Change – Changes can be difficult, especially when they are unexpected. Stephen Ministers are

trained to help people learn to cope with the changes that have happened in their lives. If you have

experienced great changes or know someone who has and would like to learn more about Stephen

Ministry, call Russ Post (330/562-9789) or Susan Kray (330/562-1344).

November 2 – Rev. Schnell (Communion, All Saints Remembrance)

November 9 – Rev. Schnell

November 16 – Rev. Schnell

November 23 – Rev. Schnell (Friendship Sunday)

November 30 – Rev. Horak (Advent 1)

September 21 – 9:30 – 142; 11:00 - 138 – Total – 280

September 28 – 9:30 - 144; 11:00 - 106; Total – 250

October 5 – 9:30 - 129; 11:00 - 129; Total – 258

October 12 – 9:30 - 143; 11:00 - 118; Total – 261

October 19 – 9:30 - 135; 11:00 -120 ; Total – 255

PA, Christine Hereford of Atwater, OH; Shirley Stoop of Aurora (9/28) Carol Sommer of Solon, Laurie

Entsminger of Aurora (10/5) George & Nancy Merz from North Carolina; Bob & Christy Marriner from

California (10/12) The Rapsiks of Sherwood Drive; Justine Rapsik of Aurora

Baptisms – Makenna Bode; Ethan Bode; Andrew Charles Klush

Memorials – Douglas Ridgley, son of Garland & Donna Ridgley; Helen Shulin, mother of Nancy

Gentiluomo

generosity.

Church Pictures – The Bicentennial Committee is seeking any past or present photographs of the

inside or outside of the church. If you have any photographs that you are willing to share, please

contact Mary Wallace at 330-562-2198 or drop them off in the Bicentennial mailbox at church. We will

make copies and return the originals back to you. Thank you.

FAITH PROMISE CAMPAIGN – Update The initial pledges received from the Faith Promise mailing

are extremely favorable. They reflect an increase exceeding 5% over last year. The total dollars

pledged to date exceeds $181,849. This represents 33% of the Faith Promise goal. We have heard

from 24% of the giving units from our membership.

The challenge is still there. Despite the budget being increased slightly (1.1%) for 2009 we have

a long way to go with this years’ Faith Promise Campaign. We are anticipating a decline in income from

other sources because of low interest rates, lack of carry-over funds, etc. Thus the burden has shifted

to the income generated from the Faith Promise campaign. In the meantime, the budget is being

examined further to find ways to reduce it.

Please return your Faith Promise cards as soon as possible. Your prompt response will help

build momentum. Please return the pledge card even if you are unable to make a Faith Promise. This

will spare you from an additional contact during our follow-up campaign.

We truly appreciate your generous support in the past. Your continued support will be vital to

keeping in The Church in Aurora as “More Than A Landmark” in serving Christ and the community.

The Stewardship Committee, Tom Siewiorek (Chair), Ed Williams (Assistant Chair),

Brady Krebs, Demas McVay, and Joe Vero

Audio Tapes of our services are available in the top drawer of the chest next to the door in the library.

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A Good Friend is a Blessing From God - Why not thank God for the gift of friendship and bring a

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. Please call and invite your special friend!

Don’t miss this special day. If you have any questions, please call Mary Wallace at 330-562-2198.

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

This group is open to moms of infants through preschool and will meet on the third Tuesday of each

month beginning in January of 2009.

you a thing. Just bring your recyclable paper to the bins in the parking lot. Shredding can be brought in

plastic bags and tossed in, easy as that. Every pound adds up, and the proceeds go into the Trustees

account. So think of it as your way to help defray the high cost of heating this winter. We’ll take your

junk mail, catalogs, newspapers and discarded copies, too – any paper except phone books. And no

cardboard. Thanks for your help!

Custodian Sought – Valley Christian Academy in Aurora is seeking a Christian person for a full-time

custodian position at the school. For information and a downloadable application, go to

Endowment Fund: With the challenging financial times we are experiencing, there will be significant

changes in levels of support for our Endowment Fund over the next six months. Our church

Endowment Fund provides a strong financial base to provide for the ministries, programs and

maintenance for The Church in Aurora. This is a most important time to consider gifting to our church

Endowment Fund. Please contact any Endowment Fund Director for more answers. And feel free to

contact your own attorney for gifting options to the Endowment Fund. If you have never donated before,

please consider this important charity where we plan for our future – both immediate and long term and

all for the Glory of God.

