From the Pastor’s Study
“Where is Our Security?”
“For I am sure that neither death,
nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to
come,
nor powers, nor height, nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus
our Lord.” Romans
8:38-39
Terrorism has come to American soil. Whereas activities in
other countries that were the result of terrorists sometimes made it to the
front page of the newspaper, most often they were hidden in later pages. But
now our own sense of security has been attacked. Our feeling of well-being has quickly
eroded. Our assurance that we were safe on American soil has evaporated.
As we mourn the large number of lives that have been lost in
this attack, we also mourn the loss of our sense of security. One of the
results of the recent terrorism is that we will never feel quite the same again
regarding safety. A Student Senate leader from Emory University stated on a
talk show that we are now in a different world. We need to expect these kinds
of activities to happen within our own country. Our naivety about safety has
been destroyed.
But to live without a sense of security leaves us
fragmented, anxious, and uncertain. We need to know that some things are not
changed and that we can find protection. Where do we look for such? We find
these in the presence of God.
Our scripture above reminds us that no demon or evil or
terrorist will be able to separate us from the love of God. No calamity of life
(even if it should produce death) can separate us from the love of God. The compassion
and mercy of God cannot be limited by human events.
As we are the children of God and place our trust in the
Lord, we will find an assurance that cannot be eroded. This is not to say that
life will be without trial. This is not even to say that we will escape death.
But, as Christians, we know that beyond life there is the wonderful glory of
God there for us.
Therefore, we are called to live in this life with an
assurance of God’s strength and grace. We are called to do all that we can do
to support others, share the Word, and serve our Creator. We are to live life
as God intended us - in full knowledge of God’s love with willingness to do
what God asks of us. We know that we are of God and that nothing can snatch us
from the hands of the Almighty. We need not be afraid or looking over our
shoulders. We need not expect another disaster or fear the darkness of the
night. We need not find our lives controlled by anxiety or limited by
self-concern.
Yes, the recent terrorism has reminded us of the preciousness
of human life, but we also need to be reminded of the gift of eternal life in
Christ. Knowing that we are to be recipients of this gift, we are empowered to
live our physical lives in trust and obedience to God. We are promised the
abiding presence and continuing strength of the Lord, for nothing can separate
us from the love of God.
O Lord, may we have our confidence in you so that we can
continue to live life as the full gift that you offer to us. Amen.
Rev. Ron
Mowry
From Pastor Paula’s Desk
With the onset of fall comes a saying for those of us who twice a year
wonder whether we gain an extra hour of sleep or perhaps lose an hour of sleep.
This saying is a must for me if I am to arrive at worship on a given Sunday in
the fall and spring “on time.”
“Fall back, spring
ahead!”
A rather large amount of information is gained in such a
short, obscure saying -- especially to those who do not live under the means of
daylight savings time. In this rather odd saying, though, we find direction for
our lives; but does it give some more than a new time constraint to adjust to?
So many people tend to “fall back” into the past of their lives. They dwell on
the what-if’s and the memories of pain from the past. Many individuals
are so caught up dwelling on the past of their lives that they do not see the joy of “springing
forward.” When we come into a relationship with Jesus we have no reason
to remain in the past. We are given every opportunity to “spring ahead”
into the future.
Recently at “On the Way” we shared in our worship
time a song called, “In the Secret.” In the second verse we find these
words:
I am reaching for the highest
goal, that I might receive the prize.
Pressing onward, pushing every hindrance
aside, out of my way;
‘Cause I want to know You [Jesus] more.
When we are willing to spring ahead, instead of falling
back, we find our lives filled with the love and joy of knowing Jesus¼the One
[Jesus] who forgives us the sins of our past and walks with us into a future of
hope.
Rev. Paula Koch
Friday Fellowship
On October 19th, Friday
Fellowship will be taking a trip to the Jones Potato Chip Factory.
The bus will leave at 10 am from
the church.
After our tour, we will have lunch
at “Der
Dutchman.”
Make your reservations with Betty
Smith.
Birthdays
Oct. 4 Jeanette Olds, 84 yrs.
Oct.
5 Mildred Benzinger, 83 yrs.
Oct. 6 Marge Hill, 83 yrs.
Oct. 14 Doris Fiesler, 81 yrs.
Oct. 17 Jean Schartner, 82 yrs.
Oct. 19 Ethel Wagner, 91 yrs.
Oct. 30 Lou Szabo
Oct. 31 Twyla Deal
Anniversaries
Oct. 9 Chuck & Twyla Deal, 47 yrs.
Oct. 14 Victor & Gladys Grieco, 60 yrs.
Oct. 28 Newt & Joan Chalfant, 57 yrs.
Thought for the
Day
If you have never experienced the
danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the
pangs of starvation – you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.
