Ohltown United Methodist Church 2001 Ohltown Mineral Ridge Rd., Mineral Ridge, Ohio 44440 * Phone 330-652-6614

www.ohltownumc.com * www.ohltownumc@gmail.com

September 2013 Issue ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Message from Your Pastor

The first Sunday of August was Communion Sunday. Nothing

new about that, we usually celebrate the Lord’s Supper on the

first Sunday of the month. What was different this time was

the way we celebrated the meal. Instead of me leading you

through the order of service of Table I, II, or III in the United

Methodist Hymnal, I asked you to tell me the story. We as a

congregation remembered the reason for the feast and shared

in those memories. I loved being guided though each step from

why Jesus was in the Upper Room to the words He spoke to his

disciples. I felt like each person in our midst experienced the

saving Grace of Jesus and understood just a little bit better the

reason we were coming to the Lord’s Table.

“Tell me the story.” The story can be the story of how you

were brought to this place on your faith journey, or it can be

the story of the life of Christ. I challenged you months ago to

become so familiar with your story that you could willingly

share it with confidence at a moment’s notice. How are you

doing with that? Have you taken time to tell your story? Even if

you tell it to your own reflection in the mirror, I think it is

important to be ready to share. Who knows, your story might

be just what someone needs to hear to spark an interest that

will light a flame that will bring another disciple to Christ for

the transformation of the world. Tell me the story.

Blessings,

Pastor Teresa

Opportunities for Worship

September 1 ~ Labor Day Sunday

September 8 ~ Rally Day

As children and youth get ready to go back to school and the adults get ready to resume a more normal work schedule, we plan on holding our Rally Day. We will gather for worship, and some Sunday School classes will resume. All children are invited to bring in their back packs so we can have a Blessing of the Backs Packs to get this year off on the right foot!

We will also celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion by coming forward to the communion rail. What a wonderful opportunity to kneel or stand to humble yourself before God.

September 15 ~ Hispanic Heritage Month Begins September 22 ~ Autumn Begins

Join us as we celebrate the fall harvest and thank God for the bountiful blessings in our lives. September 29 ~ Rev. John and Felice Hauser

The Hausers will share their gift of song and the message of the Gospel at our 9:45 am worship service and again at 6:00 pm in the sanctuary. Please join us!

175th Anniversary reservations are due today.

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

Rally Day

Our annual Rally Day Picnic will be held Sunday,

September 8 following worship. Hot dogs, drinks,

and table service will be provided. Bring a covered

dish if you wish. All are welcome!

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Trash and Treasure Sale

&

Chili Sale

Our fall Trash and Treasure Sale and Bake Sale and

our first Chili Sale of the season will be held on

Saturday, September 21 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Chili will be $6.00 a quart and will be for sale until

we are sold out.

We will be pricing and sorting items beginning on

Monday, September 16. Please bring in your

donations by Thursday, September 19.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept clothing,

upholstered furniture, large appliances, TVs, or

computers.

We also need baked goods for the Bake Sale and

pies to serve for lunch. Please bring in baked good

donations on Friday, September 20 or on Saturday,

the day of the sale.

If you have any questions or need the church

opened so that you can drop off items or baked

goods, please call Lois Ann Phillips at 330.652.1596.

This is a church-wide project, and all help is greatly

appreciated!

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United Methodist Men

The United Methodist Men meet for breakfast

every Tuesday at 7:30 am at Bob Evan’s. Please

join us for fellowship.

Come and Make a Joyful Noise

With Us!

Do you experience God’s presence through

worship? Do you enjoy singing praises to God?

Ohltown UMC’s choir will hold practices on

Saturdays in September at 10:00 am, and we would

love to have you join us! We are currently

preparing music for worship and for our 175th

Anniversary Celebration. Please note that we

won’t meet on Saturday, September 21 due to the

Trash and Treasure Sale.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The United Methodist Women will meet next on

September 16 at 7:00 pm to make centerpieces

under the direction of Dorothy Wiseman for

Ohltown UMC’s 175th Anniversary. Diane Walker

will lead the devotions, and our hostesses for the

evening will be Lorna Ramsey and Lois Ann Phillips.

