The Trumpet

Firelands Presbyterian Church

2626 East Harbor Road
Port Clinton, Ohio 43452
419-734-6211
Fax 419-734-5411
www.firelandschurch.org

October 2016 Volume 33 Issue 10

Musical Art
Series
Steve & Lisa
Ball
October 9,
3:30 PM
Exploring music & stories of the
American Civil War.

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

This concert is sponsored by Neidecker, LeVeck &

Crosser. 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.
Season Tickets are available for $100, and pick-five
tickets are available for $65.

Snowbirds

Internet Outreach ................................. 4

Those of you who are

blessed to leave our
winter climate for a
time, please let Janine
know in the office when
and for how long you
will be gone. Also let her
know if you want to
have the trumpet mailed
to you via post office.

Pastors Page ........................................ 5

Thank You.

Mark Owen, Custodian

Table of Contents
Events & Thank You Notes ..................... 2
Preschool news .................................... 3
Financial and Stewardship letter ............. 4

Session Highlights ........................... 6 & 7

Birthdays & Monthly Prayer List .............. 8
Calendar .............................................. 9
Ministry Schedule ................................ 10
Musical Arts 2016-2017 Season ............ 11

Pastor Mark on Vacation

Covering for Pastor Mark for emergencies is Janine.
Please contact the office or call her at 419-265-7298.

Preschool Fundraiser
The preschool is selling Pizza Kits as a fundraiser to help
buy classroom materials, toys, & supplies. The order
form is on the gathering table. You may order from Oct.
3-23. LETS SUPPORT OUR PRESCHOOL!!!

October 2016

Page 2

Bistro 163
Is Best of the
Best!!!
Voting in The Beacon
Best of the Best
contest held in August
revealed that Bistro
163 was an
overwhelming community favorite in three categories
Best Non Profit, Best New Business, and #2 Best
Burger. More than 2183 online votes were cast, along
with more than 300 paper entries from The Beacon.
The free community meal at Bistro 163 took place on
Monday, September 12th. Chef Stacy Maple prepared a
fabulous Chicken BBQ Dinner and Bistro bread pudding.
Our volunteers served more than 190 guests from 5:00
7:00 PM at long community tables. First in the door
to these Community Meals are the food insecure and
hungry members of our community The Firelands folk
musicians entertained in the building lobby, with a
mixture of requests, hymns, and standards. Our third
free community meal is planned for Monday evening,
September 12th.
More volunteers are always needed, especially since
some of our regular volunteers will be heading to their
southern homes for winter. Whether you can volunteer
one day a week or one day a month! Please contact
Joyce Jagucki if you would like to give some time
serving in the restaurant or washing dishes in the
catering kitchen.

Bistro 163 Community Meal

October 10
BISTRO 163 is hosting a free public dinner on Monday,
October 10, at 1848 E Perry Street in Port Clinton.
Serving hours are from 5:00 - 7:00 PM. Chef Stacy
Maple is preparing a chili supper with all the fixins, and
her caramel apple bread pudding.
This is a free public dinner, open to all neighbors. See
you there! Firelands Folk will be providing the musical
entertainment.

Meditation and Yoga Begins

Thursday October 6
Meditation will be in the church at 5:30 PM. Yoga will be
in the fellowship hall 6-7 PM. The yoga will be for
beginners. Cost is $50.00 for the series or $10.00 dropin.

Thank Yous
Summer Gratitude
As you come onto the church grounds from either
entrance off Rout 163, you are greeted with landscaping
that is well done throughout the church property and is
a great enhancement to our church building grounds
and pavilion.
This landscaping does not just happen but is the end
result of many, many hours of work by two of our
members, Karen Coffin and John Vardyan who take time
to plant flowers, trim bushes and shrubs, water plants,
cut grass among other landscaping tasks that make our
church grounds second to none for beauty and
appearance.
As members we say Thank You Karen and John for
making our church a pavilion grounds outstanding.

Thank you for your care and concern

My heartfelt thanks to all who have sent cards, called
and occasionally visited. Thanks also for the prayers for
healing as they are working. It means a lot to me to
have my Firelands family who cares so much for me.
Love,
Bob Reynolds

Bob Reynolds New Address

Bob Reynolds has a new address, it is PO Box 528225
Port Clinton, OH 43452.

