The Trumpet April 2021 Volume 38 Issue 4

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
Vicki Wheatly, Treasurer
Janine Dress,
Administrative Assistant
Table of Contents
Session Highlights & News ..................... 2
Pastor’s Page ....................................... 3
April Celebrations & Monthly Prayer list .... 4
April Lectionary ................................... 5
Calendar ............................................. 6
This year’s Easter Flowers were given
to the Glory of God by
Ed Bettendorf and Marta Vielhaber in MEMORY
of Our Parents:
Louis J & Edith Bettendorf and David P. &
Patricia Vielhaber
Connie Brand in MEMORY of Darrell Brand
Joan Brydon in LOVING MEMORY of Ruth and
Jim Brydon and Jane Seifert
Joyce DellaSantina in MEMORY of Lawrence
DellaSantina

Harold and Dottie Douglass in MEMORY of Opal

Woodruff and Jim Douglass

Janine Dress in MEMORY of Ted Dress

Allison Falls in MEMORY of Lanza Family,

Callinan Family, Holt Family, and Doug Falls

Tim and Deb Flora in MEMORY of Deb's parents-

Fred and Evalee Hart &
Tim’s parents- Orville and Betty Flora

Jennifer and Jim Hensen in MEMORY of Doug

Brydon, Belle & Doug Birch
April 2021 Page 2

John and Virginia McCook in MEMORY of Our
Parents
Ernie & Nila McCullough in HONOR of our
Seven Great Grandchildren and
in HONOR of Pastor Mark and Jill Cooper
John & Kay McIntosh in MEMORY of Ralph and
Rosamond McIntosh and
Herbert and Elizabeth Weaver and brothers,
Tom Weaver and Gene Weaver
Dave and Janet Moore in MEMORY of Jordan
Moore
Bill and Anne O’Malley in MEMORY of loved
ones
Robert Reynolds in MEMORY of Sara Christine
Reynolds
John and Susan Rogers in MEMORY of Marge &
This change of looking for a full-time pastor gave us
some 20 new PIF (Pastor Information Forms) from the
PCUSA match, which we have screened very carefully.
This included listening to many video sermons of
prospective candidates, combing social media, and
speaking to ministers directly.
We have interviewed 2 prospective candidates and had
one candidate come for a two-day visit for which we are
continuing progress on a working agreement good for
both sides. We have experienced rejections due to many
reasons such as inability to move, desire for a
congregation with an active youth ministry, higher
salary requirements, and wanting a more urban
community setting.
We continue to pursue new PIF’s, information from our
presbytery and new leads in an effort to find our new
pastor. The PNC committee is very busy with many
hours of time and effort on our challenge.
We are hopeful that there is someone who is discerning
a call to us. We ask everyone in the congregation to
pray ardently that we find that person quickly. This
process is extending longer than anyone expected but
the concentration is still strong and vibrant.

Tom Rogers and Raymond Crisp God Bless,

Bill Sharp, PNC

Bill and Marilyn Umlauf in MEMORY of Michelle
and Chandler

Dave & Sally Wahlers in HONOR of the love

Jesus Brought us

PLEASE TAKE YOUR FLOWERS HOME

Your PNC Progress as of

April 1st
Your PNC (Pastor Nominating Committee) continues the
important task of finding a new/replacement pastor for
our Firelands Presbyterian Church. It is becoming more
and more challenging as time marches on, and we still
do not have closure.

