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December 2019—January 2020 First Christian Church—Medina (Disciples of Christ) The Disciple Visitor
The Disciple Visitor
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December 2019—January 2020 First Christian Church—Medina (Disciples of Christ) The Disciple Visitor
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December 2019—January 2020 First Christian Church—Medina (Disciples of Christ) The Disciple Visitor
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December 2019—January 2020 First Christian Church—Medina (Disciples of Christ) The Disciple Visitor
All Children and Youth are invited to participate in the is year’s youth led Christmas Program!
Rehearsals begin Sunday, December 1st during worship! Youth will share ’Heaven’s Got Talent’
on Sunday December 22nd during worship!
Blessing to Summon Rejoicing by Jan Richardson When your weeping has watered the earth.
When the storm has been long.
When you have seemed an exile from your life, a long way from where your comfort lies.
When despair attends you.
When lack, when trouble, when fear, when pain, when empty, when lonely,
when too much of what depletes you
and not enough of what restores and rests you…
… then let there be rejoicing!
Then let there be dreaming.
Let the seeds soaked by tears turn to grain, to bread, to feasting.
Let there be laughter in your mouth and on your tongue shouts of joy.
Mark your calendars!
Sunday, December 15th
More details to come!
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December 2019—January 2020 First Christian Church—Medina (Disciples of Christ) The Disciple Visitor
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December 2019—January 2020 First Christian Church—Medina (Disciples of Christ) The Disciple Visitor
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December 2019—January 2020 First Christian Church—Medina (Disciples of Christ) The Disciple Visitor
This morning I received my kids’ school newsletter. In it was a note from the School Director. She wrote, “Given the
season, it seems fitting to address all those things that fill us with gratitude and thanks. This year, rather than only being
thankful for the blessings and the good things in life, I’m going to try to be thankful for my struggles and challenges.”
Wow! I love that! It’s easy to be thankful for our friends and family and the things that bring joy and love to our lives, but
the areas where we often find we grow the most are those places where it isn’t always easy, where we need to dig deep
and expect more from ourselves and extend compassion to others.
As we reflect on our past year together as Church, we can certainly think of moments when we struggled. And we can
think of other moments where we’ve been challenged, disheartened, discouraged, or distracted.
We can also easily recall times when we’ve laughed and celebrated. Moments when we’ve seen God in our midst as we’ve
‘Loved One Another.’ Times when we’ve been inspired and challenged by the ‘Questions Jesus Asked.’
And there have been times we’ve experienced or witnessed moments when our struggles and our joys intersected -
making us all the more stronger and wiser, more patient and more caring.
2019 began with an emergency meeting. The fear was that financially we weren't going to make it. The numbers just
weren’t adding up. That meeting generated a worried passion and hope-filled, love-filled energy which led to 20 church
members meeting weekly to pray and problem solve the immediate crises. Though we still have much work to do, though
we are still struggling, we are also filled with gratitude and thankfulness for the ways in which we came together and
discerned the problem. From Columbia Gas to the Preschool to our Rummage Sale and Auction … so much love, time,
work and devotion - from so many of you - has lessened the financial burden.
2019 also brought us church members who struggled with health concerns and congregants who have lovingly walked
with them through their recovery. We’ve mourned the loss of beloved church members and have celebrated the legacy of
faithfulness they left us. We’ve celebrated new friends in worship. We’ve had amazing youth and children lead worship.
We’ve had baptisms and incredible adult mentors who have embraced our young people with so much love. We’ve had
church leaders finally able to take a break after years of generous and faithful service. And we’ve had some new people
step into leadership positions. We said good-bye to Nathan, our amazing pianist, and we’ve enjoyed the inspiring gifts of
music that continues to fill our sanctuary week after week with the amazing presence of God. We’ve had some ministries
take a break, others continue strong, still others that are currently being prayed into reality, and others that have yet to be
dreamt.
