Minerva Messenger Minerva United Methodist Church

204 N. Main St., Minerva, OH 44657 Church 330-868-4940, Fax 330-868-4825,

E-mail: minervaumc@frontier.com Website: minervaumc.org Pastor Harley Wheeler

Deadline for the April Newsletter is March 17.

Please be sure your information is submitted by the deadline. Thank you

You and Your Bible Psalm 119:48 “ I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees.”

“Everybody wants to want to study the Bible.” We read chapters like Psalm 119, which is a long statement about loving God’s word, and we hope to be the

kind of people that love God’s word, but often we don’t know where to begin. I have found that this is a case where we should allow our good sense to stir our hearts to strive to posses God’s Word. It is a case where you just start. Then allow the desire to study to follow as a natural result of spending time in the scriptures. Sometimes God responds to our earnest seeking, and is waiting for us to make our move. You can study the Bible in many ways. You can read a chapter a day, with a flexible plan as to which books to work through. You can start in the New Testament with any of the gospels, Matthew Mark, Luke or John. You can read any section, stopping when the story shifts focus, whether that is a few verses or several chapters. You can also just read a verse or two each day, and try to spend time thinking about what you have read through the day. You can take a book like Mark, or Revelation, or Ruth and read it through at one sitting, so that you experience the total effect. I also advocate reading straight through the Bible. You must be patient and not be fussed when you feel that you are not taking in all that a passage has to communicate. Simply hear what God is helping you to see today, and the other sides of the message will be seen the next times you read there. (Yes, I said “Next Times.”) Above all, pray, seek help in understanding, come to Bible Study and Sunday School, and ask your pastor questions! Seeking Him Alongside You, Pastor Harley

Worship Schedule This March we will finish our Lenten Season with Holy Week and Easter services. Don’t Miss any chances to seek God in

Worship.

March 3 “Your Wildest Prayer” II Samuel 18:1-7 Holy Communion

Taize’ Service at Minerva UMC 6pm

March 6 Worship at St. Lukes 10:30am

March 10

Daylight Savings Time begins!

March 17 “The King’s Call” I Chronicles 29:1-10

March 24 Palm Sunday

“Playing the Music Backwards” Psalm 24

March 28 Nursing Home Worship Eldercare 9:30, Great Trail 10:30

Seder Meal - Maundy Thursday Service 6pm

March 29 Community Good Friday Service 1st Christian Church, 12pm

Good Friday Stations of the Cross, Communion and Healing Service 7pm

March 31

Community Sunrise Service 6:30 am Great Trail Golf Course Here 9:30 Early Service, led by Youth 10:30 Easter Worship

Bible Study Our Tuesday Morning Bible Study

will meet at 10:30 each week in March. On March 5th, we will continue our study in Eze-

kiel by studying Chapters 18 & 33 and the on March 12th the Amazing Temple

in Ezekiel 40-48. In the following weeks,

we will look at John 18-21. Plan to come and know God’s Word better.

Favorite Hymns We had dozens of responses to our request for your favorite hymn. 61 hymns were singled out,

and most of them will be sung within the next few months.

The Top vote getters? “Amazing Grace” and “Lord of the Dance”

PRAYER CONCERNS: The New Year 2013, Pauline Angeloni, Jennifer Ash, Doris Bettis, Cindy Bondurant & Family (pastor’s fiancé), Bill Boyd, Paul Brawley, Michelle Briceland, Eva Mae Carter, Eileen Cogan & Family, Rev. Meredith Coleman, Janet Colloredo, Craig Cunningham, Ron & Charlotte Davies, John Davis, Honchie Demarco, Twila Dourm, Jenny Ellis, Terri Elton, Eltringham Family, Evanich Family (death of Pat Stahl), Gerald Fallot, Lenora Gotschall, Beth Gray, Doyle Hawk, Barb Jamison, Jobs, Paul Kail, Jim Kienzle, Rev. Tim & Tiffany Kromer & unborn baby, Rev Susan Lausch & Family, Buddy McNutt, Dorothy Middleton, Bev Milliken, Blanche Morrison, Wilbur Moser, Autumn Nad-ine, Ralph Norman, Nursing Ed. Dept. at Mercy Medical Cen-ter, Meleia Rogers & Family, Margie Rolfe, Maralee Rumburg, Angie Sanor, Sue, Marilyn Tarbet, Carol Tice, Esther Totten, Mary Wadsworth, Emily Waseman, June Waseman, Karen & Marilyn Weckstein, Chriss Wolf, Family of Betty Wright, Kendra (Lewis) Wriston, Tricia Wurzbach & Family, Family of Bill Yerger, Youth Group & Leaders, Dixie Zwallen

