Tom Morrison, the culinary genius behind Woodland’s famous spaghetti sauce, is a talented sand sculptor who creates sandy works of art at various events throughout the United States. He is always on hand at the local Barberton Mum Festival each Fall. In the photos here, our lay leader, Tom Koch, is seen helping with some of the nitty gritty details. .

Fall Barberton Mum Fest

Woodland News

Woodland Church Cookout and Bonfire

Woodland Church members and attendees hold an annual cookout and bonfire each fall at the Church. The cookout usually starts in the evening around 6:00 p.m . In addition to some of the best hot dogs and side dishes, we have marshmallows and smores for the event. Although the fire is typically not as large as the one pictured, this is a great fall celebration of food and friends. Thanks to all who have stopped by to enjoy the event.

Woodland Church Picnic

Woodland Church holds an annual picnic each year with a lunchtime cookout at the park. We also hold the normal morning service there. The date of the event varies from late summer to early fall. Usually, the weather cooperates, and we all have a great time both indoors and out. We reserve a pavillion with indoor space by the fire in case of inhospitable weather outdoors. But the weather is typically really nice, and many take part in outdoor games and take the opportunity to roast a few marshmallows on our cooking coals after lunch.

Woodland Neighborhood Thanksgiving Dinner

It is our longtime tradition at Woodland to host a free turkey dinner on the Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving. We always help sponsor this holiday event in coordination with our friends at Open-M. Many volunteers from the church help to prepare and serve traditional turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes with gravy, rolls, cranberry sauce, vegetables, and assorted varieties of pies. We have a growing turnout each year, but there is always plenty of food for all. The people of Woodland enjoy helping to bring a Happy Thanksgiving to our neighbors and friends! We thank all of our volunteers who work hard to help make this event annual possible at Woodland each and every year!

Holiday Food Basket Drive For OPEN-M

Each November, the Outreach Committee at Woodland collects items specifically requested for the Holiday Food Baskets given out by OPEN-M. We work hard to always reach our goal, which is usually around 200 of the requested item. Sometimes, we even come in with a little extra! Thanks to all who have donated and helped us support this worthwhile cause each holiday season for Open-M.

OPEN-M

Deck The Halls of Woodland Church

We always have a great time decking Woodland's halls for Christmas each year on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Together, we always seem to make quick work of getting the Church ready for the holiday. From putting up the 12 foot narthex tree to hanging festive wreaths in the sanctuary, there is always lots to do. We often play the first Christmas music of the season and enjoy a little cocoa while preparing Woodland for the most wonderful time of the year!

See some photos on the right.—–––––>

United Methodist Women’s Christmas Tea

The United Methodist Women hold their annual Christmas Tea on the first Sunday in the month of December. They always have some holiday treats to enjoy with the tea and then proceed with their gift exchange and festivities. It is a great time for all, and it is typically a well attended UMW event, as well as a time-honored tradition at Woodland Church.

December Angel Tree Gifts

Every year, Woodland members adopt the names of deserving members of local hard working families who are not having an easy time making ends meet this Christmas. Our members anonymously donate and wrap gifts that the families can put under their Christmas trees to make this most special of holidays a little merrier for both the kids and the parents. The year's names are made available for adoption starting the Sunday, after Thanksgiving. The gifts are brought to the Church a couple of weeks later and delivered to Open-M for distribution to the recipients. Thanks to all those who anonymously help to make Christmas special for someone else!

December Mitten Tree Donations For Kids

Each December, Woodland puts up a very special Christmas tree in the lobby on which our members hang donated mittens and gloves for the children served by Summit County Children's Services. We strive to keep those small hands warm against the Ohio winter winds, and toward that effort, we donate new mittens and gloves in various children's sizes. The donations remain on the tree until Christmas, and then we took them down to Summit County Children's Services, where they do a lot of good. They are quickly put into service, keeping small hands a lot warmer!

Woodland’s Christmas Brunch

A couple of weeks prior to every Christmas, the members of Woodland Church get together for a big Christmas feast. Sometimes we have a brunch and other years it’s a full ham dinner with everything that usually goes along with it. There are usually way more deserts than can be consumed by normal human beings, so there are lots of choices to make. This event is almost always scheduled to immediately follow Woodland's morning service. Depending on the type of meal, the service time is sometimes moved to make the timing work better.

