Cortland Christian Church

153 Grove Drive Cortland, Ohio Phone 330-637-4611

officeatccc@gmail.com

Jonathan Gallo Organist Joyce Hall Administrative Assistant

The Church Bell December 2017

153 Grove Drive

Cortland, Ohio

officeatccc@gmail.com

CortlandChristianChurch. com

Pastor Curtis Miller

Cell- 330-717-4552 Home--330-652-3625 Office-330-637-4611

Jonathan Gallo Organist

Joyce Hall Administrative

Assistant

“Pastors Pen”

Why Not Invite Someone to Attend Worship With You!

We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, gay, filthy rich, dirt poor. We extend a special welcome to those who are crying newborns, skin-ny as a rail, or could afford to lose a few pounds. We welcome you if you can sing like Andrea Bocelli or can’t carry a tune in a bucket. You are welcome here if you’re just browsing, just woke up or just got out of jail. We don’t care if you’re more Presbyterian than John Calvin or haven't been in a church since little Joey’s baptism or Sally’s wedding. We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up way too fast. We welcome soccer moms NAS-CAR dads, starving artists, retired farmers, hedge-fund managers, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, computer nerds, and junk food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you’re having problems these days or have had issues your whole life long. We welcome you if you’re down in the dumps or if you don’t like organized religion. We welcome you if you’re spiritual but not reli-gious, and if you’re curious whether it is possible to be both at once. If you blew our offering in a football pool or online betting, you’re welcome here. We offer a special welcome to those who think the earth is flat or was created literally in seven days. We welcome you if you work too hard or you don’t work at all. We welcome you if you have a PhD, but are working now digging ditches. We wel-come you if you’re here today only because grandma is in town and wanted to go to church and you didn’t want to disappoint her. We welcome those who are inked, pierced, or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, maybe especially because they had religion shoved down their throats as kids or by someone at the office after they grew up. We welcome you if you would up here by mistake thinking that this was the Catholic Church ( it’s down the street, but since you’re here already, you might as well stay for our service). We welcome tourists, seekers, doubters, and everybody on the edge of faith, which includes, well, pretty much all of us. Bottom Line: we welcome you. And we welcome you because we know that no matter who you are, Jesus welcomes you. Oh, and also because we know that when we receive the welcome that Jesus offers, everything begins to change for the better and keeps changing so long as we do the right thing and welcome others in his name too.

Cortland

Christian Church

“Follow the Bells”

Celebrate, The Birth of Jesus,

Our Lord and Savior

Our Worship Leaders

Elders:

December 3 Carol Robinson and Joyce Lewis

December 10 Ron Miller and Bob Johnson

December 17 Jeff Byler and John Molnar

December 24 Linda Swauger and Sharon Hopkins

December 31 Curtis Bell and Jeff Byler

Deacons: Team Captain: Virginia Carr; 330-507-3313

Carolyn Sparhawk, Chuck Chagnot, Katie Molnar, Sharon Polakoff,

Linda Rogers, Patti Oriti, Sydney Carr, Alt.

Deaconess: Pat Taylor

Organist: Jonathan Gallo

The Church Office is open on Monday-Thursday

8:00am.-Noon Phone: 330-637-4611

Feel free to call or stop in If you have a question or need help.

December 2018

Coffee Hour

Hostesses

Dec. 3 Sharon Hopkins and Linda Rogers Dec 10. Bob and Betty Evans Dec. 17 Diana and Friends Dec. 24 No Coffee time Dec. 31 Curtis and Anita Bell

Merry Christmas And Happy New Year

LOAF meeting is December 7

In January we host LOAF, so people be planning on saving the day

to help set this up and be great hosts, and hostesses. Call me and

I will let you know what is expected, If you don’t already know.

“Happy Birthday”

December 4 Nola Miller

December 5 Carrie Robinson

December 5 Dorothy Moss

December 6 Phyllis Hake

December 9 Joyce Lewis

December10 Pat Taylor

December 12 David Miller

December 16 Joyce Hall

December 29 Lorin Hopkins

December 30 Lauralee Lawrence

No Anniversaries

If your birthday or anniversary does not show

up here, please call the office 330-637-4611.

L.O.A.F. Meeting

January 4, 2018

Cortland Christian Church

Church Meetings

Tuesday, December 5

Finance Meeting 6:15pm Board Meeting 7:00pm

Third Sunday of Month Elders meeting 8:00am

December 16, 2017

3-4pm, 4-5pm, 5-6pm

Grab a friend and give an hour.