Our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen & Marines–SR Nicholas G. Al-bery (Great Lakes Naval Base), SR Zachary D. Albery (Great Lakes Naval Base), Steven Felger (California), Jared Fonner (home), Lewis Gibson (Texas), Matt Herbert (home), Brandon Jenkins (Texas) , Aaron King, Kevin Kowars (Texas), Dan Lutz (home), Eli Maurer (Coast Guard Academy, Connecticut), Josh Miller(Texas), Howard Morgan, Russell Nero (home), Kevin Price (Japan), John Stehulak (Afghanistan), Justin C. Zeedrich

Dear Congregation, I just returned home from the Boston VA Hospital and received a gorgeous prayer shawl. I feel your love, warmth and prayers. Thank you, so much, for all your thoughts and good wishes. Love, Bill Cundiff

Dear Friends, Thank you so much for the wonderful prayer shawl that you gave to me during my recent hos-pital stay. I felt your prayers surround me each time Iused it. It was nice to know I always have a family at Minerva United Methodist Church. Thanks also to Pat Miller for her visits, and deliv-ering the shawl to me. She is truly an angel among us! I am home and feeling much better. I can feel myself getting stronger each day. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Love Margie Miller-Rolfe

Condolences to: The Family of Betty Wright

Betty passed away on January 29, 2013.

Ruth, Rudy & Judie Evanich and Family on the death of Pat Stahl.

Pat passed away on February 10, 2013.

To Everyone at Minerva UMC Dear Church Family, On behalf of my mother and all of the family, thank you for “coming alongside of us” in our sadness at the death of my father, Al Lausch, the way “God has come alongside you.” Your prayers, cards and emails, and your presence at his calling hours or service blessed us and comforted us. We ap-preciate all you have done and give thanks to God for all of you. Susan Lausch As we finish another year, I want to take this

time to thank you for your efforts to pay shared ministry at 100%. The EO conference had more churches pay 100% and the giving level was higher than it has been for 18 years. Thank you and thanks be to God! Mission and ministry in East Ohio and across the world also thank you. Blessings to you, Jessica Vargo Conference Treasurer

Prayer is the burden of a sigh, The falling of a tear, The upward glancing of an eye When none but God is near.

James Montgomery

PRAYER CHAIN If you wish to have someone put on the prayer chain,

please contact the church office and/or Jennie McClellan (330-868-6834) or Kay Hilverding (330-868-4728) with your request. Your request will be handled

with great care and will be passed along the chains and referred to the church office for email purposes.

Blessings to you all.

Dear Friends, Thank you for support and prayers we received during Pat’s illness and funeral. We appreciated the many visits from Pastor Harley, the wonderful meal after the funeral and the beautiful flowers. The Church family is truly a blessing! Sincerely, The family of Patricia Stahl

March Ushers Jim Albaugh, Dale Cogan, Marty Mong, Gary Stoffer

March Greeters March 3 Anne Lane March 10 Reusser Family March 17 Helen Hart March 24 Greg & Laurie Peach March 31 Bob & Carol Allmon

March Altar Flowers March 3 Nancy LeMoine March 10 Open March 17 Open March 24 Open March 31 Easter Flowers

March Nursery Attendants March 3 March 10 March 17 March 24 March 31

Calvary Mission Item for the month of March is

Peanut Butter Please give as you are able.

On Saturday, May 4th our family will once again be walking to raise money for the March of Dimes March for Babies, in honor of Tyler, our grandson. This will be the third year that “Tyler’s Team” has walked to help raise funds for the March of Dimes, which is so instrumental in funding research and technology to help preemies like Tyler survive. Tyler was born 12 weeks early, all 1 lb 2oz

and 10 inches of him, and spent 76 days in the NICU at Aultman Hospital. He is now 2 1/2 yrs old and is a total blessing and a miracle in himself. He is why we help raise funds for this worthwhile cause. If you would like to be part of “Tyler’s Team” by making a donation to the March of Dimes, please see me, Cheryl. (checks are made payable to the March of Dimes)

Thank you so much for supporting Tyler, “Tyler’s Team” and the March of Dimes.

