ASH WEDNESDAY - MARCH 1ST
Lent is the somber season of
repentance and reflection leading up
to Easter that begins on Ash
Wednesday, which is March 1st this
year. We will join Christians around
the world by having a cross of ashes
drawn on our foreheads to symbolize our human
mortality and frailty. Pastor Matthew will lead the 7 PM
Ash Wednesday worship service which includes the
imposition of ashes and Holy Communion. You may stop
by the church from 10 AM through 4 PM that day to
receive ashes from the pastoral staff if you are unable
to attend evening worship.
NEW FAITH WEDNESDAY SERIES BEGINS
On Ash Wednesday, March 1st,
Pastor Matthew will begin a six-week
noontime Faith Wednesday study of
Creed: What Christians Believe and
Why by Adam Hamilton. The subject
matter is in keeping with the ELCA’s
emphasis on studying Luther’s Small
Catechism in this 500th Anniversary of
the Reformation.
Each session will include a video introduction and
discussion time. There may be copies of the book
available at the Twinsburg Library, or you may order a
book. The Wednesday evening study group will not meet
during Lent but will discuss this book after Easter.
THE SMALL CATECHISM AT MIDWEEK WORSHIP
Each Wednesday from March 8th
through April 5th, CtK will hold a brief
Lenten worship service at 7 PM. The
homily will be based on Luther’s Small
Catechism, and services will include the Holden Evening
Prayer liturgy, which many members find very inspiring.
One usher is needed for each of these services, and
there is an usher sign-up sheet on the bulletin board.
SOUP & SANDWICH SUPPERS DURING LENT
Join us at 6 PM every Wednesday from
March 1st through April 5th for a Soup &
Sandwich Supper. Diners are asked to
sign up to bring a soup, sandwiches, or
beverages. If you will be dining, please
consider bringing food to share at the meals.
CtK youth will set up, serve, and clean up each meal.
On Ash Wednesday, March 1st, the Confirmation Youth
are the kitchen helpers; on subsequent week`s, the
youth going to the 2018 National Youth Gathering will
work in the kitchen. The March 1st free will offering
will defray the cost of Confirmation Camp, and the
other weeks’ offerings will help fund the trip to
Houston for the National Youth Gathering.
Christ the King is a Stephen Ministry
Congregation. See our website for more
information.
READ ALL ABOUT IT!
50 Reformation Quotes pp. 14-15
CtK Photo Directory p. 2
Day Camp Registration pp. 11-12
Lutheran Laundry Love p. 13
THE MESSENGER MARCH 2017
The Mission of Christ the King To Shine the light of Jesus, Reflect his unconditional love, and Mirror his kindness to all people.
www.CtKTwinsburg.com
CHRIST THE KING PAGE 2 TWINSBURG, OHIO
LENTEN DEVOTIONAL MATERIALS
When Lent begins on March 1st,
consider beginning a new spiritual
discipline by choosing from the display
of Lenten devotional materials near the mailbox hallway.
In addition to resources for children and families, one
adult option is a booklet of daily devotions, Return to
the Lord, Your God, written by CtK’s Dave Denes.
2017 DIRECTORY PHOTOS SCHEDULED
Directory pictures will be taken
from 2 to 9 PM on Thursday, March
9th, and Friday, March 10th, and
from 10 AM to 5 PM on Saturday,
March 11th. Everyone who gets their picture taken will
receive a free 8x10 portrait in addition to their own
copy of the finished directory. CtK members and
friends are reminded to schedule their directory
photography session by Monday, February 27th. Please
see directory coordinator MJ Neel or sign up on the
bulletin board if you are able to serve a shift as a host
to greet those arriving to have their pictures taken on
March 9th, 10th, or 11th .
There is an address directory on the glass table for
you to review and correct any changes to your contact
information before the directory is completed.
ENDOWMENT GRANT REQUESTS DUE
Requests for springtime grants from
the Lestor Endowment must be placed in
the Endowment mailbox by Sunday, March
26th. Members of the Endowment Ministry
who can answer your questions are Mike Pereksta, chair,
Lisa Doty, MJ Neel, and Mike Procop. Dave Denes is the
2017 Council representative to Endowment.
EASTER CANTATA PREPARATION TO BEGIN
CtK Music Director Kevin Basom will lead all
interested CtK singers in an Easter cantata for 2017.
Most singers are high school aged and older, but
talented younger singers with a burning desire to
participate should talk to Kevin. Rehearsals begin after
Ash Wednesday worship (at around 8:00) on March 1st.
On the next five Wednesdays, rehearsals will be at 7:30
PM, after the midweek Lenten worship services.
At press time Kevin had narrowed the choice of
cantata to three options. The cantata will be presented
at worship after Easter Sunday, April 16th, and may
also be presented at a public venue. Watch upcoming
Messengers for details. Please see Kevin with questions.
VISIT STAINED GLASS
STUDIO IN MARCH
On Saturday morning,
March 18, LAFF (Life After
Fifty Fellowship) will travel
to the Azure Stained Glass
Studio at 15602 Waterloo
Road, Cleveland, for an tour
given by its owner. Lunch
will follow at Bistro 185,
about two miles from the studio. Everyone is welcome
to attend! We don’t check IDs.
Carpools will leave CtK at 10:15 AM for the 11AM
tour. Please sign up on the LAFF kiosk by Thursday,
March 16th, to make the lunch reservations. See D.
Urban with questions.
BLOOD DRIVE TUESDAY, MARCH 7TH
The Red Cross will hold a blood drive at
CtK from 2 to 7 PM on Tuesday, March
7th. Volunteers are needed to staff the
registration table and the canteen. Please sign up on
the bulletin board for a one-hour shift or longer.
