What's New at EACC

AN INTERVIEW WITH PASTOR TERRI

MESSAGE FROM THE MODERATOR

Balloon Card Returns
The first balloon card has returned. It was found by Urie Miller, an Amish Friend, while hiking in the woods near Windsor Ohio. More>>

FROM LEON BIBB’S KALEIDOSCOPE
Fannie Cockfield has recommended that something she learned watching Leon Bibb’s TV-5 program “Kaleidoscope” (Sunday mornings at 7AM) be shared with the congregation. On February 3 Leon had a segment about finding a job in a tough economy, and gave CGI/Employment Connection as a possible resource. If you are looking for employment, call 216-898-1366 for an appointment with Employment Connection or visit their website, www.workforce.cuyahogacounty.us for more information.

PASTORAL CARE

We do have a pastoral care team in place. Please contact the following members if you know of someone sick and shut in and needs visitation.

Dave Buckle               Barbara Edwards
Ruth Garwood           Mary Guen
Julia Haynes              Robert Henderson
Mary Sherry                Judy Sieck
Charles Williams

ALTAR FLOWERS

The Flower Calendar for 2008 is posted outside the church office door. You are invited to sign up to give a fresh floral arrangement on a Sunday that has special significance for you. Following the morning service you may designate how you would like the flowers distributed – to shut-ins, friends, family etc. The cost of the arrangement is $45. Make your check payable to the church and indicate “Flower Fund” on the memo line. Place your check in the collection plate on the Sunday you are giving the flowers. Your gift of flowers will brighten may lives.    – Mary Jane Cariens

Volunteer Opportunities

JOURNEY TO COMMISSIONING

On January 17th I met with the Western Reserve Association Committee on Ministry. They reviewed my application to become a Commissioned Minister in Church Administration in the United Church of Christ. During the interview, I was grateful to have two members of my EACC support team with me. Dr. Paul Sherry and Kathy Baker. I am pleased to share with my church family, that the Committee on Ministry voted to recommend that my application be approved by Church in Ministry.

Next steps include submitting a request for In-Care Status in the Association, a year long journey of continued discernment and study of the theological premise of Church Administration. At the end of the year, a project presentation will be required. There is also a requirement to have an advisor that I will meet with periodically throughout the year. I am very pleased that the Reverend Margaret (Peg) Slater, recently retired from Parish Life and Leadership, Local Church Ministries, UCC and a member of EACC agreed to be my advisor.
I am blessed to have Kathy Baker, Eleanore Dees, Ruth Garwood and Rev. Sherry as my local church support team. Your good wishes and continued prayers are appreciated.    – Charlene Higginbotham

Making Our Churches Safe for All “Safe Church”

The Personnel Practices Committee has been charged with formulating our church’s policy and educating our church members on our own “safe church” initiative. Yes, this procedure has been strongly suggested to us (as well as to other UCC churches) by the UCC Insurance Board. It is also the right thing to do – morally, ethically, and spiritually.

This initiative will involve such things as education of church members, continuing education for childcare staff and volunteers, disclosure forms for all individuals involved with the care of our children, background checks of some staff members and policies on the reporting of abusive behavior.
For most of us, these are uncomfortable topics. As we proceed, we will be guided and reassured by Scripture. All people should be able to safely “dwell in the house of God forever.”

- Ann Drysdale, Chairperson, Personnel Practices Committee

EACC IN THE NEWS

In the August 25 Plain Dealer, an article about First Presbyterian Church of East Cleveland celebrating its 200th birthday stated that during the Civil War, 14 members of that church left it to form Euclid Avenue Congregational Church, because the elders of the East Cleveland church refused to condemn slavery. Our church’s historical records indicate that our church’s beginnings were in 1828, not 1807. Yet the story of our early members breaking away from the Presbyterian Church on the issue of slavery is documented. The Beacon promises more research and the answer to this puzzle by the October issue, if not before.

