Reaching Heights July 2025
Reaching Heights July 2025
Links to this month’s news:
- Worship Themes for July
- Summer Series: Holy Disruptors
- Kate’s Cogitations
- HCC Calls Dr. Kate Gillooly
- Glimpses of Hope and New Life
- Finding Joy in Troubling Times
- Celebrating and Caring for God’s Good Creation
- Creating Art and Enjoying Ice Cream
- Mission Ministry
- 2025 Porch Talk
- Wednesdays Together with Plymouth
- Gift Cards
- Social Media
- Birthdays
See the Serving Schedule
Worship Themes for July 2025
July 6 Holy Disruptors series
St. Frances and St. Clare
“Choosing Peace in the Time of Crusades” Matthew 5:38-48
July 13 Guest Preacher: Pastor Dillon Shipman, Plymouth Church UCC
Text TBA
July 20 Julian of Norwich
“Declaring Love, Not God’s Wrath” Revelation 21:1-7
July 27 Harriet Tubman
“The Moses of Her People” Exodus 3:7-10
Worship start time changes to 11:15 on June 29.
About our Summer Worship Series:
“Holy Disruptors: How Christian Saints, Prophets and Mystics Led in Times of Difficulty” (series designed by Rev. Siri Strommen, a Lutheran pastor in Minnesota)
This series explores various faithful actions by Christians in history during difficult times. The suggested liturgy is built with relevant scripture, quotes from those highlighted, a litany and an original song.
The author reminds us that not only have difficult times happened before, but Christians have responded with unbelievable courage and faith in the midst of it.
As Rev. Otis Moss III said, “The Church must become a holy disruption, not a chaplain to the status quo.” Let us learn from these sages of ancient and recent history and be inspired to be faithful in our own time.
Kate’s Cogitations
Below is the scripture and reflection I offered at a recent Interfaith Prayer Vigil in Support and Defense of Migrants at Trinity Cathedral.
One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12: 28-31
This passage is familiar to many of us, whether we consider ourselves Christian or not. In fact, it quotes the Hebrew scriptures, and similar sentiments can be found in other religious traditions. It sounds simple, at least simple to understand. And yet, it can be difficult to follow.
I think too often we hear these words and set the bar for ourselves very low. We think to ourselves, “Well, I pray sometimes, and I try to be nice to people.” But that is not really the commandment. These two “great” commandments are not really about remembering to check in with God or being polite to people we may or may not like. These commandments, and the teachings and example of Jesus, are about LOVE. Not the Hallmark valentine type of love, but the challenging kind – the kind of Love that doesn’t allow us to be passive, merely allowing things to happen to us or our neighbors, but rather a Love that demands we get up, get outside our comfort zone, and do something.
We are commanded to Love God fully – with every fiber of our being, and to Love our neighbor – whoever they may be — as ourselves. Completely, unconditionally, and without hesitation. This kind of Love requires much from us – courage, mercy, sacrifice. It requires action, in devotion to God and in service to our neighbor.
I believe Jesus answered as he did, with 2 commandments when the scribe asked for the greatest, because these two commandments cannot be separated, they go hand in hand. We cannot fulfill one without the other. For if we Love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, then we will have to Love our neighbor.
God tells us over and over in scripture that our offerings of crops and riches mean nothing without living our lives in service to our neighbor and as an offering to God. Our whole lives. Not a tithe, not an hour per week – every day, in every way. This means we are to shape our lives in ways that Love our neighbor and Love God. We are act in loving service. We are be devout in our acts of mercy, our striving for justice, and our waging peace.
And so I invite you today to consider how you might shape your life to be an offering of Love – to God and to your neighbor. What action could you take to demonstrate that Love? Who might need your compassionate service today?
Over 115 people gathered in Trinity Cathedral on June 24 for a prayer vigil in support of migrants. This event was organized by the InterReligious Task Force on Central America.
HCC Calls Dr. Kate Gillooly
At the Annual Meeting of the congregation held on Sunday, June 2nd, the congregation of HCC voted unanimously to issue a call to Dr. Kate Gillooly to become our Settled Pastor. Dr. Kate will assume this role at the conclusion of her current contract as our Transitional Minister. This occurs on June 30, 2025.
Beginning on July 1st, Dr. Kate will continue her ministerial life with our church, just under a new title. The Board of Trustees will approve a new Letter of Call and Employment for her shortly.
