May, 2001 Wesley News of the Strongsville United Methodist Church

Summer Worship Schedule

Our summer worship schedule will begin on Sunday, June 3^rd when our Sunday morning services will be at 8:15 am and 9:30 am. This schedule will be in effect for the months of June, July, and August. Remember that “On the Way” (our Contemporary Worship Service) will be every Saturday at 5:00 pm throughout the summer.

Logos early registration begins now!

On March 29th we completed the 7th year of Logos at SUMC! We all owe a tremendous THANK YOU to Carol Perri and Lynn Koszkalda for their leadership and dedication to the Logos Program! We also give thanks for everyone who helps make Logos such a strong program for our children. Teachers, table parents, area coordinators, kitchen help, classroom volunteers...the list goes on and on!

The fall semester of Logos begins August 30, and runs through November 15. We will be using a new curriculum that ties together all parts of Logos each night. Each grade level will be learning the same Bible message, and it will be reinforced as the theme for family time and playtime. This should make the message stronger, and also make the Logos experience more meaningful, relevant, and fun for the children. Please feel free to join us on Thursday, May 10 from 7-8 PM (during children's choir practice) to select the curriculum.

To register for next year, pick up a form in the office, or look for our registration table in the Atrium after services on May 20 and June 3. Completed forms can be returned to the office, to the registration table, or placed in the collection plate. As usual, a $10 discount per child will be given if you register before June 10. Payment is due when Logos begins August 30.

Many opportunities for adults are available for the fall. Sign up sheets will be available at registration. Please prayerfully consider your talents, and help us to continue the success of Logos for our children!

Tracy McCort & Deb Oblisk

Logos Directors 2001-2002

Men host annual Steak Roast

All men of the church are invited to come to the annual Steak Roast on Monday, May 21 at 6:30 pm at Bonnie Park. It will be the last UMM meeting of the year. Dinner will be served at 6:45 pm, with the meeting to follow at 7:30. We will be electing officers for next year. Let Mark Milia know if you are interested in taking on a position. Fellowship will follow with horseshoes or other outdoor games. There will be a sign up sheet in the hallway outside the nursery. As always¼bring a friend¼and pass the word.

From the Pastor's study

“A View from the Office Window”

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today for forever. Hebrews 13:8

As I sit at my desk, I look across Pearl Road to the Strongsville Historical Society complex. It’s a beautiful view and I enjoy looking over the few acres of buildings.

The view enables me to remember. To remember Strongsville in its earlier days. Even to remember the history of our own congregation that started in 1819. Truly a long legacy has been established by the Methodists in our community. We have been preceded in this congregation by many people who have been faithful in spreading the Gospel and proclaiming the word of God.

It’s important that I remember. If I don’t, then I forget my own place in history. We are not just living in the present age. We are connected to people who have gone before us; who have served the Lord with great faithfulness within this church.

Looking across the street also helps me to recognize that much change has occurred within the Strongsville community. The Historical Village contains a dirt road. There are few (if any) dirt roads remaining in Strongsville. At one time Pearl Road itself was just one lane paved with dirt to the side for passing. Now it is five lanes that separate me from the Historical Village and, during rush hour, it could be much wider to accommodate the traffic.

The buildings on the Historical Village grounds date from the mid 1800s to around 1940. Now that building period is visible in a minority of structures in Strongsville. The vast, vast majority of homes and businesses have been built since the 1940s. As I look across the street, I recognize the great change that has occurred within this community.

Just as change has occurred within Strongsville, so change occurs in the sharing of the word of God. As our scripture above from Hebrews tells us, Christ Jesus never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We give thanks for the unfailing, unchangeable promises of grace, peace, love, and joy. But how the message of Christ is delivered indeed does and must change. The sharing of the word has to be attuned to the hearer.

