The Voice of Monroe Street United Methodist Church

September 2019

Tell Me a Story! I am starting my fourth year at Monroe Street Church. You have heard me preach enough sermons to know that I love telling stories. Perhaps I inherited this pastime from my grandma, who is still telling stories at age 102. Over the years, we accepted that Grandma told the same stories over and over again, till we learned them by heart. Now my children tell me that I do the same thing. “Did I ever tell you the story of eating at the two-story Wendy’s?” I say, and they respond, with exasperation, “Only every single time we drive by it!”

When we take time to record our life experiences, by writing them down, or telling them orally, or drawing pictures of them, or singing about them, we honor and sanctify our lives. And we begin to see how God’s grace is woven into all that happens to us, every day. Little things which might be dismissed as insignificant at the time take on much more meaning when we tell the whole story.

The author Paula D’Arcy once said, “God comes to us disguised as our life.” I invite you to join me in a storytelling group this fall. I haven’t come up with a name for it. (I have a hard time with sermon titles, too.) Maybe that will be our first task. We will talk about the stories of Jacob, a wonderfully flawed biblical character who might inspire us as we reflect on our own lives, which are ultimately stories about our lives with God. Each week I will offer story prompts and invite us to go home and write/draw/tell/sing a personal story. Maybe we will get inspired and find ways to share our stories more broadly. For now, let’s keep it simple, and see what God does.

We will meet on five Sundays from 12 noon to 1 p.m. in Meeting Room 1 next to Reeder Hall. Our first gathering will be on September 15.

I look forward to hearing your stories! Blessings, Elizabeth

Worship in September Spiritual Disciplines September 1 New Sunday School Opportunities Sermon: The Horizontal Faith September 8 – November 24 Lou D’Amato For Adults: Scripture: Genesis 12:2-3; Acts 10:34-35, 45; Frequently ministers reference the “Spiritual Acts 15:7-10, 19; Romans 7:4-6 Disciplines.” What do you know about the Altar Flowers: Given by Barbara Coleman in Spiritual Disciplines? Would you like to know memory of her mother, Edna Bazura more? Would you like to learn how you too can Ushers: Phyllis and Jerry Charles, Sue and regularly practice these 12 classical treasures of Chuck Thayer the Christian life?

Join us as we study “the most important September 8 contemporary book on Christian spirituality,” Sermon: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Richard J. Foster’s Celebration of Discipline: The Pastor Elizabeth Path to Spiritual Growth. Pick up a copy of the Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-11 book and join us for our first session on Altar Flowers: Given by Ron and Jeri Mellgren September 8 in the Chapel at 9:00 a.m. in honor of their anniversary on September 6 Ushers: Kevin Mulder, Denise Clark, Kevin For Children: Esmond, Dawn Westley This fall Children’s Church (during the worship time) will be focusing on Spiritual Disciplines for September 15 children. Sound intimidating for kids? Sermon: Jacob and Esau “It is imperative for us to guide children Pastor Larry intentionally in godly spiritual and character Scripture: Genesis 25:19-34 practices and patterns at the earliest possible Altar Flowers: Given by Barbara Coleman in age.” Vernie Schorr Love memory of her husband, Walt Call them practices, patterns, habits, or Ushers: Roy Jones, Ron Mellgren, Clark Collins, disciplines. They are means to accomplish God’s John Lewton transforming work in us, in them, at the earliest age possible. September 22 This is done through child-friendly wording, Sermon: A Father’s Blessing scripture, activities, and guided discussion. A Pastors Larry and Elizabeth “Take Home Page” will be available each week Scripture: Genesis 27:1-38 and suggest family activities or discussion around Altar Flowers: Open the specific discipline studied that week. Ushers: Phyllis and Jerry Charles, Jim Vail, Each Sunday’s Children’s Church session will Chuck Thayer coordinate with the discussion in the adult class.

September 29 Sermon: Stone for a Pillow Sacred Stories Pastor Elizabeth Sacred Stories will meet once again this fall on Scripture: Genesis 28:10-22 Thursdays at 11 a.m. This small group practices Altar Flowers: Given by Kevin and Bea in honor lectio divina, or Divine Reading. We listen to God of their anniversary on September 27 speaking to us through the scriptures, as the Ushers: Marilyn Lodge, Bill Hoover, Mark divine voice guides us, encourages us, comforts Kirkpatrick, Tom Senerius us, and challenges us. Please join us! We meet in the chapel.

