The Chimes
ELYRIA FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Volume LV, 5 www.elyriafirst.org May 2009
LIVING ROOM DIALOGUES What do you most appreciate about Elyria First United Methodist Church? What are your hopes and dreams for the church? How can it serve you and others better? What are the challenges your faith is facing right now? How can the church help? These are some of the questions we will discuss in our Living Room Dialogues after Easter. In May, Rev. Roger Talbott will be meeting with small groups of church members in living rooms around the communities we serve. It will be an opportunity to talk in depth about the life of our church and the faith we share. This will be organized by the Staff Parish Relations Committee. If you would like to volunteer your home as a site for a Living Room Dialogue call the church office (320-2310) or Roy Cannon (323-5207).
GARRISON KEILLOR ON METHODISTS:
We make fun of Methodists for their blandness, their excessive calm, their fear of giving offense, their lack of speed, and also for their secret fondness for macaroni and cheese. But nobody sings like them. If you were to ask an audience in New York City, a relatively Methodist-less place, to sing along on the chorus of "Michael Row the Boat Ashore," they will look daggers at you as if you had asked them to strip to their underwear. But if you do this among Methodists, they'd smile and row that boat ashore and up on the beach! And down the road! Many Methodists are bred from childhood to sing in four-part harmony, a talent that comes from sitting on the lap of someone singing alto or tenor or bass and hearing the harmonic intervals by putting your little head against that person's rib cage. It's natural for Methodists to sing in harmony. We are too modest to be soloists, too worldly to sing in unison. When you're singing in the key of C and you slide into the A7th and D7th chords, all two hundred of you, it's an emotionally fulfilling moment. By our joining in harmony, we somehow promise that we will not forsake each other.
Continued on page 7 (See Keillor)
Inside this issue:
City Music Cleveland ~ page 4 Geraniums ~ page 8 Memorials ~ page 4 Missions/Outreach ~ page 6 Organizational News ~ page 5
Outreach ~ page 6 Preschool News ~ page 7 Roger’s Ruminations ~ page 2 S.E.N.I.O.R.S. ~ page 3 Study News ~ page 3 Worship Highlights ~ page 2
MAY 2009 CHIMES ~ Page 1 (All article submissions for the June 2009 Chimes is May 11th.)
RO G E R ’ S RU M I N AT I O N S
Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 Amplified Version Many people had negative experiences when they were growing up because they were expected to fit some kind of model of faith that didn’t feel right to them. They felt like they were supposed to parrot back certain answers whether they believed them or not. Or that they were expected to fit into certain norms of behavior that seemed too strict when they were six or sixteen. Or they were just plain bored with what they experienced in Sunday School and worship. I personally remember being completely frustrated during my earliest years because Christian Education seemed to consist entirely of cutting up construction paper or coloring pictures in our Sunday School books, something girls excelled at, but I, to this day, have never mastered. So, some people gave up on giving their children a Christian education. But this decision has consequences. Recently, I came across the following quote in response to a blog about passing faith on to our children: “I forgot to give my children any religious training at all because I had put aside my rigorous Christian Lutheran religion at the age of 18. It just made no sense to me any more. My kids now don’t have the same rich religious background to push back from OR go towards and I wish that I had at least made a stab at orienting them to one religion.” The well-known proverb above, in the Amplified Version, which conveys a nuance that is in the original Hebrew but is lost in most English translations, can be of help to us. First of all, there is a “way we should go”. The earliest Christians actually called themselves “Followers of the Way”, because their religion was a way of life rather than a creed or a set of rituals, although it included both beliefs and rituals. And religious education, in whatever form it takes, is a way we convey beliefs, faith, hope and values from one generation to another. Clearly a way of life that seeks the truth, helps people connect with God and values things like love and peace is superior to a way of life based on unexamined beliefs, superficial values and with no means of connecting to a Higher Power.