Thus, the deep struggle that exists within every faith community: The struggle of being true to the unchanging presence of Jesus Christ and true to the need to share that word of Christ to a changing culture. Within our particular church, we feel that tension. We sense it in worship as we enter into a Contemporary Service or sing praise choruses in traditional worship settings. We sense that tension in our Evangelism outreach as we call ourselves to not only be friendly within the confines of the church, but to share the word with those at work or in our neighborhoods. We sense the tension in our education department as we attempt to guarantee the safety of our youth and children in a society of flux and litigation. We sense it in the painful decision to change location so that we may more ably minister to a growing community through a growing church.

The tension is good. It helps us to remember who we are and from whence we have come. It helps us to acknowledge what has been, and it helps us to recognize that we are called by God into the tomorrows. It helps us to affirm our future.

I give thanks for this congregation with its rich heritage of faith. I give thanks for this congregation which is boldly facing the challenges of sharing the Gospel of the same Jesus Christ in new ways.

O steadfast and unchanging God, help us to move in new ways so that your name may be strongly proclaimed. Amen.

From Pastor Paula’s desk

Are You Too Busy?

Cardinals, blue jays, chickadees and morning doves have been welcomed visitors to our feeders over the winter months. With the coming of spring, the visitors have been joined by yellow finches which hang upside-down to eat thistle seed; robins, which are delighted by the wet weather as they find their daily feast; and a yellow-bellied sapsucker. These lovely
feathered friends have been joined by three squirrels, which are given feasting privileges for a few minutes, before being chased to go scampering across the top of the fence.

It is a delight each day to fill the feeders and watch these beautiful creatures feast on the seeds of their choice. The joy of watching them is only matched by the music which fills the air while I watch them each day. These beautiful creatures are evidence to me of the awesome hand of God which is at work all around me each moment of the day. However, if I had not learned to take the time to begin bird watching I would have missed out on the joy of discovering a downy woodpecker outside our dining room window just last week.

I wonder if we even stop to look around us for the evidence of God's hand at work? Are we too busy to listen to the song of the birds? If we are, maybe we have even missed the voice of God. Maybe we have even missed the evidence of God's presence in our homes, in the laughter of a child or the embrace of a friend. Maybe we have even become too busy to develop a relationship with God that is more than superficial.

Until a few months ago, I confess I was missing some of the evidence of God's blessings in my life. I was just too busy. Then God reminded me through the words of King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3, that everything has its own time. I was doing ministry, but I was not taking time to just see the hand of God or listen for His voice. I began to pay attention in a new way. I began to look for the hand of God. I heard the downy woodpecker and then watched and listened as I saw this beautiful bird in the tree at the back of our yard.

You see, I know there will be a day when the birds I watch each morning will migrate south for another winter. The daffodils will die off; the squirrels will still come to feed, but they may not play in the trees like they do now. Each day will come to an end and be gone forever. If I had not been paying attention to what God was trying to tell me, I would have missed the evidence of His hand blessing me.

Yes, there are still times that I am too busy. God and I are working on that, but I am learning. You see, I don't want to miss the special blessing God may bring into my day!

Please, don't be so busy you miss the blessings in each day!

Crosstalks

We will finish for the summer on May 22 and resume on September 11, 2001.

Friday Fellowship

Mark May 18^th on your calendars! Friday Fellowship will be having lunch at the University Inn and then proceed to Dunham Tavern Museum in downtown Cleveland on that date.

The bus will leave the church at 11 am.

Betty Smith will be taking reservations for this trip. Don’t delay.

Hope everyone enjoyed our Chicken ‘n Biscuit dinner last month!

Did you know? . . . One acre of peanuts yields enough peanut butter for 30,000 sandwiches. The kids won’t have to worry about lunches for a long time.

