Church Newsletter

1. EpworthUnitedMethodistChurch
3061LincolnWayW.
MassillonOH44647
CHANGESERVICEREQUESTED
DATEDMATERIAL
November/December 2019
January 2020
The Echo
November/December 2019
January 2020
Newsletter of Epworth United Methodist Church
Sermons for November, December, and January
November 3: All Saint’s Day, “Simon, the Zealot” Luke 6:12-25, Communion
November 10: “Nathaneal, the Forthright” John 1:43-51
November 17: “Mathew, the Successful Man” Matthew 9:9-11
November 24: “Thomas, The First Century Man” John 20:19-29; CHIRST THE KING SUNDAY
December 1: Holy Communion: “Thaddaeus, the Questioner” John 14:18-24; FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
December 8: “Judas, the Value of a Dollar” John 13:21-30; SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
December 15: “John, Love and Thunder” Mark 9:33-41; THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
December 22: “Matthias, Holy Substitute” Acts 1:15-26; FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
December 24: Christmas Eve, “The King is Coming!” Luke 2:1-20, Isaiah 9:2-7 CANDELIGHT LESSONS
AND CAROLS SERVICE
December 29: Pastor on Vacation
January 5: Pastor on Vacation (Epiphany)
January 12: “Baptism of the Lord” Isaiah 31:1-9; Acts 10:34-42; Matthew 3:13-17
January 19: “Behold the Lamb of God!” Isaiah 49:1-7; John 1:29-42
January 26: “Bloom Where You’re Planted” Isaiah 42:1-9; Exodus 14:1-2

2. Pastor’s Pen
Christmas
According to a survey conducted by LifeWay Research, nearly three in ten people with no religious affiliation
have plans to attend a Christmas service. And based on the same survey, 57 percent of the people polled said
they would attend church at Christmas, if they were invited. So how do we insure some of this 30 percent attend
our church and how do we keep them?
So, what should we at Epworth UMC do? Invite a friend to our Christmas Eve service.
How should you do this? First of all, send them a handwritten Christmas Card inviting them to join us and in-
form them of the date and time. Secondly, give them a call or better yet invite them in person, face to face! We
can do it. It isn’t that hard!
Our Christmas Eve Service is Tuesday, December 24th
at 6:00 pm.
How do we keep them—we need welcome them when they come, and then invite them to return.
We might consider inviting them to join one of our Sunday School classes or our Wednesday morning Bible
study, in order to learn more about the Bible and to get to know us better and for us to get to know them better.
Thirdly, we need to be in prayer for those whom we might invite; family members. neighbors, friends and may-
be even some strangers.
May we have a blessed Holiday Season as we enter this time of year with Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Rev. Les Peine
We will be participating in Mountain Vision Ministry this Christmas season. We are adopting 15 children
from rural West Virginia to help them have a merrier holiday. We are asked to buy the children a clothing
item and a toy from the list provided. If you would like to adopt a child, please let Bryan Stuck know. Gifts
will be due back by December 1.
Thank You’s
Thank you to Larry Hinson for overseeing the Building Fund Account and taking the deposits to the bank.
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
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.
Please call the office if you or a family member are to be hos-
pitalized, are under a doctor’s care, need a pastoral visit.
When admitted, please inform the hospital of your church
affiliation.
Church Office Hours 9 am—Noon, Monday-Thursday .
FINANCIAL REPORT
CHURCH
09/01/19Balance Fwd. $15,227.82
Receipts $8,229.30
Total Receipts $23,457.12
Expenses $8,965.09
09/30/19Balance $14,492.03
SAVINGS ACCOUNTS
09/01/19EOC Credit Union $1,231.14
EOC Credit Union $18,018.65
FARMERS Savings $27,268.18
09/30/19TOTAL $46,517.97
BUILDING EXPANSION
09/01/19Balance Fwd. $126.92
Pledges $2,499.17
Total Income $2,626.09
Payment on Principal $2,453.35
Extra Payment on Principal $76.67
09/30/19Ckbk. Balance $96.07
09/01/19Loan Balance $136,309.34
Payment on Prin. $1,955.21
Extra Payment on Prin. $76.67
09/30/19Loan Balance $134,277.46

3. Musical Notes
Thank you to our faithful
Adult Choir and Spirit Praise
members who share the Word through music in
each worship service!