Blood donors are encouraged to go to the website
redcross/rapidpass on the day of the blood drive to
save time in the registration process. Make sure you
either print the Rapid Pass form or have it on your
smartphone when you arrive at CtK.
Christ the King Lutheran Church
10285 Ravenna Road
Twinsburg, OH 44087
Phone: 330-425-7377
www.CtKTwinsburg.com
Reverend Matthew Groenke, Senior Pastor
[email protected] x109
Deacon Patricia Jabre, Minister of Discipleship &
Youth
[email protected] x106
Kevin Basom, Director of Music
Linda Mondry, Saturday Worship Musician
Wendy Gibbons, Office Administrator
[email protected] x102
DIRECTORY
From the CTK Minister of Discipleship and Youth
WOMEN OF FAITH…. “They walked for six hours in darkness…” At dawn “Twenty-five fugitives hunkered down in a
remote swamp… Morale was low. Deprived of food, wet, uncomfortable and exhausted…
Suddenly one man stood up and declared it was too much: he had decided to take his chances
and return to the plantation. A stout woman turned to face him, insisting that his return
would compromise the entire party. When he refused to continue with the group, she
stepped close to him, pulled a revolver from the folds of her dress, and aimed it at his head,
hissing, ‘Move or die!’ The man complied, and less than a week later she led him across the
border into Canada, a free man.”
Thus the legend of one of the few slaves to be included in our history books grew. Harriet Tubman was born in
early spring, 1822 as Araminta “Minty” Ross, on a plantation in Maryland. She worked as a housekeeper, a nanny, and
a field hand where she sustained a severe blow to her head, suffering seizures and narcolepsy for the rest of her
life.
In September 1849, now married to John Tubman, a free black man, she fled with her two brothers. Her brothers
got cold feet and returned to the plantation, but she forged ahead alone. “When I found I had crossed that line
[into Pennsylvania, a free state] I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person. There was such a glory over
everything; the sun came like gold through the trees, and over the fields, and I felt like I was in heaven.” Like
most fugitive slaves, she changed her name to Harriet Tubman, the name that would carry through history to us
today.
Harriet soon realized that freedom didn’t necessarily guarantee happiness as she missed her family. She
masterminded the escape of many, including several of her family, even after the Fugitive Slave Law passed in
1850. (The law required that fugitive slaves be returned to their owners, even if found in states without slavery.)
She would return to the south, often in disguise, and using some unique strategies she would take slaves north
through the Underground Railroad..
Her fearlessness was legendary, but according to Harriet, it was her faith that fueled her and provided protective
intuition. Thomas Garrett, an Underground Railroad comrade, said, “I never met with any person of any color who
had more confidence in the voice of God, as spoken direct to her soul.”
By 1860 she had led dozens to freedom, but her work was not done. During the Civil War she served as a nurse in
the Union Army, a scout, and a spy utilizing her knowledge of covert travel. Her biographer, Catherine Clinton says,
“Federal commanders came to depend on her, but kept her name out of official military documents. Her missions
were clandestine operations, and as a black and a woman she became doubly invisible.” She received a small pension
for her efforts in 1899.
She worked alongside Susan B. Anthony for women’s suffrage; opened her home in Auburn, New York to the poor
and needy; and donated a parcel of land she owned to the African Methodist Episcopal Zion church in Auburn to be
used as a home for ‘aged and indigent colored people.”
She died March 10, 1913, age 92, in the Harriet Tubman Home, a residence she founded for the elderly. With her
last breath she quoted John 14, “I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am you also may be” - fitting final
words for someone who, in her lifetime, provided a place of freedom, comfort and security for so many.
(All quotes are from 50 Women Every Christian Should Know—Michelle DeRusha)
Women are often mentioned in the Bible as conduits of faith. Both Jesus and Paul recognized them as leaders in the faith community. Sadly, the politics of Medieval Europe obscured contributions of women in many aspects of the culture, including those of faith. During 2017. which is the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, I hope to bring to light the context and life of women without whom the church would be a different entity.
MARCH PAGE 3 2017
YOUTH LOCK-IN MARCH 24TH-25TH
All 7th to 12th grade youth and friends are welcome.
Watch the Weekend Messenger for details!
CHRIST THE KING PAGE 4 TWINSBURG, OHIO
MIDWEEK LENTEN WORSHIP ACOLYTES Wednesdays at 7 PM
March 1 Elijah Groenke March 8 Julia Noble March 15 Adam Groenke March 22 Evan Harnak March 29 Gabrielle Doty
April 5 Madisyn Wise
CATECHISM CLASS CORNER
March 19 - 5pm Class at Church of
Covenant, Maple Heights-Communion.
Meet at CtK at 4:30 to carpool.
April 23 - 5pm Class at Church of the
Covenant-Confession and Faith Statements. Meet at
CtK at 4:30 to carpool.
May 14 – 4pm Confirmation at CtK. Bishop Allende
will preside. Evan Harnak and Justin Hartland will be
Confirmed in the Faith. A reception will follow. All
other members of the class will participate in the
service. Please be at CtK by 3:30pm to prepare. Minister of Discipleship & Youth
Seven students have agreed to travel as a team to
Houston in June 2018 to attend the National Youth
Gathering. We ask the congregation to keep the
team and their parents in your prayers as we raise
money for the trip and we bond as team through
servant and community projects.
There will be many exciting events coming your way
to help the team. You will be able to “Rent a Kid”
for household chores; participate in some team
sports; go on a photo scavenger hunt; participate in
a community flea market; run a 5K and more.
We are organizing servant and community projects.
