Reaching Heights November 2025
Reaching Heights November 2025
Links to this month’s news:
- Worship Themes for November
- Kate’s Cogitations
- A Service of Covenant and Celebration
- Worship Notes
- Education Ministry
- Mission Ministry
- Resonance Project Concert
- The God I Know
- Wednesdays Together with Plymouth
- Gift Cards for the Holidays
- Social Media
- Birthdays
See the Serving Schedule
HCC Worship Themes November 2025
We continue to use readings from the Narrative Lectionary, a set of scripture readings assigned for use in worship. The Narrative Lectionary follows the sweep of the Christian Story, from Creation through the early Christian Church. The texts shows the breadth and variety of voices within scripture.
November 2 All Saints Sunday God Speaks in the Silence
1 Kings 19:11-13a
We will prayerfully remember by name our loved ones who have died in the past year. This year we will also honor all of the beloved saints in our lives who have died, no matter how long ago their passing, by creating a remembrance table. Bring a photo, memento, candle, or personal item to add to the table on November 2 as you enter the worship service.
*Daylight Saving Time ends 11/2. Please set your clocks back one hour. *
November 9 Amos 1:1-2; 5:14-15, 21-24 The Power of Justice
November 16 Isaiah 55:1-13 Invitation to an Abundant Life
November 23 Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14 The Promise of Restoration
*Special service: 11/23 at 4:00 pm Service of Covenant and Celebration of the Mutual Ministry of Heights Christian Church and Dr. Kate Gillooly, Settled Pastor.
This service will take place in the Chapel and online.
The Rev. Allen Harris, Regional Minister and President of the Christian Church in Ohio, will officiate the Covenant Service.
The Rev. Charles Graves, IV, Rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Shaker Heights, will preach.
A reception will follow in the Parlor.
Plan to attend as our congregation moves forward in faith and looks forward with hope!
November 30 First Sunday of Advent
Luke 1:5-13 In the Time of Herod, We Long for God to Break In
This Advent and Christmas Season we will use materials from A Sanctified Art with the theme: What Do You Fear? – Insisting on Hope this Advent. This series examines the fear looming in the background of the time of King Herod and invites us to consider the fears we hold now. We hear the familiar angels’ message: “Do Not Fear,” and consider how we can acknowledge our fears while also insisting on hope. This season, let us insist on hope and trust that good news is greater than fear.
Kate’s Cogitations
For many of us, the entire month of November feels like time to give thanks. I’m so glad this year we are able to hold our Service of Covenant and Celebration of Mutual Ministry with Heights Christian Church and your newly Settled Pastor (me!) on November 23, Thanksgiving Sunday. The whole day will be a day of gratitude and celebration.
Those who know me well will recognize that I am a big supporter of “lay ministry” – the work we all do to further God’s kin-dom, through church and in the world. I feel strongly that we all are called to ministry in daily life, and only some to pastor congregations. That’s why I introduce myself as “Minister with Heights Christian Church,” because I believe we – you and I, along with others outside our congregation, are called to do ministry (building God’s kin-dom of justice and peace) together.
On the afternoon of November 23rd, we’ll have a chance to mark the beginning of this next chapter of mutual ministry with a special worship service and a reception following. We have invited local clergy colleagues, leaders in the Interfaith Group Against Hate (IGAH), and leaders of community service organizations and city departments with which we do our work. The Rev. Allen Harris, Regional Minister and President, will officiate our Covenant Service where pastor and congregation pledge to serve God together. The Rev. Charles Graves, IV, Rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Shaker Heights, will preach. Our worship will be interfaith as we celebrate our ministry partners in IGAH and the community – for ministry is designed to happen outside our weekly Sunday morning worship.
I have been giving thanks for the people and ministry of HCC since I first came on board as your Director of Congregational Development, 9 ½ years ago. Your commitment to social justice, especially peace-making and anti-racism, and the many ways you have prioritized service to young people and those experiencing hunger are inspiring. Your graciousness makes room for all, and inspires us each to bring our best while holding us up in moments of challenge or lack. I am honored to serve as your pastor and excited about our future together!
A Service of Covenant and Celebration of the Mutual Ministry
of Heights Christian Church and Dr. Kate Gillooly
God has richly blessed the congregation of HCC with the leadership and guidance of Dr. Kate Gillooly! As she moves into her new role as our settled Senior Minister, you are invited to join with other congregants, family, friends and community leaders in celebrating this event.