Continued on page 7
WORSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
May 2nd & 3rd : 4th Weekend of Easter/Communion Scripture: Acts 4:5-12; 1 John 3:16-24; John 19:11-18 Preaching: Saturday ~ Dianne Tobey Covault; Sunday ~ Roger Talbott May 9th & 10th: 5th Weekend of Easter/Mother’s Day Scripture: Acts 8:26-40; 1John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8 Preaching: Saturday ~ Dianne Tobey Covault; Sunday ~ Roger Talbott May 16th & 17th: 6th Weekend of Easter
Scripture: Acts 4:32-35; 1 John 1:1-2:2; John 20:19-31
Preaching: Saturday ~ Dianne Tobey Covault; Sunday ~ Roger Talbott May 23rd & 24th: Assension Scripture: Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:44-53 Preaching: Saturday ~ Roger Talbott; Sunday ~ Roger Talbott May 30d & 31st : Pentecost Scripture: Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:44-53 Preaching: Saturday ~ Roger Talbott; Sunday ~ Roger Talbott
MAY 2009 CHIMES ~ Page 2 (All article submissions for June 2009 Chimes is May 11th )
O L D E R A D U LT NEWS
S.E.N.I.O.R.S. FIRST THURSDAY LUNCHEON
May 7th at noon ~ Fellowship Hall
The program for our S.E.N.I.O.R.S. First Thursday Luncheon on May 7 th will feature a presentation by Rev. Kathy Dickriede. Kathy and her husband, Dr. Dan Dickriede, spent all of 2008 visiting and volunteering in United Methodist missions, primarily in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe. These countries and mission sites are related to Bishop John Hopkins’ 3Cs Mission Initiative, Churches, Clinics and Classrooms (an East Ohio United Methodist project). The Dickriedes will be returning to Africa in January of 2010 as volunteers for most of that year. Cost of the lunch will be $7.00. Reservations are needed and may be made by calling the church office at 322-6622. Reservation deadline is May 4th.
GET IN THE SPIRIT OF SPRING IN MANSFIELD
You are invited to join the S.E.N.I.O.R.S of our church for a day trip to Mansfield on Tuesday, May 12th. We will leave from the church by chartered bus at 8:30 a.m. and return about 5:30 p.m. First stop is for a guided tour at Carousel Magic where will visit the factory where carousel horses are being made and restored, spend time in the photo gallery and, if interested, wander through the gift shop. Second stop will be at Dutch Heritage Restaurant where you may order from the menu for lunch on your own. Also, there will be time for the bakery and gift shop. The highlight of the day will be an afternoon visit to Kingwood Estate and Gardens. A guided tour will introduce us to the 47-acre gardens that will feature the beauty of spring blossoms and the beautiful home that dominates the estate. Cost for the day is $33.00. An insert registration form is included in this edition of the Chimes. Space is limited with registrations being accepted on a first come basis. Bill McFadden and Denise Smith will serve as tour escorts. Feel free to invite your friends to join you.
STUDY NEWS
HIGH SCHOOL NEW MEMBER CLASSES
The second new member class for High School students who are interested in becoming a part of our church family will be held on Saturday, May 9th from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Upon completion of the class, the new members will be welcomed into the church community on Sunday, May 24th. If interested, please contact Tami Clark, Denise Smith or Roger Talbott or call the church office at 322-6622.
“The Parables”, Al Eaton’s Bible Study continues on Wednesdays. The study is an in-depth exploration of the parables of Jesus and their varied meaning, pointing out applications for our life of faith today. Participants will discover fresh perspectives in these timeless words, to enrich faith and deepen discipleship. Join Al and the others on Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. on May 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th.
MAY 2009 CHIMES ~ Page 3 (All article submissions for the June 2009 Chimes is May 11th.)
THE PARABLES
NEWS
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AND
T H A N K YO U S
FIRST METHODIST LUNCHEON ~ May 20 at 12:15 p.m. at Wesleyan Village ~
Our church friends and members are most welcome to join us in the south end of the Rose Room for food and fellowship. Bob Snow and Dalton Love will help with music, we will learn what's new with our congregation, and get better acquainted. Come and enjoy. The next City Music Cleveland Concert will be on Thursday, May 7th at 7:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 320 Middle Avenue, Elyria. The program will feature the “Stabat Mater” and Mass #2 in G Major by Franz Schubert and The Symphony # 3 by Charles Ives. All concerts are free and everyone is welcome. Child care is available.
