Category: Thursday Thoughts

THURSDAY THOUGHTS

THURSDAY THOUGHTS

A Full Copy Of June 2nd Thursday Thoughts Can Be Found HERE

June 2, 2022

Dear Congregation:
Sunday morning worship is central to our life as a congregation as we come together to praise God, support one another, get strengthened for our life in the world. Yet, we know that our outreach is beyond those hours we share together.
As one looks around the sanctuary on a Sunday morning and sees who is sitting in the pews, one could make an assumption that we only have a few young people or young adults and that our church not reach persons of color.  Our youth and young adults attending worship are spread out throughout the pews on any given Sunday, many of them sitting in the balcony which does not appear on the cameras. We have youth that are engaged on Sunday nights and mission trips and other activities.  Our children and their families are also attending activities during the week.
When we built the Community Room, our hope was that it would become a space our community would embrace and use for meetings and celebrations.  That hope has become a reality as we provide an affordable and beautiful space for family celebrations.  If you have volunteered to provide hospitality for one of these events, you know that most of these celebrations are for families of color. Weddings, Quinceaneras, birthday parties, coming of age parties, sorority gatherings.  These families report being welcomed, and they are very appreciative of the churches willingness to learn about their traditions.
I invite you to consider volunteering at one of these events to experience just how far the outreach of our congregation goes.

The Rev. Dr. Barbara Kershner Daniel

Senior Pastor
Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ
bkdaniel@erucc.org
15 W. Church Street, Frederick, MD 21702
301-662-2762

THURSDAY THOUGHTS May 19th 2022

THURSDAY THOUGHTS May 19th 2022

A Full Copy of May 19th’s Thursday Thoughts Can Be Found HERE

 

May 19, 2022

Dear Congregation:

             This Sunday, the youth of ERUCC will be leading us in worship.  You already know that they are a talented and interesting group of young people.  On Sunday, you will hear their thoughts about what is happening in their lives in these days.

Our young people are resilient.  They have experienced a lot, including a pandemic.  They have been challenged in school and they have been challenged by questions and concerns around how to define themselves, climate change, the threat to democracy, and economic uncertainty.

Family, friends, educators, coaches, and the church can help young people to develop resilience.  Marilyn Price-Mitchell, a developmental psychologist and author, writes. “Resilience is not a genetic trait. It is derived from the ways that children learn to think and act when faced with obstacles large and small.” When the adults in children’s lives—caregivers, teachers, coaches—help young people develop resilience, it helps them “emerge from challenging experiences with a positive sense of themselves and their futures,” says Price-Mitchell.

Our church encourages our young people to ask questions.  We do not shy away from difficult discussions.  We provide opportunities for travel and service that takes our young people out of their familiar surroundings to encounter new people and new experiences.  With the support of their families and others, our youth learn they can take risks to learn new things and meet new people and try on new ideas.  They learn that they cannot control everything that happens in life, but they can control how they react to it.  They can learn to grow through these new experiences and face adversity with strength and courage.

I saw this tree at Lake Tahoe and was fascinated by all the way in which the rings, signifying each year of life, twisted and turned.  Clearly that tree had survived many storms and droughts and yet survived.

I like to believe that ERUCC is providing the love, care, and support for our young people to grow strong, like that tree, giving them the tools to be resilient in the midst of all the twists and turns of life.

