August 16 – Total – 209

August 23 – Total – 197

August 30 – Total – 216

September 6 (Church Picnic) – Total – 190

September 13 (Rally Day) – 9:30 – 131; 11:00 – 115; Total – 246

First Time Visitors – (8/16) Karen Mitchell of Aurora

Baptisms – Jason Alan, Joshua Andrew & Jennifer Carolyn, children of Don & Rebecca Bliss; Caroline Isabel Williamson; Colton John Logan, son of Tim & Amy Logan; Emily Jean Vrabel, daughter of Michael Armstrong & Analise Vrabel

Weddings – Nicole B. Sanson & John D. Zupancic; Quinn Jamieson Hazen & Chad Joseph Billec;  Victoria Lynn Matota & Nicholas Paul Criblez

Memorials – Joanne Shaw, mother of Karen Nelson and Lorene Silla

PRAYER CHAIN – If you have something you would like added to the Prayer Chain, call Martha Wagner at 330-562-3546 or twagner@windstream.net.

VOA Food Pantry Needs – This month the Food Pantry needs soups, Tuna Helper, toilet paper, paper towels, Kleenex, hand soap and dish soap. Please be considerate and don’t donate food that is outdated. The Food Pantry just has to throw it away. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Time & Talent Survey 2009 – Enclosed in this issue of the Spire is a copy of the 2009 Time & Talent Survey. We ask that each church member fill out one of these surveys every year. They can be returned to the Stewardship mailbox or the church office. Thank you for your cooperation.

WOMAN’S RING FOUND – We have a ring in the church office that was found here at the church some time ago. It is very lovely and looks expensive. If you have lost a ring, please give us a call.

BULLETIN INSERT ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SPIRE ARTICLES – If you would like something put in the bulletin insert or the Spire PLEASE e-mail the Church Secretary at pjaeger@thechurchinaurora.org or put a note in her mailbox. A hard copy that can put in the bulletin/Spire file is much more trustworthy than her memory. Also please remember to keep bulletin insert articles short as we have much to print. Thirty words or less is ideal. Thank you.

WORKCAMPS 2010 will be held June 20-26 at Clearfield, PA (Sr.) and July 25-31 at Rochester, NY (Jr./Sr.). A $50 deposit is due by September 27 to reserve your spot. Please contact the Eavensons at 330-995-6268 or jfkacres@aol.com for further info. ASAP.

ATTENTION COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN – Please check your committee’s mailbox often. They sometimes get so full we can’t get more mail in there, and you might also miss timely information.

Women’s Guild – Just a reminder that because of the timing of Nutcracker Sweets, there will be no Guild meeting this month. Sign up to work at Nutcracker and we’ll see you in November!

28^th Annual Nutcracker Sweets – October 16 and 17 – It’s that time again already! Sign ups have already begun for Nutcracker Sweets in the Great Hall between services. Profits from Nutcracker benefit every department in our church as well as the chosen mission for this year, Robinson Visiting Nurses and Hospice. Get involved and meet new people. It really is FUN! If you aren’t available those days, bake pies or cook chickens ahead of time. There’s something for everyone to do! Please check your calendars and stop by to sign up. We need help in all areas and from all ages. For further info contact Joni Hanson at 440-821-9377 or e-mail guss@roadrunner.com. Thank you in advance for your support.

Pastor Appreciation – We can detect the change of seasons here at The Church in Aurora in many ways. One way is that we usually take time during the month of October to look back at the multitude of ways that our Pastors have helped to keep us spiritually fit. This is especially true during this past very difficult year. They have been there every day to remind us that God is with us and will guide us through these uneasy times. This year we are designating the week beginning October 11 as Pastor Appreciation Week (our Pastors are insistent that a week is sufficient). Please take a moment during Coffee Hour on Sunday, October 11^th, to verbally express your appreciation for their constant efforts to keep our spirits strong. If you will be unable to be present, a note or card during the week would be welcomed. Thank you for helping affirm our Pastors in their good work on behalf of Christ. The Elders

Bicentennial Merchandise – For several weeks now, we have had a chance to view all the bicentennial merchandise available at Bicentennial Central on the stage in Fellowship Hall. Enclosed in this issue of the Spire is an order form with all the information you need to order any of those items.