We have now included the option of hiring a full-time

pastor instead of a ¾ time position, because we had
little success in finding applicants for the part-time
posting. We are now open to either position. This
required having Session approve a modified budget for
2021 that added approximately $8,150.00 to the
pastoral compensation package and removing that same
amount from other budget areas.
April 2021
SAV
E THE DATE FOR
PASTOR MARK & JILL
COOPER’S
RETIREMENT CELEBRATION!
We are pleased to announce a Retirement Celebration
Luncheon for Pastor Mark and Jill Cooper. The event will
be held at the Catawba Island Club on Wednesday, May
19, 2021, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Additional details will
be forthcoming at a later date.
This event will be no cost to you. Mark your calendars to
“SAVE THIS DATE” as we would like everyone to attend
to help us celebrate. Happily, in order to have the
Celebration closer in time to Pastor Mark and Jill’s
departure, Mark has agreed to remain in the pulpit and
serve as our Pastor through Sunday, May 16, 2021—for
which we are all very grateful.
Jean Witkowski, Deacon & Chair of the
Pastor Mark & Jill Cooper Retirement Celebration
Highlights of Stated Session
Meeting on 3/9/2021
1. Session approved the Treasurer’s Report.
2. Based on the recommendations of the Health and
Welfare subcommittee, Session voted to re-open the
church as of 3/14/21. The rules of use follow:
• We require everyone to wear a face mask while
inside the building, i.e., during Worship and
Fellowship time (but disallowing food or
beverages while visiting), and otherwise.
• We discontinue temperature-taking but continue
to practice social distancing in the Sanctuary
and during Fellowship time in the manner that
Page 3
we previously practiced last summer in the
Pavilion and October in the Sanctuary, and
otherwise.
• We open the windows c. 5 minutes before
Worship and all other activities.
• We limit our Worship to45 minutes during at
least the first month of opening (subject to
review thereafter).
• We return to singing (albeit still “soft, quiet
singing”), but with hymnals.
• We leave two Offertory plates in a stationary
position (no passing them around), one each at
the Portico and Office entrances to the
Sanctuary.
• We celebrate Communion with individualized
packaged elements at least through April 11,
2021 (subject to Dave’s subcommittee’s further
recommendation and Session’s review at its
4/13/21 stated meeting); and,
• We open all rest rooms (still making sanitary
wipes available in the premises), kitchen, office,
and conference room to normal use.
• We do intend to have the wi-fi church service
and fellowship time still available via Zoom for
any who cannot/do not wish to attend in person
at this time.
3. Session also voted to re-open our church to in-
house and outside individuals and groups. The rules of
use follow:
• That we allow both in-house (Firelands Church
individuals, committees, and other
congregational activities) and outside individuals
and group activities use the building as the
Church calendar may allow—but with all
scheduling subject to coordination and approval
by the Church Administrator.
• All such activities shall be conducted under the
same conditions as listed previously. Church
members/committees/groups who include at
least one church member do not require Session
approval but must schedule through our Church
Administrator; groups that do not include a
church member must have Session approval
before scheduling through our church
Administrator.
April 2021 Page 4

Pastor’s Page
As I sit down to write this morning, I’m thinking about that ship that was blocking the Suez Canal. I have just heard
that it has been dislodged and, hopefully, shipping can resume. I don’t know what took so long. All they needed was
some WD-40.

The blocking of that shipping lane may not have seemed to affect us. It was just one more thing happening on the
other side of the world. While we may never personally recognize the difference, it has made to us, it probably will
impact us in some ways. I have heard this blockage may impact global shipping for months to come, perhaps
influencing supplies and prices to consumers worldwide. I also understand that among the 200 ships caught in the
bottleneck were at least 20 livestock ships. No doubt thousands of animals were/are at risk of starvation and thirst,
which is terrible because it would be cruel to let them die before we can slaughter them.

Blockages can be real problems. (As anyone knows who’s ever had one!) There are many kinds of blockages. We as
individuals can be experiencing blockages and not even be aware of them - psychological blockages, emotional
blockages, even spiritual blockages. What are the things that are holding us back, keeping us from becoming our best
selves, the people God created us to be? The blockage of ego? The blockage selfishness? The blockage of anger, even
hatred? The blockages of racism and prejudice? The blockage of apathy? This is by no means a complete list. All kinds
of things can block us from the growth that would lead to our fulfillment, and it would do us well to try to identify
them.

It occurs to me that a church can also experience blockages, blockages that can prevent it from moving on to all it
might be called to be. The blockage of division and controversy. The blockage of “It’s gotta be done my way,” or the
blockage of “we’ve never done it this way before.” How about the blockage of self-satisfaction - “We’re pretty good
just the way we are - no need to do anything else”?

Firelands Pres. is about to move into a new era, with a new pastor and new possibilities. As I prepare to depart, I am
very much hopeful that it will experience all the successes in mission and all the joy-filled fellowship possible for it. I
want nothing to block the church’s complete fulfillment, and I hope everyone will be on the look-out for the possibility
of blockages, even whether they might themselves be an obstruction of an open channel for grace and good things to
flow into this family of faith. FPC is a truly wonderful place and I hope everyone will fully experience the peace and joy
of the spirit that is possible here.

