March Link 2015

The Link
March 2015
St. Paul United Church of Christ
101 South Perry Street ◦PO Box 147◦Wapakoneta, OH 45895
Phone: (419) 738-2215 Fax: (419) 738-2076
Email: cindy@stpaulucc.com Website: www.stpaulucc.com
www.facebook.com/StPaulWapakoneta
40 THINGS TO GIVE UP THIS LENT
Have you given something up this
Lent? Many of us have grown up
around the practice of making commitments to live more simply during this holy season. We
hear of people giving up every manner of culinary
vice—ice cream, chocolate, red meat, etc. Some
choose to give up other creature comforts like television, video games, or Facebook. Historically, it has
been a time of penitence. We look more closely at the
story of Jesus. Lent is a time when we prepare ourselves to experience Christ’s Passion—to recall his suffering and death. But we cannot stop there.
During this forty-day journey, we look toward Calvary.
But we should never forget that, when journeying with
Christ, the road does not end at the cross. The purpose
of this season is not merely to explore Christ’s pain and
death, but to prepare for the new life that comes with
resurrection. In the end, our Lenten journey is about
leaving behind the things of this world that cause destruction and grief, and striving toward those things that
are life-giving for ourselves and others. And so I have
some suggestions for things we might attempt to give
up this Lent. In honor of the forty days of Lent, I have
listed forty things most of us—and the whole world, for
that matter—would be better without. Try giving up
some of these this season:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Fear of failure
Your comfort zone
Impatience
Assigning blame
Winning the argument
Greed
Over commitment
Under commitment
Going it alone
Entitlement
Keeping up with the
Joneses
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
Apathy
Hatred
Negativity
Going through the motions
Looking out for “number 1”
Bitterness
Ignorance
Distraction
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
Complaining
Giving up
Mediocrity
Words that hurt
Busyness
Perfectionism
Loneliness
Disunity
The Quick Fix
Worry
Idolatry
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
Resistance to change
Guilt
Envy
Judgment of others
Getting even
Despair
Putting God in a box
Narrow-mindedness
Holding grudges
Pride
In the words of our namesake, the Apostle Paul,
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such
things” (Philippians 4:8). Let go of the things that
threaten who God has called us to be, and hold onto
what brings light and life. May God bless you this
Lent and beyond.
Peace,
Pastor Becky
Rev. Becky Sunday will be out of the office from
Wednesday, March 11 through Thursday, March 19
while she travels on a mission trip to El Salvador with Dr.
Alan Mikesell, Rev. Adrian Sunday, Nancy Newland, and
others from Northwest Ohio Association. All pastoral
concerns should be directed to Rev. Elaine Mikesell during this time .
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Regular Church Council Minutes
from February 9, 2015
Regular Church Council Minutes
from January 12, 2015
The regular meeting of St. Paul Church Council was held
on January 12, 2015 with 12 members present. Highlights
of council’s actions are as follows:
 Motion was made to replenish Pastor’s Discretionary Fund.
 2015 Budget was reviewed.
 A resume was received for Faith Formation
position. Referred to personnel for review and
report at a later date.
 Faith Formation Board announced Feast’s
new start date of February 4, 2015.
 Discussion was held concerning ways to show
gratitude and appreciation to volunteers and
staff.
 Announced that Tiffin College is offering Biblical courses to lay members at a cost of
$75.00. The current offering is on the Old
Testament.
 Mission committee reported Lori McKean will
be attending their March meeting to discuss
the summer lunch program.
 Discussion concerning declining membership
and attendance was held.
 Slate of nominees to replace out-going council
members was announced.
Next meeting will be Monday, February 9, 2015 at 6:00 pm
in the Multi-Purpose room.
Church Council Minutes of Special Meeting
from February 7, 2105
Council Members held a special meeting for the purpose
of planning and goal setting.
The following priorities were discussed:
 Educating the congregation and promoting among
staff & committees the Ministerial Priorities established in 2014. Coordinating activities to support
those priorities.
 Growing participation among members and growing membership.
 Educating members about the Church’s finances
and inspiring generous giving of both time& talent
and money.






Council approved funding for the summer lunch ministry to be started this year. Funding shall be provided from the Mission Endowment.
The Trustees lead a discussion regarding the exterior
steps to the basement. A number of falls recently
lead to the recommendation that this exit shall be
used for emergencies only and that the stairs in the
breezeway shall be used instead.
The Elders reported on the efforts of the Worship and
Arts committee to create a schedule involving more
members of the congregation in serving as Acolytes,
Lectures, Greeter, Sound Board Operators and
Nursery supervisors. More participation is needed
and provides for a richer worship experience.
The Deacons reported that the Living Endowment
Board shall be providing information to the congregation regarding the Endowments, the purposes of the
Endowments, and opportunities for regular and endof-life giving.