A Morning of Yoga
Saturday October 15
Meditation, Kirtan, Asanas and Potluck lunch. The price
is $55.00 . Registration and tea begin at 8:15. All are
welcome to this favorite morning, full of yoga and
fellowship. Join us for this
yoga retreat with Linda
Green and Kathleen Forest
from Divine Awakenings.
Questions contact Linda
Green
linda@omnigreen.com or
419-350-8951.

October 2016

Preschool News
I cannot believe that we are already through our first
month of school...18 days to be exact! (We are counting
by putting hats on sock monkeys on the wall during
circle time!) We are off to a great start with 10 new and
13 returning students. We spent much of the month of
September learning and reviewing classroom rules. The
kids are now able to recite "helping hands, listening
ears, quiet voices, looking eyes, and walking feet" by
heart! We read books about following the rules and
staying safe at school. The kids helped sort out "GoodGreen" choices and "Poor-Red" choices. This hangs on
our classroom to help us make "Good-Green" choices
throughout the day. In addition to learning about school
rules and each other, we learned about Fall and apples.
We talked about why the leaves change and learned
words like chlorophyll and photosynthesis. We have also
added real bugs (preserved in resin), pumpkins, gourds,
pine cones and Indian corn to our science center for our
students to investigate and explore. We ended the
month with a week of apples! We learned about the life

Page 3

cycle of apples, the different parts of an apple, and ate

lots and lots of apples! We made and ate applesauce,
apple pie in a cup, apple turnovers, and caramel apples.
We even tasted different varieties of apples and made a
graph of our favorite ones.
We have also been working hard on recognizing, spelling
and writing our names. During each week we also
incorporate math skills like counting, number
recognition, shapes, and sizes. Throughout the morning
the kids are provided opportunities to read, write. draw,
color, paint, pretend, and of course PLAY!
As the month of September comes to an end, we are
excited for all that we have planned for October!

Rachel Johnson
Firelands Preschool Program Director and Teacher

October 2016

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Financial and Stewardship Committee Letter

Your Finance and Stewardship Committee and I find it time to share our concerns for the financial position here at
Firelands Church. In recent years Firelands has experienced a decline in membership and in our average worship
attendance. Needless to say in recent years our budget income also shows a deficit causing us repeatedly dipping into
our reserves.
Our declining financial position has become a serious concern of ours this year. We have advised Session of our
concern as we are recommending to Session who must approve the budget and any amendments to it. Our mission of
the Finance and Stewardship Committee in part is the Fiduciary Responsibility to maintain a positive financial position.
Our finances are necessary for the maintaining of the following areas in our church family: mission efforts, Church
programming, the office, property management, pastoral leadership, employees and the preschool.
Our concern is that as of the end of August we have a financial shortfall/loss of $19,526.00. Our year to date
expenses of $97,111 exceeds our budgeted amount of $93,679. Our year to date income of $77,585 is under our
budgeted amount of $83,328. We have an $8,000 supplement from reserves in our 2016 budget. Resulting from our
various committees of Session requests for the 2017 administrative year we would need an approximate $19,000
supplement.
As you can see we cannot continue to supplement our annual budgets by +/- $20,000 and be in business much
longer. We also have future goals in the planning: a new pastor, a new roof and a new parking lot.
Hopefully resulting from our pledge drive for the next administrative year we will be able to submit to Session a
budget with a zero balance for their approval. Sunday October 16th will be our Stewardship Drive Kick-off Sunday. We
will observe November 20th as our Stewardship Drive Sunday. The day when we will have our pledges collected for
2017. With Gods and your help we will accomplish our goal of a positive financial position for administrative year
2017.
Bill Sharp
Chair of the Financial and Stewardship Committee

Internet Outreach
115 people visited www.firelandschurch.org in September, 71% for the first time. Pages most often viewed were the
preschool, newsletter, and contact us. Each user viewed an average of 2.6 pages.

From the Firelands Church Facebook page, the following September postings reached the most people:

Musical Arts Series Concert by Federspiel 148

Margaret Mann Memorial Service 140

Annual Meeting Presentation by Stephen Keizer 130

Darrell Brand at the Port Clinton Lighthouse 122

Bistro 163 Free Community Dinner 97

October 2016

Page 5

Pastors Page

I dont know if it is acceptable to quote Woody Allen in polite company these days, but he has said some memorable
things. For instance: I don't want to achieve immortality through my work; I want to achieve immortality through not
dying. I don't want to live on in the hearts of my countrymen; I want to live on in my apartment. We get it, dont
we? These lives of ours are such precious things. Our whole experience of this world is wrapped up within the folds of
our own skin, the crevices and indentations of our own brains. To us, if to no one else, our lives matter desperately.
We know and understand that someday these physical lives of ours will end and the world will go on without us, but
we may ask, Why? If were not going to be here, what is the point of the world continuing?
Of course, the world will go on, as it should. We, individually, are not the point of it all. We may, though, wish to
leave some lasting mark on the world so that those who come after us will at least know that we passed this way.
Some try to accomplish something so noteworthy that the history books (or whatever takes their place) will forever
mention them. Others will endeavor to leave behind a great work of art a musical composition perhaps, or some a
painting or sculpture or poem. Some will leave behind an impressive monument in a cemetery, while most of us will
have to be content with a flat plaque that will be easy to mow over.
I dont know if everyone would like to leave something valuable behind, but I suspect most of us would. The question
is, What? What can we do that, here and now, that will impact the future? I would like to suggest thinking of
Firelands Presbyterian Church as a way our influence can live on. We are able to worship and fellowship and serve in
this place because others who came before us gave and worked to build this churchs future. After us, how many
more lives will be enriched by being a part of Firelands Presbyterian Church? How many more people in the churchs
community will be helped because of the churchs many mission activities?
This church is important. It changes lives now, and can change many more lives in the future. During this stewardship
season, let us be aware that when we give we are doing far more than helping pay a light bill. We are leaving a part
of ourselves behind and will be impacting lives for the good perhaps for centuries into the future.

Mark
Guest Ministers While Pastor Mark is on Vacation
Sunday October 9: Rev. David Hawley

David is a retired Presbyterian Minister from Cincinnati. He is on the

OPRS Board which manages all Presbyterian Health Care Centers.

Sunday October 16: Carol Ball

She is a Chrisitan Counselor who is from Bay Village and a member of the
Order of St. Luke. She and her husband do seminars on Christian
Listening.

Sunday October 23: Judith Frank

She is a retired United Methodist Pastor and lives in Woodville. Judith and
her husband Wid summer at Vista Villa and are friends of Firelands.

October 2016

Page 6

STATED SESSION MEETING HIGHLIGHTS September 13, 2016

Pastor Mark Cooper opened the meeting with prayer.
Treasurers Report: Darrell Brand, Treasurer
The Total GF Income YTD of $77,584.97 minus Total GF YTD Expense of $97,110.51 results in a loss of
$19,525.54 for YTD 2016. The budget projected a loss of $9,174.19 YTD August 2016, but the actual loss is
$10,525.45 more than projected. This difference is accounted for in our projected short fall in income this year plus
the waterline fix.
The Preschool YTD income of $55,860.35 minus Total YTD expenses of $53,697.42 results in a gain of $2,162.93 YTD
August 2016. The YTD income is $1,446.15 less than budgeted and the YTD expenses are $1545.58 less than
budgeted. The net income YTD is $99.43 more than budgeted.
COMMITTEE

