We have Vacation Bible School scheduled for June 1 – 5 for Kindergarten through 6th grade. Click here to sign-up for helpers.  For questions contact one of the VBS committee members - Sis. Calla Dotterer, Sis. Lynn Baltic and Sis. Charity Beery.

The friends singing for tomorrow evening will be held at Bro. Milan & Sis. Amy Baltic’s home at 7:30 PM.

A picture directory is being created for our congregation in order to help us “put a name to a face” and deepen our fellowship with one another.  This digital directory will only include those who attend Rittman.  By each name will be a small profile picture, similar to a yearbook, and submissions are voluntary.  Once viewable in the secured resources of the website, this directory will be kept up-to-date as needed. 

Send your photos to [email protected]. Each photo will be cropped to show mainly the face. Photos from a phone are fine. andividual photos (or photos of only a few people) are preferred because it is hard to crop from a group photo without getting part of the nearby people, especially if it is a large group. Friends or relatives are encouraged to assist those who are not familiar with technology and would need help emailing their picture. If you have any questions or need help submitting your picture, you may contact Sis. Kelsey Hartzler, Bro. Jake Blough, or Sis. Kendra Ramsier. 

If you prefer to not have a photo in the picture directory, email “Please list my name without a photo” to [email protected]. 

Please submit your photos (or your email stating you prefer to not have a photo) by June 7.  

We are still in need of a family to host our next carry-in meal on Sunday, June 14. If you are willing to host, please contact Sis. Amy Baltic. 

Apostolic Christian Village (ACV) would like to invite you to a lunch and learn opportunity on June 24 at 11:30 AM.  We will be hosting someone who give some insight into some of the legal aspects of aging.  Please RSVP to 330-927-1010 option 1. 

The Gateway Woods auction will be August 1. If you have any questions or items to donate, please contact Bro. Novko or Sis. Julie Atanasov. All items should be received by July 10. Thank you for your support.

The next Silver Lining reader-submitted article is set for September 2026. The topic is:

Spiritual Lessons from Seasoned Brethren: Relate how experienced believers’ examples have enhanced your focus on biblical living in the Spirit. Please submit your contribution (length = 600 words or less) on this topic to [email protected] by July 15, 2026. You may email that same address for writing support or clarification.

All brothers, sisters, and converts are invited and encouraged to attend the 2026 General

Conference of the Apostolic Christian Church which will be held in Ellington, CT on

Saturday, August 8. This will be a wonderful day of worship, fellowship and learning together as we hear the hearts of church leadership and learn from the life of Daniel - a life that made God known. For details and to register, please go to www.apostolicchristian.org/general-conference. This site includes the detailed agenda, session descriptions and a registration link, as well as suggested itineraries to enjoy a few extra days in Connecticut. Please register by July 27. The Ellington congregation will be delighted to host you. If you have questions related to

the logistics of the conference, please reach out to [email protected]

Sister Heart is a weekend for women to fellowship, sing, and praise God together. The 10th biennial Sister Heart is planned, Lord willing, for August 15 - 16, 2026, in Canaan, OH. We encourage you to register online at the  link provided; however, paper registration forms are also available. We kindly request you register by July 6. If you have questions, contact Sis. Ann Gerber.

A new Jobs section in AC Central — now open to any employer (business or nonprofit) who wishes to recruit Apostolic Christians — has been added to the latest update of AC Central (version 4.3). For a small fee, employers can post jobs to reach all registered AC Central users.  And job seekers can now filter openings by location, job type, industry, pay, etc. and set up notifications. Click here  for more information.

The next edition of our monthly newsletter is available by clicking here.

Thank you notes:

The Golden Giving Benefit Committee would like to thank everyone for their support! Because of your generosity, the residents of the Apostolic Christian Village will be blessed in many ways. We are grateful for the continued success of this event and for the servant hearts of those who volunteer.

I wish to thank everyone for the cards, gifts, food, meals, prayers, but most of all for the love (the greatest gift) shown to me and my family following the death of my daughter Haylee, and wife Chris. It has been a hard year for this Rufener family. You have been a great encouragement to me.I would like to share a brief insight to my journey to perhaps encourage you. 

My daughter Haylee passed away in February after a battle with a rare cancer. As I held one hand and Andrew held the other, her two men , she took her last breath that early morning and slipped peacefully away.She was still so young and beautiful, as I gazed thru my tears at her in the early morning glow. No father should have to experience this, was all I remember at that time. It was much later that I remembered that I was the first to hold that little girl as she entered into, and started this journey, I had been entrusted with her care, and at the end, finally held her again as she exited to begin another! I am truly blessed! No one could have taken better care of Haylee than Andrew whom I had transferred her to, years ago! 

Then a few months later, my wife of almost 45 years, Chris, who had been battling cancer well over a year, laid her head down one last time. Her final words to me, only a whisper, were “I’m satisfied…….so satisfied”. I whispered “me too….me too,… it’s ok, you can go,… I’m gonna miss you,… but let go.” A little latter, she too slipped peacefully away with one hand in mine and a couple sons on the other. Her tired body was wrecked by disease, but thru my tears, she was still beautiful! 

I don’t know how much I cried as a baby, but my two girls have extracted more tears in a short time than my previous 64 years combined! But tears do not mean I’m broken. I’m not discouraged or doubting my God! This faith we share has not shook or trembled even the slightest! The rock/mountain I’m anchored to has been tested and can be trusted! Death isn’t pleasant but has no hold ,no sting! Tears still will flow from my eyes but joy from my heart! I have grown and learned so much thru this time! Hard is not bad, but must I learn the hardest way? 

Apart from my faith, my family was my greatest strength. Please, nurture and let nothing erode those relationships! 

In closing, none of us will escape the pain from loss of loved ones. We may not like it ,but it will happen. No one responds the same, but lets be sensitive. I wish to encourage you to continue to reach out to the grieving as you in love have done for me, and I will do the same! 

I love you all, 

Loren Rufener 

Singing tonight is at the Columbus Church at 6:30 PM.

Bro. Wayne was in Milford and Bro. Jerry was in Mansfield