May Celebrations

May 5 Marge Turek

May 7 Marilyn Verbsky & Myrna Nored

May 10 Eleanor Bohlander

May 14 Dorothy Richards, 87 years

May 17 Maxine Painter, 88 years

May 24 Pearl Emch

May 27 Betty Berry

May 30 Grace Heddesheimer, 90 years, & Ginny McKee

May 10 Dick & Evelyn Coleman, married 60 years

Rustad Library

Friday Fellowship has generously donated books in memory of John Bohlander and Charles Rutherford. When God Weeps by Steve Estes is for anyone who has ever questioned his or her faith. He Chose the Nails by Max Lucado speaks of the gifts of grace, “Seeing them and unwrapping them as if for the very first time.” Max Lucado is a popular author in our library. As a reminder, John Bohlander's autobiography is available in the library and is a fascinating read.

United Methodist Women

The UMW invites all women of the church to a potluck dinner on Thursday, May 24 in Tiber Hall. Dinner will be at 6 pm. Ham, rolls & butter, and beverages will be provided. For the program, Shelly Hartman will talk on her trip to Russia. If you have any questions, please call Nancy Dawson at 572-7728. Hope to see you there.

Lydia Circle

Come join the ladies of Lydia Circle on Thursday, May 3 at 12:30 pm. Bring a box lunch. Coffee and tea will be available.

The program, Jackson Area Ministries, which was scheduled last month, will be given. You still have time to bring in seeds for the Green Thumb gardening project.

Betty Berry, 238-6495.

Grace Kellner, 234-0938

Stephen Ministry

When We Need God's Love Most

When is the time that we need God's love most? Of course we need that love every moment! But there are times when God's love is especially precious to us. Times when we lose a loved one, or when life becomes so confusing that we do not know where to turn. Or when life just becomes meaningless and depression sets in. Sometimes it is important to have someone to talk with.

Our congregation has 22 trained Stephen Ministers who offer caring Christian friendship and concerned, confidential listening to people when they need it most. If you would like to know more about how a Stephen Minister could care for you or someone you know please call: Rev. Ron 238-6135, Pastor Paula 238-6135, Jim Boyer 572-4976, Hildi Fitzpatrick 572-5004, Karen or Mark Milia 572-0602, or Bev. Wells 572-1415.

Why in the World…are we fixing the window wells if we are getting ready to move? The Board of Trustees debated that question before coming to the conclusion that this project had to be done. For some time the window wells have been crumbling and the railing was not secure in several places. Each time there is a heavy rain the basement floods due to this problem. Many of the retaining walls were on the verge of collapse. The Trustees believe that, in addition to the basement flooding, there are also serious safety and liability concerns. We are at least a few years away from moving and the Board felt that this problem had to be fixed. Repairing the window wells will not only correct the existing problems, but will also make our property more attractive to future buyers when we do move. Roger Katon, Chairman, Board of Trustees

· Notes from the Nurses ·

May is National Osteoporosis Prevention Month. Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become porous, fragile, and more likely to break. Women are four times more likely than men to develop the disease, but men can also suffer from it. Osteoporosis is largely preventable for most people and prevention is very important because, while there are treatments, there is no cure. There are four steps to prevention and all are necessary. 1) A balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D. Depending on age, an appropriate calcium intake is between 1000 & 1300 mg. a day. If you are unable to get enough calcium in your diet, take a supplement. Vitamin D is needed for the body to absorb calcium and, if not present, your body will rob the calcium from your bones. Experts recommend 400-800 IU per day. Sources are fortified dairy products, egg yolks, saltwater fish and liver. Your skin can absorb vitamin D from sunlight. 2) Weight-bearing exercise. The best exercises are walking, dancing, jogging, stair climbing, racquet sports, and hiking. With regular exercise in childhood and adolescence, you are more likely to reach your peak bone density, so keep those kids busy! 3) A healthy lifestyle with no smoking or excessive alcohol use. 4) Bone density testing and medications when appropriate. There are FDA approved medications that slow or stop bone loss, increase bone density, and reduce fracture risk. There is an accurate, painless, noninvasive test to diagnose osteoporosis and determine risk for future fractures.

You may be at risk if you are a slender, small-framed woman, postmenopausal, of white or Southeast Asian descent, have a family history, are aging, or have used corticosteriods for a long time.

