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Thursday Thoughts: May 6, 2021

Thursday Thoughts: May 6, 2021

CLICK HERE to read the May 6, 2021 Thursday Thoughts

May 6, 2021

Dear Congregation:

I am continually grateful for the gifts our members and friends bring to our congregation’s life and in the community.  Last week during the 10:30 service we gave thanks for members who have served in leadership roles, some for many, many years.  They have given considerable time and energy, sweat and tears, to the mission and ministry of ERUCC.

Those of you who were able to participate in the congregational meeting following the service, know how blessed we are to have Jeff Schaeberle, who has given countless hours to our sound system in the sanctuary as well as in the Community Room.  We ask Jeff to make something happen and he does.

You know there are some congregations who have not held annual meetings during COVID because they just could not figure out how to do a large Zoom meeting and or a hybrid meeting.  Sunday was the third congregational meeting we have had.  Each time, Jeff has figured out how we can see and hear better and how we can maximize participation.  Thank you, Jeff.    Jeff was ably assisted by Owen York who prepared a slide deck of visuals to keep us on track.  Then we had the leadership of Peter Brehm, Allen Flora, and Phil Selby to present large portions of the meeting.   Thank you all.

We officially voted to become a Creation Justice Church with the great leadership of Linda Coyle, Chair, and members of the Green Committee.  We heard a report about the 275th anniversary events that will be happening this fall.  A schedule of those events will be included in the worship packets you will be receiving next week.

On Sunday, we also proceeded to move forward with conceptual work on a columbarium behind the main sanctuary building.  Information about that project will also be included in the worship packets.

Lots of exciting news for ERUCC.

 

Worship        

John 15:9–17 “…love one another.”

These are the words of Jesus to his followers. So simple, and yet not always so easy. Jesus’ commandment to love one another in John, chapter 15, verse 12, is one of the strongest themes of Jesus’ teaching.  Not only does Jesus “command” us “to love one another,” he shows us how:  To love each other “as I have loved you.”  Jesus then “pushes the envelope” in verse 13: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:9-17).

Today, we will ordain and install the newly elected elders, deacons, and committee chairs and honor those who have been serving as deacons and greeters during the past year.

 

Food for Thought:   

“It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tired into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one destiny, affects all indirectly.”    (Martin Luther King Jr.)

 

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

 

Sunday, May 2nd Bulletin

Sunday, May 2nd Bulletin

Join us for Worship at 8:30 a.m. in- person in historic Trinity Chapel or in-person at 10:30 a.m. in our main Sanctuary.

or, join us online at: https://boxcast.tv/view/sunday-may-2-2021-910005 

CLICK HERE for the Sunday, May 2nd Bulletin

 

Worship                           Abides

John 15:1–8 “Every branch that bears fruit God prunes to make it bear more fruit.”

Jesus explains that God is like an expert gardener – an image well understood by the people who lived in Jesus’ agrarian times. Today we can still identify with this imagery’s meaning in our lives. We might already know that if we do not stay connected to the source of life we will not flourish. We will not bear fruit. The connection, to the source of life and community, is vital to our Christian faith. When we forget, how do we become reconnected?                                                                                I John 4: 7-21 tells how important it is to abide in God.  God is love, and when we love one another; God lives in us.  Love is the fruit that we, the vine, produce.  We are called to love our brothers and sisters, as God has loved us.

This Sunday we will be sharing communion, please prepare your worship centers with bread or a cracker, a cup of water or juice or wine.  Following worship, we will have our annual congregational meeting to review church finances and activities for 2020. 

Thursday Thoughts April 29, 2021

Thursday Thoughts April 29, 2021

CLICK HERE for the Thursday, April 29 THURSDAY THOUGHTS

April 29, 2021

Dear Congregation:

I hope you have enjoyed reading through the 2020 Annual Report of ERUCC.  It was rather incredible to see how active we were, even amid a very unusual year.  We figured out how to be the Church, to worship and even expand participation in services, engage in Christian education and nurture, continue our advocacy work, and engage in mission in the community and around the world.  We found creative ways to be in community as we cared for one another.

