Reaching Heights July 2019

Links to this month’s news:

Worship – “Unraveled”
Summer Choir – Come Sing!
Along the Path – Thoughts from Pastor Roger
Kate’s Cogitations
New Leadership – elected at the 2019 Annual Meeting
Youth off to Camp
Mid Week Bible Study – begins July 16
Community Meal – July 20
Porch Talks – July 28
Pub(lic) Theology – July 16
Common Ground – June 30

See the Serving Schedule – Go to the church calendar

NOTE: The church office will be closed July 1 – 5.

Worship – In the Campbell Room!

July 7 – Pastor Roger will be preaching from the story of the Samaritan Woman at the Well (John 4:1-29).

July 14 – The Conversion of Saul to Paul (Acts 9:1-20) will be the topic of Rev. Kris Eggert’s sermon.

July 21 – Jeremiah 29:1-7 will be the scriptural basis for Dr. Gillooly’s sermon on Gardens and Building in a New Land while Pastor Roger is at General Assembly

July 28 – Pastor Roger will be back in the pulpit and preaching on John 20:19-29

All our worship themes this summer are taken from material called “Unraveled: Seeking God When Our Plans Fall Apart” by A Sanctified Art. Feel free to pick up a Study Journal in the Campbell Room to use weekly in preparation for Sunday worship or as a way to process what you hear.

Summer Choir

If you’ve thought about singing in the choir but couldn’t make the weekly rehearsal commitment, then come join the summer choir. Rehearsal is at 9:20 a.m. in the Campbell Room right before Sunday morning worship beginning June 16.

Along the Path:

I hope that the old saying “absence makes the heart grow fonder” is true since I am out of town almost as much as I am here in June and July. Two Sundays of vacation in June, followed by a weekend at the Wild Goose Festival, where I am a presenter this year, and 5 days at the General Assembly, means that we could very well miss each other for over a month this summer.

Our church is fortunate is having excellent leadership both in worship and in the day to day running of the church, so I may miss you all more than you miss me. But I hope that whether I am leading in worship or not, that you will be present to maintain and enjoy the community that means so much to all of us.

I also hope that you find time for rest and relaxation for yourself this summer and look forward to hearing about what you’ve done when we see each other.

‘Till next time… Pastor Roger

Kate’s Cogitations

Where have you seen God at work recently? It’s a question I think we should be asking each other and ourselves regularly. Even just asking the questions prompts thought and discernment. For me, I have noticed a surge of energy for new projects, both at HCC and in other parts of my life. I find myself eager to get to church to get going on Common Ground, Pub(lic) Theology, or grant requests. I look forward to meeting with members of the community to learn what they dream of for Shaker. I daydream about how HCC might be involved. It feels good to be engaged in this work. What energizes you and gives you hope? Where do you sense God’s presence and activity in the world around you?

2019 – 2020 Leadership for Heights Christian Church

Officers
Moderator – Scott Phelps
Vice Moderator – Lynda Ackerman
Secretary – Grace Loudenstein
Treasurer – Mike Singerman
Asst. Treasurer – Neil Chase

Ministry Teams
Mission Team Leader – Andrena Jones Sharp

Education Team Leader – Annette Sutherland
Assistant Team Leader – Carolyn Troha

Worship Team Leader – Jane Troha
Assistant Team Leader – Donita Singerman

Fellowship Team Leaders – Rosalind Powell, Val McMillan
Assistant Team Leader – Joan Fronck

Administration Team Leader – Jim Nicks

Endowment Team Leader – Neil Chase
Endowment Team Members:
2020 – Lynda Ackerman, Karen McKeehan
2021 – Neil Chase, Tom Roberts
2022 – David Blackwell, Nancy Carpenter

*Note: Bold typeface indicates positions elected at 2019 Annual meeting

Camp Christian!

This year we send Alicia Benson and Madison Durham to Camp Christian for a week of CYF Camp July 7-13. Please keep these people in your prayers that they and their fellow campers might have a fun, safe and fulfilling week!

It’s back! MidWeek Bible Study will start up again mid-summer!

Mark your calendars and plan to join us for a 7 week study of the Psalms: Passion, Promise, Praise. We will begin mid-July and meet each week through August. We’ll meet at Juma Coffeehouse on Chagrin – you purchase your own beverage and we’ll bring the lively discussion! All are welcome, invite a friend to join you.

7/16                 Overview of the Book of Psalms
7/23                 Prayers and Poetry
7/30                 Prayer Book for God’s People
8/6                   Psalms of Sacred History
8/13                 Psalms of Trust
8/20                 Psalms of Lament
8/27                 Psalms of Praise

Community Meal

Each month a dedicated team of volunteers come together to prepare and share a meal. And each month we are joined by others in the community, wanting to help, seeking fellowship, or eager for a tasty free meal. HCC has made a commitment to providing this meal each month of the year. We meet on the Third Saturday of the month, and can always use an extra pair of hands and more smiling faces! We are fortunate to partner with Shaker Schools, Police Department and Library, and welcome all who want to participate! Mark your calendar for July 20 12-2 pm and plan to join us!

Porch Talks for a Beloved Community

After two great speakers in Amanda D. King and Rev. Dr. Mendle Adams we look forward to our third speaker, Rev. Dr. Marvin McMickle. He will speak on Sunday, July 28, at 4:00 pm. The event will also include a commemoration of Dr. King’s visit to HCC on the same date 54 years ago.

Dr. McMickle, who recently retired as president of Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in Rochester, New York, is well known to Greater Clevelanders. He served as Senior Pastor of Antioch Baptist Church from 1987 to 2011, and as President of the Cleveland NAACP, Shaker Heights Board of Education, and Greater Cleveland Urban League at various times during that span.

A facilitated follow-up conversation session, also free and open to the public, will be held in the Campbell Room at Heights Christian Church on Wednesday, July 31, at 7 p.m.

Please mark your calendar and plan to be here on July 28 and July 31. Then think about ways you can spread the news, share the flyer and Facebook event, and invite your friends and neighbors.

Next Pub(lic) Theology is July 16th

Now meeting at the Craft Collective in the Van Aken District. Come bring your questions, your curiosity, and pull up a chair. This month we will consider how Many Stories Matter – the power of story and more than narrative. Do you have a story to share? This group meets at 7:00 pm on the 3rd Tuesday of the month.Hope to see you there.

Join us in hosting Common Ground – a Community Conversation!

Sunday, June 30 from 5-7 pm we open our doors to whoever wants to join us for a simple catered supper and conversation. This is an annual program sponsored by the Cleveland Foundation and this year the theme is” My environment was…My environment is…My environment will be…” We will focus on community – yours growing up, now, and what you most want to see in the future. We will discuss how our upbringing shapes our thinking, and how everyone can work together to build community wherever they are – community that respects all and equips all, in love, for justice and peace – beloved community. We will need greeters, table hosts, and cookie bakers!

Please sign up here: http://bit.ly/CG2019_HeightsCC and let Kate know if you’d like to help at the event.

Reminder

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!