ERUCC RE-Opening
June 29, 2020
by Evangelical Reformed UCC
in News
Sunday, June 28 Bulletin
Join us for worship on Sunday, June 28 at 10:30 a.m. at https://boxcast.tv/view/sunday-1030-service-654874Â
June 28
Genesis 22:1–14, one of the most dramatic stories in the Bible, when read carefully, seems to have the message of trust in a God of goodness. Many find this story harsh: Abraham hears a command to sacrifice his own son Isaac, Abraham prepares to do so and is stopped in the last second. Matthew 10:40–42, Jesus’ words provide a simple but difficult charge to those who wish to be disciples: to recognize Jesus and other prophetic voices in the most marginalized people in society, and to choose generosity.
The Rev. Carolyn Roberts will be preaching
Sunday, June 21 Bulletin
Join us for worship on Sunday, June 21 at 10:30 a.m. at https://boxcast.tv/view/sunday-1030-service-654874Â
June 21
Jeremiah 20:7-13 contains a lament from the prophet a prayer for help. The language of our reading from Psalm 69:7-10, (11-15), 16-18 is also that of a lament or prayer for help.
In our Gospel lesson for this Sunday, Matthew 10: 24-39, Jesus teaches about the demands of discipleship, including the ways in which it places disciples under great stress in their families.
The Rev. Michelle Beadle will be preaching. Her sermon title is, “The Blessing of Forced Choice.â€
ERUCC COVID-19 Reopening Plan
Read our reopening plan. If you have comments, questions, or concerns please contact Amy in the office: aaguilar@erucc.org or 301-662-2762
More Volunteers at Food Sustainability Network!
Week 2 of ERUCC at the Frederick Food Security Network Garden. What a beautiful day!
Thanks to Colleen for forming the mission team. This week that included Colleen, Aidan, plus two of Colleen’s friends, Barbara and Kim, and Linda Coyle.
Next Friday is the youth group team led by Tricia! If you’d like to join a team, contact Linda Coyle.
Sunday, June 14, 2020 Bulletin
Join us for worship on Sunday, June 14 at 10:30 a.m. at https://boxcast.tv/view/sunday-1030-service-654874Â
June 14
Matthew 9:35-10:8 describes the ministry of Jesus and his disciples. There are many in need of Jesus’ healing ministry. Jesus acknowledges that he cannot do this work alone and calls disciples to join him. However, the authority to cast out unclean spirits and cure disease requires that the disciples sacrifice their former lives and any hopes of wealth or prestige.
June 11 Thursday Thoughts
CLICK HERE to read the June 11 Thursday Thoughts
Dear Congregation:
Since the beginning of March, life at and with ERUCC and our community has been a constant barrage of new experiences. Whether it’s been how to worship or how to conduct the church’s business or how to have fellowship and educational programs, every day brings new challenges in meeting the needs of the congregation and the community.
In this new environment, I have participated in at least 3 webinars or calls every week about COVID, technology, cleaning, mental health in these days, and meeting spiritual needs when we cannot gather or engage in our usual rituals. I must admit that these resources have been very helpful but so much new information all at the same time is taxing on my brain.
Then we had the murder of George Floyd and the unleashing of anger, frustration, and energy to say, “Enough is enough.â€Â The past few weeks have engaged our congregation in even deeper work on anti-racism.  This, too, is taxing on the heart as we open ourselves to identifying and dismantling our behaviors as individuals and as a community that contribute to institutional racism.
All this is to say that I recognize the challenges of dealing with COVID will be with us for months. Our work in dismantling institutional racism will be before us for years. These challenges are not a sprint, but a long-distance run, and we all need to pace ourselves for this meaningful and hard work.
I am grateful that Ken and I will be able to take some time off to rest, renew, and refresh. I will be leaving for vacation tomorrow, June 12th and returning on July 1st. Please contact Amy Aguilar at the church office with any questions or concerns. (aaguilar@erucc.org)
This Sunday, June 14th, if the technology works, you will hear a sermon that I recorded. Rev. Michelle Beadle will be preaching on June 21st and Rev. Carolyn Roberts on June 28th.
I look forward to seeing you upon my return – in person in worship on July 5th or virtually in worship and on zoom calls. Take care and peace.
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:Â bkdaniel@erucc.org
ERUCC Volunteers for the Frederick Food Sustainability Network
This morning David Howard, Susan Kulp,(pictured) the Logees and the Barrs worked in the gardens of the Frederick Food Sustainability Network. We are one of four teams from ERUCC who are volunteering for this cause. Hopefully our efforts will pay off with healthy foods for families in need. One of our teams will be there every Friday morning throughout the growing season.
Sunday, June 7, 2020 Bulletin
Join us for worship on Sunday, June 7 at 10:30 a.m. at https://boxcast.tv/view/sunday-1030-service-525168
June 7            Trinity Sunday                                                                                 Â
Genesis 1: 2:4a reminds us that in the beginning, God expressed delight in creation and declared it “very good.â€Â In Matthew 28:16–20, Jesus bestows authority upon followers to carry the good news of God’s love to all places. The promise in verse 20 asserts that Jesus is the assurance that God will not abandon the community of creation.
On this Trinity Sunday, the readings invite us to explore and celebrate the many ways God is revealed in and through continuing relationships within this good creation. God entrusts remarkable potential to all that is created. New beginnings emerge as the community of creation lives into such promise.
June 4, 2020 Thursday Thoughts
Click HERE for your June 4, 2020 Thursday Thoughts
Dear Congregation:
We know that we are dealing with two viruses. COVID 19 and the virus of racism. We have been living in fear and anxiety with a virus that can lurk inside some of us without symptoms. A virus that preys upon the most vulnerable. A virus that keeps manifesting itself in new ways and with new symptoms.
We already knew that black and brown communities are disproportionately  affected by the virus. We also know that black and brown communities are disproportionately affected by police brutality. Those communities are disproportionately represented in the prisons of our country. We know that black and brown communities face institutional racism in education, government, business, and the faith communities. Truth is that those communities face racism everywhere.
It has not gone unnoticed that the confluence of COVID 19 and the response to the death of George Floyd has pushed our country to a deeper conversation about racism. I am grateful for t your willingness to go deeper into that conversation. The response to the classes Rev. Michelle Beadle led earlier this year demonstrated a willingness to become vulnerable and examine our own prejudices. That has broadened more in these recent weeks.
Thank you for taking this journey of faith. We all have prejudices and it is important that we identify them. It is important for us to examine how our white privilege has socialized us in ways that have given us advantages that our black and brown siblings do not have. This is our work to do and I am grateful for our friends of color who have been so patient with us.
If we stay on this path of learning and understanding and dismantling what is getting in the way for all people to live in security and peace, we can be the change. Our friends of color are tired, fed up, and asking us, “How long?â€Â Do you hear them? Are we willing to take the difficult, painful journey of examining our own lives and what we may be doing that contributes to racism? Jesus said to us, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.â€
Change is challenging. Change can be painful. But imagine with me, a country where we really do live up to all that we say that we value.