AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER 2019 BIMONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF WEST PARK UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST The Good News ==^ALBER SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT this Issue Pastoral Letter Page 1 Happenings Page 2 The Alber Scholarship is open and available to any active member student entering a second year or more at an accredited university or college. Scholarship applications are available each year in February. Congratulations to Shannon Thayer, our recipient of the West Park UCC - Donald Alber Upper Class Scholarship! Shannon is a senior at The Ohio State University. She will receive her award on August 4 and will also step into the pulpit to offer perspective on God's movement in her life. Thoughts from Our Moderator: Diane Kragt A PRAYER FOR PEOPLE EVERYWHERE O Blessed Lord, please hear my prayer And help all people be Kind and good to everyone. And live in peace with Thee. Amen. When Pastor Jason invited me to write a short piece for this month's newsletter, I accepted with gladness. As we were talking that day about different things in the life of the church, the word that kept coming into my head was "relationship." Later as I was thinking and praying about the words that I would share with you, I was drawn to a little booklet of prayers that was given to me by my mother some years ago. It is a small, thin publication of prayers/poems from Hallmark, undated, and most of the poems are uncredited. The title is /\ Book of Children's Prayers. It is beautiful in its simplicity. The above prayer is included in that collection. My mother's love of poems and her love of God came from her mother. These were two women who had strong influence in my life and also my relationship with God, my Heavenly Father. I note that there are no qualifiers in this prayer. It includes everyone in asking for intercession to treat everyone with kindness and mercy. Likewise, in the story of the Good Samaritan, the lawyer was looking for qualifiers as to who his neighbor was (or who he had relationship with?) perhaps to justify him treating people unequally. Jesus said there are no qualifiers- everyone is included. In my life, I have discovered that often opportunities and people come into my life where I find myself challenged and feeling alone. In those times, it is not easy to treat my neighbors as God would desire. But perhaps those people, those relationships are the very ones that God has sent for a reason. I can turn to prayer, to conversation with my Father, for guidance, for consolation, for understanding, for peace. I want to discover what it is that I am to learn from the experience that is challenging me so that my relationship with God and those around me is strengthened. In the West Park UCC community, we are all neighbors. We all have relationship with God and one another. I call you all my church family. Change is a given, so relationships among us can be the cement which will solidify us in the days, months, years to come. Together, with God at the head, we are in a time of discernment about the future direction of our church and find ourselves influenced and challenged by the world around us. Let us all remember those simple words of a child's prayer as we move forward together as neighbors. Thanks to God for Julia Kayel Weaver and Elizabeth Weaver Kragt. I am truly blessed.
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A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R
2019 BIMONTHLY
NEWSLETTER OF WEST PARK
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST The Good News
==^ALBER SCHOLARSHIP
RECIPIENT
this Issue
Pastoral Letter Page 1
Happenings Page 2
The Alber Scholarship is open and available to any active member student entering a second year or more at an accredited university or college. Scholarship applications are available each year in February.
Congratulations to Shannon Thayer, our recipient of the West Park UCC -Donald Alber Upper Class Scholarship! Shannon is a senior at The Ohio State University. She will receive her award on August 4 and will also step into the pulpit to offer perspective on God's movement in her life.
Thoughts from Our Moderator: Diane Kragt A PRAYER FOR PEOPLE EVERYWHERE
O Blessed Lord, please hear my prayer And help all people be
Kind and good to everyone. And live in peace with Thee.
Amen.
When Pastor Jason invited me to write a short piece for this month's newsletter, I accepted with gladness. As we were talking that day about different things in the life of the church, the word that kept coming into my head was "relationship." Later as I was thinking and praying about the words that I would share with you, I was drawn to a little booklet of prayers that was given to me by my mother some years ago. It is a small, thin publication of prayers/poems from Hallmark, undated, and most of the poems are uncredited. The title is /\ Book of Children's Prayers. It is beautiful in its simplicity. The above prayer is included in that collection. My mother's love of poems and her love of God came from her mother. These were two women who had strong influence in my life and also my relationship with God, my Heavenly Father.