We will gather on Sunday, November 23rd at 4 p.m. in Herr Chapel for a service in which Dr. Kate and our congregation will covenant together to move forward in faith and look forward with hope to our mutual ministry, serving God in this time and this place.
The Reverend Allen Harris, our Regional Minister, will conduct this service and we are delighted to be joined by the Reverend Charles Graves from Christ Episcopal Church in Shaker Heights who will bring the message.
Following the service, there will be a reception in the church parlor. Members of the congregation are being asked to provide finger food appetizers or desserts. If you are willing to do so, please contact Linda Durham or Anita Watson, our Hospitality Team leaders, by November 17th or sign up on the lists that will be available in the Narthex for the first three Sundays of November.
In appreciation for the devoted service Dr. Kate has provided and will continue to provide with our congregation, we are collecting a Love Offering as a gift to her. If you wish to contribute, you may do so by sending your contribution to the church office, by placing it in the offering plate or by using the Givelify on-line app. Please mark clearly that this is a contribution to the Love Offering.
Please plan on joining us on November 23rd to share in the creation and celebration of this covenantal relationship between pastor and people. It will be a wonderful, joyous time to be together! Thanks be to God!
Worship Notes
It has been wonderful to welcome everyone in the Chapel and all those on Zoom and Facebook Live to worship each Sunday. In September, Zoom and Facebook Live attendance varied between five to eight folks each Sunday. Together with members and visitors in the Chapel we again averaged 40 folks in attendance each week. It is a real benefit of our technology to be able to connect with those who cannot attend in person and include them in our worship. Everyone is invited to join us each Sunday, and especially on Sunday, Nov.2, All Saints Sunday, when we will remember our loved ones who have died in the past year.
Education Ministry
Mid-Week Bible Study Resumes
Books That Didn’t Make the Bible
Have you ever wondered what Apocrypha really are? Do the books Tobit, the Gospel of Thomas and 1 & 2 Esdras belong in our Bible? Why did some writings make it into the “official” canon and others not?
If you are curious about these questions, plan on joining the Mid-Week Bible Study for three sessions starting on Tuesday, November 4th at 2 p.m. on Zoom. We will explore general background information in our first session, then spend a session looking at the Gospel of Thomas and another looking at the book of Tobit. There are no books or materials to purchase. Participants will receive a short reading by e-mail each week in advance of the session to use as discussion starters.
This promises to be an interesting study and we hope you will join us! Please let Jane Troha know if you plan to participate so that she can send you the Zoom link and the readings each week.
Messiah
Advent Educational Offering
During the Advent season this year, the Sunday morning class and the Tuesday Mid-Week Bible Study will share the same study. This means that any congregants are welcome to join either group or both! Feel free to switch from Sundays to Tuesdays as best fits your busy holiday season. Drop in for one or more sessions as you are able!
The course offering is called Messiah and is based off a book written by world-renowned Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann. This four-session adult study takes a critical look at the four royal titles used in Isaiah 9:2-7: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. We will be challenged to learn how the people understood those titles during Jesus’ time and discuss how Jesus did or did not fulfill the titles. We will also reflect on how Christians interpret Jesus as representing each title.
Carolyn and Jane Troha will co-lead this study. We hope you will join us! There are no materials to purchase, but we will send out a Participant’s Guide before each session so if you want to participate, please let us know and we will be sure you get one. It’s hard to believe, but Advent is just around the corner. We will begin on Sunday, November 30th at 9:30 a.m. in the Chapel and again on Tuesday, December 2nd at 2:00 p.m. on Zoom. Join us for this interesting study as we wait together for the Messiah’s birth!
Advent Adventure for All!!!
November 30th – 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Can you believe that it is already time to think about Advent? The Education Ministry Team is planning an Intergenerational event for the Sunday after Thanksgiving, which is the first Sunday of Advent!
Join is for a pizza supper and a variety of activities, crafts, games, etc. to celebrate the beginning of the Advent season. Mark the date on your calendar and plan to join us.
The details for the event will be announced in the weeks ahead. It will be a fun way to share fellowship and eat something other than left-over turkey!
Missions Ministry
Care Closet at Boulevard
Karen Carter and Danielle Frizzell, the Student Care Specialist/Social Worker at Boulevard, reached out to our congregation and want to partner with Heights Christian Church to implement The Care Closet at Boulevard Elementary School.
As we transition into the fall season, students can greatly benefit from items such as sweatshirts, sweatpants, t-shirts, and socks. They can also benefit from shelf stable snacks (ex. granola bars, pretzels, etc) and basic hygiene products (deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, lotion, and chapstick). The donations will be stored at the church and we will be notified when the Care Closet needs restocking.
