St. Michael s Lutheran Churcharsen Erdman, Jim Davis, Karen Williams, Kari Gardner, Richard Matty, Kelsie Gerber, Sylvia Koch, Kristine Yoho, Dottie Lautenschlager; also Foxx Gabel,

St. Michael’s Lutheran Church Loving God, Loving People, Serving the World

7404 Coal Bank Road Marshallville, OH 44645 330-855-1313

[email protected] stmichaelsweb.com

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Laura Barbins elected bishop of the ELCA Northeastern Ohio Synod

The Rev. Dr. Laura Barbins, Mentor, Ohio, was elected Sept. 12 to serve a six-year term as the fifth bishop of the Northeastern Ohio Syn-od of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during an online synod assembly.

Barbins was elected on the fifth ballot, with 171 votes. The Rev. Ange-la Freeman-Riley, pastor of Bethesda on the Bay Lutheran Church in Bay Village, Ohio, received 148 votes.

The bishop-elect has served as pastor of Celebration Lutheran Church in Chardon since 2001 and ad-junct faculty at Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, since 2018. Trinity is one of seven ELCA seminaries. Barbins served as interim pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church in Fairview Park, Ohio, from 1999 to 2000 and associate pastor for youth at Holy Trinity Lutheran in Nashville, Tenn., from 1995 to 1997.

The Rev. Dr. Barbins received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Roanoke College in Salem, Va., in 1990 and a Master of Divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettys-burg (now United Lutheran Seminary) in Gettysburg, Pa., in 1994. United is one of seven ELCA seminar-ies. She received a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tn., in 2004.

Bishop-Elect Barbins is married to the Rev. Dr. Paul Barbins, pastor of the Latvian Baptist Church of Cleveland and Program Coordinator of the Spiritual Program for Adults at St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio. The Revs. Barbins have four daughters and live in Mentor, Ohio.

The Rev. Abraham D. Allende has served as bishop of the Northeastern Ohio Synod since 2014. Infor-mation about the Northeastern Ohio Synod is available at neos-elca.org/. Details about the installation of Bishop-Elect Barbins will be forthcoming.

AUTUMN 2020

Weekly Schedule

Worship at 10:30 a.m.

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001h0F4ASBNXqBoUoe_GQ05awId7XoZoMnAEPPfd2a_cIsgJe1wlhpYcbBvHnOff3Tu1uKo1CcsG9whMgvr8Rw758pUndKZ5dasTYwdc6TyvYSawNKNwqEHAZ4GhVyxbmKt27ql3kn7Tvz4_dzknRZGOA==&c=pUOcowfKMKDbhj_1jTHXxm47OznMcxwrcMbM7ae1AX5bFevW8Nf-SQ==&ch=TnACeIy_IlO7Q

From the desk of Pastor Lucas…

I often see signs on churches that say “All Are Welcome”. Talking with church people, I get the impression that they genuinely mean it, that they want their church to be a place for anybody who walks in. Unfortunately, their actions often betray this sentiment. I remember having a conversation with someone who, because of a medical condition, used an electronic wheel-chair. This person was not fond of these signs because, even though the sign was put up with the best intentions, more often than not, there was no physical way for this person to enter the building. This person told me that this was completely unwelcoming. In other cases, people have told me that they do not feel welcomed be-cause of the way they were dressed, something that was preached about, or that they were not greeted by anyone else attending the service. The impression by these people was: All are welcome… to be just like everyone who already attends this congregation. Not very welcoming, regardless of what the sign may say.

As a new pastor, I try to keep these conversa-tions in mind. I was very relieved to see that our building is ADA-accessible. The pews are move-able so we could make space for someone if that occasion would arise, but what else are we miss-ing? As someone who can get around, I have the privilege to not have to think about these con-cerns every time I go in to a new building, but the thought nags at me.

The reason I bring this up is because things seem to have shifted with the onset of the pan-demic. I went back and read my newsletter arti-cle from June/July. In it I wrote, “It has been one of the hardest decisions as your pastor to not go back to in-person worship.” As I look back, I can now see how this could have con-fused people by making it sound as if I alone made the decision. I did not. It was a decision made by Council. As you know, some disagreed with this decision. As Council met and dis-cussed multiple times, I came to a realization that goes back to what I said above. My realiza-tion is that all congregations, when making plans, always exclude a certain number of peo-ple.