Rustad Library
Friday
Fellowship has generously donated several new memorial gifts to our Rustad
Library.
After reading The
Blue Bottle and The Amethyst Heart, the church’s book
club members have become fans of author Penelope Stokes. Her latest work, The Amber Photograph,
has been given to the library in memory of Marian Craig.
Also new to the shelves
is The Parables of Joshua by Joseph Gerzone. This book is an inspiring addition to the
popular Joshua series. This selection
has been presented in memory of Don Cleland.
The Church Ladies by Lisa E. Samson has been dedicated to the memory
of June Pascual. This witty and
inspiring story, about a group of pastors’ wives who meet to pray, evokes
laughter, tears, and soul-searching.
Sometimers to feast at Yutzy’s
Are you ready for our annual trip to the Yutzy’s for an Amish
dinner? The date is Saturday, October
27. The Strongsville bus will leave the
church at 2:30 pm. Cost will be $18.00.
Reservations and money must be turned in to Betty Smith no
later than Sunday, October 20. Plan on
joining us for this delicious meal.
M ’n M’s are headed for TROUBLE!
The M ’n M’s are in TROUBLE!
Come join us for an evening of fun on Saturday, October 27 at 7 pm as we
play the all-time favorite game of TROUBLE!
If you can count to six you can be an active participant during this
evening of fun. All couples of the church
are welcome. Call Ruth & Jim
Brickley for reservations and details.
(440) 572-0535.
Logos News
God
has truly blessed the SUMC Logos program. We have 92 children and youth
filling the building on Thursday nights. With this tremendous gift comes
both responsibilities and rewards. We need more adult helpers. From the
kitchen to playtime, there is a place for you to reap the rewards of helping
these children and youth learn how to be a true child of God.
Some
specific jobs we need filled immediately are Playtime Coordinator and
Comforter. By January we will need a new Logos Leader to replace
Tracy McCort. The only qualifications for helping with Logos is to love
children, love God, and complete your safe sanctuary training (except for work
in the kitchen). Please prayerfully consider sharing your time with the
children of Logos. For more information, please call Deb Oblisk at
846-2648 or Tracy McCort at 846-9410.
Notes from the Nurses
In the wake of our national tragedy you can help save lives.
Even though victims of the terrorist attacks have reached hospitals, they still
need our help. We can help save their
lives by GIVING BLOOD!
There will be a blood drive on Saturday, October 20 at
our church from 9 am to 2 pm. When you
give blood, make sure that you eat and drink about 4 hours before giving. Plan on the whole process taking about one
hour. It will take about 6-10 minutes
to actually give the blood.
Make sure you bring your driver’s license, list of
your medications, and know your social security number. You must be over 110 pounds and at least 17
years of age. If you have high blood
pressure or diabetes you can give as long as they are under control. If you gave birth more than 6 weeks before
donating you are able to give.
When you donate, one unit of blood is collected. Within 24 hours of giving blood you will
have replaced the blood that you gave.
After giving blood you will be fed a snack. Since our blood drive is near Halloween, who
knows what kind of snack you will have?
During a normal day a blood transfusion is needed every 10
seconds. Four million voluntary donors
give 6 million units of blood a year, but 40 million units are needed each
year. Statistics say that
the Cleveland Clinic is the largest
user of blood in the nation.
When you donate blood you could save up to four people with the one unit
you give!
You are allowed to donate every 56 days – so help save
people’s lives every 56 days! The
October blood drive will not be too late to help those in New York or
Washington, D.C.
If you do not want to give blood you can call the local
chapter of the American Red Cross at 216-431-3083 to give a monetary donation.
See you at the blood drive!
Gail Spence & Betsy Mowry
Stephen
Ministry
Autumn is upon us, the days are shorter and
temperatures are falling like the leaves.
As you are inside more than out are your burdens getting heavier on your
shoulders? Let a Stephen Minister help you carry the load. No problem is too
small or insignificant. A confidential relationship with a caring Stephen
Minister is available to you. Also, we have Stephen Ministers that can serve
others in the community. Give us a
call.
Rev. Ron or Pastor Paula 238-6135, Mark or
Karen Milia 572-0602, Jim Boyer 572-4976, Bev. Wells 572-1415, or Hildi
Fitzpatrick 572-5004.
Take a Memory Walk for Alzheimer’s
Disease
The Alzheimer’s Association is sponsoring a Memory Walk on
Sunday, October 7 at the Metroparks Zoo.
Participants will raise money through pledges, and also raise
awareness of Alzheimer’s Disease and its devastating effects.
The day will include entertainment, snacks, activities for
kids, and prizes for top fundraisers.
Help the Alzheimer’s Association to stand by the estimated
43,000 individuals and families in our five-county area touched by Alzheimer’s.
Call l-800-441-3322 or 216-721-8457 for Memory Walk details.