Sign up in the Narthex, much of this money

comes back to our local areas.

The gals from Cortland Bank put this project in

motion,then presented our church with

$469.40, the proceeds from the sale. These

women and some of our own gals donated

their time and energy to making this a success.

In March and October of next year they are

planning to do this project again. In this sale

everyone benefits, the seller, the buyers and

those who sponsor the event.

This is Us (Senior Citizens)

Senior citizens are constantly being criticized for

every conceivable deficiency of the modern world,

real or imaginary. We know we take responsibility

for all we have done and do not blame others.

HOWEVER, upon reflection, we would like to point out

that

it was NOT the senior citizens who took

The melody out of music,

The pride out of appearance,

he courtesy out of driving,

The romance out of love,

The commitment out of marriage,

The responsibility out of parenthood,

he togetherness out of the family,

The learning out of education,

The service out of patriotism,

The Golden Rule from rulers,

The nativity scene out of cities,

The civility out of behavior,

The refinement out of language, T

he dedication out of employment,

The prudence out of spending,

The ambition out of achievement or God out of government and school.

And we certainly are

NOT the ones who eliminated patience and tolerance

from personal relationships and interactions with others!!

And, we do understand the meaning of patriotism,

and remember those who have fought and died for our country.

Just look at the Seniors with

tears in their eyes and pride in their hearts as they stand at attention

with their hand over their hearts!

November —A Good Month of Sundays

Our Saints were remembered on this Sunday, Nov 5, with a very touching ceremony. Amy Seger, Carol Rob-inson and Jonathan Gallo do a remarkably touching tribute, reading the names, lighting a candle and a ring-ing a bell, is our way of saying .. Go.. Be In Peace in your home in heaven.. Sunday November 12 Veterans day was remembered with special music and a special guest musician, Bill Gore and his guitar, and of course one of our veterans John Klamut sharing one of his war time memories. November 26 was a day the “Hanging of the Greens”. The tree with its specially made Chrismons and white lights highlight our beautiful sanctuary. The wreathes in the windows welcome the all who come to celebrate, the beautiful Nativity is waiting in anticipation of the Birth of Jesus. A light lunch was prepared for us by Linda and Terry Swauger.

Never been fond of this repetitious silly song until

I read this story of the 12 Days of Christmas. Now

I think of the song in a different way..

Tis Better to Give

A mother is a person who, seeing there are only four

pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces

she never did care for pie.

—Tenneva Jordan

I knew I was not supposed to be quite so excited. I was too old for that. At age eleven, the oldest and my mom’s “grown up” girl, I had to keep my cool. I was in middle school after all. But every chance I got, when I was alone, I checked each present under the tree. I read every tag and felt every package, guessing at the contents within. I had examined each gift so often that I could tell which present went to which person without even looking at the tags.

It had been a tough year for my family. Whenever my mom looked over at the tree and scattered presents, she would sigh and warn us, “There won’t be as much for Christmas this year. Try not to be disappointed.” Christmas had tradi-tionally been a time for my parents to spoil us. In years past, the presents would pile up and spill out from under the tree, taking over the living room. I had heard the phrase “giving is better than receiving,” but thought that whoever had said that must have been out of their mind. Getting presents was the whole point! It was the reason I couldn’t get to sleep on Christmas Eve.

On Christmas morning, we eagerly waited in the hallway until Dad told us everything was ready. We rushed into the living room and let the wrapping paper fly. We made weak attempts to wait and watch while other family members opened their presents, but as the time passed we lost our self-control.

“Here’s another one for you,” said Mom as she handed me a package. I looked at it, confused. Having spent so much time examining the presents before Christmas, I recognized this one. But it had not been mine. It was my mom’s. A new label had been put on it, with my name written in my mother’s handwriting.

“Mom, I can’t…”

I was stopped by my mother’s eager, joyful look—a look I could not really understand. “Let’s see what it is, honey.

Hurry and open it.”

It was a blow dryer. Though this may seem but a simple gift, to me it was so much more. Being an eleven-year-old girl, I was stunned. In my world, where receiving outweighed giving by light years, my mom’s act of selflessness was incom-prehensible. It was a huge act. Tears filled my eyes and I thought in disbelief about how much my mom must love me to give up her Christmas so I could have a few more presents.

