This is the blog for communication among the members, staff and supporters of South Euclid United Church of Christ, formerly Euclid Avenue Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ in Cleveland, Ohio.
Friday, September 4, 2015
FASTING AND CORPORATE PRAYER
Our church will be fasting for 10 days as a corporate body on Tuesday, September 8 until Friday, September 18th. Fasting is a spiritual discipline utilized to help us focus and gain stamina for the next season of ministry. You are encouraged to prayerfully consider abstaining from something you enjoy and utilize that time for prayer, meditation and reflection on how to implement that which you have heard from the Lord. We often suggest the Daniel Fast (fruits and vegetables only). If that's not your cup of tea consider fasting from sweets, social media, television, candy, music or any other activity you often indulge in when you could be talking with God. There will be fasting guides, with all the information needed to fast, available on Sunday, September 6. Daily we will have a prayer call at 6:00 a.m.. Dial (641) 715-3200. The access code is: 250999. The call will not last more than 15 min. We have had a summer full of food, fun and fellowship. As the fall sets in this is a perfect time to intentionally commune with God for clarity of purpose and be filled with the strength to finish our the year strong.
SERVOLUTION 2015
So be on the look out for additional details and PLEASE SIGN-UP!
NEW WELLNESS MINISTRY
SEUCC has launched a wellness ministry! The “Wellness Matters Ministry” is filled with knowledgeable individuals who are passionate about serving and doing what God has called us to do. The purpose of the Wellness Matters Ministry is to promote spiritual, physical, emotional and mental health and wellness within the SEUCC congregation and community. Recognizing that our lives and health are gifts from God, this ministry will provide information and experiences that will help us be good stewards of our bodies, minds, emotions and spirits. It will encourage us to make a vow ‘to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God’ (Romans 12.1)
The Wellness Matters Ministry launched at our July 12th, 2015 worship service. The introduction with cardboard testimonies was heartfelt, healing, and touched many individuals throughout the congregation. We would like to give a special thank you to everyone who participated in that moment. God bless you all.
We also conducted a complete Wellness survey during our launch, and we thank you all for the feedback! The information provided will assist the team in determining how we will implement our agenda to serve the congregation and community. Many exciting activities kicked off that we hope to continue to provide in the near future. We encouraged you to accept the Wellness Water challenge where you reduced or eliminated sweet drinks and/or caffeinated drinks for 50 days! There were several options to choose from in our fitness program, with 7 weeks of walking/running provided for those who were interested on Mondays at 6:15 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., and Wednesdays at 7:15 a.m. Also, fitness classes were offered for 5 weeks: chair yoga and traditional yoga on Mondays from 5-6 p.m. and 6-7 p.m., and Zumba for 4 weeks on Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. These were all very successful trials; we thank everyone who participated!
The Wellness Matters Ministry would like you to save a few dates for future events: Community Resource Fair (In collaboration with the Church in the World Ministry) Oct. 31st, 2015, and HIV/AIDS Awareness Sunday Nov. 29th, 2015. Future initiatives will include educational seminars, mobile health services, a community garden, support groups, and a SEUCC 5k Walk/Run
The Wellness Matters Ministry launched at our July 12th, 2015 worship service. The introduction with cardboard testimonies was heartfelt, healing, and touched many individuals throughout the congregation. We would like to give a special thank you to everyone who participated in that moment. God bless you all.
We also conducted a complete Wellness survey during our launch, and we thank you all for the feedback! The information provided will assist the team in determining how we will implement our agenda to serve the congregation and community. Many exciting activities kicked off that we hope to continue to provide in the near future. We encouraged you to accept the Wellness Water challenge where you reduced or eliminated sweet drinks and/or caffeinated drinks for 50 days! There were several options to choose from in our fitness program, with 7 weeks of walking/running provided for those who were interested on Mondays at 6:15 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., and Wednesdays at 7:15 a.m. Also, fitness classes were offered for 5 weeks: chair yoga and traditional yoga on Mondays from 5-6 p.m. and 6-7 p.m., and Zumba for 4 weeks on Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. These were all very successful trials; we thank everyone who participated!
The Wellness Matters Ministry would like you to save a few dates for future events: Community Resource Fair (In collaboration with the Church in the World Ministry) Oct. 31st, 2015, and HIV/AIDS Awareness Sunday Nov. 29th, 2015. Future initiatives will include educational seminars, mobile health services, a community garden, support groups, and a SEUCC 5k Walk/Run
VISION CONFERENCE 2015: REPAIRERS OF THE BREACH: THE CALL TO BE MORE THAN A WITNESS!
