The Trumpet

Firelands Presbyterian Church

2626 East Harbor Road
Port Clinton, Ohio 43452
419-734-6211
Fax 419-734-5411
www.firelandschurch.org

Rev. Mark Cooper, Pastor

Dave Moore, Clerk of Session
Susan Larcey and Kay McIntosh, Musicians
Darrell Brand, Treasurer
Rachel Johnson,
Preschool Director
Janine Dress,
Administrative Assistant
Mark Owen, Custodian

Table of Contents
Events & Notes ............................... 2 & 3
Pastors Page ........................................ 4
Preschool News, & Lectionary Texts ......... 5
Stated Session Highlights ................. 6 & 7
Monthly Prayer List................................ 7
Birthdays, Calendar ............................... 8
Ministry Schedule .................................. 9
Musical Arts 2015-2016 Season ............ 10

May 2016 Volume 33 Issue 5

Musical Art
Series
Jinjoo Cho,
Violin and
HyunSoo
Kim, Piano
May 6, 7:30
PM
Next stop, Carnegie Hall! This concert is sponsored by
Bassetts Market and Miller Ferries to Put-in-Bay.
Following the concert, there will be a reception for the
audience to meet the artists. Tickets are available at the
door for $15 ($12 for Firelands members); students are
admitted free of charge.

Summer Worship Begins

Sunday May 29
On May 29 our worship time will be at 9:30 AM. This time
will be every Sunday through Labor Day Weekend.

Linus Quilt
Blessing
Sunday
May 15,
Pastor Mark will be
blessing the Linus quilts
during Worship. The
Firelands Project Linus
mission was formed in
2004. As of 2015 the mission
donated 1,325 quilts including the
145 made in 2015 to the Akrons
Childrens Hospital. On Pentecost
Sunday, May 15, last years quilts
will be blessed then taken to the
hospital in late May. Thanks to the
generosity of Firelands congregation
and the countless volunteer hours of
the quilters, the mission will continue
to give comfort to children in need.

May 2016

Page 2

BABY BOTTLE
CAMPAIGN
Heartbeat of Ottawa County is
again sponsoring the Baby
Bottle Campaign which runs
from Mothers Day (May 8th) through Fathers Day (June
19th). A supply of baby bottles will be available on the
Opportunity Table for you to take home and fill with
change or bills. The bottles are to be returned to the
church by Fathers Day.
Heartbeat of Ottawa County offers compassionate
support and active guidance to those experiencing
family challenges and/or unplanned pregnancy. The
funds collected remain in our area helping young
women, men and their children.

A VERY SPECIAL VESPERS

On June 5th, at 5:00 in the Pavilion, we will help our
Pastor Emeritus, Rev. Bob Butcher celebrate the 50th
Anniversary of his Ordination as a Presbyterian Minister.
It will be a relaxed party featuring our famous Firelands
band and a bountiful pot luck supper.
Bob was our beloved pastor from 1983 2007, and
much of our history as a church came under his
leadership. We were blessed to be his congregation in so
many ways. We want to be a part of this special event
with him. Please come! We hope to have a big crowd of
well-wishers.
Details:
Sunday, June 5th, at the Pavilion (rain or shine, hot or
chilly) We are optimistic!
5:006:30p.m. food and fun followed by Vespers from
6:30-7:00p.m.
Food: The committee will provide sandwiches,
beverages and a cake.
Please bring a side dish, snacks or another dessert. A
sign-up sheet is on the opportunity table.
Remember: June 5th at 5:00. Its a party!

From Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity
of Ottawa County
(HFHOC) is seeking
help with two
significant needs that
they are encountering.
First, they are seeking families who want to partner with
HFHOC in building their own home. If you know of
anyone who may be interested, please put them in
touch with Habitat for Humanity at 410-734-7074.
Secondly, there are openings on the HFHOC Board. If
you share a belief in the work of Habitat and a Christian
faith with a heart for mission and community
involvement, you could be a good fit. Please consider
these people-related, community oriented appeals. If
you can help with either of these present needs, please
contact the HFHOC office in Oak Harbor at
419-734-7074

Thank you for Sharing through

One Great Hour of Sharing
This past Easter season our churchs contribution to One
Great Hour of Sharing was $1024.45. This was made up
of offerings received combined with the proceeds from
our Sharing Cabinet. One Great Hour of Sharing uses
this money to feed the hungry, to help people build up
their own livelihoods, and in responding to disasters. In
these ways your gifts are changing lives, changing
communities, and changing the world. Thank you on
behalf of all the people you help.