September Worship Leaders

Liturgists Greeters

1 Christy Sheldon Betty Ann Genetta

8 Diane Walker Marcy Sabol

15 Harold Baringer Bill & Linda Robb

22 Cheryl Emrich The Rich Family

29 Randy Emrich Jerry & Janet Rodgers

Opportunities to Pray For One Another Cathy Yurcho ~

broken shoulder and

other health

concerns

Norma Jean Sloat

Lauretta Fleet

Jerry Rodgers ~ health concerns

Preston Walker ~ at Hillside for rehab

Bonnie ~ undergoing radiation treatment

(cousin of Marcy)

Leslie and Scott ~ involved in a car accident (niece

and nephew of LuAnn Allen)

Matt ~ undergoing tests (friend of Bill

and Linda Hahn)

Bill ~ had a cardiac episode; undergoing tests

(friend of Bill and Linda Hahn)

Unspoken Prayers

Ongoing Prayer Concerns

Evelyn A. (a quilting friend); Nellie B. (mother of

Judy Gidney); Blake H. (grandson of Don and Janet

Hood); Sally G. ~ has lung cancer (grandmother of

Gionna); Larry ~ has cancer (brother of Sheryl);

Patricia L. ~ undergoing chemotherapy (friend of

Sandi Rich); Lelia Sanzenbacher; our church; our

military; our nation

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Joys

Congratulations to Howard and Lillian Divelbiss, who celebrate their 62nd wedding anniversary on Sunday, September 1.

September Birthdays

1 Karen Carroll, Miles Steffan

3 Sarah Hahn

5 LuAnn Allen, Tyler Cluse

7 Krysti Pollock

9 Mary Jane Gehring

10 Norma Jean Sloat

12 Kendall Adams

13 Chris Sigley

17 Clark Hood

19 Arron Baldwin

20 Chrystal Robinson,

Marabeth Steffan

21 April McComb

24 Benjamin Rhinehart

25 Lou Ellen Oakes

27 Yvonne Hornberger

29 Frank Sloat

30 Sandi Jo Rich

September Anniversaries

1 Howard and Lillian Divelbiss

8 Don and Janet Hood

9 Ed and Virginia Cluse

10 Rich and Karen Rich; Nick and Jessica Diana

14 Jeff and Kelly Williams

18 Nick and Mindy Heidinger

25 Joe and Chris Baird

26 Earl and Robin Bowers

27 Bill and Sveta DeCesare;

Garth and Christy Sheldon

Special Worship Opportunity

Rev. John and Felice Hauser will be returning to Ohltown United Methodist Church to share with us their gifts of music and message. We will have two opportunities to worship with the Hausers on September 29 in our sanctuary. Come worship with us at our Sunday Morning service at 9:45 am and again at 6:00 pm. All are welcome!

Ohltown United Methodist Church is celebrating 175 years!

Please join us on Sunday, October 27, 2013

as we celebrate the life of our church and

give thanks for its continued ministry.

Sunday Worship 9:45 am

Celebration Service 3:00 pm

Dinner 5:00 pm at

Fifth Season

(1400 Main Street, Mineral Ridge Ohio 44440)

Cost of dinner is $12.00 per person due with reservation

Make checks payable to Ohltown United Methodist Church

Please come to any or all of the festivities

2001 Ohltown Mineral Ridge Road

Mineral Ridge, Ohio 44440

R.S.V.P. to Sheryl Baringer or Linda Hahn

by September 29

Ohltown: Then and Now

Lillian Divelbiss, Church Historian, is writing a series of articles about our history for The Bridge leading up to our 175th Anniversary

Celebration in October. The following is the fourth part of the series.

On January, 28, 1973 a Commissioning Service was held for Dr. Gail Hoover to commission her as a missionary to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Bishop Francis E. Kearns of the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church was present to preside over the commissioning.

In Rhodesia, Dr. Hoover was involved in the training of primary teachers with a particular emphasis in mathematics at the Nyadir Teacher Training College and Secondary School. This school was the only teacher training institution in Rhodesia. Dr. Hoover married Lazarus Jaji on December 19, 1975 in Rhodesia. They currently live in Jacksonville, Florida, where Gail retired from Florida University as a teacher in 1995.

