THE CIRCUIT RIDER (USPS 091-110) is published monthly by Rocky River United Methodist Church,
19414 Detroit Rd., Rocky River, OH 44116-1873. Periodicals Postage Paid at Cleveland, OH. POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to THE CIRCUIT RIDER, 19414 Detroit Rd., Rocky River, OH 44116-1873.
Ministry
Daniel F. Bogre, Senior Pastor
Paul A. Bennett Associate Pastor
Robert B. Hibbard, Pastor Emeritus
Christopher M. Burns,
Harbor Worship Leader
Sheri B. Swartz,
Director of Church Ministries
Rachel E. Burns,
Director of Youth Ministries
Rev. Dr. William J. Kimball,
Endowment Ministries
Rocky River United Methodist Church
19414 Detroit Road
Rocky River, OH 44116
Ph: 440.331.7676
Fax: 440.331.7637
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: www.rrumc.org
Periodicals Postage Paid
at Cleveland, OH
It’s All About The Story.
2014 Foundational Verse - Galatians 6: 9-10
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Gifts of Music Concert Series
Music Ministry
Braden J. Pontoli, Director of Music
Jeffrey A. Acker, Organist
Carmen G. Massaro, Fuller Sounds
Handbell Choir
Lynn Young, Joyful Sounds Handbell
Choir
Stephanie Higgins, Children’s Choirs
Page 6 WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY BEGINNING IN OCTOBER
>>MORNING & EVENING OPTIONS<<
GIDEON. YOUR WEAKNESS. GOD’S STRENGTH. by PRISCILLA SHIRER.
GIDEON is a very short Bible story about God’s love for his people, as well as God’s
strength operating in spite of his peoples’ weakness and even through their weakness. Because God's people include you and me, Gideon's story is
also about our lives, doubts, struggles and our possibilities.
divine possibility.
 How victory is achieved.
 Why our weakness cannot stand in the face of God's
Almighty Power
Join us and learn why the weakness you face is an opportunity for
God to show you His Power in your life.
GIDEON BEGINS
MORNINGS:
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1 – NOVEMBER 19, 2014 **9:30-11:15*am* IN THE CHAPEL
EVENINGS:
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7 – NOVEMBER 18, 2014 **7-9pm ** IN THE PARLOR [LIFT GROUP]
WORKBOOKS ARE $15.00, available at the first class.
Classes include videos, discussion and small group prayer.
Open to ALLwomen. Bring a friend or neighbor!
Prior bible knowledge is NOT a pre-requisite
TO REGISTER: contact the Church Office: 440.331.7676 or [email protected]
QUESTIONS??
Morning Class: Barb Napier, [email protected]; 440.356.1604 Evening Class: Lynn Gorton, [email protected]; 440.454.1621 Volume 75 No. 9
September/October 2014 Mission Ministry
R. Stephen and Maria Newnum:
Terra Rica, Brazil
Rev. Paul Webster: Mujla Falls Ag
Research Centre, Kanyama, Zambia
The story of Gideon illustrates:
 How an impossibility that we face can be changed into a
The Circuit Rider
DATED MATERIAL-PLEASE RUSH
Mailed September 15, 2014
Book Club: We meet the 3rd
Thursday of the month at 10:00am in
the Church Parlor. Please join us
Sept.18, to discuss the book, The
Storytellers by Jodi Picoult. Our next
meeting is scheduled Oct. 16. We will
review “Tender at the Bone” by Ruth
Reichl. All are welcome!
Algart Hymn Sing: Tuesdays, Sept.
16 & Oct. 21, 2pm, at Algart Home,
8902 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland.
Please join us for a musical ministry
to the elderly.
Contact Bob Secrist :216.521.2365. Social Concerns Discussion Group
We will meet on Sunday, Oct. 19, at
11:15am in the Parlor. Our guest
speaker will be Alan Kolp, Professor
of Religion at Baldwin-Wallace
University and Chair in Faith and Life.
