Newsletter

1. EpworthUnitedMethodistChurch
3061LincolnWayW.
MassillonOH44647
CHANGESERVICEREQUESTED
DATEDMATERIAL
August/September/October 2019
The Echo
August/September/October 2019
Newsletter of Epworth United Methodist Church
Worship Time: Sunday 9:30 am
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.
Sermons for August, September, and October
August 4—Matthew 12:46-50/Romans 8:14017/I Corinthians 16:20/II Corinthians 13:11/Galatians 6:18, "The
Christian’s Larger Family," Service of Holy Communion
August 11—John 3:1-17/I Corinthians 3:1-2/Ephesians 4:11-15, "Babies and Grown-ups"
August 18—I Corinthians 12:120-26/Ephesians 2:19/22; 5:25-27/I Corinthians 3:9-15,
"Portraits of the Church"
August 25—Ephesians 6:10-18/I Corinthians 4:16-17; 11:1/I Thessalonians 1:6-7; 2:14,
“The Christian as Soldier and as Actor”
September 1—I Corinthians 10:1-4/Galatians 3:26-29/Romans 6:3-4, “Pictures of a Bap-
tismal Service” Service of Holy Communion
September 8—II Corinthians 12:7b-10, “Lessons in Living with Defeat”
September 15—II Corinthians 12:1-7a, “The Christian Life Beyond Words”
September 22—- I Corinthians 6:17-20; 9:24-27, “This Mortal and Immortal Flesh”
September 29—John 1:35-42, “Andrew, a Brother”
October 6—Matthew 26:30-35, 69-75, “Peter, A Man of Action,” Service of Holy Com-
munion
October 13—Mark 10:35-45, “James, Unfulfilled Leader”
October 20—John 1:43-48, “Philip, the Deliberate”
October 27—March 15:33-41, “James, the Less”

2. Pastor’s Pen
Reaching Our Neighbors and Inviting Them to Church.
People need to know us before they can trust us. And they need to trust us before they will join us at church.
We may be assuming what worked in the past will still work today, it used to be as easy as 1-2-3.
1. Invite a friend to church.
2. The friend comes to church.
3. The preacher closes the deal.
It’s harder today. Most people don’t want to go to church today. They’re not angry, they’re apathetic. But
where is this apathy coming from?
The critical first element isn't the invitation, it's having a friend who makes the invitation.
The biggest roadblock to evangelism today may be as simple and as sad as this: we don’t know our neighbors
like we used to. Twenty percent of Americans say they don’t know any Christians.
People become willing to consider Jesus, when they like and trust the Christians they know.
This is a crucial problem, because there's one reason above all others that opens people up to the gospel. Peo-
ple become willing to consider Jesus when they like and trust the Christians they know.
People need to know us, before they can trust us. And they need to trust us, before they’ll come to church
with us. We have to be the church, before they’ll go to church. So, what do we need to do?
1. Pray for them, while getting to know them better.
2. Build Relationships with No Strings Attached
3. Live a life of Compassion and Integrity
4. Talk about the issues of Life, not Just about Your Church.
5. Be More Joyful, Less Negative.
6. Live a Life of Extravagant Generosity
7. Be Your Authentic Self, Even If It Means Being Different.
8. Be Available and Listen to them.
Jesus engaged people where they were and connected to them.
That’s where he earned people’s trust. That’s where we’ll earn it, too.
Sunday School Begins September 8th!
There will be classes for all ages waiting
for you this fall! If you’ve not been at-
tending a Sunday School class, you are
invited to check one out. If you have
been attending one, we hope to see you
there!
Classes meet after worship until 11:30
from September through May. Children
ages 3– 6th grade gather in the large
classroom. Youth meet in the Youth
Room. The Parlor Class for Adults, led
by Rod Deitz, will begin the year looking
at the Apostles Creed. The
Friendship Class for adults, led by Alice
Fazzone, meets in the Fellowship Hall
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
Musical Notes
Thank you to all who have
provided special music for
worship this summer as the choirs take a
break! And thanks to Robin Schumacher
for coordinating the special music sched-
ule!