CITY MUSIC CLEVELAND
MEMORIALS
John Sheldon ~ February 27, 2009 Cayce Parrish ~ March 13, 2009 Jeff and Sherry Christman Roy and Margie Cannon John U. Fabian and Family Rick and Sandy Gallagher Bea Fleming Bob and Marilou Hiltibiddle Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Flock Bill and Marty McFadden Steve and Jeanie Gillen Bob & Nell Rudolph Annette Grobe Tom and Carol Russo Dave and Cheryl Heinlen Jim and Irma Sigworth The Jabbusch Family Alva and Evelyn Taylor Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Jula Alan and Karen Wehman Mike and Dorothy Kotnik Richard Zahniser John and Judie Lewis Carl and Charlotte Norris PASTOR’S REGISTER Jim and Irma Sigworth May God add his blessing Tim Smith of comfort to the families of: Virgene Buss ~ April 6, 2009 Kent and Laura Tarpley Marjorie Oleair ~ April 7, 2009 Lynn and Richard Vandertie Marge Baumholtz ~ April 8, 2009 Jim and Liz Vargo Bertha Pollack ~ April 8, 2009 Dr. William and Jean Weidner Lawrence Krugman, April 11, 2009 Whirlpool Workers Gerald Wilson Lowell Scheufler ~ March 8, 2009 Office Staff Ruth Adams Geoffrey and Janet Hanson Bob and Jackie Nuhn Beth Bordine Darl and Doris Hendricks Bob and Nell Rudolph Tom and Jean Bowen Jeff and Amy Kidder Tom and Carol Russo Norman and Phyllis Brom Janice King Jim and Irma Sigworth Roy and Margie Cannon Mike and Dorothy Kotnik Harriet Sommer Warren Dunham Susan Kuhn Alva and Evelyn Taylor Roger and Wendy Fleming Phil and Phyllis Lodge Ulmer/Berne LLP Bill and Jane Fowls Bill and Marty McFadden Alan and Karen Wehman Annette Grobe Nancy Mittendorf Richard Zahniser Hugh and Suzanne Hall Carl and Charlotte Norris Bruce and Claudette Williams
MAY 2009 CHIMES ~ Page 4 (All article submissions for June 2009 Chimes is May 11th )
O RG A N I Z AT I O N A L N E W S
ELIZABETH STEVENS SOCIETY
The Elizabeth Stevens Society will meet Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. A musical program will be presented by Bob Snow. Reservations should be reported to Audrey Miller at 322-7811 by Thursday, April 30th. The United Methodist Men will be meeting on Saturday, May 9th. All men in the Church are invited to join us at 8:00 in Fellowship Hall for breakfast and fellowship. If you have any questions, contact Mickey Edwards at HEdwards@OH.rr.com or 440-327-0264. Meadows UMW will go to Flat Rock on Saturday, May 16th for a tour and luncheon. The group will leave the Meadows at 9:00 a.m. and return around 1:00 p.m. Please call Martha Wason (934-0907) by Monday, May 11th to place your reservation for this event. The monthly Meadows UMW meeting will be on Tuesday, May 26th at 7:00 p.m. We will meet in the Craft Room at Wesleyan Meadows Community Center, 5400 Meadow Lane Court, Sheffield Village. Light refreshments will be served. Need transportation? Call: Martha Wason (934-0907) or Amy Kidder (365-0109). Join us on Saturday, May 9 in the Parlor at 9:00 a.m. We will share in devotionals, gather the prayer shawls to be blessed on Sunday, May 10th, share tips and receive a new prayer shawl pattern! If you need a ride or would like more information, please call Janet Wilcox at 323-0533. Join the “Busy Fingers” as we turn our projects into real blessings to others!
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UNITED METHODIST MEN’S GROUP
MEADOWS UMW
BUSY FINGERS
HOPE CIRCLE
Hope Circle will meet Tuesday, May 12th at the Vintage Café at 6:30 p.m. We will enjoy good food and fellowship before we convene for the summer. If anyone that is currently not a part of Hope Circle and is interested in joining in the fun, please join us at the Vintage Café or give Sherry Ruth a call at 324-4218.
