Ohltown United Methodist Church 2001 Ohltown Road, Mineral Ridge, Ohio 44440 + Phone 330.652.6614

Office Hours: Monday – Thursday from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm www.ohltownumc.com + ohltownumc@gmail.com

December 2014 Issue ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Message from Your Pastor

Dear Friends,

I recently received a sales magazine, and on the front cover was

the phrase: Celebrating the Blessings of Christmas. Of course celebrating

to a sales magazine is a big sale. But it caused me to stop and

ponder…how many of us will really celebrate the blessings of Christmas?

I fear too many people get bogged down in the details and never

get to appreciate the blessing of the Christmas miracle. How many

times have you heard people say, “I just need to get through

Christmas”? My heart breaks for them.

We are all busy this time of year. But I pray you take time to

surround yourself in the true blessing of Christmas, Jesus Christ. I would

like to share with you a few lines from the front of an old cherished

Christmas card:

The dark night wakes,

The glory breaks,

And Christmas comes again.

Christmas is coming… again! I pray that the peace of Christmas

fills your heart with joy as you celebrate the love of God and the true

blessing of Christmas. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among

us.” (John 1:14) Now that is something to celebrate!

From our family to yours,

Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year!

Joe, Pastor Teresa, & Carol Ann

Opportunities to Worship

December 7 2nd Sunday of Advent

We light the candle of love, or what some people call the Bethlehem Candle.

December 14 3rd Sunday of Advent

On this day we light the rose candle, which is the Shepherd’s Candle, representing joy.

December 21 4th Sunday of Advent

The fourth candle is the candle of peace and is sometimes calling the Angel Candle.

December 21 Blue Christmas Service

Join us on the longest night of the year at 4:00 pm for a time of prayer, contemplation, remembrance, and hope. This is a service designed for those who find the Christmas Season painful, lonely, or empty. All are welcome.

December 24 Christmas Eve

Join us as we light the Christ Candle and celebrate the long awaited Christ child. We’ll gather for fellowship at 9:15 pm, followed by worship at 10:00 pm.

December 28 First Sunday after

Christmas Day All are welcome to a service of

scripture and carols.

The Mission of Ohltown United Methodist Church is to make disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world

Opportunities to Get Involved at Ohltown UMC

Christmas Eve Worship and Fellowship

Join us Christmas Eve as we celebrate the birth of

Jesus! All are welcome for a time of fellowship and

hot cider and cookies at 9:15 pm, followed by

worship at 10:00 pm.

UMW Christmas Party

Ladies—come enjoy dinner

and a fun night out!!

Come join us for our Annual Christmas Party at

Dino's in North Jackson. Dinner is scheduled for

Monday, December 8, at 6 pm. The cost is $10 for a

terrific buffet.

Secret sisters will be revealed and new ones

selected. If you do not have

a secret sister this year and

would like one, please join

in. For our guests we ask

you to bring a wrapped gift

for an exchange during a

fun game called Doing it

Right.

Bring a friend! A good time

will be had by all. Reservations are due to Linda

Hahn by Dec. 3.

Chili Sale Dates

Ohltown UMC will be selling our homemade chili for $6.00 per quart on the following Saturdays:

December 13

January 10

February 14

Each chili sale begins at 11:00 am and continues until the chili is sold out. See Kevin Hood if you are interested in making chili.

Christmas Caroling

Come join in the fellowship as we

go caroling to our shut-ins! We

will meet at the church on Sunday

afternoon, December 14 at 2:00

pm. Anyone who likes to sing or

would like a chance to visit with

the shut-ins is welcome to join us. See Pat Baird if

you have any questions.

Blue Christmas Service

This year Ohltown UMC will be hosting a healing

service called Blue Christmas. This service will be a

place for those who find the Christmas season

painful and empty. It may be the first Christmas

without a loved one or it may be a time that has

always been difficult. The anguish of a broken

relationship, the insecurity of unemployment, the

weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation, the

uncertainty that comes with financial problems or

family conflict: all of these things can make us feel

very alone in the midst of the celebrating. This

worship service is designed for a time of prayer,

contemplation, remembrance, and hope. It is open

to anyone at Christmas who struggles and is looking

for a safe place to find peace and

comfort. It is also open to those

who would like to spend a little

more time in God’s word. Join us

December 21 (the longest night

of the year) at 4:00 pm for this

special service.

