Newsletter

1. Easter Flower Order Form
If you have questions about the following areas, con-
tact the people listed below:
Admin Board Nathan Lockwood 330.685.4199
Council on Min Alyce Ripple 330.832.5216
Trustees Bruce Lockwood 330.3096506
Usher Allen Hendricks 330.832.4850
Director of Music Marie Deitz 330.837.1651
Spirit Marie Deitz 330.837.1651
Youth Marie & Rod Deitz 330.837.1651
Prayer Line Barb Dillen 330.705-9049
SPR Chair Debbie Scheetz 330.477.3895
Finance Rod Deitz 330.837.1651
Lay Leader Debbie Sheetz 330.477.3895
Stewardship
Day Care Board Bryan Stuck 330.309.1900
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 6.
Potted Easter Lilies-$11.00
Potted Tulips $9.50
Potted Hyacinths $9.50
Your Name _____________________________________________________
(as you want printed in acknowledgment insert)
Phone # _____________________________________________________
What Flower _________________________________________________
How Many___________________________________________________
Please specify for bulletin:
In Memory Of _____________________________________________
In Honor Of _______________________________________________
EASTER SERVICES
March 2—Ash Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
April 14—Maundy Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
April 15—Good Friday Service at St. Mary’s at noon
April 17—Easter Breakfast at 8:00 a.m.
(Marie is coordinating)
April 17—Easter Service at 9:30 a.m.
Epworth
United
Methodist
Church
3061
Lincoln
Way
W.
Massillon
OH
44647
CHANGE
SERVICE
REQUESTED
DATED
MATERIAL
February/March 2022

2. The Echo
February/March 2022
Newsletter of Epworth United Methodist Church
Worship Time: Sunday 9:30 am
www.massillonepworthumc.com
SERMONS FOR FEBRUARY AND MARCH
February 6 - "Going Fishing" Communion; Isaiah 6:1-8, I Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 5:1-11
February 13 - "The First Step" Jeremiah 17:5-10, I Corinthians 15:12-20, Luke 6:17-26
February 20 - "Love is a Choice" Genesis 45:3-11, 15; I Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50, Luke 6:27-38
February 27 - "Look and Listen" Transfiguration Sunday, Exodus 34:29-35, II Corinthians 3:12-4:2, Luke 9:28-
36
March 2—Ash Wednesday Service at 7 p.m.
March 6- FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT—"The Easy Way and Christ’s Way" Communion; Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Ro-
mans 10:8b-12, Luke 4:1-13
March 13 - SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT—"With Eyes Wide Open" Genesis 15:1-18, Philippians 3:17-4:1, Luke
13:31-35
March 20 - THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT—"One More Year" Isaiah 55:1-9, I Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9
March 27 - FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT—"The Eldest Brother" Joshua 5:9-12, II Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-
3, 11b-32
PRESCHOOL THEMES
2/7 Valentines
2/14 Dental/Personal Health
2/21 Sounds
2/28 Things that are Green and Crawl
3/7 Dinosaurs
3/14 Signs of Spring
3/21 Birds
3/28 Earth Week/Rain Forest
INFANT/TODDLERS CONCEPTS
February—Weather/Four Seasons
March—Gardening, Birds, Insects, Flowers
UPCOMING EVENTS
Feb 14—Valentine’s Day Party
Feb 21—President’s Day
Feb 22 & 23—School Pictures—Lifetouch
March ASQ Evaluation for Children
April—Hop-A-Thon—TBD
 Thank you to Marcia Emmert and Allen Hendricks for
counting our collections each week and to Larry Hin-
son for taking it to the bank. You are very much ap-
preciated.
 Thank you to everyone who helped with the Drive-
thru dinner and groceries. We handed out 46 bags of
groceries and served 114 meals.
 Thank you to everyone who participated in the Moun-
tain Vision Christmas Project. The churches involved
provided 90 gifts for children and 99 hygiene bags.
 Thank you to everyone who participated in the Shoe-
boxes. Next year, we will have the cardboard shoe-
boxes for you to use. Thank you Larry and Evelyn Hin-
son.
MUSICAL NOTES
THANK YOU to our faithful worship team singers
who share the word of God through song each Sunday
morning! Thanks also for their extra work during Ad-
vent and Christmas. Linda Lockwood and the crew
shared a wonderful children’s message, “The Silent
Noisy Night” during worship on December 19th, and
their Christmas Eve music was beautiful. Thanks also
to Kenadie Everhart and Elise Lockwood for their spe-
cial music on Christmas Eve. Thank you to Debbie
Scheetz, Bryan Stuck and Bruce Lockwood for turning
the Fellowship Hall into a beautiful setting for that
service.
