A Message from the Minister – Church Camp was, as always, a spiritually deep experience for our youth this year.  Those who began attending years ago as pre-campers (called “Parking Lot Kids) are now serving as counselors.  Serving on staff from our congregation included: Forrest Reed, David Greenberger, Mary Beth & Jim Bob Schnell, John Weber and, for a couple days, yours truly.  Attending as campers included: Hunter Reed, Scott Schroeder, James Hogan (who won the 2008 “Camper of the Year” award), Alaina Hoover, Zachary Ignatious, Grace & Ian Klinger, Samantha Leib, Hannah Kubbins (who was baptized by immersion in the lake), Kyle Messner, Ben Deininger and Stephen Wong.  Aside from being the best represented congregation at camp, I was told by the Director, David Brizius, that ours are “uniformly high caliber kids.”  I already knew that, but it is always nice to hear. 

     This camp has continued uninterrupted through the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and the beginning of a new millennium.  Lots of things have gone out of fashion during the intervening years, but camp remains as vital as ever.  Is it the great out-of-doors, the isolation from Ipods and radios and computers and TVs and text messaging, or is it the adventure of being away from home?  It may be many of these things, but I think it is mostly the spiritual dimension of camp. 

     Most do not associate spirituality with youth, but young people are among the most spiritually sensitive of us all in the right setting.  Consider this schedule: campers begin their day (before breakfast) with a devotional period called “Morning Watch.”  The middle of the day finds them at “Chapel.”  The evening finds them at “Vespers.”  And just before retiring to their cabins at night they join in prayer at a “Friendship Circle.”  In between are prayers offered by campers before meals, and written prayers left at “The Eternal Flame.”  Two high points of the week are a baptismal service at the waterfront and a communion service by candlelight under the stars.  Throughout the week are many tearful testimonies and wonderful witnesses to God’s power and presence. 

     Does this sound like something your youth would embrace?  In all honesty, most of us would answer “not exactly.”  And yet campers enthusiastically return year after year and recruit new campers by word of mouth alone without benefit of church committee oversight or fundraisers or adult support of any kind save for the rides they scrounge up from Mom or Pop to and from “them thar hills.”  That is unprecedented in my experience with church programming and I don’t know how to explain it.

     May all of us be inspired by the good example of our youth who do not recess from spiritual growth during the summer months, but who continue to grow as God gives them every opportunity.   Raising Up a Family of Faith, -Bill

In the Pulpit during September –

September 7 – Rev. Schnell (Communion, Rally Day)

September 14 – Rev. Horak

September 21 – Rev. Schnell

September 28 – Rev. Schnell

Worship Attendance

July 27 – Total – 191                                                  August 10 (Laity Sunday) – Total – 145

August 3 – Total – 195                                                August 17 – Total –

News of Members and Friends

First Time Visitors – (7/27) Chuck & Gerry Hofmeister of Aurora  (8-10) Bill Farkas of Yardley, PA

Births – Liberty Noel Inman, daughter of Fred & Anita Inman, granddaughter of Butch & Melva Wendell:

Jack James Shaw, son of Mike & Amy Shaw, grandson of Rick & Linda Shaw

Baptisms – Kaitlyn Mackenzie Bryant;

Weddings – Hannah Jean Horak & Ryan Christopher Gear; Elisabeth Anne Hanley & James Matthew Janota;

Gwen M. Deighan & Gregory E. Tomasko;

Memorials – Gertrude Motulewicz, mother of Don Motulewicz;

VOA Food Pantry Needs – The VOA Food pantry is DESPERATELY in need of cereal and canned potatoes.  Other needs include jelly, peanut butter, macaroni & cheese, canned spaghetti and stew.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE CHURCH PICNIC – Our annual Church Picnic will be held here at the church on Sunday, August 31, at 10:00 a.m.  Place settings and beverages will be provided, but please bring a side dish or dessert to share.  You may also want to bring folding chairs or blankets to sit on during the service and meal.

Time & Talent Survey – Your input is needed to better support program and committee needs, the nominating process, and projects.  Simply put, The Church in Aurora needs many volunteers with a wide range of talents and skills. 

On Rally Day, September 7, you will be asked to complete the survey form.  When you complete it, you open the door to the rewarding use of your talents in God’s service. 

If you will not be in worship that day, please fill out the survey (form included) and place it in the Stewardship mail box or mail it to The Church in Aurora c/o Stewardship Committee. 

Please prayerfully consider volunteering.  Complete the survey even if you did so last year or in years past.  It only takes a minute or two of your time and it can go a long way in helping “Raising Up A Family Of Faith.” 

