September 2017

500th Year of Reformation “Amazing Grace—How Sweet the Sound!”

Community of Christ Celebrations!

Pastor Matthew S. Lash 6517 Finzel Rd Whitehouse, OH 43571 419-877-0607 www.commofchrist.org pastormatt@commofchrist.org

FROM THE PASTOR

Expect a Breeze…

It’s coming. Sure, it’s been warm. It’s still humid. Even the Northwest Ohio sunshine has burned a shoulder or two. But it’s coming. And you and I will smile when it does. You may sitting in the bleachers watching the marching Generals. You may be taking a walk down the Wabash trail. You may be visiting a local cider mills or a winery. A pumpkin patch. Suddenly…a cool, comforting,---‘change in the air’ will blow over you….and each one of us will turn towards family and friend saying, “Fall has arrived”. It’s coming. And CHANGE will be good. God, Almighty Father, creator of heaven and earth—and creator of every Monday and Friday---God will paint his leaves red, orange and brown. Leaves will shower our lawns while children and grandchildren jump and play in the piles we rake into place. God will blow---a fresh, cool, wind---and CHANGE will feel good! And as much as welcomed summer—we will welcome a new season of change—Fall! The seasons CHANGE. Faith faces CHANGE too. We walk in a season of joy. We keep our eyes on God in a season of sadness. We weep in a season of grief. We smile in a season of joy. And all while---the winds still blow. The Pentecost Spirit will never fail us. God comes and He comes again and again—and even with CHANGE---God’s love never, ever, fails us. It’s coming. A cool breeze. CHANGE. May the winds of His loving and saving Spirit blow upon you and in all the changing seasons of life---may our Father STILL cause every soul to smile. Peace Pastor Matt Lash

WORSHIP “Irejoicewiththosewhosaidtome,“LetusgotothehouseoftheLord!”(Psalm122:1)

Worship Life in September CHANGE is in the air! Community of Christ will embrace a new form for children’s education this fall! This fall marks the beginning of our Reformation “It’s all about Grace” Celebration of Luthers’ 500th year! Our youth group reboots for another season! Worship will renew our hearts as we return from vacations and summer recreation! Let us be renewed by God’s Word and Sacrament and welcome new encounters with our Lord in His House!

WORSHIP highlights Welcome back to Fall Worship Hours! We are happy to offer two worship services on Sunday morning, as of Sunday, August 27. We worship at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. Please remember Saturday afternoons at 4:00 p.m. year round. See you at worship! Upcoming Worship Dates: Bible Sunday, September 17 8:00 & 10:00 a.m. We will present Bibles to all three year olds and NEW third graders! Parents: Watch for a letter! Reformation Sunday, October 29 8:00 & 10:00 a.m. Celebrating the 500th Anniversary of Grace filled Reformation history! We will welcome Tower Brass to bless our weekend worship!

God’s gift of grace to His people! Celebrate our Lutheran heritage. First Communion Sunday A very blessed Reformation Day for our children! Fall classes in October. All 2nd-3rd graders invited to join us. All Saints Sunday, November 5th Please come and remember the names of those who rest in the Lord’s presence. A sign up for ‘names’ of loved ones and friends will soon be posted. NEW THIS FALL! ANNOUNCING “KRYSTAL BELLS” A great experience for all ages of children! Our SONrise children and kids at the children’s message will enjoy sharing hymns and songs of faith with ‘Krystal Bells’ this fall and winter! Coming soon!

Weekend of September 2/3 13th Sunday of Pentecost Saturday, Worship & Holy Communion 4:00 p.m. Message “What do you Have in Mind??” Sunday, September 3 Worship & Holy Communion 8:00 & 10:00 a.m. Weekend of September 9/10 14th Sunday of Pentecost Saturday, Worship & Holy Communion 4:00 p.m. Message “ What’s on my Mind? More Matters!” Sunday, September 10 Worship & Holy Communion 8:00 & 10:00 a.m.

Weekend of September `16/17 15th Sunday of Pentecost Saturday, Worship & Holy Communion 4:00 p.m. Message “What’s on my Mind? Forgive!” Sunday, September 17 Worship & Holy Communion 8:00 & 10:00 a.m. Weekend of September 23/24 16th Sunday of Pentecost Saturday, Worship & Holy Communion 4:00 p.m. Message “What’s on my Mind? The Master!” Sunday, September 24 Worship & Holy Communion 8:00 & 10:00 a.m.

PARISH EDUCATION “Theydevotedthemselvestotheapostles’teaching,tofellowship,tothebreakingofbread”

(Acts2:42)

Growing in God’s Holy Word SONrise in September! Our ALL NEW program for pre-school and elementary age children will kick off on Sunday, September 10 at 9:00 a.m. (note NEW time). Our theme for the month of September is, “I BELIEVE…GOD IS THE ALMIGHTY FATHER, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH”. September 10: Welcome our Story teller September 17: Craft and learning September 24: Games & Activity

Join us for GREAT MUSIC, BIBLE MEMORY, PRAYER, CELEBRATION OF OFFERING AND BIRTHDAYS!