Meet our new Director of Christian Education
We welcome to the
position of Director of Christian Education, Deborah Burd, who assumed her
responsibilities on September 1st. Debbie was most recently employed as an
administrator at Lake Area Christian School in Sturgis, Michigan. She has her
BS degree in Education from Ohio State University and her ME degree from
Ashland University. She is the daughter of a Lutheran minister and has been
involved in the life of the church since birth. She has developed seminars in
domestic violence and been very involved in Church School and Bible School
programs. She was also on the staff of Campus Life-Youth for Christ in
Mansfield, Ohio. Debbie is married to Phil, who was transferred to this area in
the banking industry. We welcome Debbie to this position and seek God’s working
within her.
Greetings
in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am very happy to be a part of the ministry of Strongsville
United Methodist Church. I look forward
to the many blessings that lie ahead. Everyone has been so warm and friendly. I
already feel right at home. If I
haven’t met you yet, please stop by the Sunday School office sometime and say
hello. I’m anxious to get to know everyone.
I thank God for the opportunity to serve you as the new Director of
Christian Education. A special thanks to everyone in the Christian Education
Ministry, for all that you do, and to those who helped in the transition of the
Director of Christian Education position.
In
Christ,
Debbie
Burd
“In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus concerning you.” I Thessalonians
5:18 KJV
Special Note: If you haven’t attended a Safe Sanctuary
workshop, please do so as soon as possible.
We need your help with the children’s ministries! Watch the bulletin or contact Debbie to find
out when the next Safe Sanctuary workshop will be offered.
Calling all volunteers!
We are in need of more help with the children’s
ministries on Sunday morning. If you haven’t been through a Safe Sanctuary training
session, please plan to attend one as soon as possible. If your schedule does not allow you to
attend a scheduled workshop, please give Debbie Burd a call and she will set
one up for you. It is imperative to get as many people processed and on a volunteer
list as soon as possible! In light of the nation’s recent events, we anticipate
growth in our children’s ministries over the next several weeks. Therefore, extra hands will be greatly
appreciated! Please prayerfully consider being a part of the CE ministry!
Areas of need on Sunday morning: Nursery and Toddlers; Elementary; and the
11:00 am children’s church program.
Note:
A Safe Sanctuary training session consists of a brief orientation of the
Safe Sanctuary policy and the filling out of a Safe Sanctuary application.
Debbie Burd, Director of
Christian Education
Lynn Tinnirello,
Chairperson, COE
Carol Williams, Sunday
School Superintendent
Joan Thwaite, Coordinator
of Nursery and Toddlers
Joys
& Concerns of the Parish
Weddings
Best wishes to the following couples who have been
united in marriage:
Chris Prakap & David Culp,
who were united in marriage on July 11th;
Teresa Kasubienski & Tim Bryer, who
were married on September 1st;
Jim Kramer, Jr. & Julie Wotowiec, who
were married on Sept. 1st.
Jim is the son of Jim & Sandra Kramer;
Matt Dews & Lori Firzlaff,
who were married on September 22nd.
Matt is the son of Dan & Connie Dews.
Births
Congratulations to
Derek & Traci Mrowczynski on the birth of Trevor Bernard Mrowczynski on
August 29th. Proud
grandparents are Dwayne & Judi Tompkins;
and to Dan & Tracy Kramer on the birth
of Kailie Marie Kramer on September 11th. Proud grandparents are Jim & Sandy
Kramer.
Baptisms
We rejoice with the families of those
children who have received the Sacrament of Baptism. Baptized on Sunday, September 2 were Sean Thomas Shilliday,
son of Douglas & Michelle Shilliday; Emmeline Grace Greenwalt,
daughter of Christopher & Christine Greenwalt; and Antonia Marie
Puzzitiello, daughter of Roger & Lisa Puzzitiello.
Baptized on Sunday, September 16 were Brett
Stephen Semelsberger, son of Ken & Claudia Semelsberger, and Salvatore
John Graziano, son of Brian & Susan Graziano.
Elizabeth Circle -- New
Time and Place!!!!
Elizabeth
Circle will be meeting the 1st Mondays of each month beginning Oct. 1. Meetings
will be held on Monday October 1 and Monday November 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the
church parlor. This same schedule will resume in January 2002. Any
questions call Debbie Miller at 572-4967. Please watch your church bulletin for
meeting details.
Lydia Circle
Dona Stine of the
Strongsville Library will be our guest and will present a book review for the
ladies of Lydia Circle on October 4 at 12:30 in Tiber Hall.
Bring
your box lunch. Coffee will be
provided. You are welcome to bring a
friend.
