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Inside this Issue: PG 2: Toms Pen PG 3: Youth News PG 4: Our Family PG 5: Heidelberg PG 6: Join Us PG 7 Women’s Fellowship PG 8: Join Us PG 9: Holy Week PG 10: Other News PG 11: Calendar PG 12: History Snippits

Visit Us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/FirstChurchCongregationalSIGN UP TO RECEIVE OUR E-MAIL NEWS AND UPDATES

E-mail request to: christy@firstchurchcongregational.orgWebsite: www.firstchurchcongregational.org

Office: Christy Duffus Administrative Assistant 440-357-7518

Service Times: 9am Contemporary (In the Chapel)

9:15am Children’s Church10 am Sunday School 11am Traditional

(in the Sanctuary) 11:15am Children’s Church

12pm Fellowship

April 2017

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Rev. Cofer’s PenMay God’s blessings be with you as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s resurrec-tion!Holy Week is a special time in the life of our faith, where we remember Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The Lord’s Supper, His betrayal and crucifixion, and then ultimately His Resurrection. You are invited to join with us during all our worship opportunities during Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday and our worship at 11 AM where we will celebrate Palm Sunday and also celebrate the confirmation of Reece Hamilton and Emily O’Neil. Following the service, we will celebrate Emily and Reece with a special coffee hour. Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter are worship experiences and remembrances and celebra-tions all their own, and I encourage you to come to all of the worship opportuni-ties that you are able to. One of the ways in which we are described as Christians is that we are an Easter people, or a people of the Resurrection. As we move toward the celebration of Easter, I think it would be helpful to explore this a little bit. The Resurrection brings together everything Jesus was about in his life and ministry, as the apos-tle Paul said, if Christ was not raised our faith, and all that we work for, would be for nothing. Part of being an Easter people is the idea that we believe that our walk with God does not end after our bodies die, but that we are resurrected into eternal life, and because of Christ’s resurrection we have eternal life. Being a res-urrection people means that we trust in God to lead us in the right direction, that we live our lives for Him instead of living in the ways of the world, which leads to sin and death. Being a people of the resurrection means that not only do we wait for the next life with God, but that we also work with the help of the Holy Spirit to make the life in this world better for everyone. The resurrected Christ lives on in us…it is a light that cannot be hidden, but it must be allowed to shine. In the times we live in, we are always challenged to live out the spirit of the res-urrection in our everyday lives. The way of the world is self-centeredness and despair, the way of Christ is about abundant life. The world needs us, it needs the people of the Resurrection more than ever. So, as we celebrate Easter, let us always look for opportunities to let the light of Christ shine forth from us. May you be richly blessed this Easter and beyond.In Christian Love,Tom

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Youth NewsEaster Egg Hunt VBS

Also join us for VacationBible School as we discover Maker Fun Factory

June 19th-23rdat 5:30-8:00 pm

Register on our website www.firstchurchcongrega-

tional.org or contact Alex Hillyard, Youth Minister

440-357-7518 to register for this

exciting weeklong event.

APRIL 16th 10am join us for our annual Easter Egg Hunt and

Fellowship.

We are also in need of candy to fill the easter eggs. Please bring a bag

of individually wrapped candy and place it in the bin in the Social

room.

For more information please contact Lee Ann Tamburrino, Producer, 440-823-0552, pctheatercamp@gmail.comLoretta Mitchell, Executive Director, coordinatorpctp.lorettamitchell@gmail.com

Camp A: Little Theater, ThumbelinaMonday – Friday, 9am-12pmJune 12 – July 21Performance July 22Cost - $175Ages: Pre-K - third grade

Camp B Little TheaterThe Gingerbread Man Monday – Friday, 1pm-4pmJune 12 – July 21Performance July 22Cost - $175Ages: Pre-K - third grade

Ages 8 to 14

Like us on Facebook!

