Professional Documents
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Newsletter – 26 views
Happy 2019 Firelands sisters and brothers and thanks to The Firelands Presbyterian Church Facebook page is an
all of you who so wholeheartedly supplied monetary important source of “current information” about our
gifts, toys, mittens/hats/scarves, coats, gift cards, church. December has been a very active month in the
wrapping supplies, cookies, paper products; and I could life of our church, as our Facebook posts confirm. Even
go on and on about FPC's giving. if you don’t have a Facebook page of your own, you can
always come to visit the Firelands Church Facebook
As well, PC (USA) will be receiving our JOY offering gifts page. Just type “Firelands Presbyterian Church” in the
this month and thank you to all who contributed to search box on the Facebook home page.
support students in Presbyterian-related
schools/colleges equipping communities of color and During the month of December, we shared information
assistance for current and retired church and photographs with many people:
workers/families with critical financial need. Christmas Day – 46 people
We will continue to collect coats (all those sales are on Christmas Eve Worship Service – 41 people
now) for Salvation Army through mid-January as they
were in very short supply of outerwear this season and Preschool Christmas Pageant – 44 people
took what we had early on for gifting day in December. Preschoolers Singing “Happy Birthday Jesus”
Many thank you notes have been received this month (video) – 44 people
for our donations to various local agencies: Salvation Army Bell Ringers (Chuck, Jean, Bill,
Strength for the Journey (Dominican Republic gift to Marilyn) – 122 people
purchase choir robes for Children's choir), Joyful Donations to Salvation Army & Holiday Bureau –
Connections, Stein Hospice for "green" light for 39 people
Sandusky's Christmas tree in the park. Again, your
generosity is very welcomed and appreciated. Mitten Tree – 54 people
Is it any wonder that all of the reviews for Bistro 163 on Facebook, Trip
Advisor, Google and YELP are 5 stars? In December, Susan gave yet
another 5 star review for Bistro 163:
Each year The Blade dispatches its food critics to dozens of restaurants in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan to
report on what’s new, what’s familiar and what’s worth our readers’ time and money.
Many of our visits are to newcomers on the dining scene, while others are to veteran establishments that have stood
the test of time. There are rules for our reviewers: places chosen must be open a minimum of three months, and we
visit at least twice before writing reviews. The emphasis here is on local so we eschew national chains, unless such an
eatery is brand new to our market.
Mostly, Blade critics serve as the eyes, ears, and palates of our readers. We employ a five-star rating system, taking
into account not just the quality of the food, but also service, ambiance, pricing, parking, and whether there’s
handicap accessibility.
Today, we recap those four and five-star restaurants that we deemed most impressive in 2018.
5 STARS
Bistro 163, 1848 E. Perry St., Suite 10. This nonprofit restaurant in Port Clinton with a pay-it-forward concept,
scores valuable points for not only serving delicious farm-to-table breakfasts and lunches, but also for its mission.
Those who can afford it are encouraged to pay more than the suggested prices (average entree cost is $8) to help
others enjoy a meal. To that end, the servers don't accept tips. Beyond the noble mission, expect some hearty
American fare (grilled cheese, burgers, and soups) made with Chef Stacy Maple’s signature style.
January 2019 Page 5
Pastor’s Page
I will soon be celebrating my fourth anniversary here at Firelands Presbyterian Church. That’s rather hard for me to
believe. When I returned to northern Ohio from Texas I didn’t plan to do any more ministry kinds of things. I thought
I was simply done. After talking to the committee from Firelands I decided, “OK, I can do a year’s interim ministry.”
Now here we are, four years later, with no definite end in sight. And, it’s all perfectly ok, at least from my perspective.
Jill and I very much enjoy being a part of this congregation and we look forward to the times ahead.
When I arrived at FPC I knew that the church had experienced some trying times. I wanted my time here to be a time
of renewal, of simply enjoying worshipping and serving and becoming a healthy church together. I think largely that
has happened. There is a joyful spirit here, and growth has been seen in some important areas. This is a good place
to be, certainly for me, and I hope for all of you, too.
I wonder, though, if the time has not arrived for us to be more proactive about approaching the future. As good as
things might be here, how might we improve? How can we do things better than we have been doing them? What
does our church need more than it needs anything else?
Before I “retired” – the term has become pretty much meaningless to me and kind of funny – I was infected with the
same disease most ministers, and most Americans, are infected with. Namely, “bigness.” Size determined everything,
particularly a church’s attendance and budget. How successful the minister was, how successful the church was,
depended on those things. I have now been mercifully delivered of that malady. Not only do I truly know there are
many things more important than bigness, bigness itself can be deceiving and deflect people and churches away from
those more important things. In my new-found freedom from bigness FPC has begun to look like the perfect church to
me. It is engaged in meaningful mission. It is financially healthy, if not wealthy. It is clear that people here “love one
another.” And, even if we are not a “large” congregation our worship services have a good feel, in part because we
are not worshipping in an old, cavernous, cathedral-like sanctuary. Still, many of us might think, as we approach the
future, what FPC most needs is some growth in membership.
