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
Thank Yous .......................................... 2
Now I Lay Me Down ............................... 2
News & Notes ....................................... 3
Preschool News ..................................... 3
Stated Session Highlights ................. 3 & 4
Lectionary Texts & Monthly Prayer List ..... 5
Birthdays, Calendar ............................... 6
Ministry Schedule .................................. 7
Musical Arts 2015-2016 Season .............. 8

January 2016 Volume 33 Issue 1

Musical Art
Series
Andrew Bova,
Pipes and
Dan Nevans,
pipes, guitar and penny whistle.
Scottish trained Highland bagpiper. The concert is
sponsored Frederick Agency and Otterbein North Shore.
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.

Friday Firelands Family Dinner

January 15 at 6 PM
Its a New Year! Come and treat yourselves to a night
out with your church family. We will meet at 1812 Food
& Spirits and our organizers are Dottie & Harold
Douglass.
Please sign up on the sheet on the gathering table.
Mark Your Calendars for Februarys 19th dinner at CIC.

ComeUnity Caf Happenings

Planning for the ComeUnity Cafe continued to be very
productive in December. Portage
Resale Center awarded a $6000.00
grant to the cafe. An anonymous
benefactor generously offered a
$10,000.00 challenge grant to match
donations made to the cafe by year's
end. As of this writing, $9681.34 in
tax deductible contributions have been raised, to be
doubled by the match! THANK YOU to the many
members and friends of Firelands Presbyterian Church
who gave generously to support the cafe.
Chef Stacy Maple has accepted an invitation to join the
steering committee, bringing to the cafe her 25 years of
culinary experience. Market research will be conducted
in January, to develop the menu and initial hours of
operation. Watch your email inbox for your opportunity
to have input.

January 2016

Page 2

Website & Facebook

December was a very productive month for our church
web site and Facebook pages, as people sought and
shared information about Firelands Presbyterian Church.
Our web site was consulted 227 times this month.

68% of visits were first time viewers;

an average of 2.6 pages were consulted, led by
o

Contact Us (15%),

About Us (14%),

and Sermons (10%).

Facebook entries that reached the highest number of

people included:

Service of the Longest Night Announcement 271

Preschool Christmas Program 165

Church Sign Worship services 164

Service of the Longest Night after photos 203

Christmas Day 277

Thank Yous
To my Firelands family,
Thank you so much for the Wal-Mart gift card and your
generous gift. It will buy my plane ticket to Hawaii! The
office may be chaotic at times, but I really do enjoy
working for you all!
Janine
Thank You to all whom:
o

Sang with the Advent Singers

Signed up to light the Advent Wreath

Decorated the church for Advent & Christmas

Helped with the Service of the Longest Night

Kay McIntosh

Firelands Family,
Thank you for the cards, prayers, phone calls & visits
during my recent open heart surgery hospital stay and
recuperation.
Anita, thank you for the beautiful prayer quilt.
Bill Sharp

Thank You All,

Volunteers from both the Salvation Army and from the
Holiday Bureau were overwhelmed with the number of
toys, coats, hats, mittens, food and non-food items
which were donated by the Firelands congregation
during December.
Thank you also to the Bell-Ringers who gave of their
time and to everyone who supported our missions
including Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep and the
ComeUnity Cafe in so many creative ways. We are truly
blessed with generous hearts!
Karen Vardyan
Chair of Mission Committee

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

In early December I received a call from Sherry Ferne
telling me that St. John Lutheran Church had designated
their Christmas offerings to give to the Now I Lay Me
Down to Sleep project. They have partnered with us to
provide beds and bedding for the children of Ottawa
County and have also collected and given new bedding
to nine children who did have beds, but needed bedding.
This is a wonderful and much needed partnership as
some of their members have also offered to help with
the bed and bedding deliveries. More good news from
December came when we received a $4000 grant from
Portage Resale Center to use for the Now I Lay Me Down
to Sleep project.
The project received more needed support from
individual donations that members and friends of
Firelands Church made during the Christmas season and
through the generous gift of monies raised by the
Christmas cards created and provided by Bob Reynolds
and our Angel cards.
We have ordered 20 beds which will begin to be
delivered in January and will be given to children whose
need has already been determined by United Way
agencies. Even more wonderful support has been
offered to us by a group of local women called "A Case
for Smiles", who make colorful pillowcases for children.
These pillowcases are distributed on a regular basis to
sick children who are hospitalized; however, we are
going to be giving one of these to every child who
receives a bed in the new year. Thank you to Linda
Peiffer who chairs this group and has partnered with us
to help make the experience of receiving a new bed
even better.