Painesville Community Theater Project

Camp A: Rising Stars, CinderellaMonday – Friday9am-12pm, June 12 – July 21Performance July 22Cost - $175Ages: Fourth - Eighth Grades

Camp B: Rising Stars:AlladinMonday – Friday, 1pm-4pmJune 12 – July 21Performance July 22Cost - $175Ages: Fourth - Eighth Grades

Ages 8 to 14

Painesville Community Theater PresentsMusical Theater Summer Camp At First Church Congregational

New this summer – Little Theater for Pre–K

Four camps to choose from!

To Register, fill out the form below and return to Painesville Community Theater, First Church Congregational, 22 Liberty Street, Painesville, Ohio 44077Make checks payable to Painesville Community Theater.

Child’s name____________________________________Child’s grade in 17 /18 school year____________

Address_______________________________________________________________________________________

Email address________________________________________Select camp: Camp A Little Theater ____________$175 Camp B Little Theater____________$175 Camp A Rising Stars______________$175 Camp B Rising Stars______________$175

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Our FamilyHear Our PrayerLord, I come before you today in

need of your healing hand. In you all things are possible. Hold my

heart within yours, and renew my mind, body, and soul.

Eva Weber, Marge Libby, Cliff Hall, Jean Burnham, Judy El-

liott, Les Naughton, George and Janice Kline, Janet-Lee Stanley, Barb Totin, Lisa Wilson, Dick

Libby, Ruth Hyslop, and Kathy Szekely

Many thanks to our March volunteers who served as ushers and greeters, both indoors and in the parking lot! Those who partici-pated in this ministry include Alan Nichols, Shelby and Jerry Brumbaugh, Trudy Juhasz, Helen Takach, Natalie Newhous, Margie and John Haught, Eileen and Gene McKinstry, Lisa Cofer, Carol Dedrick, Peggy Drabenstott, Karen Berry, and Terry Frischkorn. Chapel Lois Osborn, Dave Osborn, Kathy Tipton, Jay Pomeroy, and Betty Pomeroy

Ushers

Thank you

Bench

Budget

Year-to-date Budget as of 2-28-17

Income $ 40,734 Expenses $ 51,032 In the “RED” $ (10,298)

Im sure you have noticed that the bench in the garden by the chaple is gone. The Tuttle family has taken the bench to refinish and refresh it. I look forward to seeing it all updated when they finish it. Thank you to the Tuttle Family for helping keep our church Beutiful.

Thank you everyone for the many prayers, thoughts, phone calls and cards that I received after the death of my brother Mike. They mean so much to me. I appre-ciate all the kind words and love that was shown to me and my family. Losing a loved one is never easy but having loving friends makes the loss a little easier.

Thanks, Eileen

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Heidelberg

DOROTHY FULDHEIM comes to HeidelbergDo you remember watching Dorothy Fuldheim broadcasting the news on Channel 5? Dorothy started there when she was 54. As the first woman to anchor a television newscast, she has been referred to as the “First Lady of Television News.” She was recognizable by her red hair and also her sometimes fiery opinions.On Tuesday, April 18, at 1:00, Heidelberg will host Carol Starre-Kmiecek who will impersonate Dorothy Fuldheim. We know this program will appeal to many people. We welcome anyone who is interested to join us. It is open to all church members and their friends. We would only ask that you let Christy or Natalie Newhous know the number to expect so we can set up seating.We will meet in the Social Room. There is no charge and refreshments will be served.

Heidelberg donated its profit of $230 from the sale of cookie mix in jars to the Church Building Fund.

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Join Us

Life Line Screening

Memorial Bricks

Life Line Screening, a leading provider of community-based preventive health screen-ings will be in our community on Friday, May 5, 2017 at First Church Congregational. Ultrasound screenings to Identify risk factors for Cardiovascular disease include; Carot-id Artery (plaque buildup-a leading cause of stroke), Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (an enlargement or weak area in the main blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body), Peripheral Arterial Disease (hardening of the arteries in the legs), a Heart Rhythm Screening (an EKG to detect Atrial Fibrillation-irregular heartbeat) and an Osteoporosis Risk Assessment for men and women. Being proactive about your health by knowing your risks helps you and your doctor address problems early. Register online TODAY at www.lifelinescreening.com/advantageclub and receive your “Advantage” club discount and your Preferred Appointment!

