March 2013

The Arch

A Journey of Grace

The Lord wants me to be learning about Grace. This began almost a year ago and I get lessons to deepen my understanding and experience of Grace almost every day. And holy catz-n-jammers, my friends, let me just say that spending a few months meditating on Grace really increases one’s appreciation for Lent.

Something that has returned to my thoughts several times are these excerpts from Max Lucado’s He Did This Just For You (Thomas Nelson; Feb. 3, 2005).

“The cross. Can you turn any direction without seeing one?…The cross is the universal symbol of Christianity. An odd choice don’t you think?…An instrument of execution?” “Would you wear a tiny electric chair around your neck? Suspend a gold-plated hangman’s noose on the wall? Would you print a picture of a firing squad on a business card?” “Why is the cross the symbol of our faith? To find the answer, look no further than the cross itself. Its design couldn’t be simpler. One beam horizontal, the other vertical. One reaches out like God’s love. The other reaches up as does God’s holiness. One represents the width of his love, the other reflects the height of his holiness. The cross is the intersection of both. The cross is where God forgave his children without lowering his standard.” “How could he do this? In a sentence: God put our sin on his Son and punished it there.” “Envision the moment. God on his throne. You on the earth. And between you and God, suspended between you and heaven, is Christ on his cross. Your sins have been placed on Jesus. God, who punishes sin, releases his rightful wrath on your mistakes. Jesus receives the blow. Since Christ is between you and God, you don’t. The sin is punished, but you are safe, safe in the shadow of the cross.”

Feel guilty? Look to the cross. Feel unworthy? Look to the cross. Feel wounded? Look to the cross. Look to where Jesus died for you. Look to where Jesus took your sins upon himself. Look to the instrument of God’s boundless love. God sees you forgiven. God sees your value. God sees you whole. See it? Any of it? ALL of it? Good. You are beginning to understand Grace.

Pastor Jim

WCC is hosting a FREE Community Meal

When: Sunday, March 17th (St. Patrick’s Day) Time: 5-6pm Where: Hetchler Hall

Serving: Johnny Marzetti, Salad, Brownies and Fellowship

If you would like to help in any way we have openings. We have specific recipes for the food

which will need to be cooked at your home and brought to the church. We also have set-up,

clean-up and serving opportunities! If you are interested please sign the comment card in your

bulletin or simply call the office and let Laurie know to add you to the list.

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A Note from the Moderator

The Arch

Philippians 4:4 The Message "Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in Him, you love me, show it by doing what I've told you" Was that a conga line you saw in church? Yup, it was the end to a mighty fine worship celebration. There were scriptures, words, testimonials, music, dance, and a conga line. Why were we dancing in church, you ask? We had much to celebrate and many signs to hang. Each sign represents the calling and acceptance of our mission, Changing lives and Bringing People Peace in the Name and for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Some hung signs as part of a leadership group they work with, Choir- worshipping through music, making a joyful noise; Elders- Safe place to connect with God, Spirit filled worship; Deacons- Serving the body of Christ; Youth group- spreading the true spirit of Christmas. Others simply hung signs to represent jobs they fulfilled or ways they have lent their talents in service to our mission including: feeding the hungry, offering their talents, serving with joy, raising money for mission, and studying God's character and living in the Spirit. Others shared a short testimonial of the way God has moved in them though their service in the church and community. Lastly, Jim took a look into our future at upcoming opportunities to serve including: Community meals, Lenten study, Spring Boutique, Youth Group Soup lunch, meal ministry, Relay for Life team, Lenten and Holy Week Services, Christian concert with Amanda Joy Hall and our own No longer Strangers. Or maybe you have your own idea. Something you would like to do, heard of, or been a part of and you would like to see it in our future but not quite sure where to begin. Just mention it to Jim Yost, Janice Gill, our new Mission Team Coordinator, or me and we can help you make that dream come true, and dance to that some day in our future! Serving in Christ, Holly Adkins- Moderator

Elders’ Ministry News

The call to serve has been made loud and clear this year and Westlake Christian Church answered! The Elders’ January/February opportunity to show God’s Love was to work with the Domestic Violence Shelter of Cleveland. Jim McPike has mentioned in church that this shelter supports many women and children going through a difficult time in their lives. With the love and support of our church they will receive a check for $400 and about 100 pounds worth of necessity items from their wish list. Thank you for answering this call to show God’s Love to those in need! The Elders’ have also been in the midst of planning the FREE Community Meal on March 17th. We will continue these meals through at least May and they will be on the 3rd Sunday of the month. Soon you will see in the Narthex the plan for the first meal. We will have the menu posted as well as the recipes to follow for all who sign up to cook the main dish or dessert. You will need to cook the dish at your home since, due to health codes, we are only able to warm food up in our kitchen. You can drop off your dish Sunday morning if you are not planning to help in any other way that evening. We are very excited to be able to do this as a church and truly be able to feed and fellowship with

some people who truly need to be shown God’s Love and give them His Peace to help them change their lives, if even for a moment.

