CLICK HERE to read Thursday Thoughts for October 8, 2020

October 8, 2020

Dear Congregation:

September of 2020 marked the 6th Anniversary of the Emergency Family Shelter.  Since September 2014, the Coalition has sponsored a rotating family shelter hosted by local congregations. During the day families are sheltered at the Coalition’s day shelter and receive case management support from our staff.    For the past 2,000+ nights, the program has provided a safe and compassionate environment to more than 200 families.

ERUCC is among the congregations who have hosted families over these past six years.  The families have been staying at Trinity Chapel during the weeks we are hosting.  Volunteers have come from our congregation as well as the Unitarian Uiversalist Conhregation of Frederick and Congregation Kol Ami.

During the pandemic, families have been housed at Camp West Mar (YMCA Camp), Mar-Lu-Ridge and hotels as it was not prudent or safe to move families from church to church.

The challenging aspect of the scattered church shelter model is the toll it takes on families moving from place to place and the difficulties our congregations have encountered to provide night-time housing.

I am excited that in 2019, the Coalition purchased a large and historic farmhouse at 7516 Hayward Road from the City of Frederick.  This farmhouse will serve as the new home for the Emergency Family Shelter.  With over 9,000 square feet, this property will allow a comprehensive, single-site shelter program, offering the stability that families experiencing homelessness need.  Conveniently located on a bus route, the new Emergency Family Shelter will provide temporary housing and supportive services to up to 50 of our neighbors in dire need every day of the week, around the clock.  This property will:

• Provide a more stable day and night-time environment
• Lessen the adverse effects of homelessness on children
• Expand the Coalition’s capacity for care
• Host centralized support services
• Allow Family meal preparation in shared kitchen and dining facilities.

This is a huge project that will require support from the entire Frederick community.  Our faith communities, with our commitment to serve neighbors in need, will play a huge role in supporting the development of this facility.

Members of the ERUCC Mission and Social Advocacy Committee toured the facility in September and will be considering how ERUCC will financially support this project.

Daytona Beach Work Trip              November 14 – 21, 2020

We are gathering a small group, less than ten people, for a Daytona Beach mission trip, November 14th – 21st.  We will be working with the same organization as we did in 2018 and 2019.  Contact Pastor Daniel if you are interested and want more information about the safety protocols, travel plans, housing, etc.

Worship Notes               

In our scripture readings for this Sunday we are invited to reflect on what it means to be formed as a community of God’s people, committed to living out the ways of God.   Exodus 32: 1-14 contains what is likely one of the most confusing and dramatic stories in the Hebrew Scriptures. It has been interpreted in myriad ways, but mostly as a cautionary tale of turning toward other gods.  In Philippians 4: 1-9,  Paul uses the Greek word ekklesia — which translates “called out”  — to describe the early Christian church.  He calls the church to stand firm in the faith, to focus on what is true, honorable, and just.  And in all, pray, rejoice, and focus on all that is truly good in God’s realm.

Food for Thought:   

“God dreams for us today. Today, at this moment, God has an image and hope for what we are becoming. We should not let God dream alone.”   (Dorothy Soelle)

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

CLICK HERE TO READ THURSDAY THOUGHTS for September 17, 2020

September 17, 2020

***Please note that the 9:30 Educational Classes BEGIN THIS WEEK! See below for links and information.
The 10:30 service can be viewed online at:https://boxcast.tv/channel/bzioh0xyyacgq5fmjnoi

11:30 a.m. Virtual Fellowship: https://zoom.us/j/153605864?pwd=M2VSRjZsRDdFd1Q4bms0RExzam5SUT09&status=success PW: 007681

Dear Congregation:

In addition to thinking a lot about safety protocols lately – best masks to wear and have on hand at the church, how to secure hand sanitizing stations that have been on back order since March, how to remind people – nicely – that we need to maintain physical distance from each other — I have also been doing a lot of thinking, reflecting, and praying about leadership in these days. It’s one of the reasons why I have chosen to focus on the book of Exodus on Sundays in September and into October. What can I, we, learn from Moses’ leadership and the challenges he faced. I’ve been exploring that alongside the leadership of Jesus. Then there’s what we have been learning and discovering in our Thursday evening Bible Study on the Book of Acts and leadership and life in the early church.

What do these stories say about leadership for these days with the challenges of a pandemic and a contentious political landscape on top of the usual congregational life? It’s pretty clear from the stories of Moses and the journey of the people of Israel as well as Jesus and the disciples, that leadership requires a team. Moses could relay messages from God over and over again, but nothing was going to change or happen unless some in the community took action. Jesus could take five loaves of bread and bless them and multiple them to feed five thousand people but it required the disciples to distribute the bread. Peter and Paul were great motivational speakers, painting a picture of new life in Jesus, but the Jesus movement spread because others took on leadership and tasks.

All of this leads me to reflect on how do we notice, name, and nurture leaders at ERUCC. In some areas of our congregation’s life we are stuck due to lack of persons willing to serve as committee chairs and team members in areas such as education and worship. We also need to identify new members for finance and persons willing to take on leadership as treasurer and finance chair in the 2021. These needs and opportunities have been with us long before the pandemic, but the pandemic has added burdens to the smaller number of people already serving in leadership. I know I have shared this concern before. I know also people have listened to this request from me and others. I am not sure that the critical nature of these needs has been heard.

The time to step up is now. Understanding that, like Moses, we may each feel “who am I to lead,” I ask you to look inward and discern whether you are feeling a call to serve in some committee member or leadership capacity. Additionally, is there someone you can name that would bring new energy to these areas of the church’s life?

I welcome your thoughts and ideas. You can also talk with Peter Brehm, elder and President of the Consistory ( pbrehm@comcast.net) or Marc Kline, chair of the Spiritual Council (mkline354@gmail.com).

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

Food for Thought
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” (Desmond Tutu)