january 2015 - first church...

Inside this Issue: PG 2: Toms Pen PG 3: Youth News PG 4: Our Family PG 5: Join Us PG 6: Thank You PG 7: Join Us PG 8: Other News PG 9: Q & A PG 10: History Snippet PG 11 Calendar

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Office: Christy Duffus Administrative Assistant 440-357-7518

Service Times: 9am Contemporary (In the Chapel)

9:15am Children’s Church10 am Sunday School 11am Traditional

(in the Sanctuary) 11:15am Children’s Church

12pm Fellowship

January 2015

Rev. Cofer’s Pen As we begin the New Year, I pray that you had a blessed Christmas, rejoicing again that the light of Christ has come into your heart, mind, and your life. We give thanks for the time that we had to spend with family and friends, and taking delight in one another as we have done with the renewed celebration of the newborn Christ. We also lift up in prayer those who were alone during this special time of the year as well as prayer for those who, for whatever reason, Christmastime is difficult. As we enter 2015, is there anything you are particularly looking forward to? Is there anything you are worried about? Is there someone you need to forgive in order to get the best start to the New Year? Is there some-thing new that you might need to focus on? Instead of (or along with) making New Year’s resolutions, how about opening up to God in your prayer life, and even letting God bless you in ways that you never thought of before? My hope for you is that, as we enter the New Year, you may be opened up anew to God’s blessings, and that you will continue to be blessed so that you may be a blessing! There are a couple of dates I would like you to keep in mind for this month. The first date is Wednesday, January 14th. At 7 PM on this date we will have an information-al meeting. This will be an opportunity to discuss the 2015 budget and what it contains. There are some differences from last year that you need to be aware of. We will also dis-cuss some of the things and ideas that the council has been working with as possibilities for this next year. I encourage you to come, be informed, and share your questions and comments. It is important that we have a chance to talk and share before the annual meet-ing. The second date I want to tell you about is the date for the Annual Meeting, and this will take place on Sunday, January 25th. We are going to try something a little different for the scheduling this year: we will have one worship service at 10 AM (no Sunday school) and then have the annual meeting following at 11 AM with refreshments in the Social Room. I look forward to entering the year 2015 with you, and I pray that the Holy Spirit may con-tinue to bring us his blessings as a congregation! May you experience God’s Holy Spirit and be His hands and feet anew!In Christian Love,Tom

Youth News

We had a great turn out for Christmas Fest. All of the children did an outstanding job in the play and everyone enjoyed it.

I would like to thank everyone who donated item and/or their time to help out with this great event. We had crafts, food, and even Santa and Mrs Claus. Without all of the generosity from the congregation we could never have had such a great turn out.

Thank you again and I look forward to a new year with new events for all to enjoy.

Alex Hillyard Youth Director

Christmas Fest Thank You !

There will be no Sunday School on January 25th due to the Annual meeting. There will be one service at 10 am followed by the Annual

Meeting at 11:00 am.

No Sunday School

Sunday January 18th at 12 pm-3 pm the youth will be going Sky Zone Bring $10 for admission

and come and jump with us.

Kids in Motion/Gods Gang

Sunday January 25th at 6:00 pm will be youth movie night. Put on your comfy clothes and

join us for the movie.

Youth Group Movie Night

On January 4th Wendy and Jen will be hosting a Pajama Movie day

during Sunday school from 10am-12pm. Wear your favorite pj’s and

join us.

PJ Movie Day

Our FamilyHear Our Prayer

Dear Lord, I ask you to turn this weakness into strength, suffering into compassion, sorrow

into joy, and pain into comfort for others. May your trust in your goodness and hope in your faithfulness, even in the middle of this suf-

fering. Let him be filled with patience and joy in your presence as he waits for your healing

touch.

Please pray for continued healing for the follow-ing loved ones:

Wallace Scott, Eva Weber, Louise Keeter, Marge Libby, John & Nita Ruple, Dave Burris, Larry

Lamphier, Maxine Trout, Mary Ellen Hall, Jean Burnham, Larry and Judy Elliott, Les Naugh-

ton, Blanche Loomis, Ric Abernethy, Alan Sadar, Trudy Juhasz, Don White, Marcia

Hemphill and Bernard Szczepanski.

