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<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="044785a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Garrettsville United Methodist Church</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Garrettsville United Methodist Church"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rev. Kris Patt"><U>Rev. Kris Patt</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Calendar"><U>Calendar</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Map"><U>Map</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Church"><U>Our Church</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Vacation Bible School "><U>Vacation Bible School </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daily Devotional Page"><U>Daily Devotional Page</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Church History"><U>Our Church History</U></A>   |   <B>Newsletter</B>   |   <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Apple Tree Preschool"><U>Apple Tree Preschool</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="045d2b03.jpg"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <I><B>The Announcer</B></I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I>Garrettsville United Methodist Church</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>October 2006</B></div> <div> Kingdomtide with GreenParaments<FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div>      Pastor: Kristen Patt                                       Editor: Bob Amor</div> <div> <IMG SRC="0aadc060.png" border=0 width="476" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>   </div> <div> REVEREND KRIS'S MESSAGE</div> <bR> <div>    The headline on the front page of the September 12<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >th</FONT> <U>USA Today</U> read “Religion Can Reveal Your Values and Politics.”  Reporter Cathy Grossman reported the results of a recent survey that asked respondents to agree or disagree with the description of their personal under- standing of what God is like.  The theory is that a person's image of God shapes how he or she views life.  They could check what they believed described God including such words as “absolute'”, “wrath friendly,” or “distant.”  </div> <div>    Your understanding of God does not change God but it does shape your performances.  In Paul's letter to the Colossians, he used eloquent words and lofty phrases to give a beautiful description of Jesus Christ.  The highpoint of the description was when he said that God is pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Him and through Him or that man receives all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.  (Colossians 1:15-20) </div> <div>    Jesus is the Son of God and personifies God.  You should look upon the love of Jesus as a poetic vision of God's grandeur.  John was given permission to see the throne of heaven.  In the cosmos, the ultimate source of all power and authority is Christ's compassion.  You must let Him know you.  Are you increasing your knowledge of God as you allow God to know you.  You must present all of yourself to God - the good, the bad, and the ugly.</div> <div>    You must listen to the love of Jesus as you have heart-to-heart conversations with God.  Can you list those conversations that you have had with God?  When the Holy Spirit whispers in your life, all is transformed.  Your life in God is rooted in love and motivated by the Holy Spirit.</div> <div>    Live the love of Christ by laying down your life for others.  We must be able to give up our own lives and allow God's great love to shine through us as we become the community of faith to each other and to the world.</div> <div>    May we all be able to answer, “who do you say that I am?”</div> <bR> <div> BIBLE STUDY</div> <bR> <div> We will be taking a look at the Book of Revelation for six weeks starting on Wednesday, October 18<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> at 10:00 a.m. in the Harris Room.  Bring yourself and a Bible for each hour-long session.  Please read Chapter 1 and 2 before the first session and be prepared to say what you believe about the Revelation.  Did John write it? Did they really say what is written?  What did it look like?  What does it mean for us now?     See you there!</div> <bR> <div> <I>MEET THE SILVIS'</I></div> <bR> <div>    Jack was born in Greensburg PA.  He graduated from Hempfield High School and attended the University of Maryland and Hiram College.  Sherri was born in Trenton, Michigan.  She graduated from James A. Garfield High School and from the Akron Institute for Medical and Dental Assistant.</div> <div>    Jack and Sherri met on a rainy night when Sherri's new Firebird caught on fire and Jack was a part-time police officer when he came to rescue her here in Garrettsville in 1985.  They were married in 1990 in a small Presbyterian church in Vienna, Ohio.  They have two children: Reita and Zack.</div> <div>    Jack is a Bainbridge police sergeant and a retired Air Force Tech Sergeant.  Sherri has been a dental assistant for 28 years and has been at the Portage Dental Center in Ravenna for the past 14 years.</div> <div>    Jack' s hobbies are aviation, reading, football, and watching football!  Sherri likes watching sports especially watching Zack play baseball and football and she loves to bake.</div> <div>    Jack took part in Desert Storm, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq.  Sherri has traveled to Pennsylvania, Michigan, Canada, Florida, and Texas.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>FINANCES</I></div> <div>                                           By Joan Kropp</div> <bR> <div>    It is great to see so many of you back in church now that fall is here and school has started, vacations have ended, and summer activities are behind us.</div> <div>    The elevator is almost completed but needs an official inspection before it can be used.  