All Saints’ Day November 3 All Saints’ Day was originally a commemoration of the martyrs of the ancient church — the men, women, and children who were persecuted and killed for their faith in Christ. It has since become a day on which the church remembers all the Christian faithful, both known and unknown. So who are these “saints” we honor? The communion of “saints” are all true believers on earth and in heaven, both living and dead. God declares everyone who has been baptized and believes the promise of the gospel to be justified, holy, and blameless. Lutherans do not pray to the saints in heaven or invoke their help because God commanded we are only to worship and pray to the one true God, the Triune God. We do, however, honor the saints, but in doing so give the glory to God and not to the saints themselves. All of the saints who now live in heaven were in their earthly lives exactly like us: poor, miserable sinners and completely unworthy of God’s favor. It is only grace — the Lord’s undeserved mercy, love, and forgiveness — that makes the saints what they are. So then, saints don’t hold a higher “position” in the Lutheran Church. Some are revered for the role they served in Christ’s Church, but just as all true believers today, each is just another sinner washed in the blood of Christ. During services on Saturday and Sunday, November 2 & 3, we will remember those who have died in Christ over the past year with the hope of salvation and redemption by His grace. We are thankful for the blessings the departed saints we knew brought to our lives. We also remember the Christian faithful from all generations. All Saints Day is a day to glorify Jesus Christ, who by His holy life and death redeemed the lost and made them saints through Holy Baptism and faith in Him. This year we remember:

John Barich Bill Mabee Carol Vanderveen Bill Glause Danny Wurzbacher

Katherine Laria Delores Scheu Carlene Fulton George Morton

Karen Gerhold Rose Verhosek Donna Fogliano Betty Miller

30-Day T-Shirt Challenge Well, it took us 40 days instead of 30, but we collected 100 photos of our new Fairlawn Lutheran t-shirts being worn out in the community – thousands of people saw them! It gave us a great opportunity to build relationships with people and invite them to church. A big thank you to everyone who participated, to John Reichenbach for shirt design and manufacture, to Claire Gau for this great idea, and for Match Challenge funds to purchase 300 shirts and provide them to members and regular attenders free. There are still some women’s cut shirts available in the church library. Another opportunity to get a t-shirt may be forthcoming.

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF FAIRLAWN LUTHERAN CHURCH & SCHOOL

November 2019 Above: Halloween fun at Fairlawn Lutheran School.

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE 2019

Thanksgiving Eve Service

Wednesday, November 27, 6:30pm

Advent Services & Suppers Wednesdays, December 4, 11 & 18

Supper 5:30pm, Service 6:30pm

Single Service and Sunday School Christmas Program

Sunday, December 15, 10:00am

Christmas Eve Services Tuesday, December 24 5:00pm contemporary

7:30pm traditional

New Year’s Eve Service (with Holy Communion)

Tuesday, December 31, 6:30pm

There will continue to be Saturday services at 4pm throughout November and December.

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30-DAY T-SHIRT CHALLENGE Here are just a few of the 100 photos that were submitted – see Realm or the board in the church lobby for all 100!

FUN FACT: Fairlawn Lutheran T-Shirts traveled quite a distance in the past month – we got pictures from as far as New Orleans, Colorado, Florida and Arizona!

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Weekly Game Day Mondays, 12:30pm, Fairlawn Lutheran Fellowship Hall Join in the fun of playing card games, dominoes and board games. Bring a snack to share if you like. Free and open to all. Contact: Kim Hornyak (330) 836-7286, kim.hornyak@fairlawnlutheran.org. Weekly Mahjong Games Mondays, 12:30pm, Fellowship Hall MONDAYS ONLY Starting November Learn how to play the ancient game of Mahjong or join in a game if you are experienced! Please RSVP Kim Hornyak (kim.hornyak@fairlawnlutheran.org, 330-836-7286) if you are a beginner. Youth Day at Zip City Sunday, November 17, 9960 OH-43, Streetsboro, 2:45pm-5pm Youth in grades 5-12 and friends are invited to Zip City for fun: indoor zip line, rock wall, ropes course, trampoline park, laser maze, and ninja course. $15/person due Nov. 10. Sign up in the church lobby. Online waiver required: zipcityusa.com/cleveland. Carpooling available – meet at church at 2pm. Contact: Pastor Adam, pastor.adam@fairlawnlutheran.org, 314-691-0625. Parish Arts Concert Series: Brian Wentzel, Organ Sunday, November 17, 4pm, Fairlawn Lutheran