Maybe you would like to join us. Keep watching the
bulletin board, monthly Messenger, and Weekend
Messenger for details. Minister of Discipleship & Youth
ANNOUNCING…
Lutheran Outdoor Ministries
of Ohio DAY CAMP AT CtK
Monday, June 12, to Friday, June 16, 2017,
9am—4pm, for students finishing kindergarten through 6th grade
Applications have been put in appropriate mailboxes
and on pages 11-12. Sign up now as slots are limited.
Registration will open to the public on May 1, 2017.
Cost is $25 per student. If you are able, an additional
$25 donation to provide scholarships would be
appreciated. Minister of Discipleship & Youth
The National Youth Gathering Team thanks the
congregation for support of the February 11th & 12th
Bake Sale, including helping with baking, setting up the
stand, helping to sell, and buying cookies. Generous
donations to our NYG fund totaled just over $200 for
the weekend. Minister of Discipleship & Youth
First Holy Communion Classes For all those in second grade or older
that do not commune, this is for you.
Classes follow 11:00 worship these
Sundays - March 26, April 2, and 9 - for about an
hour and a half. Students will take their First
Communion at Maundy Thursday worship, April 13,
7pm.
We request that at least one parent accompany their
child to class.
Please contact Miss Patti to reserve your slot or for
more information. Minister of Discipleship & Youth
FIRST BIBLE CLASSES
For all students in third grade and
above who have not had first Bible
instruction.
Classes will be Sunday, April 23 & 30
following the 11:00 worship service for
about an hour and a half. Bibles will be presented at
May 6th and 7th worship services.
Please look for a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board.
We need to know how many Bibles will be needed.
For more information, contact Miss Patti. Min. of Discipleship & Youth
LENT = PENITENCE + REFLECTION
March 1 is the beginning of the
Lenten season. As we embark on
t h e j o u r n e y w e a r e
remembering Jesus and his walk
to the cross and death for our
salvation.
Weekly Wednesday services
give us a time to seek
forgiveness and make intentional sacrifices. What are
you giving up for Lent? Chocolate, deserts, wine, latte,
cinema, etc. We are intentional in wanting to change
our behavior and actions.
On the other hand, what are you adding? Lent is also a
time for spiritual enrichment. This is an opportunity to
deny distractions of the world and practice Stewardship
in our lives.
Why not add a few of the following
during the 40 days of Lent:
Worship at weekly Lent service
Participate in Bible study
Attend soup & sandwich suppers
Pray for your enemies
Use a Lenten devotional
Don’t turn on the car radio
Take 5 minutes of silence at noon
Designate no-complaining days
Do someone else’s chores
Call an old friend
Read Psalm 139
Pay a few sincere compliments
Undertake an Internet diet
Read Psalm 121
Pray for peace
Read John 8:1-11
Invite a friend, neighbor, or family member to
attend worship
Offer to provide a ride to a worship service
Save your coffee money & drop it in the offering
plate
Intentionally adding a few of the above suggestions can
be a blessing for you in your spiritual faith walk. After
40 days of a spiritual discipline you can decide which of
these exercises you’ll keep on doing for good.
Our active participation in fellowship and generosity in
sharing our blessings makes us stronger Stewards.
Sandy Molnar
Financial Secretary
MARCH PAGE 5 2017
PLANNING FOR BUILDING
AT CTK
Everyone is encouraged
to get involved in planning
for the future at CtK.
Several subcommittees have
b e e n o r g a n i z e d t o
brainstorm about future
facilities, and without your input the project will remain
at a standstill. Think about ways CtK can live up to the
mission “to shine the light of Jesus, reflect his
unconditional love, and mirror his kindness to all people.”
Please sign up on the bulletin board for the area(s)
of most interest to you:
Fund Raising
Sanctuary & Sacristy
Fellowship Hall & Kitchen
Offices
Remainder of Building, including nursery, youth
room, library, closets, restrooms, storage,
classrooms, hallways
Property Construction, including parking lots,
driveways, shed, sign, landscaping, cross, pavilion
Please see Council President Rob Doty or Building
Chair Tom Pituch for more information.
SPRING AHEAD MARCH 12TH!
Don’t forget to set your clocks ahead
one hour for Daylight Saving Time at 2 AM
on Sunday, March 12th.
FOCUS ON EVANGELISM, FELLOWSHIP, LAFF
CtK ministries of focus in March will be
Evangelism, Fellowship, and Life After Fifty
Fellowship. Watch the Weekend Messenger
and the ministry bulletin board outside the
sanctuary for more information about the activities of
these groups.
JANUARY 2017 FINANCE REPORT
Complete financial information is posted on
the kiosk outside the office.
Operating Income $19,018
Other designated income $978
Total Income $19,996
Operating Expenses $20,611
Other payments $2,683
Total Expenses $23,294
Net Surplus / (Deficit) $(3,293)
Monthly Budget $22,415
AMMPARO: A call to welcome By K.T. Sancken February 8, 2017
The Lutheran delegation that visited the Guatemala-Mexico border encountered a group with this banner, which reads “God’s love has no borders. Don’t call me a foreigner, I am your brother/sister.”
A man in flip-flops, dirty jeans and a worn T-shirt sat on a rickety chair in a migrant safe house in southern Mexico. His two teenagers stood beside him. Holding his head in his hands, he said, “I’m just so thankful my daughter wasn’t raped in front of me.” The day before Mexican bandits assaulted the family while they were walking there from Guatemala.
The father decided to leave home after a gang threatened to kill his 15-year-old son if he didn’t join. They then turned on his 14-year-old daughter, saying she would become the gang’s girlfriend, a condition akin to human slavery. “I had to leave to save my kids,” the man said.
“It’s not so easy, right?” said Alaide Vilchis Ibarra, ELCA program director for migration policy. “[Immigration] is a really complex issue.”
