The Church In Aurora -

A Message from the Minister – I just returned from Springfield, Ohio where I celebrated the wedding of young lady whom I have known since birth. When I went to the hospital delivery area to see her and her twin brother for the first time, I was given a visitor badge to identify me. Instead of tossing it in the trash upon my departure from that visit, as would be my custom, I happened to stick this label on my wallet where it remained until I needed a new wallet several years later. Then I carefully lifted it off the old wallet and placed it on the back of a photograph of the young twins that I put into my new wallet. I have carried that visitor pass on my person every day since. During the intervening 29 years this family has taken me into their home when I was indigent and, in so many other ways, become the kind of friends who have abided over the various ages and stages of life, who know my faults and failings and warts and all, and yet love me anyway. The father of this young woman and I go back to the college years where we lived in an "Animal House" fraternity together, although that is another story entirely.

There is a round that goes: "Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold." True/blue friends, whether new or old—silver or gold--are a blessing from God. They always have our best interests at heart. They love us enough to tell us the hard things we sometimes need to hear. They stand by us to the end. There is much the Bible has to say about friends and friendship, and we are going to explore some of those texts in a series of sermons on friendship, all of which have titles taken from songs: Nov. 4, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus;" Nov. 11, "I Will Be Your Friend;" and Nov. 18, "Thank You for Being a Friend."

On Nov. 18 we are asking you to bring your special friend(s) to church with you as a way of thanking God for the blessing of friendship, and as a way of showing our friends how grateful we are for them. Don’t worry, we won’t be asking anyone to stand up or in anyway feel awkward. We will take a photograph of you and your friend(s) as you arrive for worship, and develop two copies and frame them as gifts for both you and your friend(s) that will be ready in time for the special reception being planned after each worship service. That kind of thing. More information about this special Sunday will be given on the two Sundays leading up to the big day. We will also provide reminder postcards for you to mail to your friend(s).

In the meantime, now would be a good time to get the date on the calendar with your special friend(s). They may live near or far, be members of another house of worship or not, be many or few, have children with them or not. We will be prepared to provide extra seating and classroom space for Nov. 18, but you can help by considering attendance at the 11:00 worship hour if at all possible (where seating is generally more available). Perhaps you have introduced your friends to your family at one time or another. Why not consider introducing your friends to your church family on Nov. 18? Raising Up a Family of Faith –Bill

Evan Jones was the top finisher for the Greenmen at the Spartan Invitational at Boardman High School.

Dan Simpson has kicked a field goal in every football game so far this year.

Margi McDonald was given an Outstanding Service Award by Habitat for Humanity.

Martin Ober is one of the Aurora Rotary Club's Students of the Month for September.

Bill Schnell was given an Outstanding Service Award by Habitat for Humanity.

Kevin Horak is appearing in "Exit the Body" at the Aurora Community Theatre.

ANNUAL REPORTS DUE – Please note that annual reports from all committees are due in the church office no later than Monday, December 17.

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 khorak@windstream.net.

A Good Friend is a Blessing From God - Why not thank God for the gift of friendship and bring a friend to church on Sunday, November 18^th. This day will be designated as "Honor a Friend Day" at the Church in Aurora at both the 9:30 and 11:00 services. There will be a special sermon, music on friendship, a gift for your friend and a yummy coffee hour. Also, leading up to this day on Sunday, November 4^th and Sunday November 11^th, Reverend Schnell will have sermons on friendship. Please call and invite your special friend! A postcard with the details will be available on Sunday, October 28 for you to send to your friend. Don’t miss this special day. If you have any questions, please call Mary Wallace @ 330-562-2198.

FAITH PROMISE CAMPAIGN Update – After the first week of the Faith Promise campaign we are starting to receive responses. Thus far these are very favorable. This is encouraging since some of the members have not received their letter and pledge cards yet. The total dollars exceeds $103,000. Comparing the respondents to what they pledged last year it is running slightly above the 7% increase we are seeking.

The challenge is still there. We have a lot to make up with this years’ Faith Promise Campaign. This is due to the number of significant contributors from past years who have moved out of the area or passed away. Compounding this is the fact that we do not anticipate a surplus from the 2007 General Fund. In the meantime, work is continuing to further reduce the budget.