Brian Wentzel, Director of Music at First Lutheran Church in Lorain, will present “Treasures-Old and New” which features treasures of the organ repertoire from past and present. This free concert is open to the public – no tickets required. Download the 2019-2020 Parish Arts Concert Schedule from

our website (fairlawnlutheran.org) or pick up a hard copy in the church lobby. Single Service Sunday & Fairlawn Lutheran School Welcome Sunday, November 17, 10:00am We will have only one service as we welcome Fairlawn Lutheran School families to service. The children will provide a few musical selections during the service, then go downstairs for Bible stories, fun and games – parents can pick them up after service in the preschool area. Parent Workshop: Faith Development in Young Children Wednesday, November 20, 7:00-8:00pm, Fellowship Hall Pastor Josh Ulm, and wife Mary have three young children. What does modeling the Christian faith look like for babies and young children? Get some practical tips and resources and encouragement from parents who are at the same stage. All parents of young children welcome! Contact Pastor Adam if you need babysitting (pastor.adam@fairlawnlutheran.org). Thanksgiving Celebration & Lunch with School Students Thursday, November 21, 11:30am - 12:30pm, Fellowship Hall Spend a fun afternoon with the students of Fairlawn Lutheran School engaging in activities and enjoying lunch where you will get to know the little ones God has brought to our school. No cost. Sign up in the church lobby by November 15. Contact: Kim Hornyak (kim.hornyak@fairlawnlutheran.org, 330-836-7286)

Fairlawn Lutheran November 2019 Events

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Bless Others FOOD COLLECTION Help Haven of Rest and Open M serve the hungry by donating non-perishable food. Place all donations in the food collection box in the Fellowship Hall. Especially needed this month: coffee (regular or decaf), hot & cold cereal, canned fruit and bottled juice.

THANK YOU FOR DONATING TO OPEN M We were able to donate 40 school supply sets to OPEN M this year. Children in need will receive the sets this Christmas to help replenish used supplies and start the second half of the school year off right! Thank you for your generosity! BELL RINGERS NEEDED NOVEMBER 23

Fairlawn Lutheran Church will be ringing the bells for The Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign again this year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, inside the Montrose Acme (3979 Medina Rd, ) from 10 am to 8 pm. Sign up in the church lobby for a one-hour time slot (or more if you wish). This is a great opportunity to serve with family or friends - children welcome to help with a parent or other family member. Contact: Marie Tuccillo, jmtucc2@aol.com

RICE-A-RONI FOR OPEN M 212 boxes of Rice-A-Roni are needed to help fill OPEN M Christmas baskets that will go to needy families. Place donations in the bin in the Fellowship Hall by November 30. Contact: Barb Reynolds, breynolds60@zoominternet.net

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD Share the love of Jesus this Christmas by packing a shoe box with gifts for children worldwide. Pick up a box and instruction sheet at the welcome center in the church lobby, fill the box with gifts and return to the donation bin in the Fellowship Hall by November 15.

