A full copy of December 16th’s  Thursday Thoughts can be viewed HERE

December 16, 2021

Dear Congregation:

By the front steps of the main sanctuary building stands a blue door with the words, “Peace, hope, joy, and love,” along with a UCC Justice sticker in the middle.  The worship design team sought a way to bring our Advent theme of making room for the holy extend beyond Sunday morning and the sanctuary. It was our hope that the door and the words would engage people walking by as they wondered what the door thing was all about, to serve as a symbol for welcome, to send a message that our doors are open.
It’s been fun to see families take their family photos on the step with the big wreath and then stand by the blue door.  If you have taken any photos with the door, would you please send them to me?  Jenna would like to create a collage of photos.
May our church continue to find ways to demonstrate that our doors are open as we share the Good News of peace, hope, joy, and love for all.

Rev. Dr.  Barbara Kershner Daniel

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

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 275^th anniversary year event coming up.  On December 19^th 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

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

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