The 2020 Annual Report was included in your worship packets that were delivered or being delivered before Sunday.  Please review and comment.

I invite you to participate in this Sunday’s annual congregational meeting.  We will have the link to the meeting live at 11:45 so that you can see and chat with one another online and see those who are attending in person.  I am thanking Jeff Schaeberle and Jeff Baker for the work they have been doing to make sure everyone can see and hear.  Many thanks to Peter Brehm, President of the Consistory for his leadership and to Allen Flora and Phil Selby who will be presenting the financial reports. Allen and Phil have spent hours and hours of time providing information and direction in the stewardship of resources.  We will also have an opportunity to thank those who have been serving in leadership on our behalf.

Here is the link for the meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82129963921?pwd=Y25uYlpxV2RtdVJKN3R0Q0xpamo2QT09

Meeting ID: 821 2996 3921

Passcode: 498766

Hope to see you on Sunday – in-person or online.

 

Worship                           Abides

John 15:1–8 “Every branch that bears fruit God prunes to make it bear more fruit.”

Jesus explains that God is like an expert gardener – an image well understood by the people who lived in Jesus’ agrarian times. Today we can still identify with this imagery’s meaning in our lives. We might already know that if we do not stay connected to the source of life we will not flourish. We will not bear fruit. The connection, to the source of life and community, is vital to our Christian faith. When we forget, how do we become reconnected?                                                                                I John 4: 7-21 tells how important it is to abide in God.  God is love, and when we love one another; God lives in us.  Love is the fruit that we, the vine, produce.  We are called to love our brothers and sisters, as God has loved us.

This Sunday we will be sharing communion, please prepare your worship centers with bread or a cracker, a cup of water or juice or wine.  Following worship, we will have our annual congregational meeting to review church finances and activities for 2020.                                        

Food for Thought:   

“We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honor the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness and affection.”   (Brené Brown)

 

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

 

 

Annual Congregational Meeting on Sunday, May 2

Annual Congregational Meeting on Sunday, May 2

Sunday, May 2nd  is the day for our annual congregational meeting. 

The Consistory has voted to call the annual meeting for Sunday, May 2nd at 11:45.  The meeting will be held in the Community Room with lunch being served immediately following worship.  Members and friends of the congregation may also participate via Zoom  — through video on a computer, tablet or phone – or by telephone.

Some logistics about the annual meeting which will be held on Sunday, May 2nd following worship:

  • You are encouraged to attend the meeting in-person or via Zoom.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82129963921?pwd=Y25uYlpxV2RtdVJKN3R0Q0xpamo2QT09 
Meeting ID: 821 2996 3921
Passcode: 498766

  • If you are participating by zoom, we ask that you stay muted during the meeting.  Please use the chat function for your comments and questions.
  •  When we take a vote, we will ask all zoom participants to unmute themselves to indicate by voice yea or nay.
  • A reminder that we have a recommendation to adopt a Creation Justice Covenant.  CLICK HERE TO REVIEW
Sunday, April 25th Bulletin

Sunday, April 25th Bulletin

CLICK HERE for the Sunday, April 25 Bulletin

CLICK here for the Children’s Bulletins

You can worship in person at 8:30 a.m. in historic Trinity Chapel or in person in our main Sanctuary at 10:30 a.m.  Or, worship in the comfort of your home by watching our live stream of the Sunday Service.  CLICK HERE to join.

 Love in Truth and Action
John 10:11–18 “I know my own and my own know me.”

