Reaching Heights January 2023
Reaching Heights January 2023
Links to this month’s news:
- Worship – for January
- MidWeek Bible Study
- Kate’s Cogitations
- Education Ministry
- Mission Ministry
- Thank You
- Volunteer Tutors
- Book Group and Meditative Arts Group
Gift Cards
- Social Media
See the Serving Schedule
Worship and study
Worship in January
Jan 1 Christmastide John 1: 1-5 “God Dwells with Us”
On this Christmastide Sunday, we celebrate the many ways God dwells with us from generation to generation, since the beginning of time. In the fullness of this season, come dwell with God—in silence and in song, in prayer or in stillness.
Jan 8 Epiphany Matthew 2:1-12 “We Keep Seeking”
Like the Magi, may we seek the divine and be willing to journey closer to God. This new year and every year to come, let us keep seeking – wisdom, justice, and a better world.
Jan 15 Isaiah 49:1-7 “A Call to Service” Worship commemorating the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and proclaiming the continued call to do justice.
Jan 22 Matthew 4:12-23 “A Call to Discipleship”
Jan 29 Micah 6:1-8 “A Call to What Is Good?”
Mid-Week Bible Study Resumes!
Topic – Book Words of Love A Healing Journey with the Ten Commandments
When – Tuesday, Jan. 10th, 1:00 p.m. on Zoom for five weeks ending on Feb. 7th
This winter we will do the second of 2 five-week sessions studying the book Words of Love A Healing Journey with the Ten Commandments by Eugenia Anne Gamble. This book explores each of the commandments as an invitation to healing and transformation. It is based on the Ten Commandments as words from the heart of God. The study is based on the book and each participant would probably find it helpful to have a copy. Everyone is welcome (whether you have read the book or not)! Jane Troha is the convener and can provide additional information.
From the staff
Kate’s Cogitations
I always enter the new year full of hopes and expectations (mostly of myself). While I might or might not set some New Year’s Resolutions, I always find myself dreaming about what could be – imaging new possibilities. And it got me thinking about how to be more creative and think out of the box more in my thoughts about the future. While this is a popular subject for articles about business practices, we can turn to scripture to spark our imagination. We see in the life and ministry of Jesus examples of being in relationship with folks from different backgrounds and perspectives (Pharisees! Tax Collectors! Women! Samaritans!). We read of Jesus using everyday objects to teach new lessons (mustard seed, yeast, birds, flowers). We know he traveled to different parts of the country and asked a lot of questions. Often he went away to pray or rest. We see similar practices in the Prophets and the letters of Paul. All of this helped them tap into the Spirit, the most creative force we know, which is available to each of us. Sometimes when I need a fresh perspective, I go for a walk, or read an unfamiliar author. Other times, I light a candle and try to still myself, in hopes of opening to the Spirit. I believe God is calling HCC to be imaginative, to dream, to believe in possibility. What builds your capacity to tap into the Spirit and imagine with God more creatively?
In peace,
~Kate
from the Board and Mission Teams
Education Ministry
Advent Study
The Gospel of Mark doesn’t have a nativity story—so where’s the Advent message? It’s in every aspect of Jesus’ life, to his death and beyond. The Incarnation—God come to earth in human form to be baptized, teach, heal, eat, and die—is what we celebrate at Christmas, and Mark shows us just how radical and celebration-worthy it is! Holy Disruption presents a fresh understanding of the holiness of Christmas grounded, not in a conventional cozy Christmas message, but through Mark’s disquieting gospel which invites its readers to experience God’s disruptive but transformative love for us and our world.
Cindy Maxey is leading us through an Advent/Christmas Study on the book Holy Disruption, by Tracy S. Daub. We meet in the Chapel and on zoom (using the Sunday morning worship link) at 9:30am each Sunday in Advent/Christmas, except for 12/25 and 1/1. We will have a final session on Jan 8. Reading the book is encouraged but not required to participate. Please contact Cindy with questions.
Missions Ministry
Wall of Love – Your love continues to abound. Thank you for your ongoing commitment for the children/families at Lomond School. Remember: we will collect scarves, gloves, mittens, hats, socks through March 2023.
Family Promise – We are aware that issues related to covid, the flu, and RSV still seem to hold our nation and the world hostage in many ways. We of faith have and are trusting in God to move us forward. So, some events seem to have returned to old traditions. This year we returned to visible request for Family Promise Holiday Shop. Grace Loudenstein continued to share her artful skills making paper ornaments for a Christmas tree placed in the Chapel with a Wish List for Santa for the homeless children/families who are residing at Family Promise. As we thought you would, this year you took the ornament requests/filled them so that instead of giving only five gift cards last year, a car load of gifts along with several gift cards was delivered to them on Sunday, December 11th. Wow! What a wonderful donation from all of you. THANK YOU!
Dr. King’s Vision of the Beloved Community: Opportunities and Challenges for Shaker Heights Moving Forward Together. A collaboration between the City of Shaker Heights, the Shaker Heights Schools, and the Shaker Heights Library celebrating and commemorating Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
From Missions Ministry: we invite you mark your calendar and consider participation in events for this celebration: Thursday, January 12 at 6:30pm Shaker Heights High School; Sunday, January 15 from 3-5pm at the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Center. Monday, January 16 from 12-2 drive through donation at the Shaker Heights Middle School,
Spring 2023 – Missions Ministry will look forward to opening our eyes to new opportunities and/reviving old traditions that will impact Heights Christian’s role in the community and the world. As Christians we will continue to provide needed clothing, food, shelter for those less fortunate than ourselves. But we will address issues of social justice. There is a place at the table for everyone. As Missions Team Leader, I look forward to having honest and open conversations as we move forward thanking God for the blessings that this congregation has received.
Thank You
Kate, Irwin, Kese, Danielle and Levi want to express their gratitude for the kind and generous expressions of affection and appreciation from the congregation. Thanks for an assortment of greeting and gifts from the congregation and Elders. It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to serve the members of Heights Christian Church.
I would like to thank the Heights Christian Church family for celebrating me for twenty-five years of serving you. It has been my pleasure and pray to have many more years to come.
Thank you so much,
Love, Kese
English for Speakers of Other Languages class at Shaker Main Library Calls for Volunteer Tutors
We are looking for volunteers who are able and committed to creating a welcoming environment for English Language Learners from all over the world.
- Have an encouraging teaching style – with a “light touch” — to ensure that students enjoy learning English and leave the class with a smile on their face
- Are flexible — able to work with students of many different ages and abilities
- Have a good grasp of the English language and are able to lead discussions on various topics
- Are open to working with our program’s original reading curriculum that involves pre-teaching vocabulary and reading/discussing imaginative stories
- Are willing and able to commit to tutoring most every Tuesday night, from 7 to 8:30 pm at the Shaker Heights Public Library located at 16500 Van Aken, 44120.
We are currently tutoring only adults but would like to return to offering tutoring to families once we have volunteers who are willing and able to do this.
So if this sounds interesting to you, please let me know or feel free to drop by on a Tuesday night at 7 pm in Fernway Room, located on the 2nd floor of the Shaker Heights Public Library to see us in action.
Thank you for your interest,
Carolyn Steiner. 216 751 4918
Book Group
We meet the first Wednesday of each month at 1:00 at Plymouth Church in Room 102. Our next meeting will be Wednesday, January 4 to discuss the book I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy Contact Nancy Carpenter for more information and or questions.
Meditative Art 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.
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!