United Methodist Men

The United Methodist Men meet for breakfast every

Tuesday at 7:30 am at Bob Evans. Please join us for

fellowship!

Opportunities to Give at Ohltown UMC

Mineral Ridge Food Pantry Christmas Collection The Mineral Ridge Food Pantry will again be distributing food and $20 ham vouchers for Christmas. Along with

providing money for the vouchers, you are also invited to stock up and donate the following non-perishable

items: pancake mix, syrup, cookie mix, canned pumpkin, boxed pie crust mix, canned veggies,

canned fruit, and instant potatoes. This list gives you a variety of ideas to help make someone's

dinner enjoyable. Thank you again for your loving kindness to those less fortunate.

UM Community Center Christmas Project This year we are donating gifts to the children connected with the United Methodist Community Centers in Warren and Youngstown. Needed items are:

Unwrapped gifts (toys) for children from infants to 17 years old

Warm hats, gloves, and scarves for all ages

Family-sized toiletries (bath soap, shampoo, conditioner, bath towels, deodorant,

toothpaste, toothbrushes)

Any of these will be appreciated. You can bring them to the church on November 30 and December 7. We apologize for the short collection time; these seasons are starting to run together! Whatever you can provide will be lovingly accepted. Thank you.

United Methodist Community Center Sponsors Teen Christmas Parties The Youngstown and Warren City Schools have 14 teen programs called GAIL (Getting

Along in Life) for girls and BILL (Building Individual Life Lessons) for boys. These

programs are for intermediate students. They meet weekly and discuss life skills,

manners, etiquette, etc. Each Christmas they have a party for which our United

Methodist Churches donate cookies. Again this year we will be joining other groups

in providing cookies for these students. The parties are scheduled for the week of

December 8, so if you would be interested in making a batch of cookies, please bring the cookies to the church

by Wednesday, December 3. If you have any questions, please see Joan Gearhart.

Facts and Figures

Worship Given to the Attendance Lord

10/26/14 77 $ 2087.65 11/2/14 88 $ 2699.00 11/9/14 69 $ 1738.00 11/16/14 79 $ 1300.00 11/23/14 80 $ 1593.00

Missions Update

Thanks to each and every one of you who donated to the Thanksgiving Grocery Voucher Collection for families associated with the Mineral Ridge Food Pantry. We collected $425. There were 45 families assisted in this year's program, each receiving groceries and a food voucher for meat. It is a good feeling to help others in need.

Opportunities to Give Globally

UMC #Giving Tuesday

When Methodists Are United

Tuesday, December 2

The Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church is participating in UMC #GivingTuesday on

December 2, 2014 by raising awareness about The Advance and encouraging people to make an online

donation to an Advance project. A match will be made for every dollar given through The Advance on UMC

Giving Tuesday (up to $1 million, a maximum of $2,500 per individual gift)—meaning that 200 percent of every

donation on December 2 will directly impact the designated project. Your gift will support our more than 850

projects and 300 missionaries of the United Methodist Church. Please visit www.umcmission.org/give to learn

more about UMC Giving Tuesday, to read about the mission projects of the United Methodist Church, and to

make a donation on December 2, 2014 that will be matched dollar for dollar.

Ebola Response

Since June 2014, the Global Health unit of the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist

Church and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has been working in collaboration on a global

scale to coordinate an integrated approach in response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa. To date, UMCOR and

the Global Health unit have worked together to ensure that $400,000 of educational programs, protective

equipment, and other Ebola-related supplies have been provided to the health boards in Sierra Leone, Liberia,

and Cote d’Ivoire.

It has now become apparent to the international humanitarian community and the various governments

involved with this crisis that this epidemic will likely have long-term negative impact on the health systems,

the economies, and social practices of these countries. Global Ministries and UMCOR are partnering with local

health boards, bishops, missionaries, UMCOR technical offices and others to enable a long-term approach that

not only responds to the current Ebola crisis, but helps to strengthen health-care capacity in the region to be

better prepared for any possible future crisis.

