Having said that, I am often appalled by the allowance for religious illiteracy permitted in our educational institutions.  It is one thing to favor a particular religion by promoting its practice in a school setting, and it is another thing to learn about the great variety of religious expression.  With so much religiously fueled conflict in the world, and so much more cultural interaction because of our global economy, and with such greater interconnectivity provided by the worldwide web, it behooves us to know something of our neighbor’s religious sensitivities (not to mention the distinctions of our own faith tradition).

In the April 9 issue of US News and World Report there is an article entitled: In America, an F in Religion, by Jay Tolson.  He writes: "With roughly 9 in 10 of its citizens claiming to believe in God or a Supreme Being, America is widely acknowledged to be the most religious of modern industrial nations.  Yet when it comes to knowledge about religion, it ranks among the most ill-informed.  While close to two thirds of all Americans regard the Bible as a source of answers to life’s questions, only half can name even one of the New Testament Gospels.  Similarly, in a land of growing religious diversity, only 10 percent of US teenagers can name the world’s five major religions."  I can hardly believe those statistics, and certainly hope that more than half our members can name a New Testament Gospel!

What to do about it?  In his book Religious Literacy, Stephen Prothero not only traces the history that has led us to this deplorable educational deficit, but offers solutions that do not violate the First Amendment.  He states, "I think we need to have courses about the Bible and world religions in middle schools and high schools, and I think they should be mandatory—with an opt-out provision.  One course would cover the five or seven great religions.  The other would be about the Bible.  Students would learn the basic stories and characters, but they would also learn about the uses of the Bible in world and American history, in literature, and in politics.  By the way, I think few students would opt out of these courses."

Respecting the Past, Envisioning the Future - Bill

May 6 – Rev. Schnell, Communion.

May 13 – Rev. Schnell, Mother’s Day

May 20 – Rev. Schnell

May 27 – Rev. Horak

March 25 (Youth Sunday) – 9:30 – 186, 11:00 – 165, Total – 351

April 1 (Palm Sunday) – 9:30 – 194; 11:00 – 175; Total – 369

April 5 (Maundy Thursday) -- 71

April 8 (Easter Sunday) – 8:00 - 36; 9:30 - 220; 11:00 - 257; Total – 513

April 15 – 9:30 - 157; 11:00 - 137; Total – 294

Memorials – George Fraed, brother of Mary Beth Alexander; Jeanne Jackson, long-time former member, died March 24, 2007 in Michigan. (Her husband, Frederick "Fritz", was past Treasurer here.); Edward Lawson, father of Barbara Trueman;

Youth in the News – Congratulations to Charlie & Sarah Poe for a successful run at Kenston High School of the popular musical "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers".

Please try to catch Aurora High School Player’s spring production of Cole Porter’s "Anything Goes".  Directed by The Church in Aurora’s own Rob Albrecht, this production features Scott Tinlin, Katie Buonpane and John Weber.  Performances are on Friday and Saturday nights, April 27^th and 28^th at 7:30 and Sunday afternoon, April 30^th at 2 PM.

Did you know….that our own James Hogan, Charlie and Sarah Poe are members of the prestigious Contemporary Youth Orchestra of Cleveland.  Their next concert is a special performance with Kenny Loggins on May 25^th, 2007, at the Plain Dealer Pavilion at Nautica.  Tickets are available through Ticket Master.

Congratulations to our own Nicole Jimerson, new Aurora HS Highlight for 2007-08.

Congrats are also due to math whiz, Scott Tinlin, for scoring so well in AHS Pi Day Celebration and to Katie Clark for advancing to the finals of "Power of the Pen".  Katie came in 8^th in Aurora.  Great writing, Katie!

Kudos to Monica Cronin and Jessica Masch for winning regional honors at the 2007 Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition.

Congrats to Stephen Wong and Katelyn Yonkers for being selected by the Aurora schools as The Rotary Club Student of the Month in February.

If you know of anyone in The Church in Aurora Youth Fellowship who is deserving of recognition for athletic or academic honors, please notify Charity or Toni so we can publish the good news.

