IMPORTANT EVENTS! Special points of interest: February Volume 64, Number 1. Inside this issue: Christian Education 2-3. Pastor s Article 4

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1 Special points of interest: February 2017 Volume 64, Number 1 ANNUAL MEETING AND LUNCH FEBRU- ARY 12, 2017 AFTER WORSHIP! MOPS - Mothers of Preschoolers will be starting in Feb Rocky River Drive Cleveland, Ohio (216) IMPORTANT EVENTS! Inside this issue: Christian Education 2-3 Pastor s Article 4 ANNUAL MEETING AND LUNCH Plan to Attend our Annual Meeting and Lunch after worship on Sunday, February 12. Come and hear about the good things that our church is doing, and plans to do in the future. Annual Reports will be available on Sunday, February 5 for you to pick up and read before the meeting. Upcoming Events and Person of the Month Birthdays, Anniversaries, and the Lectionary Thanks, and other Announcements Women s Retreat - March CREATING A VISION AND MISSION STATEMENT Come on Saturday, February 18, 8:30-2:30, and have your input on what the Vision and the Mission of our church is. We all have an idea of what our church is about, but creating a physical statement gives us clarity and focus as we move forward in the ministry of Christ. Watch the bulletins for more information - a sign up sheet will be in the Narthex, or call the church office. TAKE A LOOK AROUND Over the last couple of years, we have waterproofed the Bartter Hall building on the outside. Now, the old water damage on the inside, especially in Bartter Hall kitchen, and upstairs, are being repaired and everything in Bartter Hall is being repainted. It looks great! Never place a period where God has placed a comma.

2 Page 2 We dy LeForge, Director of Chrisia Educaio C(R)ST)AN EDUCAT)ON Learning In God s House Together I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in shadows but will have the light of life. John 8:12 GOD IS ON THE MOVE! Our 1st Reverse Advent was a success! We collected over 27 bags of donations! The Youth group sorted and delivered toys and game for Laura s Home and the rest went to the City Mission! Great Job, Church! Adult Faith Formation Lenten Potluck ~ Ash Wednesday March 1 st We will continue our tradition of a potluck supper and Bible study afterwards. 5:30 pm Potluck Dinner 5:55-6:55 pm Lenten Bible Study for Adults Our Appreciation to all - to Pastor Wally who will lead us in the study, Renegade Gospel: The Rebel Jesus by Mike Slaughter and to the boards who will host the potluck. Please let us know if you need childcare, it will be provided. The youth group with youth groups from across the country will be participating in The Souper Bowl of Caring on Feb. 5th. You can support their efforts with Cash donations or you can bring in cans of soup for the month of January! Thank you! 2

3 Volume 1, Issue 1 C(R)ST)AN EDUCAT)ON CONT. Page 3 Youth Group Update! Jr. High Gr. 6-9, Sr. High Gr Teeter Totter Marathon February 17 th - 19 th 2017 will be the ninth year our youth group will be joining with Middleburg Heights UCC for their Teeter- Totter Marathon. Support goes to Church Street Ministries The MLK OVERNIGHT Was a great event we had 6 youth and 2 adults join in with over 60 from around the association for fellowship and conversation! Jr. High Youth Event 2017 Be the Church Saturday & Sunday, February Pilgrim Hills Camp in Brinkhaven, OH. Join us in the great outdoors for the 2017 Jr. High Event as we explore how we, the Church, respond to what s happening in our world. As the UCC says, to be the Church, we need to Protect the environment, care for the poor, forgive often, reject racism, fight for the powerless, share earthly and spiritual resources, embrace diversity, love God, enjoy this life. And so, where do we even begin? How do we move from despair to hope? How can we be the Church? Check-in Check-in begins at 9 am on Saturday. Event ends on Sunday at 11 a.m. Cost and Payment Cost for this event is $80.Includes lodging, meals and T-Shirt Registration deadline: February 5th to Ms. Wendy Reminder: Lenten devotions are due by Feb. 12 th submit to Debbie Miller or Lora Mosier. Please The youth group thanks all of you for another successful Sub Sale! Happy Valentine s Day! I Love serving God at WPUCC! Peace & Light Ms. Wendy 3