Our sincere thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of First Church family members Charleen Gawronski and Rose Henninge, who entered into eternal life with God this last month. May the Holy Spirit bring us all comfort and peace until that time when we will all be reunited in that heavenly kingdom where peace, love, and joy abound forever. Amen.

Rev. Cofer

Condolence

Eva Weber would like to thank everyone for all of the visits, calls, and greeting cards that you have sent her. She is doing well and she appreciates all of the kindness of the church congregation and loves to hear you.

Eva Weber

Join Us

Book Group Wednesday January 21st

at 11:00 am Moby Duck by Donovan Hohn.

This is a true story of 28,000 bath toys lost at sea and the beachcombers,

oceanographers, environmentalists who go in search of them.

Blood DriveJanuary 26 12:00pm-6:00pm

Informational MeetingWednesday January 14th 7:00 PM in Social Room

This meeting is to discuss the profit and loss for 2014, the 2015 bud-get and some directions to take for the upcoming year

Annual MeetingSunday January 25th 11:00 PM in Social Room

(All reports are due in to the office by January 5th.)We will be having one combined service at 10 am followed by the

annual meeting at 11 am. There will be NO Sunday School. Join us in discussing the 2015 budget and electing New Board members.

Thank you

A Big Thank You Dear First Church Family,

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generous donation in my family’s time of need

regarding the issue that arose with our home. My family and I are overwhelmed by your generosity,

and we can’t begin to tell you how much we appreci-ate it. This gift will go a long way in helping us with this added burden. I thank God for you, and as I say

over and over again, I am truly blessed to be your pastor. May the blessings of the Christmas season,

and the celebration of the birth of our Savior, be with you now and throughout the coming year.

With much gratitude, thanks, and blessings,Rev. Tom, Lisa, Zoe, Kara, and Liam Cofer

Decorating Thank you to everyone who help decorate the sanctuary so beautifully for the holiday season. It is a lot of work to get all of the decorations up, but

everyone did a amazing job. Please be advised that either January 8th or 9th we

will be de- decorating the Sanctuary if anyone would like to help. Please see your church bulletin for

addition info. Sincerely, Clara Nichols

UshersWe would like to Thank all of our December Ushers, Greeters and Psalm reader for all of their help and dedication:

Sanctuary Ushers : Gene and Eileen McKinstry, Tom and Karen Berry, Natalie Newhous and Marge White,Tim and Betty Brennan

GREETERS: David and Bethann Youmans

PARKING LOT: Bruce and Nick Hilborn

Psalm Readers: Scott Eukel, Helen Cooper, Jeff Powers, Paul Peddie.

Chapel Ushers: Julie Sanders, Emily Sand-ers, Karen Tipton, Pat Sadowski, Tracy Bal-ante,and Sylvia Jayne

Chapel Psalm Readers: Norma Forbes, Sylvia Jayne and Tracy Balante

And anyone else who may have helped or filled in. Sincerely, Christy Duffus and Joyce Chorman

Womens FellowshipThank you to all who joined us for the

Candle Light Dinner we had a great time. Gene prepared great food for everyone and we all enjoyed it. Thank you to all who brought paper product, monetary

gifts, and cleaning supplies Forbes House appreciated those so much. Also,

Women’s Fellowship will not be meeting in January the next meeting will be

February 4th at 1:00 pm. Sincerely, Clara Nichols

When: Saturday’s: 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Where: First Church Congregational. 22 Liberty Street.

Painesville, Ohio 44077

Start: Saturday December 13, 2014.

8 week session, every Saturday.

Cost: $40.00 per session or $10 per class.

Pay Method: Cash or Check.

Make check payable to Kelly Quittenton (Instructor)

What to Bring: Yoga Mat, Towel (you will sweat), & Water bottle

What is PiYo? Who says you have to jump, grunt, strain, and punish your body to get amazing results from your workout? Not with PiYo…PiYo combines the muscle-sculpting, core-firming benefits of Pilates with the strength and flexibility advantages of yoga. And, we crank up the speed to deliver a true fat-burning, low-impact workout that leaves your body looking long, lean, and incredibly defined.