Properties is selling Memorial bricks. These bricks will be placed in the new Sanctuary step walls when they are built. There are only about 90 bricks available and it is on a first come first serve basis. So if you would like to dedicate a brick to your family or passed loved one, please see Barry Dean after service for an order form. All payments are due when your order is placed, each brick cost $125 and is engraved with your personalized message. Please use the & sign insteasd of the word “and”, for example “In memory of Mary & Joe Smith”. Don’t wait as these bricks will sell out fast. All proceeds will go to offset the cost of the new steps.

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Women’s Fellowship

Homemade Salads, Soup, Chili, and Desserts.

$8.00 per person No Reservations are Needed and

Take out is Available

At First Church Congregational 22 Liberty Street Painesville OH 44077

On the Square in Painesville Parking lot and Entrance are off Sterling Ave

Mother Child Banquet You are cordially invited to join us for our annual Mother Child Banquet on Sunday

May 7th at 3:30pm in the Social Room

Dinner starts at 4:00pm Adults $10.00

Children 5-12 $4.00 4 & under FREE

This Banquet is open for all Mothers and Children, as well as, Grandmothers and

Grandchildren. Entertainment for the evening will be

announced. We will be serving Chicken Paprikash prepared by Chef Brennan

Reservations are needed. Sign-up sheets are located in the Social room and Chapel Lobby.

First Church Congregational

Ph 440-357-7518 Fx 440-357-0603 22 Liberty Street,

Painesville OH 44077

www.firstchurchcongregational.org

We will be collecting white goods and money for Project Hope.

If you are in need of transportation please contact the

church office at 440-357-7518.

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Join Us Pastoral Relations Committee?

First Church Council of Stewards created the Pastoral Relations Committee a few years ago. This Committee’s mission is to act as a liaison between members of the congregation and the pastoral staff. The pastoral staff includes Tom Cofer and the paid church personnel under his administrative authority. All persons wish-ing to make a complaint or extend a compliment to the pastoral staff are urged to contact the committee member of his or her choice. The source and content of any comments will be kept strictly confidential in all respects. The current members of the Pastoral Relations Committee are as follows: Ann Marie Hamil-ton, George Milbourn, Cap Perts, Melissa Garbincus, and Jean Stevens.

Book Group

PJ Party

Wednesday April 19

at 11:00 am is “Another Brooklyn”

by Jacqueline Woodson

The Missions Board is collecting pajamas for children in sizes 4-12 all this month. You can drop off your donations before church or

anytime for that matter. There will be baskets in the Chapel Lobby as well as in the Social Room lobby. Hope Chest had indicated a BIG need for children’s PJs, and we want to make sure children are

cozy and warm at night instead of cold. We’ll have a Pajama Party and

Movie Night April 1st @6pm

Cleveland Philharmonic OrchestraCleveland Philharmonic Orchestra

April 22nd at 7:30pm here at First Church Congregational

Tickets can be purchesed online at http://www.clevephil.org/TicketsDec10.php or at the door. Tickets are $12 for Adults, $8 for Seniors and

Students

Upon review by our auditor, NMS, it is necessary to correct our 2016 end-of-year financial figures. It was determined we had lower invest-ment earnings than we initially reported. So, instead of finishing well into the “black,” as I stated at the First Church Annual Meeting, we are closer to a “break-even” year for 2016. Instead of $24,000 ahead we are $600 behind. For that early excitement now being dashed, I do apolo-gize. NMS and Council have reviewed the corrected year-end results, and they stress that the church finances are strong. The proposed and approved 2017 budget remains intact, without any change. The error occurred when we recorded the investment earnings but overlooked to subtract the cost of the stock sales that provided the earnings. If there are First Church members who would like more in-formation, please let me know. Sincerely. Doug Smith, Treasurer

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April 9th: 10am Sunday school 11am Traditional Service

April 13th : 7pm Worship with Holy Communion in the Sanctuary

April 14th : 7 pm Worship in the Chapel

April 16th: 9am Contemporary 10am Fellowship Hour and Easter egg hunt 11am Traditional Service in Sanctuary

Easter Memorials

If you would like to offer a Memorial or a Lily for Easter on April 16th, please fill out the form below and send it with your check to the church payable to First Church, Congregational. Memorial lilies are $8.50 each. Deadline for orders to appear in the Easter bulletin is April 9th. Unless you hear to the contrary, lilies will be delivered after the 11 O’ Clock service to those members and friends needing a caring touch this Easter Season. If anyone is willing to help deliver the lilies that would be greatly appreciated.