We need those of you who made pledges for the elevator to complete those as there are still some bills outstanding.  We should have a final figure by next month and by then the elevator will be in operation.</div> <div>    The Finance Committee met recently to look at this year's expenditures and plan the budget for 2007.  We will finalize these figures at our meeting on October 3<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >rd</FONT>.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>EDITOR'S CORNER</I></div> <bR> <div>     At a worship service in early September, John Porter, a member of the Finance Committee, made a passionate plea concerning the financial state of our church.  Unfortunately, not all of our members were present in that service to hear it so I have received John's permis- sion to reproduce the speech in my column.  Even if you heard it that day, I think it is worth reading and digesting it slowly.</div> <div>    “I have a concern.  I came out of a finance meeting recently shaking my head and wondering where we are headed.  The church is full, we have lots of activities, things are growing.  However, we have overspent our income every month since the first of the year.  Here we are 8 months into the year, vacations are over, school has started, we have returned to a regular schedule at church with 2 ser- vices, a growing Sunday School, and the choir singing.</div> <div>    “Now we need to get serious about this deficit spending right now.  If we want this church to grow and have the activites we want (Vacation Bible School, Bible studies, Sunday School, youth groups, fellowship) we must realize that it costs money.  What some of you need to do is get off the wagon, quit riding, and push a little.</div> <div>    “All of you must think about how much money you have pledged to the church and see if you are behind in your giving.  If you are, then you must catch up.  If you are caught up, you should see if you can up your pledge to help support these programs.  If you haven't committed yourself to a giving program, maybe you ought to give serious thought to that because this place takes money to run just like every place else and you know from experience at home that the cost of electricity, water, sewer, basic essentials, everything is going up so we need to give it a good hard look.</div> <div>    “I thank you for your time and hope that you will take my plea to heart and help us maintain our wonderful church.”</div> <div>    He said it all; I have nothing to add.</div> <bR> <div> <I>GOD LIVES UNDER THE BED</I></div> <bR> <div>    I envy Kevin.  He thinks God lives under his bed.  At least that's what he said one night.  He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom and I stopped to listen,  “Are you there, God?” he said.  “Where are you?  Oh, I see. under the bed. . .”  I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room.  Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement.  But that night, something else lingered long after the humor.  I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in.</div> <div>    He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor.  Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult.  He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old and he always will.  He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.</div> <div>    I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different.  Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life?  Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed.   The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child. </div> <div>    He does not seem dissatisfied.  He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work.  He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores.</div> <div>    And Saturdays-oh, the bliss of Saturdays!  That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculates loudly on the destination of each passenger inside.  “That one's goin' to Chi-car-go!”  Kevin shouts as he claps his hands.  His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights.</div> <div>    And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips.  He doesn't know what it means to be discontent.  His life is simple.  He will never know the entanglements of wealth and power and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats.  His needs have always been met and he never worries that one day they may not be.</div> <div>    His hands are diligent.  Kevin is never so happy as when he is working.  While he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it.  He does not shrink from a job when it is begun and he does not leave a job until it is finished.  But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax.  He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others.  His heart is pure.  He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue.</div> <div>    Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry, or sorry.  He is always transparent, always sincere.  And he trusts God.  Not confined by intellectual reasoning when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child.  Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an “educated” person to grasp.  God seems like his closest companion.</div> <div>    In moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity, I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith.  It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions.  It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap. . .I am.  My obligations, my fears, my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care.</div> <div>    Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn?  After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark, and soaking up the goodness and love of God.  And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed.</div> <div>    Kevin won't be surprised at all!