January 2016

Firelands Changes Lives

A letter from the mother of two girls who received beds
in December tells us that one of the girls is sleeping so
much better in her new bed and the other girl now has
her own place "her bed" to go to for reading and loves
it.

Please Pay Per Capita

Last year in January we asked all our members to
contribute an extra $30 toward both their per capita
the amount we pay for each member to support the
Presbyterian Church (USA) on the regional and national
levelsand the cost of offering envelopes. Many of you
did so, which was an enormous help toward our 2015
budget.

Page 3

Preschool News
December was all about Christmas! We spent most of
the month preparing for our Program. When we weren't
busy practicing we were busy learning and having fun.
One of our themes this month was "Gingerbread." We
read several different variations of "The Gingerbread
Man," made gingerbread play-dough and crafts, and
went on a Gingerbread Hunt. While we were not able to
find the Gingerbread Man himself, he did leave us a
plate of cookies!
We celebrated Christmas with a Movie Day, Grinch Day,
and a Pajama Day! The students and teachers enjoyed
dressing up and having fun!
Thank you to all that attended our Christmas Program!
We cannot thank the Mission Committee enough for all
of our help and delicious cookies.
Rachel Johnson
Firelands Preschool
Program Director and Teacher

Stated Session Meeting Highlights for December 8, 2015

Treasurers Report: Darrell Brand, Treasurer Our
General Fund Income of $117,163.70 minus GF
Expenses of $107,520.66 results in a gain of $9,643.04
YTD 2015.
Total YTD Preschool Income of $75,499.14 minus Total
YTD Expense of $69,340.84 results in a Preschool gain
of $6,158.30 for the YTD 2015.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Christian Education/Spiritual Nurture Karen
Coffin, Chair. Goals for the new year will be to build the

excellent Sunday School class taught by Ernie

McCullough and the Wednesday Bible Study taught by
Pastor Mark. We hope to offer more opportunities for
deepening spiritual lives through small groups, seminars
and new programs.
At church, we are emphasizing our outreach approach to
spreading the Gospel of Christ through personal
relationships with folks outside the church. We recognize
that one of our strengths is the rich personal
relationships we have with each other and we want to
make sure we never lose that.

January 2016
Pre-school - Marsha Bordner & Karen Coffin, Cochairs. Kelly Wheeler, Karens daughter, has
volunteered to help organize the Elementary School
classroom to use as Director Rachel Johnsons office.
John Pugh has arranged for Mark Owen to clean and
wax the floors in the Pre-school room on Dec. 28-30.
Volunteers will be recruited to move everything out on
Dec. 27 and move all back in January 3rd.
Financial Stewardship Bill Sharp, Chair. In
January, we will review the actual vs. budgeted numbers
for our 2015 administrative year budget and the results
of our 2016 Pledge Drive. This review may propose
recommendations to the 2016 budget for Session
approval at the January 12th meeting.
Mission Karen Vardyan, Chair. Signup sheets for
Christmas giving of time and talents are all posted on
the Opportunity Table and include the Christmas Joy
offering, ringing the bells for Salvation Army at Bassetts
and the Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep bed project.
Sales of both the angel cards and Christmas cards
designed by Bob Reynolds benefit this program. Twentyeight beds have been delivered and we are hopeful to
receive money from the Portage Re-sale funds that are
distributed to the community.
The Pre-school program will be held December 17th.
Worship and Music Kay McIntosh, Chair. The
Advent Singers will sing on December 6, 13 and 20.
Cellist, Brian Shifflet will return for solos for our
Christmas Eve Service and join with musician, Susan
Larcey, accompanying the congregation.
Nila McCullough is coordinating the five families who will
be lighting the Advent Wreath. Nila will also be training
Nic and Lily Stouffer to become Sunday readers. Susan
Rogers is coordinating The Service of the Longest Night
with Sally Wahlers and Marilyn Umlauf preparing the
sanctuary and Pastor Mark working with PC Ministerial
Association for the liturgy. Susan Larcey will be the
musician.
Fourteen members helped create our own very special
Advent Booklet. Janine Dress as our editor added
pictures and color.
The church will be decorated on Wednesday, December
2 and all will enjoy a soup and sandwich supper when
the work is done.
Through December, a Spiritual Fitness table will be
available outside the sanctuary for sharing ideas,
affirmations and interest in spiritual activities.
Outreach: Mary Caracci - Its an exciting time as our
entire community embraces the food ministry of
ComeUnity Caf Ottawa County. Ed Carlson, Joyce

