This newsletter from Epworth United Methodist Church provides information about upcoming worship services and events for August and September 2017. The main events include a service of Holy Communion on September 3rd, a Homecoming Celebration on September 10th with former pastors and a guest speaker, and regular worship services and Sunday school classes throughout the period. It also announces Vacation Bible School from July 30th to August 3rd and includes reports from various church programs and groups.

1. EpworthUnitedMethodistChurch
3061LincolnWayW.
MassillonOH44647
CHANGESERVICEREQUESTED
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The Echo
August/September 2017
Newsletter of Epworth United Methodist Church
Worship Time: Sunday 9:30 am
Church Office Hours 9 am—Noon, Monday-Friday - 330.832.7271
Please call the office if you or a family member are to be hospitalized, are
under a doctor’s care, need a pastoral visit. When admitted, please inform
the hospital of your church affiliation.
Sermons for August and September
August 6 - Service of Holy Communion, “Recharging Our Batteries”, Acts 18:1-17/Matthew 14:13-21
August 13 - “The Word Made Flesh!”, John 1:1-18
August 20 - “The Miraculous Signs of Jesus”, John 2:1-5; 9:1-3
August 27 - “The “I Am’ Sayings of Jesus”, Exodus 3:13-14; John 8:56-58
September 3 - Service of Holy Communion, “The Farewell Discourse”, John 14:1-4; 15:8-10
September 10 - Homecoming Celebration—Rev. Gary George will bring the message
September 17 - “The Arrest, Trial and Crucifixion of the King”, John 19:14b-20
September 24 - “Eternal Life”, John 19:41-20:1, 11-18

2. Pastor’s Pen
“POINTS TO PONDER”
By Rev. Les Peine
2 Corinthians 9:9-12 (NRSV) 9 As it is written,
“He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
Whose responsibility is it to share the Gospel with the world? Is it that pastor’s alone? Or do each and every
one of us, also have a mission and a responsibility to share the Seed of the Gospel with others?
“10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing
and increase the harvest of your righteousness.”
Each one of us has a responsibility to share the Good News of the Gospel, with those around us! We all are the
sowers! We all have been blessed with the gift of the Bread of Life—Jesus Christ!
Are we responsible for the harvest—for the growth of faith in others? We do bear a responsibility to walk with
others in our faith journey, to worship together; to study and pray together and to work for the Kingdom togeth-
er but God is responsible for the growth and for the Harvest.
As we celebrate the 175th
Anniversary of Epworth United Methodist Church, may we continue to be sowers of
the seed! May we continue to invite and welcome others to come and join us. May we find ways to reach out
to serve those who need our help and in so doing:
11 You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God
through us; 12 for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also over-
flows with many thanksgivings to God.”
May God continue to bless each of you! May God continue to guide and direct our path so that we are faithful
sowers of the seed!
Pastor Les Home #330.938.7704 Cell#330.284.6531
Prayer Line—Barb Dillen: 330.705.9049 or 330.832.7253
Fellowship Hall Rental—Cost is only $50.00 for members and
$250.00 for non-members. You will need to contact Frances
from 9am to noon Mon– Friday to get a rental form & will be
put on the schedule when the deposit is made.
Dear Epworth Family,
As we continue on in our 175th
year, I wanted to take a quick mo-
ment to thank those who have
served on the 175th Celebration
committee as well as those who
have helped out with the special events that we’ve put
on. I want to let you know about our next event,
“Homecoming Sunday” on September 10th. During
our 9:30 worship service we will be recognizing for-
mer pastors (some of whom will be in attendance)
and Rev. Gary George, the Bishop’s assistant will be
preaching. Following worship we will kick off Sun-
day school for the kids and have a coffee/fellowship
hour for the adults. During fellowship hour we will
have various pictures and historical memorabilia from
the church on display. At 11:30 we will have a tradi-
tional Epworth Chicken Supper. We’d love for you to
bring family, friends and former Epworth friends
along, we just ask that you let Frances know in the
office (330) 832-7271 Mon-Fri 9-Noon or by email:
epworthum@sssnet.com.
Sincerely,
Nate Lockwood
A few pictures from our July 16 Tent Meeting

3. Children’s News
Jesus said, “Let the little children
come to me…..”