We’ve supported the Battered Women’s Shelter, and Cups Café, and Camp Christian, and the Sanyuka Choir of Uganda,
and the Clothing Shed, and Week of Compassion, and Disaster Survivors, and Crop Walk, and Lenten Community Services,
and Road-side clean-up and The Avenue worship services. And we’ve touched lives through the making and giving of
prayer shawls, and Sunday School classes, and Women’s and Men’s Groups … and soon through our annual Thanksgiving
Baskets, Angel Tree, and Blue Christmas Service.
I am so very thankful for a church filled with committed and caring, faithful and generous people who are doing their best
to ‘love one another.’ I am thankful for the times we have struggled together and for the times we have held one another
up (and put each other back together again with Jesus glue!). I am thankful for the
noodle-y, nonsense filled moments of celebration. And I am thankful for every moment
in between.
I pray you will join us as we faithfully stumble and rise together through another year,
a year that will inevitably be filled with blessed struggles, blessed joys, and blessed
relationships.
Shalom,
Rev. Laura
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December 2019—January 2020 First Christian Church—Medina (Disciples of Christ) The Disciple Visitor
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December 2019—January 2020 First Christian Church—Medina (Disciples of Christ) The Disciple Visitor
WOMEN’S GROUP, January 2020
Deb Reid is hosting our annual January movie night!
The movie selected is Wine Country—January 13th @6:30pm.
This is an RSVP event due to space limitations.
The “Reid Theater” can hold 12 people comfortably.
Please RSVP to Deb Reid (330-242-1289; [email protected])
OR Karen Harrington (330-416-1585; [email protected] )
December 5: Becoming by Michelle Obama
Meet at the home of Brigitte Dade : 984 Lancaster Drive, Medina, at 3pm
On this date, we will also select a title for our February 6 meeting. Marcia Paladino has invited
everyone to come to her house January 2 to discuss and select books for the next several
months beyond February.
FCC BOOK CLUB ~ All Are Welcome! The FCC Book Club is an interdenominational group meeting monthly
on the first Thursday of the month, 4:15pm at the church
(unless otherwise noted).
Thank You!
Noodles and Nonsense ~ An evening of fun, great food and fund raising!
Our Congregation built community spirit with the combined efforts of many willing hands,
hearts and spirits. This event raised a total of $3852. We are supporting The Week of
Compassion with a 10% tithe of $385 and the remaining funds will become part of FCC’s
General Fund. The generosity of so many made this success possible. May our efforts further
God’s work in our community and in the world.
THANK YOU, everyone for all your prayers, calls, and cards. I'm very grateful to be a part of
such a loving congregation. ~Carol Miller
Dear First Christian Family
Everyone gave Rob so much. Helping him and greeting him, always there when he needed you.
He loved this church and everyone here. All of your love blessed him and me. May God always
bless each of you.
With our Family’s love, ~Donna Norton
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December 2019—January 2020 First Christian Church—Medina (Disciples of Christ) The Disciple Visitor
Laurie Kotalac 12/02
Jonas Baird 12/02
Lilah Baird 12/02
Jill Hurst 12/03