I note that there are no qualifiers in this prayer. It includes everyone in asking for intercession to treat everyone with kindness and mercy. Likewise, in the story of the Good Samaritan, the lawyer was looking for qualifiers as to who his neighbor was (or who he had relationship with?) perhaps to justify him treating people unequally. Jesus said there are no qualifiers- everyone is included. In my life, I have discovered that often opportunities and people come into my life where I find myself challenged and feeling alone. In those times, it is not easy to treat my neighbors as God would desire. But perhaps those people, those relationships are the very ones that God has sent for a reason. I can turn to prayer, to conversation with my Father, for guidance, for consolation, for understanding, for peace. I want to discover what it is that I am to learn from the experience that is challenging me so that my relationship with God and those around me is strengthened.
In the West Park UCC community, we are all neighbors. We all have relationship with God and one another. I call you all my church family. Change is a given, so relationships among us can be the cement which will solidify us in the days, months, years to come. Together, with God at the head, we are in a time of discernment about the future direction of our church and find ourselves influenced and challenged by the world around us. Let us all remember those simple words of a child's prayer as we move forward together as neighbors.
Thanks to God for Julia Kayel Weaver and Elizabeth Weaver Kragt. I am truly blessed.
Our church will lead a pilgrimage to Cuba In April 2020 to meet our friends and family in Christ and build relationships with our international neighbors. There will be an M information and • interest session on Sunday, August 4, 2019 at 12:00pm in the sanctuary to provide details and answer any questions. Pastor Jason will also provide reflections and a brief presentation on his recent trip to Cuba. If you or someone you know is interested, please plan to attend this meeting. For more information, you may contact the church office or visit westparkucc.org/ CUBA. ALL ARE WELCOME.
HAPPENINGS IN OUR CHURCH LIFE 3 CELEBRATE OUR 160^"
ANNIVERSARY WITH WORSHIP AND GALA
LUNCHEON!
Join us on Sunday, September 8, for an Anniversary Worship and Gala Luncheon. Worship will take place at 10am with guests from the Living Water Association and our wider community. Pastor Emeritus The Rev. Larry Craig will delight us with a "lunchbox sermon" for the children. Following worship, we will lunch at the 100*^ Bomb Group Restaurant. Please return your RSVP cards as soon as possible as we need to get a final count to the restaurant.
If for some reason you did not receive an invitation but would like to attend, please call the church office right away 216-671-7228 to get your reservation in. Cost for the dinner is $20 per person, with choice of chicken, salmon or vegetarian pasta.
BACK TO SCHOOL SUNDAY BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS AND
START OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL YEAR!
Many of our students and especially our teachers are starting back to school in August. We will celebrate the start of this new season with Back to School Sunday on August 11. We invite all of our returning students to bring their school backpacks to be blessed during worship as a reminder of God's presence in their lives.
We will also dedicate our learning and bless our teachers. Children and youth and parents will have the chance to meet Sunday School teachers as we begin our new year of Sunday School classes for kindergarten through 12"' grades.
We invite all children, youth and teachers to join us worship for this special celebration as we look forward to what God has in store for our future!
BOWLING!
Our Bowling League, "The Lads & Lassies", will start their new season on Sunday, Sept. 15th and bowl every other Sunday through April. The league is now made up of church members, members of other churches and friends! Your ability to bowl doesn't matter! It is just a fun time of fellowship and activity in the winter months. The cost is $12.00/person for 3 games. Contact the church office if you have any questions or interest.
Thanks to all the adult volunteers, helpers and participants at this year's VBS! It was a great success! Thanks to members and friends of Christ United Methodist Church for joining witih us and sharing our VBS adventure together!
FEED AND BE FED: Our Food Pantry is in constant use! W e hiave 3-4 families visiting every week to access our food pantry. ON COMMUNION SUNDAYS, you are welcome to bring in non-perishable items for a small emergency food pantry. The bin will appear each Communion Sunday for your donations. If y o u or s o m e o n e you k n o w is e x p e r i e n c i n g f o o d insecur i t y , p lease c o n t a c t Pas to r J a s o n fo r ass is tance .