Vilchis Ibarra heard this family’s story during a trip to the Guatemala-Mexico border made possible by AMMPARO, a strategy approved by the 2016 Churchwide Assembly to address migration and violence in Central America. “I am really proud of the church,” she said. “We’re saying that we’re a church that is called to welcome, but also a church that understands that those people shouldn’t have had to face the dangers they did.”
In Spanish, amparo means the protection of a living creature from suffering or damage. The program’s full name, Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities, is the ELCA’s answer to serving children who are forced to flee their communities because of violence, poverty, environmental displacement or lack of opportunities in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala.
“We’re working with the Mennonite Social Action Commission,” said AMMPARO program director Mary Campbell. “Our goal is to work with 500 youth who have been deported to get vocational training and psychological counseling to deal with the trauma of the journey.”
Six months into the creation of AMMPARO, Campbell is looking for “welcoming congregations.” This program asks ELCA congregations to “provide pastoral and sometimes physical accompaniment to migrants who are making the journey and transitioning to life in the U.S.,” she said. “It’s different from becoming a sanctuary congregation.”
Campbell hopes to grow even more programs out of AMMPARO that address the great needs of the thousands of unaccompanied children and migrant families who come to the U.S. each year.
“We’d like to see at the end of five years that all 9,000 of our congregations know about AMMPARO and can find a place to be involved in some way,” she said. “Ninety-two verses in the Bible are about welcoming the stranger. It’s our responsibility as people of faith to walk with all people for justice and fairness, and for the potential for lives as children of God.”
Get involved Pray for the safety of migrant children and families. Become a welcoming congregation to accompany children and families through their transition to life in
the U.S. (elca.org/Resources/AMMPARO). Advocate for justice for migrant children and families (elca.org/advocacy). Accompany migrant children and families through the Guardian Angel Program as the physical presence
of the church in the courtroom (Vimeo.com/157458987). Help financially (community.elca.org/donations/ammparo-donate).
Reprinted from Living Lutheran. K.T. Sancken is a social worker, mother and writer based in Charlottesville, Va. She is a Valparaiso [Ind.] University alumna.
CHRIST THE KING PAGE 6 TWINSBURG, OHIO
MARCH PAGE 7 2017
CHRIST THE KING PAGE 8 TWINSBURG, OHIO G
o t
o c
tktw
insb
urg
.co
m, A
bo
ut
Us,
Ne
wsl
ette
rs t
o s
ee
curr
ent
Wee
ken
d M
esse
ng
er w
ith
ass
ista
nts
. P
leas
e c
on
tact
Wen
dy
in t
he
off
ice
to
vo
lun
teer
fo
r an
y o
pen
ings
sh
ow
n b
elo
w.
SHIN
ING
TH
E LI
GH
T O
F JE
SUS
AT
WO
RSH
IP A
T C
TK IN
MA
RC
H 2
01
7
W
ors
hip
ti
me
M
arch
4th
& 5
th
Mar
ch 1
1th
& 1
2th
M
arch
18
th &
19
th
Mar
ch 2
5th
& 2
6th
Aco
lyte
s
5:3
0 p
m
Lyd
ia S
chio
po
ta
Do
tti R
oo
t Ly
dia
Sch
iop
ota
To
be
assi
gned
8:3
0 a
m
Car
lee
Bed
ford
G
abri
elle
Do
ty
Mad
isyn
Wis
e
Julia
No
ble
11
:00
am
A
veri
e St
oke
s-Th
om
as
Gra
ce L
ue
C
amill
e St
oke
s-Th
om
as
Mar
isa
Do
bb
ins
Wo
rsh
ip A
ssis
tan
ts,
Lect
ors
(L)
, C
om
mu
nio
n
Ass
ista
nts
(C
)
5:3
0 p
m
Kat
ie B
ach
M
J N
eel
Dav
e D
ene
s P
atti
Jab
re
8:3
0 a
m
Wen
dy
Gib
bo
ns
(L, C
) Jo
hn
McB
rid
e (L
),
Sally
Mo
rris
(C
) Sh
irle
y D
uff
y (L
, C)
Mik
e P
erek
sta
(L),
Cry
stal
Sto
kes
(C)
11
:00
am
K
rist
in W
.Go
ss (
L),
Kar
en R
eid
(C
) Ju
lie G
roe
nke
(L)
, Ja
ne
Zare
mb
a (C
) Je
ff C
risw
ell (
L),
Den
ise
Tiea
rney
(C
) Su
e Si
mm
on
s (L
),
Joh
n H
um
rich
ou
ser
(C)
Lay
Pra
yer
Lead
ers
8
:30
am
M
ike
Co
ss
Pat
ti J
abre
Sh
irle
y D
uff
y C
ryst
al S
toke
s
11
:00
am
K
rist
in W
ed
emey
er G
oss
Je
nn
Lu
e
Dia
ne
Pro
cop
K
aren
Rei
d
Ush
ers
5:3
0 p
m
Dav
e D
ene
s B
ill &
Do
tti R
oo
t C
har
lott
e &
Ro
n M
iller
M
J N
eel
8:3
0 a
m
Do
ty f
amily
K
rist
in B
ed
ford
, D
. Urb
an
Jean
& M
ike
Co
ss
Wen
dy
Jon
es, D
. Urb
an
11
:00
am
C
hri
s D
rive
r,
Gin
ger
Pit
uch
Li
nd
a B
end
ler,
K
ate
Har
tlan
d
Mik
e &
Rit
a M
itch
C
hu
ck G
oo
dn
igh
t, C
arlt
on
Sp
itz
Gre
ete
rs
8:3
0 a
m
Sue
Bru
nst
Jo
hn
McB
rid
e &
D. U
rban
G
abri
elle
Do
ty
Do
ty f
amily
11
:00
am
V
olu
nte
er n
eed
ed
Ch
ano
n B
ort
ak
Ch
ris
Spit
z D
enis
e H
all
Sou
nd
Bo
oth
5
:30
pm
C
lair
e Sc
