Happy St. Patrick's Day!
2020 Ohio Irish Lutheran Press Events, St. Patrick's Day, and Corona Virus Statement: I honestly did not want to write this blog post, but sadly sometimes we all have to do things, which we do not want to do. This is one of those things sadly. I will briefly touch on all three of today's topics in this paragraph and then I shall go into more detail deeper into the blog posts. I want to be clear, that, as of right now, all 2020 Ohio Irish Lutheran Press Events shall go on as scheduled including the 2020 Vaughnsville Craft and Vendor Show on Saturday October 31, 2020 from 11 AM to 5 PM. However, some of the venues for my book signings might have to be changed due to the Corona Virus Outbreak. This is St. Patrick's Day, so please celebrate anyway you can celebrate safely. The Corona Virus is really something.
2020 Ohio Irish Lutheran Press Events: I plan to continue holding book signings during the Corona Virus Outbreak. The way the current guidelines are and granted they keep changing, I should be able to have them, but regardless my book signings are considered both normal business commerce and religious events, which are protected under the First Amendment on the United States Constitution. Granted, if I get sick with anything, then I might have to cancel a few book signings here-and-there. As of right now, I'm tired, but I'm tired all the time, because I work a lot both running this small publishing company and I have several other vocations, which I do in addition to being an author and self-publisher.
2020 Vaughnsville Craft and Vendor Show: The 2020 Vaughnsville Craft and Vendor Show is still several months away, so there is no need for me to be an alarmist and cancel early. If I cancel it now and everything goes back to normal, then I'll have to reschedule it and then I could possibly run into scheduling issues. I am still accepting rent checks from people wanting to sign-up as vendors. The Vaughnsville Community Center's board already cashed my deposit check, so we will have this event at some point in the future. I will probably pop the rent checks into the freezer for a few minutes next to the fish sticks, hey it's still Lent, but I think, not cancelling this event early is wise. With several other craft and vendor shows getting cancelled (granted they are spring events), I want to be able to fill the void for those vendors looking for a craft and vendor shows to set-up at in the fall, when the Corona Virus will either be destroyed or our medical professionals have it under control and the Corona Virus becomes just another seasonal flu for us to "grin and bear it."
If we get to October and things have not gotten back to normal or we have had a relapse, then I will give my vendors three options: 1. Keep their tables and chairs reserved for a time when having the Vaughnsville Craft and Vendor Show is safe for vendors and shoppers, 2. Get a book mailed or hand delivered to their house or another appropriate location, or 3. Wait for me to mail them refund checks, which is a bad option in my opinion. Granted since this is an Ohio Irish Lutheran Press event and I'm having a book signing at the show, it falls under the category of a First Amendment Event, so legally I might not have to cancel it period. However, let me move back to regular book signings for a moment, most local authors like myself are lucky to even sign three books at a book signing, so we probably will not even have ten people to show up to a normal book signing. Since Ohio Irish Lutheran Press is a Christian business, the health and safety of my readers are a priority to me, so the Vaughnsville Craft and Vendor Show might need to be postponed, if this is a necessary step to take. If things are back to normal by October 2020, then the 2020 Vaughnsville Craft and Vendor Show should be a great success.
St. Patrick's Day 2020: I have addressed some of St. Patrick's life and ministry in blog posts from previous years and you can read a great deal about St. Patrick's life and ministry in my latest Christian romance novel The Rising of The Moon Book 2: Faith, Hope, and Love. Today I felt, that it was appropriate to wear red instead of green in honor of St. Patrick and St. Patrick's Day. Why red instead of green? I believe, that in light of the current situation St. Patrick would want me to wear red instead of green to remind everyone, that Jesus died to save every single person from their sins.
Corona Virus: I am not a doctor, so please "take" everything, which I am about to say "with a grain of salt." First of all there has been a lot misinformation floating around about the Corona Virus aka COVID-19 Virus and this is 100% true. There have been way too many rumors about the Corona Virus spreading even more rapidly than the Corona Virus itself. I currently feel great, but, if I get the Corona Virus, then I believe, that I will recover and I will get back to normal. I have stopped shaking people's hands, except I did shake my pastor's hand on Sunday morning after the Mass. Yes, as of right now, we are still holding Masses and Bible Studies at Immanuel Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Lima, Ohio during normal times in spite of the Corona Virus.
On Sundays, from this point onward, that I feel well, I should sit in the back of the church in the choir loft, since there has not been a choir at Immanuel for several years sadly and I will continue to go the altar for Holy Communion. I will probably go last, since young people can be carriers and have mild or no symptoms and I am only 28. However, if I am sick on any Sunday during the Corona Virus, then I will stay home and utilize online religious resources and Bibles and religious books in print. If I am sick on any of the days of my book signings, then I will have to cancel them. You do, what you feel is appropriate for your situation. If you feel good and you are not at risk, then come, if you feel comfortable. However, if no one shows up to any of my book signings during the Corona Virus Outbreak, then I'll get a lot of work done on blog posts and future books.
