March 1, 2021 Something from Rev. Sarah...

Dear Community Christian Church, Something from Rev. Sarah 1 Lent has begun. And, we are still Something from Rev. Sarah cont. 2 worshipping virtually. Everything about this season feels heavier Ash Wednesday via Zoom 2 and more difficult as we enter the Covid Task Force/Worship Team 2nd year of the global pandemic. I Information 2 am experiencing new layers of Baby News from Hannah Spencer 3 grief for all that has changed and I wonder if you are as well. your at-home worship experience. Children’s Ministry Zoom Photos 3 Lent is a season that welcomes In these bags, I included a booklet Thank You Notes 3 grief and heaviness. Every spring that includes soup recipes from our Bread and Broth experiences, Hand Bell Practice Photos 4 the church honors 40 days of Lent. We start the season of Lent weekly scriptures and discussion News from our Facilities Manager 5 with the heavy words: Remember questions that help us reflect on the Sunday message AND that we Congratulations Ben Langfitt 5 that you are dust, and to dust you will return. During Lent, we will discuss each Wednesday night Thank you from Eshelmans 5 follow in Christ’s footsteps at 7 PM via Zoom until Easter. If Prayers/Birthdays/Anniversaries 6 through a time of reflection and you haven’t joined in to our transformation. church Zoom experience yet, I Our Sympathies 6 hope you will. I am happy to offer In the gospels—Jesus retreated Pledge Envelopes Available 6 a tutorial to you and get you into the wilderness, where He connected. Congregational Meeting Info 7 fasted for forty days and was tempted by the devil. (Matthew Zoom isn’t the same as being Music Corner 7 4:1–2, Mark 1:12–13, Luke 4:1– together. And I still mourn the fact Meetings/Events Info 7 2). that we are apart. But in this season that creates space for our Zion Food Pantry 8 Before Jesus began his public mourning, I hope you find strength ministry, before he went out to March Sermons 8 and comfort from God who call the disciples and preach to accompanies us even through our Daylight Savings Time the masses, he went into the most difficult moments. Begins March 14 wilderness to pray. Jesus went Set your clocks ahead into isolation to be changed by I want to end my letter to you on a one hour God and equipped by God. This positive note. At the end of our journey into the Wilderness was a Lenten season, we will be offering discipline to prepare for his a unique opportunity for commu- future as a Rabbi and prophet. nity gathering at the church. The worship team has put together an Our journey through Lent is experiential Stations of the Cross meant to simulate Christ’s prepa- plan for Holy Week. You will have THE ration from his own ministry. He the chance to come to the church took 40 days in silence. He went with a group of 25-30 others and into the Wilderness, and, there, experience the scripture in new God worked through is heart. and creative ways. On the front I hope you picked up a Lenten lawn of the church, rain or shine, bag from the church to guide during Holy Week you will have

(Continued Pg. 2) P a g e 2 (Cont. Something from Sarah) the chance to hammer a nail into a Covid Task Force/ cross, add a prayer to our prayer wall, write your burdens in sand Worship Team Information and watch your burden be lifted with the help of God—and more. So much of pandemic ministry has The CCC Covid Task Force and Worship required us to scale back, shrink, Team have jointly made the decision that sanitize or even cancel our most CCC will continue meeting online during beloved traditions. But our Stations the month of March as long as our county of the Cross experience was still has a Red (or Purple) Covid Status. designed in a Covid-context—it will be a safe, spiritual, and inspiration- al opportunity to come together, In the meantime, you may join us in our and I cannot wait to share it with online worship service. If you watch via a you. DVD please call the church office at Until then, know that I love you. I 330-499-5458 before traveling here to pick am praying for you. I hold you in up a DVD to confirm they have been my heart. I cannot wait for the day dropped off for the previous Sunday’s that I can give you a big hug, sing Alleluia loudly in our sanctuary worship service. together, and reunite as the body of Christ in person. Love, Rev. Sarah Taylor Peck Ash Wednesday via Zoom

Our Zoom Ash Wednesday services on February 17 were attended by 58 participants/worshippers between the two Zoom services held that day. This was double the attendance we’ve had the past two years! Many thanks to Rev. Sarah Taylor Peck, Pastor John Hayward and Luke Overmire for this wonderful worship experience. P a g e 3

Zoom Children’s Ministry Miss Debbie and Miss Gen are teaching the children sign language to go along with a song. Your child can join them each Sunday at 11:30 AM via Zoom.

Baby on the Way! Hannah & Alex Spencer are delighted to share the news they are expecting a baby boy who already gets excited for and kicks during Sunday service. Hannah Ready Spencer is the granddaughter of Chris Walsh.

