Spirit of congregation moves church forward

The Rev. Ted Schaffer is serving as interim pastor.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR
NEWTON FALLS -- The congregation of Messiah Lutheran Church marked a milestone is its history -- its 50th anniversary.
The Rev. Dr. Marcus Miller, bishop of North Eastern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in American, delivered the message at a worship service Dec. 18. The church was formally organized Dec. 18, 1955. Members and charter members also celebrated the golden event at a dinner Nov. 6.
The interim pastor, the Rev. Ted Schaffer, said he is committed to helping the church leadership build its membership and programs.
"I'll be here until they get a full-time pastor," the Rev. Mr. Schaffer said. The church has not had a pastor for three years.
Even so, the church moves forward.
"We recently finished a First Holy Communion class," Mr. Schaffer said, and noted they received First Communion on Christmas Eve.
"They have a spirit," Mr. Schaffer, a minister who has been retired about 10 years, said of the congregation. The interim post at Messiah is his fourth such assignment. Before retiring, he held positions at New Life Lutheran Church, Liberty, and Shepherd of the Valley, Niles.
Helping out
Mr. Schaffer, who served on the anniversary committee, said he plans to work with the church leadership on worship, its ministries and finances and building its programs. "I'm greatly impressed with the people here. They are generous in helping out," he said.
Currently, the church is assisting two women, who fled from Hurricane Katrina, with housing and food. "The congregation has given financially and been generous. Their willingness to reach out and help is fantastic," Mr. Schaffer said.
As for the congregation itself, about 50-55 people attend Sunday worship. "This will be a growth process for them ... a lot of work and prayer," Mr. Schaffer said.
Mr. Schaffer also said an annual luncheon meeting is planned at the end of January. "We want to come up with some kind of one- and three-year plans to see what we can accomplish," he said.
Sandra Kuchta, chairwoman of the 50th anniversary committee, said, "We hope to reinstate visitation of members who haven't been attending regularly. We want to keep our committees and programs going."
Kuchta also said the church's social ministry is involved in support of the Church Mouse, a community food bank in Newton Falls. During the holiday season, church members volunteer to ring the bell for the Salvation Army.
Social ministries
The social ministry also sponsors bake sales with proceeds going to world hunger programs, encourages participation in walk-a-thons for the American Cancer Society, and makes monetary donations to Lutheran Disaster Relief, which helps people locally and worldwide, she explained.
The youth group continues to function and holds fund-raising events to attend the national youth gathering, Kuchta said. Churchwomen also serve funeral dinners.
Donations from the congregation made possible the 1989 and 1990 installation of stained-glass windows in the church sanctuary and the establishment of the Winifred Schilling Pipe Organ Fund. The pipe organ was installed and dedicated in 1993 to honor 30 years of service as organist by Schilling, now deceased. Current organist is Jessica Boggio.
"The church had an electric organ, and it needed to be replaced," Kuchta said. "The pipe organ was expensive, but the membership wanted to have it because the church has excellent acoustics."
Also serving on the 50th anniversary committee were Rick Wiesner, church council president, and Herta Trinks, whose wedding was the first at Messiah Lutheran in 1956. Her husband, Herbert, is deceased.
linonis@vindy.com