Gail and Lazarus Jaji have two children. Their daughter, Tsitsi teaches African-American Literature at the University of Pennsylvania. She speaks several languages, is musically talented, and has performed recently at Harvard University. Their son, Tafi, lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife, seven-year old son, and two step-daughters. He is the manager of sales at a car dealership.

Gladys Jaji, the sister of Lazarus, at one time was a YSU student, with the support of Ohltown UMC. She was a part of our worshipping community and even stayed with different families of our church. She recently lost her job in Zimbabwe due to lack of funding. She had been an aide for a food organization that distributed food to children in the schools.

To be continued in the October edition of The Bridge.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anniversary Planning Meeting

The next planning meeting for Ohltown UMC’s 175th Anniversary is Monday, September 16 at 6:30 pm. All are welcome!

175th Anniversary News

We Need Baby Pictures!

We would like to add baby pictures from our members who have belonged to Ohltown UMC for 50 years or more to our 175th Anniversary Celebration book. Please be sure to write your name on the back so that it can be returned to you after it is scanned. Please bring your picture to the church office by September 8.

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Anniversary Celebration Volunteers Needed

Volunteers are needed on October 27 to help with our celebration. Please see Pastor Teresa if you are able to help. We are in need of:

Volunteers in the parking lot to help guide guests with parking, to direct them where to go, and to assist anyone who is handicapped;

Greeters at each door;

Ushers to seat guests as they arrive; and

Nursery volunteers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Church Clean-up Day

In preparation for our 175th Anniversary Celebration, there is a Church Clean-up Day scheduled for Thursday, October 10 beginning at 9:30 am. All people of the church are needed, and all help will be much appreciated!

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Ohltown UMC 175th Anniversary Celebration October 27, 2013

Dinner at Fifth Season at 5:00 pm

_____ Number of people attending dinner

Cost is $12 per person. Make checks payable to Ohltown UMC. Please detach and return with payment

to Sheryl Baringer or Linda Hahn by September 29.

Opportunities to Get Involved in the Community

Veterans Stand Down for Mahoning and Trumbull Counties

The United Methodist Community Center is in need of volunteers to assist with the first, “Veterans Stand Down for Mahoning and Trumbull Counties.” The event will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, located in downtown Youngstown at 30 W. Front St. from 9am to 3pm on September 7, 2013.

The Veterans Stand Down is a program to provide assistance to homeless veterans. The program offers the over 5,000 homeless veterans in the Mahoning Valley a break from their battle by bringing the community together in a safe, violence-free and substance-free environment. The program gets them connected with agencies that can assist them in addressing critical needs for themselves and their families.

The United Methodist Community Center is in need of volunteers and is also requesting $10

donations to help feed the volunteers. Donations can be sent to the Community Center, Attn: Debbie. Please call Barbara Beach at 330.782.5950 or the United Methodist Community Center at 330.743.5149, extension 101 to volunteer to help on this special day in the life of our community.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Trumbull Memorial Hospital

Cancer Survivors Program Sunday, September 8 from 2-3:30 pm

Lincoln School 2253 Atlantic Street NE, Warren Free and Open to the public

Speaker + Patient Testimonial + Butterfly Release Refreshments

Call 330.841.9399 for more information and to register in advance

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Celebrate Christmas with Ernie Haase & Signature Sound

Experience the intricate harmonies, the joy and fun, the fellowship, and the message through song on Sunday, December 1 at 6:00 pm at the Sharon High School Auditorium, Sharon, PA 16146. To purchase tickets, call 724.962.5000. Visit www.grace-chapel.net/ehss for more information.

Benefit Homemade Spaghetti Dinner

and Chinese Auction

Sponsored by the YSU Campus Chapter of Habitat for Humanity and

Western Reserve UMC Mission Committee

Saturday, September 14 from 4:00-6:30 pm Western Reserve UMC

4580 Canfield Road (Rt. 62) 330.792.5805

Adults: $7 Youth (ages 6-12): $4

Children (ages 5 and under): Free

Homemade spaghetti, meatballs, salad, bread, beverage, and dessert will be served. Takeout is available. Funds will be used locally.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Niles First UMC

Women’s Retreat The Sense of Simplicity

Saturday, September 21 8:00 am-4:00 pm.

