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Volume XLXIII 2009 Number 5
A Message from the Minister – When I was a young child singing in the Cherub Choir at the Gahanna Community Church, one of the little songs we sang went like this: Jesus loves the little children, As a child, I thought like a child. I thought that Jesus loved all the children of the world. But then I grew up and became more discerning. I realized that song was not about Muslim children or Jewish children or Hindu children; or Buddhist, Taoist and Shinto children; or children of ancient Greek, Roman and Nordic mythologies; or children of modern Jainism, Sikhism or Manichaeism; or children of the indigenous religions of Africa, Australia and Polynesia, not to mention the children of myriad Native American tribes who were, before their forced conversions, heathens. That song was about the Christian Children of the world, with the exception of the Mormon children who, while self-professing Christians, are really not. Neither are the Unitarian children or the Swedenborgian children or the Beachy Amish children whose liberal parents started driving cars. Neither are the children of Papists, Eastern Orthodox schismatics or Anglicans (English version of German Lutheranism). Indeed, among the fragmented Protestant churches I think we could eliminate children of all the denominations, including those which don’t think they are denominations such as the Southern Baptists, Pentecostals and Willow Creek Association Churches. That would leave children of pure nondenominational churches like member congregations of the International Council of Community Churches. But I speak from the voice of experience in saying that even those churches are not like ours, most notably Chapel By The Sea in Clearwater Beach, Florida which showed its true colors when it called Herb Freitag as its Pastor (consigning all of its children to you-know-where). So it pretty much comes down to the children of The Church in Aurora whom Jesus loves, and love is a relative thing. Would Jesus love the children of mere laypeople as much as the children of ordained clergy? That leaves Rev. Horak and Me and, frankly, I am not too sure about him. Which reminds me of another children’s song from Cherub Choir days: Jesus loves me… I forget the rest. Anyway, I sure am glad I finally grew up. -Bill
News of Members and Friends First Time Visitors – (3/22) Karin Blasko of Aurora (3/29) Jill Brown of Aurora (4/5) Christene Messner of Hudson; Lori Elton Christian of Chagrin Falls (4/12) Deanna Robertshaw and the Robert Partridge Family of Youngstown; Randy & Katherine Minck of Chagrin Falls Baptisms – Cooper Johnathan Ertle, son of Tim & Brittney Ertle Weddings – Meredith Isabelle Alexander & Leo Kevin Shaw Births – Jonathon Lewis "Jack" Trook, son of Josh & Katie Trook Memorials – Edith Mallett; Virginia Ramsay (mother of Kelly Ramsay) VOA Food Pantry Needs – This month the VOA Food Pantry needs syrup, canned pasta products (like SpaghettiOs, canned ravioli) and grape jelly. Thank you so much for your generosity. Joan and Demas McVay wish to thank everyone for their overwhelming support in providing delicious meals, wonderful visits and phone calls, a myriad of cards and letters and most of all, prayers for their family. They are so touched and appreciative. Thank you!
The WORKCAMP Pierogi Dinner was a wonderful success thanks to your continued support. It netted $1195.87. 280 tickets were sold at The Church in Aurora and Our Lady of Perpetual Help! A fun evening was had by all who attended. The Blood Mobile is Coming! Mark your calendars now for Monday, May 18. The Blood Mobile will be at the church in Fellowship Hall from 1:30-6:30 p.m. Please plan to donate blood. There are so many people who need it. SUNDAY BULLETINS – We are fortunate enough to have two students from Aurora High School coming over on Fridays to learn some new job skills. They have been folding and stuffing our bulletins. So if you notice that your bulletin is not folded perfectly, please know that it was folded with great care and attention! SPAGHETTI DINNER/SILENT AUCTION – The time is near for the annual WORKCAMP SPAGHETTI DINNER/SILENT AUCTION! It'll take place this Sunday, April 26, 2009, at the Aurora High School Commons. Tickets may be available at the door if there are any left: $7/adult and $5/child 12 and under (4 and under FREE). Contact the Eavensons (330-995-6268) or the Wongs (330-562-4387) for ticket information. Join us from 4-7 p.m. for great food, gift baskets, friendship and family fun! 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!! Cleveland Foodbank: The Missions Committee is returning to the Foodbank. If you would like to be "hands on" involved in one of our missions, volunteer with us on Tuesday, April 28th, as we go to The Cleveland Foodbank. We will be leaving church at 5 p.m. for a 6-8 p.m. scheduled work time (or meet us at there). This involves light physical labor, is a rewarding experience and will give you the opportunity to get to know other church members. Please call Cindy Hollo at 330-562-1810 or email her at tweetyhollo@yahoo.com if you are interested in going. 3H PM – Our meeting will be Thursday, May 14, 6:30-8:30; please have read the last two chapters of our book. Next year's book will be Twelve Extraordinary Women by John MacArthur. ~ Kathleen Horak, 330-562-1930
WOMEN’S GUILD – We're "Off to Never Land with Mary Martin"
at the May Women's Guild meeting. Damaris Peters Pike joins
us to take a musical tour with stops for One Touch of Venus,
Sound of Music, South Pacific and Peter Pan.