Attention Work Campers - Basket-making night is Friday, April 20 from 6 - 9 PM in Fellowship Hall. Bring your items or completed baskets or call Alyssa Hilliard @440-232-1964 to make other arrangements.

Book Study Selections – The Church in Aurora Book Group, which meets on the first Wednesday of each month from 7 – 8:30 PM, will be reading The Secret: Unlocking the Source of Joy and Fulfillment by Rhonda Byrne for its May meeting.  For more information, contact Bonnie Niebuhr (330/995-5084).

Cleveland Food Bank Hands-On Ministry. Want to do a good deed?  We have just the thing for you!  On Monday, April 30^th, the Missions Committee will be joining other members of our congregation to spend 2 fun filled hours helping out with light duty at the Cleveland Food Bank.  We will be meeting at 5 PM in the Church parking lot and be returning by approximately 8:30 PM.  Our Easter offering was designated to go to the Cleveland Food Bank.  This is an opportunity to add your time and effort to your generous donation.  If you would like to spend an evening doing something that is good and good for you, contact Cindy Hollo at 330-562-1810.

Relay for Life Bake Sale – Don’t miss the Relay for Life Bake Sale after each service on Sunday, April 29th.  Enjoy a yummy treat and help fight cancer. It’s a win-win situation!

Anniversary Celebration – The 20^th anniversary of Stephen Ministry at The Church in Aurora will be celebrated as part of morning worship on Sunday, April 15, 2007, at both the 9:30 and 11:00 services. In addition to recognizing current and former Stephen Ministers, we will be commissioning Susan Kray and Russell Post as our newest Stephen Leaders. Join us as we celebrate God’s blessings through this special caring ministry.

Endowment Committee Sponsors Mothers Day Celebration May 13^th – The Endowment Committee is pleased to continue its tradition of honoring mothers with flowers and cake.  All mothers will be given a beautiful flower by members of the committee upon entering the sanctuary at both services on Sunday May 13^th.  Following both services the committee will serve delicious cake during the coffee hour to continue the celebration.  Happy Mothers day: Betsy Tomasko. Rodger Shaulis, Dick Rowley, Muriel French, Chuck Leamy & George Roemich.

Spring Rummage Sale:  As you begin your spring cleaning, please consider donating those items that you no longer need.  The Rummage Sale is April 25th and 26th.  Donations will be accepted on the Fellowship Hall stage beginning Thursday, April 19th.

Potluck Dinner – Don’t miss the Potluck Dinner on Tuesday, May 1, at 6:30 in Fellowship Hall. Bring a dish to pass and come along for fellowship, fun and FOOD!

Church Camp – Camp will be held at Tar Hollow from Sunday, August 5, through Saturday, August 11. The cost is $180 if paid by June 16 ($195 afterward). A sibling discount will save each youth from the same family an additional $15. Applications for campers and staff are available online at www.sfacamp.org. Campers cannot drive themselves to camp, but parents may coordinate with each other to transport campers to and from camp.

Prayer Chain – Have you ever wondered where those small white Prayer Cards go?  Have you ever needed a helping hand?  Fortunately, The Church in Aurora has some very special members who take time to pray over your concerns regularly.  We have all seen the value of their efforts and can thank Johnnie Moulton, our Prayer Ministry Chairman, for her years of faithful dedication.  What a blessing!  Weekly, a Prayer Chain "letter" is forwarded by post or e-mail to all those willing participants who give their time to pray for others.  At this time, and in order to continue, we are in need of additional members to share in this task by providing the weekly Prayer Chain letter.  This is a caring congregation and a very worthwhile endeavor.  For more information, contact Diane Brubaker.

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.

YOU can play an important role in our Stephen Ministry…Because you may know of a friend, neighbor, co-worker, or relative who is going through a difficult time and who could benefit from the focused care, encouragement, and support of a Stephen Minister.  If you know of someone who is hurting, talk with our Stephen Leader, Russ Post.  He can talk with you about how we can connect the person you know with one of our Stephen Ministers. I t’s a great way for you to show how much you care!

Attention Parents of High School Youth – A summer program is being developed for The Church in Aurora High School Youth to broaden religious tolerance and cultural diversity.  We have arranged to worship with people of other races, cultures and faiths throughout the summer.  It is hoped that this program will encourage our youth to understand and tolerate those who’s beliefs may be very different from their own.