If you’d like to join us, please come on Sunday morn-
ing at 8:40 a.m. for rehearsal and to prepare for wor-
ship!
The months are flying by!! Lent begins March 2!
Make a joyful noise to the Lord…………
Marie

3. Kids’ News!
Bible Buddies, for kids ages 4—6th grade, gathers on the 2nd Sunday of each
month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Our gatherings this year are centered around the
theme “Friends with God.” We are meeting special friends of God each month
and learning how to become a friend of God along the way! At Bible Buddies
we sing, hear Bible stories, make a craft, have a snack and do lots of fun
activities and games. Youth grades 7-12—we would love to see you at Bible
Buddies. Your helping hands and smiles are always welcome! We were happy to welcome a new
youth helper, Cameron, in January!
Coming Up: Sun., Feb.13, Sun., April 10
****************************
2022 Kids’ Day Camp-in
“Friends with God”
Saturday, March 12 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.
Ages 4 - 6th grade & youth helpers
This special day will include music, stories, crafts, games, activities, a service project, LUNCH, fun
and fellowship! Registration/permission forms are required for each child/youth. Forms will be
available beginning February 13 from the office, at worship or by mail/email. Please let us know
by March 7 who is coming and special dietary needs to aid in planning.
*******************************
Vacation Bible School 2022
Sunday, July 17—Thursday, July 21
6:15-8:30 p.m.
Mark your calendars! Invite your friends!
*******************************
Sunday School for kids & youth ages 3-high school follows worship each Sun-
day at 10:40 a.m.
A Kids Calendar and newsletter is available from the office if your family did-
n’t receive one or if you have grandkids or neighbors who you would like to give one to. Let us
know and we will get one where it needs to be!
Questions about kids or youth programs or activities, please contact Marie at 330-837-1651, text
330-754-9443 or email msenften1@yahoo.com.
“Jesus said, “Let the children come to me….”’
Marie & Linda
Pastor’s Pen
LENT, (MARDI GRAS, “FAT TUESDAY”, “SHROVE TUESDAY”) and EASTER
We are about to enter a time of year known as LENT—which this year begins on March 2nd
and is
known as Ash Wednesday. It is a time of preparation for the celebration of Easter! The word “Lent” is
an Old English word that means Spring Season.
Mardi Gras is also known as “Fat Tuesday” which is the traditional name for the day before Ash
Wednesday, the first day of Lent in the Western Christian churches, including the Roman Catholic
Church and Protestant churches. Fat Tuesday is more commonly known as Mardi Gras, which is
simply “Fat Tuesday” in French.
A Day of Preparation
Historically, the day before Ash Wednesday was itself a rather solemn day of preparation for the peni-
tential season of Lent. Many Christians took part in the Sacrament of Confession on that day, which is
why it became known as Shrove Tuesday. (Shrove is the past tense of the word shrive, which refers
to a priest hearing your confession, assigning penance, and forgiving your sins) The imposition of
ashes and the confession of our sins was the essence of Ash Wednesday.
The Origin of the Term
Over time, however, the solemn nature of the day was joined with (and later gave way to) one last
feast before the Lenten Fast. In centuries past, the Lenten time of fasting was far more rigorous than
it is today, and Christians were required to abstain from all meat and food that came from animals,
such as milk, cheese, butter, eggs, and animal fats. But all of those items needed to be used up be-
fore the fast began, and various Christian nations developed their own meat dishes, rich breads, and
desserts for one last feast before the austerity of Lent. And thus, the day became known as "Fat
Tuesday" for obvious reasons.
Anticipating the Joy of Easter
After Fat Tuesday, meat and dairy and eggs would all be preserved in various ways, and brought out
again for the Easter feast (which lasted a full eight days, from Easter Sunday, through the Sunday af-
ter Easter). Thus, the voluntary giving up of foods that are good in and of themselves, to focus on
spiritual growth was both preceded by and followed by the recognition of the good things that God
has given us.
When Is Fat Tuesday?
So, Ash Wednesday always falls 46 days before Easter Sunday, Fat Tuesday falls on the 47th day
before Easter. Lent is 40 days long but are only six days each week—Sundays are excluded. The 40
days is reminiscent of the 40 days that Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. Easter is of course the
celebration of Jesus Resurrection!

4. Community Outreach Meal & Groceries|
Sunday, March 20, 2022
THANK YOU to everyone who has been involved with our community outreach
ministry—from donating money, bags of groceries, food for the meals, empty bags to
distribute the meals in, providing bread and peanut butter and jelly, shopping for carry-
out products, as well as getting the word out and volunteering during the event indoors
and outdoors! You are all an important part of this ministry. We know that God has blessed this ministry and
you have been a blessing to the community! And as we are serving together, it is a great time of fellowship for
our church family!