Adult Bible Study—REFORMATION 500 STUDY! Join us beginning, Sunday, September 10th for a contemporary look at Paul’s letter to the Romans. The most significant letter in the life and walk of young Martin Luther! We will study one chapter per week. Bring your favorite Bible and join us in this season of Reformation! Sundays in the library. ALL ARE WELCOME!

Pastor’s Afternoon Bible Study Thursday, Sept. 14- Nov. 16 Pastor’s Weekly Bible Study—GOLIATH MUST FALL! We face ‘giant’s’ in every season of our lives! Our young people face giants and our seniors face concerns---‘Giants’. Join us for a biblical journey through the account of David and Goliath. Our study will enjoy a book written by Louis Giglio. Join us on Thursday afternoons, 1:00-2:15 p.m. Pastor Matt will lead our fall study beginning Thursday, September 14. Please plan to join us.

Bible Sunday---Sunday, September 17! Parents gather around the baptismal font and God forms a covenant, “Will you place in their hands the holy scriptures….”. On Bible Sunday your church family encourages your faithfulness to this holy covenant! We welcome three year olds & third graders, along with parents and sponsors to come forward for prayer and an age-appropriate copy of the scriptures. Invite Grandparents and family to join you for this very special blessing!

Holy Communion Classes A fall session will be held for all third graders and young people who wish to prepare for the sacrament of Holy Communion. Three sessions will be held on Wednesday afternoon beginning October 11th. First communion Sunday will be held on Reformation Sunday, October 29. Call the church office to register your youngster. If you have questions about your child’s preparation, please speak with Pastor Matt.

Planning for the Pageant!! (shhhhh….the Christmas pageant is only 15 weeks away..) We welcome all children AND teens to take part in our Christmas celebration on Sunday, December 10. Shhhh…rehearsals begin Saturday, November 4. 😊

Confirmation Classes Kick off September 5th! We will enjoy an awesome fall study about WHAT TEENS IN CHRIST BELIEVE! A fun study of the Apostle’ Creed kicks off our year! Our confirmation instruction is a two year program for Junior high students. We gather on Tuesdays from 4:45-6:00 p.m. Please contact the church office (419-877-0607) for more information.

YOUTH MINISTRIES “Teachthemtoyourchildren,totheirchildrenafterthem”(Deuteronomy4:9)

Grateful! Grateful! Grateful! Thank you for your generous prayers and support for our retreat ministries. Our 29 students and four adults who attended BIG STUF camp this summer were blessed abundantly! Your support was overwhelming upon our return. The students were touched and inspired! Thank you! C OF C Teens Kick off at H O M E! We will have a ‘H O M E’ event on Saturday, September 16 from 6:00-8:30 p.m. Join us for a light dinner, fall planning, and NEW THIS YEAR---“FAITH TALK”—a topic of faith for all teens! Our high schoolers will also leave their mark in the youth lounge by painting their favorite brick! SEE YOU ON SEPTEMBER 16 (changed from Sept 30 due to homecoming). Bring a friend!

BIG STUF ORIENTATION All junior high and high school teens are invited to a brief orientation for the 2018 Big Stuf Camp on Sunday, October 1 at 11:15 a.m. We will receive 50.00 deposits on this day. The camp is held on Panama City Beach, Florida and welcomes national

youth speakers, bands and activities for teenager. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Matt.

FAITH TALK & FEAR! Quite a combination! We will enjoy some Halloween grub, engage in some faith-stretching conversation, and head to Napoleon for some serious scares! All friends are welcome! Date: Saturday, October 14th 5:30-9:00 p.m. Cost TBA. Sign up today!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! We are grateful to Tom & Cindy Davis for the kind donation of quality furniture in the youth lounge! Big improvement! Thanks to John Spilker and friends for the labor! Check out the youth lounge! 😊

OUTREACH“Serveoneanotherinlove”(Galatians5:13)

NEW BEGINNINGS---Orientation! Have you invited a friend or colleague to visit Community of Christ? Do you have a neighbor looking for a church? Have you been “bringing a friend” to worship on the weekends? Pastor Matt and members of our outreach team will host an

informative orientation on Sunday, September 17; 11:15-12:15 p.m. Pastor will share the basic beliefs of the church, share the mission of Community of Christ and pass along helpful information about our congregation! Each participant will receive an information packet! Light refreshments will be served. Community of Christ—Represented at Roche De Boufe! Community of Christ will welcome community members into our very own canopy at the Waterville festival! We plan to distribute bags that include information about our beliefs, holiday schedule, upcoming concerts, and much more! PLEASE VOLUNTEER TO SERVE AT ROCHE DE BOUFE ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23!!! Sign up at the kiosk!