And we also invite and encourage YOUR children-
whether they are your own kids, your grandchildren,
your nieces and nephews or your neighbors– to come to
worship and Sunday School and Bible Buddies! But
they will need YOU to bring them! Will you make that
commitment? Will you extend that invitation? Will you
help them to learn about what it is to live with Jesus in
their lives?
Sunday School will begin with a special session on
September 10, our 175th Anniversary Homecoming
Sunday, following worship. Children ages 3-6th grade
are invited to join us each week at 10:40.
Bible Buddies, our monthly gathering for kids ages 4-
6th grade will begin in September. We will have music,
Bible stories, games, snack and a craft each month.
More info about Bible Buddies will be
coming!
A Children’s Calendar for the year will be ready at the
end of August.
Musical Notes
Thank you to all who have shared or will share
special music with us during worship this
summer.
I would like to extend an invitation to folks
who would like to sing with the Adult Choir
this coming year! We rehearse on Sunday
morning before we sing at 8:40 a.m.. New
choir members, or those who haven’t sung
with us for a while, are welcome always!
Adults and youth grades 6-12 are invited to
sing with Spirit Praise! We rehearse on the
Sundays we sing at 8:30 a.m. We always wel-
come guitarists, drummers or other instru-
ments also!
Adult Choir and Spirit Praise will both sing
on our 175th Anniversary Homecoming Sun-
day, September 10. We will rehearse at 8:30
a.m. in the sanctuary.
Schedule: Sept. 17– Adult Choir
Sept. 24 - Spirit Praise
Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22 - Adult Choir
Oct. 29 - Spirit Praise
Make a joyful noise!
Marie
Classes for all ages
will begin on Sunday,
September 17at 10:40
a.m.
Children ages 3-grade 6 in Sunday School Hall
Youth grades 7-12 in Youth Room
Young & “not so young” Adults in Youth Room
Friendship Class in Fellowship Hall
If you haven’t come to Sunday School in the past,
or if it’s been a long time since you’ve attended,
you are invited to join a class!
Thank you to Larry Hinson for overseeing the
Building Fund Account and taking the deposits
to the bank.
Thank you to everyone for their help and dona-
tions for the funeral dinner for Hamp Davis.
Also thank you to everyone for their donations
and help with Vacation Bible School —Evelyn
Hinson.
Thank you to everyone who
helped to welcome the group from
Lakeside Reach-Out this year. They worked
hard all day at Calvary Mission and appreciat-
ed the refreshing showers offered by Laura
Otte, Bruce Lockwood, Becky Evanoff, Alyce
Ripple, Alice Fazzone, and Linda Lockwood.
They also enjoyed a great meal, with Evelyn
Hinson’s yummy cookies for dessert. Thanks
to Rod Deitz and Bruce Lockwood for helping
that evening.
Vacation Bible School
July 30-August 3
6:15-8:30 p.m.
Ages 4-grade 6
“Do good. Seek peace and go after it!”
Thank you to everyone who has been involved in
preparations for VBS! We are looking forward to a
fun week where our kids will learn about being
God’s hero!
Fellowship Hour Hosts are Need-
ed for Summer Fellowship Time
on August 6 and 27. See Barb Dil-
len or the office for the sign-up
sheet.
If you have questions about the following areas, contact
the people listed below:
Admin Board Nathan Lockwood 330.685.4199
Council on Min Alyce Ripple 330.832.5216
Trustees Marcia Paul 330.837.5424
Usher Allen Hendricks 330.832.4850
Director of Music Marie Deitz 330.837.1651
Spirit Marie Deitz 330.837.1651
Joyful Noise Debbie Scheetz 330.477.3985
Youth Marie & Rod Deitz 330.837.1651
Prayer Line Barb Dillen 330.705-9049
SPR Chair Debbie Scheetz 330.477.3895
Finance Alice Fazzone 330.833.5521
Lay Leader Debbie Scheetz 330.477.3895
Stewardship
Day Care Board Bryan Stuck 330.309.1900
If anyone is interested
in doing an overview
of the Gospel of John,
please let Pastor Les
know and he will do a
Bible Study on this.

