Reaching Heights April 2023
Reaching Heights April 2023
Links to this month’s news:
- Worship in April
- Kate’s Cogitations
- Education Ministry
- RenewalWorks Team
- Mission Ministry
- Disciples in Action Ingathering 4/22
- Special Offering for Easter 4/2 + 4/9
- Community Engagement
- Book Group and Meditative Arts Group
- Gift Cards
- Social Media
- Birthdays
See the Serving Schedule
Worship and study
Worship in April
All services will be in person (in the Chapel at Plymouth) and online
Palm Sunday April 2
Worship 11:00 am
A service of celebration highlighted
by a Palm Procession
Dr. Kate Gillooly preaching “Where Are You Headed?”
Mr. Mark Laseter, Guest Musician
(Education Hour begins at 9:30 am)
Maundy Thursday April 6 Service at 7: 30 p.m.
“Abide with Me” worship in 3 movements: Centering, Communion, Contemplation
Through music, scripture, reflection, and communion, we will focus on Jesus’ invitation to relationship.
If you are worshiping with us online, please have something to write or draw with and communion elements with you.
Good Friday April 7
9 am – 6 pm At Home Prayer Vigil – join in prayer from your home for an hour of prayer and meditation on the scripture and events of the day.
Noon – 3 pm Community Ecumenical Service at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
The Seven Last Words of Christ
Easter Sunday April 9 Worship 11:00 am
Come worship as we celebrate together the promise of new life in Christ’s Resurrection!
Festive music with choir, organ, piano, and violin
Dr. Kate Gillooly preaching “Who Are you Looking For?”
April 16 John 20:19-31 “Peace Be with You!”
April 23 Luke 24:13-35 “Bread for the Journey”
April 30 Guest preacher: Rev. Kris Eggert, District 2 Elder
From the staff
Kate’s Cogitations
A Season of New Life
Easter is a season. We think of it as one day, but in the liturgical calendar, it lasts all the way up until Pentecost. Sometimes called The Great Fifty Days, or more simply, Eastertide, this is an entire season of the church year devoted to celebrating resurrection and new life. The stories we hear in worship recall post-resurrection appearance of Jesus, and offer sayings that describe Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Too often, we think of Easter Day as the joyous end to a long, somber Lent. But in some ways it marks a hinge, between the self-reflection of Lent and the period of living into the Good News of resurrection. We can spend Eastertide learning how to follow the resurrected Jesus and preparing for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
We are fortunate to be in the Northern Hemisphere, where the blossoms of spring coincide with our religious celebration of new life. Whether it’s the budding trees, bright flowers, or bird songs, there will be plenty of new life apparent after a long, cold winter. So much to celebrate.
An article in Building Faith (A Ministry of Virginia Theological Seminary) written by Amy Sander Montanez offers suggestions for observing the season of Eastertide. She says we could use special greetings to family and friends, such as “Happy Eastertide! Yes, it’s a whole season!” or “Good morning! Guess what? Love wins!” or look yourself in the mirror and say, “Happy Easter, Beautiful!” She suggests we can spend more time in nature and practice being grateful. May we’ll try our hand at poetry – free verse or Haiku or 6 word memoirs. We might choose a virtue or fruit of the spirit to work on each week: Compassion, Gentleness, Joy, etc. Like Lenten Intentions, these can be ways to practice what we believe – that Jesus died and rose in love and offers new life to everyone.
New life for us now
We don’t just rise when we die
It’s offered each day.
In peace,
~Kate
FROM THE BOARD
Education Ministry Team
Our Sunday morning Adult Education class will conclude its discussion of “How to Be an Anti-Racist” on 4/2. We meet 9:30 – 10:30 in the Chapel and on Zoom. Stay tuned for our next offering, beginning in a few weeks.
Our MidWeek Study “Meeting Jesus at the Table” continues through April 11. We meet on Zoom Tuesdays at 1 pm.
See info about our new FUNdraiser for Community Projects with children and youth: An Easter Egg-stravaganza! This year we are delivering Easter baskets with filled eggs – to any home in Shaker! – for $10 each. Please share the info with your friends and neighbors and help us with assembly (4/4) and delivery (4/6 and 4/8). Contact Carolyn Troha for more information.
Are you looking for a deeper way to experience Holy Week?
This year, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, you can sign up to receive text messages in real-time so you can walk with Jesus during his final days. When we say ‘real-time’ we mean it! Some text messages will arrive early in the morning or late at night as we truly walk with Jesus and experience the events leading to His death and resurrection. As you read the texts, our hope is that you’ll live the Easter story as if it were happening in the moment. Text HOLYWEEK to (833) 629-0176 to sign up with TryTank Text Abbey.
RENEWALWORKS –
Good Friday Vigil from Home –
RenewalWorks invites you to spend part of Good Friday in prayer and meditation. We are encouraging people to sign up for an hour (between 9 am and 6 pm) on Friday, April 7 to spend time reflecting on the scriptures and events of the day. See the sheet in the Narthex (by the doors into the Chapel) or contact Kese in the church office to sign up.
MISSIONS TEAM UPDATES
Wall of Love – By the time you read this, we hope that Spring has really sprung. Miss Billie and the Missions Team want to say thank you for your generous donations of mittens, hats, gloves, socks, scarves for the children at Lomond School this year. The collection ended on March 26th. Let’s do it again next Fall beginning in October.
