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Volume XLXIIII May 2010 Number 5
A Message from the Minister – Our new Community Outreach Committee was highlighted in last month’s column, together with a call for congregational help in answering the question: "What needs can you identify in Aurora and surrounding communities which The Church in Aurora may be positioned to meet with the resources at its disposal?" This past Sunday postcards were inserted into each bulletin which were blank on one side and addressed to Betsey Poe on the other (17999 Lost Trail, Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44023). Betsey is collecting the ideas submitted by our members and friends either written on the postcards or emailed to pvpoe@windstream.net. The Sermon that day brought the Bible to bear on the Church’s responsibility to continue the ministry of Jesus Christ in our world. Jesus was continually aware of human need in his midst which he was quick to meet, and we must be as sensitized and responsive lest we lose our relevance as the body of Christ on earth. Indeed, the church only prospers to the extent that it is about the Master’s business. Otherwise it shrivels and dies like a branch severed from the root. You can access that sermon at: http://www.thechurchinaurora.org/sermons.htm. If you were not at church this past Sunday, your ideas and inspirations are still needed by our Community Outreach Committee. Some of them will be immediately translated into ministry, while others will be kept for such a time as leadership and resources permit action. As was mentioned in last month’s column, we believe that a sharpened focus upon Community Outreach has been responsible for our recent growth as reflected in worship attendance and new members. It has also been responsible for a measure of enlightened pride among our members as the church’s image in the community is increasingly associated with Christian service. Some avenues of service have already been mentioned: Eldercare Expos and Support Groups, and 4th of July Open Houses making restrooms and cold water available to the gathered community. Other avenues are less known: A collaborative effort with our local school district to provide school supplies and food for low-income students (called "Operation Backpack"), and a similarly collaborative effort with the Aurora Mennonite Church to offer home repairs for low-income families (called Neighbor2Neighbor). All of these outreach opportunities have arisen in the last year or two. What needs do you perceive in our local area? The question might require a little prayerful thought as Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan shows that our normal inclination is to ignore needs that might require our involvement. But once we give the question some thought it is amazing how a trickle of ideas can become a flood by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. I pray that you will do your part by sending your inspirations to Betsey Poe at the email address above by May 8. To prime the pump I will share with you one such inspiration. Would you agree that people in our area have a need to get rid of stuff they have collected over the years – stuff that they might sell if they had the gumption to organize a garage sale? How about doing the organizing for them with a community-wide flea market on the grounds of the church with modest rent for defined spaces and food vendor rights going to our Youth Workcampers or Women’s Guild or other church groups? Nancy Schnell came up with that idea. Speaking of Nancy, she and I are looking forward to an evening out with the lucky person (plus guest) whose name is pulled out of a hat after the May 8 deadline—our treat. For each signed idea you submit, up to three, your name goes into the hat. We hope that it will take a ten gallon hat to hold all the submissions. It is our way of encouraging your participation in keeping The Church in Aurora "More Than A Landmark." -Bill In the Pulpit during May May 2 – Rev. Schnell (Communion) May 9 – Rev. Schnell (Mothers’ Day) May 16 – Rev. Schnell May 23 – Rev. Horak May 30 – Rev. Schnell (Memorial Day Weekend) Worship Attendance March 28 (Palm Sunday) – 9:30 – 155; 11:00 – 193; Total – 348 April 1 (Maundy Thursday) – 85 April 4 (Easter Sunday) – 8:00 – 31; 9:30 – 270; 11:00 – 287; Total – 588 April 11 – 9:30 – 153; 11:00 – 126; Total – 279 April 18 – 9:30 – 171; 11:00 – 172; Total – 343 News of Members and Friends First Time Visitors – (4/4) Mr. & Mrs. William Greenlee of Aiken, SC; Sarah Foote of Garrettsville; Abby Zwick of Aurora (4/11) Laura Burr of Aurora VOA Food Pantry Needs – This month the Food Pantry needs spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, Tuna Helper, crackers and juice. More people than ever need assistance and are very appreciative of your generosity. John and Betty Martin wish to express their appreciation and thankfulness for the loving thoughts, prayers, cards and meals that the dear members and friends of our church provided to us during our stressful time in March.
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. Women’s Guild – We are at the end of another program year for Women's Guild and the months have surely flown. Our programs and lunches have been greatly appreciated and enjoyed. None of this could be done without the help of many, so many thanks to all of you. We have one more wonderful program scheduled for May 12th at 11:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. We will be entertained by "The Gospel Echoes", a quartet including our own Wes Kretzer. You may have heard them over the Fourth of July weekend or during a church service last summer. We will once again have a delicious lunch prepared by Twiinz Catering for just $5.00. Their lunches have been a highlight of our year. We will also install our new board that day which includes: President Laura J. Nosek Vice President Flip Eavenson Treasurer Laura Monroe Recording Secretary Ingrid Cuppage Corresponding Secretary M.E. Hanson Circle A Rep. Lillian Papp Circle B Rep. Ginny Miller Circle D Rep. Marilyn Gwin Circle 3-H Rep. Barb Bigler Please plan to join us for a great day of fun and fellowship. Men might like to join us for this one, too!