TRASH & TREASURE SALE Here's the scoop! Set up for the sale will be Fr iday, Sept. 20th 2:00- 8:00 p m . Bring your priced items and set them out in the appropriate section. Check your previous Voice for items to bring. You can bring your items on Sunday, Sept.15th (but no sooner) if unable to bring on the 20th. The sale will run Sat. Sept. 2 1 , 10:00 am - 4:00 p m and Sun . Sept. 22 11:00 a m - 3:00 p m . For those who volunteered to help, there will be sign up sheets in the narthex. Help will be needed for set up, clean up, and sales. Any questions you may contact Pat Rust or Lynne Rice.
3^° SUNDAY - W e will resume our 3^^ Sunday Adult Education program on Sunday, September 15 at 11:30 in the Chapel. Karen Ramba, Caring Transitions, will join us to offer information as we transition into senior housing or smaller homes.
BIBLE STUDY STARTS September 1 1 , 6:00 p.m.!
B i r t h d a y s & A n n i v e r s a r i e s - A u g u s t & S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 9 '
BIRTHDAYS ANNIVERSARIES
AUGUST SEPTEMBER August
2 Emily McKee 5 Midge Karnatz Eric & Robin J esse n
3 Zachary Mllstead Stacey Thayer 08-06-1983 Sarah Griffin 7 Wayne Borrelli Barry & Barbara Barthelman
6 Ann Rennette 9 Rachel Hrehocik 08-10-1963
9 Don Norenberg 11 Dede Todd Steve & Renee Thayer
10 Wanda Paulin 12 Dale Horn 08-13-1994
Diane Kragt 14 Darlene Zaharewicz John & Terry Hogan
Timothy Nelson Julie Turnley 08-20-1995
15 Callie Thayer 17 Rev.Jason Emiiy & Vince IVIcKee
20 William Beutel Thompson 08-20-2011 Beverly Busch Dennis Jones Lester & Janell Armstrong
22 Jonathan Miller 22 Dave Finley 08-20-2011
23 Lois Cole 23 Mike Zmina Rev. Larry & Christina Craig
24 Carol Cates 25 Daniel Vivacqua 08-30-1969
26 Sandee Vastag 27 Olivia Armstrong Kathy & Robert Rennette
Edna Schleich Jean Clark 08-30-1969
30 Terry Hogan 30 Gail Kenney September
Hallie Moreland Joanne Roff September
Kathy Rennette Darlene & Stan Zaharewicz
Richard Rice 09-06-1986
03 7=
Following Christ, Caring Cor A l l , drovving Together
West Park United Ctiurcli of Christ
3909 Rocky River Drive Cleveland, OH 44111-4153
www. westparkucc. org 216.671.7228
Th e G o o d N e w s NEWS & HAPPENINGS @ WEST PARK UCC
FoLLowliA^g Christ, Can\A,Q for All, C(('DVjiv\.(?^ ToQttVitr
CHURCH S T A F F Rev. J a son Thompson Senior Pastor [email protected]
J i m Furry Associate Pastor WestParkUCCLicensedMinister@gmaiTcom
Christopher Venesi le , PhD Music Director We stParkU CCMu sic@gmail. com
Linda Ferro Church Admin is t ra tor [email protected]
Rev. Lawrence Craig Rev. Don Norenberg Pastors Emer i t i
SAVE THE DATES October 6 - Joint Worship at Christ United Methodist Church
October 13 - Friends and Family Day at WPUCC with Christ UMC
October 20 - Youth Sunday
November 2 - Living Water Assoc ia t ion Annual Gathering
November 3 - All Saint 's Sunday
November 10 - Laity Sunday
November TBD - Fall Congregat ional Meeting
November 26 - Communi ty Interfaith Thanksgiv ing Service
November 28 & 29 - Thanksgiv ing Holiday
December 1 - First Sunday in Advent
West Park UCC Calendar of Events for August 2019
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1
7:00 p . m . Church Council
2
7:30 p . m . Al-Anon, Parlor
3
10:15 p . m . AA 12:00 a . m . AA
4 10:00 a . m . Worship and Holy Communion 11:15 a .m . Punch on the Porch 12:00 p .m. Cuba Informational 4:00 p .m. Called to Care Team
5
7:00 p .m . Mood Disorder Support, Parlor
6
7:30 p .m . Recovery Int., Youth Room
7 8 9
7:30 p . m . Al-Anon
10 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p . m . Worl< Morning 10:00 a . m . Teachers Meeting
10:15 p . m . AA 12:00 a . m . AA
11 BACK TO SCHOOL
SUNDAY 10:00 a . m . Worship & Sunday School 11:15 a . m . Punch on the Porch 11:15 a . m . Christian Ed, Trustees, Growth & Outreach
12
7:00 p .m . Mood Disorder Support
13
2:00 p .m . 160* Anniv.