Women's Guild Rummage Sale - A special thank you to all who made donations and to those of you

who volunteered your time to make this another successful project. Mark your calendar for our Spring

Rummage Sale on April 22 & 23. –Joy Evans

ATTENTION ALL COMMITTEE CHAIRS – Annual reports from each committee will be due on Monday,

December 15. If possible, please submit your report by e-mail or on disk. Any questions, please call

Patti in the church office at 330-562-8266.

wrapped candy and help us fill the Christmas mugs for the VOA Men’s Shelters.

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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.

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.

3H PM. We are enjoying sharing in Beth Moore’s, PRAYING GOD’S WORD; please read chapters 5 &

6 as we prepare prayer shawls and baby blankets during our next gathering on Thursday, November 13,

6:30-8:30 p.m. ~ Kathleen Horak, 330-562-1930.

WOMEN’S GUILD – Who didn’t love to read Nancy Drew as a young girl, or maybe you still do? We

have a treat for you at Women’s Guild in November. Cheryl Chylsta, Aurora Library’s Branch Manager,

will speak to us about “The History of Nancy Drew and the Writing Syndicate that Developed the

Character”. Bring your Nancy Drew paraphernalia to share!

Lunch will be prepared by Circle D and devotions shared by the same. Please join us at 11:30

Wanted! Used Ink Cartridges and Cell phones – Don't throw away your old cell phones! Please

save them for the Workcamp Fund. A drop-off basket is in the Great Hall. Large quantity pick-ups of

laser print cartridges are available. Contact Kim Williamson at 330-562-4930 for information. HELP

SAVE OUR LANDFILLS while providing financial support for Workcamp.

HABITAT FOR HUMAITY HOMEOWNERS COOKBOOK – This beautifully decorated and organized

cookbook published by the Habitat for Humanity of Portage County Homeowners Association contains

200 Simple Decent Recipes. The books are priced at just $10 and make a wonderful Christmas Gift or

holiday meal planning resource. All proceeds benefit the Habitat Homeowners Association mission of

educating and supporting Habitat homeowners in all aspects of successful home ownership. If you

desire one or more cookbooks contact the Habitat office at 330-296-2880.

Board Meeting Report – September 2008 – Jim Maulis, Moderator, reported that the Search Committee

made a unanimous recommendation to Christian Education concerning an assistant to the director of

CE and Youth, who was approved by CE, the ministers, the Elders, and the Board all within the last

that early in the year the average church attendance was down primarily due to the snow in late January

and early February, but appears to be coming back up slightly, with a year to date average down

approximately 4% from last year. This seems to reaffirm our need for continuing community outreach

programs. After much thought on community outreach, Jim asked for Board support of asking Long

Range Planning to explore how to best address ongoing community outreach programming, who would

be responsible, should we form a new committee, and if so, how does that affect our current committee

make-up. This was approved by the Board for further study.

Jim Niebuhr, Treasurer, reported that faith promise revenue for ’08 is down approximately 7.8%

of budget, or $27,510, compared to approximately 7% from last year. Jim also reported on designated

contributions from the Women’s Guild for $2,680 to be used by the Bicentennial Committee, as well as

$1,032 to the Trustees for 15 tables for Fellowship Hall. The Barkett Fund distributed a $1,000

scholarship. Tom Siewiorek from Stewardship reported on the upcoming Time and Talent Survey, as

well as plans concerning the upcoming 2009 budget and Faith Promise campaign. They are attempting

to speed up the process this year, including the use of electronic communication.

Lee Dean, Elders, thanked Dotty Channel and the Search Committee for their fine effort in finding

Cindy Gonzales as the Assistant to Christian Education and Youth. She also reported on the status of

the Background Check sub-committee as they refine and update the background check procedures

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used for all volunteers and staff of the church. The Trustees, through Tom Motulewicz, reported that

they have purchased a new copying machine for Toni Harris’s office. He also reported that the fire alarm

system upgrade is almost complete and suggest that we have a fire drill after it is complete. Tom

brought to the Board’s attention that the roof-top air conditioner is not working, and that the heat

exchanger is cracked and poses a possible carbon monoxide risk. After much discussion, it was

approved to replace the heat / air conditioning unit at a cost of $9,600, to be funded out of the

Maintenance Reserve account.

