1. religion and spirituality
2. judaism

April 2015
The official monthly newsletter of Messiah Lutheran Church
A congregation of the Southern Ohio Synod, the Evangelical Lutheran church in America.
For questions, or if you would like to be removed from our mailings, please call the church office at 614/866-4386.
The Messiah Messenger
April 2015
From the pastor...
I don’t think you need to go to church to go to heaven. I
don’t think you need to go to church to become a “better”
person, at least better by what most everyone would
define. I don’t think you need to go to church to live a “good” life, at least good
by what most everyone would define. I accept that the church is disappointing
at times. Churched can and do suffer from any number of maladies: the worship
is half-hearted, the pastor is distracted or simply inept, the enthusiasm is
sapped, the ministries are inward focused, the priorities are worldly, the people
are crabby and grumpy, the risen Christ is hard to see. All of this is to preface
what I am about to say, by making clear I am not delusional about the church.
I can’t imagine living life outside the church. We are the most reliable place this
side of heaven to experience God, through worship and meal, fellowship and
service. I can find God anywhere, but I can always find God on Sunday morning
in the voices singing loudly, as they did during communion last Sunday at 8 and
11 when the song was How Great Thou Art. I can find God anywhere, but I can
only encounter God on Messiah Night, in the warm concern, intimate sharing
and hearty laughter of our dinner gathering. The better and good life I want is
God centered, cross shaped. Church is the only place I can create that sort of
life. I don’t just want to go to heaven; I want to live life as close to God so that
heaven is not only a hope, but something I touch regularly in the daily sharing
with brothers and sisters in Christ.
All of this is to say, that in the midst of some difficult and overwhelming weeks,
I am thankful for the people at my church, who encourage me, worry about me,
joke with me, pray for me, and support me. I can choose to live my life however
I wish. Thank God, I have chosen to live it in the church.
Peace,
Pastor Karl
The Messiah Messenger
April 2015
Children’s Sunday, 9:30 AM, April 26
Children’s Sunday is an annual event that celebrates the gift children are for our
lives. Their earnest trust was lifted up by Jesus as the model for all people of
faith. Children’s Sunday this year will be full of songs the children know from
Vacation Bible School, a skit about God’s love for all of us, a special gift that
emphasizes that message, special music from our children’s choirs and cookies
and punch afterward. Plus, our preschool children will be here to share songs
they have been preparing. Their parents and grandparents will be visiting that
Sunday, too. It is a fun, festive, crowded day of worship that anyone who enjoys
the smile and laughter of a child cannot resist. We want you to invite children
you know to worship on this special day, too. Walk next door to your neighbor’s
house, call up your daughter and tell her to bring the grandkids, invite your
nieces and nephews who live in the area. They will have a good time and add to
the celebration of God’s beloved children.
Messiah Night Takes a Vacation!
In April, Messiah Night takes a two week break for Holy Week and Easter. There will be no Messiah Night,
Wednesday, April 1 and 8. Please check our calendar during those two weeks too, to see if other fellowship, choirs
and education activities are cancelled. Messiah Night resumes on April 15 and Chef Marty will be cooking a tasty
meal for us through May 27. Come enjoy in the midst of good spring weather, a meal with new friends and old at
5:30, and stay at 6:30 for outdoor games and lessons for preschool to high school youth and a class for adults.
Vacation Bible School
June 22-26, 2013
9:00am-12:00pm
Ages 3yrs-5th grade
9:00am-12:00pm
Come for Crafts, Games, Songs, Bible Story
and much more! Watch for ways to volunteer,
donate and register coming soon!
