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Volume XLXIII 2009 Number 2 A Message from the Minister – When I take "Questions from the Pew" written on note cards, I draw the first off of a shuffled deck. Following worship it is mildly frustrating to read the ones I did not draw. One erudite church member, who lamented some of the "softballs" I was thrown in years past, really put some effort into three questions prepared ahead of time on as many note cards. Wouldn’t you know that I did not get to a single one? There is, however, more than one way to skin a cat and this column is one of them. First question: "Is man tripartite – body, mind, spirit? Paul suggests there is conflict between nature and spirit." Short answer: "Yes." We have bodies and minds, that is clear. What is sometimes not as clear is that we have something else as well. My mind can direct my body to pick up a ball. But if someone unexpectedly tosses a ball at me, something else causes my body to react. That something beyond the conscious mind is working all the time to control everything from balance and body temperature to dreaming and intuition. God reaches us through that something beyond body and mind, just as he reached the people of the Old and New Testament periods through dreams and visions and prophetic voices which spoke what they were given to speak. Is there "conflict between nature and spirit?" Again, "yes, at least sometimes." The body has carnal passions which, especially when carried to excess, are self-destructive. The Spirit is never self-destructive. The Spirit is always corrective and life-giving. As St. Paul has written: Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:5-6). Second question: "Do we need faith to activate God’s grace, or is it available to all?" Short answer: "Both." The biblical word we translate as "grace"-charis-is more literally translated as "gift." Think of faith as the acceptance of God’s gift. God offers the gift to us all, but we do not accept it all the time. Sometimes we throw God’s gift back into his face. To the extent we refuse his gifts, we do not benefit from them even though they are offered freely to one and all. Again, as St. Paul said, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). Third question: "Does the definition of the kingdom of God change from the Old Testament to the New Testament?" Short answer: "No." My father-in-law had a garage workshop cluttered with more stuff than you can imagine. Once my mother-in-law ventured into the place, picked up the skeleton of an old umbrella and declared, "What in heaven’s name do you keep this for?" Pop leveled a look at her and said, "Put that back where you found it. This is my domain." The kingdom of God is the domain where God reigns. When we pray, "Thy kingdom come…" it is just another way of saying, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." In other words, "rule and reign on earth as you do in heaven." Indeed, when God reigns in our lives guess where the kingdom is to be found? As Jesus said, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, `Here it is,' or `There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20-21). This understanding does not change from one Testament of Scripture to the other. Excellent questions all, and ever an inspiration for creative pastoral ruminations. The quote at the top of our bulletin from E.E. Cummings on "Questions from the Pew" Sunday bears repeating here: "Always the beautiful answer who asks a more beautiful question." Thanks for being thoughtful, deep and questioning Christians who continually test the spirits. You keep The Church in Aurora "More Than a Landmark." -Bill
In the Pulpit during February February 1 – Rev. Schnell (Communion) February 8 – Rev. Horak February 15 – Rev. Schnell February 22 – Youth Sunday February 25 – Rev. Schnell (Ash Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.) Worship Attendance December 24 – 5:00 – 169; 9:00 – 159; 11:00 – 151; Total – 479 December 28 – 11:00 - 175 January 4 – 9:30 - 131; 11:00 - 140; Total - 271 January 11 – 9:30 - 136; 11:00 - 126; Total – 262 January 18 – 9:30 – 124; 11:00 – 127; Total – 251 News of Members and Friends First Time Visitors –(12/28) Mark & Marietta Mason of Maryville, TN (1/4) Mike & Janis Proebstle of Wheeling, IL Baptisms – Hailey Lynn Cortright Memorials – Vicki Guenther; Jack Clark, father of Jeff Clark; Sharon Shaver, sister of Ed Williams; Sarah Case’s father; Fred Lowe, brother-in-law of Rita Suchanek ANNUAL MEETING – Our Annual Congregational Meeting will take place on Sunday, January 25th, at 11:00 AM in the Sanctuary. There will only be one worship service that morning at 9:30 AM
VOA Food Pantry Needs – This month the Food Pantry needs are
ketchup, mustard, powdered milk, Tuna Helper, canned meats
(stew). They are also asking for something that comes
in a box that’s called Complete Meals. Thank you in
advance for your generosity.
New Pictorial Directory – A picture speaks a thousand words!
It's time for a new Church Pictorial Directory so mark your
calendars! Universal Church Directories will be here on
February 19, 20, 21 and March 19, 20, 21 to take our
pictures. Information about how to schedule appointments
will be available soon. Stay tuned for more details on the
church website and in Sunday church bulletins about how to
schedule an appointment! A sign up table will be located in the
Great Hall beginning February 1st. The option for
scheduling appointments on line will also be available. Any
questions can be directed to Bonnie Niebuhr - 330-995-5084.
Caring Tree Results –
Many thanks to all who participated in our
record-setting year for the Caring Tree. The number
of persons whose needs were met was 164! God Blesses.
