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THURSDAY THOUGHTS December 9th 2021

THURSDAY THOUGHTS December 9th 2021

December 9, 2021 by Jenna Duranko in / / /

A full copy of December 9th 2021 Thursday Thoughts can be found: HERE

December 9, 2021

Dear Congregation:

In light of our Advent theme of making room for the holy and last Sunday’s theme of making room at the table for all and this week’s theme of how much is enough, I share this beautiful poem and artwork from Jan Richardson.

AND THE TABLE WILL BE WIDE

And the table will be wide.

And the welcome will be wide.

And the arms will open wide to gather us in.

And our hearts will open wide to receive.

And we will come as children who trust there is enough.

And we will come unhindered and free.

And our aching will be met with bread.

And our sorrow will be met with wine.

And we will open our hands to the feast without shame.

And we will turn toward each other without fear.

And we will give up our appetite for despair.

And we will taste and know of delight.

And we will become bread for a hungering world.

And we will become drink for those who thirst.

And the blessed will become the blessing.

And everywhere will be the feast.

—Jan Richardson

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

 

THURSDAY THOUGHTS December 2nd 2021

THURSDAY THOUGHTS December 2nd 2021

December 2, 2021 by Jenna Duranko in / / /

A full copy of December 2nd’s Thursday Thoughts can be found HERE

The 10:30 service can be viewed online at: https://boxcast.tv/view/sunday-november-28-2021-673002

December 2, 2021

Dear Congregation:

We have one more 275th anniversary year event coming up.  On December 19th we will hold a White Gift service.  The White Gift service was the Christmas pageant for ERUCC for many years.  The chancel was draped in white fabric and people brought gifts of canned goods, wrapped in white paper.  The white gifts will be presented during the pageant and laid at the manger, hence the name!
Churches across the USA hold White Gift services with people bringing gifts wrapped in white paper so that no one would know which was an expensive gift and which was a more modest one.  ERUCC’s tradition was to bring food that was shared with Hoffman Homes for Children.
You are invited to participate in the white gift tradition once again by bringing your canned and boxed goods wrapped in white paper or placed in a white paper bag.  The gifts will be shared with the Frederick Food Bank.
The Pageant also provides opportunities for anyone who has a desire to participate to do so as a reader of a piece of the traditional Christmas story, through portrayal as one of the characters (angels, shepherds, etc.), or helping with sound and lighting.

We invite you to join us this year for the Pageant.  Questions? Please contact Trish Coffey at trishcoffey1195@gmail.com or 301-455-8720.

Rev. Dr.  Barbara Kershner Daniel

Senior Pastor
Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ
bkdaniel@erucc.org
301-662-2762

THURSDAY THOUGHTS (On Wednesday) November 24th 2021

THURSDAY THOUGHTS (On Wednesday) November 24th 2021

November 24, 2021 by Jenna Duranko in / / /

A full copy of November 24th’s Thursday Thoughts (on Wednesday) can be found HERE

The 10:30 service can be viewed online at: https://boxcast.tv/view/sunday-november-28-2021-673002

November 24, 2021

Dear Congregation:
At Tuesday’s Multifaith Thanksgiving service, Katie Bliss from the Religious Society of Friends, invited us into the spiritual practice of queries. She asked us to consider where we found unexpected joy in the past year. After a time of silence, we were invited to have a conversation with someone we did not know.  People moved around the sanctuary seeking a new face and contemplating how they would share their unexpected joy.  In reality, the energy and joy and sound of excited voices at that moment was an embodiment of unexpected joy. In the midst of all the challenges, sadness and grief of the past year, I encourage each of us to recall a moment of unexpected joy. Why not consider including that query as part of your Thanksgiving conversation?
May you have a blessed day tomorrow and, in the days, ahead.

Rev. Dr.  Barbara Kershner Daniel

Senior Pastor
Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ
bkdaniel@erucc.org
301-662-2762

THURSDAY THOUGHTS November 18th 2021

THURSDAY THOUGHTS November 18th 2021

November 23, 2021 by Jenna Duranko in / /

A copy of November 18th Thursday Thoughts can be found HERE

November 18, 2021   Dear Congregation:             As a congregation of the United Church of Christ, we are in covenant with other UCC congregations. Our covenant is with other local UCC congregations in the Catoctin Association, the Central Atlantic Conference, the national setting of the UCC, and global partners. Last week we had the honor of welcoming Rev. Freeman Palmer, Central Atlantic Conference minister. During the conversation at 9:30, Rev. Palmer shared many of the ministries that are occurring throughout the conference that are supported with the dollars we share through our Church’s Wider Mission. In addition to financial support, we have a number of our members who serve on boards and committees in the association as well as the conference.            This Sunday, we will welcome General Minister and President of the UCC, Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer. At 9:30 in the Community Room, we will have a conversation with Rev. Dorhauer about the United Church of Christ, what he sees happening across the denomination, trends, questions, visions.  I hope you will come and enjoy this opportunity to engage in conversation about the wider mission of the UCC and learn more about the impact of our gifts through the United Church of Christ. Photos of Doors Needed: Send us a photo of the front door of your house or apartment? Our theme for Advent for this year is, Housing the Holy, and our guiding image will be an open door. Please send your photos to bkdaniel@erucc.org and they will become part of a new art installation in the hallway outside the Liz Coffey Room and the Marj Menchey Berkheimer Music Suite. Thank you. Rev. Dr.  Barbara Kershner Daniel

Senior PastorEvangelical Reformed United Church of Christbkdaniel@erucc.org301-662-2762

THURSDAY THOUGHTS November 11th 2021

THURSDAY THOUGHTS November 11th 2021

November 11, 2021 by Jenna Duranko in / / /

The 10:30 Service can be viewed online : HERE

A copy of November 11th Thursday Thoughts can be viewed: HERE

 

November 11, 2021

Dear Congregation:

To all veterans of all branches on this Veteran’s Day:  Thank you for your sacrifice, your bravery, and the example you set for us all. Thank you for your service!
I once heard someone describe sacrifice as prioritization and discipline.  We do not always have the space or time in our lives to do everything we would like.   I never thought about sacrifice as prioritization.  Clearly, we all have to prioritize what we do in our lives because there are only so many hours in a day.  Rather, I have always thought of sacrifice as making an intentional decision for the greater good or for the sake of someone else.  To make a sacrifice is to make a sacred gift so that someone else may have life.
While we are conscious of the sacrifices of those serving in the military on this Veteran’s Day, I invite us to give thanks for others who are giving the gift of their lives in service to others so that others may live.   May we thank them, too, for their service.

Rev. Dr.  Barbara Kershner Daniel

Senior Pastor
Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ
bkdaniel@erucc.org
301-662-2762