Name:

In Memory of:

Number of Lilies you are ordering ______ times $8.50 each = Total of $

I will pick up the Lily for personal use after service.

_ I will not pick up the Lily for personal use after service.

Please clip, fill out and mail to the church office or drop in offering plate.

Thank you!

Easter Memorials

If you would like to offer a Memorial or a Lily for Easter on April 16th, please fill out the form below and send it with your check to the church payable to First Church, Congregational. Memorial lilies are $8.50 each. Deadline for orders to appear in the Easter bulletin is April 9th. Unless you hear to the contrary, lilies will be delivered after the 11 O’ Clock service to those members and friends needing a caring touch this Easter Season. If anyone is willing to help deliver the lilies that would be greatly appreciated

Name:

In Memory of:

Number of Lilies you are ordering ______ times $8.50 each = Total of $

I will pick up the Lily for personal use after service.

_ I will not pick up the Lily for personal use after service.

Please clip, fill out and mail to the church office or drop in offering plate.

Thank you!

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Other News

Freshly prepared maple syrup will be available to members of the First Church, Congregational family or any-one who attends services, Sunday, April 2. In exchange for a pint of tasty syrup, recipients are asked to donate to the First Church Building Fund.

This gift-for-gift idea comes from the makers of Red Maple Farm Maple Syrup – syrup makers who may be better known as Jerry and Shelby Brumbaugh. Council whole-heartedly endorses the idea as a fund-raiser and church community gathering.

“I’m enjoying this hobby of making my own maple syrup but cannot possibly use all of the syrup I make. Nor do I have any desire to make a profit from my hobby,” says Jerry Brumbaugh. “So, if you give to the church Building Fund, in return, Shelby and I will give to you a pint of newly prepared maple syrup.” All they ask is that syrup-takers return their empty jars for use again next year. As maple tree sap continues to “run” with temperatures rising and falling, Jerry will continue to tap trees at their Red Maple

Farm on Vrooman Road. He has scattered 90 gallon jugs throughout their woods. When the jugs fill with sap, he gathers them and replaces each with an empty jug to await the next sap run. Under a “sugar shack” shed roof, he boils down and filters the sap to its syrupy maple flavor, texture and consistency. From one day of collecting 90-gallon jugs and “cooking,” Jerry will get less than two gallons of maple syrup. The Brumbaugh’s will have about 80 pints available for people attending church, April 2, and contrib-uting to the Building Fund. Extra Building Fund envelopes will be available for contributions. That, in turn, will allow givers to have their gift recorded on their church contributions record. “The process is a lot of fun for us,” Jerry summarizes. “And this allows us to share some of our joy with our friends in church.” All syrup will be available at one pint of maple syrup per family, on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The Edward C. Powers Social Justice Award is being established for high school seniors residing in the 44077 zip code and attending one of the following high schools: Harvey, Riverside, Fairport, Lake Catholic, NDCL or VASJ. The applicant must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and must have completed a minimum of 50 hours of community service. Additional criteria is listed on theapplication. The award is $1000. Applications may be obtained through high school guidance of-fices beginning March 10th or by email at kepd710@yahoo.com.

