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The Columns - May 2021
Letters to Our Church Family
Greetings from the Executive Team! 
 
It’s hard to believe that it is already May and summer is nearly upon us! I wanted to write to you all today to talk just a little about the decisions regarding reopening and where things stand. Discussions about how to move forward have been a part of our monthly meetings each month for the past year (and weekly for our staff) and they have not been easy. 

I would like to express my gratitude for how the staff and Executive Team have navigated these conversations and how we continue to express our many opinions, feelings and experiences with courage and grace. We have, since the start of this pandemic, approached our decisions with science at the forefront. 

We have followed the advice of our COVID Advisory Team and the alert status at the state and local level and used this to determine the next right thing. Right now, we know that many of our members are fully vaccinated and eager to return to “normalcy” (or at least something adjacent to what we remember normalcy feeling like). The simple truth is that we are just not there yet. While I would love to be able to give you a concrete date in the near future where we will fling open the Sanctuary doors and sit together amongst the pews…I don’t have a date yet. 

What I can tell you is that we are exploring every possible creative outlet to continue building connections, worship in community and do the work that God calls us to do. I can also tell you that we are committed to revisiting this conversation day by day by day by day until we feel the call from God and the signs from science (i.e. lower community spread) to return to indoor, in-person worship.
 
In the meantime, what I ask is this. Please continue to 'Be The Church' in the ways that each of you are called as God’s children. Please stay in touch and engage with us through the outdoor service options, Virtch, social media, and small group events. Please feel free to reach out to me or any member of the Executive Team to tell me how you are feeling and how I can help and/or to offer suggestions of how we can better serve the church. I would love to hear from you. And finally, I ask that you give us grace as we seek to discern the next right thing, one day at a time. 
 
Liz Spahr, Executive Team Chair
Advisory Team
To access the list of sources where we obtain COVID-19 data that informs our decision-making process, please see the Google doc. HERE
Offering and Contribution Collection
At this time of virtual services we do not have a set-aside time of offering, so we want to remind you now that that we do hope that you will continue to fulfill your pledges during this time. Financial gifts are always welcome, our church feels the call to respond to the needs around us as they arise. Financial stability allows us to do so more effectively. So, let us give generously of our time, talent, treasure to further the work of God in our community.

You can do so in the following ways:
  • Donate through our website: Give
  • Fill out your 2021 Pledge Card: Online Pledge Card or Printable Pledge Card
  • Writing and mailing a check to Lakewood Congregational Church, 1375 W. Clifton Blvd., Lakewood, OH 44107
  • Texting STEWARD to 44-321
  • Sending a gift through your bank's online bill pay
  • Call the church office at (216) 221-9555 to discuss other options
OUTREACH/INREACH NEWS
Children, Youth, & Family: Upcoming Events 

EVERY SUNDAY Be sure to watch Family Faith Formation and "Virtch"

Meeting IDs and Passcodes will be posted in our CYF Facebook group (in the event) and texted through Remind. (To join the Facebook group and/or Remind, please see the “Stay Up To Date” section below.

  • Saturday, May 1: Online registration opens for VBS & Youth Mission Trip; Greeting Card sales begin
  • Sunday, May 2, 4:00pm: Confirmation Class for our French Fry Class, Ketchup Class, & Sponsors
  • Sunday, May 16: 2:00pm Play at the Park! Kids & Parents, meet at Lakewood Park to play & chat
  • Sunday, May 16: 4:00pm: Confirmation Class for our French Fry Class, Ketchup Class, & Sponsors
  • Saturday, May 22, 4:00pm: Confirmation Rehearsal
  • Sunday, May 23, 2:00pm: Confirmation Service
 
Looking Ahead: Graduation Sunday will be June 6th. VBS will be June 7-9, 6:30-8pm. Youth Mini Mission Trip will be June 25-27. Seussical the Musical performances will be July 8, 9, 11.
 
Stay Up To Date: Stay up to date with all of our happenings for children, youth, and families! 
Families with children and youth who are active in our church are welcome to join our Facebook group: Lakewood Congregational Church Children & Youth. All ages are invited to follow our Instagram account! @lcc_cyf

Text Alerts: Please sign up for text alerts about our children and youth ministry through Remind.
  • Parents of children in 5th grade or under- Send a text to 81010 with this message: @gae42kk.
  • Youth and parents of youth (grades 6-12)- Send a text to 81010 with this message: @ae6g96. 
Do you remember our Miracle Jar at church? When we had worship in the Sanctuary, our young people would put coins and dollars in the Miracle Jar on their way to Faith Formation. The money put in the Miracle Jar goes to support Global Ministries.
At home, please find a jar or other kind of container to be your very own Miracle Jar. You can decorate it, label it, or leave it as is. Put it somewhere in your home where you will see it often and put your extra change and dollars in it as often as you can. You can encourage your whole family to participate!

When your Miracle Jar is full, you can drop it off at my house or the church or I (Rachel) can come pick it up. Thank you for helping continue our support of Global Ministries.
The teachers, students and families of Haynes are so happy to have returned to in person learning with the warmer weather. We have story time, literacy based art projects, and games and more outside. We even had fun with worms during one of our sessions.