Fondly,

Mark
April 2021 Page 5

April Celebrations

Don
Jeanne Black 7 Williams 23 Wayne and Sally Walter 4

John McCook 7 Irene Wilson 29

Is your birthday or anniversary missing or incorrect?

Mary Caracci 9
Contact the office so we can make the changes to the
list!
Alan Salzgeber 11

Kristin Williams 21

Ongoing Prayer Concerns

For those receiving medical treatment or therapy, or undergoing medical tests:

Alan, Debbie Ballinger, Jenatha Boose, Harold, Kim Hudson, Diane Jordan, Joseph Kakareka, Craig Kaiser,
Stephen Kessler, Angjuli Lele, John McLaughlin, Ele McLaughlin, Christopher Longaker, Simon Mercurio, Michael,
John Prestbo, John Rogers, Sarah, Sue, Jack Schmidt, Jeff Thompson, Justin Waugh, Ann Wagnitz, Debra Wylie.

For those facing the infirmities of age:

Jeanne Black, Phyllis Crisp, Jane Kaiser, Jamie Petty, Betty Rodwancy, 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; Matthew Devries, USAF;
Stu Gliwa, USMC; Aaron Haynes, USA; Andrew Hogue, USA, Ken Lewis USA Army Chaplain, Ted Livingstine,
USMC; Sanju Shinde, USMC.

For those in mission for our Lord:

The National Presbyterian Church of Mexico, Berea Presbytery.

Sharon Kandel PC(USA) Mission Co-Worker in Ethiopia/Sudan

To add or delete someone from this list, please contact Janine Dress in the church office.
April 2021 Page 6

April Lectionary

First reading Psalm Second reading Gospel

April 1, 2021 Exodus 12:1-4, (5- Psalm 116:1-2, 12- 1 Corinthians John 13:1-17, 31b-
Maundy Thursday 10), 11-14 19 11:23-26 35
Holy Thursday

April 2, 2021 Isaiah 52:13-53:12 Psalm 22 Hebrews 10:16-25 John 18:1-19:42

Good Friday or
Hebrews 4:14-16;
5:7-9

April 3, 2021 Job 14:1-14 Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16 1 Peter 4:1-8 Matthew 27:57-66
Holy Saturday or or
Lamentations 3:1-9, John 19:38-42
19-24

April 4, 2021 *Acts 10:34-43 Psalm 118:1-2, 14- 1 Corinthians 15:1- John 20:1-18
Resurrection of the Lord or 24 11 or
Easter Day Isaiah 25:6-9 or Mark 16:1-8
Acts 10:34-43

April 4, 2021 Isaiah 25:6-9 Psalm 114 1 Corinthians 5:6b- Luke 24:13-49
Easter Evening 8

April 11, 2021 *Acts 4:32-35 Psalm 133 1 John 1:1-2:2 John 20:19-31
Second Sunday of Easter

April 18, 2021 *Acts 3:12-19 Psalm 4 1 John 3:1-7 Luke 24:36b-48
Third Sunday of Easter

April 25, 2021 *Acts 4:5-12 Psalm 23 1 John 3:16-24 John 10:11-18
Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 2021 Page 7

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3
7 Maundy 9-12 Office
Thursday Open
Service Good Friday

4 5 6 7 8 9 10
10:30 EASTR 9-12 Office 9-12 Office Open 9-12 Office
Worship Open Open

11 12 13 14 15 16 17
10:30 Worship 4-6 Bistro 6-8 Power 9-12 Office Open 9-12 Office
163 Squadron Open
Community 1:00 Reservoir
Meal- 7 Session Zoom Meeting

18 19 20 21 22 23 24
10:30 Worship 9-12 Office 6-8 Power 9-12 Office Open 9-12 Office
Squadron Open

25 26 27 28 29 30
10:30 Sunday 1 Pastoral 6-8 Power 3-4:30 Caregiver’s
Worship Friends Squadron support group
4-6 Bistro
163
Community
Meal-