We will attend a Catholic Youth Mass, take a tour of the Islamic Center of Cleveland, worship with our African American sister church, Peoples Community Church of Berea, visit St. Gregory of Narek Armenian Church in Richmond Heights and The First Baptist Church of Aurora, will attend worship at The Chabad Jewish Center of Solon and will experience worship at a Quaker Meeting House.

To complete these uniquely different experiences, we will eat brunch or dinner together on each occasion after worship at an appropriately similar eating venue.

We will need drivers who are interested in attending the services of this culturally diverse group of faiths.  You need not be a parent of one of the youth, just an interested participant.  Please get in touch with Toni or Charity to sign up.

All youth going into 9^th grade in the fall are welcome to join the High School Youth Fellowship at these outings.

Don’t miss this exciting new opportunity.  Watch the Spire, Youth Newsletter, and Church website for upcoming dates.

Tickets for the Workcamp Spaghetti Dinner/Silent Auction will be sold after Sunday services through April 22, the day of the dinner/auction.  Ticket Prices are: $6 for adults, $4.50 for ages 6 - 12, 5 and under - FREE!  Join us at the A.H.S. Commons from 4:30-7:00 PM for a fun-filled day of food and friendship and help send our Workcampers to Racine, WI in June! The Silent Auction items are awesome: You won't want to miss this event!

Thank you for your support eating at Station 43 during mid-March. The Fellowship Club reported that a donation of $56.66 was added to the Workcamp Fund. At 5% of the total, that's a lot of good food!

 THERE IS AN OPENING FOR A WORKCAMPER due to a cancellation of a registered participant. If you are interested, and will have completed the 8th. grade by June, please contact the Eavensons ASAP @330-995-6268.

3-H Circle luncheon and installation of officers will be held at the Aurora Country Club at 11:30 a.m., Friday, May 4^th. We have a choice of three entrees and the cost is $12-14, gratuity included. Bring a friend and introduce her to the variety of programs we offer.

We hope the evening 3-H group will join us for this festive occasion.

For reservations and more information, call Lillian Papp at 330-562-7104.

3H PM.  Please join us on Thursday, May 10, 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Stephen Ministry room as we work on our afghans and prayer shawls; we will also be sharing with each other Part 9:  The Lamb of God.  Questions?--call Kathleen Horak 330-562-1930.

DON’T MISS THE GATHERING at 5:00 p.m. on May 12^th.

The end of the Church School Year is fast approaching…….Ready or not, the last day of regularly scheduled Church School is coming soon, May 20^th, also Promotion Sunday.  The Children’s Department (pre-school through fourth grade) will meet in Fellowship Hall at 9:30 a.m. for special recognition and promotion activities.  The Middlers (5^th grade through 7^th grade) will meet in their classrooms sharing in "end of the year" activities. Our Confirmation and High School classes will meet in The Escape, as usual.  Promiseland Drive-In will begin on Sunday, May 27^th, at both services in Fellowship Hall.

Wanted: New Teddy Bears and other Animals. The 7^th and 8^th grade girls Church School class is collecting new stuffed animals for Providence House. This is a temporary home for infants to children age 5 who have been removed from an unsafe environment. Please keep in mind that these animals will go to small children, so please – no buttons. There will be a box in the Great Hall through Sunday, May 27^th. Thank you.

Barkett Scholarship: The Memorials Committee is looking for applicants for the Barkett Scholarship. This scholarship is available to any high school senior who is an active member of The Church in Aurora. The monies from this scholarship are to be used for advanced education either for college/university or for vocational school. Applicants are reviewed as to financial need, depth of Christian faith, academics (min. 2.5 GPA), and participation in church sponsored activities. We encourage any student intending to continue their education to apply. Please pick up an application in the church office or you can also get a copy on the churches website (www.thechurchinaurora.org) All applications must be complete and returned to the Memorials mailbox or the church office no later than May 20^th. The scholarship recipient will be announced on Senior Recognition Sunday. If you have any questions contact Cindy Hollo at 330-562-1810 or e-mail tweetyhollo@yahoo.com.