hio
po
ta
Jaso
n S
tah
lman
C
lair
e Sc
hio
po
ta
Wen
dy
Gib
bo
ns
Alt
ar C
are
8
:30
am
K
rist
in B
ed
ford
A
my
Bat
es,
Mar
ge B
ow
man
G
abri
elle
Do
ty
Lisa
Do
ty
11
:00
am
Su
e Si
mm
on
s D
ave
Den
es,
K
aren
Sca
rpel
li Ja
ne
Zare
mb
a Ly
n A
bb
ott
Pu
nch
Mak
er
By
9:1
5
Har
tlan
d f
amily
K
rist
in B
ed
ford
M
ary
Elle
n R
ob
ine
tte
W
end
y G
ibb
on
s
Co
ffe
e C
lean
-up
1
2:1
5p
m
Off
ice
Staf
f G
inge
r &
To
m P
itu
ch
San
dy
Mo
lnar
Ly
n &
Ran
dy
Ab
bo
tt
Ap
ril M
esse
ng
er A
ssem
bly
Te
am: L
eatr
ice
Ale
xan
der
, San
dy
Mo
lnar
, Su
e Si
mm
on
s, J
ane
Zare
mb
a -
Tue
sday
, Mar
ch 2
1st
, 20
17
A
pri
l Mes
sen
ger
Dea
dlin
e: P
leas
e ge
t ar
ticl
es
to
off
ice@
ctkt
win
sbu
rg.c
om
by
Thu
rsd
ay, M
arch
16
th
Than
ks t
o S
hir
ley
Du
ffy,
Mik
e &
Rit
a M
itch
, an
d M
ary
Elle
n R
ob
inet
te f
or
asse
mb
ling
the
Mar
ch M
esse
ng
er!
THANKS TO CTK YOUTH FOR LEADING WORSHIP!
On Sunday, February 12th, both worship services were led by these
CtK 7th - 12th grade youth: Allison Bach, Gabrielle Doty, Adam Groenke,
Elijah Groenke, Evan Harnak, Justin Hartland, Claire Schiopota, Lydia
Schiopota, and Carlton Spitz. These youth did a great job and shared an
important message about prayer. The 1st - 3rd grade students in Mrs.
Hall’s & Mrs. Tiearney’s
Sunday school class
helped lead one hymn at
each service. Koren
Goss helped usher at
the late service.
Thanks to these youth
for their leadership!
COLLECTIONS AT CTK
River Valley Paper Recycling sent a check for $24.78 for paper products
put in our recycling bin during December.
Aluminum cans from January & February were recycled for $2.45.
CtK received $74.04 for clothing put in the St. Pauly clothing shed in
January and also received the following message: Dear Friends,
We are focusing this year on diverting more clothing items and textiles away from landfills and sending them to people who can use them around the US and World.
Thank you for continuing to collaborate with us on the St. Pauly Textile clothing drop off shed project! In 2016 roughly 17,983 garments of clothing were donated to your shed. This was enough to clothe an estimated 2,180 people. This clothing is being used right now by people in one or more of 44 different countries (including the US) to which our clothing is likely to have been distributed this past year.
Your congregation raised $935 in 2016 through hosting this shed.
We ask that you continue to spread the word about the clothing shed to other community members. Thank you for all your support, and please feel free to reach out to us at any time!
Sincerely, The Team at St. Pauly Textile Inc.
MARCH PAGE 9 2017
All men 18 and older are invited to
meet for food and fellowship at Bob
Evans on Route 82 at 8 am the first
Saturday of the month, March 4th.
See Tom Pituch for details.
Family Outreach Fellowship Team/
Senior Outreach Fellowship Team:
Stop by CtK for board games and a
light lunch in the narthex beginning
at 10:30 am every Wednesday. See
Joan E l -Kaufman for more
information about this ongoing
Evangelism activity.
The CtK Tuesday Women’s Bible
Study meets at 10 am in Room 105.
Wendy Gibbons leads the hour-long
sessions of Bible study, fellowship,
discussion, and prayer. All women are
invited to attend weekly or to drop in
when their schedules permit. The
group collects an offering to benefit
the Cleveland YWCA’s Nurturing
Independence and Aspiration
initiative to assist youth aging out of
foster care.
The studies are from Gather
magazine. The study of the book of
Galatians through April is Christian
Faith and Christian Freedom.
March’s topic is “News of the
Promise.” Bibles and copies of the
study are available each week. To
subscribe to Gather call 844-409-
0576; a year’s subscription (10
issues) is $15. See Wendy with
questions.
Pastor Matthew will lead a noontime
study in Lent of Adam Hamilton’s
book Creed: What Christians Believe
and Why. There is time to eat your
brown bag lunch in the class.
The Wednesday evening study will
take a break until after Easter.
Lydia Schiopota 3/2
Alexa Smiddle 3/2
Lyn Abbott 3/3
Kevin Basom 3/5
Joe Meyer 3/5
Karen Stahlman 3/6
David Heath 3/7
Marisa Dobbins 3/8
Gary Heath 3/8
Nicole Sares 3/8
Mary Schlosnagle 3/8
Denise Tiearney 3/8
Abby Baker 3/9
Lou Sperling 3/17
Joanne Ciarniello 3/20
Noah Lue 3/20
Katelyn Alesci 3/22
Ted Brunst Jr. 3/23
Brent Susnik 3/24
Bob Bortak 3/25
Joan Marcy 3/28
Makayla Dobbins 3/31
Justin Hartland 3/31
Mike & Lynn Pereksta 3/10
Bob & Tina Coleman 3/25
Remember to set your clocks ahead one hour at 2 AM
Sunday, March 12th!
