Author: rebeccawilson

Join us for Holy Week and Easter! Everyone is welcome, no matter what.

On Sunday, April 2 at 10:30 a.m., we will observe Palm Sunday with the Liturgy of the Palms and Eucharist at 10:30 a.m. The choir will provide special music and there will be a dramatic reading of the Passion Gospel.

Wednesday, April 5: Service of Tenebrae at 7 p.m.

Maundy Thursday, April 6: Agape Meal at 6 p.m. Worship service at 7 p.m.

Good Friday, April 7: Good Friday Liturgy at Noon and 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 8: Great Vigil of Easter at 8 p.m.

Sunday April 9: Easter Sunday worship at 10:30 a.m. with special music for Easter, including trumpet & violin

On February 19, the Rev. Yejide Peters Pietersen, associate dean and director for formation at Berkeley Divinity School at Yale University, will be the preacher at our 10:30 a.m. service.

On February 26, the Rev. Deacon Lonny Gatlin, a deacon in the Diocese of Ohio and most recently the chef at Bellwether Farm, will be the preacher at our 10:30 a.m. service.

On March 5, the Rev. Deacon Robin Woodberry, deacon-in-charge at St. Paul’s, Canton, will be the preacher at our 10:30 a.m. service.

On March 12, the Rev. Kathleen Moore, a bivocational priest and frequent guest at Church of Our Saviour, will be the preacher at our 10:30 a.m. service.

This year, Shrove Tuesday is February 21. Due to the elevated incidence of COVID-19 the past two years, we’ve held our annual Shrove Tuesday pancake supper via Zoom. Now that the incidence of COVID-19 is a bit more manageable, we would love to resume our in-person pancake supper on site if people want to attend. 

Please let us know your preference for Shrove Tuesday pancakes — on site or Zoom — either by signing the appropriate sheet in the back of the church or contacting the church office at 330-535-9174.

Conversations are happening throughout the City of Akron to discuss an appropriate community response to the killing of Jayland Walker and the resulting response from the legal community. On Sundays, February 19 and 26, we will hold an open forum for members of the congregation to provide a space to share our thoughts, fears, and hopes for our community.

Once again Church of Our Saviour will participate in the annual “Souper” Bowl of Caring leading up to the big football game on Sunday, February 2. This ingathering of hearty canned soup and stew donations takes place annually around the country to remind us of the needs of others on a day that is more typically known for its over-consumption. 

So if you can spare a few cans of soup, please bring them to the church on any of the remaining Sundays in January or on February 2. The collection will be given to the Friendly Pantry to feed our neighbors during the cold winter months. Thank you!

October 29, noon-2 p.m.: Trunk or Treat

Join us in the COOS parking lot to give treats to our neighborhood kids and grill hot dogs for everyone who attends!. Feel free to wear a costume and/or decorate your trunk to make a fun Halloween for kids and adults alike. If you are not able to participate in person, we welcome any donations of candy, small prizes, or other treats. It’s always a great time!

October 22 and November 12: Habitat for Humanity

Once again this year, Church of Our Saviour is part of the Common Mission Coalition effort to build a new Habitat home. We don’t have our build dates yet, but St. Paul’s on Market St. has extended an invitation for our members to assist on their build dates on Saturday, October 22, and Saturday, November 12. If you would like to volunteer on one or both of these days, please email Jennifer Boswell or Anne Schwan. 

Fall is here, and so we thought it would be fun to take advantage of Szalay’s Corm Maze before the snow flies. Please join us on Sunday, October 16 at 2 p.m. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. This is open to all, so bring the entire family! Please RSVP to Colleen Denholm at 330-603-4989 or by email at cdenholm10@att.net. Look forward to seeing you all there!

On Tuesday, October 11 from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Church of Our Saviour will host a forum on Ohio’s use of the death penalty. The panel will include Mother Debra; Jonathan Mann, a murder victim’s family member who is a member of the Ohioans To Stop Executions board; and Bernard A. Smith, retired U.S. federal prosecutor, Dept. of Justice (Cleveland).

The event is co-sponsored by Akron Interfaith Advocates against the Death Penalty, and Trinity Cathedral’s Episcopal Peace Fellowship chapter. To learn more, email Jeff Campbell at the Catholic Commission of Summit County. Download a flyer.

The event will also be broadcast on Zoom. Email rebeccaswilson@me.com for the Zoom link. 

by Vicki Smith

Through August the Congregational Leadership Initiative team continued to meet and work virtually with coach, Dr. Barbara Wilson. Sessions with Barbara will conclude in September. Our discussions have inspired us to delve into the possibilities of connecting Church of Our Saviour with new partners, re-engaging past partners, and bolstering current ministries as we move forward together doing the sacred work of loving one another that God has given us. The flow of communication between the CLI team, the vestry, parish committees, and individual parishioners has and will continue to unify the collective vision of a Church of Our Saviour Impact Center. Truly, all ideas are welcome for this evolving mission.

In conjunction with the September 11 Homecoming, the team will present a visual model, opportunities for involvement, and refreshments during coffee hour. In October, CLI and Living Bridges will effectively merge and go forth together in the name of Christ.  Please join us and share the passion!