I have always remembered that Christmas fondly. It had such an impact on me. As an adult with children in my life whom I adore, I can now understand my mom’s actions. I see how she was not “giving up her Christmas” as I had thought, but was finding an even greater joy in her Christmas because giving truly is better than receiving. My mom’s simple act meant the world to me.

—Jennifer Yardley Barney

How to Make Wine Cork Angels

Author: Megan Kapple

You will need:

Wine Corks Wooden balls Twine Ribbon Hot Glue Gun Fine Tip Marker Matte Mod Podge or clear matte varnish Blush

Brush a layer of matte Mod Podge or Matte vanish on the wooden balls and allow it to dry. Add blush to the cheeks and make the faces with a fine tip marker. Glue the heads onto the wine corks with a hot glue gun. Add twine around the neck and glue a loop of twine onto the back of the cork. Make a bow with the ribbon and glue it to the back of the cork to make the angel wings. If you don’t have access to wine corks they can be purchased at most hobby shops.

May your Christmas be full of

loving surprises. May you have

peace, happiness and good health

throughout the New Year

Holiday Craft Sale

The craft show was GREAT! There were 21 crafters and vendors who dis-played their wares. Everyone got the table placement they wanted, so they were happy. They all seemed to sell enough that they would come

back another year.

The kitchen was ready with tasty soup and sandwiches. A pen and notepad both

with our church name and address was given out to

everyone.

When the women of this church set out to do a pro-

ject, it is done in style. They work hard to improve,

if necessary, for next

Thanks to all who helped make this fun and successful

A Celebration in Song

“Cortland United Methodist Church Men’s Fellowship”

Is having a Breakfast, Fellowship and a

“Musical Celebration of the Christ-mas Season”

“The Stephen Foster Chorus”

December 9 at 8:30am Cost $7.00

Call 330-637-2571 for reservations by Dec. 5

Christmas Poinsettias

6.5 inch pots————$9.50

December 10th is the last day to order

flowers.

Use order form in Sunday bulletin

Or mail in your order.

Board and

Finance Meetings

December 5

Finance Meeting 6:15 pm

Board Meeting 7:00 pm

Elders Meeting

2nd Sunday of the month at

8:15

December 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

27 Nov. 27

Cookie baking

Aerobics

28

9-noon

29

30

Aerobics

1.

2.

Aerobics

3.First Sunday of Advent

4.

Cookie decorating Aerobics

5. Finance 6:15pm

Board 7pm

Meeting

6. Baking

Joyful Noise

7. Finish Cookies

Aerobics

8.

Set-up

9.

10. Dec.9

COOKIE SALE

10. 10:00 am

11.

Aerobics

12.

13.

Joyful Noise

14.

Aerobics

15. 16. Sal. Army Bell Ringing

Aerobics

17.Elders Meeting 8:15am Service

18.

Aerobics

19.

20.

Joyful Noise

21.

Aerobics

22. 23.

Aerobics

24. Christmas Eve 7pm 31 New Years Eve

25.Christmas Day

26. 27.

Joyful Noise

28.

Aerobics

29. 30.

Aerobics

Cold

Soup with

flowers?

Yep!

Yummy!

Barb

Bradford

and Gail

Peura .

This trip was much to the

delight of the 15 women who

attended. This is something

we may do again. The newly

renovated house and grounds

are historic landmarks in

Kinsman, Ohio.

Vera Kidd

Quality Skilled Care Nursing Home

Cortland, Ohio

Alice Kalas Champion Estates Windsor Place Warren, Ohio 4448 330-307-7583

Phyllis Beer

Lake Vista 41 Heron Circle Cortland, Ohio 44410 330-637-1456

Grace Wagner

175 Wall Street Cortland, Ohio 44410 330-637-5957

Frank Zanin

18170 N.91st Ave. Apt.1210 Peoria, Az. 85382

Raymond Kline

502 Arcaro Street Cortland, Ohio 44410 234-244-4241

Maurice Brookes Shepherd of the Valley North River Road Warren, Ohio 330-637-7726

Pray for our “Shut-Ins”

Drop them a note of encouragement and let them know we care that we care.

Gingerbread with Lemon Gaze 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons ground ginger 1/4 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 cup dark molasses 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1 egg, beaten 1/2 cup boiling water 1 cup powdered sugar 1/4 cup lemon juice 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).Grease and lightly flour a 9-inch square baking pan. Whisk flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and Chinese five-spice powder in a bowl. Stir sugar, molasses, oil, and egg into flour mixture until just combined. Pour in boiling water and whisk until the batter is smooth and shiny, about 1 minute. Pour batter into prepared baking pan. Tap pan gently on the counter to remove any air bubbles. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Glaze: Mix powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a bowl until sugar dissolves.