It is never too late to do something about osteoporosis. If you haven’t reached menopause, take the above measures to prevent it. If you’re postmenopausal, talk to your doctor about tests to detect the disease and ways to halt bone loss.

Don’t Forget!!

Monthly Blood Pressure Checks

Sunday, May 20^th after each service

May 6^th is National Nurses Day

Be sure to hug your favorite nurse, or take her to lunch,

or buy her flowers, or …

Be Healthy!!

Betsy Mowry & Gail Spence

Sometimers head to Kingwood Gardens

In May we are planning to go to Kingwood Gardens in Mansfield. The Strongsville bus will leave the church at 1:30 pm on Sunday, May 20. After the gardens we will have lunch at a place to be announced. Watch the Sunday bulletin for further information. Please note – this is a Sunday! The gardens should be displaying their spring beauty by the 3^rd week in May.

Joys & Concerns

Births

Congratulations. . .

to Keith and Casie Geiger on the birth of their son Brody Lee Geiger on March 28. Proud grandparents are Chris and Steve Ziegler, and proud great-grandmother is Bobbie Mezzulo;

to Jason & Marianne Allwood on the birth of their daughter Alexis Justina Allwood on April 3. Proud grandparents are Bob & Linda Allwood, and proud great-grandfather is Frank Allwood.

and to Bob & Roseanne Waltz on the birth of their son Rylan Edwin Waltz on April 10. Proud great-grandmother is Alice Waltz.

Baptisms

We rejoice with the families of those children who have joined the family of faith through the Sacrament of Baptism. The following were baptized on Sunday, April 8:

Adam Thomas Jurcago, son of Raynmond & Melissa Jurcago; Jenna Carolyn Karpinsky, daughter of John & Lori Karpinsky; Kayla Ann Manney, daughter of Gary & Kimberly Manney; and Ian Michael McGreal, son of Terence & Lisa McGreal.

Deaths

The prayers and sympathy of the congregation are extended to Mike & Lisa Johnson and family upon the death of Mike’s aunt, Joan Whitford;

and to Dale & Rita Bodey and family upon the death of Dale’s grandmother, Thelma Werner, and Rita’s father, Loren Cowie.

From our church’s mailbox

Dear Church Family,

I would like to express a thank you to Rev. Ron for his caring visits and flowers to my Aunt Hazel, both at her home and at Falling Water. She talked endlessly about the love from this church that was shared with her. Thank you also for Rev. Ron's comfort of words, songs and hugs to my children and cousins when Aunt Hazel Lubinski passed away.

Thank you to those who prayed for her and sent cards and for the phone calls. Such concern and comfort and grace that pours from this congregation is truly a blessing of God's love.

Thanks be to God, in Christian Love,

Karen Ransbury & Barbara Black

œœœœœœœ

Dear Congregation,

What a blessing this church is! Thank you to everyone for your prayers, cards, concerned calls to both Bob and me and for all the outpourings of Christian love during my quite unexpected stay at Cleveland Clinic and my current forced inactivity at home. Special thanks go to Rev. Ron and Pastor Paula for their prayers and supportive kindness.

Gratefully, Eve Hill

œœœœœœœ

Dear Church Familly,

I wish to thank all the wonderful people at SUMC. Thanks to Rev. Ron and Pastor Paula for their visits. Also, thanks for the flowers, food, telephone calls and the offers of food. It was appreciated.

In Christian Love, Viola LeCastro

Sunday

May 6, 13, 20, 27

9:30 AM

Infant Room through 5^th grade Classes

Middle School and High School Classes

Adult Class

11:00 AM

Infant and Toddler Rooms

Preschool Class

Elementary Class (Kindergarten through 2^nd grade)

Upper Elementary Class (3^rd grade through 5^th grade)

May 27

Birthday Bank Sunday

June 3

9:30 AM SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL BEGINS!!

Infant and Toddler care will continue.

