The Trumpet November 2020 Volume 37 Issue 10

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

Meditation on Grace and
Dave Moore, Clerk of Session
Gratitude
Susan Larcey and Kay McIntosh, Musicians
Thursday, November 19th from 10:30 -
Vicki Wheatly, Treasurer 11:30 AM
Janine Dress, In the Sanctuary, Pastor Mark and Alison Lanza Falls will
Administrative Assistant lead us in a Meditation on Grace and Gratitude.
Masks are required. We will be social distancing and
Mark Owen, Custodian
maintaining the Sunday protocols. All are welcome!

Table of Contents
Mission Committee &
Thank You ............................................ 2
News and Notes .................................... 3
Stewardship Letter ................................ 4
Pastor’s Page ........................................ 5
Bistro 163 ............................................ 6
November Lectionary ............................. 7
November Celebrations &
Monthly prayer list ................................ 8
Calendar .............................................. 9
Ottawa County Imagination Library ....... 10
Imagination Library in Ottawa
County
We need your help getting the word out! On September
23rd, United Way in Ottawa County was excited to go
"live" with Imagination Library in Ottawa County, in
collaboration with the Ohio Governor's imagination
Library and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
In just a few short weeks, United Way, with the help of
many local organizations and community leaders, has
already enrolled close to 320 children into this literacy
program which provides books to young readers, ages
birth up to his or her 5th birthday, regardless of family
income and at NO COST to the parent or provider.
In this kick-off year, we aim to register just over 700
children, which is approximately 35% of the more than
2,033 estimated Ottawa County children eligible. Each
year, we plan to support an increased percentage of
registrants, to meet the needs of as many Ottawa
County children as possible.

FREE online enrollments are happening NOW! If you, or

someone you know, could benefit from this FREE
program, please pass along the attached flyer - post or
November 2020
forward this email or distribute in any way you wish. To
enroll a child in Imagination Library in Ottawa
County, visit https://www.unitedwaytoledo.org/take-
action/united-way-in-ottawa-county/ and click on the
"Register Now" tab.
We encourage any educational, family advocacy, or
other community-minded organizations to distribute
flyers and/or add the below enrollment link to
websites/Facebook pages or posts, to spread the news.
Please be sure to always provide the United Way contact
information, info@unitedwayottawacounty.org or 419-
734-6645 We are also starting fundraising to ensure
the sustainability of this program for 2021-2023 To
make a donation to Imagination Library in Ottawa
County, we invite you to visit:
https://www.unitedwaytoledo.org/take-action/united-
way-in-ottawa-county/ and click on the "Donate Now"
tab. See the drop down menu which will allow you to
designate Imagination library. Or you may send your
check to United Way in Ottawa County, 1854 E Perry St,
Suite 300, Port Clinton, Oh 43452. Please be sure to
note on the memo line: designated Imagination Library
in Ottawa County.
Thank you for helping to put books on the shelves of
Ottawa County young readers!
Page 2
3. GIFTS: $20 gift cards or gas cards for
teenagers. The gift card suggestions are that
they could be from Walmart, Taco Bell, Subway,
McDonalds, Amazon and gas cards from the
local gas stations. We will not collect toys or
Pajamas this year. Even though our pajama
gifting was well received last year. Hopefully
next year we can do it again.
4. MITTEN TREE: Our tree will be adorned with
new mittens, hats, scarves, gloves, ear warmers
- all sizes from babies to adults.
Till next time,
Ginny McCook
Mission Chair
Thank You
Thank you all for the cards and prayers. I have
exceeded my doctor’s expectations for recovery and I
am on track to go to Florida in December.
Thank You again
Caroline Notestine

Mission Committee
The Mission team has completed its "mission" to clear
out the preschool rooms. Thanks go to all of you who
took advantage of items of use and generously gave
donations, and to Tim Flora and others that helped with
furniture moving and other tasks.

"Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep" presently has requests

for two beds for one family and six beds for another.
We are indeed catching up on the months that were so
quiet earlier in the year.

