Church newsletter

1. EpworthUnitedMethodistChurch
3061LincolnWayW.
MassillonOH44647
CHANGESERVICEREQUESTED
DATEDMATERIAL
November/December 2020
The Echo
November/December 2020
Newsletter of Epworth United Methodist Church
Worship Time: Sunday 9:30am
Online at www.massillonepworthumc.com
Sermons for November and December
November 1: All Saint’s Day, “Crossing Into the Promised Land” Revelation 7:9-17, Matthew 5:1-12, Com-
munion
November 8: “A Light Unto My Feet” Joshua 24:1-3, 14-25; Matthew 25:1-13
November 15: “A Story of Three Servants” I Thess 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30
November 22: “When Lord, Did We See You?” Ephesians 1:15-23; Matthew 23:31-46; CHIRST THE KING
SUNDAY
November 29: “Come, Lord Jesus, Come” Isaiah 64:1-9, I Cor 1:1-9, Mark 13:24-27; FIRST SUNDAY OF
ADVENT
December 6: Holy Communion: “Christ Our Savior is Coming” Isaiah 40:1-11, Mark 1:1-8; SECOND SUN-
DAY OF ADVENT
December 13: “The Spirit of the Lord Is Upon Me!” Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-1; I Thess 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28;
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
December 20: “The Gift of Love” Romans 16:25-27, Luke 1:47-55, 26-38; FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
December 24: Christmas Eve, “The Birth of Jesus!” Luke 2:1-20, Isaiah 9:2-7 ONLINE ONLY AT
WWW.MASSILLONEPWORTHUMC.COM
December 27: “A Child of God” Isaiah 61:10-62:3, Luke 2:22-40 FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS

2. Pastor’s Notes
We are going through a difficult time, but we are not alone—we are with one another and we have the assur-
ance that God and his Son, Jesus Christ, are both with us and his Holy Spirit, surrounds and guides us each and
every day. The Psalms are a model of honest prayer that speak to every part of our lives.
Psalm 107:1-8
1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
those he redeemed from trouble
3 and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
4 Some wandered in desert wastes,
finding no way to an inhabited town;
5 hungry and thirsty,
their soul fainted within them.
6 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress;
7 he led them by a straight way,
until they reached an inhabited town.
8 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wonderful works to humankind.
I have gone on retreat to the Genesee Abbey in Piffard, NY, several times. We were to maintain silence except
when we gathered with the monks five times a day to pray the Psalms. During the week, they pray all 150
Psalms. It was a wonderfully refreshing and stimulating spiritual experience.
Psalm 107 is a song of “Thanksgiving for Deliverance From Many Troubles” This psalm challenges us to think
about the times God has delivered us from fear, loneliness and anxiety!
We need to thank God who is good and whose steadfast love endures forever!
Rev Les Peine
VIRTUAL ADVENT BIBLE STUDY: “THE INCARNATION” by Adam Hamilton
Will begin Dec 2nd
at 9:00 am live on Epworth UMC’s Facebook page.
www.massillonepworthumc.com.
Dec 2nd “Presidents and Kings”
Dec 9th “The Savior and Our Need for Salvation”
Dec 16th “Emmanuel in the Midst of a Pandemic”
Dec 23rd “Light of the World, Word of God and Lord”
Thank You’s
Thank you to Larry Hinson for overseeing the Building Fund Account and taking the deposits to the bank.
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
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– Thursday to get a rental form & will be put on
the schedule when the deposit is made.
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.
Church Office Hours 9 am—Noon, Monday-Thursday .
“BREAKFAST WITH
SANTA”
A walk-thru mission
event
Saturday, December 5,
2020
9:00-10:30 a.m.
Details about this mission outreach
event will be distributed on November
8! If you are not at the in-person wor-
ship service that day or attend wor-
ship through our livestream, the infor-
mation will be available from the of-
fice beginning then also. We hope
that you will want to be a part of this
special Christmas outreach by donat-
ing items, helping that morning or in
some other way! The Day Care will
also participate in this event.