NURTURY
This has been such a wonderful year. This past month marks my one year anniversary of working here at the Faith Nurtury with your little ones. It’s been wonderful seeing each and every one of them throughout the year. From watching little ones learn to walk, to seeing them become a big sister or brother; it’s truly been a joy to see the children grow. It’s been great getting to know each of you. I’ve made many new friends and love seeing all of you each week. No, I’m not going anywhere; I just had to get sappy for a minute. Now to the fun…. As some of you know Saturday worship is now at 5:30pm, while it may not make a big difference for some, for us in the Faith Nurtury we get extra sun time. We love to go outside in the warm weather and play in the courtyard. Everyone is welcome to join us as we draw, run, skip and hop into sibling cooperation. Sundays the Faith Nurtury has short Bible stories during services and Sunday school hour. Ms. Nicole and Ms. Kim will be joining us again this month as we move into the summer lesson plans. Throughout May we will be learning about Jesus’ travels and life and what it means when we say “He Has Risen”. See you soon and God Bless. Julie Moen ~ Faith Nurtury Coordinator
MAY 2009 CHIMES ~ Page 5 (All article submissions for the June 2009 Chimes is May 11th.)
O U T R E AC H
SUSTAINING EVERYDAY LIFE ~ CLEANING BUCKET
In May, 2009 Outreach will be collecting monetary donations for Cleaning Buckets (formerly known as Flood Buckets). “Cleaning buckets" bring hope to survivors in all types of disaster situations, including fires, earthquakes and floods. Ms. Kathy Kraiza, executive director of UMCOR Sager Brown (USB), the material resource ministry of the United Methodist Committee on Relief, has recommended that the five gallon buckets filled with cleaning supplies, formerly called "flood buckets," now be called cleaning buckets. "The bleach, masks and gloves can be used for mold removal after floods," she explained, "but they can be used in other clean-ups as well. We include detergent, trash bags, rags - supplies that can be used in a variety of disaster situations." From sandbagging to evacuating, United Methodists have helped address the flood threat along the Red River Valley in the Dakotas and Minnesota. "Water is everywhere," the Rev. Paul Baker, disaster response coordinator for the denomination's Dakotas Annual Conference, told United Methodist News. The Red River has been receding since hitting a record crest of 40.82 feet early on March 28. Then the snow was to hit. Fargo-Moorhead is now dealing with the brunt of the flooding. Fargo, on the North Dakota side of the Red River, with a population of 90,000, and Moorhead, on the Minnesota side, with 35,000 residents, are being affected by floodwaters. In a press release, Bishop Hope Morgan Ward noted the theological significance of participation in cleaning bucket and material resource ministry. "(Cleaning) buckets are tangible signs of prayers, love and support," she said. "The simple, necessary things in the buckets are gifts that lift the hearts of those who face cleaning out, cleaning up and rebuilding. We thank those who join the flood of compassion as they assemble buckets for someone who will receive the blessing." Each bucket is valued at $55. Please prayerfully consider donating to this Outreach project. Mother’s Day weekend (May 9 and 10th) flower proceeds will go to the Golden Cross Sunday offering that helps fund the ministries of our five UM Health & Welfare agencies in East Ohio: The Wesleyan Senior Living Village, Copeland Oaks, North Shore Retirement Community, Berea Children’s Home and the Flat Rock Homes and Care Center. Carnations will grace the altar and may be taken home following the service. Red carnations designate a living mother who is honored while white carnations will memorialize the life of a deceased mother. See insert in this edition of the Chimes to order your flowers!
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MOTHER’S DAY TRIBUTE
HOSPICE OF THE WESTERN RESERVE TEEN VOLUNTEERS
Are you interested in sharing your gifts and talents with patients and families while making a difference in someone’s life? Teen Volunteers help patients live life to the fullest every day ~ through compassion, laughter, smiles and sharing their gifts and talents ~ Hospice of the Western Reserve Teen Volunteers serve others! Please sign up for the next education sessions to take place on Saturdays May 16 th and 23rd from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Hospice of the Western Reserve, Lorain Office. The office is located at 2173 North Ridge Road, Suite H. If you are interested in attending, please call 216-383-5745 and speak with Genny.
MAY 2009 CHIMES ~ Page 6 (All article submissions for June 2009 Chimes is May 11th )
PRESCHOOL NEWS
The Preschoolers are getting ready to graduate. The 4 and 5 year olds will be moving up to Kindergarten classes in their own neighborhoods. The 3 year olds will be moving up within our program to the next level. We can’t believe how quickly they’ve grown and are maturing. Our Graduation and Spring Pageant performed by our children will be held in the Sanctuary on Wednesday May 13th at 7:00 p.m. with a small reception following. Everyone is invited. This month we are raising butterflies from caterpillars and anxiously awaiting the changes. When they are mature we will release them into the courtyard. Our letter of the week is U to complete the Alphabet Books that we’ve been creating all year. Registration is continuing for September we need our best advertising, word of mouth, from all our friends out there. We are looking for a few cute 2 ½ -5 year olds to have their parents call 323-2434 so they can be a part of this wonderful learning experience!
