Zeal for Zion July 2020 Volume 7

Zion United Church of Christ, 415 South Main Street, North Canton, Ohio 44720

A Heart of Wisdom

By Rev. Eli O. Klingensmith It is hard to believe that I’m writing this article for our July Zeal for Zion. That means 2020 is half way over. Where

has it gone? Even with COVID 19, it seems like a blur.

I was listening to a song by Jason Crabb, and the chorus of the song caught my attention. The song, especially the

chorus, points to what makes us or defines us as a person. Often we think what defines us are the great big things-the im-

pressive things-of life. We are convinced that to be somebody we need to accomplish some great feat or display an extraordi-

nary faith, that we somehow need to walk on water. In the chorus the song says…

It’s the path you take-the steps you make-that make you who you are.

It’s the life you live-the gifts you give-the love that’s in your heart.

You don’t have to walk on water-it’s how you walk on land.

My friend, the way that we live and approach each day is important-not just some of them but all of them. Each day is

a big day. Every day is an important day. Every day presents an opportunity to know God and to serve God. Every day pre-

sents an opportunity to influence, impact and help someone else. Every day is important because there will never be another

day like this day. Every day, each day, is important because our days are few-they are limited and numbered.

Psalm 90 is a prayer believed to be written by Moses. If so, that means Psalm 90 is the oldest psalm in the collection

of psalms.

:12, states, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” This prayer is something of an

oddity because Moses is asking God to make him constantly and consciously aware of his mortality-something most of us

would rather forget.

He wants the Lord to make him aware that the days of his life, as he tells us in :10, though they may get to 70 or 80

years with good health, will be gone too quickly and then we fly away.

Why would anyone want to be constantly reminded and made aware that he or she is going to die one day? Here’s a

reason: Knowing there is an end will change how we approach each day-especially when we don’t know when the end is-

while our days are numbered we don’t know their number. God has not made us privy to that information.

Knowing that something will not last forever alters how we approach it. Knowing that our time is limited-our days are

numbered-will cause us to examine and alter our priorities. Knowing the end of something is coming changes how we ap-

proach the present.

With those kind of thoughts in mind Moses prays, “Help me be aware of how few my days really are so that I might

present to you a life well lived-a life pleasing to you.” That is the essence of the later part of his request: “that we may gain a

heart of wisdom.”

Wisdom goes beyond what we know or believe. It includes how we live. And what we know about God, Christ, the

Holy Spirit, and the Bible should inform us on how we live.

Friend, I agree with Moses. I don’t want to piddle and play at life and present something to God that is cute. I want to

present something of great value and worth. Don’t you? Then perhaps, like Moses, we need to pray “teach us to number our

days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Amen Eli

CONTACT US:

Phone: 330.499.8191

Website: OurZionUCC.org

Email: ZionUCC@gmail.com

Facebook: Our Zion UCC

CHURCH BUILDING & OFFICE HOURS:

Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION:

Joey Cronin ZionUCC@gmail.com

Pat Hoffman ext. 313 ZionUCCFinance@gmail.com

Rev. Eli Klingensmith ext. 303 RevEliK@gmail.com

Michael Lucas ext. 312 michaeljeffreylucas@gmail.com

Katie McCleaster ext. 301 ZionUCC@gmail.com

Ralph Morrison ext. 311 ralphmorrison888@yahoo.com

CUSTODIANS ext. 308

Sunday - Luke Hawkins

Monday/Thursday - Denny Adams

Tuesday & Friday - Jeffrey Blankenship

Wednesday/Thursday - Mike Karam

Zeal for Zion July 2020 Page 2

Consistory Meeting Highlights

June 15, 2020

The financial report shows that our 2020 income is above our budgeted income projection and our actual expenses are below our budgeted expense projection.

The Property Committee is in the process of replacing one of our boilers that has failed.

Our Next Generation Pastor Search Committee is continu-ing to work through the Covid 19 situation and is accept-ing resumes.

We will be opening Zion beginning Sunday June 21, 2020 for those who wish to resume in-person worship. We will continue to live stream the service. The service time will remain at 10:30 am for now.

The revised date for the 2020 Congregational meeting will be July 19, 2020 following our service.

Rick Fisher Consistory President +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Zion Congregational Meeting - July 19

A Congregational Meeting for Zion UCC will be held on

Sunday, July 19 following the worship service. During the

Congregational Meeting, members will vote for their

representatives for Deacon and Elder. Please make an extra

effort to be part of this Zion UCC meeting for your church. If

you cannot attend you may stop in the church office M-F from

9-4 to fill out an absentee ballot.