It is a great joy for HCC to continue its relationship with Dr. Kate. She provides excellent, compassionate and challenging ministry as she leads us into our future. God has richly blessed us with the gift of Dr. Kate and her husband, Greg, in our midst. Thanks be to God!
Glimpses of Hope and New Life
During the Easter season, we used our Prayer Hoop at the rear of the Chapel to hang cards listing glimpses of hope and resurrection we saw in our daily lives. This helps us remember that resurrection is not a one-time thing, but rather a series of dramatic and subtle “breaking-ins” of God’s kin-dom. By sharing our glimpses of hope, we share our faith.
- The mother bird patiently sitting on her nest in the bend of our downspout
- I have hope that Pope Leo 14th can have a positive impact on our political leaders
- I am happy to have costumers at Walmart that speak to me and hug me
- The hope of new life and new beginnings felt while holding my friends’ newborn son ❤️
- Sunshine and spring flowers give me hope
- On Fox News, a little girl who had a heart transplant and met the family
- My hope is that Congress finally grows a spine and executes the job they were elected to do
- Glimmers of hope: budding trees, blooming flowers, babies/puppies/kittens, chirping robins too young to fly, the smell of mulch
- Baby cardinals hatched!
- A glimpse of hope at new life
- Lord, thank you for the changing season, from the drab & dreary winter to this colorful, warm weather. This gives us hope that storms have passed and the future looks brighter. I pray we all can weather the storms of life and look to the future with hope and contentment. Amen.
- All kids have a safe fun summer!
- I hope that we will always be open to connecting to others outside of our devoted congregation – let us join in partnership that might expand our inclusion of younger people – May we remember that the church is NOT the brick and mortar.
- Spring – Nature regenerating. Even the weeds grow. New wildlife babies. All nature rejoices!
- An act of kindness was when new neighbors in Sean’s community gave him a bouquet of flowers. Sean recently is grieving his father and his uncle’s death.
- My glimpse of hope is seeing new folks join us for service. ❤️
- May our minds keep helping other people no matter if we know them or not.
- I have hope that in the large picture, nothing bad lasts forever. That over the long arm of human history, we have worked to generally make lives better for our fellow man.
- The leaves are on the trees and the bees are enjoying the wild flowers!
Finding Joy In Troubling Times
A RenewalWorks Invitation
The RenewalWorks Team works on providing opportunities for the spiritual growth and development of the congregation, as well as maintaining contact with those who are not able to be with us regularly. This fall we are kicking off a series of spiritual growth sessions that will be combined with HCC’s regularly scheduled hospitality hours.
The first of these events will take place on Sunday, September 7th, Kick-Off Sunday for the new program year. We will explore the theme, “Finding Joy in Troubling Times”, by viewing and discussing together photographs taken by HCC members and friends.
This is where you come in!!!! We are asking you to snap pictures throughout July whenever you find joy in your daily life or travels. Please send the picture to Kese, along with a very short (3 – 4 sentences) “artist’s statement” of where you see joy in the picture. Kese will take it from there, producing the materials for us to view and explore at the September gathering.
Be sure to put September 7th on your calendars – plan to stay a little longer at hospitality that morning! Food, art, prayer, song, fellowship – what could be better! Let’s “Find Joy in Troubling Times” together!
Celebrating and Caring for God’s Good Creation
HCC members gathered in the parlor on a hot summer evening June 24 to hear scripture, craft birds of the air, animals and flowers of the land, and creatures of the sea, then discussed ways we might be better stewards of God’s good creation. We began the evening with dessert (yum!) and ended by singing “For the Beauty of the Earth.” Look for our creations on the prayer hoop in the Chapel! Thanks to Cindy Maxey, Donita Singerman, Linda Durham, and Carson Crosby for working together on this offering.
Creating Art and Enjoying Ice Cream!
HCC children have been busy the past two Sundays! The children left worship to create watercolor paintings to send to those who are not able to worship in person with us. The shady picnic table near the entrance was a perfect setting for painting. Many thanks to all who shared their talents – Felix McDonald, Coletta Hempstead and Henry Mullen, visitors Karin Dodge and her daughter Melora, Connee Choi and Lynda Ackerman. Scott Phelps and his grandson Jasper also joined in the fun. These colorful paintings will be mailed out soon by the RenewalWorks team.