Thank you!           Stewardship Committee

RUMMAGE SALE – Our annual fall Rummage Sale will take place on Wednesday, September 24, and Thursday, September 25.  Set-up days will be Monday and Tuesday, September 22 and 23.  We are always looking for volunteers to assist on the sale days (Wednesday and Thursday).  If you are able to help, please call Joy Evans at 330-562-5663 or send her an email at jlevans33@yahoo.com.

A heartfelt thank you to all of the children & helpers in PromiseLand Drive-In on the 27th who made me such beautiful cards.  I cannot tell you how much they meant to me.  Special thanks to the mom's who covered for me on such short notice.  God bless you all!  Miss Dana

“Wear Red on Rally Day” – Sunday, September 7^th is Rally Day 2008, the beginning of our new Church School year.  This year we are asking everyone to wear red, the liturgical color for the Holy Spirit.  We will have a special gift for each child and youth in attendance and all are invited to an “Ice Cream Sunday Bar” sponsored by the Christian Education Committee.  Come to Fellowship Hall following either service and join us as we celebrate the beginning of our Bicentennial year!

Audio Tapes of our services are available in the top drawer of the chest next to the door in the library.

3H Meeting Notice:  Mark your calendars for Friday, September 5, 9:30 a.m., for an interesting 3H Meeting, when a panel of three speakers will talk about ways in which 3H Circle can contribute to our community.  The three participating are Mark Frisone, Director of Family and Community Services; Sue Altman from the Volunteers of America; and Bill Schnell, who, of course, has many insights into local needs.

A Note from the Music Department – It soon will be time for our choir rehearsals to begin; dates and times are listed below.  If you have questions, please call the designated directors.

VOCAL CHOIRS

                                                                                                                                    Director

Chancel (Adult)                       Thursday, August 28               8:00 p.m.                     Sally McGill  330-562-3445

BASIC (grades 7-12)  Information will be available at a later date                             Sally McGill  330-562-3445

Littlest (grades K-2)                Tuesday, September 9           3:45 p.m.                     Toni Harris  330-562-6260

                                                                                                                                    Anne Ramsay  330-562-5256

Choralier (grades 3-6)                        Tuesday, September 9           3:45 p.m.                     Cheryl Miller  330-562-8492

HANDBELL CHOIRS

There are openings in the 7-8^th and High School Bell Choirs.  If you are interested in playing, but have not participated before, please call Mrs. McGill in advance of the first rehearsal.

7-8^th Handbells                        Tuesday, September 9           7:00 p.m.                     Sally McGill  330-562-3445

Adult Handbells                       Tuesday, September 9           7:45 p.m.                                      “

High School Handbells            Sunday, September 7             12:15 p.m.                                    “

To parents of Littlest and Choralier children:  There is NO adult supervision on rehearsal days until 3:30 p.m.  We respectfully request that children do not arrive at the church before that time.

September 11, 2008 Dedication-Open House at Freedom House.  10:00 a.m.  Don’t miss it!

                        In His Love,  Elaine Duncan

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.

Pastor Bill Wins Annual Award for Best ICCC Sermon – Bill Schnell’s sermon, One Church, which was delivered at our church on May 20^th, 2007, won the Dr. Charles A. Trentham Homiletics Award.  This was announced at the awards dinner of the recent International Council of Community Churches (ICCC) annual conference held in Los Angeles. 

According to the ICCC “The Dr. Charles A. Trentham Homiletics Award is an annual award given for the best sermon reflecting the spirit and values of the community church movement submitted each year for publication in the Inclusive Pulpit Journal. “ .

Bill’s sermon was one of 25 submitted for the homiletics prize.  The Trentham Homiletics Award was started in 1997 making Bill its 12^th winner.  In addition to a plaque commemorating the award, Bill also received a modest financial stipend/ prize. 

Bob Harris, one of several judges who evaluate sermons for the Trentham Award, said the vote was not close.  Bill was the hands down winner. 

You can read his winning sermon either by checking out the 2008 edition of the Inclusive Pulpit Journal (pgs 140 – 145) in the church library or by visiting our church’s website at www.thechurchinaurora.org/sermonOneChurch.htm.  

Congratulations to Bill on winning this prestigious ICCC award!!

3H PM.  It is time to be together in the Stephen Ministry Room making prayer shawls, blankets and sharing our reflections on Beth Moore's book, PRAYING GOD'S WORD (please read chapters 1 and 2 for our September meeting).  Our meeting times will be 9/11, 10/9, 11/13/, 12/11, 1/15, 2/12, 3/12, 4/9, and 5/14--all from 6:30-8:30 p.m.  Please let me know if you would like to join us, so that I may have a book for you. ~ Kathleen Horak, 330-562-1930.

2009 WILL BE HERE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT!  The church will celebrate its bicentennial that year and we are already getting ready.  Let us know what you would like to see as part of that very special celebration.  All ideas and suggestions can be forwarded on to Rev. Horak.