Council Meeting Highlights for January 9, 2017 Complete Council minutes are posted on the Council kiosk. A motion that Dave Denes continue as council secretary was approved. A motion to accept agenda as published was approved. Pastor Matthew’s Report: Lenten focus to be Luther’s Small Catechism. Ministry Reports: Evangelism: John Humrichouser will research the cost of local area newspaper ads for CtK (Twinsburg and the adjoining suburbs) and submit an Endowment grant request to fund them for the year. John is also planning to submit an Endowment request for seasonal postcards. 2017 Ministry Liaisons
Upcoming Events Lenten Soup & Sandwich Suppers: (to be held 6:00pm–7:00pm).
Ash Wednesday, March 1: The Confirmands host the supper. Other Wednesdays: The National Youth Gathering youth will host supper.
Finance Report The 2016 year-to-date shortfall was $8,833, significantly less than was anticipated. As part of the fiduciary responsibility of council, discussion ensued about recordkeeping, procedures, and backup. Rob to contact Mike Pereksta about his record retention and data backup procedures. Old Business Personnel Handbook: David S. has some changes. He will work with Pastor Matthew and Karen Reid to review the handbook: Second Nursery Attendant: A background check was initiated for Emma Fulton, candidate for second nursery attendant position. New Business Building Use Requests:
Twinsburg Garden Club requested use of the Fellowship Hall for February 9, March 9, April 6, May 11, June 8, July 13, and October 12, 2017. The request was approved.
Boy Scout Troup #223 requested permission to meet in the CtK fellowship hall, January 29. This request was approved.
Approval of Financial Secretary: For the calendar year 2017, a motion to approve Sandy Molnar as Financial Secretary and Dotti Root as Understudy was approved. Approval of Treasurer: For the calendar year 2017, a motion to approve Mike Pereksta as Treasurer. was approved. The position of understudy is still open. Picture Directory: MJ Neel has graciously volunteered to coordinate the 2017 CtK picture directory. Respectfully submitted: David F. Denes, Council Secretary
CHRIST THE KING PAGE 10 TWINSBURG, OHIO
Christian Education ..... John Humrichouser Congregational Care ... Karen Reid Endowment ................ Dave Denes Evangelism .................. David Schiopota Finance........................ Rob Doty Mutual Ministry .......... Rob Doty
Outreach ...................... Corey Thompson Property ....................... Corey Thompson Stephen Ministry ......... John Humrichouser Stewardship ................. David Schiopota Worship & Music ......... Karen Reid
Please complete both sides of this form and return to Christ the King.
MARCH PAGE 11 2017
Please complete both sides of this form and return to Christ the King.
CHRIST THE KING PAGE 12 TWINSBURG, OHIO
YOUTH COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT:
LUTHERAN LAUNDRY LOVE
Youth in the 7th – 12th Grade CtK Sunday
School class, with guidance from their
teacher Mr. David Schiopota, parents, and
CtK staff, are planning a Lutheran Laundry
Love event at a local laundromat on a Sunday
afternoon in March or April. The goal is to provide
washing and drying at no cost, games and light
refreshments for kids and adults, and companionship
through listening and sharing stories.
This will lead to conversations where youth can get
to know their neighbors, share the Gospel message with
them, support and pray for them, and invite them to
worship at CtK. In cases where patrons express specific
needs, CtK staff and adults can provide referral
information to organizations and agencies and direct
financial support as appropriate.
Why will we do this?
God has blessed CtK abundantly to be a blessing to
others. Providing assistance for people to have clean
clothes benefits their health and hygiene, social
connections, and financial relief.
How will we do this?
Over the course of several Sunday school classes,
the youth will organize and plan the event, engaging
other CtK members as needed. Funds will be pursued
through a Thrivent Action Team grant, local
sponsorships, and other fundraisers to be determined
and organized by the youth. Watch the Weekend
Messenger and monthly Messenger to see how you can
help with this project. Talk to David Schiopota and
watch upcoming Messengers for details and more
information.
JANUARY SUNDAY SCHOOL PERFECT ATTENDANCE
Pre-kindergarten & Kindergarten – Benjamin Stayanchi
1st, 2nd, & 3rd Grades – Jeremiah Groenke, Nathan
Stayanchi
7th – 12th Grades – Adam Groenke, Elijah Groenke, Claire
Schiopota
Adults – Rich Ciarniello, Dave Denes, Wendy Gibbons, Julie
Groenke, Pastor Matthew Groenke, John Humrichouser,
Karen Reid, David Schiopota, Dale Schlosnagle, Mary
Schlosnagle, Denise Tiearney, Mark Tiearney
MARCH PAGE 13 2017
2017 Lutheran Outdoor Ministries of Ohio (LOMO)
camp registration is now open. For more
information or to register go to
www.lomocamps.org or talk to Miss
Patti. Minister of Discipleship & Youth
0 OR 103 Years Old?
9:45 am Sunday mornings
*3 years old to Kindergarten - Room 102
Amy Williams
*1, 2, 3 Grades - Room 105
Denise Tiearney & Denise Hall
*4, 5, 6 Grades - Room 101 - Katie Bach
*7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Grades - Youth Room
Dave Schiopota
ADULT OPPORTUNITIES
Understanding the Bible - Making Sense of the Bible
by Adam Hamilton - Room 103 - Dave Denes
Adult Forum - Fellowship Hall - John Humrichouser
Staffed nursery available for children under 3. Minister of Discipleship & Youth
MARTIN LUTHER’S CORNER At the same time Martin Luther’s reforms were being debated in Germany and elsewhere, England was undergoing a reformation as well, led by Henry VIII. But this “reform” movement was very different. The Henry VIII reformation was not about principles of justification, indulgences, or the sacraments as Luther and other reformers taught. It was Henry VIII
challenging the Pope’s political authority over English Christians. Early in his reign, Henry had been given the title of “Defender of the Faith” by the Pope. He referred to Luther as “that little monk who spews against the Pope.” But when Henry wanted a divorce that the Pope would not grant, he decided that he should be not just the head of England, but also the head of the English Church. He signed the “Act of Supremacy” in 1534, making him head of the church. But Henry still believed in the major tenets of the Catholic Church including the seven sacraments and the worship style. He thought of this new Church of England as “catholic without a pope.” Luther, after initially supporting Henry, came to see this not as reformation but as more of a power grab and called Henry “a pig, dolt, and liar who deserved, among other things, to be covered in excrement.”