Changes in Holiday Giving due to Covid

Holiday Bureau: in lieu of paper goods, we have been
asked for monetary donations so that the Bureau may
gift the families with gift cards to supply their needs.

Salvation Army:
1. BELLS: we will be ringing the bell at Kroger's.
Our designated days are Friday, 12/11 and
Saturday, 12/12. The hours for service are 10
a.m.-noon, 2-4, 4-6 and 6-8 p.m. Janine will
have a sheet handy for sign-ups.

2. COATS: only new coats will be collected this

year - all sizes from babies to adults.
November 2020
SEARCHING FOR JANINE’S
SUBSTITUTE
(JANUARY-APRIL 11, 2021)
As you know, our beloved Church
Secretary/Administrator Janine Dress is not retiring.
However, she will be “wintering” in Florida from early-
January (her last day with us before departing will be
January 8) through April 11. She will be performing
many of her duties remotely. But we are hoping to find
someone—or if necessary, more than one person—to
substitute for Janine as to certain tasks that Janine will
not be able to perform during her time away. These
tasks include (but are not limited to)
Printing bulletins and newsletters
Mailing Newsletters
Handling phone messages and other in-person contacts
and support
Picking up, opening and sorting incoming mail, dispatch
incoming mail to correct mailboxes
Keeping a small amount of office hours.
We are looking for someone who might be able to
provide regular office hours up to three days per week—
for example, M-W-F from 9:00-1:00 p.m. (This schedule
is flexible depending on the substitute’s availability; but
we would like to establish fixed, regular hours.) We are
prepared to pay wages of $10.00/hour (subject of
course to all usual government and tax withholdings).
If you would like to be considered for this part-time,
temporary position, or know of someone who would be
interested please let Janine or Bill Sharp know. We do
not have a formal application form, but we would
welcome your providing us with a letter and/or resume
containing your qualifications. We will conduct one or
more interviews (via Zoom or like remote platform) on a
rolling basis until the position is filled.
Personnel Committee (Bill Sharp, Chair)
Pastoral Friends
In the coming weeks your Pastoral Friends committee
will be sending out a questionnaire asking for
suggestions and your opinions on some new ways this
committee might better serve you.
These have been anxious times for us. The Covid virus
is still raging in our country. The changing seasons now
mean that we must move inside and face more isolation
from our friends and outside activities. Many of us are
concerned about how we can face a holiday season
when it may not be safe to travel and gather with
Page 3
friends and families. Some of us have found this current
election season to be troubling. Others of us have
suffered from losses in our families. Our church family is
still strong, but we face changes too. Pastor Mark, who
has served us so well for nearly 6 years and worked so
hard to keep us together via zoom and services in the
pavilion, has planned to start his well-deserved
retirement in April. Your Pastoral Friends committee is
hoping to hear from you about ways we might be able to
help support one another through this coming winter
season.
Notes from your Administrative
Assistant
Priority Mail Boxes
If you need a priority mail box, I have many different
sizes in my office. They were found in the preschool. I
am putting them in the closet by the mailboxes.
Thank you
Thank you for the wonderful appreciation on the church
sign and on our Facebook page. Several people asked
me if I now work at Firelands.
Exciting News
My niece is getting married the Saturday after
Thanksgiving in Nashville, TN. She is a pediatrician
there. So I will be joining my family the week of
Thanksgiving in Nashville. I will be in the office on
Monday Nov. 23 and will be back in the Office on Dec. 1
I have signed a contract to purchase a home in West
Harbor Landings. It is a double wide, has a garage and a
beautiful sun room. It is all updated so I won’t need to
host a painting party!!!
Finally I have been asked to participate in an Advent
service for the Northwestern Ohio Synod to celebrate
the 50th Anniversary of the Ordination of women in the
Lutheran Church. Since I have been in the Synod the
longest (over 38 years) I have been asked to anchor the
service with the Greeting and the Blessing/ Sending. I
am honored to take part in this service; which is going
to be taped and pieced together for the service.
November 2020 Page 4

Stewardship Drive For 2021

This fall brings us individually and as a community of Christ under a strained atmosphere due to the Covid 19
Pandemic for our Sunday worship service, our church programing and conducting our community missions.
Stewardship is often thought of as strictly financial terms, but a true stewardship in a Christian community is a more
human concept. Even under these restricted conditions we have entrusted into our care the caring for members,
building the faith among our members and caring for others in the outside community. Our stewardship is giving of
our time, our talents and yes, our financial gifts.