Potluck Dinner – Join us for an Ice Cream Sundae Bar at the May Potluck dinner on May 4th at 6:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Ice cream and toppings will be provided. Bring a dish to share. 3H PM – Our next meeting will be Thursday, May 13, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Escape. We will be discussing Lydia while working on our baby blankets and prayer shawls. Next year’s book is in: Twelve Ordinary Men by John McArthur, which will be the exploration into the lives of the disciples. They are just $10 and will be available at our May meeting. ~ Kathleen Horak, 330-562-1930 Congratulations – Bob and Toni Harris have been recognized by the Aurora Schools Foundation as Friends of the Schools Honorees for 2010. This distinction is a result of a successful school building campaign in 1994 headed by Bob and Toni which passed a public vote by a large margin. The campaign included the then-novel idea of producing a video to document the need, which was then disseminated throughout the households in the community. A celebratory banquet was held in their honor on April 17, which included "roasts" by our Moderator, Ann Womer Benjamin, and Senior Pastor, Bill Schnell. Bob and Toni join other church members who have previously won this award including Reed Fuller, Dick Shaw and Barb Kudley. The WORK CAMP SPAGHETTI DINNER/SILENT AUCTION took place Sunday, April 18, 2010, at the Aurora High School Commons. What a wonderful success it was thanks to your support! We really appreciate your help with our raising over $26,000 for our 2 trips this summer to Clearfield, PA, in June and Rochester, NY, in July.
Encourage One Another – In 1 Thessalonians 5 Paul writes, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…. Encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone." God has called us all to build up and encourage one another. For those who are experiencing a really difficult time, our Stephen Ministers can provide the special encouragement, care and support they need until they are past the crisis. If you would like more information on our Stephen Ministry, please call Susan Kray (330/562-1344) or Russ Post (330/562-9789). Church Camp News – Go to http://www.sfacamp.org/ to find online applications for both staff and campers. Campers who register by June 15 save $20. You will also find information about the 55th Anniversary Reunion scheduled to take place at Tar Hallow over the Memorial Day Weekend. Ink Cartridges and Cell Phones – On-going WORKCAMP projects include collecting used cell phones and computer ink cartridges. The basket is always on the desk near the Nursery in the Great Hall. We have received hundreds of dollars over the past few years from this project. Thank you! The Gospel Echoes Quartet will be performing Saturday, May 15th at 6:00 p.m. at Aurora Community Theater. This Southern Gospel Music Concert will also feature The Sonship Quartet, a nationally known Southern Gospel Quartet from Dayton, Ohio. You may remember our own Wes Kretzer, the tenor in Gospel Echoes, was featured at our all church picnic the last Fourth of July. Tickets are $10 in advance by calling Marci Kretzer at 330 562-9489 or are $12 the day of the show at the theater box office. After Church Meetings – If your group holds its meetings here at the church after Sunday services, please try not to meet in the library until 12:45 p.m. or later. There are many members of the church who want to visit the library to check out materials and that is the best time. If you want to meet earlier, please consider using Hanson Hall, Harris Study, the Stephen Ministry Room or the Escape. Thank you for your consideration. BLOODMOBILE – Mark your calendars for Monday, May 17. The Blood Mobile will be in Fellowship Hall from 1:30-6:30. Please plan to donate. 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! Lay Volunteer Ministry at South Pointe Hospital in Warrensville Heights: Learn to offer non-denominational spiritual support to hospital patients and their families. Training is required and provided by the Pastoral Care Department. Four-hour commitment once a week. Please leave name and mailing address to receive an information packet and application 216-491-7924. Behind the Scenes – Daffodils are blooming, birds are singing, snow drifts are gone - it must be spring! And that means Vacation Bible School can’t be far away. Sue Buonpane is very well acquainted with VBS. She has volunteered to help several times, even serving as the Publicity Chairman. This year, her daughter, Christene, is the VBS Director. But Christene is away at college, so Sue has been the visible arms and legs of VBS, manning sign up tables and dropping off Spire and bulletin materials. Besides VBS, Sue has been a volunteer in the Nursery many, many times. She is also a Stephen Minister. Sue has served on the Fellowship Committee and the Christian Education Committee. She has taught in Promiseland and helped out with Youth Group. And she and her husband, Jim, have raised 3 wonderful children who have been and still are active in church activities. Thank you, Sue, for all the time and effort you have given to make our church…
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