From June 2015

Rain, Rain Go Away

“Rain, rain, go away” is a sentiment that you hear around Ohio a lot these days.  June in Ohio has been one of the rainiest on record.  If you are near the Cleveland area, it is the 3rd rainiest June since 1871 when records began to be kept, more than 5 inches above normal.  Akron …

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Wedgewood’s 100th Anniversary

Yesterday I returned to Wedgewood United Methodist Church for the first time since I retired a year ago.  I was the pastor at Wedgewood for 21 years – a lifetime for many of the young people at Wedgewood!  Rev. Joe Burkhardt, the current pastor, invited Tom, John, Jackie and I to attend to celebrate Wedgewood’s …

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While Tom Is Gone

Tom has been gone this last week at Mountain TOP and I have been parked in Akron by myself.  Several people have expressed concern that I will be lonely or bored.  Ha!  How little they know me.  I miss Tom, sure, but I enjoy time to myself and love (for a little while) ordering my …

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The Ohio to Erie Trail

Did you know that there is a plan to connect the Ohio River with Lake Erie by bike trail?  It is called the Ohio to Erie Trail and it has been in the works about as long as there have been bike trails in Ohio.  Of the 300 planned miles of the Ohio to Erie …

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Mountain TOP

Tom is gone this week to Mountain TOP, and for the first time since we retired, I have the RV to myself.  Tom left on Saturday with the Wedgewood Mission Team – 25 adults and youth who headed to Tennessee to work in Grundy County, one of the poorest counties in the US.  They do …

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North Canton Faith UMC

Yesterday I visited North Canton Faith United Methodist Church with my sister, brother-in-law, and nephew.  As you know, they recently moved to Canton and are looking for a church close to their new home.  I know the pastors – Cara and Steve Costello – at North Canton Faith, so I suggested we worship there. North …

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Lisa and Tom’s Wedding

Today I officiated at the wedding of Lisa and Tom.  Weddings are a fun part of being a pastor and I agreed to do this wedding in March when Lisa contacted me.  Lisa and her children are all members of the Wedgewood church.  Her oldest, Ryan, is a year younger than John and all three …

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The Cottage

Many years ago, right before I was ordained as an elder, my parents bought a cottage at Lakeside.  Mom had been coming to Annual Conference for years, and she figured if we were both going to be up there, it might be good to have a cottage.  Mom and Dad bought the cottage in 1983, …

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Graduation

The main reason Tom and I came back to Ohio when we did was graduation:  specifically my nephew Jared’s graduation from Green High School.  We wanted to be able to share in this big moment in his life. To us, as adults – especially adults who went to college – graduation from high school doesn’t …

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