Susan Rooy Harr 12/03
Rick Fitt 12/04
Barbara Pavlick 12/07
Linda Pavlick 12/07
Benjamin Grega 12/08
Marcia Jordan 12/09
Katie Prandi 12/14
Connie Campbell 12/20
Dianne Kaminsky 12/20
Emily Beal 12/21
John Stachler 12/22
Tim Mosley 12/25
Carol Miller 12/25
Doug Whittington 12/27
Tom Dade 12/28
Betty Sandrock 12/30
December Birthdays & Anniversaries
Kirk and Cindy Van Auken
January 23rd
Curt and Robin Kennedy
December 12th
Roger and Linda Smalley
December 17th
Robert and Dana Graham
December 19th
January Birthdays & Anniversaries Daniel Wilson 01/22
Jim Kramer 01/23
Mackenzie Guest 01/23
David Jordan 01/26
Jackson Peacock 01/27
Barb Gilbert 01/28
Cindy Van Auken 01/28
Barrie Whittington 01/31
Bill Grega 01/01
Shelley Bonner 01/03
Leslie Miguel 01/06
Kelly Bonner 01/09
Patrick Hiner 01/12
Scott Reid 01/12
Tanya Mosley 01/14
Neal Beck 01/17
Ron Foster 01/18
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December 2019—January 2020 First Christian Church—Medina (Disciples of Christ) The Disciple Visitor
WORSHIP PARTICIPANT SCHEDULES for December 2019
GREETERS
Dec 1 Rich and Jennifer Kotalac
Dec 8 Rick and Nancy Madzia
Dec 15 Sheila Peo, Shirley Scott
Dec 22 Nicole Steigerwald, Judy Swaddell
Dec 29 Norma Watterman, Ron Foster
TRUSTEE—December: Dave Baker
DEACONS
Dec 1 Reid Miller, Pat Neal, Linda Dempsey, Debbie Reid
Dec 8 Kirk and Cindy Van Auken, Ken Guest, David Jordan
Dec 15 Rich and Jennifer Kotalac, Doug and Barrie Whittington
Dec 22 Reed Hollopeter, Jen O’Mara, Neal Beck, Rick Madzia
Dec 29 Linda Dempsey, Debbie Reid, Reid Miller, Pat Neal
ELDERS
Dec 1 Karen Harrington, Tim Mosley
Dec 8 Debbie Krause, Kristi Yoss
Dec 15 Karen Harrington, Ron Foster
Dec 22 Ray and Kristi Yoss
Dec 29 Ray Yoss, Nicole Steigerwald
AUDIO/VISUAL
Dec 1 Rick Madzia
Dec 8 Rick Madzia
Dec 15 Dave Watterman
Dec 22 Dave Watterman
Dec 29 Rick Madzia
HOSPITAL VISITORS
Dec 1 Harold Kaufman
Dec 8 Bobbi Way
Dec 15 Susan Chaplin
Dec 22 Jan Decker
Dec 29 Ron Foster
SONG LEADERS
Dec 1 Pat Neal
Dec 8 Mark Dolan
Dec 15 Karen Harrington
Dec 22 Bryan Heinig
Dec 29 Debbi e Krause
ACOLYTES
Dec 1 Jonas Baird
Dec 8 Sophia Walters
Dec 15 Ali Meisterics Hiner
Dec 22 Brenna Sanchez
Dec 29 Mackenzie Guest
LITURGISTS
Dec 1 Mark Way
Dec 8 Ray Yoss
Dec 15 Neal Beck
Dec 22 Ron Foster
Dec 29 Ken Guest
GREETERS
Jan 5 Doug and Barrie Whittington
Jan 12 Kirk and Cindy Van Auken
Jan 19 Ray and Kristi Yoss
Jan 26 Rich and Kay Demchak
LITURGISTS
Jan 5 Karen Harrington
Jan 12 Bev Kreiner
Jan 19 Carl Miller
Jan 26 Carol Miller
SONG LEADERS
Jan 5 Deborah Miller
Jan 12 Pat Neal
Jan 19 Mark Dolan
Jan 26 Karen Harrington
HOSPITAL VISITORS
Jan 5 Bryan & Christine Heinig
Jan 12 Harold Kaufman
Jan 19 Bobbi Way
Jan 26 Susan Chaplin
January ELDERS are TBA ACOLYTES
Jan 5 Evelyn Semancik
Jan 12 Lilah Baird
Jan 19 Katherine Hiner
Jan 26 Jonas Baird
January DEACONS are TBA
January A/V is Rick Madzia
TRUSTEE—January: TBA
WORSHIP PARTICIPANT SCHEDULES for January 2020
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December 2019—January 2020 First Christian Church—Medina (Disciples of Christ) The Disciple Visitor
December/January CALENDAR SUNDAYS
➢ Every Sunday—Early Birds Adult Sunday School 8:30am
➢ Every Sunday—Coffee Café 9:15am
➢ Every Sunday—Worship Service 9:45am
➢ December 1st—Hanging of the Greens, following Worship
➢ December 8th—Elder’s Meeting, following Worship
➢ December 15th—The Avenue, 3pm