Free to a Good Home:  Black Metal Wheelchair Ramp from American Ramp Systems. Excellent condition. Full ramp includes (5)- 32½ x 98½ pieces, (1)- 32½ x 70½ piece and (1)-49½ x 50 wheelchair turn-around. Hand rails and adjustable stands are also included. Grating allows rain and snow to fall through to reduce the chance of slipping. A metal sidewalk ramp with hand rails and 2 metal doorway thresholds are also available. Does not require footings, excavation or permit to install. Free to an individual, church, organization or business in need. Please call Karen Pope at 330.562.3192, for more information.

Celebrating Life - A Stress Management Study – Do any of these things get you down? Discontentment, regret, resentment, disappointment, failure, unpleasant relationships, anxiety, pressure? If so, you’re in a perfect position to begin celebrating life! Luci Swindoll wants to open your eyes to the many reasons you have for doing just that. Her enthusiasm will inspire you, her questions will challenge you, and her insight will significantly influence the way you face each day.

Come to learn how to "catch the thieves that steal your joy." Begin to enjoy your talents, experiences, relationships and unique-nesses. Discover the joy of celebrating your past, your present, your blessings, and even your trials! All it takes is the decision to stop "enduring" and to start celebrating!

You can’t always change your circumstances, but you can change your attitude. Let this study show you how.

Sunday mornings at 9:30 in Hansen Hall beginning April 22^nd and running eight weeks, this study will be facilitated by Karen Hogan, ND, RN, CAN-BC and Head Nurse Manager at University Hospital’s Case Medical Center.

To enroll, e-mail Toni Harris at cedirector@alltel.net ASAP.

A Gentle Reminder – If you and/or your group use one of the rooms in the church, please make sure you leave it the way you found it. Return chairs to their homes, take all of your papers and books with you, turn out the lights. Your consideration is appreciated.

Women’s Guild –You are in for a real treat at the Women's Guild May luncheon. Once again Dana and Tanya Shively will entertain us with a puppet show entitled Noah’s Ark – What Really Happened Inside That Boat! If you have seen them perform with their puppets before you know you are in for a very entertaining show. The script was the creation of Tanya and tells us more about Noah's Ark from the perspective of the animals. Tanya and Dana are so pleased to be able to add a number of new puppets due to the generosity of Kathy and Jack Finefrock. I'm sure you have never heard the story of Noah's Ark quite like this before! This would be a wonderful day for you to bring a friend!

Circle A will treat us to lunch and devotions that day. We will have a very brief meeting and will install the officers for the 2007-2008 Guild year. This is our last meeting before our three month summer vacation. Please join us on May 9th at 11:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall for a day of fellowship and fun.

LET’S BE FRANK – Enjoy an evening of fellowship and dancing with church members, friends and guests featuring Michael O’Brien as Frank Sinatra at Grantwood Golf Course on Saturday, April 21^st, at 7:00 p.m. The cost is $12 per person and advance paid reservations are preferred. Light appetizers will be provided. BYOB. Gentlemen, jackets are suggested. And for the ladies – casually elegant is the style of the evening. The event is sponsored by Hollos (330-562-1810), Harrises (330-562-6260) and Morgans (330-562-2928). Call them for information or to make a reservation. Profits go to Relay for Life.

March Board Meeting - The Church in Aurora Board met on Monday March 12^th. . In Peter French’s absence, Assoc. Moderator Jim Maulis conducted the meeting. The Board approved the appointment of the following members as "at large" members of the 2007 Nominating Committee: Phil Ticer, Martin Braun, Laura Holman, and Mary Wallace. The Board also approved becoming a "Covenant Church" with the Habitat for Humanity of Portage County.

March Trivia - Who is Hanson Hall named after, and why?

Hanson Hall is named after Amy Hanson, who is a long time member and Sunday School teacher for over 50 years.

April Trivia – Do you know when and where the church’s "Time Capsule" was buried? What is in it?