“Tangos and Titillations
featuring violinist Mary Beth Ions and pianist Susan Lezan”
Sunday, October 19, 2014 – 4:00 pm ~ Sanctuary
This year, we open our Gifts of Music concert season by welcoming two multi‐
talented, well known Cleveland artists who will treat us to an afternoon of lush tangos and other exhilarating musical selections sure to leave the audience tingling with excitement. For over twenty years, violinist Mary Beth Ions has been one of Cleveland's most active musicians. She performs regularly throughout northeast Ohio in a variety of venues and has chosen to combine her talent with that of pianist Susan Lezan for this concert in order to create an absolutely perfect “titillation”! We are delighted to present this dynamic ensemble for your listening enjoyment. So please invite your friends and help us fill the sanctuary for their debut performance. All concerts are free and open to the public. However, for those wishing to be a Series Sponsor, you may do so at the following levels (Patron $ 50 ‐ $ 99; Sponsor $100 –$199; Sustaining $200 and above). Please make checks payable to Rocky River United Methodist Church with “Gifts of Music Sponsor” written on the memo line and either mail or bring your gift to the Church Office or place it in an offering plate at any regular worship service or series concert. P. S. Rebecca Pitcher performs Sunday, November 2, 2014. Save the Date! 
Planned Giving It is good and faithful Christian stewardship to have a will. During this season when we consider our giving plan for 2015 to the church, we may also remember that giving is a discipline that happens every year, and with a planned gift in your will, your giving through the endowment will never end. .
Our Capital Campaign is now completed. This versatile facility is an unburdened haven for those who worship here each week, a beautiful room for the congregation to assemble and a nurturing arena for outreach. Two significant gifts have elimi‐
nated all indebtedness on our addition. Such splendid generos‐
ity speaks overwhelmingly to the depths of understanding that the gospel of peace reaches in the hearts of the members of this great congregation. To those who have given these most recent gifts and to those who have had a part in the building of this lovely facility, this committee, and indeed all who worship here, owe a great debt of gratitude. Our committee will meet one or two more times to wrap up our work. Sometime in the fall we hope to gather everyone to‐
gether to rejoice in this heart‐
warming accomplishment. Don Burney Herb Hoppe Henry Jaques Tom LaMotte Dick Sanders Page 2 Help Us Open Your
TWICE BLESSED FREE STORE
in November
OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTRY
Executive Director
The Executive Director holds overall
responsibility for services to shoppers
and all store operations, including program management;
outreach and public relations; fiscal accountability; resource
development; staff and volunteer coordination and
development; reports directly to the Senior Pastor of
RRUMC. By utilizing the talents of staff and volunteers, the
Executive Director seeks to promote the mission of the Free
Store and to ensure continued and increased donations of
clothing, household goods, and financial support.
Compensation is $12/hour based upon 20 hours per week to
be delegated as needed to accomplish the mission of the
Free Store. Start date: October 1, 2014.
Send resumes to Mello Mitchell: [email protected].
Volunteer Coordinator
The Volunteer Coordinator oversees the recruiting, training,
and scheduling of volunteers and ensures that the activities
of the volunteers meet the needs of the Free Store; assign
daily duties to the volunteers; host recruiting events in the
community to attract volunteers; work with other volunteer
organizations in the area (e.g. Boy Scouts, Key Club, etc.) to
staff the Free Store. Contact Ned Tookman:
[email protected].
Donation Coordinator
The Donation Coordinator directly
supervises the intake and sorting
of all clothing and household
items, following the guidelines of
the scope and condition of
donations; determine the hours
and locations of donations;
replenishes stock during and after hours in the store; stores
items that are not in season in an organized manner.
Contact Ned Tookman: [email protected]
Hospitality/Gatekeeper Coordinator
The Hospitality/Gatekeeper Coordinator ensures that all
shoppers are greeted warmly, offered hospitality in the form
of food and/or beverage, and guided through the initial sign
in process. Also responsible for ensuring that the shoppers
remain in appropriate designated areas until they are
permitted to shop. Gatekeeper will track the number of
Page 3 shoppers and time in the store to give all shoppers an equal
ability to shop. Contact Ned Tookman:
[email protected]
Thank a Friend Luncheon
Technology Coordinator
The Technology Coordinator is responsible for the purchase
and maintenance of appropriate hardware and software to
automate the check in and check out process for shoppers
including tracking all purchases and ensuring that the
guidelines are adhered to regarding shopping limits; obtain
software to register, track, and communicate to volunteers.