If I have learned anything in my years in ministry it is that church growth is difficult. Many factors go into making that
the case. Demographics play a large role. Cultural trends make a huge difference. Location matters, although it is not
necessarily crucial. People look for programs for children and youth. Even the size of the parking lot matters – not
that I think that’s a problem for us. It is also difficult for so-called “mainline” churches like ours to grow as all
denominations like ours continue to experience massive losses. Still, growth is no-doubt possible for us. We have
seen a nice addition of new members in recent times. And, certainly there are people in our community and area who
would love to be part of a church like ours if only they knew about it, and knew how welcome we make new people
feel.
So, what do you think? How do you think we could go about attracting new members? How do you think we could
make our church more visible in the community? Please let us know your thoughts.
By the way, most people who are new to a congregation, about 75%, say they first attended the church because
someone personally invited them. The other effective method of church growth is babies. So, one way or another, it’s
mostly up to you, folks.
Fondly,
Mark
January 2019 Page 6
Preschool News
The month of December kept us very busy. In addition to the usual classroom
business of playing and learning we were busy practicing for our annual Christmas
Program. The children sang and danced beautifully and the cookies and punch were
delicious. Thank you to the church Mission Committee and church members for
helping with our reception.
We celebrated Christmas with a pajama party and book exchange. The kids
decorated cookies, sang and danced and exchanged their books. Fun was had by
all!
Thank you to all of the parents, families and church members for donating to our
Classroom Christmas Wish list! We cannot wait to put them to use in the room.
We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year! We are
excited to get back in to the classroom and see everyone's smiling faces!
January Lectionary
January 6, 2020 Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 Ephesians 3:1-12 Matthew 2:1-12
Epiphany of the Lord
January 12, 2020 Isaiah 42:1-9 Psalm 29 Acts 10:34-43 Matthew 3:13-17
Baptism of the Lord
First Sunday after the
Epiphany
January 19, 2020 Isaiah 49:1-7 Psalm 40:1-11 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 John 1:29-42
Second Sunday after the
Epiphany
January 26, 2020 Isaiah 9:1-4 Psalm 27:1, 4-9 1 Corinthians 1:10- Matthew 4:12-23
Third Sunday after the 18
Epiphany
Debbie Ballinger, Jenatha Boose, Wilma Cooper, Harold, Kim Hudson, Diane Jordan, Craig Kaiser, Arlene
Kakareka, Stephen Kessler, Angjuli Lele, John McLaughlin, Ele McLaughlin, Simon Mercurio, Michael, Jordan
Moore, Sarah, Sue, Jack Schmidt, Justin Waugh, Ann Wagnitz.
Clara Maag, Jamie Petty, Betty Rodwancy, Bob Rodwancy, and Irene Wilson
SMGT Jeff Bundy, Steven Coffin, FBI; Brant Crandall, USA; Cole Daniel, USCG; Matthew Devries, USAF;
Stu Gliwa, USMC; Aaron Haynes, USA; Andrew Hogue, USA, Ted Livingstine, USMC; Sanju Shinde, USMC;
To add or delete someone from this list, please contact Janine Dress in the church office.
January 2019 Page 8
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6 7 8 9 10 11 12
9:15 Sunday 7 Session 3-5 Bistro Snack 1 Preschool
School & Study Meeting
10:30 Worship 6 Firelands
3:30 MAS Friday Family
Concert Feast @
1812
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
9:15 Sunday 4 MAS Office Closed 3-5 Bistro Snack
School Committee & Study
10:30 Worship 5 – 7 Free
Community
Dinner @
Bistro163
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
9:15 Sunday OFFICE
School CLOSED
10:30 Worship 3-5 Bistro Snack
& Study
Ministry Names
Monthly Deacon of the Month Chuck Coykendale
Communion Steward John Vardyan & Marilyn Umlauf
Jan. 6 Greeter(s) Bob Reynolds
Reader Karen Coffin
Communion Assistant Ernie McCullough
Servers Dick Coffin, Nila McCullough, Bob Reynolds,
Nursery Volunteer Susan Rogers
Pianist Susan Larcey
Jan. 13 Greeter(s) Marsha Bordner
Reader Dick Dietz
Communion Assistant Bill Sharp
Servers Marilyn Umlauf, Susan Rogers, Dave & Sally Wahlers
Nursery Volunteer Anne O’Malley
Pianist Susan Larcey
Jan. 20 Greeter(s) Marta Vielhaber & Ed Bettendorf
Reader Susan Rogers
Communion Assistant Karen Coffin
Servers Jay Viery, Bill Sharp, Ed Bettendorf, Tim Flora
Nursery Volunteer Debbie Flora
Pianist Susan Larcey
Jan 27 Greeter(s) Bill & Anne O’Malley
Ernie McCullough Shirley Stary
Communion Assistant Nila McCullough
Servers Joyce DellaSantina, Karen Coffin, Bob Black, Dick Coffin
Nursery Volunteer Janet Gray-Moore
Pianist Susan Larcey
January Celebrations