Pastor Marcus Lohrmannpastor@commofchrist.org6517 Finzel RdWhitehouse, OH 43571

419-877-0607www.commofchrist.org

Join us on Facebook Live!

WorshipSunday 9am

Ash Wednesday7:00pm

Council MeetingTuesday, February 9

Meeting by Zoom

Lenten Wednesday’sFacebook Live

7:00pmFebruary 24, March 3,

10, 17 & 24

Worship ServicesAvailable on the net

www.commofchrist.org

Church Office Hours8:30-12 noon

Monday – Friday

Love your NeighborSocial DistanceWear your Mask

Be Safe & Sensitive

February 2021Dear People of God at Community of Christ, Change is not easy for most of us. Yet for the past year we have experienced incredible, relentless change. The COVID pandemic has impacted every aspect of our lives, including our life together in congregations, and threatened many with illness and death. We have gone through a period of rancorous debate as we approached national elections and now have experienced a change in administrations. Given the reality of racism we now ask ourselves, what needs to change to enable everyone in this nation to experience, “...one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all? “With the retirement of Pastor Matt Lash, Community of Christ is experiencing yet another change. He is a beloved pastor who provided faithful ministry for 9 years. Together you worked through the rhythms of the church year, celebrated festivals and experienced life passages including baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and funerals. He walked with you as a constant, gracious presence through so many times of joy and sorrow. Many of you will miss his pastoral leadership. It may be difficult for some, particularly children, to even imagine the congregation apart from his pastoral leadership with guitar in hand. Change for congregations is not easy-particularly when a beloved pastor's ministry comes to an end. In his letters to the Corinthians, it becomes clear that not all were thrilled with St. Paul's leadership. In the midst of the debate, he offered the powerful reminder, "We do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' who has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in clay jars to make clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us." (II Corinthians 4:5-7) By the power of the Holy Spirit, God chooses different "clay jars" for church leadership from season to season. Most of us really are "cracked pots"! The focus, however, is not on the clay jars but the treasure of the Gospel that we get to share. For all of us who are called to pastoral ministry and leadership in the church, the challenge is to be faithful for the time and place that we are called to serve-always recognizing that at some point that time will come to an end. It is the treasure of God's promises in the crucified and risen Christ that endures. It is a privilege to be asked to serve as your Interim Pastor. As with Pastor Matt, I will bring my own distinctive gifts (and vulnerabilities!). As Pastor Matt has done so faithfully, I too will seek to point you to God's promises in Christ through my leadership. By God's grace, the day will come when the congregation calls its pastor and, as in the case of Pastor Matt, I will step aside confident that the "treasure" will sustain both the newly called pastor and Community of Christ congregation. Thank you for so graciously welcoming me to walk with you as your pastor during this time of transition. I specifically want to thank Bishop Beaudoin, Assistant to the Bishop Sherry Krieger, Toledo Conference Call Process Facilitator Jean Emery, the Executive Committee, particularly former Congregational President Max Kohr and current President Kevin Swagler for setting the foundation for my ministry with you. Indeed, all of us are "clay jars." The treasure that is the Good News of Jesus Christ will hold us together and enable us to bear a faithful witness in the days ahead-precisely in the midst of change.

