St. Paul's

Evangelical Lutheran Church

127 Cherry Rd. NE, Massillon, OH 44646

330 832-7409

March 2025 Newsletter

Contact Us: Click to send an email

On the Web

The church calendar is always available on every page of the church website on the right side, along with the church address, phone number, email address, and Youtube link for the online services. The online calendar contains the most up-to-date listing of events. 

Sunday, March 9: Daylight Savings Time--Spring Forward!

Prayer: Let’s Talk to God

Saturday, March 1, 9 am to 3 pm

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church

You are invited to attend a Women’s Lenten Retreat on Saturday, March 1 from 9 am until 3 pm at the church. The theme of the retreat is prayer. Bible study, practical strategies to improve a life of prayer, and worship will be included. The retreat is being led by LaShell Williamson and Patty Long.

New: Lunch and beverages will be provided.

Sign-ups are encouraged but not required. We have 17 sign-ups so far.

If you are able to attend only the morning session, you are more than welcome to come to just that part of the retreat. 

The Social Welfare and Evangelism Committees are asking for your participation in this year's Lenten giving project. We will be raising money to help provide families around the world with access to safe drinking water.  We are so privileged to have daily access to drinking water in our homes, schools, and businesses. For many people hours and hours each day are spent trying to gather water for their families and loved ones. Very often this water is polluted or in some way unsafe to drink. The ELCA helps bring simple wells and other water sources to communities in need.

Look for details and how you can contribute in the coming weeks. In advance, thank you for your consideration.

Cindy Lash and Kathryn Myers

Through the season of Lent, churches in the Massillon area will once again meet together for worship and Holy Communion, rotating locations and preachers. Our focus this year is “The Five Themes of Lent.”

A light dinner of soup and salad will be served at 5:30 pm. Then at 6:30 pm, we will worship together in the style of the host congregation. Childcare may be provided.

Offerings will go to the Family Living Center, which provides housing for local families in need.

March 12th – St. Paul’s Lutheran
Rev. David Oliver Kling preaching on prayer
127 Cherry Rd NE, Massillon, OH 44646

March 19th – St. Timothy’s Episcopal
Rev. Ash Welch preaching on fasting
226 3rd St SE, Massillon, OH 44646 *incense will be used

March 26th – St. John’s UCC
Rev. Tina Crog preaching on almsgiving
01 Tremont Ave SE, Massillon, OH 44646

April 2nd – First UMC
Rev. David Anderson preaching on penitence
301 Lincoln Way E, Massillon, OH 44646

April 9th – First Baptist Church
Rev. Ed Hill preaching on repentance
20 Sixth St. SE, Massillon, OH 44646

Join us on March 5, 2025, at 7:00 pm, as we begin our forty-day journey toward Easter with a solemn service of repentance and renewal.

Ash Wednesday marks us with the dust of our mortality while tracing the life-giving cross we received in baptism. As we enter this season of reflection, we remember that while we turn our hearts toward God, we have already been reconciled through Christ.

Our service will be led by clergy from three Lutheran churches in Massillon: Pastor Tina Crog (preaching), Pastor Mark Kreemer (presiding), and Pastor Ash Welch (assisting).

Together, we will confess our need for God’s mercy, receive the imposition of ashes, and renew our commitment to bearing the fruits of mercy and justice in the world.

Come and worship as we begin this holy season together.

The Fellowship Committee invites you to a delicious pancake dinner on
Shrove Tuesday, March 4.  Mark your calendar!

Save the dates to give the gift of life.

2025 Blood Drives @ St. Paul's:

Noon until 6:00 pm

Monday March 3, 2025

Monday May 5, 2025

Monday, August 25, 2025

Click on or copy and paste the link below to schedule an appointment for our next blood drive.

https://www.redcrossblood.org/

Save the dates for spring handbell ringing!  The bells will rehearse March 12, 19, & 26 in preparation to play March 30 AND April 30, May 7, & May 14 in preparation to play on May 18!  Please let Abby know if you plan to ring so that she can have music prepared for you!

John: The Gospel of Light and Life

By: Adam Hamilton

Staring March 13th, 10:00 am

Embark on a journey through the Book of John's narrative and discover anew "the Gospel of light"! Exploring its rich images, Hamilton offers illuminating insights into the profound themes of the Word made flesh; Jesus' miraculous signs; his "I AM" sayings; his farewell discourse; the arrest, trial, and crucifixion; and the promise of eternal life. 176 pages, softcover from Abingdon.