If you are looking for a different dessert for your holiday table, try this delicious version of Gingerbread.

This is good with a Lemon Sauce too.

Stockings for the Troops

At our November meeting the women filled 50 stocking to be sent to our armed forces over seas. Soldiers look forward to boxes from home and these boxes will be no exception. Our two young men and their groups will receive 25 stockings

When they get these boxes of stockings , they might share with everyone.

It truly is a bright spot in their stay away from home.

It is hard to believe 17 different and useful, fun items were put in each stocking. Linda Swauger used her imagination when she went shopping for these stockings.

Love is in the Moment

By Annie

It was early morning, yet already it had been a stupendously bad day. One thing after another. The downward spiral con-tinued when a large pitcher of orange juice slid from my hands and smashed to the floor. Glass and sticky juice spewed to the farthest corners of the kitchen, slithering down cabinets and appliances, puddling at my feet.

Stunned, I looked at the mess. Then I dropped dejectedly down to the floor, my eyes filling with overdue tears. The

tears came from begrudging and angry acceptance that "today is just not my day." Bad day or not, errands had to be done. Filled with angst and negative mental baggage, I got in my car to drive into town. In the few minutes it took to travel to the bank I made a decision. I would be careful not to pass my bad day off to anyone else. I would be cordial and polite. And I would NOT retaliate when that harried driver pulled quickly and rudely in front of me causing me to slam on my breaks, dumping the contents of my drink onto the front car seat! Standing in line at the bank, I was silently talking to myself. Actually, I was scolding myself. All of the events that had accumulated and contributed to my bad day were, in reality, so very minor and trivial. I was over-reacting. I was indulging in self-pity. I tried to imagine the innumerable, individual lives that had been affected by 9/11, by war, by hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. For the second time that day my eyes filled with tears as I realized how disconnected I felt from all those indi-viduals who are trying to cope with truly traumatic events in their lives. They all seemed so distant and unknow-able, and this justified and intensified my belief that I was being self-centered and selfish. I was sure that all my efforts to be a caring and loving person were for naught. A voice broke through my mental distractions. Somehow I had mechanically finished my bank transaction and the teller was trying to get my attention. "Young lady," she was saying, "Young lady!" I looked up and into the eyes of the bank teller, a silver-haired grandmother with a gentle beauty. Her keen eyes reflected concern as she leaned forward and softly said, "I don't know what is happening inside of you, but please, believe me when I tell you that - everything will be okay." And then she did something quite marvelous. My hands were resting on the counter. She took her hands and placed them gently on top of mine. The touch was quick but electric. And in that moment my world shifted. In the moment of her touch my self-doubt vanished. I found understanding and acceptance. I knew that love was being channeled through the heart of this beautiful woman directly into my heart. I was infused with a profound awareness - that I am loved. I was speechless. I smiled. It was my first smile of the day. But it would not be my last, as from that moment on my entire day was transformed.

Perhaps without even knowing it, the kind-hearted bank teller allowed herself to be a conduit of divine love. She was instrumental in transforming a day that seemed des-tined to be a day of tears into a day of smiles. The seemingly small gesture of a this gentle woman not only changed the course of my day, it became a powerful reminder in my life. The profound effect of that one simple, loving touch remains in my heart to this day. More people than not scoff at the idea of world peace. Laugh if you wish. As for my-self, I believe it is possible to transform our world ... one act of loving kindness at a time.

Remember: A simple smile. A warm handshake. A kind word. A gentle hug. Through these, we open the transformative power of love.

Soup and Sandwich

We had another rather successful day

“Thank you everyone”….

Next Soup Day is January 18

The Gold Wrapping Paper - An Inspirational Short Christmas Story

Once upon a time, there was a man who worked very hard just to keep food on the table for his family. This particular year a few days before Christmas, he punished his little five-year-old daughter after learning that she had used up the family's only roll of expensive gold wrapping paper.

As money was tight, he became even more upset when on Christmas Eve he saw that the child had used all of the expensive gold paper to decorate one shoebox she had put under the Christmas tree. He also was concerned about where she had gotten money to buy what was in the shoebox.

Nevertheless, the next morning the little girl, filled with excitement, brought the gift box to her father and said, "This is for you, Daddy!"