May 2016

Page 3

Now I Lay Me
Down to Sleep
Mission
Update
In early July of last year,
the first beds were delivered from the newly reinstated
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Mission project. Since
then we (delivery teams made up of members of
Firelands Church, St John Lutheran Church, with the
help of Portage Resale Center) have taken 63 beds and
bedding into Ottawa County homes for children ages 217.
These children have been identified to us by United
Way, who receive word of this need from local family
service agencies. These 63 beds have been distributed
among 30 families in the local area. This mission
project is supported by Firelands Church in partnership
with the Portage Resale Center, who provide the new
bed storage and their truck and driver for bed delivery
to the families, St John Lutheran Church, Port Clinton
and A Case for Smiles. Delivery teams accompany the
PRC truck and help by taking the bedding (new sheets,
mattress pad, pillow, pillowcase, and blanket) to the
family. We have recently learned of a local business
offering brand new age-appropriate books to be given to
the children who receive a new bed. The Fine Print
bookstore in Lakeside contacted Joyce DellaSantina to
make this generous and wonderful offer. We will include
new books starting soon.
We have recently ordered more beds as the need is ever
present. Thank you to everyone who has supported this
mission by their gifts of time and money. We need and
appreciate your continued help.
* Donate, using a "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep"
envelope, available on the opportunity table. Cost for
one set of bedding is $45.00.
* Donate, by placing loose change or bills in the
handcrafted "Mini-Beds" found on tables in our
fellowship hall.

Bistro 163 Update

Bistro 163 is hoping to open to the community beginning on
th
Monday, June 6 . All members and friends of Firelands
Presbyterian Church are welcome to enjoy lunch on weekdays
from 10:30 to 2:30, or Saturday
brunch from 10:30 to 2:30. Bistro
163 will be closed on Sundays.
Chef Stacy Maple is crafting an
innovative menu of fresh, locally
sourced foods, including salads,
soups, flat breads and
sandwiches. We are revealing all
the details as they are known on
our Facebook page (follow Bistro
163), and on our web site
www.bistro163.org.
Volunteers are needed! Please contact Joyce Jagucki if you
would like to give some time before or during our opening on
Monday, June 6th. Bistro 163 will be a non-profit, pay-what-youcan afford restaurant. Everyone who enters Bistro 163 will be
welcome to eat a meal. Those who are able will be encouraged
to pay-it-forward to defray the cost of someone elses meal. If
someone is unable to pay, they may volunteer one hour in
exchange for their meal. We desire to build relationships, to
really get to know each other. Our mission is to increase food
security and offer all neighbors a place to eat and come together
as one community.

Online Outreach
April visits to our church Facebook pages and web site
are on the rise, as people return to the north coast and
seek information about Firelands Presbyterian Church.
Our web site was consulted by 185 people this month;
77.3% of visits were first time viewers; an average of
2.0 pages were viewed. Web pages most often viewed
were the preschool, contact us, and worship/sermons.
133 visitors used a desktop computer to access the web
site; 52 visitors used a mobile device (smart phone or
tablet).

* Volunteer to help with delivering a bed and bedding to

a family. Sign-up sheet on Gatheirng Table.

Facebook entries that reached the highest

number of people in April included:

*Pray for the families of the children who receive a new

bed.

Newspaper interview with Tuskeegee Airman

Harold Brown (April 3 341 views)

Holy Humor Sunday with Pastor Mark and Bill

Sharp (April 3 66 views)

Yoga classes resume (April 5 37 views)

Firelands Family Dinner at the Crows Nest (April

12 49 views)

The path of life is often filled with unforeseen obstacles.