The Messiah Messenger
LECTORS
April 2 Marilyn Potter
April 5
8:00 David Long
9:30 Jane Stephenson
11:00 Sally Long
April 12
8:00
9:30 Kathleen Sackett
11:00 Jim Henschen
April 19
8:00 Kim Harris
9:30 Howard Jones
11:00 Bob Finney
April 26
8:00 Lois Beery
9:30 Stephanie Freitag-Pickering
11:00 Mike Sneed
ACOLYTES
April 2
7:30 Aiden Stought
April 5
8:00 Raine Harris
11:00
April 12
8:00 Emma Moore
11:00 Grace Satterwhite
April 19
8:00 Raine Harris
11:00 Halle Mills
April 26
8:00 Abby Hyde
11:00
April 2015
COMMUNION ASST'S
April 2 C.J. Fosnaugh, Kim Harris
and Suzanne Schmandt
April 5
8:00 David Long, Ray Olson,
Sally Cochran
9:30 Donna and Geoff
Campbell, Hollye Burgess, Lesley
and Anthony Kerkman, Ernie and
Lisa Underwood, Paige Hanf, Paula
and Kacy Tandy
11:00 Sally Long, Jim Keeny,
Sara Reidler
April 12
8:00 Linda Sauter, Carol Keiber,
Caryl Barrett
9:30 Ashley Jutte, Brooklyn
Janks, Natalie Satterwhite, Haley
Hodge, Hunter Mills, Ashley
Cochran, Olivia Darling
11:00 Alicia Keiber, Phil Becker,
Mike Cochran
April 19
8:00 Barb Formentelli, Mac and
Cheryl Kelly
9:30 Mike and Terri Janks, Matt
and Cathy Satterwhite, Barbara
McClain, Ross, Vickie and
Leighlyn McClain, Don and Dee
Gabe
11:00 Jim, Kassie and Seth Diehm
April 26
8:00 Phyllis Sneed, Rodney
Fisher, Sally Cochran
9:30 Stacy Hogan, Jean Lantis,
Dan and Theresa Newell, Laric and
Patsy O’Dell, Pat Roper, Bill
Sampson, Amy Canan
11:00 Mike Grimm, Linda Ickes,
Sue Jamison
SOUND SYSTEM 8:00
Apr. 5
Brian McClain
Apr. 12 Andy Moore
Apr. 19 Bryan Kuhn
Apr. 26 Randy Wilson
SOUND SYSTEM 11:00
Apr. 5
Gary Schmandt
Apr. 12 Gary Schmandt
Apr. 19 David Waite
Apr. 26 Gary Schmandt
Carol Keiber and Peg Rabe
APRIL ETERNAL CANDLE
Suzanne and Gary Schmandt
TRADITIONAL USHERS
8:00 The Scheiderer Team
11:00 The Wiseman Team
The Messiah Messenger
April 2015
REFRESHMENT SCHEDULE FOR APRIL
DATE
8 :0 0
9 :3 0
1 1 :0 0
April 5
Denise Solt
Barb McClain Sally Wallace
April 12
Clara Jones
Paula Tandy Freddie Hessler
April 19 Norma Schweikert Cindy Morris Sherri Houghton
April 26
Kathy Miller
Stacy Hogan
Linda Sauter
Date
8:00
April 5 Jeff and Diane Tredway
April 12 Rob and Hal Scheiderer
9:30
Don and Dee Gabe Family
Stephanie Freitag-Pickering,
Becky Kirkwood
April 19 Sally Cochran and Ed Komraus Bob and Carol Kohs
April 26 Tom and Clara Jones
Sean and Jessica Reiber Family
11:00
Steve and Rhonda Parson
Steve and Tracy Schuricht
Jack and Pat Speakman
Sally Wallace
Prayer for April
Dear God,
We enter the month of April going into the church waving our palm branches on Palm Sunday and shouting
Hosanna. Your Son Jesus, entered Jerusalem on a donkey, but the crowd still shouted Hosanna. Then we are in
what we call Holy Week with services on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil and then Easter.
Help us God as we try to be good Christians as we follow Your Son.
We thank you for the staff here at Messiah as they preach the word, type all the extra bulletins for services,
provide the beautiful music, and clean the church and property.