Please return your Faith Promise cards on or before Loyalty Sunday, October 21. Your prompt response will help build momentum and spare us an additional contact during our follow-up campaign. Please return the pledge card even if you are unable to make a Faith Promise.

We truly appreciate your generous support in the past. Your continued support will be indispensable in "Raising Up A Family of Faith" at The Church in Aurora.

Tom Siewiorek (Chair), Ed Williams (Assistant Chair), Brady Krebs, Demas McVay, Gene Strine and Joe Vero

Women’s Guild – "Trick or Treat" time will be over, but there is a treat in store for Women's Guild at the November 14th meeting, when the speaker will be Paul Allen, manager of the gourmet food store Trader Joe's, who will tell some of the history of this amazingly successful business, and (as might be anticipated by anyone who has patronized a Trader Joe's anywhere in the country) will be bringing tasting samples of some of their unusual items. Circle D will be providing devotions and a light lunch.

And speaking of soldiers – One of our Church School classes would like to communicate with our soldiers. But we don’t have any addresses or contact information for them. If you could help us out by providing an address for a soldier associated with our church, please call or e-mail the church office (330 562 - 8266 or pjaeger@alltel.net).

We have the following names on our Prayer Chain but would welcome any others as well: Dwayne H., Thomas Kwiecinski III, Conor McCarthy, Joe Morrison, Ray Schmidt, Tony Stephens, Tim Transue, Chris Jordan, Stephen Weyrach, Doug Ciammaichella, Jeneca, Tony, Eric Speck, Matthew Schneider, Adam Bush, Brian, Emily Sanford, Emily Geisinger, Katie Sanicky, Matt Chapman, Scott Vosen, Nathan Swift, Eddie Monthieth, Page Kalp.

RUMMAGE SALE – Thanks to all who made donations and volunteered your time to make another successful Rummage Sale. We made $2,142.12 from the sale. Mark your calendars for our spring sale, April 23^rd and 24 -----Joy Evans

Another evening at the Foodbank: The Missions Committee invites you to become "hands on" with one of our missions, The Cleveland Foodbank. Volunteers are needed for the evening of Tuesday, November 13. Meet at church at 5 PM for a 6 - 8 PM scheduled work time (or meet us at the Foodbank.) 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 by November 11 if you are interested in going or have any questions.

Circle D will meet on Wednesday, November 7^th, at noon at Christopher’s Bistro. Hostesses are Ginny Miller, Rosetta Markell and Betty Dalton. All are welcome. For reservations call 330 995 - 5441.

Toddy’s Shoppe – The Workcamp Crew is accepting articles for Toddy's Christmas Shoppe. Please put gently used Christmas donations on the stage prior to November 25, or "in the wings" after that. Contact Flip E. at 330-995-6268 or Jenni T. at 330-995-9318 for further information. Thank you!

Attention all Committee Chairmen – Please do not schedule meetings in the library on Sunday mornings until about 12:30. Many people like to check out books or use that space for quiet meditation during that time. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Importance of our Endowment Fund for All Generations: The Endowment Fund is the collective legacy from those who have loved, believed in, and supported our church, to those who accept this responsibility and privilege in the years to come. Our Endowment Fund is important to our church because:

• When efficiently managed and continually supplemented by living gifts, bequests, and trusts, its principle can grow and generate earnings to help keep pace with our church needs.

Questions about legacy giving at The Church in Aurora? Please contact any Endowment Fund Director: Rodger Shaulis, Chuck Leamy, Betsy Tomasko, Dick Rowley, Muriel French or George Roemich.

3H PM. We will gather on Thursday, November 15, 6:30 - 8:30 PM in the Stephen Ministry Room. Prayer shawls, baby blankets and Chapters 5 & 6 of Believing God. ~ Kathleen Horak, 330 562 - 1930.

Need Some Help Around the House? On an as-needed basis, the Workcampers will provide assistance with home and yard projects. Please contact Jenni Ticer at 330 995 - 9318 to request a helper!

3-H Christmas Project in November. It’s time for Christmas mugs and candies. 3-H members will meet in Fellowship Hall, Friday, November 2^nd, to fill over 100 Christmas mugs with candy and to decorate Christmas bags which will hold the mugs and other goodies for the VOA Men’s Shelters. Our Helping Hands Bring Hope to these people and we need many hands to join in this traditional fun-filled project. Bring a friend plus individually-wrapped candies. Needed also are scissors and old Christmas cards to be used in decorating the Christmas bags.

