Cookies for College Students

Monday, February 2, is the day cookies will be packed and sent to our college students.  Packing will begin at 9:00 a.m. Monday morning.  The United Methodist Women (UMW) is asking for donations of homemade cookies – individually wrapped – bags of wrapped candies, or monetary donations which will offset the cost of postage.  Everything must be delivered to the church kitchen by 9:00 a.m. on Monday, February 2.  Thank you!  UMW

Giant Eagle Gift Card Fundraiser Program Update!

We are working to make this fundraiser as convenient as possible for everyone! We now have Giant Eagle gift cards available in the following denominations: $50, $100 and $200 cards. No more deadlines, no more waiting for your cards to arrive!

If you would like gift cards, please call the church office at 440-247-5848 or email us at info@chagrinfallsumc.org and let us know what you need… we will have it ready for you when you wish to pick them up. The gift cards can be used at any Giant Eagle or Get Go – and you’ll earn Fuel Perks! Help support the church when you shop at Giant Eagle by planning a bit ahead. The gift cards can even be used to purchase other gift cards!

Giant Eagle offers more than 150 different gift cards. So pick up your gift cards now and support the church as you shop!

Contact Patrice Hendricks, Treasurer, if you have any questions. (440-708-4627)

Get Connected with the Life of Jesus…

We have a new Sunday morning Adult JAM Session beginning Sunday, January 11.  Join us and learn about the Life of Jesus:  Who He Is and Why He Matters,  Sundays at 9:45 AM in the Fireside Room * January 11 through February 15

What really happened back in the first century, in Jerusalem and around the Sea of Galilee, that changed the shape of world history? Who is this figure that emerges from history to have a profound impact on culture, ethics, politics, and philosophy?

Join historian John Dickson for the opportunity to explore a portrait of Jesus that is faithful to both the Gospel of Luke and contemporary scholarship about the man from Galilee.

Jan. 11 God’s Signpost:  Jesus as a tangible sign of God’s presence in our world

Jan. 18 Christos:  The identity of Jesus and his critique of religion

Jan. 25 Kingdom Come:  Jesus’ vision of the future and its relevance now

Feb. 1 Judge and Friend:  Jesus’ thoughts on “Religious Sinners” and “Rotten Hypocrites”

Feb. 8 Cross Examination:  Jesus’ death as the source of life

Feb. 15 The Resurrection:  How could it happen? Does it matter?

For more info, e-mail Kim Berger at or phone/text (440) 724-5614.

Thank you!

A special thank you to all who had their pictures taken for the new Church Directory.  If you have submitted a photo or are using one from the previous directory, there is a $10.00 charge which should be made payable to the church with a note that it is for the directory.  I would also like to thank Connie, our church secretary for her help with appointments and communication with the Lifetouch Directory folks.  Bob Myers and Justin Schultz will be working on the extra pages for the directory and I am grateful for their computer expertise!  Shirley Ashby and I will be also working to see that it is submitted in three weeks so that we may see our new directories early in the New Year.                                         – Karen Johns

An Invitation to Prayer Breakfast

We’d like to encourage anyone in the congregation to attend our weekly prayer breakfast.  We meet on Tuesday mornings in the Sanctuary at 7:30 a.m. for a time of meditation.  This is followed by a delicious breakfast prepared by Chef Stan Bowe for only $2.00.  We are usually cleaned up and out by 8:45 a.m., filled with the Spirit of the Lord and Stan’s delicious breakfast.

We’d love to have you give it a try.  Just give Stan a call so he can prepare accordingly.

Moblie Food Pantry

We successfully completed another North Broadway Mobile Food Pantry on Friday afternoon, September 19^th. The weather was outstanding, the produce was good, and there was a good turnout. We provided food to 139 family units which would impact over 400 people.

 Kris DuBois participated from our church. From our partner Bay UMC were Andy Lihani, Dan Hurst, Ann Rich, Nancy Davis, and Ron Smith. We are always grateful for the help from the neighborhood folks: Pat Vinston, Truman Vinston, Gloria Harris, Zoey Scott, Nicole Scott, Francina, and Shyana.

The Greater Cleveland Food Bank has recently informed us of changes to the mobile food pantry distributions that will greatly benefit the families we serve. Our Pantry next month will be on Oct 17^th, when we look forward to a better mix of food products, and quantities better suited to the size of our mission.   If you are interested in volunteering please contact Kris DuBois at or 440/220-0871.

Nehemiah House Painting Project

Volunteers Needed:  The Nehemiah Mission of Cleveland has a house painting project that needs completed before winter.  The entire house has been primed and three sides have been completed.  The need is for a work crew to paint one entire side of a fairly large house located on the East side of Cleveland.  This is a two story house and therefore a portion of the work will require working from ladders.  Date and time are Saturday, September 27 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. (You don’t need to be available for the entire time). If you are interested in helping, please sign up on the sheet posted on the bulletin board.

UMCOR Disaster Response to Wildfires Burning out West

There are currently 31 large wildfires burning in the Western part of our nation with 23 of those uncontained and 155 new smaller ones. Join UMCOR in praying for firefighters as they face the immense task of responding during a time of high temperatures and extreme drought. Pray for residents as they face the loss of their homes and landscape and for the wildlife as the animals attempt to escape the flames and find refuge.

UMCOR has issued an emergency grant to the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference to aid in relief and recovery efforts as soon as the situation allows.

Contributions may be made to UMCOR at www.umcor.org, US Disaster Response, Advance #901670. Or, checks payable to UMCCF with Advance #901670 in the memo line may be left in the offering plate.

North Broadway Mobile Food Pantry Update

The Bay UMC and Chagrin Falls UMC partnership was able again to manage a successful Mobile Food Pantry on North Broadway in Cleveland on Friday, May 16. The weather was cool but clear and the amount of food provided by the Cleveland Food Bank was quite manageable. We were also pleased to accept 2000 fresh plastic grocery bags from Ann Rich, donated by Dan Cannon, manager at the Rocky River Heinen’s. We were able to register about 112 family units and the food they obtained will benefit 300-400 people.

Participants from Bay UMC were Maynard Bauer, Betty Bauer, Chris Funkhouser, Nancy Davis, Ron Smith, Dick Anderson, Dan Hurst, Nancy Hill, and Andy Lihani. From Chagrin Falls UMC we had our co-coordinator Kris Dubois, Mark Wakefield, and their son Ross. We are always glad to see and work with our volunteers from the North Broadway neighborhood: Pat Vinston, Truman Vinston, Nicole Scott, Zoey Scott, and Gloria Harris.

We look forward to our next Mobile Food Pantry on Friday, June 20.

A Request from The Geauga Hunger Task Force

Dear Church Members,
Just as spring prepares for the coming year, the Geauga Hunger Task Force is again preparing for a year of feeding Geauga’s own families. Facing a $39,000 challenge (shortfall) due to loss of funding and increase need, we are approaching the community early in March to ask for your support of the Geauga Hunger Task Force. Since 2007, the Hunger Task Force has seen the number of people right here in Geauga County needing your help more than double. Thanks to your food drives, generous donations, and your support of special events like the Messiah Concert and the CROP Walk, we fed over 3,075 Geauga children last year and approximately 1,400 senior citizens. Please consider a donation to feed Geauga’s families this spring by making a check payable to the Geauga Hunger Task Force. Our address is 209 Center St. # H, Chardon, Ohio 44024. Thank you for considering this special request.