 

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 May 5th 2022

THURSDAY THOUGHTS May 5th 2022

A Full Copy of May 8th Thursday Thoughts Can Be Found HERE

May 5, 2022

Dear Congregation:
In Sunday’s Gospel lesson from John 21, we read that Jesus’ disciples have gone back to fishing.  Jesus has died.  Jesus has risen.  He has appeared to them twice in the upper room after Easter.  Now what?  So, they go back to fishing, something they know, something they were doing when Jesus first called them to follow him.
That day they fished and fished and caught nothing until Jesus invited them to try something else.  Do something different.  “Put your nets on the other side,” he says. It is an invitation to look at what they already know, something they have been doing over and over again, in a new way.  As the story goes, when they took those nets and put them out on the other side of the boat, they caught an abundance of fish.
Not only did they receive a miraculous catch of fish, but they also saw Jesus in a new way.
In her book, The Soul of a Pilgrim, Christine Valters Paintner, suggests that a spiritual practice we can adopt is to take a contemplative walk on a route familiar to us.  She writes, “Beginning again is about letting ourselves be surprised by God and encountering the familiar with holy wonder.  Instead of feeling cynical or dulled because of our experience, pilgrimage invites us back to our lives, open to receiving the gifts that are present even in the mundane.  As you walk, stay open to receiving new gifts, to seeing things in a new way, to noticing something you have never noticed before.  What is waiting for you to discover it, and what might it say to you about where you are on the journey?”

Another Note:  I will be traveling May 11-21 with a wonderful group of 15 people as we explore Alpine Europe and the Passion Play.  During my travels, please contact Tyler York or Kim Sexton with any needs or concerns.
The Rev. Dr. Barbara Kershner Daniel

Senior Pastor
Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ
bkdaniel@erucc.org
15 W. Church Street, Frederick, MD 21702
301-662-2762

THURSDAY THOUGHTS April 28 2022

THURSDAY THOUGHTS April 28 2022

A Full Copy Of April 28 Thursday Thoughts Can Be Found HERE

April 28, 2022

Dear Congregation:

In January a task force was formed to consider how to expand and enhance our online ministries. The group includes Barbara Kershner Daniel, Jeff Schaeberle, Peter Brehm, Jenna Duranko, Larry Martin, Jeff Baker, David Cooney, Judy Peterson, Susan Kulp, John Shillingburg, Jack Day, Vida Penn, Linda Coyle, Alan and Heather McCarty.
The congregation of ERUCC, already engaged in digital ministries such as live-streamed worship, on-line studies, and virtual meetings has expressed the desire to enhance and expand these digital ministries.  Practically, this is to enhance the on-line experience of those already benefitting from these ministries.  Strategically, it is recognized that more and more “church” is being done differently and on-line/digital/virtual ministries are a major part of this shift, and future relevance depends on offering these ministries and offering them well.
We have worked as two teams.  One team has focused on enhancing the on-line/digital/virtual ministries already being offered.  The second team is focusing on new ministries and enabling a virtual community that allows for connection and faith development to form.
Thanks to a generous grant of $10,000 for this work, we have purchased some equipment to enhance the live stream experience and a monitor for the North Conference Room to offer additional space for hybrid gatherings.
At our most recent meeting, we affirmed that online ministry and engagement needs to be seen as a priority.  If we are going to be relevant now and, in the future, and continue to build community, we need to expand our virtual presence and ministry.
For several months we have been working on how to enhance the live stream experience by adding easier access to the Sunday bulletin, including the scripture readings and the words to the hymns.  Most recently, we experimented with adding closed captioning and it was well received by those participating in worship online.  Adding closed captioning is a priority for reaching audiences who may be unable to fully participate in worship due to hearing challenges.   We are also adding a chat function with a member of the church welcoming online worshippers and answering any questions.
With these enhancements, the AV Team is in need of some additional members.  The team has been operating with three people each week – one to run audio for the livestream, one to run video for the livestream, and one to run audio for sanctuary sound.  By adding the lyrics to the hymns on the livestream, a fourth person is needed to move the words forward on the screen.   I understand from the team that it is not a difficult task to work with the hymn lyrics, but it is necessary to have that extra set of eyes, ears, and hands to enable it to work smoothly.
I invite you to prayerfully consider if you are hearing a call to be a part of this critical ministry for those who have found hope through ERUCC.  Please speak with me, Jeff Schaeberle, Jeff Baker, Jack Day, or Larry Martin if you are interested or want more information.