CHOIR DIRECTOR NEEDED – The Music Department is seeking a qualified person to fill the position of B.A.S.I.C. Choir Director this fall.  The choir is comprised of youth grades 7 through 12.  If interested, or you know of someone who might be, please call Sally McGill at 330-562-3445 for details.

WOMEN’S GUILD – Where did the summer go?  It is so hard to believe that school and Sunday School will be starting a new year soon, as will Women’s Guild.

            Our first meeting of the year is always devoted to Nutcracker Sweets and this year is no exception.  We will be served lunch by the Nutcracker Kitchen Committee headed by Sandy Post and Nancy Schnell.  It is sure to be delicious!  Muriel French will share devotions.  Our program will be given by two or three crafters for this year’s show.  Be sure to bring your calendars so you can sign up to volunteer.

            We have a wonderful line-up of programs for this year so be sure to look at the insert in this month’s Spire for a preview.

            If you’ve never come to Women’s Guild or have only been an occasional visitor, feel free to join us on September 10^th in Fellowship Hall at 11:30 a.m.  We would love to have a “full house” to kick off our new year.

ATTENTION KNITTERS AND CROCHETERS – Sixty-nine of the 99 counties in Iowa have been declared “disaster” counties due to flooding and tornadoes.  And here’s your chance to help.  Patti Jaeger will be accepting donations of hand made mittens, caps, scarves, afghans, prayer shawls, baby blankets, dishcloths, socks, infants, children’s and adult sweaters.  They will all be sent to Cottage Creations Knitting Drive, which is working with the Red Cross and Salvation Army to get these items to those in need.  Please have any contributions to Patti by October 15 as they need to be in Iowa by November 1^st.  Any questions, contact Patti Jaeger at 330-562-8266 or 330-425-8838.

Wanted! Used Ink Cartridges and Cell phones – Don't throw away your old cell phones!  Please save them for the Workcamp Fund.  A drop-off basket is in the Great Hall.  Large quantity pick-ups of laser print cartridges are available.  Contact Kim Williamson at 330-562-4930 for information.  HELP SAVE OUR LANDFILLS while providing financial support for Workcamp

Learning to Adjust – Have you or someone you know recently had to adjust to any of these situations: a new job, a new baby, a new boss, a new house, a separation, a grown child moving back home, a seriously ill parent, a death, a best friend who has moved?  Be caring and helpful to those around you who are having to make adjustments in their lives.  You can make a difference and really help by encouraging them to talk to someone.  Also, remember that our Stephen Ministers are trained and available for listening to and helping people as they face changes in their lives.

Congratulations – To Doug Kirsop and Denise Sager, who each received a God and Service medal for their work with the Boy Scouts of America, after being nominated by The Church in Aurora.

Volunteer for Hospice – Volunteer opportunities at Robinson Hospice include respite care for the caregiver to run errands, sitting bedside, cleaning, handyman services and companionship.  Every volunteer is provided thorough training and support.  Fall training sessions begin September 11, 2008.  Call Robinson Visiting Nurse & Hospice (330/297-8899) for an application.

Church Pictures – The Bicentennial Committee is seeking any past or present photographs of the inside or outside of the church.  If you have any photographs that you are willing to share, please contact Mary Wallace at 330-562-2198 or drop them off in the Bicentennial mailbox at church.  We will make copies and return the originals back to you. Thank You

WORKCAMP NEWS – Due to popular demand, The Church in Aurora will participate in TWO (2) WORKCAMPS next summer! The age groups vary, so take your pick and contact the Eavensons ASAP for more information @330-995-6268 or jfkacres@aol.com.  Adults are welcome also!  Information on fundraisers will follow soon.  Brief descriptions follow:

Freedom House Wish List – As promised in the August Spire, the Wish List was divided between August and September.  Items should be placed in the bench, which is located in the Great Hall, marked for Freedom House.

                Coffee (3), Powdered Laundry Detergent (2), All Purpose Cleaner, Creamer (2), Window Cleaner,

                Dishwasher Detergent, Non-Abrasive Sponges (1 large package)

                                Thank You!       Elaine Duncan

Behind the Scenes – Bob Morgan joined the church back in 1985, and became active in church life very quickly.  He served as a Deacon from 1987-89, acting as the Co-Chairman in 1988 and 1989.  Then he became a Trustee and served as the Co-Chairman of that committee in 1993 and 1994.  In 1998, Bob became a member of the Endowment committee.  He served two terms on that committee and was the Chairman from 2001 through 2005.  Bob also was a member of the Receptions Committee from 2002 through 2004.  Thank you, Bob, for all that you have done to help us in…