at the

FallsCreek Community Church

149 Northmoreland Ave. Munroe Falls, OH 44262 (330) 686-1400

the FALLSGR K Dr. Mike Thomas

Senior Pastor

www.fallscreekcc.org

Volume 10

January—March

2013

ANOTHER YEAR—

ANOTHER CHANCE

Everyone at one time or another has

said, “Give me another chance.” It

may have been in school, on the job,

or in a relationship. A New Year has

arrived and along with it you are

going to get another chance at life.

Perhaps you did not fair so well in

2012. Maybe you made a mess of a

relationship. Maybe you did not

spend enough time with your family.

Whatever your problem, opportunity

is birthed out of them. The bigger the

problem the bigger the opportunity.

2013 brings with it an opportunity to

start over, to undo some things and to

try some new things. 2013 is an

opportunity to make a fresh start.

The one ingredient that is absolutely

necessary in making a fresh start is

change. Someone has said, “The New

Year is like a new baby, many

changes will be necessary, some of

which will be neglected.”

Change is difficult. Many people are

willing to change, not because they

see the light, but because they feel

the heat. Be open to change this new

year. The process of change and

growth has lasting value.

God delights in

giving people second

chances. All through the Bible there

are examples of people to whom God

gave a second chance and they made

the best of their opportunities the

second time around.

FallsCreek Community Church is

filled with "second chance" people

but no "second class" people. Every-

one is accepted wherever they are on

their spiritual journey. Together we

can make the 2013 journey.

Why don’t you give us a chance in 2013, we will give you one!

January -

Stewardship

Month

Daylight

Savings Time

Begins:

March 10,

2013

H

O

L Y

W

E

E

K

March 24, 2013

March 29, 2013

March 31, 2013

MIRACLES

Several weeks ago, I heard on the radio that the lead guitarist for Jefferson Starship, had passed away. I am at the stage of my life, that when someone younger than myself dies, I am surprised by it even though I shouldn't be. I remember my parents going through this same phase about twenty years ago. The reason we are surprised by this phenomenon, is that it forces us to face our own mortality. Jefferson Starship, was never one of my favorite bands, but they did have one song I was particularly fond of - it was called "Miracles". I particularly like the line, "if only you believe in miracles so would I". I found spiritual meaning where none was intended.

In the Bible Discovery Class, we have been studying the book of Acts. Acts (Acts is short for the Acts of the Apostles) is the history of the apostles and the early church. The book is full of miracles. It would seem that one happens almost on every page. Acts can be divided into two sections. The first half focuses primarily on Peter. He preaches primarily on repent-ance and Christ crucified. The second half, focuses on Paul. He preaches primarily on repentance and Christ's resurrection. Miracles are performed by both. In the early church thousands of converts were added daily. Repentance requires change. Not everyone likes change, but that's where the power of the gospel lies. The belief in the resurrection of Christ requires accepting the miraculous. Not everyone is willing to do this.

Recently, there was a Pew poll that stated for the first time Protestants were no longer a majority in the United States. The main reason, is that a growing number of people consider themselves religiously unaffiliated (this group is known as "the nones"). They represent about 20% of Americans and have grown 15% in the last five years. Most of the nones, are not seeking to join any religious group. Analysts today, are mas-saging the data of the Pew poll, trying to figure out why the nones are growing. I think I know why.

If we look at the early church, as described in the book of

Acts, and contrast it with the church of today, we see major

differences. The early church, as mentioned earlier was

TEACHER TALK

by Gary Varner

dominated by Peter and Paul, who stressed repentance and the resurrection of Christ. Today, the power found in repentance is often replaced with the power of comforting felt needs. The miraculous resurrection of Christ, takes a secondary role to the humorous illustration. Sacred scripture, is used in support of the subject of the sermon, as opposed to being the basis of the sermon. Paul stresses that teachings are to be drawn from scripture. In short what we have today, is the church focusing on the mundane (felt needs, humorous stories, pop psychology). The public can get this anywhere. The church needs to focus on the miraculous, not the mundane. I truly believe that if the church "believes in miracles", so will the public. Perhaps they will even show up.

Louis E. Burns went home to be with the

Lord on November 25th. He was much

loved by his family and many at FallsCreek.

Our love and prayers go out to his dear

wife, Charlotte, and his daughters, Janet

and Cathy and their families.

Known for his laughter and wit, Louis

worked for the Lord for over 35 years at

FallsCreek, serving as a bus driver, usher,

deacon, trustee, and Sunday School

teacher. He also served our country and

was an Army veteran.

A verse that comes to mind when thinking

of Louis is 2 Timothy 4:7, which says, “I

have fought the good fight, I finished the

race, I kept the faith.” And as Louis

entered his eternal home I am sure he

heard the words we all hope to hear,

“Well done thou good and faithful servant.”

Please pray that God will comfort these

families in their time of loss.

