Author: Jason Thompson

THE GOOD NEWS
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF WEST PARK UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
Winter 2022-2023

3909 Rocky River Drive
Cleveland, Ohio 44111
216.671.7228 phone
216.671.7313 fax
WestParkUCCOffice@gmail.com
WestParkUCC.org

Following Christ, Caring for All, Growing Together

EDITOR
Looking for a way to help with our church’s ministry but have an irregular schedule? We are seeking a copy editor for our weekly bulletins and newsletter. As you have likely noticed, we occasionally miss an important announcement and sometimes have a typo or too (LOL). We need an extra set of eyes to help review our published materials before distribution. Call the church office if you would like to help. Email access is required.
ANNUAL REPORTS, MEETING
Our annual meeting will take place after worship on Sunday, February 19. We will return to our pre-pandemic format by offering a meal and time for fellowship in Bartter Hall. All are invited to attend. In preparations for the meeting, Elected officers, board chairs and staff should have their annual reports to the church office no later than January 15, 2023.

IN MY HEAD
thoughts from Pastor Jason
For many years, it has been part of
my routine to watch the news every
evening. I am particularly fond of
Lester Holt and the NBC Nightly
News. His demeanor and style of
reporting seems well balanced and
fair. He usually offers little
commentary and just reports the
events of the day. I also like that
Lester is a pet lover; he often
talks about his dogs. In recent months, though, I have often skipped watching the news. This is something of a professional hazard. It is important for me as your pastor to keep up with local and national events that impact our common lives.
So why don’t I enjoy the news like before? For me, the political rhetoric coming from our local, state and national leaders has become toxic. There is no longer any compromise or any middle ground. I have friends who swear by MSNBC or Fox News. They believe their chosen news channel is the only one to offer the truth. For some reason, some people enjoy having their own views reinforced by the “news” rather than being challenged to grow, rather than hearing something they don’t like. This is happening across social media platforms as well. In recent days, we have even seen the proliferation of hate speech on Twitter with the use of the N-word seeing a 500% increase on this particular platform. We have not only allowed the extreme views of the far-right and far-left to dominate our news channels, we have helped them do so. We are so divided in this country, much more so than many of us can remember in our lifetimes.
I don’t know why. Most of us have no idea, even as we lament the current state of affairs. Will we outgrow this division and bring healing or is our great nation in decline? That question will only be fully answered in the generations that follow us. Remember the days when we could honor partisan differences and not hate those with whom we disagree? Remember the days when we didn’t think those with different opinions were destroying our country?
(continued on facing page…)

In reflecting on this sadness, I am reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul. In Romans 12, he teaches us that we are not to be conformed by this world. As creations of God, we have the Divine light inside us. But we also have the blessing (burden?) of free will. Paul is cautioning us all that the world (the society in which we live, not the physical planet) can be an unkind and sinful place. He knows that living in such an environment can have a corrupting influence on us, even when we have the best intentions. It is our job, in fact a command of our God, that we rise above the divisions and hatred, that we might lead ourselves and others to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with our God.
I invite us all to consider: where have my own words and actions caused harm? Where have my own words and deeds caused unnecessary division? And then turn off the television. Your favorite news commentator may just be the one encouraging you to conform to this world. And that is not what God dreams for you.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Jason

CHRISTMAS STORE
Each year, many of us want to share even more during the Christmas season. Our hearts are especially full with the love of Jesus during this season of Incarnation in which we remember and welcome the Christ Child into our hearts and homes. MOPS (Mothers of Pre-School Students) is one of the groups that meets regularly in our church buildings. They meet in person in the church parlor on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30PM. This year, our MOPS group is planning something extra special for families with young children. They will host a free Christmas store on Saturday, December 10 and Saturday, December 17 from 9AM-11AM. They will offer toys and gifts to our guests so that parents may have gifts for their children on Christmas morning. The volunteers will wrap each gift as well so it is ready to go under the Christmas tree! If you would like to donate a new, unwrapped gift, please bring it to the church. You may also order delivery directly to the church. Please add CHRISTMAS STORE as the recipient if you choose the ship direct option. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

New format to newsletter

All church retreat
Save the dates June
Pentecost
Strawberry social
Pride parade
Ash Wednesday
Lenten program
Holy week
Easter
Open doors
Volunteer morning
Spotlight on staff
Spotlight on new members
Funeral planning info
Coronavirus planning
Bible study
m