At the June Consistory meeting the following slate of

candidates was approved.

Candidates for Deacon: Casie Mangus, Sandra Merrill and

John Royer

Candidates for Elder: David Brandau and Shirley Dobry

Additional individuals may be added by nominating from the floor or by contacting Rev. Eli or Rick Fisher.

We reach out in love to our Church family and friends who have lost loved ones. May God’s blessing, comfort and peace surround you and your family.

The family and friends of Nick Cap on his May 17th pass-

ing.

David Jones and family on the May 19 passing of his wife

and our dear member, Karen.

The family of Glen Forney, on his May 28 passing.

Marilyn Giey, on the May 30 passing of her husband and

our dear member, Daryl. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Church building will be closed on Friday

July 3rd in observance of July 4th.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Bible Verses for the 4th

of July

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is,

there is freedom.

~2 Corinthians 3:17

Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cov-

er-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

~1 Peter 2:16

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people

whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

~Psalm 33:12

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and

sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful na-

ture. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

~Galatians 5:13

Zeal for Zion July 2020 Page 3

Zion’s Blessing Box has been a

great community outreach for our church by providing a much

needed resource for our neighbors suffering from food inse-

curities during these exceptionally challenging times. Since

March we have had to fill the Blessing Box daily due to the

increased need and activity. This on occasion has left us low

on supplies i.e. nonperishable food and personal hygiene

products to fill the box. Just when I think there will not be

enough food to last out the week, like the miracle of the

loaves and the fishes God touches people’s hearts and our

supply table is replenished with the needed items and there is

no interruption to the availability of food in the box or our min-

istry of helping our neighbors in need. I want to send a HUGE

THANK YOU to everyone who has helped and continues to

help with the Blessing Box, your prayers, food and monetary

donations through this pandemic when trips to the grocery

stores are less frequent, the shelves at the stores are less

than full, and in many cases products that are available have

limited quantities… you are what truly makes the box a

“Blessing”. If you have any questions about the Blessing Box

or how you can help, please contact Brenda Shelkofsky, Mary

Anne Fisher or the Church Office.

Thank You!

Brenda Shelkofsky

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

My heartfelt thanks goes out to everyone who through the

height of the Covid-19 crisis faithfully and selflessly brought a

little piece of Zion weekly into our homes. The Wednesday

devotional and Sunday messages were all very inspiring,

music was beautiful and the video feed on Facebook was

perfect! Thanks to all of you for bringing a sense of comfort

and normalcy into our lives during these difficult and chal-

lenging times!

Brenda Shelkofsky

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A very special Thank You to Joyce Blankenship for making all

of the wonderful masks! We have her homemade masks

available in the office if anyone is need of one. Thank you for

sharing your time and talent to help keep all of us just a little

bit safer.

Dear Rev. Klingensmith,

It has been such a joy being able to participate in Sunday ser-

vices every week during this time of Covid-19 shelter-in-place.

I look forward to Sundays more than I have in a very long

time. I really hope you will continue streaming services after

restrictions have lifted. Thank you again for having meaning-

ful, uplifting services each week. You and everyone at Zion

UCC are a blessing.

Best regards,

Holly Parkes (Hines)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Did You Know That Zion Recycles?

You probably have seen the paper recycling bin in the

parking lot. That bin is filled by members, friends, and our

neighbors. The money generated by the paper bin goes to

support our youth programs.

Items accepted are:

Newspapers

Mail

Phonebooks

Office/School Paper

Magazines/Catalogs

Cardboard

Hard & Soft Bound Books

So please feel free to drop off your papers to be recycled and

help support our youth programs!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Upper Room Devotionals

These July-August Devotionals are available in the Narthex.

Please consider a donation to help offset the expense.

Zeal for Zion July 2020 Page 4

1st: Norma Ramsey

2nd: Mike McMinn, Tom Stephens

3rd: Dorothy Rambaud, Amy Stephens

4th: Bernice Yoder

5th: Geraldine Bowe, Jamie McCleaster, Homer

Richards

7th: Joann Roush

9th: Mary Baab, Ron Karlo, Anne Shilling

10th: Robert Richards, Melanie Schwartz

11th: Teresa Haren, Charlene Warstler

12th: Paul Roush, Alyssa Schwartz, Kevin Tobin

14th: Carrie Anne Shoop

15th: Dan Howes

17th: Dan Haren

22nd: Jim Cross

23rd: Andrew Botschner, Sarah Popa, Shirley Sollie, Justin

Warstler

24th: Carolyn Chellinsky, Luke Hawkins, Katie Maag, John

Royer, Nancy Stimmel, Bill Warren

25th: Jean Class, Tami McMinn

26th: Eric Mulheim, Matt Oatley, Jan Zartman

29th: Edlyn Theiss

30th: John Fleischman

31st: Becky Dahler, Matthew McMinn, Madison Okray

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Shirley & George Daniluk July 2, 1960