Betty Berry, 238-56495
Grace Kellner, 234-0938
Cleveland District United
Methodist Women
Fall District Meeting
Monday, October 29th 5:30
PM
Aldersgate United
Methodist Church
4096 Eastwood Lane
Warrensville
Heights, OH
Cost: $7.50
(includes $2.00 administrative fee)
Dinner: Sandwich, Salad, and Dessert
Program: "Prison Ministry" by Rev Michaela
Brown
(A prison minister
and women who have been imprisoned will share their stories.)
RSVP by October
15th: Karen Muskoff 572-1084
Car pooling from
SUMC at 4:30 PM
‘Women of Faith’ invite you to renew spirit
A Women of Faith
conference with the theme of “Boundless Love” will take place October 26 to 28
in Indianapolis, Indiana. Women are
invited to refresh their faith, spirit and body. The cost ranges from $180 to $295 depending on accommodations
(single room through quad). Price
includes bus transportation, two nights lodging with continental breakfast, and
conference tickets. There will be stops
for worship and other special interests on the way home Sunday. For more information, call Rev. Liz Krall at
Ridgewood UMC, 440-885-l360.
Need a breakfast idea???
Enjoy this recipe from the
Strongsville United
Methodist Women’s
famous cookbook
Loaves and
Fishes and Other Dishes
Available for $10 in the
Church office, or call Karen Muskoff, 572-1084.
Ham and
Cheese Strata – Barb Shearer
6-7 slices
bread, cut or torn to crouton size
1 lb. Cooked
ham, diced
½ lb. Cheese,
shredded
3 eggs,
beaten
2 c. milk
½ tsp. Dry
mustard
½ tsp. Salt
¼ c. butter,
melted
Butter a
13x9-inch pan; spread the bread, ham and cheese.
Mix the eggs,
milk, dry mustard and salt. Pour over
the bread, ham and cheese.
Pour the
melted butter over the top. Bake at 325°
for 1 hour or until golden brown.
This may be
prepared the night before and refrigerated until baking, allowing a little
extra time in the oven.
From our church’s mailbox
To
my extended church family,
I
apologize for this note of thanks.
College has kept me quite busy.
I’d
like to thank all who contributed to awarding me the Chapman Scholarship. I was honored to have received it and I’m
very thankful for being part of such a great family.
God Bless,
Katie Marie
Lawrence
P.S. I’m always wanting mail from home! My school address is 1789 Apple Orchard Dr.,
Wooster, OH 44691
šššššššššš
Dear
SUMC,
I
want to thank you for the tremendous amount of support given to me, especially
by Rev. Ron and Dolores Huhn, in connection with the recent death of my mother,
Jean Karoli. Without your support I’m not sure what I would have done.
The
funeral service given by Rev. Ron was greatly appreciated as was the light
luncheon prepared and served by some of the women of the church. Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Mae Karoli
šššššššššš
Dear
Congregation,
The
Coleman family would like to express their appreciation for all the prayers,
cards, and kind gestures both during Evelyn Coleman’s illness and at her death.
The church was very important to her and the
thoughtfulness of the congregation both to her and to us as a family
means to much to us as we try to cope with her loss.
Blessings and
thanks,
The Coleman Family
šššššššššš
Dear
Members of Strongsville United Methodist Church,
On
behalf of the Cleland and Modica families, I wish to thank Rev. Mowry, Rev.
Koch, and all the members for their visits, food, calls, cards, and prayers
during Don’s illness and death.
Your
kindness and caring have meant so much to see us through these troubled times
and we are so grateful for our many friends.
May
God continue to bless us all and give us strength and faith in the power of
prayer.
Sincerely,
Harriet
Cleland
šššššššššš
Dear
SUMC,
On
behalf of CAT Scan 2000, thank you for hosting our mobile CT medical screening
program at your location. Of the 60
screening CT exams performed at your site, I am delighted to tell you that
there were no abnormal reports.
Your
support of medical screening helped several people obtain important information
about their health and have given many others a little peace of mind. Thank you
again for helping us to help others through medical screening.
Yours
truly,
Nina
Gildersleeve
Bear
one another’s burdens
Bear
one another’s burdens, the Bible says. It is a lesson about pain about which we
can all agree. Some of us will not see pain as a gift; some will always accuse
God of being unfair for allowing it.
But, the fact is, pain and suffering are here among us, and we need to
respond. The response Jesus showed was
to bear the burdens of those he touched.
To live in the world as [Jesus’] body, his emotional incarnation, we
must follow his example.
Phillip Yancey
from
Where is God When It Hurts?
Souled
Out
Something
to Think About
“The Lord is my
shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me lie
down in green pastures;
He leads me beside
the still waters.
He restores my
soul;
He leads me in the
paths of righteousness
For His name’s
sake.”
“Yea, though I
walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no
evil; For You are with me;
Your rod and Your
staff, they comfort me.”
“You prepare a
table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head
with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness
and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my
life;
And I will dwell
in the house of the Lord forever.”
-David
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