Be with those youth or families who have taken a spring break from school or work. Keep them safe.
Be with the military people and also the local law enforcement and fire protection people.
Then help us show we are a “Loving God…Loving Each Other” congregation. All this we ask. Amen.
The Messiah Messenger
Caleb Diehm
Charles Dunham
Larry Shaw
Molly Carmean
Faith Horetski
Charlie Morris
Robin Howorka
Brian Hogan
Anthony Kerkman
Nancy Smith
Ella Armintrout
Robert Rice
Harold Koehler
Kenneth Reed
Logan Smith
Phyllis Lumpkin
Jayce Rubel
Kathleen Botley
Reece Strohm
Trevor Strohm
Sherri Houghton
Julie Searls
Heather Moore
Stephanie Freitag-Pickering
Jon Reidler
Anna Mae Dozer
Sabrina Ripple
Denise Gesick
Abbey McMackin
Sam Schuricht
Staci Stought
Ziggy Kurz
Matthew Satterwhite
Suzanne Schmandt
Meredith Zeallear
Stephanie Dunham
Georganna Price
Lauren Sudimack
Emma Harmacek
Mary Hartman
April 2015
1
2
4
4
5
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Jessica Reiber
Haley Vanover
Mary Koehler
David Biedron
Chad Sneed
Kacy Tandy
Nicholas Huskey
Luke Minshall
Brian Thatcher
Michael Trumbull
Sarah Harmacek
Gavin Diehm
Ella Lindahl
Renee Maurer
Karl Schweikert
Michael Grimm
April Martin
Biruta Buckenberger
David Lumpkin
Isabelle West
17
18
19
21
23
25
26
27
28
29
30
The Messiah Messenger
April 2015
Mulch Sale
Now that spring
has arrived, the Sr.
High youth will
once again be
selling mulch to
raise money for
their mission trips
to Chicago and
Cincinnati.
It’s time to sign up
for the Messiah’s
Men’s Softball
League. Please
contact Bryan Kuhn
for details at (614) 286-4427 or
[email protected].
"Quilting
The sale of mulch will take place until April 19.
There will be three types of mulch available
(Cypress, Hardwood, and Absolute Black). Each
type of mulch is available in 2 cubic foot bags. The
cost is $3.50/bag. If you order 10 or more bags, we
will ship them to your yard for free. New this year
– gift cards. You can buy a gift card for any amount
and the youth will earn 20% of your purchase. If you
prefer to fill your truck with mulch, rather than have
bags delivered, maybe this is the option for you. The
gift cards will be good at Ohio Mulch. We will be
delivering the bags of mulch throughout the day on
May 2nd. Sign up and find out for information in the
welcome center to help the youth and your yard.
Enjoy the Convenience of Electronic
Giving
Messiah Lutheran Church wants to remind you
that we offer electronic giving as a way to
automate your regular weekly offering. Electronic
giving offers convenience for individual
congregation members and provides much-needed
donation consistency for our congregation.
Direct Debit Giving is used to automatically
transfer funds from your checking or savings
account to the church’s bank account.
Credit & Debit Card Giving lets you make
offerings automatically on a pre-determined
schedule using a credit or debit card.
Online Giving lets you go to
www.messiahlutheran.net at any time to set up an
automatic donation plan, change your donation
plan, make a one-time donation or view your
online donation history. As you contemplate future
contributions, please consider electronic giving.
Authorization forms and additional information
are available from the church office.
with Joyful Hearts"
Messiah's Quilt Group / Messiah delivered 21 quilts
to Ronald McDonald's House and 26 quilts to
Children’s Hospital on 2/28/15. There were
approximately 15 lap quilts donated to Messiah
members this winter. Again thanks to the quilters for
their time and abilities to make these donations a true
success. We are always looking for new members
for our quilt group with different skill levels - come
and learn with us while we grow; we usually meet the
2nd Wednesday of the Month (6:30), or quilting from
home is always an option. The April meeting will be
held on 4/15/15. A Special Sewing day is scheduled
for 4/18/15 in the Nursery to cut / quilt squares – this
will be a time for sharing techniques.