</div> <bR> <div> <I>SHORT BUT IMPORTANT MESSAGES</I></div> <bR> <div> . . . a big “THANK YOU” to Bob Schwan for working on the hillside beneath the cross and Methodist symbol.  He reduced the severity of the slope, seeded, and put down straw in the whole area.</div> <div> . . . Rev. Kris will be attending a continuing education seminar in North Carolina from October 4<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >th</FONT> to 9<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >th</FONT> and then visiting a friend in the Washington D.C. area until the 13<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >th</FONT>.  If anyone needs a pastor during that time, call Elsie and she will put you in touch with one.</div> <div> . . . Our annual Charge Conference will be held in our church on Tuesday, October 17<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >th</FONT>.  The schedule shows worship at 7:00 p.m., fellowship at 7:30 p.m., and our meeting at 8:00 p.m.  There will be 7 churches having their conferences in our building that night.</div> <div> . . . The new youth group will meet on Sunday afternoons twice a month for all 6<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >th</FONT> through 12<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >th</FONT> graders.  A schedule of events will be available soon according to Dawn Gerentz, the advisor.</div> <bR> <div> <I>FIRE UP THE OVENS</I></div> <div>                         By Jerry and Carol Clark</div> <bR> <div>    November 3,4,5,10,11,12 is <U>Christmas Bread Time</U>.  We sold approximately 580 loaves last year and made approximately $1500.  Our goal this year is 600 loaves.  We can do it!</div> <div>    Leah and Jack Schultz will freeze the breads if you want to bake them early.  Also, you can call us at 330-527-1222 or the Schultz's at 330-527-2052 for pick-up if needed.  Please wrap the breads in <U>clear </U>wrap and <U>label</U> what kind of bread they are.</div> <div>    Sign-up sheets for workers and bakers are in the narthex until sale time.  Let's turn the breads into real dough for the church!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>DIRECTORY UPDATE</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>   </B>After the new directory became available last month, it was discovered that there were several mistakes.  Here are the corrections which people should put in their directory in order to keep it current:</div> <bR> <div> ---change Carrie Kraft's address to 11769 Mills Road, Garrettsville 44231 and her phone number to 330-527-5544.</div> <div> ---change Bette Benes' address to 4222 Rockspring Road, Ravenna 44266.</div> <div> ---change Donn and Carol Olin's address to 11198 Brosius Road, Garrettsville 44231.</div> <div> ---change Doug and Shannon Amor's address to 2432 Sable Pointe Lane; Knoxville, Tennessee 27924.</div> <div> ---change Cheryl Hall's address to 8055 Elm Street, Garrettsville 44231</div> <div> ---change Jim and Karen Pollock's address to 9461 Lawnsfield; Twinsburg Ohio 44087.</div> <div> ---change Russ and Sally Hammel's phone number to 330-527-7415.</div> <div> ---change Alice Miller's address to 8051 Elm Steet, Garrettsville 44231.</div> <div> ---change Bob and Cori Finney's phone number to 330-527-0656.<B> </B>   </div> <bR> <div> <I>VENTURE NEWS</I></div> <div>                                     By Brianne Finney</div> <bR> <div>    Consider walking for the Crop Walk on October 1<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >st</FONT>.  Everyone will meet at the James A. Garfield High School parking lot at 2:00 p.m. and walk or run 6 miles to help raise money to stop world hunger.  Twenty-five percent of the money raised will be given to the Windham Food Shelf.  If you are unable to walk, please consider giving monetarily to the walkers and keep them in your prayers on that day.</div> <div>    Looking ahead, the Venture young people will be performing a play for the Christmas season entitled “Angels, Lambs, Ladybugs, and Fireflies” on December 17, 2006 at 4:00 p.m.  Please mark your calendar for both events. </div> <bR> <div> <I>TRUSTEES</I></div> <div>                                               By John See</div> <bR> <div>    There has been a lot of activity occupying the Trustees since our last article.  During one of this summer's torrential storms, the drains in the basement of the parsonage backed up, causing a flood.  As a result of this flood, the carpet had to be replaced and the wood paneling had to be repaired.  Rev. Kris also suffered the loss of many of her personal items including her computer.  The Trustees decided to have backflow prevention devices installed in the floor drains to help avoid future floods.</div> <div>    The Elevator Project has been progressing and the shaft enclosure has been completed.  The lift platform has been installed and all that remains to be completed is some finish work inside the shaft and around the doors, along with the final electrical connections.  Like all construction projects, there were a couple of unforeseen additions to the project resulting from the requirements of the Portage County Building Department and the State Elevator inspector but the Trustees had a contingency build into the final budge which should cover these additional items.  The elevator will not be available for our use until we receive final approval from the state inspector.</div> <div>    With the Elevator Project nearing completion, the trustees will be turning their attention to other area of need such as the sanctuary roof and windows.  The trustees have decided to continue hosting dinners to fund these projects.  Another dinner has been scheduled for November 7<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >th</FONT> (Election Night).  </div> <div>    Several members of the congregation have asked about the status of the old parsonage.  