This monthly blurb about Martin Luther is compiled by John Humrichouser for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
Reformation 500: 50 Reformation quotes Continued from February 2017 Messenger for Reformation Anniversary. By John Potter, Rod Boriack Reprinted from January 2017 issue of Living Lutheran.
21 “For the reality of grace is not severable from that web and bundle of life out of which the human emerges and is defined, with in which the negatives of need and anguish and death, as well as the affirmative vitalities of beauty and joy burst forth, to which the Incarnation of grace came, and which, in the numberless occasions of experience, constitutes the theater of man’s redemption by grace.” –Joseph Sittler (1904-87), theologian
22 “He [Luther] rejected the emphasis on internal experience as the basis for faith because, for him, human beings encountered God through the means outside themselves (extra nos), through the scripture, the word of preaching and the sacraments.” —Rev. Kenneth Mtata, author, “The Holy Spirit in the Lutheran and Reformation History: An African Perspective”
23 “[Christ] is everywhere, but he does not wish that you grope for him everywhere. Grope rather where the Word is, and there you will lay hold of him in the right way.” —Martin Luther
24 “Perhaps Luther’s greatest achievement was the German Bible. No other work has had as strong an impact on a nation’s development and heritage as has this Book.” —Henry Zecher in Christianity Today
25 “The Bible ceased to be a foreign book in a foreign tongue, and became naturalized, and hence far more clear and dear to the common people. Hereafter the Reformation depended no longer on the works of the Reformers, but on the book of God, which everybody could read for himself as his daily guide in spiritual life. This inestimable blessing of an open Bible for all … marks an immense advance in church history, and can never be lost.” —Philip Schaff (1819-93), theologian and church historian
26 “A Christian congregation should never gather together [in worship] without the preaching of God’s Word and prayer, no matter how briefly. … For all that matters is that God’s Word be given free course to encourage and enliven hearts, so that they do not become burdened.” —Martin Luther
27 “With no ‘spiritual license’ to teach and preach and write in public, with no recognized official role to do so, the most important stimulus for Protestant women to write theologically came from their understanding of the Word and external reasons: a necessity to defend others, to intervene on behalf of others, to show care for ‘theirs’ as well as others, to teach those they cared about, and to speak the word of truth when it was needed, and to respond to the call of the gospel as they saw it.” —Kirsi Stjerna, ELCA pastor and professor
28 “Because churches today—both Protestant and Catholic, as well as Jewish, Muslim and other religions—are still wrestling with the balance between men’s and women’s spiritual equality and social difference, [Luther’s] words, like those of other authoritative religious writers, are not simply matters of historical interest.” —Susan Karant-Nunn and Merry Wiesner-Hanks, professors
29 “When he asked why he got married, Luther responded that “his marriage would please his father, rile the pope, cause the angels to laugh, and the devils to weep.” —Terry Lindvall, author, God Mocks
30 “In essentials, unity; in differences, liberty; in all things, charity.” —Attributed to Philipp Melanchthon (1497-1560), reformer and theologian
31 “What have Luther and Melanchthon taught save the Word of God? You have condemned them. You have not refuted them. Where do you read in the Bible that Christ, the apostles, and the prophets imprisoned, banished, burned, or murdered anyone?” —Argula von Grumbach (1492-1568), reformer and author
32 “The law says, ‘do this,’ and it is never done. Grace says, ‘believe in this,’ and everything is already done.” —Martin Luther
33 [Luther’s] ultimate message was that if one wanted to compare Christianity to a ship, then one must know that all Christians—whether monk or farmer, nun or housewife—were granted a place on board, and no one place was better than another. Moreover, a ride aboard this ship of grace came only by way of faith.” —David C. Mayes, professor
34 “The first thing I ask is that people should not make use of my name, and should not call themselves Lutherans, but Christians. What is Luther? The teaching is not mine. Nor was I crucified for anyone. St. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 3, would not tolerate Christians calling themselves Pauls or Peters, but only Christians. How did I, poor stinking bag of maggots that I am, come to the point where people call the children of Christ by my evil name?” —Martin Luther
35 “Reformation ends not in contemplation, but in action.” —George Gillespie (1613-48), theologian
36 “God is decreeing to begin some new and great period in His Church, even to the reforming of the Reformation itself.” —John Milton (1608-74), author
37 “If we Protestants are ‘reformed and always reforming,’ then commemorating the Reformation should cause us not so much to celebrate the past as to renew our mission and ministry in the present.” —Christopher Gehrz, professor
(Continued on page 15)
CHRIST THE KING PAGE 14 TWINSBURG, OHIO
38 “It was a sad and unexpected consequence of the Reformation attack in monasticism that the immediate effects on education were negative. As persons left religious orders, and as their property was seized by nobles with evident greed, the traditional role that these institutions played in educating the young disappeared.” —Timothy Lull (1943-2003), author, Martin Luther’s Basic Theological Writings
39 “The anniversary of the Reformation in 2017 becomes the focus for a multiyear global process of reflection, repentance, and celebration in all congregations and expressions of the communion. As one part of this emphasis, the [Lutheran World Federation] Assembly in 2017 will be planned as an occasion for the joyful celebration of the power of the Lutheran witness to the gospel and at the same time a space for the self-critical acknowledgement of failures in faithfulness and of the continuing pain of division among Christians.” —Lutheran World Federation strategic plan