Most importantly, the kids have gotten to see their friends and teachers each week, and that makes all of us happy! We look forward to more outdoor learning and fun throughout the rest of the school year which ends on May 21st. 

Registration is still open for the 2020-2021 school year. We have some spots available in our 2 day 3 year old class and some spots available for 4 year olds.
If you or someone you know is interested please email [email protected] or call 216 260-5938. 

LCC's Community Meal
We will be offering our monthly
Community Meal
Thursday, May 6
Our April meal was served on Thursday, April 1— a very cold and windy evening. We offered a tuna fish, mac & cheese, and veggie casserole, fresh apples, raisins, and carrot cupcakes (decorated for Easter!) made by Vicki Smigelski and Joanne Ritschel; also included was a cute Easter/spring napkin.
 
Approximately, 27 people came and about 38 meals were taken. Leftovers were put in the Martha’s Table freezer and given out to some of the volunteers. Our cost was $63.95. Our ‘bunny’ helpers were Susan Walker, Jennifer and Frank Schwelik and Jan Young.

Once again, the entire committee is thankful for the congregation’s continued commitment to this important community outreach.

Peggi & Michael Mizen
Since the church has been closed for services, we have been unable to collect regular donations for Hunger Sundays. If you were previously donating to Hunger Sundays and have the means to continue to give, we encourage you to make those donation. Two local organizations that could be donated to are the Cleveland Food Bank and the Lakewood Community Service Center.
DRIVE FOR COMMON THREADS
 
It’s time for spring cleaning and time to clean out those closets, attics and basements! So if you’re wondering where to donate items you no longer need, look no further! We’re once again collecting for our friends at Common Threads.
 
On Saturday, May 8 from 9 am – noon, we will be collecting used clothing, books, household goods, shoes, and furniture to be donated to Common Threads. We’ll be in the back parking lot of the church (enter off Detroit and pull up to the elevator door entrance). Volunteers will unload your car and get the items to Common Threads.
 
Common Threads is a thrift shop run by Building Hope in the City, an organization that LCC has been involved with over the last couple of years by participating in and supporting Rally CLE and also through their programs with The Hope Center for Refugees and Immigrants.
Their mission is to: Advance the good of the city. Magnify the mission of Jesus. Unleash the capability of underestimated people.
 
The Common Threads store is located near on Lorain near W. 220th in Fairview Park and they have opened a second store in Brook Park. If you’re unable to drop off on May 8th at LCC, they have lots of donation hours at the store. Please contact the church office with any questions. Thanks!
LCC Meetings/News/EVENTS

JOIN YOUR LCC FAMILY FOR THESE
MAY EVENTS
  • Saturday, May 1: Online registration opens for VBS & Youth Mission Trip; Greeting Card sales begin
  • Sunday, May 2: Outdoor Worship Service: Our Sign-Up Genius for Outdoor Worship is almost full. If you haven't signed up and wish to attend, please contact Pastor Joanna or email the church office.
  • Sunday, May 2, 4:00pm: Confirmation Class for our French Fry Class, Ketchup Class, & Sponsors
  • Sunday, May 2, 3:00pm: The Road We Make by Walking Group (Zoom)
  • Monday, May 3, 7:30pm: Prayer Shawl Ministry (Zoom)
  • Tuesday, May 4, 6:30pm: Marketing Committee Meeting (virtual)
  • Thursday, May 6, 4:30pm: Community Meal Volunteers
  • Saturday, May 8, 9:00am-12:00pm: Common Threads Clothing & More Drive: Drop off at LCC
  • Sunday, May 9, 11:00am: Coffee Hour (Zoom)
  • Wednesday, May 12, 12:30pm: Adventures in Reading (Zoom)
  • Saturday May 15, 8:00am-1:00pm: Trinity Meal/Produce Distribution (10:00am-12:00pm)
  • Saturday May 15,  9:00am: Second Saturday (Centennial Garden, bring a chair)
  • Sunday, May 16, 11:00am: Prayer Group (Zoom)
  • Sunday, May 16, 3:00pm: The Road We Make by Walking Group (Zoom)
  • Sunday, May 16, 4:00pm: Confirmation Class for our French Fry Class, Ketchup Class, & Sponsors
  • Sunday, May 16, 2:00pm: Play at the Park! Kids & Parents, meet at Lakewood Park to play & chat
  • Monday, May 17, 7:00pm: Executive Team Meeting (Zoom)
  • Saturday, May 22, 4pm: Confirmation Rehearsal
  • Sunday, May 23, 11:00am: Coffee Hour (Zoom)
  • Sunday, May 23, 3:00pm: The Road We Make by Walking Group (Zoom)
  • Sunday, May 23, 2pm: Confirmation Service
  • Sunday, May 30, 3:00pm: The Road We Make by Walking Group (Zoom)

E-mail the church office to sign up for these zoom events [email protected]
This is a new practice for LCC, to help us stay updated on our congregation. To respect varying privacy preferences, we will simply include names here and we will share more detailed information with permission in our Zoom Prayer Group and ongoing prayer spreadsheet.