See you on Friday, November 2, at 9:30 AM in Fellowship Hall. For more info call Marion Tarbell at 330 571 - 4500.

Fundraisers for Workcamp – Please continue saving used ink cartridges and cell phones for the Workcamp Fund. You may place them in the basket on the desk in the Great Hall. Your donations earned $557.90 for last year's trip! This is an on-going project. THANK YOU! Contact Kim Williamson for large item pick-up.

Book Group News – The next gathering of the book study group will be on Nov. 7, from 7:00 - 8:00 PM in Hanson Hall (just off the Choir Room). This month’s selection is Letters from Eden: A Year at Home, in the Woods, by Julie Zickfoose. For more information, contact Bonnie Niebuhr (330/995-5084).

Going Through a Tough Time? – Consider letting a Stephen Minister Help. A Stephen Minister is a member of our congregation trained to listen, care, encourage, pray, and walk alongside you during difficult times. It’s confidential, free and very helpful. To learn more, talk with a Pastor or Stephen Leader. Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).

Endowment – When I was a young salesman in Chicago, I was asked to call on a small paint manufacturing company. The purchasing agent, George, was a disagreeable sort who would always make me wait. When I got into his office, he would be clipping his nails or talking on the phone to one of his friends. Even if I’d had all of his business, it wouldn’t have amounted to much. But George had become a challenge, so I kept on calling.

One day when I was in his office, George was on the phone complaining to one of his friends that some sort of bug was on his tomato plants, and he thought he might lose them. When he hung up, I told him that my company’s agricultural chemical division had just published a four-color brochure with pictures of all kinds of bugs, information about what they ate, and ways to kill ‘em. He wanted a copy, which I dutifully sent.

On my next visit, I didn’t have to wait. George called his technical director, said he was sending me up, and told him to take a look at some of my products. On my next call, George gave me an order, as he did on each future call. George had had an epiphany! I had found his HOT BUTTON!

Now, there are some people who come to church who are a lot like George. They are easily distracted and really don‘t take away much from having attended the service. Maybe they come because Mom told them it was the right thing to do. Moms are always right. However, some people can’t wait to come to church on Sunday because, like George, they have had an epiphany. Something is going on around here that hit their HOT BUTTON.

If something has hit your HOT BUTTON, why not give the Endowment Fund an order (a donation)? You can do it now or make arrangements to do it after you pass on to that higher plane. Your gift will help keep our church in business for a long time (maybe two hundred more years). It will certainly give it a chance to hit someone else’s HOT BUTTON. It will definitely give your church a chance to make a difference.

Nutcracker Sweets – Thank you to everyone who helped with Nutcracker Sweets to make it another successful year! We had a full roster of crafters with wonderful items for everyone. This was not an easy task for me with a recovering ankle, but you all pitched in as usual and we had a great time doing it. Thank you so much for your help and support!!!! Joni Hanson, Nutcracker Chair

Board Meeting – The Church in Aurora Board met on Monday, October 8^th (yes we met while most of our membership was probably watching the beginning of the Indians winning final game against the Yankees!). Peter French, Moderator, noted that next month’s meeting will be held in the "Blue Room" on the second floor of our newly refurbished Escape. The meeting will be held on November 19^th, the third Monday of the month.

Jim Niebuhr, Treasurer, reported that, based on current receipts, year end income could be $8,000 -10,000 below budget. Members are being asked to try and complete their 2007 promises as soon as possible in hopes that this will minimize our budget shortfall.

Tom Siewiorek, Stewardship, updated the Board on the Time and Talent survey, and noted that our 2008 Faith Promise campaign is underway. The 2008 Faith Promise goal has been set at $517,880, an increase of 7% over last year. However, even with the 7% increase, the projected budget income will be less than the initial 2008 budget expense requests. All committees are currently working to reduce their budgets for next year so that we can balance the 2008 budget.

Ted Hollo, Elders, advised the Board that they have already made some significant cuts to their original proposed budget and are continuing to review their numbers. They are concerned that some of our current ministries could be adversely affected if additional cuts are required. Ted also advised the Board that the Elders had been approached by a Boy Scout troop, asking that the church consider becoming their sponsor and location for their monthly meetings. Ted will ask a representative of the Troop to attend the next Board meeting to provide us with more details.