*This class is geared to the beginner. Don’t be shy, bring a friend!

**Contact Kelly for details or questions. Cell: 440-829-4667

Join Us

When: Saturday’s: 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.Where: First Church Congregational. 22 Liberty Street. Painesville, Ohio 44077Start: Saturday December 13, 2014. 8 week session, every Saturday. Cost: $40.00 per session or $10 per class. Pay Method: Cash or Check. Make check payable to Kelly Quittenton (Instructor)What to Bring: Yoga Mat, Towel (you will sweat), & Water bottleWhat is PiYo? Who says you have to jump, grunt, strain, and punish your body to get amazing results from your workout? Not with PiYo…PiYo combines the muscle-sculpting, core-firming benefits of Pilates with the strength and flexibility advantages of yoga. And, we crank up the speed to deliver a true fat-burning, low-impact workout that leaves your body looking long, lean, and incredibly defined.

*This class is geared to the beginner. Don’t be shy, bring a friend!**Contact Kelly for details or questions. Cell: 440-829-4667

Learn to use Reiki energy to enhance your lifeReiki Workshop

Reiki ISaturday, February 21, 2015 9:30 am to 5 pm in the East Room at First Church. Tuition includes manual and certificate: $75 Scholarships are availablePreregistration by February 15

Reiki IISaturday, February 28, 2015 9:30 am to 5 pm in the East Room at First Church. Tuition includes certif-icate: $50 (same manual as Reiki I)Scholarships are availablePreregistration by February 15

For further information or to register please call Marcia Backos 440-413-9114.

REIKI

Other News Did you know?

Over a year ago, the First Church Council of Stewards created the Pastoral Relations Committee. This Committee’s mission is to act as a liaison between members of the con-gregation and the pastoral staff. The pastoral staff includes Tom Cofer and the paid church personnel under his administrative authority. All persons wishing to make a complaint or extend a compliment to the pastoral staff are urged to contact the committee member of his or her choice. The source and content of any comments will be kept strictly confidential in all respects. The current members of the Pastoral Relations Committee are as follows: Earle Drabenstott, Chair, Ann Marie Hamil-ton, George Milbourn, Cap Perts, and Jean Stevens.

Budget

Year-to-date Budget as of 12-1-14

Income $ 290,000 Expenses $ 265,069 In the “BLACK” $ 24,931

Gifts of LoveThank you all for your generous gift donations for the Gifts of Love. We were able to help 87 people receive a gift this Holiday Season. It warms our hearts to see so much generosity and caring within our congregation year after year. You were able to brighten someone’s holiday and put a smile on some not so fortunate peoples’ faces. All of the recipients were so grateful and we are so thankful to all of you for your kindness. Lana Frischkorn and Jan Kiewit

Thursday Night ClassTom’s Thursday night class will resume The Confronting Controversy study on

January 15 at 7:00pm.

CommunionCommunion will be on January 11th

this month due to Rev. Cofer being on vacation for the Holiday Season.

Q & A

Q: What is Epiphany?

A: Epiphany literally means “manifestation,” “striking appearance, or “Theophany” (vision of God. The date falls on January 6th, and it celebrates the revelation of Jesus (God the Son) as a human being. The day is commemorated by a remembrance of the visit of the Magi (three wise men) to the Christ child. Since the Magi were not Israelites, this is also marked as Jesus’ physical manifestation to the Gentiles. Epiphany also refers to a season of the church year, which oc-curs between Christmas and Lent.