$20.00 to cover breakfast and lunch

Explore the Voluntary Simplicity movement with Georgette Thornton, who has been practicing “simple living” for many years. Bring your values in line with your everyday actions, and consciously shun the world of excess consumerism and material wanting. Embarking on this journey, you will learn:

What Voluntary Simplicity is and isn’t,

The real purpose of money and how to determine what needless spending is really costing you,

How to value the 24 hours of life that you are given each day,

How excessive consumerism brings clutter and chaos into your life and how to manage that clutter, and

How simplicity can enhance your personal and professional relationships.

Registration forms are available in Ohltown UMC’s church office and on the bulletin board outside the nursery. Please register by September 7.

Dear Ohltown Church, Thank you for sending me to Camp Asbury. I had a lot of fun. I even met a new friend, and I was in Cabin 9 with a friend from last year. Sincerely, Makenna Darby Thank you so much for your cards and prayers and the CD of the sermons. This infection is sure taking its time leaving. God Bless All, Lauretta Fleet Thank you very much for the thoughtful cards of support and the words of encouragement. My mom is the same, but I am better. Sincerely, Judy Gidney P.S. Prayer changes things and people, too. Dear Friends in Mission: Thank you for your gift of $858.00 to the Imagine No Malaria campaign through The Advance, the designated mission giving channel of The United Methodist Church. We are pleased that 100 percent of your contribution will go towards eliminating one of the world’s most deadly diseases. Your gift supports a partnership of The United Methodist Church with The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, The United Nations Foundation, The International Federation of the Red Crescent and Red Cross Societies, Nets for Life, and national ministries of health and UMC Central Conferences across Africa. Thank you for helping us reach a $75 million goal to eradicate malaria, a disease which kills one child every 30 seconds. May God grant you a sense of hope and joy as you continue your support for mission and as we advance towards a day with no more malaria. Grace and Peace, Roland Fernandes General Treasurer United Methodist Committee on Relief General Board of Global Ministries

Correspondence Dear Ohltown UMC, Thank you for your generous gift to me my last Sunday in Ohio. You all are a wonderful reflection of God’s love. I greatly appreciate your support and love. Many blessings ‘til we meet again! Love always, Carol Ann Smolka Dear Folks, Things are going well here in West Virginia. Nathan has come out of retirement and formed his own company, which is now contracted to an oil company. I will be again teaching a hand quilting class beginning in October for six weeks. This is the third class I have had. It has been nice to keep in touch with Ohltown through “The Bridge.” God has been good to keep me in good health through these times. I am now 89 years and feel like I’m in my 60’s. God bless us all, Mae Rakestraw

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Thank You!

To the generous soul who left a gift of money on the front seat of my car earmarked for my travel expenses for attending school and going to Nashville, let me say, “Thank you.” Your generosity knows no bounds and is only exceeded by your kindness. Thank you for thinking of me and my traveling needs. With gratitude and thanks, Pastor Teresa

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UMW Thank You

Many, many thanks to all who donated the wonderful food and worked so hard to make our salad luncheon a great success. We entertained about 70 ladies who had a great time and look forward to next year. There were representatives from five different churches in the area.