Fall Book Study Pastor Pinkie Celebration A 10-week book study starts on Saturday, Greetings in the name of Jesus. We of the September 28 and runs every Saturday morning Redeemed by the Blood of Jesus Ministry are from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon through Saturday, inviting you and your congregation to attend a November 30. We will be reading and discussing 10th Anniversary Celebration in honor of our Hope and Other Superpowers, the new book by Pastor and Shepherd, Pastor Pinkie Mitchell. It John Pavlovitz, author of A Bigger Table, a will be held at Monroe Street United Methodist previous book study selection. Church in the main Sanctuary on September 8, Hope and Other from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Superpowers ($9 on Amazon) Please come out and help us celebrate our is a very inspiring book that Pastor and the work she is doing. will remind us that "in a Chevella Mitchell world that seems dangerous and confusing, all the answers exist in own KAIROS #33 at Toledo Correctional humanity, that even small acts of compassion and Institution kindness are powerful, and Kairos Prison Ministry Weekend #33 will take that the superheroes who will save the world are place at Toledo Correctional Institution from already here, and we are those people." Thursday, September 19 through Sunday, Many have already signed on. Contact Lou September 22. Chuck Thayer will be a team D’Amato at [email protected] or 419-360- member for this weekend and could use your 3097 with your intent to join us, and advise if you help in meeting his responsibilities. Here is what want him to order a book for you. Chuck needs: • 100 dozen home- baked cookies done up the usual A Day Apart way -- 2 dozen Our Monroe Street Day Apart (formerly the cookies in a one- men’s and women’s retreats) will be on Saturday, gallon zip-lock October 26 at Widewater Retreat Center. All are bag. The deadline for Chuck to receive the welcome! The day will begin with breakfast cookies is Thursday, September 13. Bringing snacks at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 3:30 p.m. them to church on Sunday, September 8 Lunch is included. would be great! Our retreat leader is Becky Przybylski, director • Volunteers to take a half-hour prayer vigil of a local ministry called A Listening Life. Mark slot. The weekend will be bathed in prayer your calendars and receive this gift of a sabbath from beginning to end. day. • Contributions to help defray the cost of $150

(Chuck’s share of the cost of putting on the

weekend.) Gifts of Sharing Returns • People to attend the weekend closing on On Wednesday, September 11, Gifts of Sharing Sunday afternoon, September 22. Those will resume. We meet from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm interested must fill out an application and be in Meeting Room 2, downstairs, off Reeder Hall. approved for entry in advance. We work on various needlework projects. If you can help Chuck with any of these needs, Everyone is welcome. We will continue to meet please see him in church or give him a call at 410- on the second Wednesday of each month. 882-3449 (home) or 419-508-8913 (cell). Questions? Call Peg Hull at 419-882-9424. Come Sing with Us! Monroe Street Neighborhood Center Monroe Street Church is always looking for individuals who desire to share in the musical Hats Off Tea ministry of the church. Share in the special camaraderie enjoyed by members of the Saturday, September 7 Wesleyan Chorus, the Intergenerational Choir and our bell choir, Angels’ Wings. Prior musical training is not required -- just a sincere desire to Tickets $35 each serve God through music. (We'll teach you how to sing and play!) Radisson Hotel on Glendale Avenue Doors open at 11 a.m.