This long-term, integrated approach reflects the established standard of response to health crises and issues

of sustainable development.

If you would like to give financially to support these immediate and long-term goals, please remember to write

Ebola response in the memo section of your check. This will ensure that the funding goes where intended.

Please make your check payable to Ohltown UMC.

Thank you for your generosity at the Community Thanksgiving Service…

We collected $461 as a community for the Mineral Ridge Food Pantry!

In addition, Western Reserve Mechanical, who has been doing some work on the building at First Presbyterian

Church, generously gave $1000 to the Food Pantry!

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Opportunities to Pray for One Another Marysue Laszacs Johanna Benzenhoefer Lauretta Fleet Bill (Elmira’s husband) Laurie (friend of the Hornbergers) Norma Jean Sloat Blake (grandson of Janet Hood) Ferguson, MO Unspoken Prayers

Condolences Bethany and Patsy following the passing of their newborn child

Linda Hahn following the passing of her cousin, Delores Stull Janet G. following the passing of her sister

Ronnie Benzenhoefer following the passing of his brother-in-law The family and friends of Veda R. following her passing

The family and friends of Chuck Jeswald following his passing The Kline Family following the passing of Rev. Dr. Larry Kline

Doris, niece of Lorna Ramsey, following the passing of her husband

Joys

The Akron Children’s Hospital has opened a new facility in Warren. Our own little Rebekah Plant can be seen with her family in several pictures. Here is a link to the article: http://inside.akronchildrens.org/2014/11/12/specialty-services-open-in-warren/

Keep our worship leaders in your prayers:

Address Updates: Dan and Cassie Freed-Pastor, 8011 Leeds Manor Road, Marshall, VA 20115-2660 Winter Address for Art Wolfcale, 575 Sport Hill Road, Easton, CT 06612-1715

January Newsletter Deadline: The deadline for the January edition of The Bridge is Wednesday, December 17. If possible, please email articles to the church office at ohltownumc@gmail.com.

December Worship Leaders

Liturgists Greeters

7 Sandi Rich Harold and Sheryl Baringer

14 Harold Baringer John and Mary Jane Gehring

21 Cheryl Emrich Bill and Linda Hahn

24 Jerry Rodgers Joe Smolka

28 Linda Hahn Preston and Diane Walker

Looking Ahead to January 2015!

4 Cheryl Emrich Debbie Bogniard 11 Christy Sheldon Daryle and Yvonne Hornberger 18 Diane Walker Earl and Robin Bowers 25 Harold Baringer Clark and Adria Hood

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Thank you, Ohltown UMC!

Thank you to the SPRC for hosting a wonderful graduation celebration after church on October 26. I appreciate your very kind gesture and I know the congregation appreciated the delicious cake and ice cream!

Praise God, my Course of Study is done! Thank you to those of you who have given me your continued support while I was completing the needed courses. Thank you all so much for the beautiful cards and gifts that helped me celebrate graduation day.

What do you get when you put Joe Baird, Guy Shively, and Arnie Welch together? A fixed flag! Thank you, gentlemen, for restringing our flag and putting it in its proper place, and thank you, Jerry Rodgers, for repairing the lights that illuminate it and the parking lot.

On Student Sunday, the Confirmation class put together a wonderful service. Each Confirmand took part in the service sharing their gifts with the congregation. A great big thank you to Linsy Shively for bringing the message and for sharing God’s Word.

Laity Sunday was fantastic! It was so nice to see so many people participating in spreading the Good News. Thank You, Cheryl Emrich, for delivering the message. I am sure everyone would agree that she did an excellent job for her first time speaking as a Lay Servant.

Thank you to our dedicated chairpersons for all of your hard work preparing for Charge Conference. I know it was difficult having it on the same day as the Annual Turkey Dinner, but we did it! Thank you all. Thank you to those who made our All Saints Sunday a wonderful spirit filled service. We dedicated the windows, the pavilion ramp and gutters, the piano, and the refurbished bell tower.