Labeled bins will be provided for your donations outside of the chapel.
Thank you so much for your contributions to Boulevard’s Care Closet. The items you provide will make a meaningful difference in our students and families who may be in need. We truly appreciate your support and partnership in providing resources that make a difference.
~Nikki Crosby
Egg Cartons at Farmers Market
We have again outdone ourselves! We have collected an astonishing amount of egg cartons to date and have reached another milestone. We have now collected and distributed over 12,000 egg cartons! Think about it! 12,000 less cartons in the landfill! Happy farmers! And packaging about 24,000 chicken work weeks! (Each chicken lays an average of about 6 eggs per week! Maybe they take Sundays off!)
The farmer who took the larger cartons (a place for 18 to 24 eggs) no longer is raising chickens and no longer knows anyone using those cartons. The other farmers only want egg cartons that store a dozen eggs. Therefore, I will only collect the cartons which hold 12 eggs (or those that hold 6 eggs). If I get some larger ones by accident, I plan to save them in case someone can use them later, but I would like to keep them to a minimum for now.
Thanks for your help! This makes me very happy! It should make all of you proud!
~Connee Choi
More Food for Our Immigrant Neighbors
At the September HCC trustees’ meeting, the trustees approved a motion to spend $500.00 from the Hunger Fund to purchase food and other supplies to be donated to a west side church. This church is supplying needed items to immigrants who are in constant fear and will not go outside their homes because of the much-publicized harassment and arrest of those folks who are or look to be of Latin decent, regardless of their immigration status, by ICE Agents. An additional $300.00 was donated and added to the $500.
Donita and Mike Singerman and Larry Watson shopped and purchased $800.16 in needed food and supplies using the list of needed items provided by the west side church. The shopping was done on Friday, Oct. 10th. Arrangements were made to deliver the items to the west side church on Saturday, Oct. 11th. The delivery was made.
It is noted, and is of some interest, that soon after the Singermans and Larry arrived in the church’s parking lot, and while waiting for the church’s representatives to arrive, a large black SUV came into the parking lot, circled around the lot and left. This event was of little interest until it was seen that the SUV, as it was leaving the parking lot, had deeply tinted windows and no license plate. It was likely an ICE vehicle.
~Larry Watson
Food and Necessities Delivered
148 size 2 diapers, 72 cans of tuna, 10 12# bags of dry pinto beans
136 size 3 diapers, 12 cans of chicken, 15 10# bags of white rice
6 boxes of tea bags, 64 cans of corn, 8 5-quart bottles of vegetable oil
4 jars of instant coffee, 48 cans of black beans, 6 jars Adobo seasoning
48 cans tomato sauce, 6 boxes Sazón seasoning
Interfaith Group Against Hate (IGAH)
By the time you read this, IGAH will have gone through a process of “Pause & Reflect” to help us move forward with our work. Members of participating congregations were asked to complete a questionnaire before October 13 and the answers will have been collated before our October 28 meeting for discussion and discernment. Previously, we created a discernment tool for deciding what and how we would respond to acts of hate.
We completed 7 book discussions held at 7 different congregations, covering topics of African American, Jewish, Muslim, and LGBTQ concern. One of the discussions was held here at Heights Church in the parlor and was well received. Thanks to Lynda Ackerman and Connee Choi who brought cookies for our guests.
On October 12, members of Temple Emmanu El, Olivet Baptist Church, Heights Church and the Cleveland Friends Meeting attended the play Seeds of Tomorrow created by ensemble members of Masrah Cleveland Al-Arabi. Afterwards, we went to dinner and enjoyed one another’s company at a restaurant across the street.
We will not hold a November coffee or planning meeting.
Our Community Committee (which includes three members of HCC – Connee, Andrena, and Cindy) is looking into the possibility of a guided tour of the El Sueño Americano/ The American Dream at the Maltz Museum combined with a coffee gathering on December 6.
We’re also hoping to host a brunch gathering in the home of a member on January 31.
The next IGAH Planning Meeting will be December 9.
~Cindy Maxey
We are entering a time of testing.
Much that we hold dear appears to be under threat. We will be asked in new and sometimes frightening ways, “What do we stand for?” “What do we care about enough to risk ridicule, funding, a job, our lives?”
Many of us have not had to face such choices before. Sure, we act for what we believe in. We march. We write letters to the editor. We call our elected officials. We speak up at council meetings. We join committees. We donate. But at what risk?