6-8 p . m . Neighbor Night, Chapel 6:30 p .m . MOPS 7:30 p .m . Recovery Int.
14 15 16
7:30 p . m . Al-Anon
17
2-4 p . m . Prayer Shawl
10:15 p . m . AA 12:00 a . m . AA
18 10:00 a .m . Worship & Sunday School 11:15 a .m . Punch on the Porch 12:00 p .m. Confirmation Meeting
19
7:00 p . m . Mood Disorder Support
20
6:00 p .m . Deacons 7:00 p .m . Stewardship & R n 7:30 p .m . Recovery Int.
21 22 23
7:30 p . m . Al-Anon
24
10:15 p . m . AA 12:00 a . m . AA
25 10:00 a . m . Worship & Sunday School 11:15 a . m . Punch on the Porch 11:30 a . m . Community Meal
26
7:00 p .m . Mood Disorder Support
27
7:30 p .m . Recovery Int.
28 29 30
7:30 p .m . Ai-Anon
31
10:15 p . m . AA 12:00 a . m . AA
SEPTEMBER 2019 CALENDAR ON THE BACK
OCTOBER NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER ARTICLES FOR THE GOOD NEWS DUE SEPTEMBER 23!
West Park United Church of Christ Calendar for September 2019 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 10:00 a . m . Worship & Sunday School 11:15 a . m . Punch on the Porch
2
7:00 p . m . Mood Disorder Support, Parlor
3
7:30 p .m. Recovery, Int., Youth Room
4
7:00 p . m . Choir
5 6
7:30 p . m . Al-Anon, Parlor
7
10:15 p . m . AA, BH 12:00 a . m . AA, BH
8 160*
ANNIVERSARY GALA 10:00 a . m . Worship & Holy Communion 11:30 a . m . Dinner
9
7:00 p . m . Mood Disorder Support
10
6-8 p . m . Neighbor Night, Chapel 6:30 p.m.MOPS 7:30 p .m . Recovery, Int.
11
6:00 p . m . Bible Study 7:00 p . m . Choir
12 13
7:30 p . m . Al-Anon
14 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p . m . Work Morning
10:15 p .m AA 12:00 a . m . AA
15 10:00 a . m . Worship & Sunday School 11:30 a . m . 3'" Sunday
16
7:00 p . m . Mood Disorder Supjjort
17
6:00 p .m. Deacons 7:00 p .m. S & F 7:30 p .m. Recovery, Int.
18
6:00 p . m . Bible Study 7:00 p . m . Choir
19 20 TRASH & TREASURE SET UP
7:30 p . m . Al-Anon
21 9:00 a . m . Youth Ministry Training Workshop 10:00 a . m . - 4:00 p . m . TRASH & TREASURE SALE 2:00 p .m . Prayer Shawl 10:15 p . m . AA, Chapel 12:00 a . m . AA, Chapel
22 10:00 a . m . Worship & Sunday School 11:00 a . m . - 3:00 p .m . TRASH & TREASURE SALE
23 OCTOBER NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER ARTICLES DUE!
7:00 p . m . Mood Disorder Support
24
7:30 p .m. Recovery, Int.
25
6:00 p . m . Bible Study 7:00 p . m . Choir
26
7:00 p . m . Church Council
27
7:30 p . m . Al-Anon
28
10:15 p . m . AA 12:00 a . m . AA
29 10:00 a . m . Worship St Sunday School 11:30 a . m . Community Meal 11:30 a . m . Youth Group
30
7:00 p . m . Mood Disorder Support
31
7:30 p .m . Recovery, Int.
AUGUST 2019 CALENDAR ON THE BACK
OCTOBER NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER ARTICLES FOR THE GOOD NEWS DUE SEPTEMBER 23!
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