The Deacons also reported that the Stewardship
Committee study issues related to declining pledging
and giving. Consideration of both declining participation and monetary gifts shall be discussed. Continued
education and information about the reach and importance of our Ministry in the lives of members and
our neighbors.
Mark Jarvis reported that presently there were 2 candidates for the full time Director of Faith Formation
and Worship Arts position. The part time Associate
Pastor position has been posted but at present, there
have not been any candidates identified.
Welcome our Council Members for 2015
President—Mark Jarvis
V-President–Susan Bartlett
Treasurer-Jane Myers
Council Sec.-Tami Zewz
Elders-Betty Wiedenbein-(Head)
Jack Preston
Deacons-Melanie Webb-(Head)
Harold Poppe
Kay Wellington
Jim Hearn Sr.
Trustees-Dan Bennett-(Head)
Ruth Frazier
Phil Schlenker
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We will once again be sharing services for our holy days in Lent with our neighbors at First English Lutheran Church and St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. We hope you can share in the following
services:
 Maundy Thursday Service—April 2, 2015, 7:00PM at First English Lutheran by
Becky Sunday
 Good Friday Service—April 3, 2015 7:00PM at St. Paul UCC by Pastor Mark Bauer
 Easter Sunday Celebration-April 5, 2015—Services at 8:15 and 10:15. Easter
brunch at 9:00
LENTEN BIBLE STUDY
Lenten Bible Study will continue through April 7. It will be held every
Tuesday at 7:00PM, (except March 17 at which time Pastor Becky will
be in El Salvador). The study is entitled “The Common People
Heard Him Gladly,” and is an exploration of how Jesus ministered to
ordinary folks, touching their lives in extraordinary ways.
All are welcome!
COMMUNITY NOONTIME LENTEN WORSHIP SCHEDULE:
For our community Lenten services this year we are using the theme, “The Parables of Lent.”. All services are at 12:00 noon on Wednesdays at St. Joseph Church, with lunch following:
Date:
February 18
February 25
March 4
March 11
March 18
March 25
April 1
Message:
Fr. Pat Sloneker—Ash Wednesday
Rev. Joy Miller and
Rev. Mark Bauer—“Receive the Word”
Rev. Kim Seiberling—“Receive the Treasure”
Rev. Neil Brady—“Receive Mercy”
Rev. Rodney Ritchie—“Receive Grace”
Rev. Adrian Sunday—“Receive Forgiveness”
Rev. Becky Sunday—“Receive the Sacrifice”
Lunch Served By:
St. Joseph Catholic
Trinity/St. Mark’s Lutheran
First United Methodist
First English Lutheran
Salem United Methodist
Buckland UCC & St. Patricks
St Paul UCC
With the wind chill of –4° and more snow coming, the place
to be Sunday, March 8th will be the YMCA. From 5:30 - 7:30
you can swim or shoot baskets, anything is better than being
outside. We will have pizza, pop, and give out door prizes
with a basket for donations for the pizza. Invite your friends
and come have some fun!!!!
Please make note that there is a
one hour early dismissal for Wapak City
Schools on Wednesday, March 18th,
2015. On that day there will be no transportation or homework tables for FEAST.
Those that usually have transportation
from school will need to send a note that
day regarding what your child should do.
This season, we want to honor the Grandparents at
Auglaize Acres, The Gardens and Wapakoneta Manor.
Haehn Florist would like to honor grandparents again this year. You can adopt one resident for $20.
Your $20 purchase will include one floral design and one Mary Kay pampering product for either a man
or woman. You may donate in any dollar increment. Our goal is to adopt 198 residents.
Many seniors are forgotten after the Holiday Season. We will visit with each resident when delivery is
made. Hopefully, this will brighten their day! Haehn’s is always amazed at the generosity of people
and they welcome your participation for this program. Please call or text Dena at 419-234-3481 or submit an email to haehnflorist@hotmail.com to arrange your adoption.
Flowers are being provided at cost from Haehn Florist. NO PROFITS are being made. Please make
checks payable to Dena Wireman.
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LET THE MEANING OF EASTER SHINE
THROUGH GIVING
Dear Parents and Members of the Congregation,
This letter is to inform you about the Feast Easter mission project to help feed those in
need at God’s Storehouse.
This project was initiated several years ago by Laura Kinstle. Following that tradition
of giving as well as witnessing our faith and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus on Easter, we
desire to send this message and Easter dinner gifts again this year. Please help by donating:
Boxed scalloped potatoes or au gratin potatoes
Canned vegetables or canned fruit
Boxes Desserts
Boxed bread mix (rolls, muffins, or cornbread)
Jello mix
Jelly Beans/Easter candy
There will be a table in Timmermeister Hall to collect the donated food items on Feast
Wednesdays or the food may be brought in anytime.