Our choirs will be back in September. We
are looking forward to everyone returning
AND we welcome new folks who would
like to join us! The choirs are more than
just a time of singing together. Choir
members are worship leaders who also
enjoy great fellowship together.
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 September and Oc-
tober is:
Sept. 1- Special Music
Sept. 8- Adult Choir
Sept. 15– Adult Choir
Sept. 22 - Adult Choir
Sept. 29 - Spirit Praise
October 6 - Special Music
October 13 - Adult Choir
October 20 - Adult Choir
October 27 - Spirit Praise
Make a joyful noise!
Marie

3. Jesus Loves the Little Children…..
And the Big Kids, Too!
Incredible Faith Vacation Bible School was an incredible week! Thank you to Linda
for co-directing and organizing, and to Beryl, Liz, Krissy, Nate, Debbie, Kathy,
Nancy, Barb B., Alyce, Alice, Pastor Les, Breanna, Emma and Sydney for helping
with registration, stories, science and games, crafts, refreshments, music and
everything else that they did! We also thank Evelyn for making our slingshot
cookies and lion head cracker snacks and to Larry for delivering them! We spent
the week with an incredible group of children who met some incredible heroes
from the Bible—Ark Man, Giant Slayer, Lion Man and Builder Man, a.k.a. Noah, Da-
vid, Daniel and Nehemiah. Thanks also to those who supported VBS financially or
with donations. From a song the kids learned: “I am a promise. I am a possibil-
ity. I am a promise with a capital ‘P’. I am a great big bundle of potentiality. I’m
learnin’ to hear God’s voice and I’m tryin’ to make the right choices. I’m a prom-
ise to be everything God wants me to be!”
BIBLE BUDDIES for kids ages 4-6th grade and Youth helpers in grades 7-12 will
be Traveling Through the Parables again this year. Bible Buddies is from 5:30—
7:30 p.m. on Sunday evenings and includes music, Bible story, activities, craft and
a snack. All children are invited - and friends are always welcome! The dates for
Bible Buddies in the coming school year are:
September 15
October 20
November 17
December 15
January 19
February 16
March 15
April 19.
Our annual Kids Camp-in information will be shared at a later date. And tentative-
ly mark your calendars for VBS next summer the week of July 19-23!
The yearly calendar for children and youth activities will be distributed the first
of September.
Jesus said, “Let the children come to me…”
Marie
Thank you to Larry Hinson for overseeing the
Building Fund Account and taking the deposits
to the bank.
Thank you to everyone who hosted
Fellowship Time this summer. The
goodies were yummy!
Sunday School
Begins September 8th!
There will be classes for all ages waiting for you this fall! If you’ve not been at-
tending a Sunday School class, you are invited to check one out. If you have
been attending Sunday School, we hope to see you there!
Classes meet after worship until 11:30 from September through May.
Children ages 3– 6th grade gather in the large classroom. They are led by Linda Lockwood and
Debbie Scheetz.
Youth, grades 7-12, meet in the Youth Room. Class is led by Marie Senften-Deitz.
We will also be having Confirmation Class with Pastor Les for Youth this year. If you are a youth
in grades 7-12, and are interested in being a part of the Confirmation Class, please let us know.
Classes for adults include the Parlor Class, led by Rod Deitz, which will begin the year looking at
the Apostles Creed and the
Friendship Class led by Alice Fazzone, which meets in the
Fellowship Hall.
Watch for information on an Adult study on the United Methodist Church.

4. Preschool Themes
8/5 Boats
8/12 Puppets and Theater
8/19 Turtles, Frogs and Fish
8/26 Summer Farewell
9/2 Who Am I?
9/9 Calendar Days-Weeks-Months
9/16 Safety Week
9/23 Manners
9/30 Shapes
10/7 Ohio Heritage
10/14 Book Week
10/21 Apple Week
10/28 Halloween/Fall
Infant/Toddler Themes
7 Brown Oval
8 Red Heart
9 Yellow Circle
10 Blue Square
September—Manners/All About Me/Senses
October—Fall
UPCOMING EVENTS
September 2— Labor Day—Day Care Closed
September 3—Preschool Begins 9—11:30 a.m.
