Reaching Heights March 2018
Reaching Heights
March 2018
Links to this month’s news:
Worship – What to look forward to in our weekly and special services
Lenten Study – Sunday morning and Thursday evening
Along the Path – Thoughts from Pastor Roger
Outreach – Spring Community Project
Children’s Ministry – Report on Souper Bowl Sunday and info on the upcoming Easter Egg hunt
RenewalWorks – Update
Thank You – from Kate and Greg
Our Daily Bread – and other reminders!
See the Serving Schedule
Go to the church calendar
Worship for Lent
March 4 (3rd Sunday of Lent) – Trashing the Temple – John 2:13-25
March 11 (4th Sunday of Lent) – Healing Service – Ephesians 2:1-10
March 18 (5th Sunday of Lent) – From Death to Life – John 12:20-26
Holy Week:
March 25 (Palm Sunday) – Palm Processional – Mark 11:1-11
March 29 (Maundy Thursday) – Dinner and Service beginning at 6:30 pm
April 1 (Easter) – Celebrating the Resurrection!
Lenten Study: Lentwise
Lenten studies continue on both Sunday mornings and Thursday evenings. Led by the Elders, these small group opportunities make time for reflecting on our spiritual journeys and what we need in the way of direction, nourishment, wisdom, security and refreshment. Each session stands on its own, so you may join at any time. Please take this opportunity to journey together as we all prepare for new life at Easter.
Along the Path
Our church building is a busy place. Our congregation uses it, of course. But our use of the building has decreased overall as we have reduced the number of church meetings and, to some extent, other church activities (notable exceptions include the extended Thrift Shop hours and the recent production of Godspell).
Yet at the same time, the use of the building by outside groups is increasing. Many of those groups you are familiar with, the Cooperative Preschool and the Youth Center as well as the two other congregations that worship at HCC on Sunday.
Then there are others you may not know about. On Tuesday nights there’s a Toastmasters group in the Chapel. Every other Friday, Harambe Girls meets in one of our converted classrooms upstairs.
In September the Getaway began operating in our Fellowship Hall. Other community groups have found our church as a place for occasional meetings and events. This month we are welcoming a new group, Vision of Angels, into the space recently vacated by the Heights Youth Center. At the last board meeting, the Trustees approved the installation of a Little Free Pantry on our church property, which will happen sometime this spring. And even as I write this, other conversations are happening that may bring additional groups and events into the church as we continue our outreach to the community.
All of this creates a lot of work for Mike (and the rest of the staff), but it is important that this gift, which has been passed down to us from past generations, be utilized in service to the community around us. It is part of what links us to the neighborhood, and it is one way our relatively small congregation can still do great work.
Peace, Pastor Roger
Outreach Committee Spring Community Project
The Outreach Committee is sponsoring a donation drive for Family Promise. Family Promise provides shelter to homeless families. Most, but not all, of its recipients are young moms with children primarily under the age of six (6). The shelter needs many items for its families. The Outreach Committee has chosen the items listed below to collect from March 4th through July 1st. Containers for the items will be located in the front entrance of the church and outside of the office in the hallway. Needed items are listed below:
- Diapers (all sizes from newborn to pull-ups, particularly sizes 3, 4, 5)
- Diaper wipes
- Diaper rash cream
- Lotion
- Vaseline
- Baby laundry detergent
- Kids’ socks
- Kids’ T-shirts and underwear
- Baby Onesies and undershirts
- Formula
- Adult female socks
- Adult female underwear
Thank you for your willingness to give to those in need as we follow the teachings of Jesus.
Children’s Ministry
“The Souper Bowl Sunday collection was a great success! We raised a total of $294 for The Greater Cleveland Food Bank. This equates to 1,176 meals facilitated by our donations. The children – and a few adults – enjoyed making a great deal of noise with their pots, pans, and bowls. Watching them fill up with money was also gratifying! Thanks to all who participated and for all of the generous donations.”
Easter Egg Hunt
When: Saturday, March 31, 2018
Time: 11:00 a.m.—12 Noon
Who: Children through Grade 3
Fourth graders and older are invited to help hide eggs at 10:30 a.m. and help the younger children find eggs at 11:00 a.m.
Friends and family are welcome.
We’re egg-cited about having you join us!
Registration is a must before Wednesday, March 28th
Please notify the church office at 216.561.4800 or email us at kese.hcc@sbcglobal.net
~ This is a FREE Event ~
RenewalWorks Update
We did it! We submitted 45 survey on spiritual life to RenewalWorks as part of a process to examine our collective and individual spiritual vitality! (They asked for 45, which is approximately 3/4 of our average Sunday attendance at worship.) While they compile that data and produce a report of findings for us, the RenewalWorks team at HCC is already hard at work. We will meet twice in March (3/5 and 3/19) and twice in April (4/16 and 4/30) to explore where we have been as a church, where we are now – including the results of the Spiritual Life Inventory, and where we think God is calling us to next. Your RenewalWorks team at HCC is: Val McMillan, Scott Phelps, Donita Singerman, Jane Troha, Rosalind Powell, Lynda Ackerman, Kate Gillooly, and Rev. Roger Osgood.
Please keep them in your prayers these next several weeks. Look for a report with their findings and recommendations at the Annual Meeting in June.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Greg and I want to say a great big thank you to the people of HCC for all the support we received in producing Godspell here in February. From the first whispers of an idea to the last curtain and clean-up, you all were encouraging, supportive, hard-working and generous. We felt your prayers and good wishes, appreciated your cookies, costume donations and financial contributions, and were grateful for your ticket selling abilities and stage-strike skills. Most of all, we were proud to offer a community youth production here at a church who supports youth and strives to be a resource to the community. You all are the best! — Kate Gillooly
Our Daily Bread
The spring issues have arrived and are available on the Narthex and Campbell Room tables. A quick reading of Scripture and brief words of inspiration are a great way to commune with God at the beginning or ending of one’s day.
Reminder
HCC is on Facebook, Instagram, 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!
Spring Ahead
Daylight Savings Time begins – March 11