We will be offering a free carry-out
pancake and sausage breakfast, a bag
of groceries for families, goodie bag
for kids and an opportunity for par-
ents to take photos of their kids with
Santa! We have contacted Santa and he
is on board! COVID-19 guidelines will
be followed for the safety of Santa, the
kids, parents and all who help that
day.

3. Musical Notes
Thank you to our Epworth Sun-
day Singers for providing mu-
sic during worship each week.
We rehearse each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. in the Fel-
lowship Hall, with our masks, safe distancing
and doing things a little differently to keep sing-
ers and congregation safe. If you are interested
in joining us, let me know!
Advent begins November 29. We’ll be singing
Christmas music soon!
We will be participating in the intergenerational
Christmas program on December 20 and Christ-
mas Eve service.
Make a joyful noise!
Marie
Christmas Program
“Wow! A Christmas Nativity!”
Sunday, December 20 during worship service
This will be an intergenerational pro-
gram - which means that no one is too
young or too old to participate! There
will be parts with speaking lines and non
–speaking parts also. The music will be
familiar to all. Costumes and props will
be provided! One rehearsal will be held
on Sunday, Dec. 13, immediately follow-
ing worship. Marie will distribute parts
toward the end of November.
Jesus Loves the Little Children..
And the Big Kids, Too!
We have been having a great time at Bible Buddies
this year learning about The Fruits of the Spirit,
Galatians 5:22-23, while singing, hearing stories,
eating yummy snacks, making crafts and playing
games. We have been doing all of this while wear-
ing our masks, washing our hands often and so-
cial distancing. The best part of Bible Buddies is
being together with our friends!
All kids ages 4-6th grade and Youth helpers in
grades 7-12, are invited to join us for Bible Bud-
dies. The next several gatherings are Sundays
November 15, December 13 and January 17 from
5:30-7:30. Friends are always welcome. Masks are
required of all children, as well as adults who
drop kids off and those who are working in the
program.
Thank you to Evelyn and Larry Hinson for the
great snack each month at Bible Buddies and to
Nate & Krissy Lockwood for helping with whatever
is needed.
Children & youth will participate in the intergen-
erational Christmas program, “Wow! A Christmas
Nativity,” on Sunday, Dec. 20, during the worship
service.
A yearly calendar for children and youth activities
is available in the church office.
Jesus said, “Let the children come to me…”
Marie & Linda
Due to Covid 19, we will be hav-
ing a virtual Christmas Eve Ser-
vice this year. The service will be
pre-recorded and available at
www.masssillonepworthumc.com
beginning at 6 p.m. on December
24. There will be candle lighting
and communion. We encourage
you to share this service with your
family. Merry Christmas!
We will be brightening Su-
san’s holiday by bringing her
gifts. There will be a bag for
your donations in the front of
the sanctuary.
We will once again be buying gifts for the
children of Mountain Vision. I have the list
of children and their “wish list” in the of-
fice. All gifts are to be wrapped (no ribbons
necessary as they get crushed during
transport). Gifts are due back in the office
by November 29.
We are also helping to provide hygiene
bags . Each bag will contain:
2 toothpaste
4 toothbrushes
4 bar soap
Shampoo
Conditioner
6 rolls toilet paper
6 disposable razors
1 shaving cream
Body lotion
Male and female deodorant
Comb and brush
An Angel tree will be ready on November
29 We will provide Christmas for a family
from The Salvation Army.
There will be a Community Thanksgiving Eve Service
on Wednesday, November 25 at 7 p.m. at First Baptist
Church. The service will be limited to 100 attendees,
but will be available online at www.facebook.com/
firstbaptistmassillon.
Operation Christmas Child. We will be packing shoe-
boxes for Samaritan's Purse. Shoeboxes are due No-
vember 15
“Treats and Eats” THANK YOU!
Thank you to everyone who par-
ticipated in our Drive-Thru
“Treats and Eats” mission event
on October 31. There was such
an out-pouring of generosity as folks do-
nated bags of groceries, food for the free
meal, candy for the kids’ treat bags, mon-
ey to help purchase items such as carry-
out containers and other miscellaneous
items. We also appreciate the folks who
volunteered during or before the event to
pack treat bags and hang posters, cook
hotdogs, pack meals or to distribute items
outside. This was truly a whole church
family project!
