October 5, 2008
TODAY IN CHURCH
Flowers: on the altar today are provided by Kelly and Paul DeSario in celebration of their 12th Wedding Anniversary.
Lay Reader: Deb Waldron
Coffee Hour: is provided by the World Friendship Board.
Worship Highlights: 8:15 & 10:30am
World Communion Sunday
Matthew 21:33-46 (Exodus 20:1-4,7-9,12-20)
“Reverent Responsibilities”
by Pastor Neal Sadler
PRAYER CONCERNS
Mary Jane Brewer Ed Herman
Dwayne McDowell Tom Evans
Shawn Mallory Lucy Herman
Sachay Miller Mary Ellen Conn
Bill Edwards Ellen Wagner
Steve Petty Charlie Clark
Rich Scotto Sally Jaycox
Anna Kinder
MILITARY PRAYERS
Pfc. Mike Hansen Jed Caulfield
HM2 Patrick Donnelly Cory Flynn
Staff Sgt. Brian Hahne Pvt. Gary Sanborn
Brian Geschke Greg Swayer
Pfc. Lee Eggeman Cpt. Kenny Flemming
237 Brigade, Co. G Sgt Derek Haumesser
GOOD NEIGHBORS
There are no Good Neighbor volunteers for the week of October 5th thru October 11th. If you can provide a meal for those recuperating from surgery, in crisis or celebrating a birth, please sign up by Fellowship Hall.
WEEK AT A GLANCE
Sun 8:15 am Chapel Worship
9:00 am Gathering Service
9:00 am Choir Rehearsal
10:30 am Traditional Service
2:00 pm JMM M. R. Village
2:00 pm Crop Walk
Sr. High & Youth Group Cookout immediately following the CROP Walk
3:00 pm New Member Class
5:00 pm Confirmation
Mon
Tues 1:30 PM Prophets Bible Study
7:00 pm Bible Study Rm 4
7:00 pm Gathering Band
7:00 pm Prophets Bible Study
Wed 10:30 am Quilters
2:00 pm Bible Study @ Tollafield’s
6:30 pm Bell Choir Rehearsal
Thurs 12:30 pm Endowment Meeting
7:00 pm Trustees Meeting
Fri
Sat 8:00 am Men’s Fellowship @ Marie’s
9:00 am Gathering Band
Sun 8:15 am Chapel Worship
9:00 am Gathering Service
9:00 am Choir Rehearsal
10:30 am Traditional Service
10:30 PM JMM @ The Inn
3:00 pm New Member Class
5:00 pm Sr. High Youth Group
COMMUNION
The bread being served during Communion today was baked by the loving hands of our Breadmaker’s Ministry. “And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body.” Corinthians 10:17I
YOUTH & FAMILY LIFE PASTOR
The Youth and Family Life Pastor Search committee is pleased to announce that the United Church of Christ, Congregational,
Medina has called Mariah Marlin-Warfield to be our Youth and Family Life Pastor. On Sept. 21, the congregation, in an overwhelming majority, voted to call Mariah as our Youth and Family Life Pastor. Mariah comes to us from Chicago Theological Seminary where she graduated with her Masters of Divinity in 2007, and where she has been employed since. We’re excited about Mariah joining us and beginning her work with the Youth program, supporting the Gathering service, and developing family life ministries.
Mariah is tentatively scheduled to start on Monday, November 10, with her first Sunday being November 16.
Thank you to everyone for your prayers and support throughout the search process.
Youth and Family Life Pastor Search Committee
FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
GENEALOGY 101
Wednesday, Oct. 15th, 7pm
UCC Fellowship Hall
Would you like to research your family history but do not know where to begin? I will help you get started and give you some good resources and tips for beginning your quest. Please call me or the church office so I know how many persons will be attending.
Terry Rhodes 330-722-1626
METRO CHORUS CONCERT
The Cleveland Metropolitan Chorus will be performing in our sanctuary on Sunday October 19, at 2:30 pm. Many of its members are part of the Cleveland Orchestra Choir that performs at Severance Hall. The choir will be singing classical sacred music and spiritual song for free at this concert. The Music Committee and Chancel Choir will be hosting this event and providing a post concert reception in fellowship hall. Plan to attend this musical program.
BABY ROSE
Congratulations to Kellie & Crell Johns on the birth of their daughter,Katherine Lorie Johns, on Oct. 1, 2008.
“We recognize God’s miracle of life as we place the Baby Rose on our altar and remember the family in prayer.”
MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
NEIGHBORS IN NEED
Today’s offering for Neighbors in Need is another way the UCC expresses it’s financial commitment to justice and compassion through out the United States. Funds from this offering support the UCC’s justice and advocacy programs and are also distributed to a wide array of congregations and non-profit organizations who work to support justice and who help neighbors in their community across our country and Puerto Rico. Thank you for your ongoing and always generous support of this special offering. We truly are able to make a difference!
FOOD GATHERING
There is a constant need for canned goods, non-perishable foods and paper products.
Please remember to bring items to the church as often as possible and place them in the wooden boxes just inside the north doors. Thank you for your help.
INTERESTED IN OVERSEAS MISSION?