April Board Meeting – The Church in Aurora Board met on Monday April 9^th at 7:30pm. Peter French, Moderator, noted that average Sunday worship service attendance through March was 289 (total both services), down from 298 through March in ’06. February’s cold weather had a negative affect on our ’07 average. Jim Maulis, Assoc. Moderator, reported continued progress on the Long Range Planning Committee’s analysis of the 20-40yr old age segment and expects their findings to be ready for the Board by mid -summer. Jim Niebuhr, Treas., advised that Faith Promise Receipts are a bit light for the 1^st quarter, but expenses are below budget and we are in good financial shape. Doug Kirsop, Stewardship, presented their report and also confirmed his move to Texas. Although he will not be moving right away, he will have to gradually reduce his involvement with Stewardship over the course of the summer. The Board thanked Doug for all his service to the church. Scott Holman, Asst. Chmn Trustees, reported that Mark Yonkers had resigned as Chairman of Trustees for personal reasons and that the committee would be meeting shortly to discuss new committee leadership. The Board will be writing to Mark, thanking him for all his service to the church. Audrey Winkler reported for fellowship and noted that 32 people attended their potluck dinner on Tuesday April 3^rd, and that 12 people attended the defibrillator training held after the meeting. Ann Womer Benjamin submitted a Bicentennial Committee report which encouraged members to contact either Ann or Kevin Horak with any ideas for the upcoming celebration in 2009. Russ Post, reporting for the Information Technology committee, confirmed that the new Dell server had been installed in the church office. The Board joined Russ in thanking Jeff Catalucci for the long hours he has spent in addressing and solving recent I.T. problems. Toni Harris, Dir. Of C.E. and Youth, reported on all the excellent programs and progress that are occurring within our C.E. department. She is especially impressed and appreciative of our new intern Charity Jean. She noted that the upstairs renovation of the Escape is nearly complete. The only project remaining is to finish carpeting the entire building. The downstairs is partially finished, but the upstairs and stairway are not fully funded at this time. Plans are in effect to clean and reorganize the entire building early this summer. Martha Gray, Women’s Guild Pres., presented a recommendation to the Board to consider reducing the number of after service "Coffee Hours" to one per month. The Guild felt that the "Coffee Hours" were a lot of work, and made parking difficult after the 9:30 service. After discussion, the Board felt that current Coffee Hours are a valuable part of our church "fellowship" and should not be reduced. Under new business the Board approved the establishment of a committee to look into the need, if any, and content of a Conflict of Interest Policy for The Church in Aurora. The committee will be chaired by Jim Niebuhr, Treasurer, and will include a member from the Elders and the Trustees. Any church member interested in addressing the committee may contact Jim Niebuhr (330) 995-5084. The committee was asked to present their recommendations to the Board by September of this year. The next Board meeting will be Monday, May 14^th, at 7:30 pm in Hanson Hall. Please contact Peter French 330-562-3352, pefrenchsr@aol.com, if you have any questions regarding the Board meeting.

April Trivia – Do you know when and where the church’s "Time Capsule" was buried? What is in it?

The Church "Time Capsule" was buried outside the northeast corner of the bell tower/steeple during the foundation waterproofing project of 1999. The organizers hoped to include a Spire, a Bulletin, the phone directory, and a copy of the waterproofing plans. The items were placed in trash bags and then placed in a "RubberMaid" type bin.

VCA invites you to an evening with Sam Rutigliano – On Saturday, May 12, from 6-9 p.m., Valley Christian Academy will be hosting an evening of dinner, silent auction and entertainment. Former Browns Head Coach Sam Rutigliano will share ways to be an active "Difference Maker". Adults $75, table of 10 $650. Children 18 and under $60. For tickets to this event please visit www.valleychristian.com or call 330-562-8191 X315.

Mission of the Month – The Missions Committee has the wonderfully rewarding responsibility of researching dozens of charitable organizations as potential recipients of our tithing budget. The works of these organizations are powerful examples of God’s promise to care for those in need. We encourage you to support these charities in any manner you feel appropriate. The Missions Committee welcomes suggestions for organizations that you feel worthy of our support. Please forward any suggestions to the Missions Committee mail box, or directly to a committee member. All proposed recipients are reviewed for their effectiveness and alignment with our statement of purpose as printed in the Missions Committee Handbook.

This month we are focusing on the local Relay For Life event held for the benefit of the American Cancer Society.