Sorry, no flying included! It will be a wonderful program
preceded by a wonderful lunch and devotions prepared by
Circle A. The cost of lunch is just $4.00.
We will also install our new officers and Circle Representatives for 2009-2010 that day. They are as follows:
There will be a very brief business meeting and then we will adjourn to the sanctuary for our program. Please plan to come on May 13th at 11:30 a.m. to Fellowship Hall for an entertaining afternoon. Feel free to bring a friend! 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 - The 5th & 6th grade classes would like to thank everyone who helped make this years' Bake Sale for Heifer International a huge success. $600 was raised. We will be able to fund our goal of $500 for a "Knitting Basket" (2 llama & 2 sheep). The additional funds will help provide chicks, ducks, goslings, honeybees and pigs.
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 beginning
to build 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.
Circle 3H – Circle 3H meeting will be held on Friday, May 1,
2009, at 11:30. This is our last meeting of 2008-2009 year
and will be a luncheon at the Streetsboro Eat ‘n Park.
Reservations are required as the banquet room only holds 25
people. If you signed up at our April meeting it isn’t
necessary to call. We will be able to choose from the menu
or the salad bar and we will pay individually. We will
have a short business meeting and install officers for the
2009-2010 year. Please call Marion Tarbell 330-571-4500 if
you haven’t made a reservation.
SAY CHEESE: There
will be a congregational picture taken
outside on the front lawn of the church to celebrate The Church
in Aurora Bicentennial. The picture will be taken on
Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10th,
beginning at 10:30 AM. Worshippers will
exit the sanctuary through the front doors and children will be
escorted outside by their teachers. If you usually attend
the 11:00 service, please come early for the picture and meet on
the front lawn. Everyone is invited to be in the picture, even
if you are not a member of the church. Thank You
Potluck Dinner – Don’t miss the next Potluck Dinner on Tuesday,
May 5th, at 6:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Come and
meet some new people and enjoy some really great food.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Crossroads Hospice is always looking for committed and caring people to add to our team of volunteers. We are looking for people to provide patient care visits in facilities and in homes. There are also opportunities available for office work. Learn about The Ultimate Gift available to many of our patients. This program includes Gift of the Day and creation of a Memory Book. To learn more about the opportunities available through the Crossroads Hospice Volunteer Program, please contact Jamie Schall, Volunteer Coordinator, at: 330-342-3328 or 1-888-603-6673. 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 the Hartville Migrant Council and Relay for Life. The Hartville Migrant Council is an organization established in the late 1940’s when migrant workers were brought from Jamaica to work on the fertile muck farms. In 1962 the Council was incorporated and also purchased a building known as the Hartville Migrant Center. Every year, between 300 and 350 people come to the area as part of the migrant farm work force, including the families of the laborers. One of the goals of the Migrant Council is to supply a Christian ministry to the migrant farm worker families in the Hartville area. Many local volunteer groups spend summers tending to the health and financial needs of these farm workers.
Relay for Life is a fun-filled overnight event designed to
celebrate survivorship and to raise money for research and
programs for the local and national chapters of the American
Cancer Society
Behind the Scenes – This month we have to honor all those people who took part in the Palm Sunday Cantata. The singers, the actors, the instrumentalists – everyone contributed to an absolutely outstanding performance! Something like that doesn’t happen without the dedication of many people. There were extra choir practices to attend, lines to memorize, costumes to be sewn and a rock to be made. We are very blessed to have a congregation full of so many talented people. Many commented on how perfectly the actors were cast. And it’s a testament to their abilities to say that several people were brought to tears. When it comes to instrumentalists, we may have come to take for granted the many accomplished musicians we have. And, of course, there’s our Chancel Choir. What more can be said about that talented, dedicated group? Thank you again to all involved for an absolutely marvelous performance.
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