Our group will be working on quilts to support
Franklin County Children’s Services for the
remainder of the year. The Quilt Group would like to
thank the congregation for your previous and future
donations of cotton fabric and sewing supplies which
make this ministry possible. You may contact our
Coordinator - Bessie McGarvey at 740-927-1542 or
email [email protected] for additional
information.
IT'S PAVER TIME AGAIN
Once again, we will be offering "Memorial Garden"
pavers for sale. Starting April 26th after all three
services in the Welcome Center, and the following
Sundays May 3rd, 10th, and May 17th. The price for
each paver is still the same as it has been $75.00 per
paver for three lines. Marjorie Seymour or Pat
Speakman can assist you with any questions.
However, the pavers must be paid for when placing
your order either by Check or Cash. Take a walk
through the garden to see what some members have
on their pavers.
The Messiah Messenger
April 2015
Confirmation 2014-2015
Celebration
Sunday, May 3, 2015 / 9:30 am
Confirmation:
The opportunity publicly to confess your faith before the church.
Sitting in the front of the church and participating in the service:
8th grade youth
also
If you are in 6th or 7th grade be certain to be at this
service to support the 8th graders
 No more sermon notes after this service.
 Be certain to attend even if you are not in Middle School.
 This will be a great celebration.
 There is no cost – the event is free
One of many chances to be in community!
The Messiah Messenger
April 2015
Prayer Calendar
This calendar is a guide for the congregation to use daily. Pray for the group or people listed.
April 2015
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
1
Thursday
2
Maundy
Thursday
Kayla Hill
Lori Hitsman
Family
5
6
Easter
Christ the
Lord is Risen,
Indeed
12
All Choirs and
Musicians
7
George
Hodge Family
Sheri and
Tim
Houghton
13
Florence
Mbekem
Family
Ross McClain
Family
19
Jude Rider
Linda
Thompson
26
20
Marge
Seymour
Helen
Schonhardt
27
Cindy Owens
and
Lois Beery,
Mark Epperly
Family
Fellowship
Chairperson
Eric Fuller
Family
8
Christopher
Huskey
Family
Michael Janks
Family
14
Jerry and Lori
Keller
Harold and
Mary Koehler
Jim and
Sandy Keeny
Ed and Elene
Kent
Bob Kohs
Family
15
16
Brian Prater
Family
Robert and
Michelle
Gaulke
Kimberly
Gerhardt
Family
Michael
Walker, LIC
Student
Kari Jones
Family
Jason Mills
Family
28
Good Friday
10
Jeff Payette
Family
Geoff and
Donna
Campbell
Pastor Karl
Hanf
22
Bryan and
Joanna
Boswell
Abbey and
Keegan Hanf
Jerry and Pat
Herring
Breakfast
with the
Bunny
Easter Vigil
11
17
Ed Komraus
Glenda
Kravig
18
Brenda
Nickolas
Family
Dustin
Wissinger
Family
Gary and
Joyce
Zimmerman
Ray Olson
Family
Scott Wittler
Family
Nancy
Hoffman
23
24
Mike and
Ethel
Cochran
Vincent
Colburn
Family
TK and Nicole
Christensen
29
Saturday
4
9
Ted McKenna
Family
21
Friday
3
30
Joe Elliott
Don Epp
25
Confirmation Youth
Overnight
Charles and
Diane Davis
Chicken
Noodle
Dinner
The Messiah Messenger
April 2015
The Messiah Messenger
April 2015
JOIN US AFTER WEDNESDAY NIGHT DINNER IN FRITZ HALL FOR:
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
April 15 and April 22
Our very own Roberta Hammond will be reviewing the thought processes and
motivations for establishing your own path, at ANY AGE, so that your work and your
passions are aligned… YES, even if you are retired!