After worship on Sunday June 22, the congregation was invited to enjoy some ice cream treats at the picnic table. It was certainly a welcome treat on a hot summer afternoon as everyone had the opportunity to view the paintings. Special thanks to Jane and Don Troha for providing the ice cream!
Missions Ministry
Just a quick update about recent activities:
- Grants: Our grant season is at an end for this year. (It runs from March to May.) Since our previous newsletters we have awarded two more grants for $1,000 each to the following organizations:
- The Haven Home is an organization which houses pregnant homeless women and may also include up to two children under the age of five years old per pregnant woman. The women get food and shelter, baby and children’s supplies/clothing and also training to help them obtain a more stable life. The women and their children are housed in a building formerly used as a convent. Rejoice in your helping these families at what may be the most vulnerable time of their lives.
- Family Promise is an organization which shelters homeless families. Some of you may still remember it when it was previously called IHN, and we previously housed families in our old church for a week each quarter. Now it has a permanent home not far from us and aids families to find housing and helps them obtain a more stable life. It is a necessary service because generally families are separated in traditional shelters, so, for example a teenaged son would be separated from his mom, and a husband from his wife, etc.
The Haven Home informed us that shelter spaces in general are often full, so we are helping these two organizations to fill a real need.
Egg Cartons: Something else to be proud of. We have collected and distributed 11,724 egg cartons as of mid-June. I find this amazing. We have kept 11,724 egg cartons out of the landfill, we have helped farm families to package their eggs for sale, and although this was not necessarily the plan, we have a good standing church wise for farmers at the market. I never thought this would be so successful! It may be that I benefited the most as I now know lots of farmers and my own life has therefore been enriched. Keep the cartons coming!
- Future Events: Things tend to slow down in the summer. However, don’t forget to drop off non-perishable unexpired food in the Little Free Pantry. (But not in glass jars.) People eat in the summer too! Also, we may be called upon by IGAH (Interfaith Group Against Hate) at some point to help out in some way.
Have a great summer! If anything else comes up which requires your help, we will be in touch!
Sincerely,
Connee Choi, Missions
“Keep an attitude of gratitude!”
ANNUAL PORCH TALK ANNOUNCED: Sat. August 23 @ 5 pm
Rev. Dr. Velda Love will speak, a combined choir from all 3 sponsoring congregations will sing, as well as the Greater Cleveland Choral Chapter Youth and Young Adult Choir. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and join the call for justice!
Wednesdays Together . . . Will Resume in September
Plymouth Church, UCC and Heights Christian Church are both blessed to call our building at 2860 Coventry Road home. This coming year, both congregations are looking forward to growing friendships between our members, as well as discerning what ministry opportunities and events we can embark on together! One way we will seek to expand our relationship is through sharing “Wednesdays Together.” On each Wednesday of each month, we will share in fellowship and formation with one another. We look forward to seeing many folks from HCC and Plymouth at each gathering!
Gift Cards
Remember gift cards are available on Sunday mornings and in the office every weekday during normal office hours.
We have a supply of Arby’s ($10), Walmart ($25) and Target ($25) cards, in addition to Amazon ($100 & $25),
Wendy’s ($25) and Burger King ($10) cards. We brought in a few Meijer’s cards ($100 & $25) to see if there is a demand.
Giant Eagle $25 cards are back in stock, as are Subway ($10) and Starbucks ($10). We will order Heinen’s $25 cards shortly.
Support Heights Christian Church while you shop. Make your life less stressful. Gift cards are easy. (Cash or check only, please)
Social Media outreach
HCC is on Facebook, Instagram, Linked-In, and You-Tube ! Our Sunday morning worship services are live-streamed on Zoom and FacebookLive. Several recordings of special worship services have been uploaded to our channel on 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!
July
5 – Greg Gillooly 6 – Carson Crosby 13 – Christopher Crosby, Sr.
20 – Alicia Benson 31 – Ed Weisheimer
August
2 – Lyubov Nikolenko 8 – Kellie Brown 11 – Tim Damon
11 – Alice McDonald 12 – Rosalind Powell 12 – Scott Phelps
16 – Terri Mehring 17 – Levi Horn 24 – Larry Watson 29 – Billy 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!