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Deacon
Information |
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The
deacons thank you for faithfully giving to the church general
fund. The tithes and offerings through March 31, 2009 are
$40,317 which is approximately $4,900 above the budget for the
first three months. Our expenses are right in line with the
budget for the first three months.
A big
thanks goes out to the gentlemen who have been assisting with
the partitions, dry walling and painting upstairs. If you
haven’t been upstairs, you need to check out the changes.
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Church-wide Work Day is scheduled for Saturday, May 2nd
starting at 8:00 a.m. The following tasks are on the agenda:
✦General
cleaning of sanctuary, vestibule, halls, fellowship hall and
windows
✦Staining
and water sealing the wood fence and picnic tables
✦General
clean up outside
✦Chipping
wood brush
✦Mulching
flower beds
✦Some
tree trimming and pruning
✦Painting
the shed (if time permits)
The
following are items to bring to workday:
✦Ladder
✦Bucket
and rags (soap will be provided)
✦Wheelbarrows
✦Rakes
✦Shovels
✦Rollers
and trays for painting (the rolls for the rollers will be
provided)
✦Gloves
Please
mark your tools with your name so that your tools are returned
to you. Lunch will be provided. If you have any questions please
contact Greg Blasiman.
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Junior Choir |
The Annual
Walkathon |
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The Junior Choir from Faith Church is
scheduled to sing at Edwin Shaw Hospital the third Sunday of each
month from 1:00-1:45 p.m. Please pray for our young people to be a
comfort and a witness to those at the hospital.
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The Annual Walkathon to benefit Akron Pregnancy Services will be
held on Saturday, May 16, at 10:00 a.m. Children are a welcome
part of the walk as they may get their faces painted and enjoy
the puppet show at 9:20 a.m. This year’s theme is Proverbs
14:34...”Righteousness exalts a nation.” Please consider waking
or sponsoring a member of our church as they walk. To find out
more information and to find a walker to sponsor please contact
Regan Rastetter.
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MTW |
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MTW (Mission to the World)
Missionary Sam Mateer will be here at Faith Church on May
24th to preach for us and share the news of his work in Chile.
Sam, a native of Park Ridge, Illinois, graduated from
Northwestern University where he met Lois at a missions prayer
group. He has degrees from Fuller, Princeton and Westminster
Seminaries. Sam was ordained in 1966 and has pastored
Presbyterian churches in Birmingham, Alabama and Aliquippa,
Pennsylvania. Lois, the daughter of a minister, grew up in
Michigan. She has degrees from Azusa Pacific University. Her
ministry includes music, Bible studies, discipling women and
coordinating a master’s degree program for Azusa Pacific
University in Chile. |
The Mateers began their mission career in Quito, Ecuador in 1981
where Sam served as team leader as well as participating in the
founding of three churches. In 1988 Sam was appointed team
leader of the Santiago Church Planting Team in Chile and now
serves as country director. They have been p art of founding two
churches, Cristo Rey and San Marcos, and are helping to form the
first presbytery. The Mateers have four grown children and six
grandchildren, all living in the United States. |
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MESS HALL —
STING |
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Saturday, May 9th is TACO NIGHT. Meet at the Well’s home
from 6-8:00 p.m. for a regular meeting, tacos, and a round of
Apples-to-Apples game. Location: 12385 Cantburg Ave. NW,
Uniontown. (Phone: 330-208-3908) |
Saturday, May 23, is a service
project at Haven of Rest. Meet at the church at 8:45 a.m. and
everyone can carpool over to Haven of Rest by 9:00 a.m. You will
be doing odd household jobs. They will provide lunch. You will
return to the church at 2:15 p.m. If you have any questions
regarding this project contact Jeanette Hariharan. |
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VACATION
BIBLE SCHOOL 2009 |
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VACATION
BIBLE SCHOOL 2009
It is time to begin planning for Vacation Bible School. VBS this
year is August 3-7 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. With a lot of
help this year’s VBS will run smoothly and the children will
hear the gospel, be encouraged, and grow in grace, as well as
have fun! Our VBS is Bible emphasized with the children learning
scripture daily and each class stresses the theme of the day.
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There is an area in which each member of our church can help
make VBS a success!