Prior to November we had been serving about 80 meals and giving 30 bags of groceries. Our November event
served 121 meals! We were out of our 30 bags of groceries within minutes and stretched the food as far as we
could with nothing left! So in planning our January event, we adjusted to plan for 120 meals and 50 bags of
groceries. You answered our requests for more! On the day of our distribution, January 16, the snowstorm
predicted for 7 p.m., arrived at 4 p.m.! Cars started lining up at 3 p.m. and we had cars lined up on to Lincoln
Way before 4 p.m.—and the snow was beginning to fall. We thought we would be left with a lot of food and
many bags of groceries. So we started serving early and ended up serving 114 meals, despite the quickly wors-
ening conditions , and gave away 46 of our 52 bags of groceries! What will March bring?
Our March 20th meal will include rigatoni & meatballs, tossed salad, applesauce, slice of Italian bread and a
cookie. A bag of groceries will be given to each family who would like one.
There are many ways to help with this event. Sign up on Sunday morning or check out the list below and call
Frances in the office Monday-Thursday morning, or let Linda or Marie know what you’d like to do! Groceries
will be needed by March 15. Meal items are needed by 10:30 a.m. on March 20.
Donate a bag of groceries that contains:
canned meat (tuna, chicken, etc.) 2 cans of vegetables
2 cans of fruit 2 cans soup with meat OR 2 canned pastas
box of cereal or oatmeal granola/breakfast bars or packs of snack crackers
rice OR noodles OR boxed mashed potatoes ***Brown bags are available at the church
Donate food for the meal: Rigatoni, marinara sauce, applesauce cups, bags of salad, Italian dressing, Italian
bread, large size cookies
Monetary donations to purchase loaves of bread, peanut butter & jelly for grocery bags, meal items (butter, paper
products, etc).
Volunteer to help that day: (we have “sitting down” jobs available!)
Food preparation/box packers, Parking lot set-up/traffic director, Outdoor meal/grocery distribution,Clean up
Distribute flyers to businesses, churches, groups.
Invite folks to come OR take meals & groceries to a neighbor or someone else you know.
Thank you in advance for helping with this project!
Linda & Marie
Thank you to my Epworth family for the gift I received at Christmas. I am blessed
each Sunday - and each day - to be in ministry and fellowship with you!
Marie
.
February Birthdays
2/2 Allen Hendricks
2/2 Becky Labriola
2/3 Donna Yant
2/7 Jake Ripple
2/11 Lavonne Cindric
2/11 Sam Wimsatt
2/13 Mike Parker
2/22 Linda Lockwood
2/22 Doug Remley
2/23 Jordan Ripple
2/24 Terry Siber
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
3/13 Krissy Lockwood
3/15 Elaine Burgess
3/21 Alyce Ripple
3/22 Barb Kennedy
3/24 Randy Stuck
3/27 Ray Kennedy
3/28 Deb Scheetz
3/29 Marcia Emmert
March Anniversaries
3/30 Mark & Cheryl Carter
Massillon Community Midweek Lenten
What I love about Jesus
Services at 6:30 p
Due to COVID we will not share supper or Com-
munion. Masks and other COVID precautions will
be followed according to the policies of the host
congregations.
The service will be livestreamed on the Massillon
Lenten Community Facebook Group every week.
The offering collection will be for the Family Living
Center.
Wednesday, March 9
St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church (226 3rd St SE)
Pastor Angie Storer Preaching
Wednesday, Mach 16
Faith Lutheran Church (107 6th St. SW)
Pastor Les Peine Preaching
Wednesday, March 23
First Baptist Church (20 6th St SE)
Pastor Mark Kreemer Preaching
Wednesday, March 30
First United Methodist Church (301 Lincoln Way #)
Pastor Sara Coons Preaching
Wednesday, April 6
Grace United Church of Christ (933 Main Ave W)
Father George Baum Preaching
FINANCIAL REPORT
11/30/2021Balance $14,256.33
Receipts $6,494.00
Total Receipts $20,750.33
Expenses $11,074.34
12/31/2021Balance $9,675.99
SAVINGS ACCOUNTS
12/31/2021EOC Credit Union $1,222.99
EOC Credit Union $18,105.59
FARMERS Savings $36,146.92
12/31/2021TOTAL $55,475.50
BUILDING EXPANSION
11/31/2021Balance $27.46
Pledges $2,320.79
Total In- $2,348.25
Payment $2,115.06
Extra Payment on Principal $80.79
12/31/2021Ckbk. Balance $152.40
12/01/2021Loan Bal- $82,243.81
Payment on Prin. $1,905.83
Extra Payment on Prin. $80.79
12/30/2021Loan Bal- $80,257.19