Pastor Jim (Mathatas) Scott will be turning 70 on
November 18. Due to Covid-19, no party is being
planned; but if you would like to send a card, his ad-
dress is:
Pastor Jim Scott
1210 Broad Street
Ashland, OH 44805

4. Kidstuff Coupon Book
Kidstuff coupon books are on sale for $20 until
November 9.
Please call the office is you would like to pur-
chase one.
THEMES INFANT/TODDLERS
Nov 2—Community Helpers November
Nov 9—Fun w/Cookng Thanksgiving/
Nov 16—Thanksgiving Families
Nov 23—Family Unit Harvest
Nov 30—Shapes December
Dec 7—Warm Clothes Christmas/
Dec 14—Domestic Animals Nativity
Dec 21—Christmas Around Cultural
The World
Dec 28—Spatial Concepts
UPCOMING EVENTS
Nov 24—Thanksgiving Feast
Nov 26-27—Day Care Closed
Dec 18—Christmas Party—Friday
Dec 21-Jan 1—Day Care Only
Dec 24—Closing at 3 p.m.
Dec 25-—Day Care Closed
Jan 1— Day Care Closed
Jan 18—Martin Luther King Day
Open House
I want to thank all of the parents for coming to Open House. Please remember,
Open House is not the only time to speak with a teacher. The Day Care is very con-
cerned with staff-parent relations. Your communication about your child helps us to
meet your child’s needs to the best of our ability.
We have been fortunate to purchase new
cots for our children. Starting November 1,
the cots the children are currently using will
be available for purchase. Each cot may be
purchase for $5. Please see Theresa if you are
interested.
Also, we still have three adjustable height
tables available. If you are interested, please
see Theresa..
Christmas Poinsettia Order Form
November Birthdays
11/3 Cleo Kelley
11/5 Marcia Paul
11/6 Cheryl Carter
11/12 Pam Staley
11/13 Frances Stuck
11/15 Keith Paulus
11/19 Tisha King
11/19 Trent Cakanic
11/21 Jim Brunckhart
11/22 Sandy Hunter
111/29 Devin Ramsey
December Birthdays
12/1 Kathy Mortland
12/4 Iva Rees
12/5 Nick Staley
12/5 Lucas Kelley
12/7 Kameron Kincaid
12/7 Ralph Cox, Sr.
12/11 Sarah Paul
12/12 Laura Otte
12/12 Art Woods
12/14 Jeremiah Drobney
12/15 Nathan Schaffter
12/16 Bonnie Stipe
12/16 Mitch Derheimer
12/19 Nicole Weltich
12/22 Gabe Cakanic
12/23 Scott Bowe
12/27 Tim Remley
12/28 Theresa Lemon
12/28 Zoey Paulus
12/29 Vicki Henderson
12/31 David Stanford
December Anniversaries
12/2 Larry & Evelyn Hinson
12/21 Laura & Bob Otte
To order your Christmas poinsettia, send this completed
form and your check to the church office. Make your
check out for $9 to Epworth United Methodist. Please mark
memo line “poinsettia”.
_____Red _____White ____Pink
The deadline for
ordering is
November15th!
Your Name __________________________________
(as you want printed in acknowledgment insert)
Phone # ___________________________________
Please specify for bulletin:
In Memory Of _________________________________________
In Honor Of ___________________________________________
(Other) _______________________________________________
FINANCIAL REPORT
CHURCH
09/01/20Balance Fwd. $14,159.35
Receipts $5,802.00
Total Receipts $19,961.35
Expenses $11,202.60
09/30/20Balance $8,758.75
SAVINGS ACCOUNTS
09/01/20EOC Credit Union $1,231.92
EOC Credit Union $18,048.06
FARMERS Savings $31,224.52
09/30/20TOTAL $50,504.50
BUILDING EXPANSION
09/01/20Balance Fwd. $190.94
Pledges $2,050.00
Total Income $2,240.94
Payment $2115.06
Extra Payment on Principal $20.00
09/30/20Ckbk. Balance $105.88
09/01/20Loan Balance $111,296.33
Payment on Prin. $1,815.41
Extra Payment on Prin. $20.00
09/30/20Loan Balance $109,460.92