“Go our into the world in peace, have courage, hold on to what is good, return no one evil for evil, strengthen the
faint hearted, support the weak, help the suffering, honor everyone, love and serve God, rejoice in the power of the
Spirit”.

We at Fireland’s church do a great job of practicing this. Look at all we accomplish for both ourselves and others in
need in the community both local and beyond. This is our time for commitment for next year.

With your continued financial support we will achieve our work as disciples of Jesus Christ by meeting our 2020
balanced budget of $169,000.00 which is a 10.9% increase over our 2019 budget. This increase was largely due to
the replacement of the five furnaces in the building and having natural gas installed into the building. The better
efficiency of the new furnaces and the lesser cost of natural gas over propane will be a long term savings for the
church over time.

Currently we are $17,171.22 or 12.2% behind our budgeted income of $140,833.33 for 10 months of our
$169,000.00 annual budget. Fortunately we are $32,210.02 behind in our budgeted disbursements of $140,938.66.
We are counting on with everyone’s help of meeting our budgeted income of $169,000.00 by the end of the year.
Reaching our approved budget is very important during this time period in which our PNC committee is charged with
finding a new pastor for our church. One of the many things that a potential new pastor looks at is whether the
prospective church fulfills its budget.

We thank the congregation for your financial support in recent years as we deal with our various maintenance issues
as we do have a high maintenance building. We have always been able to keep our Church in a high state of repair.
With your continued financial support we will be able to continue this responsibility.

Our budget for 2021 is $159,600.00 which is 5.5% less than this current 2020 year. This again due to the furnace and
natural gas installation program which is almost paid off. As of January 2021 we will only have approximately
$2,500.00 to be paid off in the 2021 budget. This budget may well change slightly as we find and install a new pastor
during the beginning portion of the year. Hopefully The PNC committee will be able to recommend to the congregation
a pastor that will be part time (75-80%) whose compensation will be liking to Pastor Mark’s compensation. With the
good Lord’s help and the due diligence of the PNC committee this will happen.

You will be receiving financial stewardship letter which will contain information regarding our finances here at
Fireland’s church and a pledge card. We have always tried to be transparent with our finances and you have shown
appreciation for this. The pledge card included is so you can make your commitment to our financial stewardship
request.

The Finance and Stewardship Committee is asking you to join us in a prayerful preparation of serious consideration
and commitment for our Stewardship Drive Dedication Sunday which will be Sunday November 29 th at which time we
will turn in our Pledges for the 2021 administrative year. Your financial support will allow us to have another
successful year.

If you can not bring your completed pledge card to worship on Sunday November 29 th please bring or mail your
completed pledge card to the church office prior to this date. Your pledging helps the finance committee budget and
make financial decisions accordingly and cause us to use our funds most efficiently.

Anyone desiring to review the 2021 budget or having a financial question to ask may do so by contacting myself or
any member of the Finance and Stewardship Committee: Treasure Vicki Wheatley, Ed Bettendorf, Jay Viery, Chuck
Coykendale, or Pastor Mark .
November 2020 Page 5
Please support your Fireland’s Church with your heart felt financial support. Everyone’s support is how it happens.

God Bless, Finance and Stewardship

Bill Sharp, Chair

Pastor’s Page
People often talk about the time going by quickly or slowly. Actually, of course, time always goes by at exactly the
same constant rate - 24 hours a day, every day, all year long. Our perception of the passage of time, though, does
change. So, has this year, 2020, gone by quickly or slowly? Because of the pandemic many of us have had to cancel
vacations and visits with family and friends, and even lunches at our favorite restaurants. Maybe it seems that this
year has dragged along, slower than molasses in January. Some days it seems that way to me. Will that vaccine
never be available? Will this horrible time never pass? On the other hand, here we are at the beginning of November.
Already? Could the last nine months really have gone by that quickly?