Partnering with Plymouth – Volunteers to accompany Paul Qua and other Plymouth members to the Cleveland Food Bank are welcomed. You may sign up via his email address at pqua@classicautocampus.com for one are two evenings from 6-8pm. For the specific dates please contact Paul at his email address.
Remembering Neighbor Night – This event has a standard date/time and place. It is the last Tuesday of the month at Stephanie Tubbs Jones building from 6-7:45pm. Various discussions related to the City of Shaker Heights and its neighborhoods occur there. Often ideas/suggestions spring from this neighbors meeting that become a reality for our city. All are welcomed. Of course there are snacks too. Come join in and share your thoughts and concerns.
Disciples in Action – Heights Christian Missions team accepted an invitation to join with other Disciples across the area as we LAUNCH INTO LENT! You have responded well. Just look at the collection in the front of the Chapel. The collection of the items needed for refugee families in the Cleveland area will continue through April 16th. Remember on April 22nd 10am-noon we will all gather at Disciples Christian Church for a time of celebration to sort the items collected (and of course to eat). Some of the most needed items are: can openers, flatware trays, oven mitts, heavy shower liners, shower rings, brooms, dustpans, mops, buckets, trash cans, vaccums, detergent, lamps, rugs, tea kettle(stovetop and electric), pots, body wash, backpacks, with school supplies, sewing machines, gift cards for groceries ($25 or more) – Marc’s Walmart, Save-A-Lot. Watch for more in our weekly news updates.
Outreach Grant Applications – applications will be open from March through May 2023. The application is online via our website at: heightschristianchurch.org. Click on serve to open Grant Application. The requirements are listed. Please share this information.
BE SOMEONE WHO MAKES OTHERS FEEL LOVED AND INCLUDED
DISCIPLES IN ACTION REGION 2 GATHERING –
You are invited to join other Disciples across the area for a celebration on Saturday, April 22 10a-Noon as all of our area churches join together at Disciples Christian Church for a time of celebrating and connecting (and of course eating!!) with other Disciples as we sort all of the items collected during Lent for immigrants and refugees.
( ) YES! I will be part of the April 22nd Celebration!
(We are asking each person attending to contribute $10 to cover the cost of food. Please let us know if finances are an issue. We want everyone to be able to attend.)
Name:_________________________________________________________
Phone:__________________Email:_________________________________
Disciples of Christ Easter Offering April 2 + 9
Supporting general ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
On Easter we rejoice in the good news that God’s love is more powerful even than death itself. Gifts to the Easter Special Offering support ministries that help Disciples witness to that good news thorugh relationships with global mission partners serving in communities impacted by climate change, health and social service ministries that meet basic needs for neighbors, leadership development programs and stewardship education, opportunities like the General Assembly where the church can gather for worshipful work, support for hospital and military chaplains, and so much more.
We are witnesses to the power of God’s love, from our doorsteps to the ends of the earth.
Please give generously through your congregation
Community Engagement –
On April 30, Dr. Kate will be guest preacher at Church of the Redeemer, United Methodist Church on S. Taylor Road in Cleveland Heights. Our Moderator, Lynda Ackerman and our Vice-Moderator, Jane Troha, will join the visit. We have been invited to share our experience of discerning our next chapter as a congregation, as well as clarifying our missional identity. Church of the Redeemer is a similar congregation, with a heart for social justice, and interested to hear how the Spirit have moved within us and among us as we listen for God’s invitation to an abundant life.
Why We Walk
Community Movie Screening sponsored by Plymouth Church
Saturday, April 22 at 4 pm – a film about the power of walking
Community Walk to follow on May 6 at 12:30 p.m.
Book Group
We meet the first Wednesday of each month at 1:00 at Plymouth Church in Room 102. The book selected for April is The Library Book by Susan Orlean. Our next meeting will be April 5th . Hope to see you then. (Come, even if you haven’t read the book and enjoy the discussion.) Contact Nancy Carpenter for more information and for questions.
Meditative Arts Group
We meet the second Wednesday of each month at 1:00-3:00 at Plymouth Church in the Atrium. We will provide projects or you can bring your own. Everyone is invited to color, doodle, draw, paint, knit, sew – whatever fits your interest and provides soothing quiet for you. We will gather with fellowship, then listen to calm, soothing music in the Atrium.
So break out your pens, crayons, colored pencils, knitting needles and join us! It should be a lovely respite each month! Hope to see you then!
Gift Cards
Remember gift cards are available on Sunday mornings and in the office every weekday during normal office hours.
After Easter we are going to purchase more $100 Amazon gift cards and some $100 Lowe’s and Home Depot cards. If you are interested in these, or any other special order gift cards, let Mike or Kese know by the Tuesday after Easter (4/11/23). Spring plant and project time will be upon us!
Special order forms are available on the table at the rear of the Chapel.
Social Media outreach
HCC is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and You-Tube! If you see something you like, share it on your page! This will increase our reach and may draw in our next visitor!
April
8 Elee Hendon 9 Shirley Blackwell
23 Bobbi Phelps 28 Bill Dunn
We are glad to share the birthdays we have on record each month and encourage members to reach out with greetings. We apologize if someone’s name has been omitted – please call Kese in the church office to share your birthday if we don’t have it in our list. We want to celebrate you!