Corona Virus and the 2020 Ohio Primary Election: I am an Ohio Poll Worker in Allen County, so I was unable to work today at the polls. Governor Mike DeWine (R) and Attorney General Frank LaRose (R) wanted to postpone the March 17, 2020 Ohio Primary Election, but a judge ruled, that the Primary Election must go forward as scheduled, but then the Ohio Health Department shut it down. President Donald Trump (R) wanted the 2020 Ohio Primary Election to move forward today, but we have States' Rights in our great country, so President Trump is not fighting Governor DeWine. I agree with President Trump, but my opinion does not amount to much right now. Governor DeWine has floated Tuesday June 2, 2020 as the day for the 2020 Ohio Primary Election to take place now, but there is not anything legally binding right now. I still endorse Beth Seibert for Allen County Commissioner and, if you want to exercise your right to vote, then contact the Allen County Board of Elections for information about absentee and early voting or wait and see, what happens. It is a big mess right now.
My Health Tips: Wash your hands regularly! Procter and Gamble are making more soup and hand sanitizer, so go buy some, but do NOT hoard it or resell it. Cough, sneeze, and yawn into your elbows. Wave to people and make the Sign of the Cross towards them from a few feet away instead of touching each other. Read! It is one of the safest activities to do right now. Eat, sleep, drink, and pray for everyone to recover and to stay well. These are my health tips, but you should also consult a medical professional, if you think, you need to.
Let us read about God the Father Yahweh being the Good Shepherd in Psalm 23:
"23:1 The LORD is My shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the Paths of Righteousness for His Name's Sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy Rod and Thy Staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever" (KJV 1611).
March 2020 Book Signings:
1. I'll be having a book signing at the Jen's Furniture and Collectible (JFC) on the corner of High Street and Chestnut Street in St. Marys, Ohio on Saturday March 7, 2020 from 11 AM to 3 PM. (This event went on as scheduled.)
2. I'll be having a book signing at the 2020 Waynesfield Winterfest held at Waynesfield-Goshen High School in Waynesfield, Ohio on Saturday March 14, 2020 from 9 AM to 3 PM. (Winterfest was sadly cancelled due to fears over the Corona-virus, but it should be on schedule next year.)
3. I'll be having a book signing at the Jen's Furniture and Collectible (JFC) on the corner of High Street and Chestnut Street in St. Marys, Ohio on Saturday March 28, 2020 from 11 AM to 3 PM. (This event is postponed due to my car needing repaired.)
April 2020 Book Signings:
1. I'll be having a book at The Menagerie at 1178 Indiana Avenue in the St. Marys Business Complex in St. Marys, Ohio on Saturday April 4, 2020 from 11 AM to 5 PM. (This event is postponed due to my car needing repaired.)
2. I'll be having a book signing at the 2020 Arts Place Literature Festival held in Dicke Hall at Wright State Lake Campus in Celina, Ohio on Saturday April 18, 2020 from 9 AM to noon. (There is some uncertainty about the 2020 Arts Place Literature Festival taking place as scheduled, so I might have to go elsewhere.)
October 2020 Book Signing(s):
1. I'll be having a book signing at the Vaughnsville Craft and Vendor Show at the Vaughnsville Community Center in Vaughnsville from 11 AM to 5 PM.
Vaughnsville Craft and Vendor Show: I will be hosting the 2020 Vaughnsville Craft and Vendor Show on Saturday October 31, 2020 from 11 AM to 5 PM at the Vaughnsville Community Center on State Route 12 in Vaughnsville, Ohio. I'm looking for vendors to come and sell their merchandise. I'm pretty much open to anything legal and clean, but homemade baked goods and craft items are preferred. Please see my "2020 Vaughnsville Craft and Vendor Show: Vendor Entry Form" blog post for more information:
https://ohioirishlutheranpress.com/…/vaughnsville-craft-and…
My Green Irish Angel Statues: My Green Irish Angel Statues are really cute! They are only $1 each and they make great gifts. I have three kinds: 1. Cross-Bearing Angels, 2. Praying Angels, and 3. Angels Holding Butterflies. I like the Cross-Bearing Angels the best, because they are carrying Crosses. Each one bearing a Cross reminds us, that Jesus died on the True Cross to save every single person from death, Hell, Satan, Satan's Demons, Original Sin from Adam and Eve, and their personal sins. They're available exclusively at Jen's Furniture and Collectibles (JFC) on the corner High Street and Chestnut Street in between Circle K Gas Station and Zion Lutheran Church (NALC) in St. Marys, Ohio.
Stores Carrying My Books: My books, which I’ve written and published, are also available at the following stores: Brunner News Agency on Flanders Avenue in Lima, Ohio, Jen’s Furniture and Collectibles (JFC) on High Street in St. Marys, Ohio, The Menagerie at 1178 Indiana Avenue in the St. Marys Business Complex in St. Marys, Ohio, Readmore Hallmark Stores out at Eastgate Plaza and on Elm Street in Lima, Ohio, Wagner’s IGA Grocery Store in Minster, Ohio, and in the Shop section of my website ohioirishlutheranpress.com .
Thank you and St. Patrick's Day!
James W. O’Flannery, President and Founder of Ohio Irish Lutheran Press (OIL Press)