Page 4
Jagucki, Alison Falls and Mary are representing Firelands
Church. During this start-up time, there is a way that
each person can participate in its development and
when it ultimately opens for business in March of 2016.
Volunteer to be one of the working groups now forming
or to work later in the caf or to be a financial supporter
of the caf. Our church is leading the way with funds
already earmarked for 2016. Plus an anonymous donor
has made a $10,000 challenge grant during December
which will match dollar for dollar up to a limit of
$10,000. Make your tax-deductible donation by the end
of the year and see it doubled!! More exciting
preparations are underway-a logo, URL and Facebook
have been created; a tri-fold brochure is available to be
used in group presentations; a web site is in
development; a grant application has been made to
Portage Resale Center for supporting funds; the Greater
Area Port Clinton Arts Council has been engaged to
assist with dcor, graphics & colors; the Lake Erie Herb
Society has offered fresh herbs from their seasonal
gardens. This unique project of providing a helping hand
to the food insecure is truly ON ITS WAY! Come be a
part of it!
Our website and Facebook continues to attract an
increasing number of visitors.
Property Management: John Pugh John has not
yet received quotes for the churchs roof including one
for a metal roof.
New Business: As a result of Karen Vardyans
suggestion of further security for both the Pre-school
and the church office, a policy was approved by
Session to have all of the church doors locked at all
times and doorbells installed at the Preschool and the
office entrances with signs indicating the procedure for
entry. This will happen ASAP.
A memorial service will be held on December 5th for
member Nancy Kristiansen Gentles.
The Firelands Folk played for the community
Thanksgiving dinner at St. Thomas Church
Pastor Mark will be on vacation November 29th,
December 27 and January 3rd. Pastor Bob Butcher will
preach on the November and December dates and
Karen Coffin will preach on January 3rd.
The meeting was closed with prayer by Pastor Mark.
Next Session meeting will be January 9, 2016.
Highlights from minutes of Dave Moore, Clerk of
Session.

January 2016

Page 5

Lectionary Texts for December

January 3
Christmas 2

January 10
Baptism of the Lord

January 24
Epiphany 3

Jeremiah 31:7-14

Isaiah 43:1-7

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10

Psalm 147:12-20

Psalm 29

Psalm 19

Ephesians 1:3-14

Acts 8:14-17

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

John 1(1-9)10-18

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Luke 4:14-21

January 6
Epiphany of the Lord

January 17
Epiphany 2

January 31
Epiphany 4

Isaiah 60:1-6

Isaiah 62:1-5

Jeremiah 1:4-10

Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14

Psalm 36:5-10

Psalm 71:1-6

Ephesians 3:1-12

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Matthew 2:1-12

John 2:1-11

Luke 4:21-30

Ongoing Prayer Concerns

For those receiving medical treatment or therapy, or undergoing medical tests:
Debbie Ballinger, Richard Berlinger, Jenatha Boose, Jill Petty Bryant, 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; Matt 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 and our sister congregation, Dios es Amor, Mexico City;
The Monte Sinai Mexican Mission in our Presbytery
To add or delete someone from this list, please contact Janine Dress in the church office.