Thank you! Our third annual Freedom School Finale was a huge success. We hosted scholars and their families for a delicious meal in Reeder Hall before the closing program in the sanctuary. We thank The music groups will start in September. Peg Hull and Marcia Frederick for leading the Contact Clarence Smith ASAP (419-534-2299) if team that set up and decorated the tables, you are ready to share your talent and to have a purchased and prepared the food, served the good time doing it! We would love to have you dinner, and cleaned up afterward. Our team with us. included: Jocelyn Blaufuss, Jerry Charles, Phyllis Charles, Becky Coger, Lou D’Amato, Bill Hoover, Marie Hoover, Bill Hull, Jean Johns, Dee Jones, Lunch BuncHers Roy Jones, Pat McCauley, Mary McDonald, Jake We will change our gathering date from Neph, Betty Nicolen, Gwen Senerius, Deb Simko, September 7 to September 14 at 12 noon at The Doug Smith, Connie Ward, and Dawn Westley. Seafood, 5504 Alexis Road. This change will allow Thank you all for serving! us to also attend the Hat's Off Gala on September 7. All women are invited to attend the Lunch BuncHers gathering. Lynda Collins has graciously Anyone Have a Corn Hole Game? offered to provide devotions. We are looking Please remember to notify either Betty Nicolen for corn hole at 419-475-4064 or Kathy Moore at 419-885-3918 games to borrow by September 13 if you are planning to attend. for our Block Party on September 29. Health Fair If you have one Our Neighborhood Block Party on September 29 available for that will include a Health Fair. Steve North will be day, please there with his Clinic Bus, and the Health contact Peg Hull at 419-822-9424 or Department will have several stations. [email protected]. We can arrange Information will be available from the Office on transportation if needed. Aging, as well as on smoking cessation and Shots for Tots. Monroe Street United Methodist Church

Won't You Be My Neighbor? Block Party

A September to Remember September 29, 2019 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. All our neighbors are invited! Food Music Prizes Games (face painting, bouncy house, and more) Health Fair and Plant-a-tree tables Fire Truck and Police outreach Design Center with future plans for our neighborhood And more… Volunteers needed… …to set up and clean up, assist with games, and serve food. Please contact Patricia Smith at 419-304-50307 or [email protected] Sue Thayer at 419-297-8277 or [email protected] Peg Hull at 419-349-7154 or [email protected]

Interfaith Reunion Festival Universal Worship is a service which invokes the Last fall Monroe Street Church collaborated “One Being” through each of the world’s major with Temple Shomer Emunim, the United Muslim faith traditions. Readings or reflections and music Association of Toledo, and the Hindu Temple of around a theme, in this case, Peace, are shared Toledo to prepare and serve a dinner at the from six or seven of the world faith traditions Cherry Street Mission. On Sunday, September represented in the MultiFaith Council. 22, these four faith communities are sponsoring a Dances of Universal Peace are sacred phrases of Potluck Dinner with Cultural Music to further all the world’s faith traditions set to music and deepen our ties. simple folk dance movements, appropriate for The Potluck will be held at The Temple (6453 people of all ages and accessible to people of all Sylvania Avenue) from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Please abilities, with no need for a partner or prior let Kevin Mulder know if you plan to attend experience. Both worship experiences will be led ([email protected] or 419-351-9954). Please by Judy Trautman of the MultiFaith Council. bring a dish to share and come prepared for fellowship, activities, and music. We will be putting together 500 hygiene kits as Volunteers Still Needed part of the festivities. The kits will be distributed for Clean Your Streams to Toledo Public School students. Monroe Monroe Street Church is hosting one of eight Street's challenge is to provide 500 wide-tooth volunteer kickoffs for the Toledo area’s largest combs for the kits! There will be a box at the waterway cleanup, Clean Your Streams, on back of the sanctuary to collect the combs. The Saturday, September 21. This year will mark kits will be assembled at the potluck event. several milestones, including the 10th consecutive This will be a wonderful interfaith event. Please year that we have hosted the Ottawa Park kickoff, plan to participate. the 20th consecutive year of this youth-driven kickoff and the 23rd year for the event. Volunteers will gather at 8:00 a.m. for Join the Compassion Games! registration and a continental breakfast organized From September 11 through 22, the Greater by Marilyn Lodge. Orientation at 8:30 a.m. will be Toledo Compassionate Community, under the followed by the cleanup from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. leadership of the MultiFaith Council and Coach An appreciation picnic will be held at the David Longacre, will participate in the conclusion of the event at the Lucas County Compassion Games. This international Recreation Center. “coopertition,” billed as Survival of the Kindest, In addition to cleanup volunteers, volunteers encourages Compassionate Communities around are still needed to assist with hospitality, to help the world to inspire one another through service register participants, and to provide Site Captain to others and to the earth by tracking the number leadership to participating groups during the of volunteers, volunteer hours and funds raised actual cleanup (especially needed). If you can toward causes of compassion over the 12-day help, please contact Marilyn Lodge (419-842- period. And best of all, everyone wins! 0070) for hospitality and Kickoff Coordinator The Compassion Games will conclude on Marilyn DuFour (419-491-8072) for all other Sunday, September 22 with the Compassion volunteer opportunities. Games Peace Celebration here at Monroe Street Church. The Celebration will take place in the Sanctuary from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. and include Deadline for the October issue of The Voice Universal Worship followed by Dances of is Monday, September 16 Universal Peace. Send articles to [email protected]

