At my old church many years ago, a group of folks led by the Worship Committee wanted to replace our old

hymnals with the new Chalice Hymnal. The Chalice Hymnal is our official hymnal of our denomination and its

hymns have been carefully selected to best represent our concerns, our history, and our practice of worship. For

example, most hymnals don’t need very many communion hymns since other churches only celebrate communion

a few times a year. We, on the other hand, include a communion hymn in every worship service.

As with many big decisions in most churches, there were disagreements about what we should do. In fact,

several people were quite upset with one another over this decision. One of the most prominent members

opposed to buying new hymnals was a very pragmatic and faithful steward whom everyone called “The Colonel.”

He argued that, while he had nothing against the new hymnal, itself, and would recommend getting it when the

time came, the existing hymnals were still in good physical condition. Why should we switch?

So, there was much discussion over the course of several weeks which culminated in a church board meeting.

Both sides presented their recommendations and the board members voted. The large majority voted in favor of

the buying Chalice Hymnal even though it would be a considerable expense.

The chair of the Worship Committee announced that they would go ahead and begin asking for donations as

soon as possible. The very first person to come forward with a check for the new hymnals? The Colonel.

While he honestly believed that waiting to buy new hymnals was the most faithful course of action, ultimately he

was more committed to the church family and the unity of the congregation than to his own side in an argument.

Because of his leadership and faithfulness, the congregation was able to move forward in love together.

Our early founders lived by a motto taken from a Lutheran theologian, Rupertus Meldenius, years earlier:

In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity. The Colonel demonstrated what that looks like

in our modern day churches. We who have remained in this congregation understand the importance of such

faithful commitment. In our world that is too often divided, one side against the other no matter the cost, such an

example is desperately needed. The world needs to learn how to continue to love each other even if we disagree

with each other, that the commitment to the whole outweighs our commitment to our faction. Or in

the words of another old-time motto: United, we stand; divided, we fall.

We are fast approaching the celebration of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit overcame divisions of culture,

language, perspective, and nationality and united diverse people into one Church. That is how we began and that is

still who we are today. The world needs us. The world needs to see diverse people, people who disagree, people

who want different things, but still manage to love one another and who still work together for the common good

of all. The world needs our experience and our perspective. It needs to hear the truth we know.

Throughout this season of Pentecost, may the Holy Spirit continue its work of overcoming and unification and

may it happen through us. May those in the world see us and come to know new ways of working together, living

together, and even loving together. May God bless you each and all to that faithful calling. Thanks for being a loving

and committed congregation.

--Pastor Ben

The clarion

June 2019

Touching lives with compassion,

understanding and hope

Coffee Fellowship – The host families for

our Sunday morning coffee fellowship

provide an invaluable service.

Thank you, Pat Coy, Laurie Sharp and Starla Smidt,

for serving as Hostesses in June.

ELDERS Serving in June: 2 Rodger Shuback 9 Sally Ifill 16 Jan Pumphrey 23 Joyce Coy 30 Rodger Shuback

OUR CHURCH REMINDERS

Celebrating the Love, Joy and Enthusiasm

that shapes Canfield Christian Church

We hope you will enjoy celebrating May and June Birthdays and Anniversaries with us on Sunday, June 9. BIRTHDAYS: MAY: JUNE: 9 Aimee Raymond 1 Teresa Shuback 11 Michael Richards 4 Donna Wiant 15 Andrea Jones 6 Jason Samora 16 Paisley O’Hara 6 Philip Shuback 19 Trinidad Galizia 8 Sally Payne 22 Lou Raymond 10 Rodger Shuback 25 Bradley Hendricks 14 Mary Payne 29 Angela Ireland 25 Steve Brown 29 Jeff Sharp 25 Pat Wiant 26 Ashley Sharp 28 Jaime Condori 28 Mary Anne Kimble

ANNIVERSARIES: MAY: 7 Dylan & Starla Smidt JUNE: 10 Kevin & Michelle Kimble 21 Bob & Marlene Biggs 14 James & Susan Bowman

24 Philip & Teresa Shuback 27 Jason & Megan Samora

Thank you for supporting our children’s efforts to help others while filling their Wagons of Hope on Sunday, June 9. Your generosity makes a difference to needy families in our local area.