Touch of God – There have been some changes in our 11:00 Christian Education program. It is now called "The Touch of God"! The classroom is set up to welcome the child to discover stories pertaining to our faith. This new and inviting program uses the Montessori approach to engage each child’s curiosity to learn. Through beautifully designed materials, children can learn about the bible, Jesus and God through interactive, hands-on experiences. There are many things to touch, see, hear and take part in while learning. The classroom is set up to meet the needs of all kinds of learning styles, from ages 4 years old through 4^th grade. We will be exploring a different story each week. The month of September we will be learning about Creation, Noah and his Ark, and the Great Family. In October we will discover the Exodus, The Ten Best Ways, the Ark and the Tent and the Ark and the Temple. If you have time, come down and see our new classroom and unique materials and meet one of our teachers!

Eldercare Expo will be held at our church on Sunday, September 27, from 1-4 p.m.  This free event will be an open house format to gather specific information from a variety of vendors and professionals who service the needs of seniors and their caregivers.  Areas of information include home-based and residential care options, health and medication monitoring, end of life issues, common caregiver stresses and solutions, legal and financial alerts, senior services in the community, government programs, and much more.  Light refreshments will be available. Our keynote speaker, Sarah Parran of Senior Care Connections, will speak from 2-3 p.m. on Eldercare issues, then take your questions.  We need you to register if you’d like to attend.  Sign up on the church website, e-mail eldercare@neo.rr.com or call 330-541-4106. We still need volunteers to help with publicity by delivering posters/fliers to area businesses.  If you can help, please call Dorothy Bell at the above number.

Why Lay Ministry? – Stephen Ministry is based on the idea that all Christians are ministers. The responsibility for passing on God’s love is for all Christians, not just for a chosen few. God has given us all gifts for ministry and called us to put those gifts to use. Stephen Ministry is a place where people with special gifts for caring ministry can use those gifts to bring Christ’s love to people in need. To explore becoming a Stephen Minister, contact Russ Post (330/562-9789) or Susan Kray (330/562-1344).

Thank you, Mr. Moore – The CE Department and the new Touch of God classroom teachers would like to thank Randy Moore for painting a very large classroom for us.  You did a beautiful job, Randy, and we appreciate the hours you gave to this project.

CROP Hunger Walk – The Aurora Clergy Association will once again sponsor a CROP Walk on Sunday, October 4, beginning at 1:30 p.m. at Sunny Lake. CROP stands for: Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty. 2,000 American communities take part each year raising awareness and funds for international relief and development, as well as local hunger-fighting agencies. Right now The Church in Aurora needs to provide a representative to work on the planning committee with other church representatives and the project coordinator. For more information, contact Rev. Schnell (562-8266).

Paper Recycling – Newspapers, junk mail, catalogs, magazines – we all get them all the time. We may look at them once, then throw them away. No one benefits from that. And the landfills fill up that much faster. But if you recycle all that paper in the recycling bin in the southwest corner of the parking lot, the church gets a little extra money to help us make ends meet. It’s a win-win situation! Please remember – NO CARDBOARD! That means even cereal boxes.

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.

Adult Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. will begin this year with John Stott's "1 Timothy & Titus: Fighting the Good Fight". These letters from the bible are called "the Pastoral Epistles" because they are concerned with the pastoral care and oversight of local churches. In Titus Paul emphasizes the relationship between doctrine and duty, belief and behavior in the church, at home and at work. Come join us as we begin our study of these scriptures together. For more info call Betsy Tomasko at 330-562-3505, or just show up on any Sunday morning. All are welcome.

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!

3H PM – Our next meeting will be Thursday, October 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m., but we will be meeting in The Escape because of Nutcracker Sweets set-up.  Please read the chapter on Rahab. ~ Kathleen Horak, 330-562-1930

BLOODMOBILE HELPERS – Many thanks to the Red Cross Bloodmobile volunteers who served on September 14: Flip Eavenson, Barb Bigler, Lillian Papp, Tim Wagner, Winnie Tucker, John Wise and Sue Sutton. Together we made a difference! Martha Wagner