Recommend other hardware/software to automate the Free
Store. Contact Ned Tookman: [email protected]
202 E. Bagley Rd., Berea, OH 44017
Store Layout/Fixture Coordinator
The Store Layout/Fixture Coordinator would be responsible
for acquiring all fixtures in the store, and laying out the store
in an organized, attractive manner for shoppers within the
space provided.
Contact Ned Tookman: [email protected]
Free StoreWish List:
For Director's Office: Desk, Chair, Credenza or Book
Case, File Cabinet, Desk Lamp, Floor Lamp, Small Compact
"Dorm" Refrigerator
For Store: Rolling Racks, Shelving, Plastic Storage Bins,
Large Coffee Urn / Maker
Contact Ned Tookman: [email protected]
CONSECRATION SUNDAY IS COMING:
NOVEMBER 9, 2014
For the third consecutive year, the Stewardship Committee is using the Consecration Sunday program. This program has been well received by our church as we focus our giving commitment to the Lord’s work for 2015. You may remember that this biblically based stewardship program is focused on the need of the giver to give and not giving to a budget. We are all asked to prayerfully answer the question “What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?” Watch for details in October as we move toward Consecration Sunday on November 9. Next Circuit Rider Deadline –
Monday, October 6
Friday, Oct. 24, 12pm, at Guidestone
Bring a Friend - Fill a Table (8)
This fall, say Thank You to someone special by inviting them to our luncheon. Proceeds from this
festive event, which includes a three-course lunch served by the children provide scholarships
and gifts to the most needy and fragile children staying at Berea Children’s Home and Family
Services Residential Treatment Center and Group Homes.
Send reservation check of $15 to Mary Lou Sanders, 31079 Lands End Lane, Westlake, OH 44145
by Friday, October 10.
CROSSROADS YOUTH MINISTRY
“LIVE WORTHY”
Live a life worthy of the calling you have received. (Ephesians 4:1b)
Get ready to hear these words a lot around our youth ministry. Chosen by our steering committee, Live
Worthy is our youth theme for the ’14-’15 school year. All that we do together will be geared toward reflecting
Ephesians 4:1b, living a life worthy of the calling we have all received.
Youth will have many opportunities to live out God’s call on their lives through this school year.
Here are some examples:
Core Groups ~ designed to nurture Christian friendships while working through real life topics that middle school and high school
students face.
Sunday School ~ an opportunity to learn about the Bible and how it applies to our lives.
Confirmation ~ a journey for youth in grades 8 and older who would like to take an in depth look at the United Methodist Christian faith
with an opportunity, in the spring, to become full members of RRUMC.
Mission Projects ~ short projects through the school year, and big projects next summer.
Worship ~ quarterly worship services led by our youth, for our youth.
Officers ~ new this year will be Youth Officers. In an effort to involve our youth in the planning and evaluation of our youth program and
help build their leadership skills and spiritual depth, we will be choosing 6 youth as the officers for this school year. Information and
applications are available on the youth bulletin board or by emailing Rachel Burns at [email protected].
Game Nights ~ join us for our game nights where we play crazy games and build our friendships over snacks and laughs.
5th Quarter: September 12 & 19, October 10, 17 & 21
All middle school students are invited to 5th Quarter after all of the home RRHS football games.
All adults and high school students are invited to help oversee these events.
5th Quarter is an excellent outreach ministry of RRUMC. We hope you will get involved! Please sign up on the Youth Bulletin Board or by
emailing Rachel Burns at [email protected].