We welcome new folks who would like to join us!
These groups involve more than just rehearsing
and singing…. they also involve laughing and
talking and enjoying fellowship together! Come
join us!
Adult Choir—for adults of all ages—rehearses in
the choir room on Sunday morning on the weeks
that they sing at 8:40 a.m.
Spirit Praise—for youth in grades 7-12 and
adults of all ages—rehearses in the sanctuary on
weeks that they sing at 8:30 a.m. We also would
welcome folks who play drums, guitar or other
instruments to join us!
The choir schedule for November-January is:
November 3 - Spirit Praise
November 10 - Adult Choir
November 17 - Adult Choir
November 24 - Spirit Praise
December 1 - Adult Choir (Advent begins)
December 8 - Adult Choir
December 15 - Adult Choir
December 22 - Spirit Praise, Adult Choir,
kids
December 24 - Spirit Praise, Adult Choir
(evening service)
December 29 - Spirit Praise
January 5 - Adult Choir
January 12 - Adult Choir
January 19 - Adult Choir
January 26 - Spirit Praise
Make a joyful noise!
Marie
Our annual Christmas program will
be shared during worship on Sun-
day, Dec. 22. It will be an
intergenerational program involving
kids, Confirmation Class, Adult
Choir, Spirit Praise and some other
folks! We will rehearse on Sunday,
Dec. 15, immediately following wor-
ship for 1/2 hour. Parts will be dis-
tributed in November!
RUMMAGE SALE
The Church Rummage Sale will be
March 6 and 7. Save all your goodies
and we will give you a date and time
for bringing them in. See Linda Lockwood is you have
questions.
Jesus Loves the Little Children..
And the Big Kids, Too!
BIBLE BUDDIES, for kids ages 4-6th grade and
Youth helpers in grades 7-12, are continuing
Traveling Through the Parables. Bible Buddies is
from 5:30—7:30 p.m. on Sunday evenings and in-
cludes music, Bible story, activities, craft and a
snack. All children are invited - and friends are
always welcome!
Join us at Bible Buddies on these days:
November 17, December 15, January 19,
February 16, March 15 and April 19.
Sunday School Class for kids age 3-6th grade is
held after worship each week in the large class-
room. Class for youth grades 7-12 is held in the
Youth Room (aka church basement). Parents,
while your kids are in class, you are invited to the
Class in the Parlor or the Friendship Class in the
Fellowship Hall!
Watch for news about our annual Kids Camp-in.
It will be a day of fun, highlighted by a special ser-
vice project.
Mark your calendars for Vacation Bible School
next summer! It will be the week of July 19-23!
If you need a yearly calendar for children and
youth activities, they are available in the church
office. We can also mail one to you. Jesus said,
“Let the children come to me…”
Marie
We will be brightening Su-
san’s holiday by bringing her
gifts. There will be a bag for
your donations in the front of
the sanctuary.
We will once again be packing treat boxes for our
shut-ins. Please see Alyce Ripple or Alice Fazzone
if you would like to donate to these boxes.
Join us to “Ring In the Season” on Sunday,
December 1. Worship at 9:30. All are invited
to stay and Hang the Greens in the Sanctuary
and fellowship hall following worship. Your
help is needed. We will have a covered dish
luncheon at 11:30 a.m.
An Angel tree will be ready on December 1
We will provide Christmas for a family
from The Salvation Army.
Join us in candlelight on
Christmas Eve as we cele-
brate Christ’s birth.The ser-
vice beings at 6:00 p.m. on
December 24. Communion
will be served.
Operation Christmas Child. We will be
packing shoeboxes for Samaritan's
Purse. Shoeboxes are due November
17. See Alyce Ripple for details.
Quarter Auction
To Benefit Epworth
U.M.C.
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Starts at 2:00 pm
Doors open at 1:00 pm
Only $5.00;Extra paddles $ 2 or All
in Paddle for $20
Food & beverages available for pur-
chase
Place:
Epworth U. M. C.