Earlier this year, the Trustees solicited bids for the demolition of the house but discovered that there were no funds available for that project.  Subse-  quently, there have been suggestions that the structure could be used for class- rooms or offices which would require a change of use permit.  The Trustees decided to hire an architect to complete a general code review to determine the type of modifications needed.</div> <bR> <div> <I>IN MEMORIUM</I></div> <bR> <div>    On Monday, September 18<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >th</FONT>, our church lost one of its longest-attending members - Lois Chalker, better know to us as Sandy.  She was born in 1927, making her 79 years old and she joined our church in 1956, making her fa member for 50 years.</div> <div>    During her time with us, Sandy was very active in the United Methodist Women, the Chancel Choir, and several committees.  Outside the church, she was a member of the Junior Women's Club, the 20<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >th</FONT> Century Club, and the Community Theater.</div> <div>    She is survived by her daughters - Nancy Roberts and Barbara Grosh; grandchildren - Meagen Alexander and Pamela Richardson, and great-grandson - Nathan Alexander.  Jim, her husband of 54 years, died in 2005.</div> <div>    The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to our church.  I know I speak for the entire congregation when I extend prayers and condolences to the family.  Her bubbly personality and contagious smile will be missed by everyone.</div> <bR> <div> <I>SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS</I></div> <div>                                  By Melinda Ensinger</div> <bR> <div>    Classes have begun and numbers are up!  Our Sunday School program started on Sunday, September 10<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >th</FONT> with 39 children and youth.  The following Sunday, 38 children and youth participated in Sunday School and our Junior Church program started during the Traditional Service with 10 children and a youth volunteer.  Last year, we were averaging 25 children weekly in Sunday School.</div> <div>    The teachers met recently to discuss various items and to set a calendar.  Each class is setting goals and the entire Sunday School is committed to empha- sizing the importance and power of prayer through “The Prayer Bears.”  These bears were made during Vacation Bible School.  A bear will be placed in each classroom to be prayed over, hugged, and shared in the weekly Bible lesson.  After several weeks, once a bear has been thoroughly prayed over, he will be moved to the office and be made available to members of the congregation or those in need.   </div> <div>    To help communicate to the families of the Sunday School, the bulletin board across from the kitchen door in the Harris Room will be used to post upcoming events and information.  A family Fall outing consisting of a hayride, corn maze, and picnic is being planned at a farm in the area.  Details will be sent home to each student shortly.</div> <div>    On Sunday, October 22<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >nd</FONT> at 10:05 a.m., the Sunday School classes will be conducting a fire drill to ensure the safe exit of our children and youth.  The fire alarm will be set off and classes will exit the building following the evacuation routes that will be posted in each classroom.  It is expected that all those in the church for whatever reason will exit at the closest door at this time.  If there is inclement weather, the drill will be rescheduled.</div> <bR> <div> <I>APPLE TREE PRESCHOOL</I></div> <div>                                 By Melinda Ensinger</div> <bR> <div>    We are off to a great start!  The children are settling in and getting used to each class's routine.  On Thursday, September 14<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >th</FONT>, the fire chief , Dave Friess monitored a fire drill and the safe exit of all the children.  The children did a fabulous job!</div> <div>    The three-year-old class is planning a unit on “My Family and Me” and the teachers are pre-assessing the students on their knowledge of shapes, colors, and the alphabet.  The Pre-Kindergarten class is completing their unit on apples by making applesauce and will begin exploring “Bats for the Letter B.”</div> <div>    A family open house is scheduled for Thursday, October 19<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >th</FONT> at 7:00 p.m.  The children are excited and will be proud to share with their families what they have been learning the first six weeks.</div> <bR> <div> <I>JESU BELL NOTES</I></div> <div>                                              By Linda Fall</div> <bR> <div> This time of the year, it seems like every thing is back on schedule and Jesu Bells are no exception.  Practices are on Mon-</div> <div> days from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m.  We will give Mondays a try until we see how it fits into people's schedules.  I am willing to change if necessary.</div> <div>    Our choir is smaller this year but each of the players is a good bell player.  We will use belltrees, trios, and quartets, and work on harder music.  I am excited about these new avenues of worship.  Mrs. Poole. Mrs. Young, and I have worked out a schedule of performances.  The following dates will be ours:  October 8<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >th</FONT>, November 5<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >th</FONT>, December 17<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >th</FONT>, and December 24<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >th</FONT> (5:00 p.m. Children's Service).  If any players have a conflict with any of these dates, see me soon.</div> <div>    It is going to be exciting to discover where we can go this year.  We are only limited by our own minds! </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>