3909 Rocky River Drive Cleveland, Ohio (216)

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Special points of interest: May 2014 Volume 61, Number 5 Kamm s Corners Hooley May 10! Marietta College Choir May 16 All Church Retreat May 23-25 Get to know Jean Stettnisch!

org Inside this issue: Christian Education News Mustard Seeds 4 Get Involved! 5 The Hand of the Month Birthdays, Anniversaries 2-3 5 6 Other News.

1 Special points of interest: May 2014 Volume 61, Number 5 Kamm s Corners Hooley May 10! Marietta College Choir May 16 All Church Retreat May Get to know Jean Stettnisch! Vince McKee has another new book! Graduate and Teacher Appreciation Sunday is June 8 - Pentecost Sunday Rocky River Drive Cleveland, Ohio (216) Inside this issue: Christian Education News Mustard Seeds 4 Get Involved! 5 The Hand of the Month Birthdays, Anniversaries Other News... 7 Never place a period MARIETTA COLLEGE CHOIR CONCERT The Music Committee is pleased to announce they will host the Marietta College Choir as it makes WPUCC one of its stops on its Spring Tour. They will perform here at West Park UCC on Friday, May 16, at 7:30 p.m. Our very own Eric Miranda was instrumental in initiating this event. We are hosting the students overnight, Friday May 16. If anyone would like to host two students from the choir, please where God has placed a comma. (Continued on page 8) MAY 23-25: ALL CHURCH RETREAT Come to our annual All Church Retreat, a great way to get to know your fellow WPUCC members better! The retreat is located at Camp Gideon, 7261 Salineville Rd. NE Mechanicstown, Oh Plan on joining your Church family for this annual event, spending the whole weekend together, or for only one day, Saturday, whatever fits into your schedule. (Continued on page 2)

Page 2 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION 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.

2 Page 2 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION 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 All Church Retreat (Cont.) What to expect: Getting to know God better. Getting to know each other better. Relaxing, singing, crafting Playing games (inside & outside) Worship, Eating, Eating Laughing, campfire, hiking, and whatever you desire. Registrations are available on the table in the Narthex. Cost for adults is $75 for the whole weekend, or $20 for Saturday only. See registration forms for other pricing options Ohio Conference Annual Gathering One Gathering Three Locations June 14 UCC Church House, Cleveland Methodist Theological School in Ohio, Columbus United Theological Seminary, Dayton nual Gathering will be different from any one before it. The Gathering will happen in three locations at the same time in Cleveland, Columbus and Dayton 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on June 14. Each location will follow the same basic agenda, but some parts of the program (the business meeting and keynote speaker) will happen live only in Cleveland and will be shared by all the locations through video feeds. The opening sessions, worship services and The Ohio Conference Annual Gathering is the only event of its type in Ohio providing educational opportunities and spiritual renewal for UCC pastors, staff and members of local churches. The 2014 Anworkshops will be unique to each venue and happen locally during time periods set aside for them. By providing three locations, we re allowing for less drive time and more connection. Join us! Registration forms will be available online at ocucc.org and by contacting the church office. 2

Volume 1, Issue 1 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION (CONT.) Page 3 Getting Ready for the Mission Trip! Hooley Parking Fundraiser - We need your help on May 10th, 10am-8pm.

The money collected will be used for the Kentucky Mission Trip July 26th -August 2nd, 2014. Please Pick up your information and registration packet from Ms.

2014 VBS Son Treasure Island June 23-27 More Details to Come! Mark your calendars now! Jr. High ( 6 th -8 th ) & Sr.

.. June 18-21, 2014 Alive Fest 2014 Parents, please have all your student s registration forms turned in by May 31st!