COUNCIL INSTALLATIONS
On Sunday, January 8, 2023, we will install our new Church Council members in worship at 10AM. Church Council is the governing body of our church and oversees our operating and ministries. We will also celebrate Epiphany, when the light of Christ was made known to the whole world. Council installations coincide with this celebration as a reminder of God’s dream of new hope and new beginnings for us all.
HOLY LAND 2024
Have you always wanted to visit the Holy Land but never quite found the right time or the right people with whom to travel? Have you longed to see the places talked about in our Bible stories and the follow in the footsteps of Jesus and the Disciples? This may be your chance. Our church is exploring the possibility of a group pilgrimage to Israel and Palestine in 2024. If you are interested, please talk to Pastor Jason. If there is sufficient interest, we will journey together to visit the sacred sites of our faith.

MODERATOR’S
CORNER
Margaret Owens
As I end my time of being moderator, I just want to thank everyone for the time they have given to the church to make it run so smoothly. Especially the Boards, you have been wonderful and effective.
As we enter a new year with anticipation and excitement, let us continue to work together to move into the future strong and united. To Clarence, thank you for agreeing to be my vice moderator and may next year be an uneventful time.
MITTEN LINE
During the colder months, when most of us are snuggled warmly in our winter clothes, many of our local neighbors don’t always know how to keep warm. Our response for years has been to offer mittens, gloves, hats, scarves and socks to passersby. We will host a mitten line packing party on the first Sunday of Advent to prepare for this year’s distribution. You can sign up in the narthex or by calling the church office.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Joint Worship at Christ United Methodist Church @ 7PM
Imposition of ashes, community worship
Lenten Supper and Study
Each Wednesday during Lent, Bartter Hall from 5:30-7PM
Holy Communion
Sunday mornings @ 10AM
We celebrate the Sacrament each week during Lent
Lenten Devotional
We will once again create a Lenten devotional.
Submission deadline is Sunday, January 29.
Please submit your reflection to
westparkuccoffice@gmail.com.
As we approach the season of Christmas, we are invited to offer a special year end gift to our church to support our continuing efforts to share God’s love with the world. The enclosed envelope may be mailed back to the church or placed in the offering plate on Sunday morning. You may also offer your Christmas gift online at westparkucc.org/give. If you get your newsletter online, you can mail your gift to WPUCC, 3909 Rocky River Drive, Cleveland, Ohio 44111.
And what do you get the person who has everything? We encourage you to consider a new way to think of gift giving with our Alternative Christmas Catalog. You can contribute to honor someone dear using the same enclosed envelope. You may contact the church office for gift postcards to give as their “gift.” The postcard will acknowledge the gift you made in their name. This is a wonderful way to offer a gift that gives back to others.

New format to newsletter

All church retreat
Save the dates June
Pentecost
Strawberry social
Pride parade
Ash Wednesday
Lenten program
Holy week
Easter
Open doors
Volunteer morning
Spotlight on staff
Spotlight on new members
Funeral planning info
Coronavirus planning
Bible study
m

ADVENT STUDY
This year’s Advent study will follow the book All the Good: A Wesleyan Way of Christmas. Our focus will be God’s grace with an emphasis on spiritual practices of piety, mercy and good works. This year’s study will take place on the first three Sundays of Advent: November 30, December 7 and December 14. We will gather at Christ United Methodist Church (3625 West 138th Street) at 6PM for a light soup meal. Our study will take place from 6:30—7:30PM each week.
LONGEST NIGHT
The Christmas season is not always filled with joy, especially for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Our annual Longest Night worship offers a space to express our laments during a time when the world often ignores our pain. As in years’ past, we will partner with our friends at Christ United Methodist Church for the prestation of this service. Worship will take place at Christ UMC at 7PM on Wednesday, December 21. ALL ARE WELCOME.
LOOKING TO JOIN WPUCC?
For visitors and new friends, the rhythms of a new church can seem daunting and unfamiliar. In our hopes to always provide an extravagant welcome, we will host a new member class on Sunday, January 22 from 11:30AM to 1:30PM. Have questions about WPUCC? Want to know what is involved with membership? Plan to attend this informational forum to get all your questions answered! And invite your friends!