Another successful Turkey Dinner goes in the history books! Thank you to EVERYONE that helped to make it a success. An event such as this does not happen overnight or without a great deal of time and planning. Thank you especially to Lois Ann Phillips, Christy Sheldon, and Janet Hood for taking the lead in preparing for this dinner. There are too many people to thank by name (for I know I would miss someone), but to the potato peelers, gravy makers, turkey carvers, and all the other essential helping hands…Thank you! You are appreciated more than you know. Pastor Teresa

December Birthdays

2 Julie Cluse, Don Phillips, 17 Chris Bish

Lelia Sanzenbacher 18 Kary Shively

3 Pat Baird 20 Connor Keller, Jacob Robinson

4 Paul Colla 22 Lois Ann Phillips

5 Lauren Gearhart, Natalie Rhinehart 23 Mike Waldern

6 Sil Baker 25 Evelyn Berndt

8 Lester Mellott, Ken Salyard 28 Melia Hofus, David Mellott,

13 Robin Baldwin, Shawn Cottrell Chris Plant

14 Connie Darby, Rick Rose 29 Adelynn Knipp

15 Tari Turkali 31 Sherry Rose

December Anniversaries

2 Dave and Rhonda Goist 21 John and Mary Jane Gehring

8 Guy and Kary Shively 24 Gregory and Rebecca Hood

13 Joe and Pastor Teresa Smolka

December 2014 Sunday Worship 9:45 am, Sunday School 11 am

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1

2 UMM at Bob Evans 7:30 am Advent Study 11 am & 5:30 pm UMC #Giving Tues.

3 Quilters 10 am Deadline for UMW Christmas Party Please put cookies for the UMCC in the kitchen.

4

5

6

7 Last Day for UM Community Center Collection Second Sunday of Advent

8 Clergy Gathering Poland UMC UMW Christmas Dinner at Dino’s 6 pm

9 UMM at Bob Evans 7:30 am Advent Study 11 am & 5:30 pm

10 Quilters 10 am

11

12

13 Choir Practice 10 am Chili Sale 11 am until sold out

14 Christmas Caroling 4 pm Last Day for Food Pantry Collection Third Sunday of Advent

15 Pack items at MR Food Pantry 6 pm

16 UMM at Bob Evans 7:30 am Advent Study 11 am & 5:30 pm

17 Quilters 10 am Newsletter Deadline

18

19

20 Choir Practice 10 am

21 Blue Christmas Service 4 pm Fourth Sunday of Advent

22

23 UMM at Bob Evans 7:30 am Advent Study 11 am & 5:30 pm

24 Fellowship 9:15 pm Christmas Eve Worship 10 pm

25

Merry Christmas!

Office Closed

26

27

28 First Sunday after Christmas Day

29

30 UMM at Bob Evans 7:30 am

31 Quilters 10 am New Year’s Eve

Opportunities to Grow at Ohltown UMC

Advent Study

This year we will follow a study entitled Advent

through the Eyes of Those Who Waited. There are

no books to purchase; handouts will be given for

each class session. We will have two sessions

available, Tuesday mornings at 11:00 and Tuesday evenings at 5:30.

The class will begin on December 2, with the final session on

December 23. All are welcome! No prior knowledge of theology is

required. Bring a Bible and a desire to study God’s Word.

New Members Class

Are you interested in learning more about The

United Methodist Church and in learning

about what it means to faithfully participate in

the life of the Church by committing your

prayers, your presence, your gifts, your

service, and your witness? If so, consider joining us at our New

Members Class beginning on January 11. Each week for five weeks,

we will gather after worship during the Sunday School hour to explore

a brief history of The United Methodist Church and of specifically

Ohltown UMC under the direction of our Membership Chair, Lillian

Divelbiss, and Pastor Teresa. We will also share some of the

ministries and experiences at Ohltown UMC to give you a glimpse of

this wonderful congregation. After taking the class and prayerfully

considering membership, you will be welcome, if you so choose, to

join Ohltown UMC on Sunday, February 15 in our reception of new

members during worship. If you would like to join us in this small

group study, please see Pastor Teresa or Lillian so that we can have

the appropriate number of materials available.

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