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Jan 29, 2010
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I want to thank a number of people who
played vital roles in leading and
serving this congregation the past
year. The Cabinet of John
Gossett-Moderator, Paul Richert, Mary
Austin, Alison Oswald and joined late in
the year by Dick Pasher. The new
Council made up of these same folks
meets on the 1st Saturday of the month
at 9:00 am. Their meetings are very
spiritually centered and discerning of
God's will. This has been the best
experience I have ever been a part of
where the business of the church is
constantly cast in the context of
Christ's body.
Steve Myers stepped in in the Spring as
treasurer when Jim Fisher resigned as
his health was declining. We give
grateful praise to God for the service
Jim gave us as treasurer for many years
before his death in October. Steve has
done a marvelous job in simplifying
financial reports and tracking our
financial situation. This fall he asked
the Board of Trustees to hire Julia
Hines to become the Financial Secretary
who works at the direction of the
Treasurer. Julia has spent many long
hours updating our financial data. They
are a great team!
Janet Sattler stepped in this fall to
take over as the chairperson of the
Board of Trustees. This board has
really taken hold of the management of
our property and financial issues. This
has been heightened in light of the
lease with New Covenant Community
Church. Putting in a lot of hard work
have been Becky Gossett, Mark Sitko, and
Julia Hines along with Steve Myers who
as Treasurer is an ex officio member of
the Trustees.
The Preschool Board of Dee Ghinder, Mary
Austin and Martha Loar have been working
with the Director Julie Staiger to
enable the preschool to be more visible
around the congregation and to help its
functioning to fit into the mission and
vision of the wider congregation.
Thanks to our paid staff of Steve Myers
(music), John Beck (office), Daniel
Hauenstein and Andrew Clark (custodial)
and to volunteer staff Karen Myers
(worship tech).
I believe that from the attitude that
was clear by those members present at
the annual meeting on January 24, this
congregation will be reaching out more
and making vital decisions in serving
God and following Jesus in 2010!
Grace and peace,
David Loar (aka Pastor)
Fairlawn West UCC |
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Annual Meeting
Our Annual Congregational Meeting
was held on Sunday, January 24, 2010
with 40 people present. Steve Myers
our Treasurer presented financial
reports and 2010 budget. The budget
was adopted. Three amendments were
adopted for our Constitution. They
were Members Expectations, Members
Covenant, and the Council of Elders
(which replaces the Cabinet). The
Council will be presenting other
amendments throughout the coming
year to continue to amend more of
the Constitution. The election was
held for leaders. The links below
will take you to all of these
documents and actions.
Treasurer's Report 2009
Balance Sheet 2009
Income 2009
Budget 2010
Constitution amended
Election
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Settings for Serving Christ in
the world
Ministries of
Outreach and Service that are open
to all:
1. Williard Food Pantry, 742
Johnston St in southeast Akron.
Tuesdays Nov 17 & 24 9 am-12 pm &
Saturday Nov 21 9 am-12 pm. Contact
Karen Myers,
Dick Pasher or
John Gossett.
2.
Interfaith Hospitality Network
hosting homeless families in our
bldg every 9 weeks. Coordinator is
Jan Irwin, 330-864-4461 or
office@covenantakron.org. We
need overnight hosts in the
building, van drivers, and folks to
help with evening meals. Our next
week of hosting begins Sun, Nov 29.
3.
Kids Hope USA - mentoring and
tutoring younger elementary age
children at Resnick School next door
to our building. These are children
whom the teachers say need
consistent adult relationships in
their lives. Contact the Fairlawn
West
office or Eileen Cox,
330-388-9853; elcox714@yahoo.com.
4. Habitat for Humanity-house
building going on at 211 NW 24th
Street , Barberton.
http://bit.ly/HEDk2
5. Fairlawn West Preschool. Julie
Staiger, Director. 330-864-4685;
preschool@fairlawnwest.org
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Worship
The worship of God as a community of
faith is a core practice of the life
of Christians. It is at the heart
of regular spiritual discipline. We
gather for the worship of God on
Sundays at 9:20 am and on Fridays at
6:00 pm in the parlor for the
Taize prayer, song and
meditation service.
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2010 Offering Pledge
To make a pledge is not only to
help the Treasurer in managing
the funds for our mission as a
church, but it is also an
important act as a member of the
body of Christ in covenanting
with your fellow members. If
you have not pledged yet, please
do so within the next week. All
the information and pledge form
are
available on our web site.
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New Course on Genesis
Wednesdays will be for the
foreseeable future a time for
learning and growing with the "New
Course." The Course gathers in the
Vista Room at 7:00 pm. You can
participate individual weeks if you
are unable to make all the sessions.
The first series of the "New Course"
is on the biblical book of Genesis.
We will use the PBS video series "Genesis:
A Living Conversation" which was
hosted by Bill Moyers. Each session
is on a different story in Genesis
and has a number of religious and
secular leaders share in discussion
about them. This series will last
for 10 weeks.
If you wish to have child care
available, contact the church office
ahead of time - 330-864-2179 or
office@fairlawnwest.org.
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Calendar
Visit
fairlawnwest.blogspot.com
for our weekly calendar and updates
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Walk a Mile Fundraiser hosted at
Fairlawn West Feb 28
We are hosting again the Interfaith
Hospitality Network "Walk a Mile in
Their Shoes" fundraiser on Sunday,
February 28 starting at 2:00 pm. It
would be great to have our whole
congregation participate in this
either by helping to host it in our
building or being part of the walk.
The walk will be around the park in
front of Resnick School.
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Help Haiti
You can help the people of Haiti
through donations through Fairlawn
West to
Church World Service. Just mark
your offering as "Haiti." Also, we
are making
hygiene kits. Kits already
available in the region have been
used up. Place the kits in the
wicker box in the front lobby where
food donations are regularly placed.
You can make financial donations for
the items for the kits through the
"Hearts for Haiti" goingon until
Valentines Day in the front lobby on
Sundays by Martha Loar and Mary
Austin.
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Mission Trip to New Orleans
There continues to be work
projects in New Orleans as a
follow up to Hurricane Katrina.
A group from the Ohio Conference
of the UCC will be going there
May 1-9. The cost is $300.
Housing will be in the
fellowship hall of a local
church that has been arranged
for work campers to stay for the
past years. For more info or to
register: Jim Ditzler, Ohio Conf
Disaster Response Team
Co-Director, 330-262-3242 or
jditzler@sssnet.com.
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Contact Us
2095 W Market Street
Akron, Ohio 44313
330-864-2179
info@fairlawnwest.org
fairlawnwest.org (web site)
David Loar's blog
Facebook
Twitter
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Small Groups
- The Bible and the
12 Steps of Recovery, Sunday, 10:45
am, Vista Room. Learn and discuss
how the 12 Steps of Recovery as
originated with Alcoholics Anonymous
can enable you to live a deeper
daily spiritual life connected with
God. Just come to the room after
the service.
- Prayer & Worship gathering on
Mondays, 7 pm in the Parlor. There
is a prayer request book in the
front lobby to write your prayer
requests or place them on the back
of the Connection Card. You may also
phone them to Julia Hines at
330-730-1339 . Guided by Julia
Hines and Mary Mounts.
- Bible Reading & Reflection on
Thursdays at 9:00 am in the food
court at Summit Mall. Led by David
Loar. Now reading through the
Epistle (Teaching Letter) to the
Romans. Just show up.
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