40 “If Luther were to rise from the dead he would be shocked at the strange things, which are done, under the cover of his name.” —Bishop Manas Buthelezi (1935-2016), theologian, activist and first bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa’s Central Diocese
41 “In commemorating the Reformation, we cannot just see it as a jubilee, but should also admit our guilt for past errors and repent on both sides for the past 500 years.” —Heinz Josef Algermissen, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fulda in Germany
42 “The ecumenical movement has altered the orientation of the churches’ perceptions of the Reformation: ecumenical theologians have decided not to pursue their confessional self-assertions at the expense of their dialogue partners but rather to search for that which is common within the differences, even within the oppositions, and thus work toward overcoming church-dividing differences.” —The Lutheran-Roman Catholic Commission on Unity
43 “If, unfortunately, there are things in Rome which cannot be improved, there is not—nor can there be! —any reason for tearing oneself away from the church in schism. Rather, the worse things become, the more one should help her and stand by her, for by schism and contempt nothing can be mended.” —Martin Luther
44 “He [Luther] took his shots at the system, yet he also lived up to all the reforms he pushed through. The people listened to him because they could see Luther laboring to bring Christianity back to the point where Christ had established it—a simple faith in God, a direct relationship with Christ, contentment with the calling God gives each individual, and living righteously in the midst of the world.” —David C. Mayes, professor
45 “The Reformers did not see themselves as inventors, discoverers, or creators. Instead they saw their efforts as rediscovery. They weren’t making something from scratch but were reviving what had become dead. They looked back to the Bible and to the apostolic era, as well as to early church fathers such as Augustine for the mold by which they could shape the church and re-form it.” —Stephen J. Nichols, author, The Reformation
46 “In particular, our church will have to confront the vices of hubris, the worship of power, envy, and illusionism as the roots of all evil. It will have to speak of moderation, authenticity, trust, faithfulness, steadfastness, patience, discipline, humility, modesty, contentment. It will have to see that it does not underestimate the significance of the human ‘example’ (which has its origin in the human of Jesus and is so important in Paul’s writings!); the church’s word gains weight and power not through concepts but by example.” —Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-45), theologian
47 “The time is ripe to acknowledge that translating Luther to new contexts involves a process of transfiguration by which the old, relevant as it is in its reappearance, also passes away. … The contours of the Reformation now are to be defined over against this new background in which powers and principalities exert control now as they did when the Reformation erupted as a cry for freedom and a call for the gospel. The Reformation defined them then; it is left for us to name them today, yet the spirit is the same.” —Vítor Westhelle, author, Transfiguring Luther
48 “The radical gospel of justification by faith alone does not allow for a middle-of-the-road position. Either one must proclaim it as unconditionally as possible, or forget it. We must somehow muster up the nerve to preach the gospel in such fashion as to put the old to death and call forth the new. … If Lutheranism is to recover a sense of its identity and mission today, it must begin to consider what it means to preach the gospel in radical fashion.” —Gerhard Forde (1927-2005), theologian
49 “In our day, we emphasize the gospel of self-esteem, marketing the church based on people’s needs, saying, ‘I found it!’ and ‘I’m the little engine that could.’ Our culture promotes human ability and human will, as did the indulgence culture in Luther’s day, as a way to bring salvation. So I have a hunch Luther would still feel compelled to speak his central message.” —Martin E. Marty, ELCA pastor and professor
50 “The church needs a reformation which is not the work of man, namely the pope, or of many men, namely the cardinals, both of which the most recent council has demonstrated, but it is the work of the whole world, indeed it is the work of God alone. However, only God who has created time knows the time for this reformation.” —Martin Luther
(Continued from page 14)
MARCH PAGE 15 2017
MARCH MESSENGER 2017 www.CtKTwinsburg.com
Christ the King Lutheran Church Non-Profit Organization
10285 Ravenna Road U.S. Postage Paid
Twinsburg, Ohio 44087 Twinsburg, Ohio
Permit No. 1
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED2
Dated Material - MARCH 2017
Please Rush!
Christ the King welcomes you to our
worship, fellowship, and service!
Saturday worship each week at 5:30 p.m.
Sunday Worship and Schedule:
Contemporary Worship ......................................... 8:30 a.m.
Sunday School ......................................................... 9:45 a.m.
Traditional Worship .............................................. 11:00 a.m.
Holy Communion at all Saturday & Sunday services
Join us at 6 PM every Wednesday from March 1st through
April 5th for a Soup & Sandwich Supper
Sign up to bring soup, sandwiches, or beverages to share. CtK
Youth will do the kitchen work, and there will be a free will
offering each week to benefit youth programs.
Ash Wednesday, March 1st 12pm - Faith Wednesday study of Adam
Hamilton’s Creed: What Christians Believe and Why
6pm - Soup & Sandwich Supper (Confirmation Youth set up, serve, & clean up; free will
offering defrays Confirmation Camp costs) 7pm - Ash Wednesday Worship with Imposition of
Ashes & Holy Communion 8pm - Easter Cantata Rehearsal
March 8th - April 5th
12pm - Faith Wednesday Creed study 6pm - Soup & Sandwich Supper (National Youth
Gathering Youth set up, serve, & clean up; free will offering goes into NYG fund.)
7pm - Midweek Lenten Worship - Small Catechism theme
7:30pm - Easter Cantata Rehearsal
Cover this box with
the mailing label!