News of Members and Friends

First Time Visitors – (4/12) Kevin & Holly Barnett of Aurora (4/26) Melanie Scott of Aurora (5/3) Vera Kanuckel of Springboro, OH (5/10) Jim & Laurie Stewart of Aurora, Kim Kainec of Aurora, Jesse & Nicole (Finefrock) Shedden of Lakewood, Ken & Jill Brown of Aurora, Colleen Rich & David Korenke of Streetsboro, Mike & Linda Fritz of Aurora, Sarah & Burckhard Flemming of Pittsburgh, PA

Weddings – Kristen Louise Elledge & Derrick Lee Ellis; Sarah Webb & Austin Foote

Memorials – Beatrice P Gray, mother of Al Gray; Rich Kasunic; Betty Robinson, mother of Mary Schroeder; Hayden James DeLeone, Great-grandson of Ingrid & Mike Cuppage, Great-great-grandson of Gil Gilbertson

The final 2009 WORKCAMP parent/participant meeting is Sunday, May 31, 2009, in Fellowship Hall at 6:30 PM.  For participants of BOTH workcamps, we will be COMMISSIONED during church on Sunday, June 14 at 10 AM.  Please plan to attend!

Relay for Life-Aurora/Streetsboro – A Benefit for the American Cancer Society Saturday, May 30th and Sunday, May 31st-Aurora High School Stadium – 9 AM-9 AM.  To join the Relay for Life The Church in Aurora Team, please contact Karen Pope at 330-562-3192 or Beth Morrison at 330-562-0452.  The 2009 The Church in Aurora Relay team looks forward again to CELEBRATING those of you who have survived cancer; REMEMBERING those who have not; and FIGHTING a most cruel enemy that has claimed far too many of our family members and good friends...many in the prime of their lives!  The enemy goes on...but it won't survive if we FIGHT it together!  Join Now!!

Rummage Sale – I wish to thank everyone who made donations to the Women's Guild Rummage Sale and to those who volunteered their time.  Again, we had a successful sale with a profit of $1,687.77.  Please mark your calendar for our fall sale on September 23 & 24. T HANK YOU!  Joy Evans

Support – To hold in position so as to keep from falling, sinking or slipping.  Support is something we all need.  God gives us support through our Christian brothers and sisters.  Let us all be sensitive to one another’s needs and take the time to support each other through prayers, phone calls, friendly chats after church and even visits.  Also, remember that we have Stephen Ministers who are willing to give their support.  For more information about Stephen Ministry, please contact Russ Post (330/562-9789) or Susan Kray (330/562-1344).

Bill & Kevin’s Excellent Adventure – The date this year is Friday, July 24, with a caravan departing the church at 6:00 PM.  Our worthy opponents will be the Altoona Curve (farm team for the Pirates).  Tickets are only $8 each for excellent seats up close on the third base line (no sun in the eyes!).  And here’s a big plus—it’s fireworks night.  Tickets are limited to sit with our group.  Get your money to Patti in the office by June 22 to reserve your place for the 14th Annual Excellent Adventure with Bill & Kevin.

Church Camp – This year’s camp will run from August 2 through 8 for youth entering 6th grade through entering college.  All the details plus registration forms for both campers and staff can be found at: www.sfacamp.org.  There you will also find plenty of descriptive material, photos, videos, and more.  If you need more information than that, contact Rev. Schnell (330/562-8266).

AUDIO CD’S of the Sunday services are available in the library in the top drawer of the cherry chest to the right of the door. If you would like to purchase a CD, contact Phil Ticer at 330-995-9318.

"THANK YOU" to the congregation from the Workcamp Crew!  We netted $6,485 from the Spaghetti Dinner/Silent Auction last month.  Financially, we are in excellent shape, mostly due to your wonderful support of all our fundraising efforts since last October.  Please keep saving your used cell phones and ink cartridges ALL YEAR, as this is an on-going project.  Wesleyville, PA and Clare, MI, here we come!

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL – Come and experience Camp E.D.G.E (Experience + Discover GOD Everywhere) this summer for VBS. The dates will be June 15th - June 19th.  We are building our leadership team (adults and junior/senior high) to help run this exciting event.  If you would like to volunteer in any way, please contact the VBS coordinator, Stephanie Tutkovics, at 330-995-6443 or stephtut@hotmail.com.

SOS!  CHURCH HABITAT LUNCH COORDINATOR NEEDED ASAP!!  Our church is in need of a volunteer Church Lunch Coordinator for the Habitat for Humanity of Portage County lunch program for volunteer workers.  This outreach provides a hot, nutritious lunch each Saturday for the volunteer workers by the churches and groups from the Portage County area.  Our church normally serves a lunch quarterly.   It is time for me to step down as our church coordinator and give another person or two persons the opportunity to serve and learn more about the special Habitat for Humanity program here in Portage County.  Habitat of Portage County is dedicating its 50th house next Sunday, May 17th, in Atwater, OH!!   As many of you know, Habitat for Humanity is one of the major builders of quality, affordable housing throughout the world.  It is a privilege to serve this group in our own Portage County.  I will be happy to discuss the job description and answer questions for anybody who in interested in serving in this capacity.  A brief job description would be:

1. The person who receives the quarterly Lunch Assignment Schedule as Church Lunch Coordinator.

2. Publicize data and information (to congregation, Women’s Guild and 3-H Circle).

3. Plan menu and circulate sign-up sheet 2-3 weeks before assigned serving date.

4. Follow up with reminder phone calls to cooks and those who will deliver and serve lunch (Food items need to be prepared and brought to church kitchen that morning).