The Rev. Dr. Barbara Kershner Daniel

Senior Pastor
Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ
bkdaniel@erucc.org
15 W. Church Street, Frederick, MD 21702
301-662-2762

THURSDAY THOUGHTS April 21 2022

THURSDAY THOUGHTS April 21 2022

A Full Copy of April 21st Thursday Thoughts Can Be Found HERE

April 21, 2022

Dear Congregation:
May 1st we will be gathering for the spring meeting of the congregation.  This is the meeting when we review activities of the congregation’s life for the previous year, elect new elders, deacons, and committee chairs and provide updates on major projects in the life of the church.  I hope you will plan to be present for the meeting, celebrate the past year, and get excited about our future.
The annual meeting will be held immediately following worship in the Community Room with lunch being served.
Please follow this link to read the annual report: Annual Report HERE 
Hard copies will be available on Sunday.   Join me in thanking our staff and committee chairs for their reports and to Angela Brittain for producing a professional and engaging document and to Scott Harris for serving as editor.

The Rev. Dr. Barbara Kershner Daniel

Senior Pastor
Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ
bkdaniel@erucc.org
15 W. Church Street, Frederick, MD 21702
301-662-2762

THURSDAY THOUGHTS April 14th 2022

THURSDAY THOUGHTS April 14th 2022

A Full Copy of Thursday Thoughts Can Be Found HERE

The 10:30 service can be viewed online at: https://boxcast.tv/view/sunday-april-17-2022-492863                                                                                                                              April 14, 2022            Dear Congregation:Continue the journey of Holy Week by participating in Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter services.Holy Thursday                                  April 147:30 p.m. – Holy Communion and Tenebrae Service (main sanctuary)Service will be live streamedMaundy Thursday is an alternate name for Holy Thursday, the first of the three days of solemn remembrance of the events leading up to and immediately following the crucifixion of Jesus. The English word “Maundy” comes from the Latin mandatum, which means “commandment.” As recorded in John’s gospel, on his last night before his betrayal and arrest, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and then gave them a new commandment to love one another as he had loved them (John 13:34).                         This service has three main parts:                                                                                                                 A Service of Light– based on the traditional Vespers service in which we                                              recognize Christ our Light.A Service of Holy Communion in which we are invited to participate as one of                             The Twelve at the Last Supper.A Service of Shadows–Tenebrae–in which we meditate on the Passion of Christ and experience in dramatic form the extinguishing of the Light.            If you are participating in worship on-line, please have a plate with a piece of bread or cracker and a cup with grape juice, wine, or water.  You make also consider adding a small bowl with water and a hand towel.  During the service, you will be invited to lift the bread or cracker and the cup for a blessing.  Good Friday                                      April 15Noon and 7:30           Main SanctuaryThe 7:30 service will be live-streamed.Our services this day focus on the painful journey through Jesus’ arrest, trials, crucifixion, and death on the cross.  We will read scripture describing the events of this day accompanied by periods of reflection. If you are participating on-line for the 7:30 service, please consider having a thorn, piece of rope, some fragrant spices, and vinegar available as we will use those objects during the time of scripture readings and reflection.

The Rev. Dr. Barbara Kershner Daniel

Senior PastorEvangelical Reformed United Church of Christ bkdaniel@erucc.org 15 W. Church Street, Frederick, MD 21702301-662-2762

THURSDAY THOUGHTS April 7th 2022

THURSDAY THOUGHTS April 7th 2022

A Full Copy of April 7th Thursday Thoughts Can Be Found HERE

April 7, 2022

Dear Congregation:

Sunday evening, over 150 people gathered on the front steps of our church for the Say Gay Rally. The rally was organized by our friends with the Frederick Center who mission is, “to support and advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people and our families so we thrive, accepted and affirmed, in the broader Frederick community. The rally was planned in response to the law recently passed in Florida that bans public school teachers from holding classroom instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity. The “Parental Rights in Education” bill, has been called by opponents the Don’t Say Gay law.