November, of course, marks the beginning of the holiday season. (OK, Halloween is on the last day of October, if you
consider that a holiday, a Holy Day.) Surely all those upcoming holidays will be different this year. How will we get our
Christmas shopping? Since we can’t safely go out to shop, does that mean Jeff Bezo, the owner of Amazon, will be
even more phenomenally rich come January? (His wealth has already doubled since the start of the pandemic, with
everyone shopping online.) And what about those family gatherings we’ve looked forward to all year? We can’t get
together with those we love most at Christmas or Thanksgiving? Will those special days simply not be special this
year?

And, speaking of Thanksgiving, what are we supposed to be thankful for? Many tens of thousands of people are dying
all around us, and the numbers keep getting worse. We do our best to keep ourselves safe, but we have to go out
once in a while, and we know anything could happen. And there is still that business of sitting at home alone, with no
one with whom to share our Thanksgiving meal. (Maybe the turkeys are especially thankful this year!) What do we
have to be thankful for this year?

Of course, there is much to be thankful for, even this year. We are still here to celebrate Thanksgiving, even if we
have to do it alone. We are still able to fill our lungs with those beautiful breaths. We can be thankful for all the many
health care workers out there taking care of the sick, waiting for us should we need them. We can be thankful for all
the first responders, risking their own lives to take care of the needs of their communities. We can be thankful for all
the brilliant people working on developing vaccines and treatments to finally bring this terrible virus to its knees. And,
we can be thankful for our families and friends, even if we are not able to celebrate with them.

Years ago I visited a woman in my congregation in a nursing home. She was turning 100 that year. She was
bedridden, unable to even sit in a chair. I looked out her window across one of the beautiful valleys of Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania. I commented on the beauty. She misunderstood what I was saying. thinking I was talking
about the tree outside the window, bare of leaves on that winter’s day. She said, “Oh, yes, isn’t it beautiful? And you
know what? It turns green every spring.” She had so little left in her life, but she was thankful for what little she had.

Truthfully, whoever we are we always have so much to the thankful for, if we can only see it. If we choose to see it.
We need to always remember that things turn green every spring.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (from 1
Thessalonians 5)

Fondly,

Mark
November 2020 Page 6

Bistro 163

Bistro 163 has introduced our

new fall menu!

"Crafts for a Cause" is a craft fair and

bake sale and raffle to
benefit Bistro 163.
Friday, November 6th from
10:00 - 3:00.
Saturday, November 7th from
10:00 - 2:00
November 2020 Page 7

November Lectionary

First reading Alternative Readings Second reading Gospel

November 1, 2020 Joshua 3:7-17 Micah 3:5-12 1 Matthew 23:1-12

Proper 26 (31) Thessalonians
Twenty-Second Sunday Psalm 107:1-7, Psalm 43 2:9-13
after Pentecost 33-37

November 1, 2020 Revelation 7:9-17 1 John 3:1-3 Matthew 5:1-12

All Saints Day
Psalm 34:1-10, 22

November 8, 2020 Joshua 24:1-3a, Wisdom of Solomon 1 Matthew 25:1-13

Proper 27 (32) 14-25 6:12-16 Thessalonians
Twenty-Third Sunday or 4:13-18
after Pentecost Psalm 78:1-7 Amos 5:18-24

Wisdom of Solomon
6:17-20
or
Psalm 70

November 15, 2020 Judges 4:1-7 Zephaniah 1:7, 12- 1 Matthew 25:14-
Proper 28 (33) 18 Thessalonians 30
Twenty-Fourth Sunday Psalm 123 5:1-11
after Pentecost Psalm 90:1-8, (9-
11), 12