4. CHANGE FOR KIDS
August 7—August 11 Epworth will be
collecting change (or paper) for the children at
St. Jude's. A jar will be in the hallway. Please
empty your pockets daily in to the jar.
Preschool Themes
8/7 Boats
8/14 Puppets and Theatre
8/21 Turtles, Frogs, & Fish
8/28 Summer Farewell
Infant/Toddler Themes
7 Brown Oval
8 Red Heart
9 Yellow Circle
10 Blue Square
UPCOMING EVENTS
September 4—Day Care Closed
September 5—Preschool Begins
October 16—Open House
November 21—Thanksgiving Feast
December TBA—Santa Secret Shop
JULY AT A GLANCE
The Center has been busy with many guests and spe-
cial events.
 Stark Parks brought a duck, a turtle, and a bird rom
the falcon family.
 WOW—Women of Wellness from Aultman spoke
on summer safety
 We have taken a field trip to the Twistee Cone
 We have enjoyed the sprinkler on a hot day
 Christmas in July I always a good time
 A Great Big Thank You to the school-age children
for organizing the circus. It was a lot of fun!
SCHOOL BEGINS
Epworth Preschool is re-opening on September
5. Every child that is present from 9—11:30
a.m. will receive the pr4eschool curriculum.
We are excited to invite everyone back and we
are ready for a busy year of learning.
Thank You for Serving
August
Greeters Head Usher Mission Prj Calvary Mission
8-6 Ralph & Norma Cox Allen Hendricks School Supplies Toilet Paper
8-13
8-20
8-27
September
Greeters Head Usher Mission Prj Calvary Mission
9-3 Allen Hendricks School Supplies Soup
9-10
9-17
9-24 Mike & Alice Brunckhart
September Birthdays
9/3 John Paulus
9/3 Rich Mortland
9/3 Timothy Kelley
9/5 Brandy Miller
9/5 Courtney Miller
9/15 Jacquie Burtt
9/16 Jessica Staley
9/16 Morgan Williamson
9/16 Emma Woods
9/22 Barb Remley
9/22 Diane Shane
9/26 Ron Moore
9/27 Charlene Worrall
9/28 Alice Brunckhart
9/28 Seth Brickey
9/29 Bonnie Kerr
9/29 Ben Krichbaum
9/30 Jeannette Birkich
August Birthdays
8/2 Nicole Anderson
8/2 Julie Wimsatt
8/3 Barb Baker
8/4 Sarah Lockwood
8/5 Megan Mitzel
8/5 Tiffany Remley
8/6 Roberta Miller
8/7 Brenda Charney
8/8 Matt Baker
8/8 Mike Carter
8/14 Doug Nichols
8/16 Tom Scheetz
8/16 Alan Stanford
8/20 Jessica Stuck
8/20 Jonathon Stuck
8/21 Pauline Campbell
8/23 Melinda Ramsey
8/25 Debbie Parker
8/26 Rachael Cox
8/26 Elise Lockwood
8/27 Liz Remley
8/28 Tim Kelley
August Anniversaries
8/1 Ralph & Norma Cox Sr.
8/11 Nate & Krissy Lockwood
8/15 Sean & Tiffany Remley
8/25 Tim & Barb Remley
8/27 Mike & Debbie Parker
September Anniversaries
9/16 Roberta & Brian Miller
9/19 Vicki & Larry Henderson
9/21 George & Marcia Emmert
FINANCIAL REPORT
CHURCH
6/1/2017 Balance Fwd. $26,363.08
Receipts $7,660.70
Total Income $34,023.78
6/30/2017 Expenses $7,591.60
Moved to Savings $6,000.00
Balance $20,432.18
BUILDING EXPANSION
6/1/2017 Balance Fwd. $ 369.98
Pledges $ 1,102.81
Memorials $ 755.00
Hall Rent $ 515.00
Church $ 300.00
Total Income $ 3,042.79
June 30, 2017 Expenses $ 2,682.66
Balance $ 360.13
6/1/2017 Loan Balance $ 190,579.67
Payment on Principle $ 1,755.89
Extra Payment on Prin. $ 229.31
6/30/2017 Loan Balance $ 188,594.47