A large number of those gathered on the steps that evening were young people who see and hear what is happening to LGBTQIA youth and fear it could happen in our own community. Those young people clapped and cheered as speakers reminded them to look around and see all these people who cared about and for them. The speakers – clergy, elected officials, and a school principal – promised to stand with them and act on any attempts to silence them or any conversation about their families.

In his remarks on Sunday, Kris Fair, Executive Director of the Frederick Center encouraged and challenged those gathered to look at who was running for elected office in Frederick and beyond as well as the school board. That was Sunday. Tuesday evening as board and community members gathered to share potential updates to Frederick County Public Schools’ health curriculum, a crowd of parents and community members shouted and yelled at board members and community members serving on the Family Life Advisory Committee. The Maryland State Board of Education issued new guidelines for elementary and secondary health education in 2019, writing into law that “Maryland family life and human sexuality instruction shall represent all students regardless of ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Then, a group of experts from across the state wrote a new health education “framework” — a 51-page document that lays out the broad concepts students should address at each grade level. It says students need to learn about different types of families, including those with same-gender parents.” (Frederick News Post, Wednesday, April 6, page A1)

The shouting and vitriol were so great, that Kris Fair was unable to speak, and the meeting was adjourned.

As I read the account in the Frederick News Post, I thought of those young people who gathered on our steps Sunday evening and their fear that the variety of ways people identify and express their gender would be not only silenced but erased.

I encourage all of us to write to the FCPS School Board and express, that as people of faith, we believe that all people of all gender identities must be treated with dignity and respect. That we, as people of faith, do not share the opinion that a loving family is to be kept a secret. Our community needs to know that there are other voices and other faith traditions that embrace all people as beloved children of God.

For the sake of those young people who sat on our steps Sunday night and for the sake of all our children and their families, stand up and speak up for inclusion.

Statement by the FCPS Board of Education: https://www.fcps.org/about/news/1737557/statement-by-the-frederick-county-board-of-education The Board of Education receives email through Board@fcps.org.

THURSDAY THOUGHTS March 31st 2022

THURSDAY THOUGHTS March 31st 2022

A Full Copy of March 31st Thursday Thoughts Can Be Found HERE

March 31, 2022

Dear Congregation:

Last week we received the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) offering. Gifts to OGHS enables us to be present through our UCC partners in the USA and around the world. Some of us from ERUCC have been on disaster recovery trips to Daytona Beach, Biloxi, Joplin, and New Orleans and have seen firsthand the impact of the gifts that bring supplies, volunteers, and much needed recovery and repair work to affected areas.

In other parts of the world, our generous gifts to OGHS supports safe water projects, sustainable farming, education, and health initiatives, as well as pitching in to assist people fleeing violence from their home communities.

As you have heard in the Sunday morning announcements, currently gifts from OGHS are being shared to help Ukrainian refugees who are being assisted by our partner church, the Reformed Church of Hungry. Working with partners assures that our funds are getting directly to the people in need.

There is still time to contribute to OGHS. Use the OGHS envelope in your envelope packets or place a check in a regular envelope and mark it OGHS or give online at erucc@erucc.org. Make sure you mark your gifts OGHS.

We receive this offering with joy, believing that, with everything else going on in the world, that love and care remains and those who may think no one cares, are given hope.