Barbara Todd

July 27, 1934 -- April 25, 2019

For decades, our church family has been blessed

with the faithful service and leadership of Barbara

is set for Friday, June 7, 7-9 pm. Join us for an

evening of games, snacks, and fellowship!

Our Game Night

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Our Annual Congregational Meeting and Dinner

will take place on Sunday, June 30.

All reports and minutes

from previous meetings are needed no later than

Tuesday, June 18.

Thank you.

Dear Family and Friends of Martin Crawford, On behalf of our entire family of faith here at Canfield Christian Church

(Disciples of Christ), allow me to extend to you our shared sympathies and sincerest

condolences. We join with you in giving God thanks for the gift of Martin to our community.

He was a living blessing. While some probably knew more than he did about the Bible or

church history or any of that, few have shown the meaning of our faith in their daily living as

well as Martin did.

Galatians tells us that the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity,

faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. They all go together in equal measure. Martin seems

to have eaten of the spiritual fruit with great, satisfying bites. And you are what you eat!

Martin was all of those things each and every day.

In all that he did he demonstrated the faithful life of Jesus Christ. At church you would find

him serving as a deacon during worship, hard at work in the kitchen when we hosted a meal,

laughing with friends at times of fellowship, or sitting on the couch with a child on his lap

patiently listening to a long, rambling story. His meek and mild demeanor did not obscure the

powerful love and might of God with which he was so familiar. And while he would rarely put

it into words, he preached it more loudly than any sermon by simply living as one fully

immersed in the Lord.

That is who I wish to be. That is who we could all strive to be in our journey of faith. To

walk the path of Christ with the humility and dedication Martin demonstrated is all we would

need to find our way to the open gates of heaven.

Martin was in love. He was in love with Susan. He was in love with his family. He was in

love with his church. He was in love with the Lord God. As scripture tells us, “everyone who

loves is born of God and knows God… for God is love… and those who abide in love abide in

God, and God abides in them,” (1 John 3:7-16). As much as Martin demonstrated this love of

each and all, we can find reassurance and comfort that he dwelled deeply in God. Moreover,

we can also find in our memories of him a sure template to the faithful ways to live as

followers of Christ Jesus.

We thank you, Martin, not only for loving each of us in so many ways, but also for giving us

the gift of a faithful guide along our journey. May we all walk with such confidence and joy in

God’s abiding care as Martin did. May we walk until, one day, we are reunited with him and

with all those who have led us along the pathway to our Lord.

With Much Love and Gentleness, Rev. Ben Secaur, Pastor Canfield Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

AS YOU CONTINUE YOUR PRAYERS FOR OTHERS

Please remember those who are in assisted living/nursing homes with your prayers, phone calls, and visits: AustinWoods: DeNise Martin The Inn at Christine Valley: Irene Lehtonen Shepherd of the Valley: Barbara Hepplewhite The following individuals and families do appreciate your continued prayers on their behalf:

Helen Bush Karen Hunt Helen Dishong Jeff Nape Dorothy Rice David Dishong Gerri Brown

Colt Schmidt (Great Grandson of Pat Wiant) Doug Lewis (Brother of Joyce Coy) Roseann Lobaugh (Sister of Anita Powell) Jack Harris (Nephew of Jerry & Dolores Hanna) Marcellene Hawk Mayhall (Friend of Anita Powell) Rosa and Maria Arcenio (Sisters of Trinidad) Scott Chepke (Received a transplant) Rhonda Jones and Perri Graf (Friends of Melissa Miskell Tabbara (Friend of Sally Ifill) Sally Payne) Margrit Galano (Mother of Cindy Stackhouse) Amanda Price (Daughter of Fred & Celeste) Sandra Jeffries, Lyne Ahalt and John Beales Jennifer Cox (Daughter of Jim & Carol Swartz) (Friends of Dorris Baringer)

It is important to remember our service members in your daily prayers.