Church Council met on Tuesday, February 11. Pastor Mark shared in his report that as we soon begin the season of Lent, St. Paul’s will be hosting the Lutheran churches in Massillon for the Ash Wednesday service on March 5, at 7 p.m. Pastor Tina Crog will give the message. Pastor Mark and other local Lutheran pastors will participate in the service as well. In addition, the Massillon Clergy Association has scheduled the weekly services during Lent to include the following locations and themes: March 12, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (Prayer), March 19, St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church (Fasting), March 26, St. John’s United Church of Christ (Almsgiving), April 2, First United Methodist Church (Penitence), and April 9, First Baptist Church (Repentance).

Dennis Morgan reported for the Property and Management Committee regarding their January 28 meeting. The Dan Buxton Roofing & Construction Company is eager to begin the flat roof replacement on the church building just as soon as the weather permits. While we wait, Buxton is willing to address any leaks that may occur before the work on replacing the roof begins. Coon Restoration completed the tower roof cleanup at no charge. They will begin stonework repair as the weather allows. Abbot Electric completed repairs to the church altar area pendant lighting fixtures, including replacement of spotlights, greatly improving the brightness at the front of the church. All of the lighting is now energy-saving LED. The Standard Plumbing & Heating Company continues to provide us with updates on the progress being made on the manufacturing of the new church boiler, which will likely be installed in the spring when the heat is switched off. Thankfully, the current, and very old boiler has been providing reliable heating during these very cold months of winter.

Both the Property and Management and Worship and Music Committees had recommended exploring options for purchasing hearing devices that would connect to the church Bluetooth system, helping those in the congregation who need additional amplification to better hear the service. A system has been identified for a one-time cost of $3,300. It includes four inhouse hearing devices, however those wearing hearing aids that utilize Bluetooth could also connect through the church audio system after downloading the available app, at no cost. Council approved the purchase.

Cindy Lash reported for the Welfare & Social Action Committee and recommended that we participate in the Lenten “40 Days of Giving” and collect funds that would then be used to purchase “ELCA Good Gifts” for communities in need, supported through ELCA churchwide ministries. The Welfare & Social Action Committee will then decide which “good gifts” to purchase given the amount collected specifically for “40 Days of Giving.” Please mark your offering envelope accordingly if you would like to participate in this broader-church ministry opportunity.

Pastor Mark also reported on the Capital Campaign and noted we are moving closer to realizing our giving goal. Also, the architect we hired, John Picard, has drawings ready to go out for bid on February 21 for the entry project, for the new accessible bathrooms across from the church lounge, and for some renovation to the restrooms outside the Parish Hall dining hall, in order to make them more user friendly. We look forward to receiving the bids and moving forward on these exciting building projects, making our facilities for ministry more accessible and comfortable for all. None of this can happen without the faithful support of our congregation. Thank you!

Patty Long shared information with Council made available through the ELCA concerning changes in the law on immigration and refugee services. Churches, along with schools and hospitals, are no longer considered “protected areas.” Previously, immigration enforcement would take place outside these locations. In addition, a response from Global Refuge, formerly known as Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Services, was shared with Council in response to false accusations made concerning use of funds. The statement says in part: “Rooted in our proud Lutheran heritage, Global Refuge and our dedicated network of providers stand ready to assist the new administration in welcoming families who need to resettle in our country, helping ensure they learn our language, secure jobs that help our economy grow, and quickly become vital contributors to communities. To do otherwise would run contrary to the spirit of our Christian faith, America’s identity as a nation of immigrants, and our role as a global humanitarian leader.” (Global Refuge Statement on Misinformation around our Humanitarian Work, February 2, 2025.)

May God continue to grant us wisdom and compassion as we seek to minister to and care for all in the name of Jesus.

Respectfully shared,

Patty Long

President, Church Council

Financial notes: Our $4,000 quarterly income from the Fannie Portz Endowment helped offset three large repair bills totaling $3,722.  Also, a number of our members directed their Thrivent Choice Dollars to St Paul’s.  The deadline for directing 2024 choice dollars is March 31.  Thanks to all who donated.         

--Dan Farrar, Treasurer

The poet, the composers, the musicians--each facet of this concert was showcased on Sunday afternoon. Each poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar was first shown on the screen accompanied by a narrated interpretation. We were able to appreciate how various composers arranged music for the poems since the pieces were grouped by the 6 different composers. And finally, those compositions were beautifully expressed by the rich and pure soprano notes and the expressive piano collaboration.

We could see and hear the genius of the words themselves, the concepts and styles of the composers, and the power of the moment when the music brought it all to life.