In God’s love, Chris McPike - Elder Co-Chair

March 2013 Page 3

Thank You I want to thank my church family for their thoughtfulness during my illness. First, I thank God for carrying me through it all. Second, I thank Jim Yost for his visits and comforting words. Then, I thank this family for the prayers, visits, food, phone calls, messages and cards. Thank you doesn’t seem enough, but I promise I will pay your kindness forward! In Christian love, Vicki Heinemann

Graham Cooke calls Christian meditation “the art of thinking brilliantly.” It is coming to an inner place of presence with God, and engaging with Him as He sees you and knows you. A Wikipedia article says, “Christian meditation is a form of prayer in which a structured attempt is made to get in touch with and deliberately reflect upon the revelations of God. [It] is the process of deliberately focusing on specific thoughts (such as a bible passage) and reflecting on their meaning in the context of the love of God.” Come learn more and experience meditation in a safe, non-threatening setting on Wednesdays March 6, 13, & 20 from 7:30-8:30 p.m., in the Parlor (the Parlor is slightly to your left as you leave the Sanctuary). No sign-up necessary. No previous experience. Just show up in comfortable clothes with an open mind, and a willing spirit.

Second Annual

Spring Shopping Boutique

To benefit

Gathering in the Son Westlake Christian Church

Saturday, April 27, 2013 10am - 3pm

Believe there is HOPE! Relay for Life Concert

Sunday, March 3rd 6:30 p.m.

Come listen to Christian singer, Amanda Joy Hall, as she performs a wonderfully inspiring concert to benefit the Westlake Relay For Life.

The concert will start at 6:30 p.m. with a performance by our very own “No Longer Strangers”, Tickets are a suggested donation of $5. For more information, please contact Holly Sajna at holly.sajna@cancer.org or 888.227.6446 x1218.

Explore Christian Meditation

Wednesday Evenings 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.

March 6th, 13th, 20th in the Parlor

I want to thank everyone for their prayers and support during Norm’s illness and his passing.

Pat Nichol

Thank you to everyone who

participated and helped with the

WCC 58th Anniversary Potluck.

It was a wonderful time with

GREAT food and fellowship!

Special thanks to John and

Joanne Larson, who always help

with set-up, Dave MacKeigan

for getting all the supplies and

Kim Huynh and Chris McPike

who helped in the kitchen.

Elizabeth Eisom

The Arch Page 4

By Betty Pagel & Laurie Daniels

Did anyone see Jimmy

Matisko on TV Super Bowl

Sunday? Channel 3 covered

a story about area businesses, including Danny Boys Pizza,

during the Super Bowl and Jimmy was interviewed.

It is hard to believe that “Easter is on its way,” and

with that so is the Annual Christian Ed Easter Egg

Hunt and Party on Palm Sunday, March 24th. Once

again we will be collecting Easter candy of all sorts to help

fill the eggs. Beginning March 3rd, you can bring your

donations to church and put them in the box in the

Narthex. Make sure to bring your kids and grandkids on

March 24th to join in the festivities. Thanks! Bev Sajna

Aaron Adkins received his NCAA Championship ring

Friday, Feb. 15 during the halftime of the CSU Viking

basketball game. Congratulations Aaron, the

realization of a lifelong dream checked off his “to do” list.

Lee Ann Gilgen and her immediate family took their

parents on a Caribbean cruise for their 50th Wedding

Anniversary last month. Their anniversary is in June,

but they took advantage of Lee Ann’s niece and nephew’s

February vacation time to travel. They left from San Juan

and visited 5 islands. Looking forward to a picture from the

trip in the next ARCH.

It was good to see Vicki Heinemann back in worship!

Her recovery continues on that long road back to full

heath.

Prayers for our Church Family

Tegan Baker will be traveling to Puerto Rico on a

school trip on March 31st. Prayers for safe travel and

an enriching experience for her and her classmates!

Prayers of healing to Betty Pagel as she has a bad

case of Bursitis. Hoping all the physical therapy she is

receiving will help. Along with her recent procedure

for minor skin cancer, Spring should be a welcome change

for her.

Prayers of sympathy to Darrel & Sue Weaver and

family in the recent loss of Darrel’s father, Raymond,

who was 92 years old.

The updated Phone Tree system

includes an online, California phone

number (626-771-0198). If you would

like to update your Phone Tree contact

information (add, change, or remove)

please call the church office or leave a note on the

Connection Card in the Sunday bulletin.

The women’s breakfast group will meet on

Saturday, March 9th at 9 a.m. at Bob Evans on

Lorain Rd. in North Olmsted.