While all families face challenges, some find themselves
struggling with circumstances beyond their control. We
are helping to show God's love through this church
mission in our community.
Karen Vardyan, Mission Committee Chair

May 2016

Page 4

Pastors Page
I remember learning a song in Sunday School. It went:

The B-i-b-l-e,
Yes thats the book for me.
I stand upon the Word of God,
The B-i-b-l-e.
The Bible has been the book for me. I majored in Biblical Literature in college. I studied the original languages. I
took further Biblical courses in seminary and had to pass a series of ordination exams, one of which had to do with my
ability to interpret Biblical passages. The Bible has been foundational to my preaching. Every week during my time as
a minister Ive explored the scriptures and tried to find ways of bringing their message to bear, as best I can, on life
as were living it now.
The Bible has not only been foundational to me, it has been foundational to the church. It is from the Bible that we
draw our theology and our understanding of how we ought to go about the business of being a church. Its not always
an easy task. We know it is not easy, since so many Christians read the Bible and ocme up with so many different
understandings and conclusions. This is possible because the Bible was not written to be an exhaustive rule book
covering all aspects of a life of faith, once and for all. Living faithfully, and Biblically, requires wisdom and discretion
and prayer as we seek to understand how God might be leading us in our place and time and in our individual lives.
As Christians have arrived at many different understandings and conclusions after reading the Bible, they have
disagreed as to how to understand the Bible itself. The statement of the Presbyterian Church (USA) regarding the
Bible is that it is the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ, Gods Word made flesh. The Bible points us to
Christ. Some people have practically made the Bible an object of worship, and there are churches out there that call
themselves Neighborhood Bible Church, or something similar. This is misguided. The Bible is not the point of our
worship. It is a tool, a resource, meant to inform our faith, to lead us to Jesus.
Christians have always insisted that the Bible was inspired by God. Again, this has led to different conclusions. Some
Christians have said that the Bible is perfect, inerrant, and that its words are exactly as if God had spoken them.
Which Bible? you might ask. Again, the answer depends on whom you ask. Some say it was the original
manuscripts. Other say God specifically inspired the translators of the King James Bible, and still others believe that if
we are listening properly, we can hear God speaking through any translation or version.
Recently in our churchs Wednesday morning Bible study we have been using for our discussion the book Reading the Bible Again for
the First Time: Taking the Bible Seriously but Not Literally. Reactions to the book have been a bit mixed. Some think we dont need to
examine the Bible that closely, we should just read it and believe it. Others have felt a great sense of relief in discovering that God is
still speaking through the scriptures and at the same time we are free to pay attention to the findings of Biblical scholars. To take the
Bible seriously means that we study it intensely to understand what the original writer meant. By doing so we have a better chance to
understand what God might be saying to us now.
The good news is that however we tend to think of the Bible, its message to us most frequently remains the same. We still believe God
speaks to us through it, and it remains foundational for the church and for our spiritual lives.
The final word about the Bible? Read it.
Fondly,

Mark

May 2016

Page 5

Preschool News
April has been another busy month in Preschool. We celebrated
multiple birthdays, learned about pond life, butterflies and caterpillars,
and how to take care of the Earth. During pond week, we learned
about the many kinds of animals that live in and around a pond. Our
main focus was the life cycle of the frog. This kids thought it was pretty
neat that tadpoles grow and change into frogs! We read books and
watch videos about tadpoles and frogs. The kids even learned the word
metamorphosis!
We have our very own caterpillars in our classroom. We are watching
them grow and change into butterflies. The kids are really enjoying
observing and documenting the changes. Once they "hatch" we will
release them outside.
For Earth Day, we cleaned up our playground. We picked up all the
broken toys and any trash that blew in. We talked
about what could be recycled and what was trash. The
kids partnered up and did a great job! We also went
on a nature walk and looked for worms, birds, clouds,
and much much more!
With only a month left of preschool, we will be starting
to practice for our Spring Program and Graduation
on May 19!
Rachel Johnson
Firelands Preschool Program Director and Teacher