Contact: Cathie Lucarelli (flschool@fairlawnlutheran.org). Great gift ideas:

Soccer or kickball with manual pump

Toy truck or boat Colored pencils and

sharpener Flip flops Sunglasses Journal

Plain t-shirt Solar calculator Jump rope Puzzles Comb/brush Toothbrush Hand crank/solar

flashlight

Tote bag Sundress Musical

instrument (harmonica, recorder)

Binoculars Stuffed animal

Thanks to the more than 20 volunteers who prepared 16 Thanksgiving dinners that will be used at Rahab Ministries safe houses and for outreach to those who have been sexually trafficked or are at risk.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Braille Ministry Producing the Bible in Braille. Tom & Barb Cadotte, 330-670-8329, tomcadotte@hotmail.com Brown Baggers Packing lunches for the homeless. Ann Congeni acongeni@aol.com Human Care Ministry Partnering with local missions to help others in our community. Jacquie Kyle, 330-666-5725 jmkyle@msn.com Prayer Shawl Ministry Making blankets for the ill or grieving. Donna Hessel, 330-836-6549, eyeletstitch@yahoo.com Visitation Ministry Visiting homebound church members. Mary Yoder, 330-867-4991 myoder@cutlerhomes.com Card Ministry Creating handmade cards for homebound members. Barb Cadotte, 330-670-8329, tomcadotte@hotmail.com Meal Ministry Providing meals short-term for those returning from the hospital, new moms, the ill and the injured. Marcy Nichols

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APS CHRISTMAS TREE COMING IN DECEMBER At the end of November, the Akron Pregnancy Services (APS) Christmas Tree will return to the church lobby. There will be tags on the tree that list a gift needed for young client families of APS. Choose a gift tag, buy the item listed, wrap, attach the tag and return to the tree. Akron Pregnancy Services is a non-profit organization that has been serving Akron area women, men, and families for more than 30 years. They offer free pregnancy testing, counseling, ultrasounds, diapers and formula, children's and maternity clothing, referrals and classes to those dealing with unplanned pregnancy.

Weekly Bible Studies

NEW WOMEN OF FAITH BIBLE STUDY BEGINS OCTOBER 14 Monday evenings, 6:00pm, Youth Room Women of Faith are continuing their study on 'Gideon' by Priscilla Shirer. All women welcome – invite a friend! Contact: Lisa Sears, dl_sears@yahoo.com

TUESDAY MORNING WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY New Study Starts Tuesday, November 12, 10am, Fairlawn Lutheran Library All women welcome for this new study It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lisa TerKeurst. If you would like a book, you can order on Amazon or Kindle. (Some people elect to do the study by just watching videos and discussing in class.) Drop ins welcome. Babysitting available with advance notice. Contact: Joyce Morton 330-338-6670 (call/text)

MEN’S BIBLE STUDY

All men welcome to join the Men’s Bible Study on Wednesday mornings at 6:30am at the Cracker Barrel in Copley. Drop ins welcome-bring a friend!

SAVE THE DATE

2020 Fairlawn Lutheran Women’s Retreat Friday evening, February 28 – Sunday, March 1 at noon

Berlin Grande Hotel, Berlin, OH Registration begins December 1

Contact: Kim Hornyak kim.hornyak@fairlawnlutheran.org Open to all women – bring a friend or family member!

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CHRISTIAN ED HOUR FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH Sundays at 10am, you see dozens of children descending to the lower level during the Christian Ed Hour. Here’s a peek

at Sunday School and Youth Bible Study. We are blessed with wonderful volunteer teachers!

Sunday schoolers learn about the rituals of the church that they see during services - each Sunday they set up a mini altar, light the candles, collect offering, sing and say prayers.

Students of all ages learn how to pray and hear each other giving thanks and voicing concerns.

Teachers also help children practice what they are

learning. For instance, one older class was given an option to have a snack or share it. The point was to illustrate that when God can trust you with a little, he will give you more.

The class wasn’t selfish, keeping their snack for themselves, but shared it with the younger classes too!

Each child is given an age-appropriate Bible to keep and use at home. When the child “moves

up” to the next level, from picture Bible to young readers Bible to the Bible they keep through

middle school, there is a short ceremony where the new Bible is presented by the Sunday

School teacher in front of all of the children.