Jesus identifies himself in terms that people of his day and culture could understand – “I am the good shepherd.” Being a good shepherd is linked to knowing the sheep and laying down one’s life for the sheep.In Acts 4: 5-12, we find Peter and John in prison.  Power to speak, power to act, power to be bold, power to follow, power to love: all are connected to a belief in the saving power of the name of God and the name of Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

 

Thursday Thoughts April 22, 2021

Thursday Thoughts April 22, 2021

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR THURSDAY THOUGHTS

April 22, 2021

Dear Congregation:

Tuesday afternoon, Derek Chauvin was found guilty for the murder of George Floyd.  While celebrations erupted about the country, for me, it was a sobering moment to acknowledge just how difficult and hard and steep is the climb for justice.  As one of my friends said, “I don’t think the verdict ought to be celebrated.  It is sad for all…. The fact that we even have to be talking about this as an issue is the saddest part for me.”

This verdict is one necessary step on the journey as we honor those in law enforcement who work so hard to serve our community with respect and for all citizens.  The verdict is one step on the journey to ensure that all our citizens, of every color and background, can live in safety.  There is still much more work in law enforcement as well as in our society to erase racial profiling and excessive force against persons of color.  There is still much work to be done in overcoming the effects of white privilege in discriminating persons of color in employment, housing, and medical care.

President Biden said the decision could be “a moment of significant change.”  It can be, if we continue to devote ourselves to this needed and necessary work of justice.  Donna Murch, an associate professor of history at Rutgers University, said, “The real victory here is not the incarceration of Derek Chauvin.  Putting another person in a cage is not how we change the world. But stopping the killings of Black people with complete impunity, saying that Black lives matter — this sends that signal.”

 

Worship Notes                                     Love in Truth and Action

John 10:11–18 “I know my own and my own know me.”

Jesus identifies himself in terms that people of his day and culture could understand – “I am the good shepherd.” Being a good shepherd is linked to knowing the sheep and laying down one’s life for the sheep.

In Acts 4: 5-12, we find Peter and John in prison.  Power to speak, power to act, power to be bold, power to follow, power to love: all are connected to a belief in the saving power of the name of God and the name of Jesus Christ.

Food for Thought:   

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”   (Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)

 

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

 

How to Let Your Light Really Shine!

How to Let Your Light Really Shine!

HOW TO LET YOUR LIGHT REALLY SHINE!

EXPLORING YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Zoom Discussions – Sunday, May 2 and May 9 – 7 p.m.
Led by Jeanellen Kallevang

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88423175369?pwd=ZkpnOTZucTFaMzhJMFB2akZEQ0hBdz09  
Meeting ID: 884 2317 5369      Passcode: 473395

How to Let Your Light Really Shine!   Have you Seen the announcement about the two Sunday night Zoom sessions on May 2nd and 9th at 7 p.m. called, “Exploring Your Spiritual Gifts?”  Have you wondered what the discussions will really be about and how the topic pertains to you?

If you want to know now what your spiritual gifts are, take the 10 minute assessment to find out at: https://godgiftsyou.com/assessment.  You will receive your results immediately.  Please note that the assessment is part of a 6-week course that may be offered after the two May sessions if there is sufficient interest.

For additional information, contact Jeanellen Kallevang at ggeggirl@hotmail.com or (301)919-2057, of Julie Clark at jclark@yahoo.com or (301)305-8181.

Sunday, April 18, 2021 Bulletin

Sunday, April 18, 2021 Bulletin

Click HERE for the Sunday, April 18 Bulletin

Click HERE for the Sunday, April 18 Children’s Bulletins

The 10:30 service  can be attended in person or can be viewed online at:CLICK HERE to join the livestream at 10:30 a.m.

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

 

April 18      Love Means Showing Up
            Luke 24:36b–48 “Peace be with you.”

Here it is again – another story like last week from John’s gospel (John 20:19–31) when Jesus encounters the disciples after the Resurrection and greets them with a word of peace. This encounter, however, doesn’t seem to calm the disciples but stirs them up. When does being a Christ-like peace bearer stir things up?

Acts 3:12–19 recounts Peter’s sermon following his and John’s healing encounter with a person who has been lame since birth (v. 2).