➢ December 15th—Piano Recital (Sanctuary/Library)
➢ December 15th—Christmas Caroling
➢ December 22nd—Children’s Christmas Program during Worship
MONDAYS
➢ January 13th—Piano Lessons 3pm-9pm (Sanctuary)
TUESDAYS
➢ Every Tuesday—Boy Scouts 6:30pm (Upper Level)
➢ December 24th—Christmas Eve Service 8pm
➢ January 14th—Piano Lessons 3pm-9pm (Sanctuary)
WEDNESDAYS
➢ December 4th—Bell Choir Practice 6pm (Sanctuary)
➢ Every Wednesday—Choir Practice 7pm (Library)
➢ Dec 11th and Jan 8th—Battered Women’s Shelter donations to the Salvation Army by 4pm
➢ January 15th—Piano Lessons 3pm-9pm (Sanctuary)
THURSDAYS
➢ Every Thursday—Women’s AA 6pm (Library)
➢ Every Thursday—Scouts 7pm (Upper Level)
➢ December 5—Book Club 3pm (at the home of Brigitte Dade : 984 Lancaster Drive, Medina)
➢ December 5—Blue Christmas 7pm (Sanctuary)
➢ December 12—Board Meeting 7pm (at the home of the Guests: 4206 Maidstone Lane, Medina)
FRIDAYS
➢ CLEAR
SATURDAYS
➢ Every Saturday—AA 8:30am (Library)
Church Office Closed
December 24, 25, 26, 31 and January 1 & 20
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December 2019—January 2020 First Christian Church—Medina (Disciples of Christ) The Disciple Visitor
• Andy Rockwell, Karen Harrington’s brother • Betty Raspotynski, Linda Dempsey’s mom • Bryan Miller, Deborah Miller’s brother-in-law • Cari Hiner (recovery) • Carol Hall, friend of the Swaddell’s (recovery) • Carol Miller • Del Rambo, Nicole Steigerwald’s dad • Elizabeth Hatley, mother of Kenny Hatley • Hunter Armstrong, nephew of Karen Harring-
ton • Ida, Bev Kreiner’s mother • Jeanne Ziegler, Cindy Van Auken’s mother • Jeff Dunn (recovery), Cory Dunn’s father • Jim and Doris, Kevin Hutchinson’s parents • Judith Rainery, Debbie Krause’s mom • Kelly Jo Love, VanDycks’ friend
• Linda Nice (recovery), sister-in-law of the Madzias
• Lynn Sandrock • Michelle Heilman, friend of Tamera and Ed
Semancik • Nancy Rockwell, Karen Harrington’s step-
mom • Norman Rockwell, Karen Harrington’s dad • Pam Barr, Debbie Krause’s sister • Rick and Sue Dye, friends of Romy Groves • Steve Houser, nephew of Gretchen (Leslie
Baird's friend) • Steve Kerns, Bobbi Way’s son • Steve Neal • Sue Franz, Rev. Laura’s mother • Tim Mosley’s mom (recovery)
HEALTH CONCERNS
• Amaia Manzi, born November 7th, grand-daughter of Dianne Kaminsky
• Brent Ungar, Kerry Gregoire’s close friend • Wally Haase, Jen O’Mara’s father
• Nikkie and family (recent loss of parents), friend of the Bakers’ daughter
GENERAL:
• Alberta Rogers, Ken Guest’s grandmother • Deloris Payne, friend of the Bakers • Gene Nickley, father of the Dolans’ good
friend • Grace Fox, Naomi Grega’s grandmother • Ken Chaloupek, husband of Marcia Paladino's
friend, Pat
• Mel Vidika • Robert Norton • The husband of David Groves’ cousin
(Colahan Family) • The husband of Lisa Brown, Sheila Peo’s
niece
DEATHS:
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December 2019—January 2020 First Christian Church—Medina (Disciples of Christ) The Disciple Visitor
• Aaron Mishler • Bill Stewart • Corey Jansen • Daniel Rambo (Pat Rambo’s grandson) • Emerson (Carl & Debbie Miller’s son) • Jacob Warren (Karen Harrington’s nephew)
• John Hinkel • Marie Barr-Quackenbush (Van Auken’s friend) • Preston Walker (Sharole Vacha’s grandson) • Sean Jaycox • Stephen Douglas (Ashley Searcy’s friend)
MILITARY:
• Ann, Judy Swaddell’s friend • Bobby Jagielski, co-worker of the Van