3 Volume 1, Issue 1 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION (CONT.) Page 3 Getting Ready for the Mission Trip! Hooley Parking Fundraiser - We need your help on May 10th, 10am-8pm. Sign up to watch the cars in our Parking Lot during Hooley hours for freewill offerings. The money collected will be used for the Kentucky Mission Trip July 26th -August 2nd, Please Pick up your information and registration packet from Ms. Wendy, for the Appalachia Kentucky mission trip at the Lotts Creek Community School- Near Hazard, Ky. Cost is only about $250 per person VBS Son Treasure Island June More Details to Come! Mark your calendars now! Jr. High ( 6 th -8 th ) & Sr. High ( 9 th - 12 th ) Events PLEASE SAVE THE DATES - OUR SUM- MER PLANS IN- CLUDE THESE BIG EVENTS with MORE TO COME... June 18-21, 2014 Alive Fest 2014 Parents, please have all your student s registration forms turned in by May 31st! June 8th Pentecost Sunday Please order your Red Geraniums. The youth group members will plant them. The cost of each Geranium is $5.00. An order form is included in this edition Other Stuff... THANK YOU! Bravo on the wonderful job Easter Sunday! The music was uplifting, the egg hunt was Awesome. Thanks for sharing your talents and time! HAPPY Peace & Light Ms. Wendy 3

Page 4 Food for Thought by Pastor John King MUSTARD SEEDS I DO Support Religious Freedom If you go to Plymouth Massachusetts you can climb aboard the Mayflower II.

4 Page 4 Food for Thought by Pastor John King MUSTARD SEEDS I DO Support Religious Freedom If you go to Plymouth Massachusetts you can climb aboard the Mayflower II. It is a sailing replica of the original ship that carried the Pilgrims from England to the New World in I was struck by how small the ship was. How could some 135 people, some of them pregnant, have survived with all their provisions for ten weeks in a cramped ship just 100 by 25 feet? I pondered their determination. What could have driven this congregation to cross the vast sea in a tiny boat to face a very uncertain future? Religious freedom that's what drove them. Under the reign of Mary I, you could get killed for being Protestant, but during the rule of her father, King Henry VIII, you could get killed for being Catholic. But a little group of people just didn't like anybody telling them what they had to believe. They believed in religious freedom. Those Pilgrims became the Congregationalists, who became the UCC. But we still staunchly hold that core principle of religious freedom. We just don't like anybody telling us what we have to believe. This eventually became enshrined in the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." UCC filed a lawsuit arguing that North Carolina's marriage laws violate the First Amendment UCC General Synod's "Equal Marriage Rights for All" resolution, adopted in 2005 affirms "equal marriage rights for couples regardless of gender and declares that government should not interfere with couples regardless of gender who choose to marry and share fully and equally in the rights, responsibilities and commitment of legally recognized marriage." On April 28, the UCC filed a lawsuit arguing that North Carolina's marriage laws violate the First Amendment rights of clergy and the principle of "free exercise of religion." This is because the laws of North Carolina effectively make it a Class 1 misdemeanor for a minister to perform a marriage ceremony of a same sex couple. The United Church of Christ is a church of many "firsts." We ordained the first African- American, the first woman (in modern times) and the first gay person (who was honest about his orientation.) Now we can add another first. This is the first challenge by a national Christian denomination of a state's marriage laws. In the words of Rev. M. Linda Jaramillo, the UCC's Executive Minister for Justice and Witness Ministries, "The courageous legal action taken by the United Church of Christ protects the free religious exercise of United Church of Christ clergy, whether or not they agree with the church's affirmation of equal marriage rights. It also defends the exercise of religious freedom of every other faith tradition in this nation. We join the founders of the U.S. Constitution and previous Christian leaders by taking freedom of religion very seriously." I am proud to belong to a church that stood for religious liberty on the deck of the Mayflower in 1620, and continues to do so in

