Church Newsletter

1. EpworthUnitedMethodistChurch
3061LincolnWayW.
MassillonOH44647
CHANGESERVICEREQUESTED
DATEDMATERIAL
February/March 2018
The Echo
February/March 2018
Newsletter of Epworth United Methodist Church
Worship Time: Sunday 9:30 am
Sermons for February and March
February 4: Service of Holy Communion “Don’t Blame the Donkey! Capitalize on your adversity”
Numbers 22:21-34
February 11 “When You’ve Been Given a Bad Name: Don’t let others define you:; I Samuel 4:12-22
February 14: Ash Wednesday Community Service at First Christian Church, Preacher: Scott Haynes
February 18: First Sunday of Lent “Color Her Moses: Never give up. Never”, Matthew
15:21-28
February 25: “Plot for a Life: More than success”, Mark 10:46-52
March 4: Service of Holy Communion “Party Gone Flat: What to do when life loses its
flavor” John 2:1-11
March 11: “Suppose You’re Worth More Than You Think You Are: It’s time you cal-
culated your worth”, Ecclesiastes 7:7; Matthew 9:9-13
March 18: “How Wide is a Boat? Gladness is nearer than you think” Matthew 6:24;
John 21:1-12
March 25: Palm Sunday “Strange Victory: The gains in our losses”, Romans 13:7; II
Corinthians 12:1-10; Mark 11:1-11
March 29: Maundy Thursday; Communion “This is My Body!” Deuteronomy 16:1-8,
Matthew 26:17-30
March 30: Good Friday “Father Forgive Them!” Lamentations 1:7-12; Luke 23:33-46

2. Pastor’s Pen
Church Office Hours 9 am—Noon, Monday-
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.
Pastor Les Home #330.938.7704 Cell#330.284.6531
Prayer Line—Barb Dillen: 330.705.9049 or 330.832.7253
Points to Ponder by Rev. Les Peine
Isaiah 12:2 (NRSV) 2 “Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the Lord God is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.”
This year’s calendar contains a couple of unusual coincidences. We have a couple of holiday/holy days which
occur at the same time. For example; Christian couples might celebrate their love for each other next month
with cards, flowers and candy on the one hand, and smudges of ashes on their foreheads, on the other. This
year, Ash Wednesday falls on Feb. 14, Valentine's Day, which will make for an unusual combination of per-
spectives and celebrations. For the record, the last time there was a confluence of these dates was 73 years
ago, in 1945 when the Detroit Tigers won the World Series. No Fooling!
During this season, we celebrate our love for our spouses and significant others, while we remember that we
are dust and to dust we shall return. It is both a time of celebration and a time of repentance! How do we do
both things at the same time? Even though Ash Wednesday is a somber celebration, it is one way to remem-
ber how much God loves us. God loves us so much that he would offer his love, grace and forgiveness to us
even though we haven’t earned it and don’t deserve it. Our somber attitude is a recognition that we are un-
worthy, but we are forgiven and we are loved!
And then we have Easter, which this year, is on April 1, which is also known as April Fools' Day! These quirky
calendar coincidences haven't happened in decades. Easter reminds us of the wonderful gift of selfless love
and the promise of eternal life, which is offered to us; as we confess our faith in Jesus Christ, who died on the
cross for our sins, and who overcame death to offer us the gift of eternal life.
April Fool’s Day is a time of playing practical jokes on one another and spreading hoaxes. The jokes and their
victims are called April fools. Jesus was seen by some as a fool. And there are those today, who think that we
are fools, if we put our faith in the work of Jesus Christ for our sin and our salvation. However, they are the
ones who are fooling themselves and rejecting the greatest gift of love ever offered to anyone.
As we observe Ash Wednesday, it marks the start of the traditional season of Lent, a 40-day period that leads
to Easter and has its roots and parallel in Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness. It is intended to be a period of re-
flection, prayer and penance. And when Easter arrives it marks the joyous day of Jesus' resurrection. May we
enter this holiday season with joy and a sense of the Holy!
Easter Flower Order Form
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 Sheetz 330.477.3895
Stewardship
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– Thursday to get a rental form & will be put on
the schedule when the deposit is made.
To order your Easter flowers, send this completed form
and your check to the church office. Make your check
out to Epworth United Methodist. Please mark memo
line “Easter Flower”. Deadline March 4.