Fifth and sixth graders move into what is considered “pre-confirmation”. Teachers start covering material that will lead them into confirmation teaching in the next few years. These older kids have

age-appropriate discussion and games and have even dramatized Bible stories and presented them to the younger children.

Teens in grades 7-12 gather in the Youth Room for Youth Bible Study. There is discussion and

application of Biblical learning to real-life situations.

Teachers incorporate hands-on learning to get children engaged in learning about God’s Word. Hands-on games,

crafts and activities to spark the imagination, illustrate a point and encourage relationships between students.

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AROUND FAIRLAWN LUTHERAN SCHOOL THIS MONTH Candy corn bowling, pumpkin rolling and treats – oh my! Students had a great time at the annual Fall Field Days. Several church members (Devon Brinkman, Claire Gau and Joyce Morton seen below) volunteered to help with the fun!

Students enjoy Kindermusik at enrichment. Middle: Miss Kristina’s 4s class had a STEM building challenge - they had to build a gate that would hold 5 little pumpkins. Right: Miss Beth using the new Handwriting Without Tears program to enhance our literacy instruction.

Pastor Jim presented a Chapel talk on Joshua and the tall wall at Jericho. Afterward, the 3-year-old class practiced building and knocking down their own tall wall-it did indeed come tumbling down!

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AGE OF STEAM ROUNDHOUSE TOUR A great group of Fairlawn Lutheran members and friends toured the Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum in Sugarcreek.

THANK YOU “NO-SALE FUNDRAISER” DONORS! Thanks to everyone who donated to the No Sale Fundraiser for Fairlawn Lutheran School! The funds will be used toward school technology this year. More than 100 students received shirts with this year’s theme, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” The shirts were worn at Field Day and will continue to be worn throughout our community.

Corporate Sponsors: The Chas. E. Slusser Agency, Snyder Farm

Family Sponsors: Apinis, Bednar, Billington, Bogner, Brinda, Caruso, Chouinard, Congeni, Crolley, Cunningham, Feierabend, Feth, Gebura, George, Hedervary, Hoffman, Johnson, Karlen, Kistler, Lawrence, Liesem, Ligas, Linsalanta, Malek, Markle, Morton, Oelschlager, Parks, Perry, Philabaun, Pinheiro, Pippin, Porter, Ramsier, Reichenbach, Robinson, Ross, Sheets, Siess, Steeser, Strickler, Trapuzzano, Warmus, Woodward, Yant

SCHOOL HAS NEW T-SHIRTS! Fairlawn Lutheran School teachers liked our t-shirts so much, they ordered their own (modeled by teacher and church member Amber Luptak). The front has “school” added to the logo and the back has the school website and a version of our vision “Walking with FAMILIES in a relationship with Christ.” We are thrilled that John Reichenbach was able to edit the design and have the shirts manufactured.

Snyders Have Long History Of Care For Our Youngest Members & Visitors Fairlawn Lutheran members Dean and Jen Snyder have been providing care for babies and young children on Sundays, at Vacation Bible School, and for Bible Studies and other events for many years. Some of their first charges at Fairlawn Lutheran are now in high school! This type of nursery care enables a young mom to attend a Bible study during the week while her child plays just around the corner. Parents of children three and under can attend Bible study on Sunday without worrying about what to do with children who are not yet old enough for Sunday School. Rambunctious toddlers can play with friends during church services until they are old enough to sit through the entire

service. Children get to meet each other in the Nursery and build relationships with others their age at church. And Jen and Dean build relationships with the families that use their services. You will often see Jen joking and talking with those former charges who are now middle and high schoolers, or Dean walking around with a toddler during Vacation Bible School who just had to move! Jen has been known to give special dolls to her regular “nursery crew” and Dean recently built a dollhouse for all kids to use (note that there are trucks on the lower level in addition to dolls and animals!) Thank you Jen and Dean for your commitment to family ministry and to being a positive Christian role model in the lives of so many.