See photos on the right.—–––––>

December 24 Candlelight Service

Woodland's Christmas Eve service starts on December 24 at 11:00 P.M. We have a festive holiday musical presentation, carols, and Pastor Gibbons delivers a special Christmas message. We always have a large number of visitors who join our regular attendees in celebration on the eve of the most special day of the year.. We wrap up the evening in Church tradition, with the lighting of individual candles held by each person who attends. The sight of the entire church sanctuary awash in flickering candlelight is amazing. This is a traditional special event at Woodland for the night before Christmas!

View photos on the right.—–––––>

Woodland's Annual Chili Contest

Each winter in the February to March timeframe, Woodland Church holds its annual chili cook off. Members who want to participate bring in a crock of their best recipe. Attendees then sample the various entries and place their vote for the best in the People’s Choice contest. A three judge panel always selects the contest winner, but many prefer the prestige of being the favorite of the people. After the winners are announced, most people stay for games or a movie while they enjoy a few desserts.

View photos on the right.—–––––>

SPRING PRESCHOOL CARNIVAL

Woodland Preschool holds its annual carnival fundraiser in early March. There are always fun characters there to greet the kids, and they are a big hit. The crowds are always large for the fun and games, as well as the huge silent auction that wraps up this event. The festivities usually last from about 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The kids have loads of fun, and so do their parents. Thanks to everyone who helps to support our non-profit preschool.

View photos on the right.—–––––>

Easter Services

For Good Friday, we hold an evening communion service. In recent years, the church chapel has always been filled.

Woodland’s Easter weekend includes its annual Egg Hunt the Saturday prior to Easter. The church crew prepares a day filled with delightful treats and surprises for children 10 and under, who come in with their parents. They sing songs, bounce cotton balls and dance. The Easter Bunny makes an appearance at the event. punch and cookies are also served.

Woodland's Easter Sunday is usually packed with special guests and sometimes also includes a breakfast or brunch. The Easter service is a morning of celebration in in our combined contemporary/traditional format, and our main hall is transformed into a true testament to Easter joy and beauty.

View photos on the right.—–––––>

Youth Group Cedar Point Trip

The annual youth group trip to Cedar Point is always fun for both kids and adults. People from East Ohio United Methodist Conference converge on the park for a day of rides, games, food, and fun. The tickets are discounted for this fun event, which takes place on the second Friday in June.

View photos on the right.—–––––>

Vacation Bible School

Woodland's special summer event is our Vacation Bible School. It is always an adventure that the children will cherish for years to come. Each day features a themed Bible lesson that takes them on a new adventure. Always, there are accompanying themed games, crafts, snacks, and more to make each day's adventure even more special. The kids, ages 3 to 10, experience 2 hours of Woodland's Bible themed adventure each day, and they have a blast.

View photos on the right.—–––––>

Mystery Trip

Sometime around the month of August, the United Methodist Women usually plan a mystery trip. In the photos from this trip, the adventure took the participating members of Woodland on a journey across the great local bodies of water known as the Portage Lakes. It turned out to be a great day for everyone, and as you can see by the photos, there were some beautiful sights to see on the lakes.

View photos on the right.—–––––>

August Ice Cream Social

Children and their parents flow into Woodland's Neighborhood Ice Cream Social on a special Sunday each August. We and our friends celebrate summer one last time with crafts, ice Cream, cookies and games. You don't have to have kids to enjoy the ice cream and music, so many people with and without kids join us for this day of celebration at Woodland.

View photos on the right.—–––––>

Ice Cream Social video: Music

Ice Cream Social video: Games

Leasure Family Art Donation

When the Leasure family generously donated $1000 to Woodland Church in memory of their parents, Perry and Elizabeth Leasure, they requested that it be used to fund something that their mother loved, art. Little did they know how far their money could be stretched by artist Tom Suppan in creating an original painting of Christ's resurrection for the narthex. Mr Suppan donated countless hours of his time to create both the frames and the massive three part mural that spans about 20 feet across a wall that had been empty since the facility’s dedication. Family members present for the unveiling expressed surprise at the beauty, impact and size of the art work that will serve as a lasting tribute to their parents at Woodland Church..

View photos on the right.—–––––>

SPECIAL EVENTS FROM PAST YEARS

Woodland Church Gas Well

Woodland has had a gas well on our property since the Spring of 2005. The well was drilled by a company that specializes in gas and oil exploration and drilling. Most of the gas is sold into the public supply, and a small percentage of the proceeds returns to the participating area land owners as royalties. The church receives a small supply of natural gas from the well for its use. Although the stipulated amount does not come anywhere close to meeting the total heating needs of the church and pre-school, it does help to offset the high costs of heating such a large structure.

View photos from 2005––>

View photos on the right.—–––––>