Please join us for the 2015 Vision Conference on September 8, 9, and 10th. The Rev. Dr. Leslie Callahan, St. Paul’s Baptist Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will preach on September 8th; Rev. Dr. Todd Davidson of Antioch Baptist Church will join us on September 9 along with the Antioch Mass Choir. The conference will close out on September 10 with Rev. Dr. Valerie Bridgeman, Methodist Theological School, Delaware OH. The SEUCC choir and Praise Team will perform under the direction of Dr. David Thomas. Make plans now to join us. You won’t be sorry when you hear these outstanding people of God. For further information, please see Pastor Courtney Clayton Jenkins.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
BLACK HISTORY MUSICAL FEBRARY 27
To celebrate and honor Black History Month this year, SE- UCC is going to present “Black History Musical: This is My Story; This is My Song,” on Friday, February 27 at 7 PM in the Sanctuary. Director Vicky Barnes has planned a journey through African-American religious music of all genres, from spirituals to traditional Gospel to Modern Gospel. Performers will include the Chancel Choir, the Wright Family, the Praise Team, the Dance Ministry led by Brigette Fitzgerald, and Praise and Worship Leaders Stacy Arielle and Ronald Rucker.
Danita Harris of Channel Five will serve as emcee.
The program is free! Come prepared to clap your hands, tap your feet, and sing along.
Danita Harris of Channel Five will serve as emcee.
The program is free! Come prepared to clap your hands, tap your feet, and sing along.
PASTOR'S CHAT AND CHEW FEBRUARY 26
Join Pastor Jenkins on Thursday, February 26 from 6-7:30 PM for a "Chat and Chew" on the Pastor's book of the month. Bring a dish to share and your thoughts about the book for discussion.
The book is Motivation Manifesto: 9 Declarations to Claim Your Personal Power by Brendon Burchard. The book retails for $19.99 but is available on Amazon.com for $10.09. You can contact Diana Scott if you need to order the book and don't have Internet access.
The book is Motivation Manifesto: 9 Declarations to Claim Your Personal Power by Brendon Burchard. The book retails for $19.99 but is available on Amazon.com for $10.09. You can contact Diana Scott if you need to order the book and don't have Internet access.
PASTOR’S BIBLE STUDY FEBRUARY 25 – APRIL 1
Beginning during Lent and continuing until Easter Week, Pastor Jenkins will be leading a Bible Study series on Wednesday evenings at 7 PM in the Multi-Purpose Room.
Topic: Breaking Free: Discovering the Victory of Total Surrender
Description: Join Pastor J as we study selected passages from the book of Isaiah, drawing several parallels between the captive Israelites and what it means to be free in Christ. During this season of Lent, learn how to remove obstacles that hinder freedom by identifying those things which are holding you captive and how to overcome them.
Topic: Breaking Free: Discovering the Victory of Total Surrender
Description: Join Pastor J as we study selected passages from the book of Isaiah, drawing several parallels between the captive Israelites and what it means to be free in Christ. During this season of Lent, learn how to remove obstacles that hinder freedom by identifying those things which are holding you captive and how to overcome them.
Electrified Leadership: Lay Leaders Orientation FEBRUARY 21, 8:30 AM
Leadership is never to be taken lightly. It is a great honor and there are also great expectations that surround it. A leader is to ebb and flow through an organization as a representative and as a peer. Leadership is not only a role, but also a call to serve whether it is formally or informally. Leaders lead others, but great leaders lead and follow others. Leadership is about service to God and not to self. It is putting the will of God and the organization over one’s own interest.
Now that the nominating committee has selected leaders to serve for this coming year and the congregation has accepted this slate and leaders have been chosen for ministry events, do we simply release these followers of Christ to go about leading the church with no guide? Imagine if Christ chose his disciples, but provided no additional roadmap to His teachings. If Christ just walked away after selecting them, the disciples would have been crestfallen, confused, and ineffective. Instead, Christ was a great leader. He demonstrated to his disciples His teachings and prepared them for when Christ returned to the Father.
In a similar vein, this is where the idea of a Lay Leader orientation surfaced. I recall when I was nominated to a ministry and eventually selected as chair; I had a few tools in my toolbox around leadership. However, there was so much that I did not know about leading at SE-UCC and the style of leadership that I needed to possess to be effective at the church. If leaders are to be effective and inspiring, we have to give them the devices to lead. The mechanisms on which to lead stem from knowledge, but more importantly they rest in the apparatus of the heart.