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Townhall Meeting: School Expansion, Leadership Team Changes And 10-Year Vision The October Town Hall meeting focused on the school expansion report, the proposed changes to the Leadership teams and our vision for the future of Fairlawn Lutheran. We will be voting on some of these issues on December 1 at 12:30pm at our annual Voter’s Meeting. The proposed bylaw changes will be placed in member mailboxes in early November. The school expansion report is available on Realm. If you are not yet a member or are not online and would like to review the materials, please contact the church office for a copy (churchoffice@fairlawnlutheran.org).

Thrivent Grants Available Fairlawn Lutheran ministries are eligible for Thrivent Choice grants. Criteria include projects that are outreach in nature, require funding outside the church budget, plan to use multiple funding sources, are collaborative, and meet Thrivent’s neutrality standard. Applicants should

meet most of the criteria, but not necessarily all, to be approved. $500-1000 grants are the most typical grants awarded. For information on Thrivent Choice, Action Grants, and other Thrivent questions, contact Jim Kroeger, Fairlawn Lutheran Thrivent Congregational Advocate at civicadvantage@gmail.com or 330-864-8389.

Door Entry We have added a new white doorbell to the main church doors and the school doors which will make an audible ring inside the building. If you do not have a key fob, please press the white doorbell the black button when you need to come into the building. If the security system is not working, we will be able to hear that someone is at the door. Hopefully this will be a temporary fix until our door system starts working more consistently. Thank you all for your patience!

Euchre Players Needed Two community players are interested in playing Euchre during the Monday Game Days (12:30pm). Please contact Kim Hornyak (330-836-7286, kim.hornyak@fairlawnlutheran.org) if you are willing to play – this is a great way to get to know our neighbors and welcome them to Fairlawn Lutheran!

Birthdays 1 Trevor Chuna 1 Tom Zeigler 2 Jim Kroeger 4 Cecil Miller 5 Ken Peace 6 Gus Saiben 6 Woody Woodward 7 Jim Lewis 9 Ed Paul

10 Chad Hull 10 Carlton Miller 10 Ilona Stroupe 11 Paige Rusyniak 12 Landry Chuna 12 Irene Leidal 13 Barb Beck 15 Jeremy Schultz 15 Ryan Stouffer 15 Charlie Vehlow 16 Marilyn Doty 18 Bob Kronenberger 18 Hannah Mariani 18 Nathan Schultz 18 Eric Wakefield 19 Don Seagren 19 William Shriver 21 Walt Kiekhaefer 22 Autumn Terpenning 22 Mary Yoder 26 Drew Meyer 27 Lisa Tobin 29 Juliette Keller 30 Elaine Daubenmire Special birthday blessings to our nonagenarians this month: Irene Leidal, Ed Paul, Cecil Miller and Woody Woodward!

Anniversaries 9 Brian & Andrea Downey

9 Sin & Nancy Mariano

13 Paul & Linda Liesem

14 Skip & Diane Bray

22 Paul & Lynn Flanick

23 David & Lisa Sears

27 George & Alice Strickler

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By the Numbers FINANCIAL

25 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF BUILDING SANCTUARY 25 years ago, on October 30, 1994, Fairlawn Lutheran broke ground on the newer part of our building, including the Sanctuary! The “Step Out in Faith” fund, begun in 1993, brought initial pledges of approximately $1 million to support the interest on the construction loan and our portion of the construction cost. In 1996, the next pledges paid the construction loan and began principle and interest payments to the Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) the group that holds our mortgage. Along the way, there was an opportunity to use available funds to reduce the principle which saved us around $44K. The original total building cost was $3.1 million, of which $2.2 million was financed. Our current balance is down to only $157,580.28 (at an adjustable rate of 4%). Our monthly payment is $7837 which comes from our operating fund.

