PRESBYTERIAN TIDBITS The Newsletter of Ottawa Presbyterian Church
150 N. Oak St., Ottawa, OH 45875-1810 ◆ (419) 523-3694
Reverend Ben Shaw ◆ ottawapresby.org
Andrea Morman, Secretary ◆ 9:00 am Breakfast ◆ 9:45 am Worship
September 2019
Friends in Christ,
I’ll let you in on a little secret that I’m 110% sure won’t surprise you: when I was a kid, I loved school. And
why wouldn’t I? I was good at it, I got to see my friends, and for the first few years it involved lots of field
trips, snacks, and parties. I got less enthusiastic during middle school and high school—but those feelings of
excitement and purpose came roaring back in college and seminary.
I may never go through another degree program again—though I may, who knows?—but even now there
comes a moment in late August or early September when the weather cools down for a bit and I get this
unshakeable sense that it’s time to learn something.
Maybe this is why I am really excited for Sunday school to start back up this month.
Part of it is that I’m excited for our kids to learn what it is that we believe as a community. I’m excited that
every week they are learning about the Bible and God’s love for them from our very faithful Sunday school
teachers.
But I’m also excited for our adults. Because every week we go deep discussing our scripture lesson for the
day, connecting the Bible story to the story of our own lives. This is important, sacred work for a community
to do.
And…I’m excited for me. If you’re a Sunday school regular you know that sometimes something we discuss
in the fellowship hall before worship makes it into the sermon later on. Because I learn things, too. I’ve
learned which celebrities you’ve met…the worst things you’ve seen at weddings…and also what your
biggest questions are about God, the Bible, and Christianity. It makes me a better pastor to be your teacher.
Sunday school starts September 8 at 9:30. If you’re someone like me who loves school—you might already
have it on your calendar. If you’re someone who doesn’t—you’re still invited. There are no grades, no
homework, no preparation needed. Just you.
I look forward to learning with you.
In Christ,
Rev. Ben
Prayer Concerns
Please note: Specific information about those included in our prayers is available during worship, from Rev. Ben, in our office, or from our Session
members. However, specific names will not be posted on this web version of the newsletter.
Please pray for those with health concerns no matter what their stage of life. Please pray for those undergoing Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Rehab Therapy. Please pray for those serving in the military, both at home and overseas, as well as the families who watch and wait for them. Please pray for those receiving hospice care as well as for their families and their caregivers. Please pray for residents of nursing homes and children’s hospitals and also those who are returning to their homes after hospital or nursing home stays. Please pray for those who are either waiting for or who have received organ transplants and the families who face difficult decisions. Please pray for those facing decisions in their personal lives, their professional lives, their family lives, or their spiritual lives. And finally, please say a prayer of thanksgiving for the blessings of this congregation as well as a prayer for Rev. Ben’s wonderful leadership of this group of believers!
Financial Reports
Financial reports are available from the treasurer
on in the edition of the newsletter printed out at
church or emailed to your homes.
The church directory
will be updated in the
next month or so.
Anyone with any new
information (address,
email, phone number,
etc) please get that to
the church office. If anyone would like to be
taken out of the directory, please inform me of
that also. Thanks!
Upcoming Events
Breakfast Meeting
OPW breakfast will be held on
Saturday, September 14, at 9 am, here
at the church in Fellowship Hall. Devotions will
be given by Diane Bishop. Hostesses are Janie
Font and Marjorie Roberts.
Concert
Saturday night, September 14, the Lima Area
Concert Band will be performing at 7:30 pm in the
Lima's Veterans Memorial Civic & Convention
Center. The featured soloist for the evening is Dr.
Jennifer (Barteck) Laubenthal, she will be playing
2 clarinet selections. All children are admitted
free, and tickets for adults are $15. Vickie Bartack
and Charlie Doepker are members of this talented
group of musicians. Please come to the concert to
enjoy the music and support our friends.
Outdoor Worship
Sunday, Sept. 15, we will have outdoor
worship at Memorial Park. The service
will start at 10:45. We will have a
potluck lunch after the service. Meat will be
provided by the church, we are asking everyone
that is able to bring a side dish to share. Please
bring your own dinnerware (plates, silverware);
tablecloths, napkins and cups will be provided.
Lemonade will also be provided. Bring your lawn
chairs and let's enjoy God's wonderful outdoors
and Rev. Ben's sermon. We hope to be located at a
shelter house close to the old train caboose.
Contact the church, Ashley R. or Jane D. if you
have questions.