MONROE STREET FINANCIAL REPORT

Month Ending July 31, 2019 Current Month Monthly Budget Year to Date Annual Budget Actual Actual Total Contributions $ 25,879.00 $ 28,250.00 $ 212,198.00 $ 351,000.00 Lackland Endowment Match $ 55.00 $ 417.00 $ 2,230.00 $ 5,000.00 Total Foundation Subsidy $ - $ - $ 20,000.00 $ 70,000.00 Lackland Bequest $ - $ - $ 4,586.00 $ 20,000.00 Total Other Income $ - $ 4.00 $ 45.00 $ 5,150.00 Total Rental Income $ 875.00 $ 928.00 $ 6,320.00 $ 12,140.00

Total Income $ 26,809.00 $ 29,799.00 $ 245,379.00 $ 463,290.00

Total Operating Expense $ 36,029.00 $ 40,528.00 $ 287,566.00 $ 502,611.00 Loss /Gain for month $ (9,220.00) $ (10,729.00) $ (42,187.00) $ (39,321.00) Our income for July was down slightly due to lower attendance. The expenses were also lower this month but will probablyOur income increase for soon July because was down of boiler slightly repairs, due to electrical lower attendance. work, and planting The expenses of the Circle are lowerDrive grassthis month area. but will probably increase soon because of boiler repairs, electrical and plantingJerry of the Charles circle, driveTreasurer grass area.

FromJerry the Charles Trustees A Morning Prayer ThoseTreasurer terrible, tenacious, terpsichorially challenged means we can't dance too good) Glory be to you, O God, Trustees enjoyed a quiet month in August. Aside for the rising of the sun, from some impromptu tree surgery, there was for color filling the skies nothing, really, out of the ordinary. Oh, I stunned and for the whiteness of daylight. Jerry with a few bills for ongoing maintenance to Glory be to you our heating system, of course. That was merely to for creatures stirring forth from the night, be sure he was on his toes, and not asleep on that for plant forms stretching and unfolding, giant sack of silver dollars he hides from me. for the stable earth and its ageless rocks. Summer is the time we do our preventive Glory be to you maintenance on the heating system. We drained for the beauty of your image the city water intake tank, blew down the boiler, waking in opening eyes, stripped the skin, and punched the tubes. Wow! lighting the human countenance. Does that sound painful! Glory be to you. Glory be to you. Now that Freedom School is over, we are also But where the glistening is lost sight of, working on floors. A couple of hundred sneakers a where life’s colors are dulled day wear the wax right down. and the human soul grows hard, That's the news from Monroe Street Church, we pray for grace this day, where all the women are strong, all the men are we pray for your softening graces. good lookin', and the Tech Crew is above average. John Lewton John Philip Newell Sounds of the Eternal

MONROE STREET UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 3613 Monroe Street NON-PROFIT ORGAN. Toledo OH 43606-4117 U.S. POSTAGE PAID TOLEDO, OHIO DATED MATERIAL PERMIT NO. 52

a.m. 10:30 at Worship Sunday

Toledo Church Street Monroe Facebook:

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1167 - 473 - 419 Phone:

p.m. 2:00 to a.m. 9:00

Thursdays through Monday

Office Church

Assistant Administrative Cornwell, Lanette

Director Choir Bell McCauley, Pat

Assistant Music and Organist Davis, Kristina

Music of Director Smith, Clarence

Pastor Rand, Elizabeth

Pastor Clark, Larry

Staff Church

Church Methodist United Street Monroe