I do not mean this to be mean-spirited, but only to point out the reality that we are limited in

what we can do. It happens because we don’t realize it (limited by our imagination), cannot afford it (limited by our finances), or cannot ar-range it (limited by our physical space or loca-tion), etc. We are forced to chalk this up to the fact that we can only do our best. However, what we have to remember is that perfection is never the point. Whether we know we are ex-cluding people or not, we try to make a decision to reach as many as possible, given the current situation. Yet, some are missed.

This is the case with on-line worship. Not only did we have to make a decision, but we had to make it with little lead time and with an enor-mous amount of contradicting information. Was the decision perfect? Of course not! How-ever, we knew that going in. We used the re-sources and know-how we did have and had worship every Sunday. That alone is pretty amazing, but I’m not looking for a pat on the back. What happened when we went on-line was now suddenly people who could never phys-ically make it to Sunday morning worship were now able to come and participate. Now, not be-ing able to make it to the building was not an obstacle to worshipping with our community. We now have regular attendees from all over Ohio, Florida, and Pennsylvania (that I know for sure, maybe more).

As amazing as this is, being on-line has cut oth-ers out of worship. This is a shame. It was nev-er our goal to exclude people; it was just the sad reality. Having new people being able to join does not make this okay. I know that people are hurting. I know that church often can offer sol-ace for that hurt and I want to acknowledge that hurt. The council is not perfect and we have greatly struggled to get back to in-person wor-ship. However, wanting to do something and being able are two different things.

A committee has been formed to look at guide-lines and options and a drive-in worship is al-ready taking place. An idea like in-person wor-ship sounds good, yet requires a lot more work once one scratches the surface and starts to con-sider the details. It requires compromise, which is more difficult when we are under a lot of stress. Will it be perfect? Of course not! How-ever, with the resources we have available, it is the option that reaches the most people at this time.

continued on page 3

From the desk of Pastor Lucas…

continued from page 2

Of course, our Lutheran tradition teaches us that we should always be on the lookout for change. Martin Luther knew that the Refor-mation was not a one-time event, but that the church would always have to reform itself. We try our best to express how God is good and lov-ing, while in the midst of our sin, but our real work is to continue to explore and ask questions about how this impacts our lives today. God is alive and active and we should be watching to see where God is at work right here and now, even in the midst of a pandemic. Council does not do this alone. We have been asked to make decisions and these decisions can be hard and sometimes unpopular. However, we are in this together, and we know that Jesus is here, too. Whether we agree or not, we all

have been called to respond to God’s Love and we all have different gifts that make that possi-ble. I appreciate your support and patience dur-ing these hard times.

2 Corinthians 5:15-18

And [Jesus] died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them. From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: every-thing old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and

has given us the ministry of reconciliation. In God’s Love, Pastor Lucas

Congratulations! to Jo-Anne Beebe who recently retired from the Ohio De-partment of Job and Family Services after 30 years. In her former posi-tion as Business Opera-tions Manager, JoAnne managed eight offices

throughout the state. Her original retirement plans were “to take a long road trip out west to see this beautiful country and take some classes of interest to me.” Due to COVID-19, those plans are on hold but she is en-joying spending time with family, working on crafts, organizing, trying new recipes and just lov-ing life!

The friends and family of Frank Reichard; also Lauren, Pat Merritt, the Pamer family, Bishop-elect Laura Barbins, Avery, the 20/21 school year, the family of Chris Cervany, Ray Kamps, our congregation, Sharen Weygandt, Larry Baer, peace for our country, Jill Blair, Karen, Ester Gra-ber, Rhonda McGuire & family, Mary Garman, John & Marge Most, Pearl Berlin, Bob, Karen Ann Suitt, Glendora Nursing Home, Pastor Keeler, Lee Abbott, Andy Scruggs, Dean Ramsey, Carsen Erdman, Jim Davis, Karen Williams, Kari Gardner, Richard Matty, Kelsie Gerber, Sylvia Koch, Kristine Yoho, Dottie Lautenschlager; also Foxx Gabel, Riley Eggeman and all those serving in the military.

JUNE BUDGET UPDATE

Our 2020 budget is approximately $119,850

We need about $9,990 each month

to support this.