Dotty Channel, of Christian Education, thanks everyone for their effort in getting Cindy Gonzales

on board. She also reported that they have prepared a questionnaire requesting parent feedback on the

current CE programs. Rodger Shaulis, of Endowment, reported that the Endowment funds through

8/18/08 were down 6.52% year to date. He also reported that the Endowment Committee had approved

a $6,000 expenditure to support the IT Committed install new computers for the church staff (editor’s

note: this has since been rescinded due to further devaluation). Barbara Tatum, of Missions reported on

the recent donations made by their committee, including $3,000 to the American Red Cross as well their

planned activity through the end of the calendar year. Gordon Ober, reporting for the Trustees, reported

that the new oil candles are in place and that all Deacons are being trained on their use and upkeep. He

also reported on the Deacons receiving updated training on the defibrillator in October. Fellowship,

through Audrey Winkler, reported on the success of the church picnic this year. After some discussion

and support of the Deacons, the Board approved their request to move the annual church picnic to the

church grounds. Cathy Masch reported that her committee will be heading up a new pictorial directory in

early 2009 for distribution in the fall. While not a member of the committee, Bonnie Niebuhr has agreed

to take charge of the project. Martha Gray, of Women’s Guild, reported on all of the current activities of

Women’s Guild including the upcoming Nutcracker Sweets, the cleaning of the kitchen, purchasing new

tables for the Trustees, Fall Rummage Sale, etc.

The Rev. Bill Schnell reported on his participation in a panel along with our 3-H, Volunteers of

America, and Family and Community Services to study the needs of our congregation and community.

He will be joining a workshop with Portage County Habitat for Humanity to discuss the many ways that

our church and membership may support this program. Associate Pastor, Rev. Kevin Horak reported

that he had attended a preaching conference at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary as part of his

continuing education. He also advised the Board of his involvement in the outreach though Anna Maria,

Emmaus Fall Walk, serving on the board of the Pastoral Care Association, and Committee on Ministry

through the Presbytery. Toni Harris, Director of CE and Youth, thanked everyone for a successful Rally

Day. She reported on Promiseland attendance being up, Godly Play attendance being down, and CS

classes being up. She stated that all Youth activities and outings have been planned for the year.

Dana Shively, Clerk, read a report from the IT Committee that they are doing a complete study of

the ongoing computer problems and will be putting together a recommendation. The Bicentennial

Committee, through Ann Womer Benjamin, reported that pole banners have been purchased and

approved by the City. She also said that two large banners will be hung from the church, and that they

would like a Bicentennial photo of the entire congregation taken to be place in the upcoming pictorial

directory. Betsy Tomasko, representing the estate of Bob Albright, indicated that there was a $5,000

cash offer for the purchase of Bob’s manufactured home. After much discussion on various options and

the monthly cost to maintain the home, the Board approved the sale for $5,000. (editor’s note: this sale

subsequently fell through).

Please direct any questions to Jim Maulis, Moderator.

helping those in need rebuild their lives and reach their full potential. This year Volunteers of America

will help over 2 million people in more than 400 communities.

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The Missions Committee regularly supports the local VOA with financial donations, food

collections, Thanksgiving food baskets, and Christmas presents for less fortunate children through the

Caring Tree program.

Haven of Rest Ministries is the largest private social service organization in the Summit/Portage

county areas. Its purpose is to serve God through Christ-centered outreach of love and compassion

that responds to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of disadvantage men, women and children.

Behind the Scenes – Phil Potter has been a member of The Church in Aurora for more than 41 years!

Pretty impressive, isn’t it? And he’s been a member of the Chancel Choir longer than anyone else.

What a contribution to our musical program. When he isn’t singing, Phil has been the Church School

Secretary and a teacher and a member of the Stewardship Committee. He served as an Elder from

1978 through 1982. He was the Treasurer from 1970 through 1972. When we had the church van, Phil

also drove the van for Nutcracker. Phil served the church as Associate Moderator, then Moderator in

1990 through 1993. And he was a member of the Search Committee when we were looking for a new