2019 ATTENDANCE AVERAGES

OCT SEPT AUGUST*** JULY* JUN MAY APR MAR FEB JAN

Sat. 4pm 43 38 43 51 46 35 43 44 46 35

Sun. 8:45am 132 143 127 129 128 158 180 121 137 147

Sun. 11:15am 91 117 104 99 96 90 107 101 101 103

Total Weekend 266 298 274 279 270 283 330** 266 284 285 *139 people attended VBS Sunday 7/28, 11:15 service. **April totals were higher due to Holy Week and Easter services. ***Average attendance for August does not include the weekend of 8/25-26. We had our single outdoor service/church picnic on Sunday 8/25 at 10am, along with the regular Saturday service that week. 69 people attended the 4pm Saturday service, 156 attended the Sunday 10am service.

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THANK YOU Thank you and blessings to everyone who has been so supportive since my knee operation on September 30, with prayers, cards, phone calls, offers of food. Good progress is still being made thanks to God. Love, Jacquie Kyle & Ron Dear Parish Arts Ministry, Thank you so much for including the University of Akron Choirs in your Parish Arts Series. I’m so grateful for your kindness and hospitality. The crowd was huge and receptive. The screen worked perfectly to project the text of each selection. It is always our honor to be at Fairlawn Lutheran Church. We love singing there. Dr. Marie Bucoy-Calavan, Choir Director My heart is full of gratitude for all the prayers, cards, visits, calls and food sent my way during my recent surgery and recuperation. What a blessing to be part of such a caring and supportive congregation! God has blessed me so much through a challenging and unexpected experience. Thank you so very much for your encouragement. Blessings, Judy Corbett

I accepted a job offer in Michigan and will be moving at the end of the month (October). I will miss you all! I have had a great time and appreciate that you all welcomed me into your community! You are a great church family to be a part of! – Kathryn Meyer

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Kayla Lyn Coffee, daughter of Michelle Telloni, on her baptism Saturday! Her sponsor is John Telloni. Please keep Kayla in your prayers.

FUNERALS

Donna Fogliano, sister of Joan Scherler, died in the faith on October 13, at the age of 83. Please remember Joan and her family in your prayers. Betty Miller, longtime Fairlawn Lutheran member, died in the faith at age 91 on October 30, 2019. Please keep Cecil (husband of 69 years!) and all of Betty’s family and friends in your prayers.

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Regular church office hours are 8:30am-3:00pm. The office will be closed at noon, November 27 through November 29, in observance of Thanksgiving.

STAFF Rev. Jim Gau Senior Pastor pastor.jim@fairlawnlutheran.org

Rev. Adam Thompson Associate Pastor pastor.adam@fairlawnlutheran.org

Rev. Jack Kozak Visitation Pastor

Cathie Lucarelli School Director flschool@fairlawnlutheran.org

Kim Hornyak Director of Adult Ministries kim.hornyak@fairlawnlutheran.org

Elaine Daubenmire Office Administrator churchoffice@fairlawnlutheran.org

Allyson Robinson Communication Director com@fairlawnlutheran.org

Gary Pinter Organist/Choir Director gjp9977@gmail.com

Connections Newsletter Deadline E-mail content for newsletter to Allyson Robinson at com@fairlawnlutheran.org by the 18th of the month for publication the following month.

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3415 W. Market Street Fairlawn, OH 44333

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

CHURCH SATURDAY SERVICE 4:00pm Traditional SUNDAY SERVICES 8:45am Traditional Service 10:00am Christian Ed Hour 11:15am Contemporary Service Communion offered weekly at all services. CHURCH 330-836-7286 (8:30am-3pm M-F) fairlawnlutheran.org churchoffice@fairlawnlutheran.org

SCHOOL

20 years of high-quality Christian education for children age 2 through

Kindergarten.

Christian education Small classes

Convenient location Before/after care

SCHOOL 330-864-7724

fairlawnlutheranschool.org flschool@fairlawnlutheran.org

Fairlawn Lutheran will embrace people and walk with them in a RELATIONSHIP with Christ.