March Anniveraries March 8 Bob & Cyndy Lawson March 10 Vernon & Lois Deininger March 21 Jeff & Kasey Adleman

March Birthdays 1 Mikka Ray, Jordan Shirley 2 Ret Eberts, Rachel Durst 3 Nancy LeMoine, Missy Henry 5 Derek Reed, Aiden Ellsworth 6 Lindsay Bell, Mark Pearson 7 Arnold Ferguson 8 Regina Bell 10 Margaret Gotschall, Jim Kienzle, Kendra Wriston 11 Leslie Pearson 12 Daniel Kienzle 13 Leisa Lindsay 14 Tommy Pearson, Zachary Waugh 15 Brody Hollar, Carol LeBeau 16 Carol Tice, Diane Phillips, Justin Davis 17 Laurie Cummings, Debbie Nightingale, Jack Gareau 18 Lindsay Hart, Rylan Smith, Cameron Cunningham, Louella Green, Nancy Rocco 19 Ray Meadows, Megan Shirley, Karen Parrish 20 Carol Hanson 22 Melissa Grubbs, Gary Reymond 23 Kyle Danner 24 Roger Grubbs 25 Kara Scott, Claire Springer 26 Margie Rolfe, Betty Hawk 27 Kisha Lautzenheiser 28 Jennifer Waugh 29 Ken Lewis, Shaylynn Hertel 31 Sarah Russo, Susan Pallaye, Paul Kail, Ruth Hellyer

It’s Summer Church

Camp Time in the East Ohio Conference! Well, actually it’s

time to start making your plans for your kids to go to camp! Each of the 3 camps has its own

variety of themes, so pick up a camp brochure either in the church office, the narthex or go

online at www.EOCSummercamps.org or www.eastohiocamps.org.

Check it out!

Taize’ Services There will be Taize’ Services offered for the Community each Sunday during Lent. These are meditative services of song, scrip-ture and prayer. Plan to worship in this peaceful style among Christians in your community. All services start at 6pm March 3--Minerva United Methodist Church March 10--St. Gabriel Catholic Church March 17--St. Paul Lutheran Church

Easter Butterflies: A Promised Revealed

While we mourn the loss of loved ones, as the people of Jesus’ time mourned him, let us remember the promise of Jesus recorded in John 11:25 – “I am the resurrec-tion and the life. He who be-

lieves in me will live, even though he dies…” To celebrate this victory, the worship committee would like to create a “Butterfly Garden of Promise”. We ask that you submit the names of loved ones both within the church and outside the church so that we can create a memorial tribute to those who have passed from earth into Heaven. A butterfly will be displayed in their memory. Please submit names to the church office by March 17th. If the butterfly is named for someone outside the church family, please submit an address so that we

Come one, come all, come join us for the

Holy Week Prayer Vigil. The Prayer Vigil will start Maundy Thursday at 8 PM after the Seder meal and run until Good Friday at 8 PM. The time slots are in half hour intervals. The noon hour and the 7 PM hour will be the Good Friday services. If you have trouble making it into the Church for a time of prayer join us at Home. We will be forming a Prayer chain this vigil, add you name to a link and add it to the chain.

Sunday, March 17, 2013 at 7:00pm. The Bayard UMC will be presenting a Choir Festival, bringing together different choirs from our area for a

great evening of singing and fellowship. All are welcome.

Upcoming events & opportunities Sunday March 3 Taize Serive here at 6pm Thursday, March 7 UMW meeting at 7pm in Wesley Hall Sunday, March 10 Daylight Savings Time Begins One Great Hour of Sharing Collection Taize Service at St. Gabriel Catholic Church at 6pm Sunday, March 17 Taize Servie at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at 6pm Thursday, March 21 Produce Distribution at 9am Golden Rule Circle at 7pm in Parlor Thursday, March 28 Nursing Home Worship Services Minerva Eldercare at 930am Great Trail Care Center at 1030am Sedar Meal for Maundy Thurs at 6pm in Wesley Hall Easter Prayer Vigil begins at 8pm Friday, March 29 Community Good Friday Service at 12pm at First Christian Church Prayer Vigil ends at 8pm Sunday, March 31 Easter Early Service at 9am Easter Worship Service at 1030am

Produce News We had our February Produce Distribution on Thursday, the 21st.

Wow….What a Cold, Snowy, Blustery morning, and what a wonderful morning it was!

We served 150 families this month with 444 family members. That was a little short of last month, but those 150 families received potatoes, onions, cab-

bage, apples, strawberries, bread and baked goods. We had a super crew of volunteers and it was a very successful morning

in spite of the frozen toes (just makes you move faster). I want to thank all of you who have been helping over the months and all of you who have recently joined out Food Program Team!

Each one of you is truly a blessing. We are looking forward to our next distribution day on Thursday, March 21st.

In April we will be back to the 2nd Thursday of the month.

“Tired of cooking at home? Need an alternative to fast food?”

The Minerva Senior center offers home-cooked meals Monday thru Friday at 5pm for a donation of $6.00 per meal to seniors 55 yrs of age and over. A call to the center at 330-868-6004, before noon as-sures a reservation for that evening’s meal. The Mi-nerva Senior Center is located at 1200 Valley St., Mi-nerva. The Searcher’s Sunday School class meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month for dinner and invites others to join them for good food and fellowship.