Cards Written to Health Care Workers Dear CCC Family,

Thanks to the dedication of Thank you for the cards and members of CCC, we have sent prayers that have been lifted on out the following cards of To all my beautiful friends at CCC, encouragement to Health Care our behalf as we walk through my THANK YOU, THANK YOU, for all the Workers in the following cancer diagnosis and treatment. facilities: They have meant a great deal to beautiful birthday cards and sentiments! You made me feel very • 308 cards to Aultman both Chuck and me. special. • 100 cards to Altercare of Sincerely, Hartville Sincerely, • 129 cards to St. Luke’s Joan Dayton Jean Daugherty P a g e 4 Hand Bell Practice

Found practicing on a cold Friday morning were members of our Hand Bell choir. Pictured are: Forefront: Jody Lindower 1st row (left to right) Traci Langfitt and Mandi Shafer 2nd row (left to right) Debbie Wilkinson and Nancy Shanklin P a g e 5 News from our Facilities Manager

Exciting News for our Building It was brought to the attention of Rick Wallenfelsz, CCC Facilities Congratulations, Ben Langfitt! Manager, by the North Canton Fire Department Inspector last year that our smoke alarm system was out of date and needed replaced. Rick then relayed this information to our Trustees. After they researched different companies to replace this system, the decision was made to work with a local company, ProTech Security, to replace the entire system. Protech has a reputation of working well with our North Canton Fire Department which is invaluable with any company of this nature. ProTech Security has been in to size up our building’s needs and to look over our previous installation. It will probably take several days to remove the old hardware and install the new system. The company is scheduled to begin work on Monday, March 1.

Congratulations to Ben Langfitt, son of Dean and Traci Langfitt, who graduated in December from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology Degree and with an Associate of Dear CCC Family, Science Degree. Well done, Ben! Thank you for all the sympathy cards you sent on the passing of my brother Jack. They meant so very much to us. Sincerely, Bill and Sally Eshelman

RECYCLE CENTER Stay Connected Remember to use the church’s We encourage you to continue reaching out to your CCC family via Paper Recycle phone calls, cards, texts or emails. We have a lot of folks who are still Center for your staying home the majority of the time and would love to hear from paper recycling. their CCC family! The church earns money for If you need contact information, please contact the church office via your recycled paper. The center phone (330-499-5458) or email. If we know who you are, we will is located behind the fire gladly give out information that is found in our church directory. station’s parking lot.

Page 6 PRAYERS ARE NEEDED FOR…. March Birthdays Tim Himebaugh March 2 Members Conner Kimble March 3 Joan Dayton Kelsey Morrison March 4 Carol Walters Rick Wallenfelsz March 10 Betty Oswald Friends & Family Joan Dayton March 11 Bill Eshelman Jaiden White Sally Yoos March 11 Kathy Bell Tony Serra Mandi Shafer March 12 Traci Hocking Bethel Odey Kaitlyn Eby March 14 Tracy Barnby Tony Gregory Tony Giannantonio March 14 Sharon Ferry Shannon Ortiz Janice VanVoorhis March 14 Janice Geib March 15 Gene Brown Armed Forces Judy Snyder March 15 Sam Bacon David Williams March 15 Eileen Smith Dustin Powell Samuel Hiltner Lori Atkin March 16 Clint Yoos Brandon Johnson March 17 Peggy Yoos Bradley Woody Hannah Spencer Ella Lazich March 17 Jeannine Lizak Hannah Spencer March 18 Brandon Johnson Jim Pfeil Cecilia Aguirre March 23 James Carroll Nan DeMuesy Grant Rojas March 23 Alan McMullen Jeremy Castor Haley Wilkinson March 23 Shirley Kitzmiller Kelly Davis Angela Thompson March 25 Doris Shatzer Felicity Farley Dianne Myers March 26 Mary Lou Jester Daniel Ligocki Jess Crites March 27 Jane Williams Joshua Ligocki Carolyn Ricksecker March 31

March Anniversaries Our Sympathies Denny & Dianne Myers March 8 Gene & Judy Brown March 16 We offer our condolences to Bill and Sally Eshelman in the passing Bob & Jane Walker March 18 of Bill’s brother, Jack Eshelman, on February 9. Cards of sympathy may be sent to Bill and Sally at 1108 Ellenhurst St NE, Canton, OH 44714. Pledge Envelopes We offer our condolences to the family of Ruth Krichbaum on her are passing on December 5, 2020. Available for Pick Up

Your 2021 pledge envelopes are available for pick up from the church office. Please call Shari (330-499-5458) when you Remember our community friends who are served are on your way to pick them up by the Zion Lutheran Food Cupboard. Bring your and she will place them on the non-perishable food donations to the church. Place your food donations in the blue bin located table by Door #3 for you. outside Door #3.