4 Page 4 Rev. Wally Scoield, I teri Mi ister FROM T(E PASTOR However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen; what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived - the things God has prepared for those who love him." I Corinthians 2:9 NIV And that is a good thought for all of us as we await the work of the Pastoral Search Committee and its recommendation to the Congregation as to their choice for our next "Settled Minister." It will be an exciting time for all of us. A time for new visions for new energy to do the work of Jesus here in this church over the next weeks, months and years. The work that has been underway for these many months has been powered by God's Holy Spirit. Have no doubt about that. The Holy Spirit has been active within the search process and within the life of this congregation. I have had the joyful experience of watching this family of believers as they move through this time. You have been faithful, trusting and committed. That has been such a great joy for me to observe. You have embraced some new ideas on stewardship, have voted to move forward to finish the repairs of Bartter Hall, and have supported my efforts to get us ready for the new minister. You have truly made the "road straight, filled in the valleys and lowered the hills." Now we have much to finish, our vision and mission statements are in the works and should be completed in the weeks ahead. A new effort to write a more workable constitution/by-laws is in the planning stages and I'm hopeful that many of you will lend a hand to get that all done soon. The future is bright for the West Park United Church of Christ because of the strength and commitment of many of its members. You can step out in faith because there are so many of you who will support the work that is being done and also the work that is being conceived even now. I am always encouraged by your faithfulness. The quote from 1 Corinthians 2:9 suggests that beyond our hard work, beyond our own dreaming, beyond what we do know, God is preparing something new, something wonderful which is beyond all telling. I hope you can feel the excitement, the energy and the hope that lies ahead. I pray for the blessings that are about to happen for all of you. Peace and Joy, Pastor Wally 4

5 Volume 1, Issue 1 UPCOM)NG EVENTS Page 5 MOPS - MOTHERS OF PRESCHOOLERS! Coming Soon! WEST PARK MOPS! Would you like time to chat with other moms, craft, experience personal mentoring, and leadership opportunities all with a Christian base? If so, MOPS is for you. We will be holding an informational meeting to share information on what MOPS is about on Tuesday, January 31st at 7:00 p.m. at West Park UCC in the Parlor. Regular meetings will be the 3rd Tuesday of each month, September through May. Our first meeting will be February 21st at 7:00 pm. There is an annual membership fee of $24.95 a year, but we can offer you a special, limited time offer through March 31. Every mom registered for this MOPS year will be automatically eligible for a free membership next year! You can sign up at the information night or at the meeting. Any questions, please contact Robin Jessen (440) , raj7760@yahoo.com, or Debbie Miller (330) , ddmiller1430@gmail.com. PERSON OF THE MONTH - ARIEL JACKSON ALBER SCHOLARSHIPS Ariel was born in Cleveland, Ohio. She decided to be confirmed because she feels the world is coming closer to judgment day and she wants God to know that she loves him and he is her father. Ariel asked Diane Lett to be her Confirmation sponsor because they have known each other personally since Ariel was a toddler. Diane also teaches at Westpark Community School where she attended from K-6th grade. Diane is a great example of a Christian for Ariel and they have similar beliefs and values. Ariel attends Westlake High School in the 9th grade. Her favorite subject is math. Some of the things she likes about school is having classes with her friends, meeting new people, and learning new academics. She either wants to be a doctor, lawyer, or a detective. Ariel s hobbies are playing basketball, working out, reading, writing, and dancing. During her spare time, she likes to read and write stories about different things, or being at the gym working out. Ariel is another wonderful example of our youth who are the future of our church! 5 It s time for upcoming college Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors to apply for the West Park UCC - Donald Alber Scholarship. This Scholarship is made possible by an annuity fund from the estate of Rev. Donald Alber, for members of West Park UCC for up to three years total. Applications will be in the church office by February 5, and will be due back to the church office by Sunday, March 26.

6 Page 6 Eve ts i the lives of our frie ds i West Park UCC )MPORTANT FEBRUARY DATES Birthdays 4 Brian McFadden Alexandria Nelson 7 Pastor Wally 9 Rebecca Lamb 11 Amanda Lupercio 12 Marilyn Shank 15 Bob Arcuri Rodney Pauley 17 Janet Ackerman 18 Scott Newman 21 Brian Furry 23 Elliott Clifford 25 Christina Litchney Valerie Litchney 28 Ryan Clifford Our Lectionary & Sunday Events for February 2017 Pink Envelope - Camperships for Our Youth February 5: Fifth Sunday after Epiphany Worship, Communion & L.I.G.H.T., Coffee Hour in Bartter Hall, Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 112:1-10; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16; Matthew 5:13-20 February 12: Sixth Sunday after Epiphany Worship & L.I.G.H.T. Annual Meeting and Lunch Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 119:1-8; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Matthew 5:21-37 February 19: Seventh Sunday after Epiphany Worship, Baptism & L.I.G.H.T., G & O, Trustees Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18; Psalm 119:33-40; 1 Corinthians 3:10-22,16-23; Matthew 5:38-48 February 26: Transfiguration Sunday Worship & L.I.G.H.T., Community Meal Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 2; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9 THANK YOU NOTES From Recovery, Int l Dear Reverend Scofield, Recovery International greatly appreciates the use of the meeting room which your church provides for our weekly support group meetings. As a non-profit organization staffed by volunteers, we have very limited resources and depend on the kindness of organizations such as yours for our meeting places. As a token of our thanks, we have enclosed a check. We thank you for your kindness. Very Truly Yours, David L. Norris, Group Leader From Laura s Home: Dear West Park UCC, Thank you so much for your donation of toys and games to Laura s Home. We appreciate it very much. Merry Christmas, Brittany 6