Aukens’ daughter • Brother-in-law of Jack Swaddell • Camryn Colahan, Romy Groves’ family • Dawn Odeli, Nancy Cerny’s niece • Deb Thomas, the Kaufmans’ friend • Don, Harold Kaufman’s neighbor • Ed Raspotynski, Linda Dempsey’s dad • Gene Clark, Debbie Reid’s brother • Howard, friend of Barb Pavlick • Jane Parsons, mother-in-law of the Dades’
son • Joel James, friend of Josh and Laura Baird • John, Barbara Woodman’s brother • John Kelly, the Dades’ friend • Judy Dawson, Sheila Peo’s friend • Karen Rule, Katie Baird’s mother • Linda, Polly Robinson’s friend • Lisa Neal, Steve Neal’s, sister-in-law • Lois, the Bakers’ friend
• Lucy Parschauer, Chris Mansor’s friend • Marie Barr-Quackenbush, the Van Aukens’
neighbor • Mike Minarczyk, Brigitte Dade’s daughter-in-
law’s relative • Rhonda Russell, Chris Mansor’s daughter-in-
law’s mother • Rob Walter, Betty Sandrock’s cousin’s son • Ron, Tom Dade's friend • Sherry Steingass, Van Auken’s daughter’s
former co-worker • Steve Kerns, Bobbi Way’s son • Susan, Debbie Krause’s sister • The father of Rick Fitt’s co-worker Rany Hai-
dar • Todd Bauer, Cari Hiner’s friend • Tony Norton, the Mosley’s friend • Travis Rian, Sheila Davis’ brother-in-law • Valerie, friend of Christine Walters & Marcia
Paladino
FIGHTING CANCER
• Dottie Randall (Southwest Commons) • Eileen Manthei (The Avenue) • Jack Swaddell (The Avenue) • Jimmy and Patty, Toni Hollopeter's parents
(The Avenue-Wooster) • John Stachler (home) • Julie Bevacqua (Brookdale S)
• Lyla Calhoun (Concordia at Sumner) • Nancy Cerny (home) • Nancy Cressman (Brookdale S.) • Pearl Schwandt (Brookdale N) • Shirley Scott (WRMC) • Tom George (home)
SHUT-INS / REHAB / HOSPICE
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December 2019—January 2020 First Christian Church—Medina (Disciples of Christ) The Disciple Visitor
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 15
Medina, Ohio 44256
First Christian Church—Medina
(Disciples of Christ)
Return Service Requested 4797 Sharon-Copley Road Medina, Ohio 44256 Phone: 330-723-7021 E-mail: [email protected] We’re on the Web! www.fccmedina.org www.facebook.com/MedinaFCC
Weekly Bulletin Deadline: TUESDAYS—FEBRUARY Newsletter Deadline: January 20, 2020
Weekly scripture readings
December 1— Scripture: Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4; Psalm 119:137-144; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12; Luke 19:1-10
December 8—Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7,18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12
December 15—Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146:5-10 or Luke 1:46b-55; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11
December 22—Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80;1-7, 17-19; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25
December 29—Scripture: Isaiah 63:7-9; Psalm 148; Hebrews 2:10-18; Matthew 2:13-23
January 5— Scripture: Jeremiah 31:7-14; Psalm 147;12-20; Ephesians 1:3-14; John 1:(1-9), 10-18
January12—Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17
January 19—Scripture: Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40:1-11; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42
January 26—Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1,4-9; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23
February 2—Scripture: Miah 6:108; Psalm 15; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12