QUARTER AUCTION IS BACK !!
On Thursday Oct. 3, OPW will open the
church doors at 6:00 pm for everyone to
get ready to have a FUN evening. Jeannie Verhoff
will be our host again featuring Signature
Homestyle items. We will start selling tickets
Sept. 1st. A ticket cost $10 which gets you a
paddle for bidding. This year we will have 4 or 5
large raffle prizes. The price for raffle tickets is
$10 for 15 tickets. The fun starts at 6:30 pm, so
bring your friends and rolls of quarters.
Contact Jane D. for more info.
Dear OPC, Thank you for
allowing me to go
to Kirkmont and
Triennium this
summer. I had a very good time! Thank you for
all that you’ve done in the past, and your kindness
hasn’t and will not go unnoticed.
- Cameron Parker
Dear Partners in God’s Mission,
We give thanks to you for your
support of Special Offerings, our
collective witness to the love of
Jesus Christ. By participating in
Special Offerings, your
congregation joins other churches to change lives
around the world through ministries of
compassion, advocacy, development,
peacemaking, Christian formation, education and
witness.
On August 6, 2019, we received $171 for the
Pentecost Offering. Your congregation’s giving,
when combined with that of others, will share the
love of Christ with those in need.
Fall is a time of renewal and energy within many
churches. It is also a time when many
congregations engage A Season of Peace, which
culminates with the Peace & Global Witness
Offering, received on World Communion Sunday.
A gift to this offering enables the Church to
promote the Peace of Christ around the world.
Your congregation is encouraged to use up to 25%
of your Offering, with the remainder going to your
mid-council and the Presbyterian Mission Agency
to support this same mission of peace. During this
busy and exciting time of year, I give thanks for
churches like yours who support Presbyterian
Mission through the Special Offerings.
Again, thank you for giving to enable all people to
know God’s life-giving welcome in Jesus Christ.
Please let me know how we can support your
efforts.
With gratitude to God for our shared mission,
Bryce Wiebe
Dear Partners in God’s Mission:
Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us that “For everything
there is a season, and a time for every matter under
heaven.” It’s hard to believe that Labor Day,
which unofficially marks the end of summer, will
soon be upon us. Schools, colleges, and
universities will soon be back in session, footballs
will be flying around and little by little, the season
will start to turn: the nights will draw in, the
temperatures will gradually drop, leaves will
leisurely fall, and a faint smell of autumn will
appear in the air.
As the season begins to change, so does life in the
church. Rally Sunday, new Sunday School classes,
committees planning for the year, and the Session
begins to build next year’s budget. The church
calendar bursts with excitement. During this busy
time of year, we give thanks for churches like
yours. Thank you for your support of the
Presbyterian Mission Agency.
On behalf of Presbyterian Mission, please allow
me to express our appreciation to you, your pastor,
session, and congregation for your gracious and
faithful support of our ministries. During July, we
received the following gifts from your church: On
July 5, 2019, we received $500 for 102 Shared
Mission Support.
Thank you once again for your support, dedication
and partnership in furthering God’s mission
around the world. You are a valued partner in
mission. Please let me know how I can support
you in your mission efforts.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Chris Roseland, Mission Engagement
Advisor
Return to regular schedule!
We will return to our regular schedule and
Education hour will resume on Sunday, September
8, with Sunday School kickoff beginning at 9:30
am and Worship at 10:45 am.
Volunteers are needed for Sept. 15 & 29 and all
Sundays in October for liturgists.
OTTAWA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 150 N. OAK ST. OTTAWA, OH 45875-1810 419-523-3694 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Presbyterian Tidbits is published once a month by:
Ottawa Presbyterian Church, part of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Reverend Ben Shaw can be reached via email at [email protected] or phone
740-972-1606.
Andrea Morman, secretary, is usually here Tuesday & Thursday.
Our website is ottawapresby.org
Sunday School – 9:30 am/Worship – 10:45 am
The Prayer Circle is a group willing to confidentially pray for your joys and concerns.
Please contact [email protected].
Session:
Class of 2019: Jane Doepker, Chas Myers
Class of 2020: Paul Baransy, Brandon Font
Class of 2021: Robyn Badder, Ashley Roberts
DATE ELDERS IN CHARGE FLOWERS
September 1 Robyn B. Vorhes
September 8 Ashley R. Hirzel
Servers: Paul B.
Communion Prep: Rev. Ben
September 15 Paul B. Carrie Johnson
September 22 Jane D. Myers
September 29 Brandon F. Eileen Miller
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