June regular offering: $8,630

Deficit: $1,360

NOTE: Weekly offering totals are posted on the bulletin board after the service. The full monthly budget will contin-ue to be available on the table in the Narthex.

As the pandemic con-

tinues, here is a way to

connect with our com-

munity and provide

ministry to those in

need. The Marshallville

Food Pantry is accept-

ing food at this time. It

is located on the south side of the parking lot

at Marshallville United Methodist Church at 18

N. Main Street. The items that are in high de-

mand include cereals, mac and cheese, soups,

Chef Boy R Dee products, peanut butter and

jelly, canned fruits, and convenience foods in

general. Please consider providing some of

these items, they can be dropped off directly to

the food pantry.

Loving God, Loving People,

and Serving the World

JULY BUDGET UPDATE

Our 2020 budget is approximately $119,850

We need about $9,990 each month

to support this.

July regular offering: $5,040

Deficit: $4,950

NOTE: Weekly offering totals are posted on the bulletin board after the service. The full monthly budget will contin-ue to be available on the table in the Narthex.

AUGUST BUDGET UPDATE

Our 2020 budget is approximately $119,850

We need about $9,990 each month

to support this.

August regular offering: $6,069

Deficit: $3,921

NOTE: Weekly offering totals are posted on the bulletin board after the service. The full monthly budget will contin-ue to be available on the table in the Narthex.

Bluffton University

Justin Kauffman Son of Fritz & Shelly Kauffman

Bachelor of Arts in Biology; plans to attend dental school

We pray for the family and friends of Frank

Reichard, who died on September 12th. May

they find comfort in the sure and certain hope

of the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Congratulations! to Chase & Allison (Jackson) Thut who were united in marriage on July 25th. May God bless them as they begin their new life together.

Chase is the son of Mike & Kathy Thut and grandson of John Gordon.

Congratulations! to An-drew & Molly Pamer on the birth of their son, Trig Michael. Trig is welcomed by sister, Nora, and brother, Luke; grand-parents, Tony & Cathy Pamer, and great grand-mother, Ellen Douglass.

We pray that God will bestow many blessings upon the Pamer family as they grow together in His love.

If you have some news you’d like to share, please send the information to

[email protected] so we can in-clude it in the next newsletter.

August Birthdays

1 Randall Brillhart

4 Carrol Eggeman

4 Mark Bell

7 Terri Beyler

14 Mora Marshall

15 Hannah Galehouse

17 Gordon Marshall

17 Rafe Eggeman

18 Sylvia Koch

22 Mary Ann Berg

22 Zachary Douglass

24 Louis Rehm

25 Duane Horst

26 Candy Holland

30 Elizabeth Kaufman

31 Kareena Merritt

31 Roxanna Moser

31 Christine Long

31 Kenley Zimmerly

31 Landon Zimmerly

September Birthdays

1 Bruce Myers

1 Riley Bischoff

4 Marcia Reichard

4 Donna Frase

4 Annie Smyser

5 Sharon Brillhart

5 Bennet Gwin

7 Rob Fischer

9 Greg Gordon

12 Garrett Kanya

12 Alex Pittman

13 Tony Koch

15 Leland Bischoff

16 Heidi Brillhart

17 Dea Most

18 Sean Krall

18 Barry Smith

18 Emily Kaufman

20 Jean Steiner

23 David Berger

24 Ashlyn Brookover

26 Joshua Rehm

26 Melissa Craemer Smith

28 Hazelyn Smith

October Birthdays

2 Josh Zimmerly

5 Ryker Long

6 Eric Kaufman

9 Molly Pamer

9 Robert Hull

10 Larry Ott

19 Riley Eggeman

20 Emily Horst

24 Dillan Kanya

27 Quinton Hewitt

27 Grayson Smith

29 Kelsey Edgell

31 Lois Douglass

August Anniversaries

3 Bill & Janet Earnsberger

3 Donna & George Koladin

8 Jerry & Mary Ann Berg

8 Rick & Sue Galehouse

10 Mark & Mary Bell

September Anniversary

19 Jamie & Shauna Pittman

October Anniversaries

10 Fritz & Shelly Kauffman

11 John & Dea Most

15 Tony & Cathy Pamer

15 Josh & Sarah Zimmerly

21 Chad & Mary Beth Day