ing a great, fa-ithful evange'list just got a little easier. Want
LfKE TO CREATE 4 OR 5 NEW SMALL FOCUS GROUPS to enhance our SJSP fellowship and outreach. The Elder Careg'iver Croup is the first. Pastor R'ick is interested in Y0UR interest and ideas about starting additional group to focus on a need, service, fellowship, study or interest. We also would like to use these groups as points of entrance for potent'ial new folks gett'ing invo'lved with our congregation and ministry. Please share your interests and ideas with Pastor Rick.
WE WOULD
(Pastoral Counseling Services) the SJSP Church Council resolved at its March 11 meeting to conduct an ongoing collect'ion of peanut butter and je'l-ly and school supplies for the needy children of Akron. A spec'ia1 collection area well marked by signs will receive these offerings and also show our community and PCS our shared concerns for the children of Akron AS A TANGIBLE SIGN OF OUR (SISP) RELATION WITH PCS
Altar Flower Coordinator WANTED: The church office is looking for a person or group of peop'le willing to coordinate flowers ordered for Sunday service. Dut'ies included but are not l'imited to, making sure flower chart is up to date, mal<ing sure payment has been received before ordering, ordering flowers from the florist, sending church secretary by email wording for the bulletin, making sure flowers are p"icked up after service. If you are interested please give the church office a call at 330-253-6835 G.P.S. Topics
July 6 - What about the CRUSADES? July 20 - What can we share about "early jobs" and the effect on life? July 27 - lVhat can we say about PARANORMAL EXPERIENCES? August 3 - \,r/hat about inner-fa-ith relationships (CO-EXISTENCE)? The Church grows and the gospel is spread primarily by word of mouth. As Christians we all share the responsibility to invite and encourage others to join us in worship, service, learning and faith formation. GPS is a unique and presently evolving exper-ience of Christian worship and fe1'lowship. PLEASE help SJSP reach out to those who need to receive the Gospel and a sense of Cod's guidance in their lives.
will meet again July 9th at 6:30prn. Are speaker will be Dr. Nancy Istenes of The Center for Senior Health at Summa Health System. Dr. fstenes has practiced geriatrics at Summa for 10 years and special'izes in the care of older adults with complex medical illness and functional decline and/or memory loss. She has a specia'l focus on sl<illed rehabilitation and patient care-in the nursing home. Everyone'is inv'ited, please bring a friend.
THE NEW ELDER CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP
Page 6
41 Reves has secured 4l20th.is the BIC DAY! lohn Reyes fans! sunday, callinq all baseball ]rly and qame 2 :05pm qame ' The-game (f armorlv Al<ron Aeros) game' starts at The D"r"rean Flrrrlz< t t (formerly (details to-f:]l"yl..:l:: somewheie eat will we are -pv'vl dlE $6.00. After church tickets LILKeL> ?:id (or call over to the stadium. Notice the l-im'ited number 9f Ilgkets:o-:u:^S1t?l^oi:lTan afterfun at 330 658-4844) to mal<e your reservations toclay! It's sure to be a HEEEEYYYY BATTER BATTER BATTER NOON ! cathering in wELcA: we wil-l be collecting rn-l<ind gifts for the Ninth rriennial in any amount' b.".glnning Charlotte, NC. We would lilce to get eiitrer Gift Cards Target, walmart, retailers: w-ith a minimum of $10, from the iollowing national teen girls women, for and K-mart. Visa cards are also welcome or Hygiene-items body cans), and teen boys are needed: deolorant or antipLispirant-(no aerosol wash and body puffs, shampoo and conditioner, hair ge1s, moisturizers' d-isposable ratoothbrushes (in original pacl<aging), toothpaste, dental floss, or socl<s brushes and combs r zors, feminine trygi"i" probu.ii] wioe-tootnba hai girls and teen teen and underwear are"needed in any size and color for women, girls' Please see Bev boys. Bras in un' rii" "r" also needed for women and teen you have any Gorman, Linda Lewis, Beth Haas, Jenny Demuth or Ann streharsky'if LILI\ELJ
IVI
LIIE
I
!
questi on
or
donati ons.
L.U.M.A.
NEWS
parking lot; Thursday, August 27" from 4:30-6:30 we will have 5 trucl<s in our Premi er Crepes and Trul< whol I y Fr-ijol es , stone Pel i can, Mob'il e sushi , The orange Acid Cats the a pop band called will offer their menus for you. wtrile we eat, (They piay for tle contemporary service will play outside for our entertainment.featured in the Akron Beacon lournal') at St. lohn/St. Paul, and were recently
for baseball at Canal Park where the RubberatDucks $6 tickets take on Altoona at 7:05 p.m. LUMA has purchased a block of 80 to count final a have must game. We the to iread downtown each, so afte.^yo, baseball's If church. ""t, at them by August 4, and tickets will soon be aviilable is free on not your th"ing, then walk down to the Akron Art Museum, as admission right Thursdays. An evening of fun... summer food and entertainment is available here at 50 North Proipect Street...bri ng your fami 1y and f ri ends to report that Pastor Rick wi'll have two vacation Sunday'in August- We are happy August 3rd our guest preachers those day are folks we alreidy know and love' David be blessed by Pastor will feature pastor Tim Keeler and August 1-0th wiil friends T'im and David' our by cra-ig. we look forward to "The word" [resented And
it will
be a good night
!