October 21—Open House
October 31—Halloween Party
Staff
Director—Theresa Lemon
Infants—Ashley Lechleiter, Patty Harper
Tod A—Cindi Todich
Tod B—Brooke Coleman, Gale Bailis
Pres A—Megan Harris, Amanda Beitel
Pres B—Mary Krider, Robin Shaw
Food Service—Lisa Shrefffler
Subs—Marcia Paul, Christina Ling, Angela Hall,
Michelle Brugh, Alycia Rusyn
Fundraiser for St. Jude’s
August 15-16
2—5:30 p.m.
The School Agers will be having a Lemon-
ade/Bake Sale for the children of St.
Judes. Donations for your selections will
be accepted. Our goal is to raise $100
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– Thurs to get a rental
form & will be put on the schedule when the deposit is
made.
August Birthdays
8/2 Nicole Anderson
8/2 Julie Wimsatt
8/3 Barb Baker
8/4 Sarah Lockwood
8/5 Megan Mitzel
8/5 Tiffany Remley
8/6 Roberta Miller
8/7 Brenda Charney
8/8 Matt Baker
8/8 Mike Carter
8/14 Doug Nichols
8/16 Alan Stanford
8/20 Jessica Stuck
8/20 Jonathon Stuck
8/21 Pauline Campbell
8/23 Melinda Ramsey
8/25 Debbie Parker
8/26 Rachael Cox
8/26 Elise Lockwood
8/27 Liz Remley
8/28 Tim Kelley
8/28 Aaron Krichbaum
August Anniversaries
8/1 Ralph & Norma Cox Sr.
8/11 Nate & Krissy Lockwood
8/15 Sean & Tiffany Remley
8/25 Tim & Barb Remley
8/27 Mike & Debbie Parker
September Birthdays
9/3 John Paulus
9/3 Rich Mortland
9/3 Timothy Kelley
9/5 Brandy Miller
9/5 Courtney Miller
9/15 Jacquie Burtt
9/16 Jessica Staley
9/16 Morgan Williamson
9/16 Emma Woods
9/22 Barb Remley
9/22 Diane Shane
9/26 Ron Moore
9/27 Charlene Worrall
9/28 Alice Brunckhart
9/28 Seth Brickey
9/29 Bonnie Kerr
9/29 Ben Krichbaum
9/30 Jeannette Birkich
October Birthdays
10/1 Elaine Legrom
10/2 Winona Weaver
10/4 Marie Deitz
10/5 Sandi Schoener
10/9 Bill Weaver
10/12 Jeff Brickey
10/12 Daniel Amstutz
10/17 Alison Williamson
10/19 Sam Nodo
10/23 Alice Fazzone
10/23 Katie Burtt
10/25 Gracie Kelley
10/29 Mitch Krichbaum
10/31 Mona Schultz
September Anniversaries
9/16 Roberta & Brian Miller
9/19 Vicki & Larry Henderson
9/21 George & Marcia Emmert
October Anniversaries
10/3 Diane & Lester Shane
10/5 Rod & Marie Deitz
10/13 Ray & Barb Kennedy
10/16 Hal & Nikki DeCeuster
FINANCIAL REPORT
CHURCH
06/01/19
Balance
Fwd. $18,133.85
Receipts $7,122.49
Total Receipts $25,256.34
Expenses $7,664.14
06/30/19Balance $17,592.20
SAVINGS ACCOUNTS
06/30/19EOC Credit Union $1,230.67
EOC Credit Union $18,000.00
FARMERS Savings $25,795.65
TOTAL $45,026.82
BUILDING EXPANSION
06/01/19
Balance
Fwd. $520.30
Pledges $1,265.92
Memorials $500.00
Hall Rent $525.00
Total In-
come $2,811.22
Payment on Principal $2,453.35
Extra Payment on Principal $105.92
06/30/19Ckbk. Balance $251.95
06/01/19
Loan Bal-
ance $142,391.07
Payment on Prin. $1,932.75
Extra Payment on Prin. $105.92
06/30/19
Loan Bal-
ance $140,352.40