Elaine Duncan
2008 Faith Promises – Oops! Did you forget to send in the balance of your 2008 Faith Promise? It's not too late. Just clearly indicate "2008 FP" on the memo line of your check when you send it in. Questions? Call Carol Keister, CIA Financial Assistant for Receipts, at 330-562-8266, ext 225. Are you an experienced baker who bakes cakes? The Bicentennial Committee is looking for someone to make the Bicentennial cake for about 200 people to be served at the Bicentennial dinner in November 2009. Call Barb Kudley at (330)562-9430 if you can help. Thank You! E-MAIL DIFFICULTIES – If you are having problems e-mailing or responding to an e-mail from anyone here at the church using our new address (@thechurchinaurora.org), please forward a copy of the message you receive or e-mail the problems you are having to webmaster@thechurchinaurora.org. This will help us pinpoint the problems. Dear church friends, Thank you for your prayers, calls, cards, and outreach to me over the past months. I also appreciated the calls from the pastors & Sally McGill as well as Pastor Bill's visit to the hospital. The communal ministry of this church truly makes it "more than a landmark." It is great to be back in the fold of the choir ministry & worshipping with you! God bless you all with His joy & give you all a healthy New Year. Thankfully, Dorothy Bell Crisis: An emotionally charged time of instability during which a crucial change occurs. The Chinese word for crisis is a combination of two characters: one for "danger," the other for "opportunity." This drives home the fact that every crisis, though it involves impending danger, also offers opportunities for personal or spiritual growth. Stephen Ministers are trained to walk with you through the dangers of your crisis and to help you find the opportunities God has in store for you. For more information about Stephen Ministry please contact Russ Post (330/562-9789) or Susan Kray (330/562-1344). WOMEN’S GUILD – How would you like to tour the shrines of Ancient Greece with Bob and Jan Morgan as tour guides, and be back the very same day? The tour will begin at 11:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall on Wednesday, February 11th. We will start with an authentic Greek lunch prepared by Marianne Paul and Madelon Sprague of "Twinz Catering" for a mere $5.00. That will be followed by devotions by Anne Ramsay to ask for God's protection along the way and then we're off! It should be a wonderful day of fun and informative travel with the Morgans. And it's always more fun to travel with your friends. Feel free to bring a new friend along to share in the fun. Our trip will be followed by a brief meeting and then you can go home to share your adventures with your family. Please join us for our exciting journey. HOW DO I READ MY CONTRIBUTION STATEMENT? The bottom portion of your 2008 Contribution Statement (Fund Summary) summarizes your contributions for 2008. The Total YTD column, on the left, indicates your total 2008 Tax Deductible Contributions to the church. The column on the right – Pledge Balance – indicates the status of your Faith Promise. If an amount appears in this balance column, you have contributed less than your 2008 Faith Promise. Any questions, please call Carol Keister at the church, ext. 225. Sub Sandwich Sunday is fast approaching! Orders will be taken by the Workcamp crew on Sundays in January for this popular SUPER BOWL event. The Aurora Farms Food Court is helping to sponsor this event! A concurrent BAKE SALE will be held during sub pickup on Sunday, February 1, 2009. Contact Jenni Ticer at 330-995-9318 or Martha Wong at 330-562-4387 for further information. CIRCLE 3H – Circle 3H will meet Friday, February 6, at 9:30 a.m. to package chocolate candies made by members which will be given to Workcampers to sell as a money raiser on Sunday, February 8. Packaging materials and latex gloves will be provided; no tasting, but the heavenly smell makes the work fun. Guests welcome. Candy Sale – The wonderful ladies of Circle 3-H are once again making delicious varieties of chocolate Valentine's Day candy to benefit the Workcamp Fund. The Workcampers will be selling it on Sunday, February 8, after both services in Fellowship Hall! Love is evident at The Church in Aurora! MOM’S MORNING DAY OF RENEWEL – a group for new moms Mom’s morning day of renewal is a support group, a prayer group and a place to explore your faith. It is a way to meet other moms to share, encourage and to help you feel good about who you are by bringing inspiration to your new role as a parent. We will explore topics significant to being a new mom such as: Stress, worries and anxiety (Support systems) Everyday spirituality (Meeting the spiritual needs of you and your family) Remembering yourself (Personal goal setting) This group is open to moms of infants through preschoolers and will meet on the third Tuesday of each month beginning in January of 2009. Please register in advance for child care. Contact Cindi Gonzalez with any questions at 330-562-8266, ext. 229 or cgonzalez@thechurchinaurora.org. Audio Tapes of our services are available in the top drawer of the chest next to the door in the library. 3H PM – Please join us in the Stephen Ministry Room on Thursday, February 12, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. as we continue to make our prayer shawls and baby blankets. We will also share Chapter 10 from Beth Moore’s book PRAYING GOD’S WORD while we work. Kathleen Horak, 330-562-1930 WANTED – USED INK CARTRIDGES AND CELL PHONES! Did you upgrade your cell phone this holiday season? Don’t throw away your old one! Please save it for the Workcamp Fund. A drop-off basket is on the desk in the Great Hall. Used printer ink cartridges are also needed. Contact Kim Williamson at 330-554-3916 for information. HELP SAVE OUR LANDFILLS while providing financial support for Workcamp! 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! Mission of the Month – This month the Missions Committee is focusing on Providence House. Providence House was established in 1981 as a licensed non-denominational crisis nursery, caring for children under age six. They provide a temporary home-like setting and refuge for children who have been neglected, abused or are at risk and have no other appropriate placement alternatives. Providence House receives referrals from 35+ organizations including drug treatment centers and homeless and battered women’s shelters. Their goal is to instill healthy eating, sleeping and behavioral patterns that will continue after the child has left their setting. Behind the Scenes – Rodger Shaulis has been a member of The Church in Aurora for more than 25 years. During that time, he has shared his gifts and talents with us in many different ways. In the mid-90’s, Rodger served as a Deacon. After that, he spent three years as an Elder. Rodger became a Stephen Minister in 2003 and has been a very active part of the evening Men’s Bible Study group for many years. He just finished a term on the Endowment Committee in January of 2009 and has volunteered to serve another term on that same committee. Rodger served as the Endowment Committee Chairman in 2008. The Promiseland Church School program has benefited greatly from Rodger’s talents. He has portrayed Moses, Paul, the Innkeeper, Peter, a shepherd, Benjamin and Ezekiel. Rodger has joked that he has done so many characters he is waiting to be asked to portray Mary! We’re sure he would do a fine job. Thank you, Rodger, for all that you have done to help make The Church in Aurora….. |