Name Tag Sundays! “A great way to get to know each other”. We have received positive responses to our ‘name tag’ weekends. We will invite you to wear a name tag on: § September 10th § Reformation Sunday, October 29

What a great help to visitors and those new to C of C! Pick your favorite color and wear one proudly!

Coffee Hour Fellowship We can enjoy fellowship and refreshment on Sunday morning IF we have many volunteers and assistance! We need more families to offer to bring a breakfast snack on Sundays. We also appreciate those who remain after 10:00 worship and clean up the coffee pots. Please contact the church office (419-877-0607) to be placed on a rotation calendar. Thank you.

College Students and Families! Would you do us a favor? Please provide the church office with an updated picture of your college daughter or son! We would like to post their year, and the University they currently attend! We plan to keep in touch and pray for your college kids! 😊

Adopt a College Student The Adopt a College Student program, started last fall, has congregational members choosing one college student from our church and sending them two correspondences, via their street mailing address, during the first semester and then again during the second semester. (If it is possible to send those freshman a card within the next week or two, that would be fantastic!) Our church has 51 college students. Would you be willing to choose one college student and send them an encouraging note four times over this school year? If so, please select a college student from the list that was emailed to you. If you did not receive this email, please see the list of students and their updated mailing addresses located on the counter in the church office.

Once you have chosen a student, please contact Susan Dentel (call or text 419-822-7069 or dadentel@gmail.com) with your choice. Susan would love to hear from you within the week:)

GOD’S WORK OUR HANDS We will be organizing volunteers in celebration of this national ELCA service initiative. Congregations across the country choose a community service project to go out into our neighborhoods and serve the needs of others. Dressed in T shirts with our slogan, it's also a unifying event for the participants. We will be going as a group to make sandwiches that will be included in bag lunch meals for the non-profit organization "Food for Thought." We will also be participating in the distribution of those lunches to the Toledo down town community. We need people to help make sandwiches on Friday night, September 15th from 6-7 and we need people to help distribute them the next morning. There are two time slots on Saturday. One group will go from 9:45-10:45 am and another from 11 am-12 pm. All sessions will be led by a volunteer from Food for Thought. You can sign up for one session, two sessions, or all three sessions. There will be a car pool organized from our parking lot. We will use our t shirts from last year's project (for those who participated) and will order more if necessary so that we have everyone wearing shirts. Sign-up sheets will be on the kiosk. Please join us if you can for this meaningful opportunity to help those in need. We are working to get a representative from Food for Thought to our Sunday services on September 10th to share the mission of this wonderful support for those challenged with food insecurity in our community.

Stewardship

“Forwhereyourtreasureis,thereyourheartwillbealso.”(Matthew6:21) We are grateful We are grateful for those offerings that are received following vacation time. Your additional gifts to the mission of the church keep us strong and able to meet the costs of fall ministries. Thank you for sharing your faithful offering with your congregation! Our Fall Commitment Sunday will be on Sunday, November 12. Watch for more information for your opportunity to share a joyful commitment to the Lord! Let us be cheerful givers to the Lord!

CHURCH LIFE “Theyenjoyedthefavorofallthepeople.AndtheLordaddedtotheirnumberdailythosewho

werebeingsaved”(Acts2:47) Church Council, Second Tuesday of the Month Next meeting September 12

Our Church Council will gather on the second Tuesday of the month. You are always welcome to be part of the conversation. If you would like to address the council or share a concern or joy, please call the church office to be put on the agenda. You will be welcomed to share your thoughts at the beginning of our meetings. We meet in the Sunday school classrooms beginning at 7:00 p.m. Please pray for our church leaders.

Council Minutes are available in the gathering area. We invite you to keep in touch with all the important decisions that are being made at church council each month.

Choirs Start Confirmation Bells - Tuesday, September 5 @ 6:00pm Youth Choir - Tuesday, September 5 @ 6:45pm Adult Choir - Wednesday, September 6 @ 7:00 pm Bell Choir - Thursday, September 7 @ 7:30pm

Community of Christ is now set up as a charity for Amazon Smile. Anyone using Smile.Amazon will make a .5% contribution of their purchases to Community of Christ. Go to www.smile.amazon.com and make C of C your contribution of choice.

Community of Christ Book Club 2017-18 Selections September 19 - At the Edge of the Orchard by Tracy Chevalier (copies at circulation desk beginning August 1st) October 17 - Wangs vs the World by Jade Chang November 21 - When Breathe Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

December 19 - Christmas Get-together January 16 - Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barber

February 20 - Hallelujah Anyway by Anne Lamott March 20 - Boston Girl by Anita Diamant April 17 - Orphan Mother by Robert Hicks May 15 - Killers of the Flower Moon by David Gran June 19 - Dry by Jane Harper

Keeping YOU informed so YOU can be involved!

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6517 Finzel Rd., Whitehouse, OH 43571 ~ 419-877-0607