Congratulations to Rev. Walter Coy! He will begin serving as Interim Pastor at Steubenville Zion United Church of Christ on June 2. Also, he celebrated his 30th Anniversary of ordination on May 21.

Bunks Across America

Volunteers for this help program are building beds for children who have to sleep on the floor. We are participating by collecting new twin size sheet sets; you can bring them to the collection box under the coat rack on or before June 15. Thank you for your generosity. More information is available at www.shpbeds.org

A Heartfelt Thank You

Canfield 4th of July Celebration

Needed: Volunteers to help pass out bottled water. We will set up again in front of the church

and pass out water bottles with our label. We need help taping the labels to the bottles so that

they can be refrigerated for at least 24 hours prior to the parade. Also we invite you to watch the

parade from the church lawn. We will be setting up at 8:00 AM. Come early to avoid traffic jams.

The Junior Women’s League of Canfield is sponsoring a bike decorating contest for all children

12 years of age and under. Bring your bicycle to the church Wednesday night at 6 PM and we will

help you get them decorated. Bring some decorations or use ours and we will leave them locked

in the church. Then we’ll ride them to the Fairgrounds at 9 AM Thursday to register behind the

Pumpkin Barn. Judging will take place at 9:45 just in time to allow us to line up and kick off the

parade. Participants need to be able to ride (or be assisted by a family member) the entire parade

route into town. We will be announced as we pass the grandstand.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2 Worship 10:30 am Pentecost Offerings for the Disciples

3 AA Meeting 7 pm

4 5 Wednesday Weight Watchers 8-9 am

6

7 Game Night 7-9 pm

8

9 Worship 10:30 am Pentecost Sunday Wagons of Hope Birthday and Anniversary Cake and Coffee Hour Pentecost Offerings for the Disciples

10 Meetings: Worship Committee 6 pm General Board 7 pm AA Meeting 7 pm

11

12 Wednesday Weight Watchers 8-9 am

13 Operation Blessing 10 am

14 Rehearsal for Wedding

15 Wedding: Mario Motha and Patty Parenti

16 Worship 10:30 am

17 AA Meeting 7 pm

18 19 Wednesday Weight Watchers 8-9 am

20

21 Alzheimer’s Support Group 10 am

22

23 Worship 10:30 am _____________ 30 Worship 10:30 am Annual Congregational Meeting

24 AA Meeting 7 pm

25

26 Wednesday Weight Watchers 8-9 am

27 28 29

June 2019

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 Wednesday Weight Watchers 8-9 am Decorate bikes for July 4 parade, 6 pm

4

5 Game Night 7-9 pm

6

7 Worship 10:30 am

8 Meetings: Worship Committee 6 pm General Board 7 pm AA Meeting 7 pm

9 10 Wednesday Weight Watchers 8-9 am

11 Operation Blessing 10 am

12

13

14 Worship 10:30 am

15 AA Meeting 7 pm

16

17 Wednesday Weight Watchers 8-9 am

18 Operation Blessing 10 am

19 Alzheimer’s Support Group 10 am

20

21 Worship 10:30 am

22 AA Meeting 7 pm

23 24 Wednesday Weight Watchers 8-9 am

25

26

27

28 Worship 10:30 am

29 AA Meeting 7 pm

30

31 Wednesday Weight Watchers 8-9 am

July 2019

CANFIELD CHRISTIAN CHURCH 123 S. Broad St. Canfield, Ohio 44406 330-533-2246 Email: canfield.christian.church@zoominternet.net Website: canfieldchristianchurch.org Secretary, Joann Detwiler Electronic Service Requested

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID YOUNGSTOWN OH

PERMIT NO. 28

Canfield Christian Church Disciples of Christ, Canfield

Ohio Touching Lives with Compassion, Understanding and

Hope while Modeling the Love of Christ since 1829

July 20-24 – Abide with Me: General Assembly,

Des Moines, Iowa Reservations can be made on www.disciples/org/ga or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/docgeneralassembly.