March 31, 2022

Dear Friends in Christ:

With Holy Week approaching, I'll be sending out updates both this week and next (though no guarantees of puzzles). So there will also be an email on April 7th, just to be sure you have the latest information at that time. Things will get even trickier later in the month, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

In other news, we had a delightful visit with the Bishop this past Sunday, and he Confirmed four people at the service. As St. Ignatius (ca. 115AD) said, "Where the Bishop is, let the people gather." And gather we did! And God was praised!

On to the updates . . .

WORSHIP

St. Timothy's current policy is that face coverings are recommended, though not required inside our building. You can find the latest updates on all our services by checking the calendar page of our website. This week's bulletin insert can be found HERE.

Sunday 4/3, Fifth Sunday in Lent

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.

Tuesday, 4/5, 7pm

Our monthly Tuesday Taize' service--note the date change--will be streamed at our website and on Facebook, and your in-person attendance is welcome. You can sing along with us at home or in church. You can find the service outline and music HERE. (We will have printed copies at the door.)

Wednesday 4/6

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

6:30pm Ecumenical Lenten service at Christ Lutheran, 3545 Amherst Ave NW, Massillon OH 44646. Note the change of venue. I will be preaching . . . but don't let that dissuade you.

EASTER LILIES

The time is upon us to dedicate lilies to adorn our Altars for Easter. You can find order forms on the table in the parish hall, or you can call the church office, or you can order online at this LINK.

Please note: We must have your dedication in hand by April 10th, Palm Sunday, in order to be included in the insert for Easter.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Apr. 5 Taize' Service, 7pm

Apr. 6 Fr. George preaching at Lenten service, 6:30pm (Christ Lutheran)

Apr. 9 Chorus For A Cause, 7pm, St. Paul's Lutheran on Cherry Rd.

Apr. 10 Palm Sunday, 8am and 10am

Apr. 14 Maundy Thursday Service 7pm

Apr. 15 Good Friday, services at noon and 7pm

Apr. 16 Easter Vigil, 8pm

Apr. 17 Easter Sunday, 10am--one service only

Apr. 18-25 Fr. George in Romania

Apr. 27 Weekly book study starts, using "Being Christian."

May 8 Bike Blessing at Ernie's Bike Shop

CHECKING IN & RIDES

At Monday's Vestry meeting, two things became readily apparent as very necessary ministry opportunities.

1. We have parishioners who would like to come to church more regularly, but can no longer drive, for one reason or another. We also have people who are willing to pick them up on Sundays, especially on a rotating schedule (so as not to be responsible every week). If you are interested in being one of these drivers, please call the church office at 330/833-3183. In addition, if you would like a ride to and from church, please call the office. If you are interested in coordinating this important ministry, please let Fr. George know.
2. There are lots of folks whose faces we used to see regularly in 2019, but haven't seen since. So we're making a list of those folks to check in on and just say hello. (No pressure!) If you're willing to make some of those calls, please let a Vestry member know and we'll give you a few names and numbers. Again, never looking to guilt people into showing up; just wanting to let them know we're thinking of them and we miss them. (These are much easier calls to make than those dreaded Stewardship Campaign calls!)

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 be sure to let us know if someone should be taken off this list so we can focus on those in need.

Please pray for the people of Ukraine, that they would be kept safe from violence and harm.

Please also pray for the citizens of Russia, as they suffer for what their leaders are doing.

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  ✥Betsy Lloyd ✥Greg Rush

✥Linda Boyer ✥Eamonn Hunter ✥Tony Donahue ✥Dan Farley  ✥Janice Swan

✥Carla McCartney ✥David Sparkes ✥Brian Pudloski

ROMANIA DETAILS

Thank you so much to those who quickly pitched in to cover the cost of my flight next month. All excess funds were forwarded to the Ukraine Relief Fund, and will go directly to helping refugees with transportation and safe lodging.

Currently, five buses a day are transporting people away from the border, and also bringing food and medical supplies back across the border into Ukraine. You can find some photos and a recent update at this Facebook LINK.

PERIODIC PUZZLE

Last Saturday, we hosted a lovely memorial service for Patricia and Donald Merrill. Steve asked Andrew to play a few songs at the reception, and our favorite showman did not disappoint!

Is it a weird photo to make into a puzzle? You betcha! Do I regret it? Not even a little!

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!

Also, if you're really missing getting a new puzzle every week, you can go back and find the whole collection on our website at this LINK.

BIRTHDAYS and ANNIVERSARIES

Celebrating birthdays this week are Mary Ann Fulton (4/4) and Ginger Sorg (4/8)

Lawrence & Wanda Hann will celebrate their anniversary on April 3rd.

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

It's that time again, when the buds are starting to appear on the early spring flowers. We had a fine little crop of daffodils blooming around the church, but that cold snap seems to have done them in. But there will be plenty other flowers behind them, as the slow-motion fireworks of spring really kick in.

As my wife recently noted, these flowers that grow from bulbs planted before winter are like promises kept. We bury those bulbs in hope, and then--when what we hoped for actually happens--it's like a little promise from Creation is coming true.

And in that, we see why flowers and Easter are closely intertwined for us. As Paul says, "we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." And from Psalm 16, "Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure."

Faithfully,

Fr. George