Potted Easter Lilies-$9.00
Potted Tulips $9.00
Potted Hyacinths $9.00
Your Name _____________________________________________________
(as you want printed in acknowledgment insert)
Phone # _____________________________________________________
What Flower _________________________________________________
How Many___________________________________________________
Please specify for bulletin:
In Memory Of _____________________________________________
In Honor Of _______________________________________________

3. Music is an important part of wor-
ship. It speaks to some folks in a way that
words alone can’t. Our musicians are an im-
portant part of worship. They can touch
our hearts and souls as they lead us in pray-
er and praise through their music. We appre-
ciate your time and your talents! And there
is always room for someone new in our
Adult Choir or Spirit Praise group! The
groups rehearse on Sunday mornings before
worship.
The choir schedule for February and March
is:
February 4 - Adult Choir
March 4 - Adult Choir
February 11– Adult Choir
March 11 - Adult Choir
February 18 - Adult Choir
March 18 - Adult Choir
February 25– Spirit Praise
March 25 - Adult Choir
I will let groups know about special Lenten
services.
Spirit Praise will sing for Easter Sunrise Ser-
vice on April 1 at 7 a.m. We will rehearse
on Friday, March 30 at 8:30 p.m. Adult
Choir will sing for 9:30 Easter worship.
Make a Joyful Noise!
Marie
Community Lent 2018
2/14 Community Ash Wednesday
Host: First Christian Church (No supper)
Preacher: Scott Haynes
2/21 Wednesday Worship
Host: 40 Corners
Preacher: Steven Gower
2/28 Wednesday Worship – Your King-
dom
Host: St. Timothy
Preacher: Emily Seitz
3/7 Wednesday Worship - Bread
Host: Faith
Preacher: Roger Alber
3/14 Wednesday Worship – Sins, etc.
Host: First Baptist
Preacher: Nancy Bacon
3/21 Wednesday Worship - Temptation
Host: Christ Lutheran
Preacher: George Baum
Soup Supper – 5:30pm
Worship – 6:30pm
Offering – Food for Home
Childcare – $40 per church
Theme – The Lord’s Prayer,
Praying with Jesus
Children are an important part of the Epworth
church family. They are welcome in worship and
Sunday School and fellowship. They are invited to
participate in missions and serving in the church.
They need YOU to bring them. Jesus said, “Let the
little children come to me, for to these belongs the
kingdom of heaven.”
Bible Buddies is for children age 4-grade 6. It is a
special time of music, a Bible story, crafts, games
and a snack. It is for children of Epworth and
children who have other church homes also! We
also welcome children who are looking for a
church home. This is a time for friends to get to-
gether to learn and grow! Our time together be-
gins at 5:30 and ends at 7:30. We ask that children
eat dinner before they come. This year we are
learning about Moses. Our Kids’ Camp-in is Feb-
ruary 24-25. We will wander in the wilderness
with Moses that evening! At our March 18 gather-
ing we will learn about “The Ten Command-
ments.”
Sunday School meets each Sunday following wor-
ship for ages 3-grade 6. Linda Lockwood and Deb-
bie Scheetz are the teachers.
Mark your calendar now for Vacation Bible School!
It will be held July 22-26. Our theme is “Rolling
River Rampage” where we will experience the ride
of a lifetime with God!
Thank you Alyce Ripple for your visit and to
the church for the Christmas Bag. I miss you
all. Char
Thank you for the goodie bag—Phyllis Stuck
Thank you for all the prayers, cards, and good-
ie bag. Doris Atland
Thank you very much for remembering me at
Christmas. Thank you Laura for being Santa’s
helper and delivering the bag of goodies, and
what delicious goodies they were.—Betty Jo
Ronk
Thank you to everyone who rang bells for the
Salvation Army.
Thank you to everyone who helped with the
Christmas bags for our shut-ins. Whether you
helped pack the bags, donated items for the
bags, or delivered the bags, you are all very
much appreciated.
Thank you to Larry Hinson for overseeing the
Building Fund Account and taking the deposits
to the bank.
Epworth Family, Thank you for your generous
gift this Christmas season. I appreciate all you
do for me., Frances
Thank you to Marcia Paul, Duane Paul, Bryan
Stuck, Frances Stuck, and Scott DeLuca for all
your work in preparing the parsonage for new
renters.