A lot of things happen around our church that few ever notice.
The Church Mouse sees all! Here are some recent excerpts from her diary.
September 11, 2022
I have a tummy ache. I ate so much food last night at the annual fundraiser. It was really good but I think I remember that gluttony is a sin. Is that true for mice?
September 25, 2022
Nap time interrupted. They always leave after church, but some of the hoomans stayed to make noise in the balcony. Something they called “digital training.” I should leave a note to remind them about my naptime.
November 5, 2022
I love when the leaves fall. I usually make little piles with them then run and jump and play in the leaves. I didn’t get a chance today, though. The people swept and cleaned the parking lot so there are no leaves. I plan to play with the artificial leaves in the church sanctuary instead.

COMMUNI-TEA
Do you like a good cup of tea? Are you a woman? Do you enjoy chatting with old friends and making new friends? If you can answer “yes” to these questions, you are invited! We are launching a new ministry initiative to help our Turkish Muslim friends work on their English language speaking and comprehension skills. This women’s group will meet monthly on the third Wednesday at 1PM in the church parlor. There will be time for tea and conversation and maybe some good ol’ fashioned learning! All the women of our church are welcome. Let’s get this par-tea started!
UPCOMING CHURCH SABBATICAL
Our church is taking sabbatical during the last months of 2023. Both Pastor and congregation will lean into a time of spiritual refreshment and renewal. Last spring, church council appointed a sabbatical planning team to vision what these months might look like for our church. The team will resume their work on Sunday, February 26, 2023. Do you have ideas you would like to share? What would you like our church to “do” while Pastor is away? Let a member of the team know your thoughts: Erin Armstrong, Clarence Chavers, Jim
Furry, Robin Jessen, Peter Makari, Dan Moreland, Margaret Owens

EMAIL DISTRIBUTION LIST
Are you signed up on our email list for all the latest WPUCC news? If not, please visit WestParkUCC.org to add your name to our roster.
SPECIAL MISSION OFFERINGS: PINK ENVELOPE
Each month, our church supports a special offering to benefit other organization’s missions to serve God and neighbor.
December 2022: The Christmas Fund is an annual UCC offering that provides financial assistance to UCC clergy and lay employees.
January 2023: CUE (Chicago, United and Eden Seminaries of the UCC) are dedicated to strengthening churches by educating leaders who will serve congregations and communities around the world with compassion and justice.
February 2023: Laura’s Home is a transitional shelter for women and their families as they get back on their feet. The goal of the programs of Laura’s Home is to help women feel safe, help them find work that will support them and their families, and help them find a new home in which they can thrive.
SAVE THE DATES
March 1— April 5, 2023 — Lenten Supper and Study
April 9, 2023 — Easter Sunday
May 26-28, 2023 — All Church Retreat @ Templed Hills

New format to newsletter

All church retreat
Save the dates June
Pentecost
Strawberry social
Pride parade
Ash Wednesday
Lenten program
Holy week
Easter
Open doors
Volunteer morning
Spotlight on staff
Spotlight on new members
Funeral planning info
Coronavirus planning
Bible study
m

Jason Thompson Jim Furry
Senior Pastor Associate Pastor
Sue Keserich Linda Ferro
Minister of Music Church Administrator
Jennifer White Sara Jovanovic
Director of Digital Food Pantry
Ministries Coordinator
Bob Arcuri
Director of Maintenance

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27
First Sunday of Advent: HOPE
Mitten Line Packing Party, Bartter Hall, 11:30AM
Community Meal, Bartter Hall, 11:30AM
WEDNESDAYS, NOV 30, DEC 7, 14
Advent Study at Christ United Methodist Church—meal @ 6:00PM, study @ 6:30PM
All the Good: A Wesleyan Way of Christmas—books available from Pastor—$10 each
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4
Second Sunday of Advent: PEACE
SATURDAYS, DECEMBER 10, 17
Food Pantry Distribution, 9AM-11AM
Christmas Shop, 9AM-11AM
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11
Third Sunday of Advent: JOY
Joint Choral Christmas Cantata @ Church of the Redeemer UCC, 10:30AM
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18
Fourth Sunday of Advent: LOVE
Joint Choral Christmas Cantata @ West Park UCC, 10AM
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21
Longest Night Service at Christ United Methodist Church, 7PM
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24
Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship, 7PM
Live Nativity, Christmas Offering
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25
Christmas morning worship in Bartter Hall, 10AM
Potluck Breakfast
Gift Exchange
No livestream
SUNDAY, JANUARY 1
Morning worship with Nine Carols and Lessons