From the Pastor

Pastor Marcus Lohrmannpastor@commofchrist.org6517 Finzel RdWhitehouse, OH 43571

419-877-0607www.commofchrist.org February 2021

PERSONAL BACKGROUND...I am married to Heidi who served as an elementary school teacher in Sylvania prior to retirement. We are members of Olivet Lutheran Church where Heidi is active in Bible Study, the Food Pantry and the congregation’s Global Mission Task Force. We have three adult children and spouses who have gifted us with six grandchildren. Our youngest, Rebecca and her husband Cyril, with their two sons Luke and Noah live near us. We enjoy grandparenting the boys several days a week. Our son Adam and his wife Kjerstin have two children, Kai and Sula, and live in Madison, WI. Our daughter Rachel and her husband Pastor Ben Sheets and their daughters Eliza and Emilyn are in the process of moving to Lanai, Hawaii where Ben has accepted a call. My first call was at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Hazelwood, MO, where I served as Associate Pastor for 12 years. I then accepted a call to St. John, Hicksville, OH where I served for 8 years. In 1997, I accepted a call to become Senior Pastor at Olivet. I was elected as Bishop of the Northwestern Ohio Synod in 1998 and retired from that office in 2016.In 2017, I served as Interim Bishop for the Florida-Bahamas Synod and then served as Interim Pastor at Memorial, Toledo for 1 1/2 years in 2018-2019. MOVING FORWARD...At this point I have agreed to serve as your Interim Pastor on a 2/3-time basis. In addition to Sundays, I will be in the office 2-3 days a week, typically including Wednesday, and Thursday and will also be available for pastoral emergencies. Congregational leadership has agreed to give me a Sunday off approximately every 6 weeks so that we can honor some commitments related to retirement and family. On a periodic basis congregational leadership and I will review how this relationship is working so that we may serve together with joy and satisfaction to the glory of God. AND FINALLY....When I was elected to serve as the Bishop of the Northwestern Ohio Synod, I felt grief at leaving parish ministry. It is a precious, holy call to serve as a congregation's pastor and to be entrusted with the care and nurturing of faith for that congregation. I thank God for the privilege of serving as your Interim Pastor for this critical time of transition in the life of Community of Christ congregation. May the Holy Spirit empower us to serve together with faithfulness and joy.

Together with you in Christ, Pastor Marcus C. Lohrmann

From Pastor Marcus Lohrmann

WORSHIP

WORSHIP LIFE in February

Sunday, February 75th Sunday after EpiphanyMessage from Pastor Marcus LohrmannSunday, FACEBOOK LIVE Worship 9:00 a.m.

Sunday, February 14Transfiguration of Our LordMessage from Pastor Marcus LohrmannSunday, FACEBOOK LIVE Worship 9:00 a.m.

Wednesday, February 17Ash WednesdayMessage from Pastor Marcus LohrmannFACEBOOK LIVE Worship 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, February 211st Sunday in LentMessage from Pastor Marcus LohrmannSunday, FACEBOOK LIVE Worship 9:00 a.m.

Sunday, February 282nd Sunday in LentMessage from Pastor Marcus LohrmannSunday, FACEBOOK LIVE Worship 9:00 a.m.

Five Consecutive Wednesday’sDuring Lent 7pm Facebook Live

February 24, March 3, 10, 17 & 24

What does VIRTUAL WORSHIP

OFFER??

Please continue to join us on Sunday morning

via Facebook or check out our web site

www.commofchrist.org. Worship is the most

important meal we can receive for a healthy

faith! Your Church offers God’s Word, hymns you can sing, Liturgy you can sing, creeds you

can speak, prayers you can share, children’s time in your own home, a relevant inspired

message for today’s concerns. You can chat

with each other on-line or just friendly, ‘Good morning’ or blessing for a fellow church member or your Pastor! Is it the same as ‘being in church’---No, However, the scriptures

encourage us to not grow weary---remain

vigilant in staying connected with God’s Word! Blessings!

.

WORSHIP & ACTIVITIES

Fun Resources will continue to be available outside the church

doors on Sunday and Monday. Please pick up a resource for

your elementary age child and enjoy some family time during

the upcoming Lenten & Easter season! Blessings in these

difficult times!

Children’s CRAFTS AND LESSONS OF JESUS!

We appreciate the

music Eric provides on

Wednesday and

Sunday.

If you would like to

participate and assist

our morning or evening

worship with an

instrument, solo or

offering of music,

please contact the

church office!

We would love to

welcome you!

Welcome Pastor Lohrmann!

On Sunday January 31, 2021, after much work by the 2020 council and continued efforts into

2021, Pastor Marcus Lohrmann was officially installed as our Interim Pastor. I know firsthand that

congregational members as well as council members are very excited to have you as part of our

church family during this important time. We welcome you with passion and joy and look forward

to working with you as we continue in our transition. I am confident that our members will be

available to you in any way that you may need assistance and support. May God’s Grace lead us

as a church family.

On Behalf of Community of Christ,

Kevin Swagler

Friday, March 19, 2021Noon - 5:00p.m.

Please keep an eye on your email or our Sunday bulletins for sign up

information!

We are grateful for those offerings that are received. Your gifts to the mission of the church keep us strong and able to meet the costs of our ministries. Thank you for sharing your faithful offering with your

congregation!

2020 BUILDING & GENERAL FUND ANALYSIS

SIMPLY GIVING PROGRAMa regular electronic withdrawal that

supports your congregation when you are out of town.

Let us be cheerful givers to the Lord!