November 22, 2020 Ezekiel 34:11-16, Ezekiel 34:11-16, Ephesians Matthew 25:31-
Reign of Christ - 20-24 20-24 1:15-23 46
Proper 29 (34)
Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Psalm 100 Psalm 95:1-7a
Pentecost

November 26, 2020 Deuteronomy 8:7-18 2 Corinthians Luke 17:11-19

Thanksgiving Day, USA Psalm 65 9:6-15

November 29, 2020 Isaiah 64:1-9 Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 1 Corinthians Mark 13:24-37
First Sunday of Advent 1:3-9
November 2020 Page 8

November Celebrations

Susan Rogers 2 Bob and Anne Butcher 16

Sally Wahlers 6 Jim and Betty Layton 24

Mark Cooper 10

Bob Black 11 Is your birthday or anniversary

missing or incorrect? Contact the
Deb Flora 12 office so we can make the changes to
the list!
Tyler Brand 25

Ongoing Prayer Concerns

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

Alan, Debbie Ballinger, Dan Barlow, Jenatha Boose, Phyllis Crisp, Harold, Kim Hudson, Diane Jordan, Joseph
Kakareka, Craig Kaiser, Stephen Kessler, Angjuli Lele, John McLaughlin, Ele McLaughlin, Simon Mercurio,
Michael, John Prestbo, Bob Reynolds, Sarah, Sue, Jack Schmidt, Jeff Thompson, Justin Waugh, Ann Wagnitz.

For those facing the infirmities of age:

Jeanne Black, Jane Kaiser, Jamie Petty, Betty Rodwancy, Bob 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:

Esther Wakeman, our co-mission worker in Thailand:

The National Presbyterian Church of Mexico, Berea Presbytery.

To add or delete someone from this list, please contact Janine Dress in the church office.
November 2020 Page 9

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
10:30 Worship 10-12 Office Open 3-5 Dulcimer 10-12 Office Open 10:00-12:00 10-2 Bistro
Group Office Open craft for a
1:30 Mission 10-3 Bistro cause
Committee craft for a
cause
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
10:30 Worship 10-12 Office Open 9 Quilting @ 1 Reservoir 10-12 Office Open 10-12 Office
4-6 Bistro163 Wilson’s Group 1 Pastoral Friends Open
Drive up 3-5 Dulcimer
Community Group 7 Session
Dinner
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
10:30 Worship 10-12 Office Open 3-5 Dulcimer 3 Care Giver 10-12 Office Open 10-12 Office
Group Support 10:30 Gratitude Open
Meditation with
Alison Falls
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
10:30 Worship 10-2 Office Open 9 Quilting @ 10-2 Bistro and OFFICE
4-6 Bistro163 Wilson’s UW CLOSED
Drive up 3-5 Dulcimer Thanksgiving
Community Group dinner pickup
Dinner
29 30
10:30 Worship OFFICE
CLOSED
 Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library (OGIL) is made possible in Ottawa County by
the administrative efforts of United Way of Greater Toledo/Ottawa County
and generous support of area organizations, businesses, and community leaders.

Enroll your
Ottawa County child in
Ohio Governor's
Imagination Library
TODAY!
www.ohioimaginationlibrary.org
Start your child's reading journey!
A passion project of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine, in collaboration with
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, OGIL provides Ottawa County children from birth up to their
5th birthday, regardless of family income, with a new book each month at NO COST to the parent
or provider. Studies have shown that improving early literacy leads to better education and
training, improved employment outcomes, less poverty, and reduced crime. The books, which
are mailed directly to each child, are selected by a panel of early childhood literacy experts.

To enroll a child in Imagination Library in Ottawa County, visit

https://www.unitedwaytoledo.org/take-action/united-way-in-ottawa-county/
and click on the “Register Now” tab.

Anyone interested in supporting this cause may contact

United Way in Ottawa County, 419-734-6645, info@unitedwayottawacounty.org
OGIL matches all community funds raised, dollar for dollar.

41 S. High Street, Suite 2240 | Columbus, Ohio 43215 | 614.356.3353 | www.ohioimaginationlibrary.org