February 17, 2022

Dear Friends in Christ:

Well, I am pleased to say that our little Listening Session Subcommittee has finished our work. We scheduled 23 opportunities for people to say things across the Diocese and online. And say things people did! I was often reminded of the passage from Isaiah 1:18, where God says, "Come, let us argue it out," and then follows up with the good news that though our sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow.

That is, in gathering together in these small groups, we got to hear a broad range of opinions on a broad range of topics, and--essentially--invited people to argue it out.

And in this case, the good news that will follow is that we have a better sense of the hopes and needs of this Diocese, so that we can move together as one into the future. Thanks be to God.

On to the updates . . .

WORSHIP

Our current policy at St. Timothy's is that face coverings are recommended, though not currently required inside our building. This week's bulletin insert can be found HERE.

Sunday 2/20, Epiphany VII

8:00am Holy Eucharist, Rite I. In person only.

10:00 am Rite II Holy Eucharist. In person and streamed at our website and on our Facebook page. This week's bulletin is HERE.

Wednesday 2/23

12:10pm Our mid-week in-person service of Holy Eucharist. In person only.

LAST CHANCE for DINNER THEATER TRIP

We need to submit the number of folks attending by the end of this week. So, if you're planning to go, please call the church office today and we'll get you on the list.

Sunday, March 6th, 5 PM, dinner and a show, at Longnecker Evangelical Anabaptist Fellowship, in Dundee, Oh. More details HERE.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Feb. 19 Beekeepers meeting 9-4

Feb. 26 Choir Note Crunch 10am-2pm

Feb. 27 Pancake breakfast after 10am service

Mar. 1, canceled Pancake Supper

Mar. 2, Ash Wednesday services, 12:10pm and 7:00pm

Mar. 6 Lent begins, Great Litany at both services

Mar. 6, Dinner Theater, Dundee OH, 5pm

Mar. 8 Monthly Taize' 7pm

Mar. 9, hosting MACCA Lenten service, 6:30pm (Full schedule HERE.)

IMPACT MASSILLON RETURNS: Saturday, June 4th

We have participated in this important and inspiring event in the past, before COVID took it off the schedule the past two years. (See this Inde article for more information.) I have registered St. Timothy's as being willing to take part again this summer, but we need a couple people soon who are willing to take on these two leadership roles:

1. Project Leader: oversees the actual work being done and organizes volunteers
2. Connection Leader: connects with the homeowners about schedule and projects

The Massillon Tigers 🐯 football team has agreed to join in to help with Impact Massillon this year, so there will be plenty of muscle to get things done. (And, I kind of feel like they owe us a favor after the past six prayer services, if you know what I mean.)

If you're interested in serving as our Project Leader or Connection Leader, or would like any more information about this important ministry, please let me know ASAP.

PRAYERS REQUESTED

When you ask for someone to be added to the prayers, they will stay on our list for four weeks unless we hear from you. We will maintain a continuing prayer list for those with ongoing needs. The email list below merges both lists.

Please continue to pray for all those affected by COVID-19, the nurses, doctors, and staff who care for them, and please also keep these friends and parishioners in your prayers:

✥Bob Meyer ✥Chris Lane ✥Priya Kurian ✥Mike Ziegelhofer ✥Chuck Tilley

✥Michael Flamm  ✥Liz Frank ✥Bobbie Muhlbach ✥John Muhlbach  ✥Isaac Leggett 

✥Mike Requa  ✥Toni Contini ✥Brian Dorosch ✥Beth Conley ✥Nancy Brooks

✥Bob Daane ✥Chuck Coleman ✥Patty Ann ✥Cary Koontz ✥Noble Carpenter

✥Roger Walters  ✥Colleen Major ✥Gail Moss ✥Linda June ✥Stephen Huba 

✥Roy Schoenfeld ✥Fred Gibbs ✥Sheila Gwatkin ✥Carolyn Flamm ✥Ingrid 

✥Betsy Lloyd  ✥David Braid ✥Greg Rush ✥Linda Boyer ✥Dave Miller

✥Retta Faye Edwards ✥Vivian Louk ✥Eamonn Hunter ✥Tony Donahue

✥Chuck Scheurer ✥Helen Rengstorf ✥Fran Miller ✥Dan Farley

BIRTHDAYS and ANNIVERSARIES

Celebrating birthdays this week are Joel Vogt (2/20), Jonathan Schroeder (2/20), Ellen Elder-Joseph (2/23), Henry Aegerter (2/25), and Matt Smith (2/25).

No anniversaries this week, as far as I know.

Be sure to send good wishes and thoughts to all who celebrate this week!

BOOK STUDY AFTER EASTER

Remember how we used to be able to gather for dinner and conversation about a book we were reading together? Well, we're going to try that again after Easter.

On four Wednesday nights starting April 27, we're planning to have potluck dinners followed by conversation on Rowan Williams' book, "Being Christian." Please mark your calendar to join us April 27, May 4, 11, and 18 for dinner and conversation. More details to come.

TWO MEN AND A BENCH

On Friday, February 25th, at 7pm, our friend and former Interim Organist Mark Thewes will team up with fellow organist Chad Pittman for a delightful concert at St. Paul's Lutheran Church here in Massillon. A reception will follow, and more details can be found HERE.

PERIODIC PUZZLE

With all the talk of new Bishops, I decided to remind us all of the Bishop who started it all for our Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Philander Chase. (When I was in seminary, I wrote a rather long paper about his bizarre resignation, which I think I've shared with you before, but, if you're looking for some bedtime reading you can find it here.) As the first Bishop of Ohio, Bp. Chase holds a place of prominence, just above the light switches when you enter our sanctuary. I decided to give you that same photograph of him and his wife Mary as a challenging puzzle of a puzzling challenging guy.

You will find the puzzle by clicking HERE. You can choose your background color, number of puzzle pieces, and even set it to display just the edge pieces. Plus, you get a very affirming crowd reaction once you have completed it!

As I mentioned above, we're going to gather on a few Wednesday nights after Easter to read a book together and share meals. We've used this format with great success in the past, but COVID concerns put that on hold for over two years now. I am hoping this will be a good way to dip our toes back into the water of gathering ourselves around food and conversation. It's been a long time since we've had that option, and I'm really looking forward to giving it a go.

And, perhaps even more encouraging, the sun now sets after 6pm. It's the little things, right?

Faithfully,

Fr. George