January 2016

Page 6

January Celebrations

John Madison

Bill Umlauf

16

Doug and Alison Falls

John Rogers

10

Karen McCollough

21

Pat and Bill Sharp

27

Tyler Gogolek

14

Patricia Anderson

22

Bob and Maxine Wilson

31

Bob Wilson

16

Marsha Bordner

26

Heather Stouffer

28

Is your birthday or anniversary missing or incorrect? Contact the office so we can make
the changes to the list!

January 2015
Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

11

12

13

14

15

16

9:30 Sunday School

10:30 Worship

10
9:30 Sunday School

9:30 Quilting
at Fishers

10:30 Worship

17

10 MAS
Committee

7 Session

18

19

20

21

22

23

25

26

27

28

29

30

9:30 Sunday School

10:30 Worship
3:30 MAS Concert

24
9:30 Sunday School
10:30 Worship

31
9:30 Sunday School
10:30 Worship

9:30 Quilting
at Fishers

January 2016

Page 7

Dont Forget Your Time to Serve!

Monthly

Ministry
Deacon of the Month
Communion Steward

Names
Joyce DellaSantina
Karen Vardyan

Jan. 3

Greeter(s)

Moores

Reader
Communion Assistant
Servers
Nursery Volunteer
Pianist

Susan Rogers
Ernie McCullough
Dick Coffin, Nila McCullough, Bob Reynolds, Dave Moore
Janet Gray-Moore
Susan Larcey

Greeter(s)
Reader
Communion Assistant
Servers

Bob Reynolds
Ernie McCullough
Bob Black

Jan. 10

Nursery Volunteer
Pianist

Marilyn Umlauf, Marsha Bordner, Dave & Sally Wahlers

Heather Stouffer
Susan Larcey

Jan 17

Greeter(s)
Reader
Communion Assistant
Servers
Nursery Volunteer
Pianist

Heather Stouffer
Nic Stouffer
Heather Stouffer
Jay Viery, Susan Rogers, Ed Bettendorf, Joyce DellaSantina
Lily Stouffer
Susan Larcey

Jan 24

Greeter(s)
Reader
Communion Assistant
Servers
Nursery Volunteer
Pianist

OMalleys
Nila McCullough
Karen Coffin
Jack Combs, Alison Falls, Bob Reynolds, Dick Coffin
Anne OMalley
Susan Larcey

Jan 31

Greeter(s)
Reader
Communion Assistant
Servers
Nursery Volunteer
Pianist

Moores
Marta Vielhaber
Nila McCullough
Dave Moore, Susan Rogers, Jim Wagnitz, Ed Betttendorf
Susan Rogers
Susan Larcey

January 2016

Page 8

The Musical Art Series / Port Clinton, OH

2015 2016 Season
Sunday, October 11, 2015

ERIE WATERS THE GREATER CLEVELAND AREA

FLUTE CHOIR

3:00 PM

The mellow voices of sixteen flutes

Sponsored by The Van Der Giessen Family
1812 Food & Spirits

Saturday, November 7, 2015

7:30 PM

JAMES DLEON, PIANIST

Powerful emotion and dazzling artistry
Sponsored by Dr. Jay M. and Margaret N. Mann

The Stouffer Family & Catawba Island Club

Saturday, December 5, 2015

7:30 PM

CLEVELAND INSTITUTE OF MUSIC

FASQUELLE, MEZZO-SOPRANO
ANDREW ROSENBLUM, PIANO
Amber Fasquelle, mezzo-soprano and Andrew Rosenblum, piano
Sponsored by Roth & Bacon Attorneys at Law

Neidecker, LeVeck & Crosser

Sunday, January 17, 2016

3:30 PM

ANDREW BOVA, BAGPIPES

Traditional music by Scottish-trained Highland bagpiper
Sponsored by The Frederick Insurance Agency
Otterbein North Shore Senior Lifestyle Community

Sunday, April 3, 2016

AMANDA POWELL, JAZZ WITH PIANO & BASS

3:30 PM

Authentic and vibrant jazz celebration

Sponsored by Crown Battery
Dubberts Outdrive Service

Saturday April 16, 2016

MICHIKO OTAKI, PIANO

7:30 PM

Celebrating her 25th anniversary appearance in Port Clinton

Sponsored by Arbys
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP and Jack Hilbert

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