P a g e 7 Meetings/Events... Worship Services and meetings will be held ONLINE or via Zoom while Stark Country remains with a Red or Purple Level Covid Status. Music is a powerful and universal language which is referred to in the March 3 @ 7:00 PM scriptures as “the song of the heart” and “a joyful noise”. Music Lent Zoom Discussion inspires people to praise. Some of the greatest sermons are preached by the singing of hymns. They bring repentance and good works, and March 4 @ 4:30 PM build testimony and faith. Hymns bring comfort and inspiration to Covid Task Force/Worship Team endure to the weary and mourning. When the choir sings or the bells, Zoom Meeting organ or piano play, it awakens our senses and is a powerful motiva- March 10 @ 7:00 PM tion to those who worship. People hear the melody and words and join Lent Zoom Discussion their voices as one to praise God. March 8 @ 11:00 AM It is with these thoughts in mind that I recently chose a song to sing at Worship Team Zoom Meeting the graveside of a former student. I looked at hymns such as “On March 14 Eagles Wings” and “Amazing Grace”, secular songs such as “Wind Daylight Savings Time Begins— Beneath my Wings”, and a number of others. I ended up singing a move clock ahead 1 hour beautiful arrangement of “Softly and Tenderly”. Why? Because not Elder Zoom Meeting—1 PM only was it a chance to say good-bye to my friend, but it was a bigger opportunity to reach out to the crowd who had gathered. “….Jesus is March 17 calling, ye who are weary, come home. Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is All-Staff Zoom Meeting @ 1:00 PM Lent Zoom Discussion @ 7 :00PM calling. O for the wonderful love He has promised, promised for you and for me. Though we have sinned He has mercy and pardon, pardon March 18 for you and for me. Come home, child of mine, come home.” Covid Task Force Zoom Mtg—4:30 Trustees Zoom Meeting—7:00 PM We are closer to God through music than perhaps any other thing except prayer. As we usher in a new, hopeful month, let us do so with March 21 @ 1:00 PM a prayer in our hearts and a song on our lips. Deacon/Pastoral Care Leader Zoom Meeting We remain your Ministry of Music team, March 22 @ 11:00 AM Worship Team Zoom Meeting Pastor John Hayward, March 24 @ 7:00 PM Marcas Miles, Jody Lindower, Lent Zoom Discussion Miss Debbie Wilkinson and Steven Moore March 28 Palm Sunday

Important Congregational Meeting Information

We will hold our Congregational Meeting the first Sunday we meet together in person. Please plan to remain seated in the sanctuary for this brief but important meeting. We need 50 people in attendance to take a vote on a few important items regarding how to do Church in a pandemic. Thank you!

Community Christian Church March1, 2021 (Disciples of Christ) 210 North Main Street North Canton, OH 44720 The Voice 330- 499- 5458

ZION FOOD PANTRY.... March Sermons

In the President’s town hall meeting a couple weeks ago, he stated March 7 that due to the current economic status of many families, they find “Strength from the Wilderness” themselves standing in long lines just to get food to feed their John 2:13-22 families. This is the United States of America and we have the March 14 ability to feed the world. He praised all the churches and other “Light in the Wilderness” organizations that have stepped up to organize food banks and John 3:14-21 have worked tirelessly to ensure no one goes hungry. March 21 “Brokenness in the Wilderness” That is what Christianity is all about. It is not always discussed, but John 12:20-33 most folks have an innate goodness that causes them to reach out to help those in need. Such are the wonderful folks at CCC who March 28—Palm Sunday “Details in the Wilderness” give so faithfully to the Zion Food Cupboard! Mark 11:1-11 Needed presently are: cream soups, peanut butter, cereal, boxed dinners that can be used to create a meal, pasta, pasta sauce, Rev. Sarah Taylor Peck, Senior Minister applesauce, canned fruit, jams and jellies (except grape), snack Pastor John Hayward, Minister of Music items for after-school snacks, and mixes to create biscuits or rolls. Luke Overmire, Director of Youth Ministry Jody Lindower, Bell Choir Director As always, all contributions are gratefully received. Marcas Miles, Accompanist Steven Moore, Organist Debbie Wilkinson, Children’s Music Director Karen Vrabec, PR Specialist Blessings to all, Shari Keim, Office Manager Rick Wallenfelsz, Facilities Manager Gen Kriska, Nursery Attendant Koinonia Klass Dawn Hearne, Wedding Coordinator Jennifer Plentovich, Financial Secretary Sunday Services 10:00 AM