EACC HISTORY MYSTERY, PART II

An August article in the Plain Dealer indicated that the First Presbyterian Church of East Cleveland, which was celebrating its 200th anniversary, is an ancestor of EACC. In the article our church was mentioned by name as the congregation formed by 14 First Presbyterian Church members who left that church because it would not condemn slavery. Further investigation, however, indicates that those 14 people must have formed another church altogether, not ours. EACC broke away from the Presbyterian church over the issue of slavery, all right, but as an entire congregation. Part of the confusion is due to the fact that when we did so we called ourselves an Independent Presbyterian Church until in 1862 we became the First Congregational Church of East Cleveland, and this other 14-member church had the same name. At the time EACC was at Doan’s Corners (now East 105th), however, while this other Independent Presbyterian Church was located in Euclid near Allendale. Two entirely different casts of characters were involved, too: our earliest members were Fords, Cozads, and Baldwins, while the 14 were Ruples and Cadys.

THE GARDENS OF EUCLID
AVENUE CHURCH

“The garden. It is said that the ‘seat of the soul is there, where the outer and inner worlds meet.’ Gardens and gardening have been important to many of the members of our church family. The idea of a memorial garden was crystallized when I heard that a member of our congregation wanted to have his ashes placed in the ground on which the church rested. Since that time, other members have expressed the desire to have their ashes placed in the church’s ground. Euclid Avenue Church has yet to dedicate a columbarium and while that question is being reviewed, we have developed a method by which current members can honor and memorialize loved ones. This garden, then is the answer to the question, “Why a memorial garden?” The garden will not be static or finished. There are future opportunities to dedicate living plants in honor and memory of loved ones. For nearly one hundred and fifty years members of this congregation have labored lovingly for this church, its future and the love of God. What more fitting way to say ‘Well done’ and ‘Thank you’ than to dedicate a living memorial and to place it in the church’s ground. We thank you for your response to our project. We regret that some plants are reflecting the rigors of this year’s dry summer. But if God wills it, we will have other summers and more opportunities to display the gardens.”

The foregoing passage comes from the introduction in the dedication program of the Memorial Gardens on September 29, 1991. At that time David Knight Ford, Amasa Ford, Allan Ford and Oliver Ford purchased an ornamental pear tree and garden benches in loving memory of Elizabeth B. Ford. Armentha Nesbitt and Hazel Dockery purchased clematis vines in memory of Alice Gray and Hazel’s father Cyril Carter and mother Clementine Temple. Mary Jane Cariens purchased a Sweet Bay Magnolia in memory of her parents, Norman and Harriet Hawn and grandmother, Anna E. Hawn. Nathaniel Martin purchased an oak leaf hydrangea in memory of his grandmother, Betty Martin, and aunt, Emma Spurlin. Kathie and Bural Buckner purchased spreading yews in memory of Evelyn and Frank McMillen and Dora and Merritt Buckner. The list goes on. The time has come to refresh the Gardens of Euclid Avenue Church.

The Men’s Council has graciously donated a sum to purchase perennials for a fall planting. The Garden Committee of 2007 consists of Kathy Buckner, Eleanore Dees, Henry Edwards, Paul Jerabek, Julia Haynes, and Johnnie Mitchell. A copy of the program and resource documents for the 1991 dedication are on file in the church office. Further details about the project will be forthcoming.
Church family members are invited to consider a shrub, tree or annual in honor or memory of a beloved person. Contact any member of the committee.
          Eleanore Dees, Coordinator

MEMBERS WHO ARE SHUT-IN OR HOMEBOUND

We need to update our list of church members who are shut-ins or homebound. Those members who are unable to attend church services due to health issues or physical frailty need our support and encouragement. Do they wish to be added to the prayer concern list? Would they enjoy a visit or phone call from the pastoral care committee? Are they receiving seasonal plants from the church at Easter and Christmas? In order to minister to them, we need to know who they are. Please contact Rev. Carrion with the name of any EACC member who has such needs.

Your E-Mail Address is Requested
A special, Members only area of the Website is under construction. This area will be accessible only to members who have registered and received a password. The first piece of this area will be an online Membership Directory of phone numbers and e-mail addresses. In order for this to be a useful tool for our membership, it should be as complete as possible. Please visit the Member's Only form to submit your e-mail address for listing and/or to apply for a password to the member-only area.