5 Volume 1, Opportunities for Spiritual Growth GET INVOLVED! Page 5 Kamm's Corners Hooley : Sat. May 10th WPUCC will have a booth this year depicting how Welcoming We are to All. We will have a craft for kids, give away items, free raffle, prayer chain, poster with pictures of church events, and possibly a video of info. about the UCC. This event takes everyone's help! community. The hours for the Hooley are 12:00 noon -8:00 p.m. See you there! There will be a sign up sheet in the narthex in April to choose a shift to be at the booth, to represent our church to the The Church is not a Building, The Church is not a Steeple, The Church is not a resting place, The Church is a People! The Hand of the Month To... Jean Stettnisch who joined our church November 17, She and her friend, Marie Koch, who joined at the same time, love their new church. Together they have attended regularly since becoming members. Jean was born at Lakewood Hospital and has lived in Lakewood and later in the West Park neighborhood. She attended St. Mark s UCC on Puritas until the membership dropped off and the church was sold. Then the great search began for a new church that would take the place of St. Mark s which she loved and missed. After visiting several churches in the area she found our church and knew she had found a home and a welcoming at West Park. She graduated from Lakewood High School and during WWII she joined the Cadet Nurses Corps and received excellent training at no cost at St. Luke s Hospital in Pediatrics. Later she worked at Fairview Hospital and as an Industrial Nurse at Midland Ross. During her career she also worked in several nursing homes. She has 2 sons and a daughter. Her daughter lives close by and her sons are in outlying areas but an easy drive to look in on her frequently. Her favorite pastimes are handcrafts such as crocheting, knitting and she made some beautiful afghans which she gave as gifts. Jean has made WPUCC her church home and feels welcomed by our members and a close relationship with God in the messages and prayers given by Rev. King. Are You Graduating? Congratulations! We want to honor you on Sunday, June 8! Whether from high school or from college, any degree over the past year, we want to honor your accomplishments! Please have a written notice sent in or the church office by May 19 with your name, school you are graduating from, diploma or degree, and future plans work, college and major, etc., in 50 words or less. The church is: wpaaucc@sbcglobal.net. Thank you! 5 MARK YOUR CALENDARS! JUNE 29 - STRAW- BERRY SOCIAL AF- TER WORSHIP! JULY 4 - KAMM S CORNERS PARADE!

Page 6 Events in the lives of our friends in West Park UCC IMPORTANT MAY DATES Birthdays 1 Helen Saccone 2 John Newman 3 Tara Clifford 4 William Barry 5 Susan Kirst Barry Barthelman 6 Holly Sinnema 7

6 Page 6 Events in the lives of our friends in West Park UCC IMPORTANT MAY DATES Birthdays 1 Helen Saccone 2 John Newman 3 Tara Clifford 4 William Barry 5 Susan Kirst Barry Barthelman 6 Holly Sinnema 7 Joseph Ross Nigro II Dennis McCormack 9 Molly Strachan 11 Ellen Armstrong Adam Bonsell 12 Jean Stettnisch 13 William Vastag 14 Marlene Arcuri 16 Robert Lamb Rachael Thayer Lynette Lyons Melissa Miranda 19 Jackson Kraus 20 Kirk Barry 22 Ann Johnson 23 Ruth Finley 25 Jim Hutchings Erin Armstrong 26 Dolly Chappell Laurie Dobransky 27 Lora Mosier Sarah Shaw 30 Douglas Miller Dorena Gilchrist 31 Grace Burgess Anniversaries Lori & Michael Conley Jim & Sandy Zmina Candace & Richard Berichon Robert & Marlene Arcuri Dan & Kathleen Moreland Tim & Betsy Bruening Our Lectionary & Sunday Events For May 2014 Pink Envelope - Alber Scholarship May 4: Third Sunday of Easter Worship, Communion, L.I.G.H.T. ~ Coffee Hour honoring Dede Todd; Christian Ed Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Psalm 116: ; I Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-25 May 11: Fourth Sunday of Easter Worship & L.I.G.H.T, Coffee Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 23; I Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10 May 18: Fifth Sunday of Easter Worship & L.I.G.H.T, Coffee, Deacons, E & G Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 31:1-5:15-16; I Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14 May 25: Sixth Sunday of Easter Worship & L.I.G.H.T, Community Meal Acts 17:22-31; Psalm 66:8-20; I Peter 3:13-22; John 14:

7 Volume 1, Issue 1 More Church Events OTHER NEWS... Page 7 Women s Fellowship June 11 Thank you! Our March 12 meeting was cancelled by a whiteout that wiped out everything in the area. Hopefully your bags are still packed for our June 11 trip to China.with Deb Solyan and Julie Turnley as our guides. We will eat our Brown Bag Lunch at noon before we depart. Hostesses Nancy Krueger, Anna Belle Rice and Jean Clark will serve beverages and dessert. We re scheduled for departure at 1:00 PM for our destination--china. Our tour guides will introduce us to China through the lens of their cameras. They have your plane tickets, they re so anxious to show us around. The Nimble Thimbles are no longer doing puppets for the children in Pediatrics at Fairview Hospital. However, Clara Strodtbeck is making smiling puppet faces as patches to send with get well cards and notes to shut-ins to give them something to make them happy. See Clara if you can use a few. Don t forget to turn in your pennies to Jean Clark wrapped or unwrapped. Just for the record 450 pennies were turned in this past month. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thank you for selecting Youth Challenge as a recipient of your generous gift of $60 through your 2013 Alternative Christmas Catalog. Your kindness ensures the children we serve at Youth Challenge will enjoy the programs we offer throughout Your charitable spirit is greatly appreciated. Greetings and peace to you from Back Bay Mission and thank you for your generous gift! You are a blessing to our ministry and those we serve. Through your gift, you are making it possible for a family to receive help from our food pantry, a widow to have her old house back through our housing rehabilitation program, a homeless man to find fellowship at our Micah Day Center, and the thousands of other people we serve to find the help and hope that they need. At Back Bay Mission we always remember that poverty has a human face, and that every person who walks through our doors is, first and foremost, a precious child of a loving God. Thank you for partnering with us through your generous gift. Other Announcements... CHURCH PICNIC JUNE 15 - Have you noticed your picnic basket signaling to you from the dark corner it s been in all winter? Pay attention, because it s reminding you that our Annual Church Picnic is scheduled for Sunday, June 15 from 9 am until 2 pm at the Cabin in North Olmsted Park, Lorain Road. THERE WILL BE NO SERVICE AT CHURCH THAT SUN- DAY. The service in the park will be in the cabin at 10:00 am followed by a delicious Pot Luck Buffet. That s the part your picnic basket has been signaling about to you. Bring your favorite hot or cold recipe for the main course, salad or dessert to share. Coffee, tea, sugar, cream and pop will be furnished as well as table cloths. Please bring your own place settings and beverage glasses or cups. After the Pot Luck there will be a drawing of special gifts from our generous vendors and then games of all kinds. If you want to be a spectator at the games be sure to bring a folding chair. Kathy Rennette will begin accepting donations to cover children s prizes and other picnic expenses. You ve been so generous in the past that most of the expenses were covered except for the cost of the cabin use. See you at the picnic! LADS & LASSIES: Another fun season of the WPUCC's Bowling League has ended. A banquet was held at the Ironwood Cafe. This league has become an interfaith league with a new team from Bethany Lutheran coming in 1st place! The season runs from late August to early April and we bowl every other Sunday. If you have an interest in bowling for fun and bringing your friends to join, see Jessen's, Rust's, Dobransky's or Litchney's for information. 7

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 VINCE McKEE PRESENTS HIS THIRD BOOK CHURCH STAFF Rev. John D. King Pastor JKingUCC@gmail.com Rev. Don R. Norenberg Pastor Emeritus James R. Furry Licensed Minister jim-mare@cox.net 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 On Sunday, June 1 at the Coffee Hour, Vince McKee, husband of the former Emily Lamb, will introduce his third and latest book, Jacob s Field. His first book, Hero, was #8 on Amazon.com s list which is proof enough we have a real writer in our midst.vince has been writing for 3 years. When he was 28 he had some free time and decided to try his hand at writing and the rest is history. He has friends in high places in the Indian s front office who have introduced him to the players which accounts for both the pictures and material he has in his books which make them so interesting. So far he has sold 1500 books and this third one has just hit the market so the count will rise. In order to avoid the rush be sure to attend the coffee hour so you can buy a book without fighting the crowds. Who knows, perhaps some day one or two of his books may become collector s items. The price is $20. and a good investment in interesting reading. (Continued from page 1) see or call Marilyn Furry by Sunday, May 11. Mark your calendars for an unforgettable music experience! 8

West Park-O-Gram April 2012 Volume 59 Number 5 SHINE! This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

West Park-O-Gram April 2012 Volume 59 Number 5 SHINE! This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! SHINE! This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! (Psalm 118:24) What day am I talking about? Well, every day! But there are two days in particular that are really days in