Nick & Karen Stock July 5, 1997

David & Carol Young July 5, 1959

Tom & Stephanie Stephens July 8, 1989

Scott & Anne Krusemark July 12, 1980

Tony & Bethany Okray July 14, 1989

Michael & Kimberley Melin July 16, 1994

Stacy & Brenda Green July 18, 1998

Paul & Janice Huffman Webber July 18, 1992

Eric & Rebecca Mulheim July 18, 1992

David & Edlyn Theiss July 22, 1967

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A very special HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to

George and Shirley Daniluk. They will be cele-

brating their 60th wedding anniversary on July

2nd

.

Graduates

Emily Witmer graduated from Walsh University in May with a

MSN-Master of Science in Nursing Education. Her proud

parents and grandmother are Bob and Connee Kneen and

Neva Shocksnider.

Dorris Hawkins had two grandchildren graduate.

Brady Tobin graduated from Lake High School. He will be

attending Stark State College for Construction Management.

Proud parents are Kathy and Kevin Tobin.

Krystal Place graduated from University of Tennessee

Chattanooga with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Proud

parents are Kraig and Brenda Hawkins.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Be sure to stop by the display case in the Narthex to see

Connie Hausenfleck’s beautiful sand dollar display. Thank

you for sharing your time to create this amazing display.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Oatmeal Breakfast

The Missions Team is looking for volunteers to help with the

Oatmeal Breakfast served at Crossroads United Methodist

Church, 120 Cleveland Ave SW. You need to arrive by

6:30am. Volunteers are needed on the 4th/5th Sunday of

every month. Sign up sheets are on the information station

in the cloister or call the church office at 330.499.8191. Nan-

cy Dively will contact you with more information. Thank you

for sharing your time serving our brothers and sisters in need

of a hot breakfast.

2020 Zion United Church of Christ Calendar

Phone: 330.499.8191 Email: ZionUCC@gmail.com Facebook: Zion UCC North Canton Website: OurZionUCC.org

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

Events and

meetings are

subject to change.

Please refer to the

weekly bulletins

1

2

7 Troop 111 - PV

3

Church Building

Closed

8 AA - MP

4

10 Sponsored

Group - MP/104/109

5

1030 Worship

630 AA-B/104/109

6

630 Missions - CL

7 Executive - O

7 Property - 103

7

9 Quilters - 223

915 TOPS - PV

10 Staff - P

630 Pack Meeting - B

7 Troop 1 - SR/MP

8

9

7 Troop 111- B12/13/

MP

10

8 AA - MP

11

10 Sponsored

Group - MP/104/109

11-4 Fisher Rental

12

1030 Worship

630 AA-B/104/109

13

630 Consistory - 103

14

9 Quilters - 223

915 TOPS - PV

10 Staff - P

7 Troop 1 - SR/MP

15

1030 CC Parent

Orientation - 215

16

7 Troop 111 - PV

17

12 August Zeal

Info Due- Office

8 AA - MP

18

10 Sponsored

Group - MP/104/109

19

1030 Worship

12 Congregational

Meeting

630 AA-B/104/109

20

10 CC Parent

Orientation - 215

21

9 Quilters - 223

915 TOPS - PV

10 Staff - P

10 CC Parent

Orientation - 215

6 Troop 1 Committee

Meeting - MP

7 Troop 1 - SR/MP

22

23

7 Troop 111-B12/13/

MP

24

8 AA - MP

25

10 Sponsored

Group - MP/104/109

12-6 Rental - B

26

630 Oatmeal

Breakfast - Canton

1030 Worship

630 AA-B/104/109

27

28

9 Quilters - 223

915 TOPS - PV

10 Staff - P

7 Troop 1 - SR/MP

29 30

. 7 Troop 111 - PV

31 ROOM CODES

B - Beck Hall

C - Chapel

CSR -Cub Scout Rm

L - Library

O - Office

P - Parlor

MP - Multi-Purpose

S - Sanctuary

SR - Scout Room

CL-Cloister