Age-level classes will be provided for children 2 years old – 5^th grade. After children’s moments we will gather as a large group for music and story, then the children will return to their classrooms.

Monday

May 7 & 21

9:30 AM - 11:00 AM Parent Growth

Tuesday

May 1, 8, 15, 22

10:00 AM-11:30 AM Crosstalks

7:00 PM – 9:30 PM Disciple III

May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

7:00 PM-9:30 PM Disciple I

May 1

6:30 PM Committee on Education Room 7

7:30 PM VBS Meeting Loft

May 1 & 15

7:15 PM Women’s Bible Study at Pastor Paula’s

Wednesday

May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

9:30 AM-12:00 PM Disciple I & Disciple II

Thursday

May 3 & 10

7:00 PM-8:00 PM Safe Sanctuaries Workshop Room 5

The Safe Sanctuaries Workshops offer training for all teachers and parents who are participating in the Education Work Area. Information regarding our child protection policy and procedures is presented. Anyone interested in teaching Fall Quarter 2001 will need to attend one of these workshops.

Confirmands make final preparations for their big day

Saturday, May 12 9:00 AM-11:00 AM CONFIRMATION CLASS REHEARSAL

One parent is asked to attend during the first hour for the practice of the Rite of Confirmation. During the second hour the Confirmands will rehearse their parts for the worship service.

Sunday, May 13 9:30 AM CONFIRMATION BREAKFAST

Confirmands, families, and guests are invited to gather in Tiber Hall for a continental breakfast. The Confirmands will be introduced to the congregation at the end of the 9:30 AM service.

11:00 AM CONFIRMATION WORSHIP SERVICE

Mentors, we hope you can join the Confirmands on this important occasion.

From Alys’ Desk

Over the course of a year and a half the Safe Sanctuaries Task Group has been meeting, reading, reviewing, and collating resource material for a child protection policy that provides a safe, secure environment for our children and youth as they participate in church events. The policy also provides protection for the adults who volunteer to work with our youth as teachers, mentors, counselors, etc. The mandate for establishing a child protection policy and procedures was issued by our Bishop of East Ohio Conference. Other churches in our conference are adopting similar policies.

In order to properly institute the policy and procedures that have been approved by our Administrative Board, all people who will be participating in the education and youth ministries of our church need to be trained. Initial training involves attending a one-hour workshop during which the foundational guidelines are discussed. Also each volunteer is asked to fill out an application form that will be kept on file. Full implementation of this policy will begin in the Fall Quarter. In order to have a complete roster of teachers, all applications will need to be completed and turned into me by the end of June.

Safety, security, trust, confidence – all of these are important to us in our personal lives and in the life of our church family. Daily we trust our ultimate source of security, our Heavenly Father, for both the ordinary and the distressing events of life. Let us be diligent and responsible as we serve each other, our children, and our youth.

May these verses from Psalm 16 serve as encouragement:

“Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.” Psalm 16:1

“Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure.” Psalm 16:5

“I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8

NIV Life Application Bible

“By saying that he ‘will not be shaken,’ David was talking about the unique sense of security felt by believers. God does not exempt believers from the day-to-day circumstances of life. Believers and unbelievers alike experience pain, trouble, and failure at times (Matthew 5:45). Unbelievers have a sense of hopelessness about life and confusion over their true purpose on earth. Those who seek God, however, can move ahead confidently with what they know is right and important in God’s eyes. They know that God will keep them from being moved off of his chosen path.” Commentary from Life Application Bible

A big Thank You ...to the Worship Committee of our church which has faithfully led us through the seasons of Lent and Easter. We are most grateful to our musicians, ushers, greeters, and acolytes who have willingly taken additional responsibilities upon themselves to make this a time of deep meaning and reflection.

Adult New Members will be received into full membership in this congregation on Sunday, May 6^th during both services. We rejoice in those who have made a conscious decision to be a part of our church fellowship and profess publically their faith in Jesus Christ. A reception will be held between services in Tiber Hall to welcome these new members to our church family.