Often very little.
That may change.
– Fran Korten
Yes! Magazine
Resonance Project Concert
“Homeland” – Friday, November 21 at 7:30 PM
Join us for our next concert, Homeland, featuring The Cleveland Orchestra’s Assistant Concertmaster Stephani Tavani and Principal Keyboardist Dan Overly in our intimate venue at Forest Hill Church. More information and tickets available at https://www.rmseries.com/
Join us for The God I Know, an Inclusion & Belonging Edutainment experience that explores the intersection
of personal identity, religion, freedom of speech, and separation of church and state.
The play is timely in its theatrical storytelling as Christian Nationalism is being introduced into our society.
You won’t want to miss this opportunity for coming together to turn us and them into WE.
• Thursday, November 13, 2025 – 7:30 PM | Fairmount Presbyterian Church
• Friday, November 14, 2025 – 7:30 PM | Fairmount Presbyterian Church
Ticket Options: Reserved $25 | General $20
Donate a Ticket – Give the Gift of Theater
Support someone from an under-resourced community by purchasing a ticket on their behalf. Every ticket purchase helps make this community experience possible. Thank you for your support.
Wednesdays Together . . .
Plymouth Church, UCC and Heights Christian Church are both blessed to call our building at 2860 Coventry Road home. Every Wednesday of the program year, we will share in fellowship and formation with one another and we seek to deepen our relationships. We look forward to seeing many folks from HCC and Plymouth at each gathering!
Book Group – First Wednesday
The Book Group will meet on Wednesday, November 5th -12:30 pm in Room 102 at Plymouth Church. We will be discussing the book, The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar.
If you would like to have lunch before this meeting, bring your own and come at 12:30pm. All are welcome to join at any time.
Meditative Arts Group – Second Wednesday
Our Meditative Arts group will hold our monthly gatherings on Wednesday the 12th. We will meet at 1:00 pm in the Atrium at Plymouth Church as we enjoy some quiet music and meditative artwork. Please join us to draw, knit, stitch or work on your choice of relaxing projects.
Lunch Club – Wednesday, the 19th at 12:30 pm – Third Wednesday
Lunch Club in Fellowship Hall
Join us for a homemade lunch and fellowship, as well as a time of discussion with those gathered. We will hear from a guest speaker from a community organization working to better the lives of our neighbors.
The suggested donation for lunch is $10. RSVP to Pastor Dillon at dshipman@plymouthchurchucc.org, which is necessary for food preparation. Reservations are due Sunday, November 16.
Mid-week Meditations – Wednesday, the 26 – Fourth Wednesday
Mid-week Meditations is cancelled this month, due to the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Gift Cards for the Holidays in 2025
Christmas shopping has or will soon start. Retailers will advertise early sales with the hope of earning your purchase dollars with good prices. But is that what your giftee wants?
Try gift cards! Gift Cards let you avoid the crowded stores and the post-season credit card bills. And your loved ones can spend the card(s) where you know they shop or eat. They are good in person and for internet buys. (I use them with Amazon all the time). Don’t know what store card to buy? Amazon and Target are easy choices. Grocery cards, like Heinen’s, Giant Eagle or Meijers can make the holidays brighter. Many restaurant cards, like Panera or Starbucks are available. Gas station and airline cards can help pay for family to join you for the holidays.
The earlier you shop for gift cards, the sooner you can sit back and relax. We have a Special-Order Form (attached and available in the Chapel). Special orders will be placed in two waves:
- Order your special gift cards by Sunday November 16th for delivery about November 23rd.
- Order your special gift cards by Sunday December 7th for delivery about December 14th
(we will order these as a Rush shipment).
We can arrange delivery if needed. Don’t see what you want? Please ask – our vendor has Disney, airlines, restaurants, and other cards too numerous to mention.
Support Heights Christian Church while you shop. Get your shopping done early. Make your life less stressful. Gift cards are easy and appreciated. (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!
November
6 – Mark Cubberley 12 – Liam Osgood 13 – Ratt Woods 16 – Carl Cormany
21 – Dennis Mehring 26 – Yvonne Smith 26 – Christopher Crosby, Jr.
28 – Irwin Shung 30 – Daphne Broun
December
1 – Lois Clark 3 – Andrena Jones-Sharp 7 – Val Sgro
10 – Bernadette LaGuardia 16 – Bridget Peterson-Droszcz
23 – Doug McWillams 26 – Roger Osgood 27 – Aliyah Benson
29 – Lloyd Ackerman
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!