2021 OFFERING ENVELOPES

Our offering envelopes for the 2021 New Year are available! Boxes will be available on the long tables in the hallway. Our weekly offering envelopes includes weekend offering, Lenten Wednesdays, Holy week, Easter, Thanksgiving, Advent services and more! If you have questions as to how to complete your weekly offering, please contact the church office. PLEASE REMEMBER ---we offer an electronic offering, (Simply Giving) that will withdraw your support automatically from your account. THANK YOU FOR GIVING TO THE LORDS WORK AT COMMUNITY OF CHRIST AND THE ENTIRE CHURCH!

STEWARDSHIP

C of C installs Streaming Technology With thanks to generous giving, we have installed a camera system and updated sound to provide streaming services to our membership and community. We will continue to ‘stream’ our worship ‘live’ once we return to in-person worship services. We hope you enjoy the improvement in the quality of our presentation!

2020 Building Loan Fund

Income Expense Diff.

Dec $11,084 $12,563 ($1,479)

YTD $127,219 $140,330 ($13,110)

2020 General Fund

Income Expense Diff.

Dec $40,665 $50,442 ($9,778)

YTD $384,597 $392,379 ($7,783)

Our next meetings: Tuesday, February 9

Meeting by Zoom

Minutes of Council Activity & Decisions Once the previous month’s minutes are approved, copies are available for congregation. The minutes are available on the web site www.commofchrist.org. You may always contact any council member regarding recent decisions. Stay informed each month.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Volunteers are needed to assist with the operation of the new audio-visual equipment. Training will be provided. This is an opportunity to learn new skills and offer a service to our church. Please contact Michelle if you are interested.

Our next meetings: Tuesday, February 9

Meeting by Zoom

Transition Team

The Transition Team has officially started the next phase of the call process. The team

selected Kim Jones as the Chairperson and Karole Sigg as Secretary. Members also include Susan

Nofzinger, Tom Davis, Haley Reid, Kevin Swagler and Matt Dewitz.

The Transition Team leads the “Discovery & Transition” Phasewhich describes how the parish discovers its spiritual identity, its mission and vision for ministry,

and readies itself for changes that will accompany a new pastoral leader. This is designed to assist

the Call Committee with selecting a Pastor that is the best fit for Community of Christ and its

mission.

Look forward to communications from the Transition Team in the near future. Input from the

congregation is paramount to make this Call process a success!

Please remember the following

members who are ill, shut in, or

recently hospitalized:

Sue Kegg – Care for Cancer

Jerry Petrell

Please remember them in your daily

prayers. Thank you.

Praying for God’s People

Memorial Funds & Gifts

Community of Christ is grateful to receive funds in

memory or in honor of loved ones. You may select

from the following funds:

Building Reduction FundMusic Fund

Stained Glass FundLandscape & Ground

FundYouth Ministry Fund

BLESSINGS & PRAYERS

February Birthday’s!

Jeff Baden 02/01

Nancy Shaw 02/01

Sandra Rice 02/02

Jane Schmenk-Jahna 02/03

Emily Pollock 02/04

Kara Keil 02/06

Brad Archer 02/07

Jerry Jones 02/07

Mackenzie Barney 02/08

Johann Wagner 02/10

Renee Mruzek 02/10

James Gill 02/12

Pam Karg 02/12

Jeff Bright 02/13

Morgan Graceffo 02/13

Sharon Miller 02/14

Collin Keil 02/15

Cameron Happel 02/16

Cheri Outly 02/16

Kenneth Kuhlman 02/16

Kelsey Verhoff 02/17

Lou Ann Brettel 02/18

Mark Petrell 02/18

Scott Petrell 02/19

Laurie Mauro 02/20

Michelle Reid 02/20

Vince Mauro 02/20

Wayne King 02/20

Barbara Thober 02/23

Zachary Boltz 02/25

LuAnn Shuman 02/27

Emma Abraham 02/28

Mike Carman 02/28

Paul Rasmusson 02/28

Wilbur Wagner 02/28

419-877-0607secretary@commofchrist.org

www.commofchrist.org6517 Finzel Rd., Whitehouse, OH 43571

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Community of Christ Lutheran Church

Our Church Office Hours:

8:30 am - Noon (Monday through Friday).

Thank you! With the

monies approved for and raised from our Capital Improvement fund, we now have a NEW lawn mower!! Thank you also, to Paul Ludwig for the time you spend making our lawn look so

nice