Memorial Gifts will be dedicated during our worship services on Sunday, May 27^th. Both the 9:30 and 11:00 services will include a time of affirming gifts that have been given to the church in memory of someone. We give deep thanks for these perpetual remembrances of individuals and their lives in Christ.

May 3^rd is the National Day of Prayer. The Christ Church of Strongsville will sponsor a time of “Prayer on the Square” at 6:30pm on that Thursday. Please mark your calendars and plan now to attend.

On Sunday, April 1^st we were honored to have Ken Mehalko play his Native American Flutes during Communion. In response to many questions, Ken provided us with some information about his instruments. Both flutes are handmade of cedar wood. One was made in Montana and one in Oregon. The carved animals covering the air passages are a bear and a bird. Many thanks to Ken for enhancing our worship in this unique way.

Have you ever wondered...what happens to those pop cans once they come out of the machine and their contents are consumed? Several receptacles around the church collect the empty cans which are then taken by Gordon Evans and recycled. The money Gordon collects for recycling is then donated to the Metro Hospital Burn Unit. Thanks Gordon for your dedication to helping others.

Souled Out

Something to Think About

by Greg

My hands are shaking; my life just passed before my eyes...all in the name of youth ministry. It was Dale, John, Jeff, and me. They are all seasoned skateboarders here in Strongsville. I am not a seasoned skateboarder. I am a Youth Pastor. I’ve never backed down from a challenge, so I decided to attempt the impossible: Jump the stairs (actually it was just one little step). I mean, how hard could it be? They were soaring through the air with ease. After all, I was a college athlete, I’m coordinated. What’s the big deal? As Dale rolled his skateboard to my feet, I realized the first problem: My feet could never fit on that tiny little board. The next problem is that, although I consider myself to have a pretty decent sense of balance, stepping onto a board with wheels on it presents a whole new set of rules.

As I slowly rolled toward the step, I was picturing all the lovely injuries that I might experience in the next few moments; at best a twisted ankle, at worst a broken neck! I was silently praying as Dale spoke up. “Greg, I don’t think you should try this if this is your first time skating.” Visions of angels singing “Hallelujah” danced through my head. I stopped the skateboard in a clumsy, unconventional sort of way, and stepped down from my sure sentence of injury. I guess the point of all this is that I would have done it. I saw this as an opportunity to earn some respect from these kids, build a relationship, and eventually share with them the true source of hope and life: Jesus Christ. I used to see skaters (and other youth who dance to a music that most of us can’t yet hear) as nuisances, a waste of time, hopeless, inconsiderate. The more I prayed and put on my “Jesus-goggles” the more I began to see them as Christ sees them: Children of God. Children that many of us have given up on. Children who have been literally rejected, disrespected, and judged by pretty much everyone they come into contact with. So instead of giving them dirty looks as I drive by them on the street, or telling them that they don’t have any respect for anyone or anything, I stop and join them. I love them. I share my story with them. I can’t help but remember what Jesus said in the parable of the great feast, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.” So I’ll go out and bring in the skaters, the juvenile delinquents, the kids nobody else wants anything to do with and show them the love and acceptance of Christ. If I break a bone or two, so be it. If that’s what it takes to bring these guys (and gals) to heaven with me, I’ll do it with a smile.

'''''''''''''''''''

Youth Ministry Mission Statement

Our mission is to equip youth with a solid foundation in Jesus Christ, with excitement for spiritual growth, that they may be alive in their faith and make a difference for Christ in the world.

' May Calendar '

Sunday, May 6^th

Souled Out in Tiber Hall

6:30 - 8:00pm

Sunday, May 13^th

Souled Out in Tiber Hall

6:30 - 8:00pm

Sunday, May 20^th

Souled Out in Tiber Hall

6:30 - 8:00pm

Sunday, May 27^th

Souled Out in Tiber Hall

6:30 - 8:00pm

Tuesday, May 29^th

Serve at Cory Kitchen

4:30pm

Did You Know...