We are also in need of monetary donations to purchase the hams. Therefore, with the
food donations, each family will be able to have a complete ham dinner to celebrate this
Easter holiday.
Our youth will assemble the Easter Gift Bags on Wednesday, March 18th.
If you have any questions, please call the church office at 419-738-2215.
Thank you!
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WOULD YOU STAND AT THE CROSS
by Laura Kinstle
During this season of lent and with
Easter approaching, we think of Jesus at the
cross and the suffering he endured for our
sins.
I am going to go back a little and start
at the beginning of this story. Each day I find
it necessary for me to take a nap in the afternoon. On that particular day I had been experiencing a great deal of pain so a nap is just
what I needed. This nap was the kind of nap
where you fall asleep so hard, you dream.
I dreamt where I was alone and met
someone who had a lot of physical challenges
like me. We were going to get married in our
church and there were some naysayers who
did not think we were the material to get married. But, we were married anyway. People
made fun of us because I was going around in
a wheelchair and my husband had a great
deal of trouble walking. But, I knew God had
put us together for a purpose. Wait, this actually is my husband and me.
I also dreamt about the church and
how I stood up for my love of Jesus. With that
I woke up from my nap and the title of my article was set in my mind. It was “Would You
Stand at the Cross of Jesus?”. It was as if
God had put it there for this purpose.
“He is your praise; he is your God,
who has done for you these great
and awesome things that
your own eyes have seen.”
~ Deuteronomy 10:21
As I thought more about this title, I
wondered if you would stand at the cross for
Jesus? Would you defend those less fortunate than you, of another color or sexual preference if other people around you put them
down. Would you defend the church if someone started to gossip about the church and
not become involved in the discussion and
only further the gossip more? Would you
stand up for yourself as a Christian when others were putting the values of a Christian
down? Would you instill in your children the
love of Jesus and that Jesus is our savior?
When I ask myself these questions, I
have no doubt in my mind that I would defend
Jesus in every circumstance. But sometimes
we find ourselves going along with the flow
and not even tell others what happiness we
have found in Jesus.
As Christians, we can express our love
for Jesus by going to church regularly, listening to the sermon and singing the love of Jesus through hymns. Then do we continue to
practice this until we are in church again?
I hope at this Lenten season, you
would stand at the cross for Jesus and die for
our sins as he did for us. Then, his death
would not have been for nothing.
We will have a Christian Education/Faith
Formation Team meeting on Monday,
March 2nd at 6PM.. We will be making
final plans for the swim party and discussing any Easter activities. Also discussing how FEAST Spring Semester is
going. All are welcome!
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY
to our
Our deepest sympathy and condolences to the friends and family of
Helene Brown, who passed away
on Thursday, February 19, 2015.
St. Paul Youth!
MARCH
Asher Hefner
Caitlin Schaub
Nolyn Kohler
Payton Bailey
Noah Loy
Evan Kaeck
Sydney Schlenker
Evan Kantner
Caleb Monbeck
 HARPER NOEL AZBELL
was baptized on Sunday, February
8, 2015 at the 10:15 service. Harper
is the daughter of Kendra Azbell.
Grandparents are Mark & Kiim Azbell.
Godparents: Samantha Hoelscher &
Thomas Braun.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
03/01
03/01
03/01
03/02
03/02
03/03
03/03
03/03
03/07
03/08
03/08
03/09
03/09
03/10
03/11
03/11
Mary Jane Merricle
David Ward
Tom Shaw
Charles (Ed) Lee
James Kaeck
Thomas Lee
Jeff Adkins
Heather Dearinger
Sean Runkel
John Nieter
David Brautigam
Vickie Knoch
Sara Kohler
Todd Byer
Sharon Campbell
Don Webb
03/01/1969
03/13/1976
03/19/1994
03/20/1982
03/24/1973
03/31/1979
03/12
03/13
03/13
03/15
03/17
03/18
03/18
03/20
03/20
03/21
03/22
03/26
03/27
03/27
03/29
03/29
03/02/2010
03/04/1999
03/12/2007
03/12/2008
03/14/2011
03/15/2001
03/15/2007
03/24/1998
03/27/2002
Harry & Sheri Sherman
Warren & Deborah Bailey
Jonathan & Angela Merricle
James & Ellen Brautigam
Rob & Barbara Frische
James & Barbara Smith
Dawn Rankin
Jennifer Brown
Erin Fisher
Mary Frische
Cheryl Bailey
George Herman
Amy Schoolcraft
Devin Holtzapple
Dakota Wilges
Elisha Smith
Vicki Winkler
Josh Wellington
Chris Wells
John Berg
Michael Ebersole
Diane Ferguson
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BOOK CLUB MEETING
The next book club meeting
will be held at THE GARDENS
on Tuesday, March 17th at
7PM. The book for this month
is “A Common Life-The Wedding Story” by Jan Karon. The
story continues with the grand advent of Mitford,
Father Tim Kavanagh & Cynthia Coppersmith
getting married. Of course with all that entails a
wedding, who knows what and if it will happen.