January

1st Julia Maloney

4th Jackson Pemberton

5th Cathe Maloney

Kayleigh Miller

7th Gary Peters

10th Ruby Chaney

11th Wayne Anderson

16th Jack Igleheart

17th Barbara Heiner

Blaine Mayer

18th Dave Kelley

20th Brian Frank

23rd Terrie Campbell

26th Dave Law

27th Joanne Kelley

29th Bev Mellon

February

1st Cynthis Boles

9th Russ Bulgrin

10th Homer Pack

11th Caleb Lear

Rochelle Stein

Todd Smith

14th Jeanne Richardson

15th Dale Skiljan

16th Henry Pemberton

19th Gio Patti

20th Karen Mason

21st Doris Antonetti

Logan Naylor

Linda Reynolds

23rd Gregg Stanley

24th Kaitlin Maloney

Diane Marks

26th Gregory Brunk

Dana Handschumacher

Stephanie Underwood

27th Tracie Studer

March

1st Judy Kaylor

3rd Gary Varner

10th Ryan Campbell

David Hupp

14th Michael Gay, Jr.

16th Julie White

19th Kourtny Skiljan

21st Steve Chaney

24th Carol Burks

Melissa Skiljan

25th Janice Israel

27th Tracy Stanley

28th Eddie Burks

Dennie Carroll

31st Candy Grubb

97 Boxes were sent this

year. Thank you!

Many of the boxes sent from our church found their way to the country of

Zimbabwe, in Africa.

Forty-one percent of Zimbabwe’s 12.6 million people are 14-years-old or younger.

Operation Christmas Child offers a follow-up discipleship program to our ministry partners in conjunction with the shoe box gifts. This year in Zimbabwe, these Bible lessons will be offered to 11,200 children who receive a shoe box gift.

After receiving a shoe box gift, boys and girls are invited to participate in the voluntary Bible study course produced by Samaritan’s Purse. The 12-lesson set guides children through a study of who Jesus Christ is, what it means to follow Him, and how to share this exciting message with others. To help these boys and girls continue to grow in their faith, they are provided with their own copy of the Greatest Gift New Testament. This special edition also includes select Old Testament stories, a dictionary, and a section that encourages the children to memorize Scripture.

Operation Christmas Child is a program whose impact will only truly be seen when we reach our eternal home. If you are interested in more information go to the website: www.samaritanspurse.org/occ

February 14th

What a tremendous night of entertainment for all attending this year’s Dinner Theater! The play was outstanding and the food, catered by Old Carolina BBQ Co., could not have been better. A big THANKS to all who made this such a great evening at FallsCreek.

Director & Lighting: Chuck Grubb Sound: Matt Gilbert Videographer: Jeff Stein Stage Hand: Mark Igleheart, Jimi Chaney

Cast of Characters

LaVonThomas: Margaret Dan Lenc: Dave

Austin Underwood: Chad

Stephanie Underwood:

Sandy

Candy Grubb:

Susan

Chuck Heiner : Ranger Rick

Steve Chaney: Robert Dale Skiljan: Mikey Mark Igleheart: the Bear

Mike Lutey: Uncle Oscar

Rennie Long:

Aunt Ethel

Set Design: Chuck Grubb, Mike Lutey, Steve Chaney Table Design: Stephanie Underwood

Costume Design: Rennie Long Script Consultant: Candy Grubb

Servers:

Jimi Chaney Sherl Dreier

Chuck Grubb Mark Igleheart

Tricia Igleheart Dawn Kensinger

Cindy Terry Aaron Turano

Lillian Turano

...that FallsCreek has many more bikers than I originally knew about

…that in addition to the Grubbs, Brunks and Chaneys, Donna Cook,

Dan Campbell, Rennie and Larry Long, John and Stephanie

Underwood, Dennie and Michelle Carroll, and Dale Skiljan all

enjoy riding...that we are also starting a Corvette Club with Larry

Long and Dan Campbell sporting their cars...that the Heart2Heart

Group were very excited to introduce “their new baby”, Karen Mason’s granddaughter, Kylee Grace,

when she and her parents were in the service Christmas Sunday...that Linda and John Reynolds are

getting very excited about the arrival of their first grandchild, Grason James Ison...that Pastor and

LaVon were able to enjoy Christmas time in New York City for a few days...that Mickey Knight was

able to enjoy an early Christmas with Afton and Brad and the two grand fur-babies...that if you were

not in attendance, you really do need to see Janice Israel perform her version of the Angel Chicken

Dance...that Jeromy Clark headed up a project to collect money for women in need associated with

Access Inc. in Akron…that $785 was donated by those at FallsCreek and when Jeromy and some of

teens went to present the gifts, two of our senior girls filled out applications to serve as volunteers with

the organization…that Dan Campbell is a man of many interests. There is virtually nothing he does not

enjoy doing. You must see his salt-water fish tank and collection of animals he has hunted…that I have

heard Tom Likovetz makes the best fried chicken around (maybe he will share his recipe???) …that

God does not call us to be perfect, He calls us to be persistent...Did you know these things?

I thought you should! Donna A. Peters, Editor

An Old-Fashioned Family Christmas was held in December. After lunch Justin Raper led the singing of Christmas Carols while Donna Peters led the sharing of Christmas traditions past and present. Barb Brunk read the

Christmas story from Luke 2.