Roberta has inspiration and ideas for each and every one of us as we continue growing
in our faith and uniting our conviction and our calling.
We are so glad you are here! If you like what you see, please consider being a part of Messiah. Want to know
more? Beginning on April 15th, there will be a five-week series of one hour classes on Wednesday evenings,
concluding on May 13th. Come and meet Pastor Karl, find out what Christians believe, what Lutherans believe,
what it means to be a part of Messiah Lutheran Church, and most importantly how you can become a part of it all!
To register, call the church office at 614-866-4386.
The first class, April 15th, will begin at a slightly earlier start time of 6:10 p.m. The subsequent classes will be held
from 6:30-7:30. Although it is not required, we hope that you will join us for the Messiah Night dinner beginning
at 5:30 each night in the Fellowship Hall located next to the Welcome Center. We will have a table reserved for
you.
Babysitting is provided and there are activities for all ages beginning at 6:10 on April 15th, and at 6:30 on the
following Wednesdays.
Marriage Builders Class for All Relationships
Married? Engaged? Dating? Do you want your relationship to be the best it can be? Come join us Wednesday
nights at 6:30pm for a fun, applicable class on making your relationships the best they can be using practical,
simple tools explained by Dr. Willard Harley. This class is relevant whether you come from broken relationships
or are celebrating 50 years of marriage. “Even if it’s good – why not make it great?” – Dr. Harley. The classes
start April 15th and are being led by Rob and Stephanie Freitag. Come join us.
Do you have life insurance or other financial products with Thrivant for
Lutherans? If so, annually your policies could be earning money for Messiah. Jeff
Ritter, the Thrivent Representative in Reynoldsburg will be at Messiah on
Sunday, April 12th after each service in the FH to talk with clients of Thrivent and
anyone else who is interested, showing them how to make sure this money is directed towards Messiah at
no charge to the insured.
The Messiah Messenger
April 2015
APRIL is
KROGER REWARDS
SIGN UP TIME !!!
A GREAT WAY to continue to show your appreciation and support for Messiah’s Music
Ministries…
May 1st begins a new enrollment period. Let's do everything we can to remind ourselves and our friends
at Messiah to either re-enroll or sign up for the first time for FREE Kroger Community Rewards money.
If you are a Kroger shopper, each time you use your Kroger PLUS card, Messiah receives 5% of your
total! This is a sizable amount of money that is remarkably easy to obtain. It is used for unexpected
and/or non-budgeted items for our Messiah Music Ministries. Some of the funds received from your
efforts to sign up so far has recently been used to purchase new robes for both Chancel Choir and Senior
Saints! We are also able to hire instrumental accompanists when needed for festival worship music. The
more people who sign on, the more funds will come back to us.
Go to www.krogercommunityrewards.com to re-enroll or sign up as a first time subscriber. Our Messiah
Music Ministries ID# is 81748. Call Kay at 614-580-4791 if you need help to either re-enroll or enroll for
the first time. It is a wonderful way of getting FREE money for Messiah’s Music Ministry. Sign up
today!
International Foods Cooking Class
Join us Saturday, April 11th from 10:00 am until noon for our next class. If you
have any questions please contact Chef Marty.
CHICKEN NOODLE DINNER
Mark April 25th on your calendar for the much anticipated homemade
Chicken and Noodle Dinner with mashed potatoes, side vegetable and
desserts. This year, the event will be sponsored by our Outreach Ministries
and proceeds will benefit the HEART Food Pantry. VOLUNTEERS are
greatly needed in all areas of preparation, serving and clean up. It will be
held from 4:00 – 7:00 pm. If you are willing to help in some way, call Suzanne Schmandt at 614-866-2866 or
email her at [email protected].
Thank you for all of your love and support, the many cards and gifts you showered on us. We are amazed
by you, our church family. God bless you all.
Rich and Julie Mederer