The first known sermon preached in Aurora by an ordained minister was given in the outdoors near the cabin of Ebenezer Sheldon in exchange for an evening meal and a night’s lodging. Living in the wilderness, the Sheldons and the few other families that had settled in the small village struggled to both physically and spiritually survive in the wilderness. In 1809 twelve of these faithful pioneers gathered in the home of John Singletary and established the first church in Aurora. By 1824 the "Old Brick Church" stood prominently on the small rise at the town’s center. In 1872 the "Old Brick Church" was torn down and a new sanctuary was built upon the footprint of the original foundation. Greatly expanded, it still stands today. Throughout its two hundred years the church and its members have faithfully served the community of Aurora. The church’s history has been a vivid reflection of our nation’s history. Congregations have dealt with the issue of conflicting views on baptism, drinking, dancing, and working on the Sabbath. In the 1830’s the church’s windows were broken out during a boisterous riot against the abolition of slavery. Yet decades later the church was packed by the supporters of Abraham Lincoln who championed emancipation. In the 1920’s the church took action against a "house of gambling" that was the first of many to operate in the Geauga Lake area. The 1960’s concern was raised over the issue of integration and the church’s position on "open occupancy." Using the pulpit to put forth personal agendas angered many in the 1970’s. In the late 1980’s a controversial sermon on abortion divided the church and challenged its future. Over the years the congregations have been served by itinerant missionaries, Hiram College theological students, military veterans, Congregationalists, Presbyterians, Methodists, and a Mason. Once advertized as "The Biggest Little Church in America", for two hundred years The Church in Aurora has been More Than a Landmark.

Want to read more? More Than a Landmark – A Bicentennial History of the Church in Aurora: 1809-2009 is currently being researched and written by John Kudley, Jr. The book depicts the building, people and issues that have been The Church in Aurora for the past 200 years. The book, which will also memorialize the events of the bicentennial celebration, will be published in early 2010. Watch for more details in the coming months.

A Good Friend is a Blessing From God: Why not thank God for the gift of friendship and bring a friend to church on Sunday, November 15th. Our third annual "Honor a Friend Day" will be this day at the 9:30 and 11:00 services. There also will be a special sermon, music, a gift for your friend and a yummy coffee hour. Please call and invite your special friend! A postcard with details will be available on Sunday, October 25^th, for you to send to your friend. Don't miss this special day. If you have any questions, please call Mary Wallace at 330-562-2198.

Used Ink Cartridges and Cell Phones – Don’t throw away your old cell phones! Please save them for the Workcamp Fund. And we are still collecting used ink cartridges, too! A drop-off basket is in the Great Hall on the desk outside the Toddler Room door. Large quantity pick-ups of laser print cartridges are available. Contact Kim Williamson at 330-562-4930 for more information on that. HELP SAVE OUR LANDFILLS while providing financial support for Workcamp.

Mission of the Month – This month the Missions Committee is focusing on Church World Services and specifically its Tools and Blankets Program.

Founded in 1946, Church World Service is a relief, development and refugee assistance agency supported in part by 35 Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican denominations in the United States. The agency supports a broad range of poverty fighting projects in some 80 countries.

The blanket, a basic component of every disaster response program, offers warmth, comfort and shelter in the most fearful circumstances. October 4^th will be Blanket Sunday at The Church in Aurora. For those wishing to make a donation, we will provide envelopes inside the Bulletin and request that, should you write a check to The Church in Aurora, that you note on that check the donation is for Blanket Sunday. We will also have envelopes in the Great Hall.

Behind the Scenes – Dorothy Bell cared for an elderly loved one until her passing last year.  This experience gave her a heart for those who commit themselves to this labor of love, and an appreciation for the magnitude of the commitment required.  She knows from personal experience that there are many significant resources available to help caregivers make wise and compassionate decisions.  Her passion is to help caregivers (and receivers) to become aware of these many and varied resources so that they can keep the commandment to honor their mothers and fathers.  For that reason, Dorothy has been the organizing force behind the Eldercare Expo held here last year and scheduled again for Sunday, September 27, of this year. Dorothy has a nursing background which has helped to inform her understanding of the medical issues unique to geriatric patients. She and her husband, Lance, also have significant experience as church leaders in previous congregations, so navigating programs through church administrative waters comes naturally to her.

Dorothy has been a member of our church for less than two years, but has not spent that time being idle. Besides the great deal of work she has put into the Eldercare Expo, Dorothy is also a member of the Chancel Choir and has been a Vacation Bible School volunteer. ‘