Sunday, October 26th
5:00pm in the East Room
Have you ever wanted to experience another culture up close and personal? Have you ever wanted to offer your time and gifts in service to those living in another country? Have you ever wanted to share Christ’s love to build relationships and bridges? Then, you might be interested in an overseas mission trip. Come; help us explore the possibility of an overseas trip for Medina United Church of Christ. Questions? Talk to Neal.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
CE & YOUTH EVENTS
*Oct. 5 – Crop Walk 2pm
Youth Group Cookout immediately after the walk
Confirmation 5 – 6:30 pm
*Oct. 12 – Sr. High Youth Group 5-7 pm
*Oct. 19 – All Church Hayride 5-8pm at Boyerts’
*Oct. 20 – GIFT CARD ORDERS DUE
*Oct. 25 – Parent’s Night Out and Children’s Halloween Party 5-9 pm
*Oct. 26 – Sr. High Youth Group 5-7 pm
Confirmation 6:45-8 pm
*Nov. 2 – Rake-n-Run 2-4 pm
Confirmation 5-7:30 pm
*Nov. 9 – Sr. High Youth Group 5-7 pm
*Nov. 16-Christmas Program Rehearsal 11:30 am
Youth Group Thanksgiving meal 5-7 pm
*Nov. 22 – CE Candlelight Walk Bake Sale
SIGN UP NOW!!!
HAYRIDE AND FALL FUN AT BOYERT’S
Sunday October 19th
One of the most anticipated events of the year is just around the corner. The annual fall hayride is on Sunday, October 19th at Boyert’s from 5-8 pm. The cost for the Hayride is $6.00 for 6 & under, $10.00 for every one else. This cost covers; cider, apple, hayride, a pumpkin from the patch & s’mores. You need to sign up for this event and pay in advance. There is a sign up sheet outside of fellowship hall. Make checks payable to Medina UCC and put hayride in the memo. You can give your money to Stacie Yates or you can place it in her mailbox in the church office. We had a great time last year and are looking forward to another great year. Sign up now!!!
LET THE CHILDREN SING!
Pre-K through 2nd Graders
The Cherub Choir will be practicing on Sundays, at 10:15-10:25 am in the Community Room (downstairs). This is a NEW TIME to accommodate children from both the 9:00 and 10:30 services. We will be preparing songs for our “performance” on October 26 as well as learning songs for our Christmas Program.
“Sing Joyfully to the Lord!” Psalm 33:1
ATTENTION!!!!
CALENDAR CHANGES
Due to some scheduling conflicts I have had to make some changes to the calendar. Below are the changes. As always, if you have any questions, please contact Stacie.
**Dress Rehearsal for the Christmas Program has been changes from Friday, Dec. 5 to Thursday, Dec. 4 at 6 pm
**Advent Family Fun Night has been changed from Wednesday, Dec. 3 to Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 6 pm.
**Polar Express Movie Night will be Friday, Dec. 12 at 7 pm
REVERSE TRICK OR TREAT
Trick-or –Treat time is quickly approaching us which also means that Reverse Trick-or-Treat time is here too. This is a wonderful event where the youth of our church dress in their costumes and take a gift, that has been made by the craft group, to a homebound member of our church and visit with them. It is a truly rewarding experience for everyone involved and an event that our homebound members look forward to every year. If you would like to participate in this wonderful opportunity, please sign up outside of fellowship hall.
PARENT’S NIGHT OUT & KIDS HALLOWEEN PARTY
Saturday, October 25 5-9 pm
Hey parents! I know we all love our children dearly, but there are times when we need a break. Are you ready for a break? The Senior High youth group has just the answer for you. They would like to give you a night out and at the same time entertain your child/children with a Halloween party. The date is set for Saturday, October 25 from 5-9 pm. The children could come dressed in their costumes if they would like to. We will have games and activities for them to do along with a snack. We will also have a movie to show them towards the end of the evening. The cost would be $10 per child and children ages 3-5th grade could attend. There will be a sign up sheet out at the beginning of October. Keep watching for updates in the messenger.
MEDITATION by Carl Skorepa
“It ain’t those parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand,” states Mark Twain. This quote by the famous American humorist describes a major conundrum in leading the Christian life. Deep down we all struggle with the high calling the Bible directs us to follow.
How we handle the verses we do understand? Often times I know that I tend to ignore it or gloss over it with the hope it won’t reappear. Frequently, the yabuts spill out of my mouth. “Ya, but that was only true back when it was written.” Or, “Ya but we can’t be expected to follow that kind of thinking today.” And, yet another one is “Ya but in another part of the Bible it says….”
“For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart,” Hebrew 4:12 (New American Standard). Maybe because the Bible does quickly discern the intents of the heart we often times want to feign ignorance and thus recoil from obedience.
Here are my top ten verses that I “do understand”: #10 Matthew 5:44, #9 Luke 6:29, #8 Matthew 18:22, #7 Proverbs 3:5, #6 Hebrew 6:15, #5 James 1:19, #4 Roman 12:19, #3 Isaiah 55:8 , #2 Psalm 34:3, and the # 1 verse of the Bible I do understand yet bothers me 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”