I invite all ministry leaders, lay leaders, and those who consider themselves leaders to come and have their leadership electrified. If a heart stops, it must be rejuvenated and in order for restoration to occur you must have the right tools to jolt you back to life. The lay leader orientation on February 21st will provide you the tools that will put a spark in your heart to be a compassionate leader for the heart of SE-UCC. Leadership is not only about being a great organizer, but it is about compelling people toward a vision of a ministry or a project. Rev. Carla Jo and myself guarantee that we will electrify, excite, and invigorate you to lead confidently this year. Ministry leader and lay leaders are required to attend and all members of SE-UCC are welcome to attend.
I look forward to seeing you electrified on February 21st at 8:30 am.
– Al Heartley, Rev. Carla Jo Howlett
Now that the nominating committee has selected leaders to serve for this coming year and the congregation has accepted this slate and leaders have been chosen for ministry events, do we simply release these followers of Christ to go about leading the church with no guide? Imagine if Christ chose his disciples, but provided no additional roadmap to His teachings. If Christ just walked away after selecting them, the disciples would have been crestfallen, confused, and ineffective. Instead, Christ was a great leader. He demonstrated to his disciples His teachings and prepared them for when Christ returned to the Father.
In a similar vein, this is where the idea of a Lay Leader orientation surfaced. I recall when I was nominated to a ministry and eventually selected as chair; I had a few tools in my toolbox around leadership. However, there was so much that I did not know about leading at SE-UCC and the style of leadership that I needed to possess to be effective at the church. If leaders are to be effective and inspiring, we have to give them the devices to lead. The mechanisms on which to lead stem from knowledge, but more importantly they rest in the apparatus of the heart.
I invite all ministry leaders, lay leaders, and those who consider themselves leaders to come and have their leadership electrified. If a heart stops, it must be rejuvenated and in order for restoration to occur you must have the right tools to jolt you back to life. The lay leader orientation on February 21st will provide you the tools that will put a spark in your heart to be a compassionate leader for the heart of SE-UCC. Leadership is not only about being a great organizer, but it is about compelling people toward a vision of a ministry or a project. Rev. Carla Jo and myself guarantee that we will electrify, excite, and invigorate you to lead confidently this year. Ministry leader and lay leaders are required to attend and all members of SE-UCC are welcome to attend.
I look forward to seeing you electrified on February 21st at 8:30 am.
– Al Heartley, Rev. Carla Jo Howlett
GCC UNIVERSITY: CALLING ALL SE-UCC JUSTICE-MINDED MEMBERS February 15 – 17
We are looking for members of SE-UCC to attend the upcoming GCC University, on February 15 - 17, 2015 at the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. The Church in The World Ministry is encouraging SE-UCC to mobilize around justice issues and GCC can help us learn how to effectively do this as a congregation. We would like to have 10 persons, who have a passion for justice issues and who want to see our church be a leader in acting responsibly when it comes to injustices in our community and world, attend this important upcoming GCC University. Please sign up at the information Table if you are interested in attending or would like more information. If you have any questions, please see Anita Davidson, Kathy Baker or Rev. Carla Jo Howlett.
JASA WOMEN’S MINISTRY GATHERING FEBRUARY 7TH
Our new Women’s Ministry, Just A Sister Away, gathers each month and is for ALL women of SE-UCC. This month our gathering will be Saturday, February 7, 2015 at 12:00 noon. This month our theme is SHARING THE LOVE. We will be focusing on empowering our relationships with women through AFFIRMATIONS. We will also be finalizing our plans for our March PURSE Outreach Ministry where we will share love by donating toiletries in a purse to women in transitional housing. For more information regarding JASA, please see DJ Battle or Rev. Carla Jo Howlett.
THE PULSE EXPERIENCE FEBRUARY 7
NEW MEMBERS ORIENTATION FEBRUARY 7
All persons interested in becoming members of South Euclid UCC and all who have joined South Euclid United Church of Christ but have not yet attended New Member’s Orientation, please plan to attend on Saturday, February 7, 2015 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Lower Level Multi-Purpose Room. Attending the new member’s orientation is a requirement to become an official member of South Euclid UCC. Those who attend will be welcomed into the congregation on Sunday, February 8, 2015. Please sign up at the Information Table if you plan to attend. If you have any questions, please see Rev. Carla Jo Howlett.
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