$q
rqn ll$/
np## fi,\) *f
There will be a special (brief) congregational meeting following our 9:30am worship on July 20 to renew the lease with Pastoral Gounseling Services'
PageT
Birthdays & An n iversaries SEPTEMBER
AUGUST
JULY
McAdory, Steven
7/1
Craig, Beverly
8/4
Henry, John
e/6
Whidden, Gary
7/6
Redington, Alecia
8/6
Barnett, Thomas
s/7
Eiler, John
7/8
Almstedt, Kathleen
8/8
Gruccio, Frank
s/7
Magnus, Ashley
7
/11"
Sams, Daniel
8/10
Six, Kristin
e/7
Dascoli, Albert
7
/1.2
Teets, Sonia
8/1.1
Diaz, Yvette
s/8
Crouch, Mark
7
/1.4
Woods, Brighid
8/11.
Tall, Marian
s/8
Sams, Brandon
7
/1.s
Whidden, Geoffrey
8/13
Consolo, Grace
Cooper, Melissa
7
/1.6
Schweikert, Rianna
8/1.4
Bell, Steven
s/1.0
Caslow, Michael
7
/te
Herchenroeder, Scott
8/1.s
Dietz, Dawn
s/1.0
Phelps, Sharon
7
/1_s
Farnsworth, Jacqueline
8/1.6
Herrick, Larry
s/1.0
Gordon, Alyson
7
/21
Herchen roeder, Krysta
8/1.6
McHugh, Kelly
s/1.1.
Thompson, Darryl
7
/22
Wood, Helen
8/16
Phelps, Stanton
9/12
Harman, Sue
7
/23
Hunsicker, Lillian
8/!7
Lehman, Eric
e/1.4
Leon, Ray
7
/2s
Czerwony, Kate
8/18
Fortunato, Nancy
s/1,s
Plumley, Nancy
8/1.8
Czerwony, Patrick
a l1-7
Edenhofer, Justin
8/2s
Six, Brian
9/17
Barzal, Rebekah
8/27
Raczko, Luna
s/20
Cook, Gregory
8/27
Barnett, Kelsee
e/23
Mowen, Amanda
8/27
Hilbert, Kathryn
e/24
Dawson, Abigail
8/2e
Hartline, Deborah
e/2s
Shirey, Grace
8/2e
Cerovski, Maria
Woods, Diane
8/2e
Coch, John
s/26 o/?o
Gordon, Jameson
8/30
Gruccio, Margaret
Herchenroeder, Sherri
8/30
Huffman, Zachary
8/30
Boyd, Steven
8/31.
Lewis, Karl
7/27
Wiese, Brian Edenhofer, Betheny
Karl & Jenny
7
/31.
DemuIh 7 /18
Steven & Jessica
Bell 7/27
I
Trunko 8/1 8/1'O Joyce & Robert Hall
Michael & Aimee
Kathleen & Keith
Almstedt 8/1'5
Dan & Donna Marie Dawson 8/24 Rev Rick & Lolly
Gordon 8/25
Jennifer Lehman & Javier Pino 8/25
James & Alma
Gary &
Yutzy
O/q '
9/2s
9/1
CarolWhidden 9/I4
Larry & Mary
Lyle
Rebekah & Richard
Mark & Ann Marie
Barzal
9/15 9/20
Williams 9/28
,
ffacrv I t Lu
Arrnrvetsiry
PagetL
WORSHIP SCHEDULE
9:30 AM.....Traditional Worship 10:00 AM.....Bible Study 1O:30 AM....Gonti nental Breakfast 11:o0 AM....G.P,S. Worship
MINGLER SCHEDULE 07t06t14 07113114
07t20t14 07t27t14
08t17t14 08/31/14 a9i07/14 09t14t14
Art Kaufman Beth Haas Jeanne Gardner Audie Dascoli Art Kaufman Jeanne Gardner Audie Dascoli
Art Kaufman
READER SCHEDULE
Tom Lehman 07 t13t14
07t20t14 07t27t14
Chris Allen Heather Parr
08117/14
Catie Lehman Carole Lintner
08t31114 09107114 09t14114
09t21t14 Audie Dascoli
David Lehman Heather Parr Linda Reves Gerald Allen David Six
SACRAM ENTAL SERVER SCH EDU LE Communion 07t06t14 07t20t14
Geoff Whidden Jennv Demuth
08t17t14 09t07t14 09t21t14
Art Kaufman Judv Harrison
Joe Gardner
Judv Harrison Beth Haas Geoff Whidden Jennv Demuth