There are a few Coffee Fellowship spots open this

year. If you would like to host once or twice, contact

Chris McPike. April 14 and June 16 as well as most

of July and August are open.

If you would like a new picture taken for the

Photo Board in the entryway of the Sanctuary, please

contact the church office or Susan Jarecke to arrange

a time.

Order forms for Easter flowers are available in the

Sunday bulletins or in the church office. If you would

like to order lilies or tulips for a shut-in or for your

family, please call the church office.

Save the date for the Cleveland Christian Home

2013 Walk & Run for the Kids. Saturday April 20, at

the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Registration is open

online.

A “Thank you” letter was received from the city of

Westlake, Community Services Dept. for our donation

of $434 to help stock the food pantry. They were

able to present holiday food baskets to 107 families.

We love sharing your news items, so please keep those

joys and blessings coming in to Laurie in the office or to

Betty so your church family can celebrate with you!

Let us know about all the interesting things going on

in your family: births, marriages, graduations,

achievements, special awards, etc.

Contact Laurie by e-mail: laurie@westlakecc.org or

call the church office 440-871-2400

or Betty via e-mail: bettyinfairview@gmail.com

or call 440-779-8770

March 2013

Miss Julia’s School of Beauty is the latest in a series of “Miss Julia” books written by Ann B. Ross. It is certainly not a book that keeps you on the edge of your chair, entertaining, but not deep.

Miss Julia Stringer is really the widow of Lloyd Stringer, to whom she was married. He died very suddenly from a massive heart attack, leaving Julia on her own. She spent her married years believing her husband, as President of the local bank to be of little means. When, in fact, she found out he was extremely rich, owned most of the town in North Carolina, and had a mistress and a young son. This was very evident in the looks of the young teenager. In previous books the story of her deceased husband, his secret family and his vast wealth, come to life. Her attorney, Sam Murdock, helps Julia sort out her net worth and properties she owns. He is, of course, very enamored with Julia who will have nothing to do with any man. However, Sam and Julia are very good friends. Little Lloyd becomes very much a part of Julia’s life, to the point of sharing her home with him, along with Lillian, her housekeeper of many years. This book is about her courtship and eventual marriage to Sam. They take off for Tennessee and are married in a wedding chapel. Little did they know the minister was not a minister at all, only posing to be one. The book tells of their search to find this man. It also involves the beauty pageant, the Sheriffs Dept. has asked Hazel Marie, with Julia’s help, to put on to raise money for more police dogs. During this time, Sam is off searching for the man who married them. Julia has banished Sam from their room until she finds out if they are legally married. Being a staunch Presbyterian, she will not “live in sin” as she calls it. The book, although sometimes slow moving, has some amusing stories about local people. I found all of the books in this series to be entertaining, but not at all moving. If you are looking for delightful, easy reading, you will find the MISS JULIA series appealing. Betty Pagel

Bookworms Review By Betty Pagel

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The deadline

for the Arch is

the 15th of

every month!

Please forward all news

items or photographs for

the April newsletter to the

church office by

Friday, March 15th.

The Youth Group will be hosting the “Souper” Sunday Lunch Camp Fundraiser again this year on Sunday, March 3rd, following worship in Hetchler Hall. The donations received will help the Youth with summer Camp registration fees. Please bring your friends and your appetite to try all our yummy soups. For more information, contact Holly Sajna or Jessi Linden.

“Souper” Sunday Lunch March 3rd~following Worship

Welcome Geoff Peterson, Interim Minister of Music

As we bid Bill Shaffer goodbye and good luck in his new position as

Organist at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, located on East 9th

and Superior in downtown Cleveland, we welcome Geoff Peterson to

Westlake Christian Church.

Geoff Peterson will serve as the Interim Minister of Music. Geoff attended Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and received a Bachelor’s Degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music. He served as Minister of Music at Trinity Lansdowne United Methodist and United Methodist Church of Narberth, both in PA. Welcome Geoff, we are so happy to have you with us!

Palm Sunday Easter Party March 24th

The Christian Education Team will sponsor the Easter Party following worship. There will be treats for the kids, lots of food, an Easter egg hunt, and a special visitor! If you would be willing to donate candy to fill the eggs, please leave your donation in the box in the Narthex!

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Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Monday -- Thursday Email Addresses:

Rev. Yost— revjyost@westlakecc.org

Laurie Daniels— laurie@westlakecc.org

Geoff Peterson— geoffreyapeterson@gmail.com

Westlake Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 25800 Hilliard Blvd. Westlake, OH 44145-3397 Phone: 440-871-2400

Visit us on the web at Http://www.westlakecc.org

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2013

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A publication of Westlake

Christian Church

Received Sundays March 24th & 31st