Lectionary Texts for May

May 1
Easter 6
Acts 16:9-15
Psalm 67
Revelation
21:10, 2222:5
John 14:2329 or
John 5:1-9

May 8
Easter 7
Acts
16:16-34
Psalm 97
Revelation
22:12-14,
16-17, 2021
John
17:20-26

May 15
Pentecost

May 22
Trinity
Sunday

Acts 2:1-21
or
Genesis
11:1-9

Proverbs
8:1-4, 2231

Psalm
104:24-34,
35b

Romans
8:14-17 or
Acts 2:1-21
John
14:8-17
[25-27]

Psalm 8

May 29 Ordinary 8

OLD TESTAMENT:
Semicontnuous
1 Kings 18:20-21
[22-29] 30-39

Romans
5:1-5

John
16:12-15

1 Kings 8:22-23, 41-43

Psalm 96:1-9

Psalm 96
Complementary

NEW TESTAMENT

Galatians 1:1-12

Luke 7:11-17

May 2016

Page 6

STATED SESSION MEETING HIGHLIGHTS FOR March 8, 2016

Pastor Mark Cooper opened the meeting with prayer. Report of the Clerk: Dave Moore, Clerk of Session
A request from Presbytery for a Mission Pledge 2016 was forwarded to Karen Vardyan and the Mission Committee
for consideration.
Treasurers Report- Darrell Brand, Treasurer. Total General Fund Income Year to Date of $25,951.33 minus Total
General Fund YTD Expenses of $38,235.68 results in a loss of $12,284.35. The budget projected a YTD loss of
$6,967,35 by March 2016 but the actual loss is $5,317.00 more. We are down $5200 in pledges over the last year.
Total YTD Preschool Income of $23,675.34 minus Total Preschool Expenses of $18,836.36 results in a Preschool gain
YTD of $4,838.98.
COMMITTEE

REPORTS

Financial Stewardship Bill Sharp: Chair- An invitation to Session and our congregation will be extended to
attend a Presbytery program by Chris Christopher, author of Not Your Parents Offering Plate on May 24 th to help us
address future giving. An update was given about Financial Secretary Janet Moores new electronic Excel reporting
form which she has developed for the weekly counters.
Landscape Karen Coffin: Chair Watch for a mid-May outdoors clean-up day after the church grounds are a little
dryer.
Mission Karen Vardyan: Chair After discussing the financial relationship we have several overseas missions, it
was decided not to renew our pledge to Dios es Amore in Mexico City-we will continue prayer for them. We will give
an unpledged gift of $1500 from our Mission & Ministry account to the Maumee Valley Presbytery MVP Mission Pledge
2016. Part of these funds will assist church workers in the Middle East and the Latino church (The Christian Church
of Restoration and Renewal) in MVP. These funds will also support the Collaborative ministries of compassion/mercy
as well as social justice in the MVP.
Opportunities for mission locally include helping with refreshments for the Firelands Preschool May activities, providing
the kitchen for the Summer Lunch Program for children, collecting donations for Heartbeats Baby Bottle campaign in
May and June as well as our ongoing missions the Food Pantry, Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep and Bistro163. As of
April 1, the One Great Hour of Sharing plus funds from The Sharing Cupboard totaled $895.45.
Outreach - Mary Caracci: Chair Our Pay It Forward Bistro163 is moving forward with great strides! The lease
terms and employee commitments with our management team of two and our cook are being finalized. Chef Stacy
Maple is creating a healthy menu offering locally grown food. Volunteers are needed contact Joyce Jagucki if you
can give some time as we approach our opening. Once open, lunch will be served Monday - Friday, with brunch on
Saturday and more volunteers will be needed. Our logo and signage are being professionally designed. Our expected
order of more tables and chairs will boost inside seating to 40. A series of open houses at Bistro 163 will be held in
May with a projected opening of June 6th. Keep current on Bistro 163 on Facebook.
Our web site was visited by 109 people in March; 67% were first time viewers. Web pages most viewed were
preschool, worship and sermons.
Buildings & Grounds Management - John Pugh: Chair - When John returns, he will be addressing two of our
current issues: our low water pressure and the dishwasher which is in need of repairs.
Worship & Music Kay McIntosh: Chair Our CCLI license which gives us the right to print music in our bulletins
will be renewed. It would also cover streaming music on our churchs web site Lenten and Easter events and services
were evaluated. Special thanks go to Marilyn Umlauf and Karen Viery for preparing the sanctuary. Susan Larcey
continued her wonderful musical leadership at the piano and accompanied special guest musicians Anne OMalley on
flute, Brian Shifflet on Cello and Megan Gallogly on Flute. The new Lakeside version of The Lords Prayer which we
sang with piano and Anne on flute, was a beautiful addition to our worship several Sundays. Wednesday morning
Bible study at Magruder Hospital centered on Reading the Bible Again for the Second Time by Marcus J. Borg, draws
from 8 to 12 attendees.