Come join us on the 17th (fitting well that it is St.
Patrick’s Day) to see all the characters of Mitford
come together for some laughter and celebrating
love.
CIRCLE THREE
Circle Three will be meeting at Coffey Cup at
11:30AM on Thursday, March 19th. All are
welcome.
ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING
What is One Great Hour of Sharing®?
One Great Hour of Sharing, as part of Our
Church's Wider Mission, is the special mission
offering of the United Church of Christ that
carries God’s message of love and hope to
people in 138 countries. The UCC works with
international partners to provide sources of
clean water and food, education and health
care, small business micro-credit, emergency
relief, and advocacy and resettlement for refugees and displaced persons. OGHS also supports domestic and international ministries for
disaster preparedness and response.
How is the United Church of Christ's offering
used? More than 60 percent of the UCC's
offering supports international development
initiatives, including annual support for missionaries. Currently there are 9 OGHS supported missionaries working in disaster relief,
health care, education, and agricultural development. The offering funds disaster preparedness and response, and disaster related volunteer initiatives in the U.S.
WOMEN’S GUILD
Women’s Guild will begin meeting again on
Tuesday, March 10th at 1:30PM. All women of
the church and their friends are encouraged to
attend. If you haven’t been able to attend a
meeting, we would love to have you join us.
Maybe you have recently retired, just became
an empty nester or a mom who just needs an
afternoon out. COME SEE what we are all
about!
CIRCLE ONE
Circle One will meet the first Thursday of every
month September through May. The next meeting will be on Thursday, March 5th at 1:30PM
in the Multi-Purpose room. We welcome newcomers. If you have a free afternoon, please
join us. We’d love to have you!
CALLED TO CARE
The Called to Care Committee will meet immediately following 10:15 worship on Sunday,
March 8 in the Multi-Purpose Room.
NEW MEMBER CLASSES
New member classes will be March 22nd and
29th at 9:00AM in St Paul UCC library; new
members will be received on Palm Sunday,
March 29 at the 10:15 service.
SHIPSHEWANA INDIANA BUS TRIP
On Thursday, September 17, 2015 we will
have a bus trip to Shipshewana, Indiana. The
cost of the trip is $75.00 due by August 1st. It
will include a Amish style lunch at Blue Gate
Restaurant & the Musical Half Stitched by
Wanda Brunstetter. Please sign up now in the
breezeway or contact Nancy Freymuth at 419738-5415, or send check to 13140 Co 25A
Wapakoneta, Ohio 45895
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MARCH 2015
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
8:15AM Worship w/
Holy Communion
9:00AM Sunday School
10:15AM Worship w/
Holy Communion
8
6:00PM Christian Education/
Faith Formation Team
Meeting
9
8:15AM Worship
6:00PM
9:00AM Sunday School
Church Council
10:15AM Worship
11:30AM Called to Care
11:30AM Church Mice Meeting
1:30PM Gentle Worship Service
5:30-7:30PM Swim /Gym at
YMCA
15
16
8:15AM Worship w/
Holy Communion
9:00AM Sunday School
10:15AM Worship
3
4
7—8:30PM
Suicide Survivors
Support Group
3:00PM FEAST
6:15PM Cherubs
6:30PM Bell Choir
7:30PM Chancel
Choir
7:00PM-Lenten
Bible Study
10
1:30PMWonens Guild
7:00PM-Roots
& Shoots
7:00PM-Lenten
Bible Study
No Bible Study
22
23
29
30
10:15AM Service New
Members Received
7
13
14
7-8:00PM Family
of Heroes
12
CRI Sorting
9AM—12PM
Becky Gone El Salvador Mission Trip
19
Early Dismissal
20
21
27
28
11:30 AM
Circle Three
FEAST
6:15PM Cherubs
6:30PM Bell Choir
7:30PM Chancel Choir
24
7:00PM-Lenten
Bible Study
9:00AM New Member
Classes
10:15AM Worship
8:15AM Worship w/
Holy Communion
9:00AM Sunday School
10:15AM Worship
6
1:30PM
Circle One
3:00PM FEAST
6:15PM Cherubs
6:30PM Bell Choir
7:30PM Chancel Choir
7:00PM-Book 18 School
17 Club
El Salvador Mission Trip
8:15AM Worship
9:00AM Sunday School
11
5
31
7:00PM-Lenten
Bible Study
25
26
3:00PM FEAST
6:15PM Cherubs
6:30PM Bell Choir
7:30PM Chancel Choir
8AM-1PM Northwest District Legislation Day