Staff (three classroom teachers, craft teachers, missionary
teacher, piano player, recreation, puppet team, nursery staff
and misc helpers)
Helpers (one day helpers or entire week helpers)
Lunch Fund Donations (please consider donating to the lunch fund
which provides a nice meal for the teachers after VBS so they
may go home and rest up for the next day)
Prayer (please pray that the gospel reaches many children)
Anyone who is interested in finding out more about VBS please
feel free to attend a planning meeting and see what this
ministry is all about. Remember, this is a great way to get to
know other church members, help the children, and many hands
make light work! |
Planning
Meetings and VBS Work Days
May 10 (in the Fellowship Hall after morning worship)
June 14 (in the Fellowship Hall after morning worship)
July 12 (in the Fellowship Hall after morning worship)
July 25 (Prop work day 9:00 a.m....come make props!)
July 26 (in the Fellowship Hall after morning worship) |
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Nurture Group |
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A new Nurture Group is starting in May at the Scholten’s
home. This group will be studying Five Things Every Christian
Needs to Grow. It is a study designed for regular visitors of
the church and can serve as a new members class. This group will
meet seven times, every other week, at night. All are welcome.
Please RSVP to Pastor Mark. (For May the group will meet May 4
and May 19 at 7:00 p.m.)
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In
whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Col
1:14 |
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Graduation |
Graduation
is a time of celebration and acknowledgment of accomplishment and hard work.
Faith Church has eight graduates this year (listed alphabetically) we would
like to congratulate:
Amy Althuis will graduate from Massillon Christian School on June 5, 2009. Of
the seven students in the graduating class, five are charter members of the
2009 graduating class, including Amy. Over the thirteen years at Massillon
Christian Amy has played a variety of sports including three years of
basketball, five years of volleyball and six years of cheerleading. Amy won a
variety of sports awards and was co-captain of the volleyball team her senior
year and captain of the cheerleading squad. Amy also participated in drama,
choir, ensemble, was a teacher’s assistant and a Walk-a-thon fund raiser
assistant. Amy won the National Physical Fitness award and a ribbon in the
science fair five years running. Amy has been working at Swenson’s Restaurant
for two years. After graduation she plans to pursue a career in culinary arts.
Johanna Hariharan will graduate on May 9, 2009 from the Honors College
at the University of Akron with a B.Sc. In Mechanical Engineering. She will be
attending the American University in Washington, D.C. for a law degree.
Jared
Oldaker is graduating from Akron University with an engineering degree.
Ned Ring will be graduating from Lake Center Christian School in May.
After graduation Ned will be working for his father doing property
rehabilitation in the Akron area. Ned has lettered in three sports at Lake
Center – soccer, basketball and baseball. Ned received District IV All Star
Honorable Mention in basketball in both his junior and senior year, and was
named Best Offensive Player on the baseball team as a junior for his .460
batting average. Ned hopes to help lead this year’s baseball team to Division
IV States! After a year or two of working, Ned would like to attend Malone
University and get a degree in business and his realtor’s license.
Regan Rastetter is graduating this year at the top of her class. Her
graduation party is an Open House and all Faith Members are invited to stop by
on May 16th beginning at 4:00 p.m. She is engaged to Timothy Jesurun and they
have planned a July 2009 wedding. Regan plans to start college sometime in the
next year pursuing a career in the medical field.
Sarah
Scholten graduated from Messiah College with a Bachelor os Science in
Nursing degree. She was a member of the International Honors Society of
Nursing – Sigma Theta Tau. She plans on working in pediatrics. She is actively
looking for a job in her new career so please pray for her. She is waiting to
hear from one job interview and should receive the news by May 15.
Holly Lynn
Stuchell will graduate from the Good Shepherd School on May 29, 2009. Her
interests are spending time with family and friends and sports (especially
soccer). She plans to pursue a degree in Exercise Science or a related field.
Holly Lynn Stuchell will graduate from the Good Shepherd School on May
29, 2009. Her interests are spending time with family and friends and sports
(especially soccer). She plans to pursue a degree in Exercise Science or a
related field.
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By
this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his
commandments.