REPORTS

Christian Education/Spiritual Nurture & Preschool Karen Coffin: Chair The Womens Retreat, led by
members of the congregation, was enjoyed by 35 women with a spiritual, informative, fun-filled day at Shirley
Carlsons home on Lake Eries shores. Several guests, not members of Firelands, attended because of invitations from
our members.
Weekly Bible Study continues to draw a faithful group with the book, Breaking theCode by Bruce Metzger, which helps
us understand the Book of Revelation. All are welcome every Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Magruder Hospitals Fulton
Street Caf.
Our popular Sunday School class reconvenes on Sept. 11, led by Ernie McCullough. It begins at 9:30 and is based on
the Feasting on the Word curriculum.
Tentative plans are in the works to start a gathering led by and for the men of the church.
Preschool Report - Our fall session started with a full enrollment of 24 children. We continue to hear great praise for
the work of Rachel Johnson and her staff. The very positive financial status of the program becomes a part of our
church budget.
Worship and Music: KayMcIntosh, Chair-The September Vespers on August 28th saw the second comingof Elvis
and his mate, Jill. The Firelands Folk, Janine Dress and others brought extra food to make a welcoming picnic for 48
people. Ten people came because of flyers received at the last Bistro 163 community dinner. This blend of fun,
informal worship and hospitality made an outreach event worth repeating. The Firelands Folk played dinner music at
Bistro 163 for the free community meal in August and will play there again on September 12 th. The group may also
play at a community dinner at St. Thomas Episcopal Church as well as visiting senior centers later in the fall. Members
of this committee assisted in the planning of the Womens Retreat on August 12 th.
We help Janine schedule Sunday guest preachers when Mark is on vacation (October 9, 16 and 23)
The sanctuary dcor committee will meet later in September to plan for fall and Advent.
Property Management: John Pugh, Chair Bids have been received for the proposed capital improvement
projects (painting of the church, a new roof and resurfacing of the parking lot). These bids are all under discussion as
we determine ways to fund these to fund these projects. Discussion was tabled until our October Session meeting.
Outreach: Mary Caracci, Chair-Our Firelands facebook page been very busy in August. Entries reaching the highest
number of people include: Womens Retreat 19; Pt. Clinton Volunteer Fire Dept. Chicken Dinner 105; WCWA Merry Go
Round Museum 44; Sunday Evening Vespers 131; Baptizing Bennett Michael Devries 156; Pastor Mark Elvis Cooper
at Sunday Vespers 182. Our church web site www.firelandschurch.org was consulted by 220 people in August. 77%
were looking at our web site for the first time.
The second free community meal at Bistro 163 took place on Monday, August 8 th. Chef Stacy Maple prepared a
fabulous summer picnic supper, featuring barbeque peach pulled pork, baked potatoes, fresh made cole slaw,
watermelon, and Bistro bread pudding. Our volunteers served more than 170 guests from 5:00 7:00 PM at long
community tables. A number of diners came because of our promotion to community agencies, food banks, and
subsidized housing. Many generous neighbors also attended and made donations. The Firelands folk musicians
entertained in the building lobby, with a mixture of requests, hymns, and standards. Our third free community meal
is planned for Monday evening, September 12th.
Bistro 163 will be serving lunch to members of the Maumee Valley Presbytery on September 20 th, as they travel east

October 2016

Page 7

to First Presbyterian in Sandusky for a 3:00 PM meeting. On that same day, Chef Stacy Maple will be catering the
Memorial Service Luncheon at Lakeside for our beloved church organist, Margaret Mann. In addition to our free
community meals, Bistro 163 has been honored to serve lunch to families whose home burned, homeless families,
and families living in their car. This is truly a community food ministry.
Beginning on Wednesday, September 21st, Bistro 163 will be offering a snack and study opportunity to all school age
children. Each Wednesday in the first school semester, the Bistro will be open from 3:00 5:00 for help with
homework and a nourishing snack. Our corps of volunteers continues to grow, representing a number of local
organizations and churches. More volunteers are always needed, whether you can volunteer one day a week or one
day a month! Volunteers are also needed to help with the snack and study program on Wednesdays. Please call
the Bistro at 419.734.9887 if you would like to give some time serving at Bistro 163.
And, The Beacon Newspaper notified Bistro 163 today, September 7 th, that our #payitforward restaurant is a finalist
in three categories in the Best of the Best voting - Best Non Profit, Best New Business, and Best Burger. That
means that Bistro 163 is either first or second or third in each of those categories. We will find out the answer at the
final awards ceremony on Tuesday, September 20th. Our sincere thanks goes out to Firelands Presbyterian Church,
for financial support, and to all the members and friends of Firelands Church who give their time to volunteer at Bistro
163 every week.
New Business: A request was approved from Maumee Valley Presbyterian Women to use our church for a future
Saturday meeting from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for about 40 participants. An email from Mark Owen, our custodian, was
read requesting assistance in his pursuit of his nursing degree. Appropriate actions will be planned .
Pastor Mark closed the meeting with prayer. Next meeting is November 8, 2016.
Highlights from
Clerk of Session

minutes of Dave Moore,

October 2016

Page 8

October
Celebrations
Maxine Myers

16

Bob and Margaret Black

12

Jill Cooper

21

Mark and Gini Stevenson

16

James Stouffer

25

Jay and Karen Viery

18

John Combs

28

Daveand Sally Wahlers

21

Jim and Anita Fisher

26

Is your birthday or anniversary missing or incorrect? Contact the office so we can

make the changes to the list!

Ongoing Prayer Concerns

For those receiving medical treatment or therapy, or undergoing medical tests:
Debbie Ballinger, Jenatha Boose, 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.
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; Mathew Devries, USAF;
Stu Gliwa, USMC; Aaron Haynes, USA; Andrew Hogue, 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, Dios es Amor congregation in Mexico City;
The Christian Community of Restoration and Renewal(CCRR) in Maumee Valley Presbytery.
To add or delete someone from this list, please contact Janine Dress in the church office.