Keiller continued from page 1:
I do believe this: People, these Methodists, who love to sing in four-part harmony, are the sort of people you can call up when you're in deep distress. If you're dying, they will comfort you. If you are lonely, they'll talk to you. And if you are hungry, they'll give you tuna salad. Methodists believe in prayer, but would practically die if asked to pray out loud. Methodists like to sing, except when confronted with a new hymn or a hymn with more than four stanzas. Methodists believe their pastors will visit them in the hospital, even if they don't notify them that they are there. Methodists usually follow the official liturgy and will feel it is their way of suffering for their sins. Methodists believe in miracles and even expect miracles, especially during their stewardship visitation programs or when passing the plate. Methodists drink coffee as if it were the Third Sacrament. Methodists feel guilty for not staying to clean up after their own wedding reception in the Fellowship Hall. Methodists are willing to pay up to one dollar for a meal at the church. Methodists still serve Jell-O in the proper liturgical color of the season and think that peas in a tuna casserole adds too much color. Methodists believe that it is OK to poke fun at themselves and never take themselves too seriously. Thanks to Janie Edwards for passing this on! RGT
Ruminations continued from page 2
But this should be done according to the child’s “individual gift or bent”. My observation is that kids connect with faith in different ways: some through service to others and working for justice; some through relationships formed in the church community; some through the arts and music; some through prayer, meditation, mystery and study and most through different combinations of all of these things. Our task as parents, grandparents and as a church community working together is to provide for the varieties of ways all God’s children learn faith so that, when they are old, they will not depart from it. Fear not, Roger
MAY 2009 CHIMES ~ Page 7 (All article submissions for the June 2009 Chimes is May 11th.)
G E R A N I U M S F O R T H E A LT A R To celebrate Memorial Day, please bring any kind of geraniums with you to church on Saturday and Sunday, May 23rd & 24th. They will be used to decorate the altar and then they will be planted in our courtyard for all to enjoy. With God’s tender care, these flowers will grow all summer and into the fall as a memorial to your loved ones. Thank you in advance for your generosity! The Witness Committee T R A N S I T I O N F O R T H E N O RT H C O A S T D I S T R I C T Bishop Hopkins has announced that, on July 1 st, he intends to appoint our current District Superintendent, Dr. Daniel Drew to the Chardon United Methodist Church and the Rev. Orlando Chaffee, the current District Superintendent of the Mahoning District, to the North Coast District as Superintendent. Rev. Chaffee has served several churches on the North Coast District before being appointed to the superintendency; the most recent as Senior Pastor of Cory United Methodist Church. A casual brunch farewell for Dr. Drew will be held at the Berea Children’s Home from 10:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday May 30 th (come and go as you please). The cost is $8 per person. Reservations and checks payable to the North Coast District should be sent to the District Office, 5246 Broadway Ave. #300 to the attention of Beverly Holland no later than May 22nd. For further information please go to the District website at http://www.ncdistrictumc.org/.
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 312 THIRD ST. ELYRIA, OHIO 44035 Address Service Requested
Senior Pastor: Rev. Roger Talbott Pastor Emeritus: Rev. Dr. Alva Taylor Assisting Pastor: Dianne Tobey Covault Assisting Pastor: Rev. Dalton Love Volunteer Assisting Pastor: Rev. William Brown
Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Permit # 320 Elyria, Ohio
April 28, 2009
Saturday Chapel Service: 5:30 p.m. Sunday Chapel Service: 8:45 a.m. Sunday Sanctuary Service: 10:50 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Sunday Broadcast: on WEOL 930AM Phone: 440-322-6622 Email: church@elyriafirstumc.org 2009 Mission Statement
Welcoming Everyone To Christ
2009 Vision Statement We will fulfill our mission by each person sharing and inviting another person to know Christ and become a part of our fellowship of
faith. Beginning with ourselves and expanding to others.
MAY 2009 CHIMES ~ Page 8 (All article submissions for June 2009 Chimes is May 11th )