R
Page 4 Page 5 ev’s Reflections
Dear Friends and Family of RRUMC,
This is a Circuit Rider article with incredible news. RRUMC is now DEBT
FREE. Our remaining amount due on Beacon Hall was $81,216.73 as of the
middle of August. Thanks to a very large gift of one family and another
substantial gift from another family we were able to completely pay off the remaining amount on
our indebtedness.
Rosebud Braden James Bewley, son of Sarah and Rich Bewley, born August 19, 2014. Baptisms Ava Lee Dewyer was baptized in Beacon Hall on August 31, 2014. Calvin Richard Bajko was baptized in our Sanctuary on August 31, 2014. I am reminded of our Foundational Verse for 2014 from Galatians 6:9-10. It says, “Let us not
become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to
the family of believers.” The process for building Beacon Hall began all the way back in 2004. Special Birthdays From its dreaming to its completion and use, we have been on a long winding road.
All of you, through your amazing and ongoing generosity have made Beacon Hall a debt free
ministry tool for the building of God’s kingdom. We are doing it with worship, basketball,
cheerleading, MOPS, youth group, community meetings, funeral luncheons, mini-camps and so
many other activities. It cost a little over $1.8 million dollars to complete. Now that has all been
paid. THANK YOU CHURCH.
That foundation verse is more appropriate now than it was at the beginning of the year. As a
church, we never became weary in paying this off. Dick Sanders and the rest of the Capital
Campaign Committee have worked tirelessly to keep this in front of us. Now is the proper time
Paul was talking about in Galatians when he referred to reaping a harvest. We are now harvesting
through all of the programs and activities that I listed above. Beacon Hall is now paid off so that
we can keep doing good to all people. The church was paying a little over $30,000 a year in
mortgage payments. That is almost the exact amount we need to fully fund the ongoing yearly
expenses of our new Twice Blessed Free Store at the corner of West 65th and Bridge Avenue.
Beacon Hall is still doing good even after it is paid off. It is going to fund the free store ministry. I
knew that the foundational verse this year was right for our church but I had no idea how right it
would be.
RRUMC, we have not become weary in doing good. We are reaping a rich, bountiful harvest. We
now have the opportunity to do good to all people. Do you know why? It is because of your love
and generosity for this church and the work that God is doing through it. I LOVE THIS PLACE!
His,
Rev. Dan
Church Pictorial Directory - Update
Many thanks to those who gave time to sign people in for their portrait sessions for our new
pictorial directory. Thank you to: Anne Esarove, Sally Smith, Liz Emrick, Ann Ardussi, Betty
Jacques, Eileen Johnson, Sally Mylett, Braden Pontoli, Diane Decker, Twyla Sales, Dot Waters,
Patti Dunn, Elaine Miller, Mary Mae Maxwell, Sheri Swartz, Karen Weger, Carolyn Rowland, MJ
Hagen, Brendan Whitman, Corrinne Horvath, Anna Stanton, Grace Lihani, Rebecca Duesenberg,
Rebecca Parch, Quinn Bennett, Bob Blair and Peggy Blair.
If you had your picture taken for our directory and elected to have your complementary 8x10 sent
to the church for pick up, the portraits are now in the Church Office.