May 2016

Page 7

Pastors Report: - Mark will be on vacation for two weeks in June. Guest preachers will be with us on June 12th and
19th.
New Business: -On June 5th at 5:30 p.m., Firelands Church will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Pastor Bob
Butchers ordination. Watch for details.
Karen Coffin encouraged a discussion of possible new members who might come forward if we give them
encouragement. Mark will get something in the bulletins and make some announcements. It was suggested that fairly
soon we should discuss creating a Membership Committee.
A special Presbytery meeting will be held on Tuesday May 24th at First Church in Maumee, OH (See note in Financial
Secretarys report).
Next regular Presbytery meeting is May 17th.
The meeting was closed with prayer led by Pastor Mark.
Next Session meeting: May 10, 2016.
Highlights from minutes of Dave Moore, Clerk of Session

Ongoing Prayer Concerns

For those receiving medical treatment or therapy, or undergoing medical tests:
Debbie Ballinger, Jenatha Boose, June Gahris, Harold, Kim Hudson, Craig Kaiser, Arlene Kakareka, Stephen
Kessler, Angjuli Lele, Judy McCollough, John McLaughlin, Ele McLaughlin, Simon Mercurio, Michael, Jordan Moore,
John Rick, Sarah, Sue, Jack Schmidt, Justin Waugh, Ann Wagnitz, Phil Wierzba
For those facing the infirmities of age:
Carolyn Doane, Tom Gahris, Clara Maag, Shirley Ohles, Jamie Petty, Betty Rodwancy, Bob Rodwancy,
Gordan Wahlers, and Irene Wilson
For those seeking freedom, security, and hope:
Bobby, Justin, Sara, Val, and CASA Families
For those in the service of our country:
SMGT Jeff Bundy, Steven Coffin, FBI; Brant Crandall, USA; Cole Daniel, USCG; Mathew Devries, USAF;
Stu Gliwa, USMC; Aaron Haynes, USA; Ted Livingstine, USMC; Sanju Shinde, USMC;
For those in mission for our Lord:
Our missionaries in the Middle East; Phillip and Elizabeth Prasad in India;

The National Presbyterian Church of Mexico, Berea Presbytery;

The Rev. Hazael Compuzano, Dios es Amor congregation in Mexico City;
The Christian Community of Restoration and Renewal(CCRR) in Maumee Valley Presbytery.
To add or delete someone from this list, please contact Janine Dress in the church office.

May 2016

Page 8

May Celebrations
June Gahris

Kay McIntosh

12

Bill Sharp

Alex Viery

21

Dave Wahlers

10

Pat True

21

Alison Falls

10

Jordan Moore

23

Sonja Kristensen

25

Bob and Kaye Elliott

Is your birthday or anniversary

missing or incorrect? Contact the
office so we can make the changes
to the list!