As he opened the box, the father was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, now regretting how he had pun-ished her.

But when he opened the shoebox, he found it was empty and again his anger flared. "Don't you know, young la-dy," he said harshly, "when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside the package!"

The little girl looked up at him with sad tears rolling from her eyes and whispered: "Daddy, it's not empty. I blew kisses into it until it was all full."

The father was crushed. He fell on his knees and put his arms around his precious little girl. He begged her to for-give him for his unnecessary anger.

An accident took the life of the child only a short time later. It is told that the father kept this little gold box by his bed for all the years of his life. Whenever he was discouraged or faced difficult problems, he would open the box, take out an imaginary kiss, and remember the love of this beautiful child who had put it there.

In a very real sense, each of us has been given an invisible golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family, friends and God. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.

Dear friends,

Whether or not the following inspirational short Christmas story is true, it's a wonderfully inspiring story for people of any faith. In this season of love, may we all remember the beautiful love of a small child.

Have a meaningful and love-filled Christmas season and new year ahead. May your days be filled with love, joy, growth, and inspiration. With heartfelt love, inspiration, and Christmas joy, Fred Burks

Cortland Christian Church 153 Grove Dr. Cortland, Ohio

There will be hundreds of decorated cut-out cookies and dozens and dozens of traditional cookies everyone loves.

Baking of cookies starts on November 27 at 9am until 1pm and again on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.

Sugar Cookies and Gingerbread Cookies, Snowballs, Pecan Tarts, Clothespin Cookies, and more. There is a need for friends to mix dough, whip up frosting, and fill cookies. (the second week). We need our family of friends to wrap and prepare cookies for the freezer. Clean-up, whatever there is to do. Week of December 4th, we will be here Monday– through Thursday and set up on Friday. We frost and fill cookies this week. If you can decorate cut out cookies there is a place for you this week. If you can give any time at all, please sign up so we know who to call on. The COOKIE SALE is Saturday December the 9th. Give us a morning or two each week. This is work but it is fun work.

Our Church Family— we are asking for 5 dozen of your favorite home baked Christmas cookies.

A double batch will do it. Or a donation for supplies.. (Flour, sugar butter, etc)

Thank you all for your continued support on this endeavor. We are able to support many missions and help finance projects in our church. We are there to help when needed.

Christmas Cookie Sale December 9th

9 a.m.--11:30 Come early!

Christmas Eve Service 7pm on December 24.

Who is the Real Virgin?

A ten-year-old, under the tutelage of her grandmother, was becoming quite knowl-edgeable about the Bible. Then one day she floored her grandmother by asking, "Which virgin was the mother of Jesus? The virgin Mary or the King James Virgin?"

Pontius Who? At Sunday school, the younger children were drawing pictures illustrating Biblical stories. The teacher walked by and noticed one little boy was drawing an airplane! "Oh, what Bi-ble story are you drawing?" she asked. "This is the Flight into Egypt," the little boy an-swered. "See, here is Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. And this," he said, pointing to the front of the plane, "is Pontius. He's the Pi-lot."

Something for the Kids to do, or maybe even you….. Find the number of each item

Dear Friends,

Thank you for bearing with me this year, it has been somewhat problematic at times, but everything always seems

to resolve itself. I have enjoyed this job immensely. ‘Thanks’ for putting up with me.

I hope I have served you in the way you needed me to. If ever I can help with your problem don’t hesitate to call

me, I am just a phone call or a visit away. Having such a wonderful church family makes a big difference in my life,

I hope it does yours too. We have such a good thing going on here, a beautiful church and a gentle loving fellow-

ship. We are very fortunate. Whatever we are doing lets keep it happening.

Each day I grow a little stronger in my faith. God has been good to me, comforting me when I need His Grace,

guiding me through all the trials in life. I’m sure he is with you also.

Thank you for always being there when help was needed with projects that we have going on here. Some are always

willing volunteers , others need to be prompted but you always come to the rescue. Thank You so very much.

My wish for all of you is that you have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Faith-filled New Year.

Love, Peace and Blessings,

Joyce

We wish you a Merry

Christmas,

we wish you a Merry

Christmas,

we wish you a Merry

Christmas

and a Happy New

Year.

The Staff: Pastor Curt, Jonathan Gallo, Gerry Payne and Joyce Hall

would like to wish you all a “Very Merry Holiday Season”.

Thank you for a great year at Cortland Christian Church.