Thank you to everyone who participated in
the Operation Christmas Child.
To the Church Ladies. Thank you for taking
care of the dinner for Bud Hall—Nancy Hall
Mark Your Calendars!
The next Quarter Auction will be on
Sunday, April 22. If you know of
any businesses who would donate an
item to be auctioned, please contact them. If you
would like to donate a basket, please let Bryan
Stuck know.

4. PRESCHOOL THEMES
2/5 Weather
2/12 Valentines
2/19 Dental/Personal Health
2/26 Sounds
3/5 Things that are Green and Crawl
3/12 Dinosaurs
3/19 Signs of Spring
3/26 Birds
INFANT/TODDLERS
2 Blue Triangle
3 Black Circle
4 White Diamond
5 Red Octagon
6 Green Oval
7 Pink Heart
8 Purple Square
9 Orange Star
UPCOMING EVENTS
Feb 14—Valentine’s Day Party
Feb 19—President’s Day—Day Care Only
Feb 20-21—School Pictures—Lifetouch
March 26-30—Spring Break—Day Care Only
March ASQ Evaluation for Children
April—Hop-A-Thon—TBD
May 23—Preschool Graduation—7 p.m.
May 25—Last Day for Preschool
May 29—Memorial Day—Day Care Closed
Security System
For the safety of our children, the DayCare will
soon have a new security system in place. Parents
will have a code to access the Center. All others
will have to buzz in order to be allowed into the
building.
Parent Café—Spaces Still Available
March 14, 2018, 6-8 p.m.
For Day Care Families
This is a guided discussion activity to develop
relationships with other Day Care Families
Dinner—6-6:30 p.m.
Free Childcare: 6:30—8 p.m.
The Center was recently inspected and has
been awarded a five-star designation from Step
-Up-To-Quality.
Congratulations and thank you for all your hard
work.
Date: Friday, April 13 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Lunch Served
Saturday, April 14 9 a.m. – 12 noon
Please save all of those treasures you are willing to part with.
Be sure they are clean and in good condition.
Bring to Fellowship Hall:
Monday, April 9 – Wednesday, April 11 from 9 a.m. to noon
or Wednesday, April 11, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Please put articles in back of Fellowship Hall by stage
February Birthdays
2/2 Allen Hendricks
2/2 Becky Labriola
2/3 Donna Yant
2/4 Betty Jo Ronk
2/7 Jake Ripple
2/11 Lavonne Cindric
2/11 Sam Wimsatt
2/13 Mike Parker
2/20 Garret Davis
2/22 Linda Lockwood
2/22 Doug Remley
2/23 Jordan Ripple
2/24 Terry Siber
2/25 Lorraine Bushmire
2/25 Jake Eberhart
2/28 Susan Freed
February Anniversaries
12/20 Tom & Kristen Ledger
March Birthdays
3/1 Bryan Stuck
3/2 Bryan Cox
3/2 Nikki DeCeuster
3/3 Kassidy Ledger
3/5 Corinne Davis
3/12 Zac Lockwood
3/12 Rodney Nichols
3/13 Krissy Lockwood
3/15 Elaine Burgess
3/21 Alyce Ripple
3/22 Barb Kennedy
3/24 Randy Stuck
3/27 Ray Kennedy
3/28 Susi Slater
3.28 Deb Scheetz
3/29 Marcia Emmert
March Anniversaries
3/30 Mark & Cheryl Carter
FINANCIAL REPORT
CHURCH
12/1/2017Balance Fwd. $30,594.11
Receipts $9,932.65
Total Income $40,526.76
12/31/2017Expenses $27,318.66
Balance $13,208.10
BUILDING EXPANSION
12/01/17Balance Fwd. $ 70.93
Pledges $ 1,665.75
St. Pauly's $ 63.97
Church $ 800.00
Total Income $ 2,600.65
Payment on Principle $ 2,453.35
Extra Payment on Prin. $ 83.97
12/31/2017Balance $ 63.33
12/1/2017Loan Balance $ 178,826.88
Payment on Principle $ 1,820.69
Extra Payment on Prin. $ 83.97
12/31/2017Loan Balance $ 176,922.22