Ohltown United Methodist Church

Word Search

W O R S H I P X E P O B A O M G C R M T ANNIVERSARY

N M H K A N N I V E R S A R Y K O Q E V CHOIR

W A Y L H O L E A H C I M F P N N N A A CIRCUIT RIDERS

H O L Y C O M M U N I O N G I X N G N C CONNECTIONAL

E A S T L O R D S T O W N E U B E R D A DISCIPLES

W E S L E Y C L A S S S T F I G C I E T EAST LORDSTOWN EUB

T S I D O H T E M N W O T L H O T S R I FELLOWSHIP

S S A L G D E N I A T S R F M S I T R O GIFTS

U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T W O M E N GRIST MILL

D I S C I P L E S S A L C S O S N I S B HOLY COMMUNION

S S E N T I W S A W M I L L Y M A L E I JOHN WESLEY

T D D T S P I H S W O L L E F E L L R B MEANDER RESERVOIR

N E M T S I D O H T E M D E T I N U V L MICHAEL OHL

S R E D I R T I U C R I C C O P S S O E OHLTOWN METHODIST

T R A N S F O R M A T I O N B R R E I S PEACEMAKERS

C B V U C J O H N W E S L E Y A E R R C PRAISE

D O O H N O M I S T A P X S L I Y V D H PRAYERS

V Q O H S C H F Q U I L T E R S A I N O PRESENCE

G I S R E K A M E C A E P R H E R C S O QUILTERS

R Q K P V J X D O N U S E P R N P E E L SAWMILL

SERVICE

SIMON HOOD

SOS CLASS

STAINED GLASS

TRANSFORMATION

UNITED METHODIST MEN

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

WESLEY CLASS

WITNESS

WORSHIP

Mark Your Calendars:

Important October Dates

October 6 World Communion Sunday

October 10 Church Clean-up Day at 9:30 am

October 19 Chili Sale

October 23 Church Conference at Ohltown

at 7:00 pm (All are welcome!)

Newsletter Deadline

October 27 175th Anniversary

Celebration Service at 3:00 pm

Dinner at 5:00 pm

Our annual Turkey Dinner will be held

on November 16th.

Facts and Figures

Worship Attendance Given to the Lord

7/28/13 48 $ 907.00 8/4/13 59 $ 2310.00 8/11/13 55 $ 1491.00 8/18/13 46 $ 1310.00 8/25/13 60 $ 1095.00

September 2013 Sunday Worship 9:45 am, Sunday School 11:00 am

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1

2 Office Closed

3 UMM 7:30 am at Bob Evans Nominating Committee Meeting 6:30 pm

4 Quilters 10:00 am Mission Meeting: The Fifth Sparrow 6:30 pm

5

6 7 Choir Practice 10:00 am

8 Blessing of the Back Packs Holy Communion Rally Day Picnic Baby Pictures Due

9

10 UMM 7:30 am at Bob Evans Compass Group at Ohltown UMC 10:00 am

11 Quilters 10:00 am

12 Clergy Gathering 10:00 am-1:00 pm

13 14 Choir Practice 10:00 am

15

16 175th Anniversary Meeting 6:30 pm UMW 7:00 pm

17 UMM 7:30 am at Bob Evans Humility House Worship 10:00 am

18 Quilters 10:00 am

Newsletter Deadline

19

20 21 Trash and Treasure Sale 9:00 am-3:00 pm Chili Sale

22 First Day of

23

24 UMM 7:30 am at Bob Evans SPRC Consultation at North Lima Calvary UMC 6:30 pm

25 Quilters 10:00 am

26

27

28 Choir Practice 10:00 am

29 Rev. John and Felice Hauser leading worship at 9:45 am and 6:00 pm 175th Anniversary Reservations Due

30

Pastor Teresa at MTSO

Missions Corner

Our next meeting is Wednesday, September 4 at 6:30 pm. This meeting is open to anyone who would like to learn about a new mission opportunity, The Fifth Sparrow. The Fifth Sparrow is a transitional home that will give support to women leaving prison and help them to re-enter society. The organization takes its name from scripture: Matthew 10:29 reads, “Not one sparrow will fall to the ground apart from the will of your father.” Currently, the organization is run out of homes, but the ministry has purchased property in North Jackson and has begun the zoning process. Come and learn about this ministry that will help those in need of guidance.

Thank You!

Thank you to all who donated school supplies for the students of Seaborn Elementary. Your generosity is much appreciated. Also, thank you to Pat and Hannah Baird for delivering the items.

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Third Grade Bible Program

On Bible Sunday, November 24, third graders will be given a Bible for faithful attendance to Sunday School. Beginning on Rally Day, September 8, attendance will be recorded for those coming to Sunday School. Third-graders must attend at least eight weeks of Sunday School to receive a Bible. These children will also spend a few Sunday School Classes with Pastor Teresa learning about the Bible. If you are entering the third grade, please let Pastor Teresa know.

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October Newsletter Deadline

The deadline for the October edition of The Bridge is Wednesday, September 18. Please have all information to the office by the 18th to ensure it will be published in the October edition of The Bridge. If possible, please e-mail articles to the church office at ohltownumc@gmail.com.

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