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

2 Syrup Fundraiser8am Joyride• 9am Contemporary• 9:15 Choir• 10 Sunday School• 10:15 Bells• 11am Traditional• 11:15 Children’s

Church• 12pm Fellowship• Court of Honor

3• 10:30 Affirming Life• 3:45pm Yoga• 7pm Troop 68• 7pm AA

4• 5:45pm Yoga• 6pm Pack 68• 7pm PWC

5• 1pm Women’s

Fellowship• 6pm Youth Group• 7pm Lenten Study

6• 6pm Turbo

Class• 8pm Pearl St

AA

7• 8pm Re-

covery

8 ST JAMES • 8:30am

PIYO• 10am Ket-

tle-ball class

9 PALM SUNDAY• 9:15 Choir• 10 Sunday School• 10:15 Bells• 11am Traditional• 11:15 Children’s

Church• 12pm Fellowship

10• 10:30 Affirming Life• 3:45pm Yoga• 7pm Troop 68• 7pm AA• 7pm Boards

11 • 11am Listen-

ing for God • 5:45pm Yoga• 6pm Pack 68• 7pm PWC

12• 12pm Knitting club• 7pm Venture Crew

13 Maunday Thurday• 6pm Turbo

Class• 7pm Service• 8pm Pearl St

AA

14 Good Friday• 7pm

Service• 8pm Re-

covery

15• 8:30am

PIYO• 9am Men’s

Fellowship• 10am Ket-

tle-ball class

16 EASTER• 8am Joyride• 9am Contemporary• 9:15 Choir• 10 Easter Egg Hunt• 10:15 Bells• 11am Traditional• 11:15 Children’s

Church• 12pm Fellowship

1710:30 Affirming Life• 1pm Prayer Group

3:45pm Yoga• 7pm Troop 68• 7pm AA• 7pm COUNCIL

18• 15:45pm Yoga• 6pm Pack 68• 7pm PWC

19• 11am Book Club • 6pm GS(Missy

71190)• 7pm Lenten Study

20• 6pm Turbo

Class• Tom’s Class• 8pm Pearl St

AA

21• 11am

Salad Lun-cheon

• 8pm Re-covery

22• 8:30am

PIYO • 10am Ket-

tle-ball class • 7:30pm

Cleveland Philhar-monic Orchestra

23• 8am Joyride• 9am Contemporary• 9:15 Choir• 10 Sunday School• 10:15 Bells• 11am Traditional• 11:15 Children’s

Church• 12pm Fellowship

24 • 10:30 Affirming Life• 3:45pm Yoga• 7pm Troop 68• 7pm AA

25• 1am Listening

for God• 5:45pm Yoga• 6pm Pack 68• 7pm PWC

2512pm Knitting club

• 6 pm GS (Cynthia 77150)

• 7pm Venture Crew

27• 6pm Turbo

Class• Tom’s class• 8pm Pearl St

AA

288pm Re-covery

29• 8:30am

PIYO• 10am Ket-

tle-ball class • 11am Cub

Scout Raingutter Ragatta

30• 8am Joyride• 9am Contemporary• 9:15 Choir• 10 Sunday School• 10:15 Bells• 11am Traditional• 11:15 Children’s

Church• 12pm Fellowship

1• 10:30 Affirming Life• 3:45pm Yoga• 7pm Troop 68• 7pm AA

2• Voting• 5:45pm Yoga• 6pm Pack 68• 7pm PWC

3• 6pm Youth Group

4• 6pm Turbo

Class• 8pm Pearl St

AA

5• 8:30-

5:30pm Life Screen-ing

• 8pm Re-covery

16• 8:30am

PIYO• 10am Ket-

tle-ball class

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Published monthly byFirst Church, Congregational22 Liberty ST., Painesville OH 44077440-357-7518 POSTMASTER First Church, Congregational22 Liberty ST., Painesville OH 44077

Blessings to:

NON-PROFITUS POSTAGE PD Painesville, OH

Permit 195

During the month of February and March since we have implamented the breeze system, our church members have logged 83.5 hours of volunteer time. These volunteer hours were spent helping at St. James, Project hope, Ushering, Bloodmobile and more. In all those 83.5 hours times the Ohio average volunteer rate of $22.06 means that our members have donated a total of $1,842.01 in volunteer time. This is great but I know there are alot more volunteeers out there that are still going unreconised. If you are volunteering your time please log on to breeze click the more tab, then click forms, then click view form. When the for open please fill this out with the informa-tion about the event you volunteered at and then submit. Its that simple, breeze will keep a record of each volun-teer form you fill out. You must fill out a seperate form for each event. By filling out these forms we can get an accurate number of how many hours our congregation volunteers each month/ year.