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Emmanuel Lutheran honors organists
This Sunday, May 11, Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Van Wert will celebrate the traditional Feast of Pentecost also with special thanksgiving for the service of her four organists, Betty Schumm, Cindy Etzler, Birdie Baker, and Mabel Shumaker. Located at 705 S. Washington Street, Emmanuel’s service begins at 9:00 a.m. A reception for the organists will follow the service.


Schumm	Etzler	Baker	Shumaker

Betty (Ross) Schumm began playing the organ at Emmanuel’s Taylor Street location when she was 13 years old, alternately with other organists, including Pastor Walter Moeller’s wife, Lenore. Betty continued playing for worship until the tornado hit her home on November 10, 2002. She had played for sixty-six years.

Cindy (Frye) Etzler began taking piano lessons when she was nine years old. She started organ lessons in the sixth grade. During a pastoral vacancy in the summer of 1970 she began playing for church services. Other than brief interruptions in 1977 and 1982, at the birth of her children, Cindy has been in regular service at Emmanuel’s organ.

Birdie (McAlpin) Baker began taking piano lessons at age nine and continued lessons through high school. Soon thereafter she began raising a family, but continued to play for fun. When her daughter offered to sing at Emmanuel the Pastor insisted on live accompaniment and Birdie agreed to accompany her. Her talent revealed, Birdie went from there to accompanying the choir. Though piano is still her “first love,” she has made the transition to organ. Birdie has been playing for worship since 2003.
Mabel (Johnson) Shumaker began taking piano lessons while in grade school and played for music classes and orchestra in school. She began playing organ part-time at Emmanuel some time in the late 1930s or early 1940s, and played many duets with Betty (Ross) Schumm. Other than an interruption in 1974 because of a serious illness, Mabel has served Emmanuel continuously. She finds playing the organ, in her words, a “great satisfaction” and “challenge.”

5/9

JRCC holding yard sale this weekend
Jennings Road Church of Christ is sponsoring a yard sale on Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The church is located at 1124 Jennings Road in Van Wert. Proceeds will assist in the youth group's mission trip to Mississippi.

OC Methodist Church now has website
The Ohio City United Methodist Church now is online and those interested in getting information on the church may do so at the church’s website at www.ohiocityunitedmethodist.com

This year is the 125^th anniversary of the congregation, and congregation will be celebrating the milestone on September 21.

For those who might want to contact some of the Ohio City church’s leaders, here is a list of email addresses:

1st Baptist youths attend TI regional
Junior high and high school students from First Baptist Church in Van Wert recently traveled to Columbus for a regional Teens Involved (TI). FBC teens had advanced to this level back in March at the area TI in Cincinnati. Under the direction of Associate Pastor Phil Marshall and his wife, Darcie, youth leaders and other adults prepared and coached youth in various ministry categories. Students participated in one or more of the following categories: video presentation, writing a gospel tract, drama, individual special presentation, small vocal group, large vocal group, vocal solo and instrumental solo.

TI provides an opportunity for youth to discover and develop their talents and abilities in preparation for service in the local church. Students perform before judges, who rate their presentations and offer constructive comments on evaluation sheets.

Each of the teens from FBC qualified in one or more of the categories to move on to the National Teens Involved to be held on Word of Life Island in Schroon Lake, N.Y., this summer.

Those singing in the teen choir were Joshua Brown, Abbey Crawford, Renae Davis, Emily Fast, Brianna Hanes, Austin Kempton, Alexis Line, Crystal Morgan, Roger Morgan, Kayla Mullenhour, Kory Mullenhour, Spencer Prichard, Adam Rager, Betsy Rager and Lauren Reichard. Becky Reichard directed the choir.

Participants and categories moving on to the WOL National Teens Involved from First Baptist are: High school small vocal group – Joshua Brown and Renae Davis; Junior high small vocal group – Abbey Crawford, Alexis Line and Crystal Morgan; Junior high instrumental solo – Desaray Leopold; Gospel tract – Austin Kempton, Crystal Morgan and Spencer Prichard; Evangelistic preaching – Roger Morgan, High school drama – Joshua Brown, Renae Davis, Abbey Crawford, Brianna Hanes, Austin Kempton, Alexis Line, Crystal Morgan, Roger Morgan and Spencer Prichard; Special presentations – Joshua Brown, Renae Davis and Crystal Morgan; and a Video Presentation by Joshua Brown and Renae Davis.

Pastor and Mrs. Marshall and the other youth leaders, thanked the following individuals for their help and time invested in helping the teens prepare for their ministry at TI: Pam Brown, Ronda Davis, Becky Reichard and Pastor Steve and Ethel Robinson.

The FBC Youth Group meets each Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church. The church is located at the corner of Jennings and Mendon Roads in Van Wert. For more information about the church’s youth ministries or the church, send an email to fbaptvw@bright.net, or call the church office at 419.238.0333; or log onto the church’s website at www.fbcvw.com.
5/8

Apostolic youth group plans service

The Youth of the Apostolic Church of Van Wert will be in charge of the service May 14 at 7 p.m. They will be presenting special music, updates on Missionaries, lead testimony service and bring forth a message from the word of God. Youth Pastor , Mark Suarez invites the youth of our community to attend.

5/1

Church sets Beary Funday Sunday
On May 18, from 1-4 p.m. children are invited to bring their friends for a "Beary Funday Sunday" at the Apostolic Church 1017 S. Shannon St. Van Wert, Ohio
The day will include singing praises to God, puppets, stories, games, food, and fellowship. The child bringing the most friends will win a prize. Those who need a ride may call Mark Suarez, Youth pastor at 419-605-5617 or contact the church at 419-238-6848 for pickup by the church van. Come and have a BEARY good time!

5/1

Wesley group schedules garage sale
The Gathering Crew of Wesley United Methodist Church of Van Wert is sponsoring a neighborhood garage sale at the Wesley Park Shelterhouse this Saturday, May 10, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. A light lunch will be available, for a donation. The shelterhouse is located at the corner of Anderson and Blaine.
4/29

Long announces Mother's Day concert
    Randy Long will be performing his second annual Mother’s Day Concert, at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at Praise Point United Brethren Church in Willshire. Long, a former country performer, has been using his talents in the gospel music ministry since 2004.
    From New York to Texas, Long has sung in churches, nursing-assisted living homes, fairs, conventions, campgrounds and Christian bookstores/cafés. He has appeared on the Gospel Hour TV program TV44’s Live Wire and even a Bahamas Gospel Cruise.
    Once again, Long is taking time out to honor all mothers with some special songs just for them. Praise Point United Brethren is located 555 Decatur Road in Willshire. Admission for the concert is free, although a free-will offering will be accepted.
    For more information, call Long at 419.363.2923 or 419.203.3542 or email him at r_ministry@embarqmail.com.
4/29

1st UM sets Sunday School rotation
The Workshop Rotation Model lesson for elementary children at First United Methodist Church for the month of May will be Paul and Silas in Prison as found in Acts 16.

The point of the lesson is that people will pass on the love of God in their relationships and interactions with the world. The virtue word for the month is trust: putting one’s confidence in someone one can depend on.
The Bible memory verse is "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6-7.
Workshop Teachers are: Christ Child Chapel -- Dan and Jean Bulau; Pe@ce.com -- Kelly and Shad Foster; Starlight Theater -- Kerry Koontz and Pat Jackson; Studio One -- Wendy Howell; St. Paul's Library -- Jenny Deitemeyer; Jos. & Son Hardware -- Barb and Gary Showalter.

First U.M. Church is located at the corner of Central Avenue and Jefferson Street. For further information visit the church’s website at www.vanwertfirst.net.

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