Click below to view the concert.

Saturday afternoon, Dr. Daniel-Cox met with students for a masterclass. There were two singers from University of Akron and one from Baldwin Wallace.

Even though she had a long drive back to Dayton that evening, Dr. Daniel-Cox graciously took time to mingle with her new admirers.

Join us on Sunday, March 9, at 4:00 PM to hear works of Beethoven, Caroline Shaw, Handel-Halvorsen, and Massenet along with French and South American jazz, folk music, and love songs played by OPUS 216. 

Equally versed in classical and non-classical styles, OPUS 216 has created a niche experience for high-level performances that can cover any genre, from classical to French café jazz, Top 40, hip hop, South American and midcentury American jazz, Irish and American fiddle, original music, and improvisation.

Trained at top-tier conservatories like the world-renowned Cleveland Institute of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Juilliard, and others, OPUS 216 musicians make Cleveland their home for its vibrancy, professional development opportunities, arts and culture. Performers at St. Paul’s include Ariel Karas, violin; Brian Slawta, viola; Trevor Kazarian, cello; Steven Brija, bass; and Patrick Duke Graney, percussion.

You won’t want to miss the fantastic afternoon of music! 

Note from our Director of Music, Dr. Abigail Haake:

Part of our mission is to make our concerts accessible to all. All concerts are offered at no cost to those attending, and while we do collect a free will offering at every concert, the monies collected cover only a portion of our expenses.

Would you consider helping us with this outreach ministry by becoming a patron? Any donation is gratefully and joyfully received!

DONOR LEVELS to be recognized in programs at the concert:

Patron: $50+
Beethoven Circle: $150+
Bach Circle: $250+
Conductor's Circle: $500 and over

You can give electronically on your smart phone by texting STPAUL MASSILLON to 833-245-7486 and select one-time donation to Cathedral Concert Series.

During the weeks of Lent, St. Joseph's Church at 322 Third Street SE, Massillon, will once again host organ recitals, beginning at noon on most Wednesdays, starting on March 12. Five different organists from our area will play music appropriate for the Lenten season. The recitals last approximately 30 minutes. You are invited to attend these free events.

On March 26 Phyllis Staver and her sister Holly Fox will play numerous organ and piano duets. The title of their program is "Songs of Praise & Hymns of Love."

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up." Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

From God's Kitchen Angels: We had such a wonderful time making Chicken Rivel Soup. A grand total of 82 quarts! Of course we used Anneliese Daniel's original recipe. Anneliese has always been willing to share and teach us her family recipes. She has shared recipes for her German Potato Salad and her famous cutout cookies, which we make at Christmas time. Whether in person or a phone call when we're asking for guidance, she is a such a vital part of our church family. We are truly blessed by her.  We all love you, Anneliese!

When we finish the Stuffed Pepper Soup next week, we will have made approximately 300 quarts of soup.

Favorite Bible or hymn verses: Every month we invite those celebrating birthdays to share their favorite verses. Be ready to send in yours!

Marsha Fortune, March 12:
"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35

LaShell Williamson, March 15:
"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." Deuteronomy 33:27

Marilyn Perkowski, March 19:
"Here I am, Lord." Isaiah 6:8

Has your birthday or anniversary been missing from the published lists? If so, please contact the office so we can add it to our database. Thank you!

March 22-- Bryan & Kathleen Corban

This year is our 50th! We were married at Christ Lutheran on Amherst Ave., which is where we met. 

March22--John & Jennifer Stanko

My mother-in-law, Leona Corban, would like to thank everyone who has been sending cards and the shut in packages. Her memory has faded a bit, but with prompting, she can remember who the cards are from. She is able to attend church with her daughter Marla, whom she lives with now. Thanks again. --Kathleen Corbin

If you are interested in serving for a future month, click on the contact person's email link.

Find the "My Church" by Pushpay app in the App store on your phone or computer. It is a free download.

Open the app and search for St. Paul's by typing STPLC APP.  Then click on the St. Paul's logo.

To take advantage of all the app’s features, you must create an account. Get notifications and reminders of upcoming events, access our live stream worship and worship bulletins, send prayer requests, see the church calendar, and give electronically. 

Cathedral Concerts Facebook Page

St. Paul's Facebook Page

St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church

127 Cherry Rd. NE, Massillon, OH 44646

330 832-7409

Office Hours: T, W, F 9am-1pm

ELCA Vision: A world experiencing the difference God’s grace and love in Christ make for all people and creation..