1Jo 5:2 |
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What is
Communion? |
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By D. Patrick Ramsey
The Lord's Supper is the covenant meal of
the new covenant. Partaking of Communion or the Lord's Supper is something that
Christians do on a regular basis. For this reason it is important that we have a
proper biblical understanding of what Communion is so that we might receive the
full benefits offered to us in this sacrament. So what is Communion?
Communion is a meal. We eat and drink. This is why this sacrament is sometimes
referred to as a supper. However, this meal is no ordinary meal. It is the
Lord's meal for he instituted or established it (1 Cor. 11:23). He is the host
and we are his guests. Thus the cup is called the "Lord's cup" and the table
"the Lord's table" (1 Cor. 10:21).
Communion is a sacrificial meal. It is not a sacrifice. Christ is not
re-sacrificed during this sacrament. He is not offering himself up on our behalf
over and over again. The Scriptures expressly declare that Christ sacrificed
himself once and for all (Heb. 7:27; 9:28). Communion takes place at a table,
not at an altar.
Although this sacrament is not a sacrifice, it is a meal in relation to a
sacrifice. In 1 Cor. 10:18, the apostle Paul associates Communion with the
sacrificial meals in the Old Testament. One chapter later we are told that the
bread represents Christ's body and the wine the blood of Christ, which was shed
for the remission of sins. Furthermore, we are to eat and drink in remembrance
of Christ's sacrifice on the cross, and as we do so we proclaim (announce or
declare) the Lord's death until he comes. Therefore, when we eat and drink this
meal we are declaring that Christ died for us and of our need of his sacrifice.
Communion is a fellowship meal. Paul tells us by means of two rhetorical
questions that a communion takes place through this meal. The word 'communion' (koinonia)
means to share in, fellowship in, participate in or to commune with.
Specifically, it is communion or participation in the body and blood of Christ
(1 Cor. 10:16-17). Therefore, when we eat and drink of this meal we are
participating or sharing in the body and blood of the Lord.
Paul explains this with an illustration in vs. 18. In OT worship, the priest and
the worshipper would eat of the sacrifice. In so doing, Paul says that they
partook of the altar, that is, all that the altar stood for. In other words, in
eating of the sacrificed animal, they received or participated in the benefits
of the sacrifice, such as the forgiveness of sins. Likewise, when we eat of the
Lord's sacrificial meal we share in the benefits of the blood and body of
Christ.
Consequently, the Lord's Supper is no mere memorial. True communion with Christ
takes place; to be sure, this communion is not automatic. Faith is required.
Moreover, it is not physical. Grace is not contained in the bread or wine and
the bread and wine do not change into Christ's body and blood. Rather, the
benefits of Christ's body and blood are conveyed spiritually as we eat and
drink. The Westminster Confession of Faith says, "Worthy receivers, outwardly
partaking of the visible elements, in this sacrament, do then also, inwardly by
faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally but spiritually,
receive, and feed upon, Christ crucified, and all benefits of his death: the
body and blood of Christ being then, not corporally or carnally, in, with, or
under the bread and wine; yet, as really, but spiritually, present to the faith
of believers in that ordinance, as the elements themselves are to their outward
senses" (29.7).
Communion with the body and blood of the Lord is necessary for sustaining us in
our salvation. Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of
the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my
flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last
day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh
and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent
me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live
because of me" (John 6:53-57).
This is not to say that we cannot be saved without eating the Lord's Supper.
Jesus is using sacrificial language to teach that we need to partake of his
sacrifice in order to be saved. And one means by which we partake of Christ's
sacrifice is through partaking of the Lord's Supper. For at his Table Christ
offers the benefits of his once and for all sacrifice to us.
Communion is a covenantal meal. Jesus said that the cup is the new covenant in
his blood. His shed blood is the blood of the new covenant even as the blood of
animals was the blood of the old covenant (Ex. 24:1-8). And it is by the
shedding of blood that we receive the forgiveness of sins, which is required for
a covenant relationship with God. The Lord's Supper is the covenant meal of the
new covenant. It signifies, represents and communicates the blessings and
benefits of the new covenant.
What is Communion? It is a meal. It is the Lord's meal. It is a sacrificial
meal. It is a fellowship meal. And it is a covenantal meal.
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We love him, because he
first loved us. 1Jo 4:19 |
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