May 2016
Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

10 Bible Study @
Magruder

3:30 MAS
Committee

7:30 MAS
Concert

12

13

10

11

9:30 Sunday School

10:30 Worship

5:00
Preschool
Mothers Tea

9:30 Quilting
at Wilsons

10 Bible Study @
Magruder

15

16

17

18

10 Preschool
meeting

10 Bible Study @
Magruder

24

25

9:30 Quilting
at Wilsons

10 Bible Study @
Magruder

9:30 Sunday School

10:30 Worship

23

9:30 Sunday School

10:30 Worship

29

30

9:30 Worship

Memorial
Day

Setting up
Linus Quilts

7 Session

Blessing of the Linus

Quilts

22

14

31

19

20

21

27

28

6 Preschool
Spring
Program &
Graduation

26

May 2016

Page 9

Dont Forget Your Time to Serve!

Monthly

Ministry
Deacon of the Month
Communion Steward

Names
Sally & Dave Wahlers
Joyce Jagucki

May 1

Greeter(s)

Marsha Bordner

Reader
Communion Assistant
Servers
Nursery Volunteer
Pianist

Nila McCullough
Ernie McCullough
Karen Coffin, Bob Reynolds, Anita Fisher, Anne OMalley
Susan Rogers
Kay McIntosh

Greeter(s)
Reader
Communion Assistant
Servers

McCulloughs
Ed Bettendorf
Alison Falls

May 8

Nursery Volunteer
Pianist

Ernie McCullough, Bob Wilson, Maxine Wilson, Bob Black

Nila McCullough
Kay McIntosh

May 15

Greeter(s)
Reader
Communion Assistant
Servers
Nursery Volunteer
Pianist

Douglass
Connie Brand
Nila McCullough
Heather Stouffer, Susan Rogers, Bill Sharp, Dave Moore
Janet Gray-Moore
Susan Larcey

May 22

Greeter(s)
Reader
Communion Assistant
Servers
Nursery Volunteer
Pianist

Wilsons
Marta Vielhaber
Bill Sharp
Ed Bettendorf, Dick Coffin, Karen Coffin, Marsha Bordner
Heather Stouffer
Kay McIntosh

May 29

Greeter(s)
Reader
Communion Assistant
Servers
Nursery Volunteer
Pianist

Brands
Joyce Jagucki
Bob Black
Dave & Sally Wahlers, Bob & Maxine Wilson
Lily Stouffer
Susan Larcey

May 2016

Page 10

The Musical Art Series / Port Clinton, OH

2015 2016 Season
Friday May 6, 2016

JINJO CHO, VIOLINIST HYUN SOO KIM, PIANO

7:30 PM

Next Stop Carnegie Hall (really!)

Sponsored by Bassetts Market
Miller Boat Line to Put-in-Bay

Friday, June 3, 2016

TRINITY CATHEDRAL CHOIR TODD WILSON, DIR.

Clevelands acclaimed cathedral choir

Sponsored by Dr. Gil and Jan Bucholz
The Jet Express
All concerts at Firelands Presbyterian Church, 2626 East Harbor Rd., Port Clinton, OH
Tickets $15 at the door; students and children admitted free.
For information or season tickets, call 419-734-6211, go to WWW.MUSICALARTSPORTCLINTON.COM,
or find us on Facebook (The Musical Arts Series/Port Clinton).

7:30 PM

2016 2017 Season

Sunday October 9, 2016
3:30 PM
Sunday November 20, 2016
3:30 PM
Sunday December 11, 2016
3:30 PM
Sunday February 26, 2017
3:30 PM
Sunday March 12, 2017
3:30 PM
Sunday April 2, 2017
3:30 PM
Sunday May 7, 2017
3:30 PM
Saturday June 10, 2017
7:30 PM

STEVE & LISA BALL

Exploring music & stories of the American Civil War
YIDDISHE CUP KLEMZER BAND
Be memerized by Eastern European/folk/jazz phenomenon

YOUNG ARTISTS FROM CLEVELAND INSTITUTE OF MUSIC

We salute talented musicians in this annual concert

GAVIN GEORGE- PIANO

12 year-old Ohio native performs to international acclaim

AUSTRALIAN CLASSICAL GUITAR

Dynamic Duo from Down Under

CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA BRASS TRIO

Factory Seconds but second to none

CLEVELAND BLUEGRASS ORCHESTRA

The classics go down home

THE HIRED HANDS

Celtic harp acoustic charm