October 2016

Page 9

October 2016

September

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

November

Thu

Fri

Sat

9:30 Sunday School

10:30 Worship
11:45 Annual
Meeting and Potluck

14

15

4:00 MAS Committee 10:00 Bible Study At 5:30 Meditation

Magruder
6-7 Yoga

10

9:30 Sunday School

10:30 Worship

11

12

13

9 Quilting at Wilsons 10:00 Bible Study At 5:30 Meditation

Magruder
6-7 Yoga

8-4 A day of Yoga

retreat.

3:30 MAS Concert

16

17

18

9:30 Sunday School

10:30 Worship

23

9:30 Sunday School

10:30 Worship

20

21

22

28

29

10:00 Bible Study At 5:30 Meditation

Magruder
6-7 Yoga

24

9:30 Sunday School

10:30 Worship

30

19

25

26

27

9 Quilting at Wilsons 10:00 Bible Study At 5:30 Meditation

Magruder
6-7 Yoga

31

Notes:
PASTOR MARK ON VACATION OCTOBER 3-26

October 2016

Page 10

Dont Forget Your Time to Serve!

Monthly

Ministry
Deacon of the Month
Communion Steward

Names
Anne OMalley
Susan Rogers

Oct. 7

Greeter(s)

Moores

Reader
Communion Assistant
Servers
Nursery Volunteer
Pianist

Marta Vielhaber
Joyce Jagucki
Dave Moore, Joyce DellaSantina, Ed Bettendorf, John McIntosh
Janet Gray-Moore
Kay McIntosh & Firelands Folk

Greeter(s)
Reader
Communion Assistant
Servers

Coffins
Connie Brand
Bob Black

Oct. 9

Nursery Volunteer
Pianist

Bill Sharp, Dave and Sally Wahlers, Marilyn Umlauf

Lily Stouffer
Susan Larcey

Oct. 16

Greeter(s)
Reader
Communion Assistant
Servers
Nursery Volunteer
Pianist

Heather Stouffer
Joyce Jagucki
Bill Sharp
Karen Coffin, Jim Layton, Dick Coffin, Betty Layton
Merissa Jagucki
Kay McIntosh

Oct. 23

Greeter(s)
Reader
Communion Assistant
Servers
Nursery Volunteer
Pianist

Laytons
Karen Coffin
Alsion Falls
Sally Walter, Betty Layton, Joyce Jagucki, Joyce DellaSantina
Anne OMalley
Kay McIntosh

Oct. 30

Greeter(s)
Reader
Communion Assistant
Servers
Nursery Volunteer
Pianist

Alison Falls
Nila McCullough
Karen Coffin
Alison Falls, Bob Reynolds, Anita Fisher, Anne OMalley
Heather Stouffer
Susan Larcey

October 2016

Page 11

The Musical Art Series / Port Clinton, OH

2016 2017 Season
Sunday, October 9, 2016
3:30 PM

Sunday, November 20, 2016

3:30 PM

Saturday, December 10, 2016

7:30 PM

STEVE & LISA BALL

Exploring music & stories of the American Civil War
Sponsored by Neidecker, Leveck & Crosser

YIDDISHE CUP KLEZMER BAND

Be Klezmerized by Eastern European folk/jazz
Sponsored by Frederick Agency, Inc.

MOSA STRING QUARTET

CLEVELAND INSTITUTE OF MUSIC
We salute talented musicians at this annual concert
Sponsored by Bassetts Market,
Stouffer Family & Catawba Island Club

Sunday, January 15, 2017

3:30 PM
Sunday, March 12, 2017
3:30 PM

Sunday, April 23, 2017

3:30 PM

GAVIN GEORGE PIANO

12 year-old Ohio native performs to international acclaim

AUSTRALIAN CLASSICAL GUITAR

Dynamic Duo from Down Under
Sponsored by Dubberts Outdrive Service,
1812 Food & Spirits
Otterbein North Shore

EARL E. WARNKE MEMORIAL CONCERT

CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA BRASS TRIO
Factory Seconds but second to none
Sponsored by Crown Battery,
Miller Boat Line

Sunday May 7, 2017

3:30 PM

Saturday, June 10, 2017

7:30 PM

CLEVELAND BLUEGRASS ORCHESTRA

The classics go down home
Sponsored by Jet Express,
Arbys
Shumaker Loop & Kendrick and Jack Hilbert

THE HIRED HANDS

Celtic harps, fiddle, concertina & penny whistle
Sponsored by Dr. Jay M. Mann in memory of Margaret N. Mann

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).