Looking Ahead: April 7th Women’s Sunday April 14th Choir Easter Cantata “Easter Song”

Easter Sunday At 9:30 am the youth will lead an early Easter Service.

Help our youth to proclaim the good news that He is Risen!

The 10:30am Easter Service will be a celebration with

Easter Hymns, and Pastor Harley’s sermon, drawn from Luke 23&24, “Flowers and Tears.”

Community Easter Sunrise Service Easter Sunday, March 31st,

the area churches will hold a Community Easter Sunrise Service,

6:30 am at the Great Trail Golf Course. This simple service will welcome the dawning of

Easter with songs, scriptures and prayers. The Ser-vice will be on the hillside, with a wonderful view. The Great Trail Golf Course is located at 10154

Great Trail Drive, Minerva.

Community Good Friday Service On Friday, March 29 at First Christian Church,

the area churches will hold a Community Good Friday Service, at 12 noon.

Area Ministers and musicians will lead the ser-vice, and Rev. Ben George of the First Presby-

terian Church will be preaching.

Good Friday Stations of the Cross, Communion and Healing Service

On Friday, March 29, beginning at 7pm, in the Sanctuary, there will be a time of worship where we visit the traditional Stations of the Cross, and share together the powerful story of Jesus’ trial and execu-tion. Pastor Harley will lead the congregation in Com-munion, and there will be a special time to seek heal-ing through prayer.

Seder Meal On March 28,

our Maundy Thursday Service will be a Seder Meal beginning at 6pm.

You won’t want to miss this commemoration of

Jesus’ Last Supper with His disciples using the traditional elements

of the Jewish Passover Meal. The Passover festival recalled the Exodus story and

pointed forward to the hope of Israel that was ful-filled in Jesus the Messiah.

This will be a complete chicken supper with special times during which we learn about the story of

Christ from the perspective of those who ate with Him. This an opportunity to draw closer to him in

fellowship and worship. Use the Sign-up sheet in the church through

March to let us know you plan to attend, or call the church office. A love-offering will be taken to cover

the costs of the meal.

It’s Scholarship Hunting Time! That super-fun season for seniors and their parents! So, if you are a senior or are in college already and are interested in applying for any scholarships through the East Ohio Conference, check out the following link:

http://www.gbhem.org/site/c.lsKSL3POLvF/b.3842007/k.6E59/Scholarship_Applications.htm

2013 EASTER FLOWER ORDER

Orders must be received NO LATER THAN SUNDAY, March 3rd. PAYMENT MUST ACCOMPANY ORDER

_______ Daffodil $7.00 _______ _______ Lily $8.50 _______ _______ Pansy Basket $9.00 _______ _______ Fern Basket $15.99 _______

_______ Tulip-mixed $7.00 _______

TOTAL _______

In Honor/Memory of (Please be sure to circle one)

____________________________________________ Given By_____________________________________ Phone Number________________________________

Sun M

on Tue

Wed

Thu Fri

Sat

1 World D

ay of Prayer 2

3 915a Sunday School 1030a W

orship 12p W

esley Hall Res.

6p Taize” Service

4 5 1030a Bible Study 11a Pathw

ays 345 Puppets

6 615p Joyful Noise

730p Harm

ony HB

7 7p Choir 7p U

MW

8 9

10 915a Sunday School 1030a W

orship

11 12 1030a Bible Study 12p Sr. G

roup 345 Puppets 6p D

AR W

esley Hall

13 615p Joyful N

oise 730p H

armony H

B

14 7p Choir

15 16 W

esley Hall Reserved

17 St. Patrick’s Day

915a Sunday School 1030a W

orship D

aylight Savings

18 19 1030a Bible Study 11a Pathw

ays 345 Puppets 6p Puppets

20 615p Joyful N

oise 730p H

armony H

B Spring Begins

21 8a Produce D

el. 9a Produce D

istr. 7p Choir 7p G

olden Rule Circle

22 23 W

esley Hall Reserved

24 Palm Sunday

915a Sunday School 1030a W

orship

25 26 1030a Bible Study 12p Sr. G

roup 345 Puppets

27 615p Joyful N

oise 730p H

armony H

B

28 Maundy Thursday

930a Nursing H

omes

7p Sedar Meal

8p Prayer Vigil begins

29 Good Friday

12p Com

munity G

ood Friday Service 730p G

F Service 8p Prayer V

igil ends

30

31 Easter 9a Early Easter Service 1030a W

orship

March 2013