5. Follow up with publicity article following serving date.

Please give me a call ASAP if interested at 330-995-0850 or see me at church.  Thank you!  Margi McDonald

Thank You!!  A big thank you to the Endowment Committee who provided the delicious cake for Mother’s Day and the lovely carnations for the mother’s at both services.  They will also be providing the flowers for all the dads at our Father’s Day service on June 14th.  A gift in honor or memory of someone, a gift in your estate planning, or a gift just because you want to be included in the ongoing health of The Church in Aurora has aided the Endowment Committee in funding over $100,000 to meet special needs of our church.  Please keep them in mind as a gift to the Endowment Fund is a gift that keeps giving.

CHURCH LIBRARY – Can you believe that it's been over 40 years since we first saw that wonderful movie, "The Sound of Music"?  We now have the DVD version which has even better sound and breathtaking views of Austria where this true story took place.

Have you heard about Dewey, that would be Dewey Readmore Books?  This little kitty was stuffed into the book return box of the Spencer Public Library in Iowa when he was only a few weeks old.  For the next nineteen years he was the library cat whose fame spread worldwide.  Yes, this is a biography of a cat, but it's also the story about the generosity, courage and devotion of this small town.

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived is how Steven Scott uses the teachings and lessons of Jesus in his own success in business.  He shows us all how the manner and methods which Jesus used to accomplish His goals and purpose are useful for us, too.

This movie and the book, Dewey, were donated by Ginny Miller, Kent and Anne Ramsay in memory of their friend Ginny Ramsay.  Ginny Miller also gave the other book in memory of her friend Gladys Hanes.  We are thankful to them for their thoughtful gifts.

The CARE TEAM is available for those who need meals during a time of recovery or a ride to an appointment or someone to pick up prescriptions or just a friendly visit. If they could help you, call Pat Way at 330-673-7917 or Rita Suchanek at 330-562-3273 or 216-570-9808!

THANK YOU TO HABITAT LUNCH PROVIDERS – Our church cooks provided the lunch to the Habitat of Portage County volunteers working on the two new house starts in Atwater on Saturday, May 9.  Our wonderful cooks were Beth Donnelly, Elaine Duncan, Margi McDonald, Ginny Miller, Lillian Papp, Anne Ramsay, Helen Rankin, Pat Scott, Terry & Renee Smith, Sue Sutton, Winnie Tucker and Martha Wagner.  The two ladies who delivered and served the lunch in Atwater were Lynn Limbach and Winnie Tucker.   A bountiful lunch of hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, raw vegetable and cheese tray, assorted fruits - bananas pears, grapes, strawberries and melon, and a variety of cookies were served and very much appreciated by the twenty hungry volunteers.  We appreciate the generous cooks who willingly sign up each time we are asked to provide the lunch.  Thank you, thank you!  Please stay tuned for the next opportunity which is coming up soon on June 27!!

Habitat for Humanity – Did you know that The Church in Aurora is a “Covenant Church” allied in ministry with Habitat of Portage County?  The following are some ways to live out that covenant.

1) Visit Habitat’s website at habitatofportage.com, click on the VOLUNTEER link, complete a Volunteer Form and email it to hfhofpc@sbcglobal.net, or call the office at 330-296-2880 and ask them to mail you a Volunteer Form.

2) Attend a Volunteer Orientation Meeting held at 10:00 AM the second Saturday of each month at 6630 Cleveland Road, Ravenna OH 44266 to learn all about the Habitat mission, organization, operation and full range of volunteer opportunities.

3) Recommend skilled trades people who can serve as Site Supervisors or Crew Leaders to supervise and train less skilled volunteers at a Saturday build site.

4) Recommend as Habitat Partner Families moderate income families who are living in substandard housing who would be willing to partner with Habitat by helping build a house and pay an affordable no-interest mortgage to become a Homeowner.  Invite them to attend a Family Selection Orientation at 2:00 PM the second Sunday of each month at the Habitat office at 6630 Cleveland Road in Ravenna Township.

5) Participate in the Habitat Day of Prayer worship service on Sunday, September 20, 2009 to be held at all Habitat Covenant Churches.

Mission of the Month – The Missions Committee has chosen to focus on Mercy Ships and World Vision.  Mercy Ships is a global charity that operates a fleet of hospital ships that provide medical care, relief aid and training for long-term sustainable change in developing nations.  Mercy Ships models its operations after the example of Jesus Christ, by bringing healing and hope to the poor no matter what their race, gender or religion.  The Missions Committee’s 2006 donation helped launch their newest ship, the Africa Mercy, to be deployed in war-devastated Liberia.

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.  World Vision serves alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people.  The Missions Committee will be supporting their efforts to provide a water project that will benefit more than 160,000 people in Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and Lesotho.

Behind the Scenes – Once you’ve had a street named after you, being featured in the Spire can hardly seem impressive.  But George Hettinger has probably contributed much more to our church than he has to the city of Aurora!  After all, he has been a member for more than 58 years.  Back in 1955, George was involved with the Christian Forum.  That’s the first of his many volunteer positions that are noted in our records.  Then from 1956 through 1958, George was the Chairman of the Ushers.  He was the Chairman of our Recreation Committee during 1960 and 1961.  George served as a Deacon in 1965 and 1966.  And then he was an Elder from 1967 through 1969, serving as the Chairman of that committee in 1968.  The Missions Committee was his next stop, from 1995 through 2000.  And from 2005 through 2007, George served as one of our Trustees.  In 2008, George went to Workcamp.  Sprinkled in over those years were many mission trips George led from our church to New Mexico to work at Crown Point Schools.  He even helped out for a little while at the Rummage Sales.  George has children and grandchildren still active in our membership.  Thank you, George, for your many contributions that have helped to make The Church in Aurora…..