7 OUTREAC( AND T(ANKS Page 7 PINK ENVELOPE FOR FEBRUARY - SUMMER YOUTH CAMPERSHIPS For just a moment, reflect on those life experiences that have had the most profound and lasting impact on your spiritual enrichment. For many of us, those lifechanging experiences have occurred at church camp. Many ordained ministers and lay commissioned ministers have first felt their call to ministry as part of their camp experience in their youth. As a congregation, in the next few weeks we have an opportunity to ensure that our young people are given the opportunity to nurture their faith by helping to supplement the cost of their campership experience in 2017 through our February pink envelope offering. So please give generously to this important cause, a lifechanging experience that not only enriches the lives of West Park UCC s young people, but every member of this family of faith. THANK YOU NOTES (CONT.) Thank you to all for the cards, prayers and phone calls during my recent heart surgery and recovery. Thanks to Pastor Wally for his visits. It is good to be back in church! - Pauline Lamb Thank you for the prayers, cards and concerns during my procedure. The church is a blessing to me - Trudi Fowler Thank you to all who came to all our many hands projects over the last two months! The December Work Morning, the week in January when we moved practically everything in upstairs Bartter Hall for the plasterers and painters to do the inside repairs, and finally the January Work Morning and unhanging of the greens : Bob Arcuri, Jeff Dobransky, Marilyn Furry, John & Lisa Gibson, Jim Hutchings, Gail Kenney, Wendy LeForge and Youth, Lora Mosier, Dan Moreland, Mark Rust, Holly Sinnema, Pauline Yee, and the secret Santa who pulled up the geraniums for the winter. We also thank Jim Furry and Marge 7 Roupe for cosupervising the unhanging of the greens. Our next Work Morning will be Saturday, February 11, from 9-12 noon. Come and help keep our church looking nice and bright throughout the Winter Months! Holly Sinnema, Chair, Trustees A Special Thank You to Bob Arcuri for all the work he did in the kitchen while the plastering and painting was going on. He took down and rehung the kitchen cabinets, and lay down new tile liners in the bottoms of the cabinets for easy cleaning.

8 No matter who you are, or where you are on life s journey, you are welcome here. This Church encourages people to think for themselves in matters of religion, following their best judgment and dictates of their own Christian faith and guidance of the Holy Spirit. West Park UCC Constitution, Article III, Section Rocky River Drive Cleveland, OH Phone: Fax: wpaaucc@sbcglobal.net Drawn together by the Holy Spirit, we are a distinct and diverse community of Christians that come together as one church, joining faith and action. In covenant with the church in all of its settings, we serve God in the co-creation of a just and sustainable world as made manifest in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That they may all be one (John 17:21) From the home page, WestParkUCC.org CHURCH STAFF Rev. Wally Scofield Interim Minister Wallysco1@yahoo.com Rev. Lawrence H. Craig Rev. Don R. Norenberg Pastors Emeriti James R. Furry Licensed Minister jimandmare@wowway.com Wendy LeForge Director of Christian Education WestParkMsWendy@sbcglobal. net Linda Ferro Church Secretary wpaaucc@sbcglobal.net Christopher Venesile Director of Music Ministry cvenes@aol.com Location: River s Edge Women s Retreat March 4 th - 5 th Ladies, You re Invited! Plan on joining us at Sweet Life Café Relax, Renew, Reconnect Dates: March 4 th - 5 th Sweet Life Café is an experience that allows women to slow down and savor time with God and each other. It feels like a cozy day at your favorite coffee shop a place where women can find rest, laughter, share their stories, and grow closer to each other and God. Join us for only $90. Gift Certificates Available- Deadline Feb 26 th 2017 A big Thank you to the planning team! Contact Ms. Wendy if you have any questions or concerns Key Verse - "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:35 8