CLICK HERE for the Thursday, April 29 THURSDAY THOUGHTS
April 29, 2021
Dear Congregation:
I hope you have enjoyed reading through the 2020 Annual Report of ERUCC. It was rather incredible to see how active we were, even amid a very unusual year. We figured out how to be the Church, to worship and even expand participation in services, engage in Christian education and nurture, continue our advocacy work, and engage in mission in the community and around the world. We found creative ways to be in community as we cared for one another.
The 2020 Annual Report was included in your worship packets that were delivered or being delivered before Sunday. Please review and comment.
I invite you to participate in this Sunday’s annual congregational meeting. We will have the link to the meeting live at 11:45 so that you can see and chat with one another online and see those who are attending in person. I am thanking Jeff Schaeberle and Jeff Baker for the work they have been doing to make sure everyone can see and hear. Many thanks to Peter Brehm, President of the Consistory for his leadership and to Allen Flora and Phil Selby who will be presenting the financial reports. Allen and Phil have spent hours and hours of time providing information and direction in the stewardship of resources. We will also have an opportunity to thank those who have been serving in leadership on our behalf.
Here is the link for the meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82129963921?pwd=Y25uYlpxV2RtdVJKN3R0Q0xpamo2QT09
Meeting ID: 821 2996 3921
Passcode: 498766
Hope to see you on Sunday – in-person or online.
Worship Abides
John 15:1–8 “Every branch that bears fruit God prunes to make it bear more fruit.”
Jesus explains that God is like an expert gardener – an image well understood by the people who lived in Jesus’ agrarian times. Today we can still identify with this imagery’s meaning in our lives. We might already know that if we do not stay connected to the source of life we will not flourish. We will not bear fruit. The connection, to the source of life and community, is vital to our Christian faith. When we forget, how do we become reconnected? I John 4: 7-21 tells how important it is to abide in God. God is love, and when we love one another; God lives in us. Love is the fruit that we, the vine, produce. We are called to love our brothers and sisters, as God has loved us.
This Sunday we will be sharing communion, please prepare your worship centers with bread or a cracker, a cup of water or juice or wine. Following worship, we will have our annual congregational meeting to review church finances and activities for 2020.
Food for Thought:
“We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honor the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness and affection.” (Brené Brown)
Rev. Dr. Barbara Kershner Daniel, Senior Pastor
Evangelical Reformed Church, United Church of Christ
15 West Church Street, Frederick, MD 21701
301-662-2762
E-mail: bkdaniel@erucc.org