Don't forget to let the church office know if you want yourself or someone else prayed for by the LCC Prayer Chain.
Good Health and Peace to everyone in our church family at this stressful time.

Prayers for: Mike and Peggi Mizen on the passing of Mike's brother-in-law and the birth of their grandson Fletcher Michael, in addition to Peggi's knee surgery; Doug MacDougall, Bruce Matthews, Doug Pekarik, Charlotte Brown, Mary Jane Cariens, Harry and Annemarie Brockman, Virginia Hancock, Gene Stair, George and Sally Alkire, Linda Lodge, Dale and Tom Spooner, Mike Galloway, Debi Kasper's brother Tom, Noah and Hannah Hamrick (Baby Due in August), Vance Awa, Dylan McIntosh, Rachel Faulkner. The citizens of Zimbabwe and Mozambique, healthcare workers, educators, and small businesses. 
LITURGIST SIGN UP
We love to see you in our online worship services. If you are interested in recording a Liturgy for one of our upcoming services, please use the link below.
Adventures in Reading

Adventures in Reading held their April 14th book discussion with ten members. Born a Crime (2016) by comic Trevor Noah was our book for this month. Growing up in South Africa during the apartheid era, Noah was the mixed-race son of a white father and a black mother. It was a crime for him to be born a mixed-race baby, hence the title of the book. There was much to ponder and talk about in our Zoom meeting: racism, poverty, mother/son bond, religion, abuse, survival, apartheid, humor, and more. Paula Deal led the discussion.
 
Our schedule for the next two months follows:
May 12 (Wednesday) 12:30 pm
Book: The Overstory (2018) by Richard Powers.
Marilyn Minteer will lead the discussion. (This will be our last zoom book discussion before our summer break.)

June 9 (Wednesday) 12:30 pm
Clifton Beach picnic - bring your own lunch and enjoy our first in-person gathering since March 2020.
 
We are gathering book titles and enlisting discussion leaders for our next season of reading starting in September 2021. Please consider a book/discussion you would like to lead and add your name to our growing list.

We will be using the same link or phone number/meeting ID for all our meetings. Susan Walker will send out a reminder and zoom link either the day before or the day of our meeting.
Blessings, Kathy MacDougall
This month we will gather for Second Saturday on Saturday, May 15 (which is the third Saturday so we don’t conflict with the Common Threads collection on May 8). Women in our church family are invited to join us at 9:00 am in the Centennial Garden at church. We spend an hour in discussion, reflection and prayer. This group is women of all ages and is a great opportunity to get to know each other better. We will be following COVID protocols for social distancing and wearing masks on church grounds. Bring a chair!
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY

Please join us for a Zoom gathering on Monday, May 3rd at 7:30pm. We will enjoy each other's company and show progress on our shawls too. Please RSVP to Debi Kasper. All are welcome!
Carol Richardson
Danielle Szabo
Joanna D'Agostino
Chiquita Matthews
Alex Luster
Mike Galloway
Sean McGuan
Charles Wright
Barbara Snevel
Evelyn Lardi
Gunnar Stockman
Tom Einhouse
Gregory Sheldon
Seth Hampton
Matthew Shearn
Jacob Tommer
Peyton Diemert
Rich Kenney
Linda Lodge
Marilyn Minteer
Allison Kressler
Amy Daso
Charlie Payne
Earl Lawrence
Daniel Herdman
Gabby Toms
Valerie Mechenbier
Ryan Mitchell
Amelia Richardson
Isaac Humphreys
David Stair
Nora Murray
Audrey Gray
Frankie Basile
Maggie Kemp
Mary Howell
David Amen
Bruce Waddell
Mike Brady
Bill Dorsch
Lindy Warren
Janet & Renato Carrettin
George Graham & Michael Fleenor
John & Virginia Hancock
Daniel & Devon Herdman
Ellen & Peter Kwiatkowski
Judy & Tom Leatherman
Sharon & Steve Schuldt
Frank & Jennifer Schwelik
Dan & Vicki Smigelski
Robin & Scott Suttell
LCC Executive Team
Chair: Liz Spahr
Vice Chair: Bill Fraunfelder
Moderator: Jan Young
Buildings and Grounds: Michael Fleenor
Diaconate: Lauren Smigelski
Nurture and Growth Ministries: David Diemert
Outreach Ministries: Laura Blesse-Hampton
Treasurer: Steve Hotchkiss
Welcoming Ministries: Vicki Smigelski
INSTANT CHURCH DIRECTORY
LCC’s Membership Directory is online for you to use on the go! Or at home!
Only members whose email is in the directory can have access to the information. It is available on your computer or as an app on your phone.
Please make sure to update the office if you have any changes to your information. Instant Church Directory
LCC Office Schedule
Office Hours are: Monday - Thursday from 9am-12pm. There is a mailbox by the West Clifton door for you to drop off mail after hours. Email/phone messages will also be checked remotely.