 

The Rev. Dr. Barbara Kershner Daniel
Senior Pastor
Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ
bkdaniel@erucc.org
15 W. Church Street, Frederick, MD 21702
301-662-2762

THURSDAY THOUGHTS March 24th 2022

THURSDAY THOUGHTS March 24th 2022

 

A Full Copy Of Thursday Thoughts Can Be Found HERE

The 10:30 service can be viewed online at: https://boxcast.tv/view/sunday-march-27-2022-224151
March 24, 2022

Dear Congregation:

Evangelical Reformed Church of Frederick Maryland and Our Frederick Legacy

By Peter Brehm
I sometimes hear conversations that include references such as “Back in the 1950s . . .” or, “In 1970, when I learned how to drive . . .” and, “I remember when that song was popular in 1985 . . .” we all make these references. They help ground our experiences in the context of broader historic and cultural events of those times.  These references are part of our story.
Here are some numbers that are part of ERUCC’s story: 259, 232, 215, and 129. These are years, and they represent markers in the history and significance of now-named Trinity Chapel (formerly called the German Reformed Church and then Old German Church before gaining its current name).
In 1763, the congregation, which was founded in 1745, built a stone church and tower at 10 West Church Street. In 1790, the congregation partnered with the City of Frederick to install Frederick’s town clock in the tower.
In 1807, the congregation replaced the stone spire with a wooden clock tower and spire. In 1893, the congregation installed a set of ten bells, known as the Trinity Chimes, in the steeple. This 1763 structure and its improvements over the centuries have been a unifying part of Frederick since the early days of the city, uniquely identifying Frederick’s skyline, bringing neighbors together not only for worship but also for education, mission efforts, civic events, and more, and helping everyone keep their appointments in a timely manner! Trinity Chapel is part of Frederick’s story, and part of ours as well.

This Sunday after the 10:30 am service we will launch our Campaign to Restore an Iconic Steeple.  After a catered hot meal, Rob Porter and Pastor Emeritus Fred Wenner will share the history of the structure, after which we will discuss the needed restoration efforts.  Please plan to attend this special event and learn about this important effort to restore an iconic steeple. And in the meantime, please reflect on John Greenleaf Whittier’s poem Barbara Fritchie and how he was describing the Trinity Chapel steeple when he wrote:

“Up from the meadows rich with corn,
Clear in the cool September morn,
The clustered spires of Frederick stand
Green-walled by the hills of Maryland.”

The Rev. Dr. Barbara Kershner Daniel
Senior Pastor
Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ
bkdaniel@erucc.org
15 W. Church Street, Frederick, MD 21702
301-662-2762

 

Artist’s Statement:  New in Christ by Rev. Lauren Wright Pittman
Inspired by 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Digital painting.

Courtesy of Sanctified Art.

THURSDAY THOUGHTS March 17th 2022

THURSDAY THOUGHTS March 17th 2022

A Full Copy of March 17th Thursday Thoughts Can Be Found HERE

 

Dear Congregation:

During the Season of Lent, I will share one of the poems included in our worship materials, “Full to the Brim.”  It is the hope of our Worship Design Team that this layering of art, poetry, and the language of prayer will enhance your faith journey in these weeks ahead.

This week’s poem was especially poignant to me.  The last line, “You are worthy even if you don’t produce,” is a haunting comment for those of us who see or believe our worth is in what we can do.  The words brought back conversations I had with my father as he aged and was unable to do many of the things he liked to do.  One of his questions in his older years was, “What is my purpose?”

I pray you are comforted by the poet’s words, “You are worthy.”

What I Forgot

Sometimes I wish I was the fig tree.No fruit here, just soaking up the sun, growing roots, turning green, stretching out my branches until I can hug the horizon. Sometimes I wish I was the fig tree, because she doesn’t produce, and she’s not exhausted,and she probably gets eight hours of sleep at night.And her branches, unlike my shoulders,are not heavy with work–pulled toward the ground, threatening to break. And her trunk, unlike my spine, is not fighting to stand tall while holding it all together. Sometimes I wish I was the fig treebecause she knows what I forgot many years ago. You are still worthyeven if you don’t produce.

(written by: rev. sarah speed | sanctifiedart.org)

 

The Rev. Dr. Barbara Kershner Daniel Senior PastorEvangelical Reformed United Church of Christ bkdaniel@erucc.org 15 W. Church Street, Frederick, MD 21702301-662-2762