Those Bargain Pews By 1867, First Church Congregational leadership opted to a add building for confer-ence rooms, Sunday School rooms, a pastors study, a parlor and parsonage. That building remains – with updating and changes – as the today’s church offices, Warren Room and East Rooms. This was done for at a cost of $15,239. The membership of First Church had doubled and grown to 450 members, including 246 active members. The church and its sanctuary were basically new, having been con-structed only four years earlier, when membership was at 220. Also at the time, there were enough seats in pews to hold all 450 members when they all attended church for special celebration services, such as Easter and Christmas. Routine-ly, throughout the year, families settled into certain numbered pews and referred to each pew as “our pew,” because, indeed, they were paying for the pews they sat in each week. Pews were leased for $20 to $30 per year, with the front row at $28 and back row at $20. There was no sound system in the 1860’s, making the front seats more valuable. Interestingly, that tradition of “our pew” continued over the years but with less struc-ture and no payments. People, in general, are most comfortable returning to their same seat each visit, whether in church, restaurants, theaters and even at home. And today’s First Church members tend to fall into one of two “seating categories” – always the same pew or never the same pew. Some members prefer the comfort of one place. Others like to have a different vantage point each week. Both are perfectly reasonable options, today, especially true when there isn’t a per pew $20 to $30 fee involved. Doug Smith, Historian With assistance from church histories prepared by Alma Poole and Viola Stevenson McAuley

History Snippet

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday289am Contemporary9:15 Children’s Church9:15 Choir10 Sunday School10:15 Bells11am Traditional11:15 Children’s Church6pm Youth Group

2910:30 Affirming Life3:45pm Yoga7:00 Boy Scouts

305:45pm Yoga6:30 Cub Scouts6:30 Girl Scouts (Miranda)

7pm PWC Practice7:45 Joyride

31CLOSED 1CLOSED

28pm Recovery

3

8:30am PIYO

49am Contemporary9:15 Children’s Church9:15 Choir10 Children’s PJ Movie10 Adult Sunday School10:15 Bells11am Traditional11:15 Children’s Church6pm Youth Group

5 Annual Reports Due10:30 Affirming Life3:45pm Yoga7pm Boy Scouts

65:45pm Yoga6:45 Cub Scouts7pm PWC Practice7:45 Joyride

7NO Women’s Fellowship

810am Paul’s class7pm Tom’s Class7pm REIKI

98pm Recovery

108:30am PIYO

St. James

119am Contemporary9:15 Children’s Church9:15 Choir10 Sunday School10:15 Bells11am Traditional11:15 Children’s Church6pm Youth Group

12 10:30 Affirming Life3:45pm Yoga7pm Boards 7:00 Boy Scouts

1311am Listen-ing for God 5:45pm Yoga6:30 Girl Scouts (Miranda)

6:45 Cub Scouts7pm PWC Practice7:45 Joyride

147 pm INFO MEETING

1510am Paul’s class7pm Tom’s Class

169-5 Life Screening 8pm Recovery

178:30am PIYO9am Coun-cil Retreat9am Men’s Fellowship

18 9am Contemporary9:15 Children’s Church9:15 Choir10 Sunday School10:15 Bells11am Traditional12pm Youth Sky Zone6pm Youth Group

19Project Hope(Girl Scouts Paula)10:30 Affirming Life1pm Prayer Group3:45pm Yoga4pm Girl scouts7 Boy Scouts7pm COUNCIL

205:45pm Yoga6:45 Cub Scouts7pm PWC Practice 7:45 Joyride

2111am Book Club 2pm Steward-ship6pm Girl Scouts (Missy)

2210am Paul’s class7pm Tom’s Class7pm REIKI

238pm Recovery

248:30am PIYO

259:15 Choir10am Combined Service10:15 Children’s Church11am ANNUAL MEETING6pm Youth Group MOVIE NIGHT

2610:30 Affirming Life12PM-6 BLOOD DRIVE2PM Prayer Group3:45pm Yoga7:00 Boy Scouts

2711am Listen-ing for God5:45pm Yoga6:30 Girl Scouts (Miranda)

7pm PWC Practice7:45 Joyride

28 6 pm Girl Scouts(Cynthia)

2910am Paul’s class7pm Tom’s Class

308pm Recovery

318:30am PIYO

Published monthly byFirst Church, Congregational22 Liberty ST., Painesville OH 44077440-357-7518 POSTMASTER First Church, Congregational22 Liberty ST., Painesville OH 44077

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NON-PROFITUS POSTAGE PD Painesville, OH

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january 2015 - first church...

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