For anyone who missed having their portrait taken, we have scheduled another day of
photography on Mon., September 29, 2-9pm. Please call Peggy Blair, 440.223.6951, to
schedule your photo sitting. Iris Abel turns 95 on Oct. 2; Lucille Reisland turns 93 on Oct. 2; Charles Anderson turns 91 on Oct. 16; Richard Cavicchi turns 92 on Oct. 27 October Anniversaries (those at a 5‐year increment and those married 50 or more years.) 01 Cheryl & Jeffrey kovesdy 20th 01 Vicki & Andy Kressler 20th 01 Linn & Patrick LeClair 20th 02 Tracy & Bob Ostrander 15th 04 Angeline & George 35th Cadwallader 11 Eileen & Don Morrison 62th 19 Susan & Bill Minnich 57th 22 Pat & Don Campbell 65th 27 Janet & David Lynn 38th 27 Brooke & Arthur Sansom 30th Sympathy expressed to: Vicky Huston, family and friends, in the death of Vicky’s mother, Doris Tadt, on August 10, 2014. Dorothy Waters, family and friends, in the death of Dorothy’s sister, Marilyn Smith, on August 4, 2014. Christine and Scott Garrett, family and friends, in the death of Christine’s fa‐
ther, Andrey Zanow, on August 16, 2014. Greetings from the Parish Nurse Psalm 46:1:“God is our refuge and strength, an ever‐present help in trouble.” September is Emergency Preparedness Month In Northeast Ohio we are spared some of the natural disasters that impact other areas of our country. Most of our emergency management issues center around loss of power, water damage from flooding and wind damage from severe thunderstorms or occasional tornado. We are fortunate to not have hurricanes, forest fires, or major earthquakes. That doesn’t mean we should be complacent or unprepared. I will be placing packets of information in the library and the Café which explain what to have in an emergency kit, things to think about ahead of time and how to prepare for emergency food and water supply. Every family should have a contact plan that includes phone numbers and an agreed upon place to meet if separated at the time of an emergency. If you want more information about other types of emergencies, please check the following websites: http://
www.cdc.gov/preparedness/kit; http://www.redcross.org; or http://
www.ready.gov. Be sure to check with your local community to be aware of its emergency management plans. Preparedness Fair to be held Sat., Sept. 20, 11am‐1pm at Warrensville YMCA, 4435 Northfield Rd.. September is also National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month One in three children in the U.S. is overweight or obese. Childhood obesity puts kids at risk for health problems that were once seen only in adults, like Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. The good news is that it can be prevented. Take small steps as a family to make healthy changes for your children. Increase activity, go for walks, ride bikes, play an outdoor game or sport. Limit “screen time” (computer, TV, video games, etc.). Be sure to include more fruits, vegetables and whole grain foods in your diet. Health Ministry Team Activities
The Cleveland Clinic is sponsoring the program: Ask the Experts: The Art of Aging Well Sunday, Sept. 21, following the 10:00am service, in Rm. 209. Kathy Stanton, physical therapist, will do a presentation about Falls/
Prevention of Falls. Falls are responsible for a high percentage of admissions to emergency rooms and hospitals. They can cause life changing injuries. Tuesday, Oct. 7, 3‐5pm, in Rm. 209 Presentation on Advanced Directives and Wills and Trusts. This program will be presented by Bob Secrist, Jack McGreevey and Rev. Dr. William Kimball. This is a continuation of our End of Life Series started in the spring. FLU SHOTS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH YOUR PHYSICIAN AND AT MANY LOCAL PHARMACIES. FLU SEASON IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
???? QUESTIONS: MARILAND MORSFIELD, PARISH NURSE: 440.331.7676, EXT. 235 or [email protected]. Remember to “Bear one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 We received a note from Cindy Clark, “Dear Rocky River UMC, Thank you for all your support during my tumor treatment. I hope to be cancer‐free now. The beautiful prayer shawl and notes from the kids, as well as pastoral visits in the hospital were much appreciated.” Helene Hunger writes, “Thank you so much for the beautiful flowers from the altar this past Sunday. They brighten our day and perk up the room where Jack spends most of his time.” We received a note, “Many grateful thanks for all your kind calls, cards, prayers, visits and beautiful flowers. Pastor Paul’s visit was uplifting. I thank God for all your support. I’m home now and on the mend, working hard to get back on my own two feet. Blessings, Joyce Johnston” WITH
GRATITUDE
Jean Stell sent a note saying, “My warmest thanks for the lovely flowers from the worship altar of the church. I understand that Merrill Jacques arranged them. She delivered them this morning, along with the bulletin from the service. It was a great pleasure to meet Merrill and have an opportunity to visit with her. We had a most interesting conversation I appreciate the love and caring from the church family that the flowers represent. It gives me great pleasure to see them and enjoy their beauty and color.” In‐Gathering: Please
donate school
supplies, baby and children’s clothes in
September, baby food in October and
non-perishable food items in both months.