3061 Lincoln Way N. W.

4. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Santa’s Secret Shop is coming to Epworth on December 9, 10, 11 and 12. I am look-
ing for helpers from 9 to 11:30 a.m. to assist the children in shopping. If you can come for a morning or
just an hour, I would really appreciate the help. Please let me know so that I can schedule help for each
day.
THEMES INFANT/TODDLERS
Nov 4—Community Helpers November
Nov 11—Fun w/Cookng Thanksgiving/
Nov 18—Thanksgiving Families
Nov 26—Family Unit December
Dec 2—Warm Clothes Christmas/
Dec 9—Domestic Animals Nativity
Dec 16—Christmas Around Cultural
The World January
Dec 23—Spatial Concepts Transportation
Dec 30 — Nursery Rhymes/
Rhyming sounds
Jan 6 Small Machines
Jan 13 Fun at the Beach
Jan 20 Transportation
Jan 27 Winter Fun
UPCOMING EVENTS
Nov 19—Thanksgiving Feast
Nov 21-22—Day Care Closed
Dec 9-12—Santa’s Secret Shop
Dec 20—Christmas Party—Friday
Dec 23-Jan 1—Day Care Only
Dec 24—Closing at 3 p.m.
Dec 25-—Day Care Closed
Jan 1— Day Care Closed
Jan 6—Preschool re-opens
Jan 20—Martin Luther King Day—No Preschool
Open House
What a WONDERFUL evening. It is always a special time when we get together as
a family. It is especially nice to finally meet grandparents and siblings. Even though
some of you have been coming to Open House for 20 plus years, you are still al-
ways welcome.
A Great Big THANK YOU goes out to all the Teachers for their extra work prepar-
ing the classroom and materials. YOU ARE THE BEST!
Christmas Poinsettia Order Form
November Birthdays
11/3 Cleo Kelley
11/4 Dolly Henry
11/5 Marcia Paul
11/6 Cheryl Carter
11/12 Pam Staley
11/13 Frances Stuck
11/15 Keith Paulus
11/19 Tisha King
11/19 Trent Cakanic
11/21 Jim Brunckhart
11/22 Sandy Hunter
111/29 Devin Ramsey
November Anniversaries
11/27 Charlene & John Worrall
December Birthdays
12/1 Kathy Mortland
12/4 Iva Rees
12/5 Nick Staley
12/5 Lucas Kelley
12/7 Kameron Kincaid
12/7 Ralph Cox, Sr.
12/11 Sarah Paul
12/12 Laura Otte
12/12 Art Woods
12/14 Jeremiah Drobney
12/15 Nathan Schaffter
12/16 Bonnie Stipe
12/16 Mitch Derheimer
12/19 Nicole Weltich
12/22 Gabe Cakanic
12/23 Scott Bowe
12/27 Tim Remley
12/28 Theresa Lemon
12/28 Zoey Paulus
12/29 Vicki Henderson
12/31 David Stanford December Anniversaries
12/2 Larry & Evelyn Hinson
12/21 Laura & Bob Otte
To order your Christmas poinsettia, send this completed
form and your check to the church office. Make your
check out for $8.50 to Epworth United Methodist. Please mark
memo line “poinsettia”.
_____Red _____White ____Pink
The deadline for
ordering is
November10th!
Your Name __________________________________
(as you want printed in acknowledgment insert)
Phone # ___________________________________
Please specify for bulletin:
In Memory Of _________________________________________
In Honor Of ___________________________________________
(Other) _______________________________________________
January Birthdays
1/3 Joan Lawrence
1/4 Heather Kandel
1/5 Ken Paulus
1/6 Bruce Lockwood
1/7 Kim Woods
1/8 Brian Allen
1/8 Susie Krichbaum
1/9 Kaelynn Ledger
1/10 Darrel Brinker
1/16 Jim Paulus
1/18 Robin Schumacher
1/21 Ken Schaffter, Jr.
1/29 Mike Brunckhart
January Anniversaries
1/16 Darrel & Lori Brinker