Please note: Sometimes, depending on the search engine used, this e-newsletter is clipped. Please look for "[Message clipped] View entire message " to view the The Columns Newsletter in its entirety.
Emails have been redacted for security. Please contact the office to RSVP for any events.
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The Columns - November 2021 |
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News from your LCC Leadership |
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Dear Church Family,
2022 has been a wild ride, can I get an Amen? What's that? We're only three days in?
I wrote a long letter for the Columns this month, because I have a lot to say.
If you don't want to click on the link and read it, just know this: Life is hard and God is with us.
We expect to resume in-person worship this Sunday.
Please stay tuned for an update later in the week.
Love,
Pastor Joanna
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I have been blessed to join with you in ministry and give thanks for your warm welcome, kindness, and support. I hope your Christmas was filled with the light of God’s love and an abundance of peace and joy.
The end of 2021 has been more Covid challenging than we ever expected. We rely on our faith, our families and friends to support us as individually and collectively discern healthy steps throughout each day. There is no one clear path on this strange Covid journey. We prayerfully seek our divine guiding light as we safely gather, remember, and celebrate God’s promise in the birth of the Christ Child. Our church family’s blessing continues as together, we discuss and discern the safest ways to “Be Church.”
Looking toward 2022 and my return to making home visits. We will continue conversation to discern new pathways of nurture and care for each other as we prayerfully learn, grow in faith and love and grace as followers of the light of God’s love, Jesus the Christ.
Grace and Peace,
Catherine
A note: Since this letter was written, Rev. Catherine is recovering from a health episode. She successfully received a pacemaker on Sunday morning and is recovering from the surgery and aspiration pneumonia at Fairview Hospital. She is in good spirits and continues to listen to her body, her own medical expertise, and that of her doctors. She will continue to serve LCC with renewed witness to her own ministry title (Minister of Health and Wholeness), while taking the time she needs to recover spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
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Every Christmastide, we rejoice in some good ol’ arrangements of our favorite Christmas carols, most of which have been around for hundreds of years, and sometimes we even rejoice in new arrangements (though, I confess a bias against arrangements which try to make it sound as if they’ve put a new spin on a carol, in the process completely defaming it). I thought it might be interesting to share the backstory of a few of our beloved carols. In full disclosure, a couple of these are repeats from my Columns of five years ago, but I figure these are such good stories that they deserve retelling - and I’ve added a couple as well.
Angels We Have Head on High: This carol’s melody comes courtesy of a french noël from the Lorraine region. The original French text is a dialogue between the shepherds and women of Bethlehem, sharing the Christmas story. It gained popularity in France and Quebec and, in 1860, Irish author James Chadwick penned our well-loved words.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing: This ubiquitous carol has a rich pedigree in terms of both words and music. The text was written by Charles Wesley, the famed Methodist minister and hymn writer. And the melody was composed by Felix Mendelssohn, the gifted German conductor, organist, and composer. He originally wrote it in 1840 as part of a work for chorus and brass to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Gutenberg’s invention of movable type. The original text, translated from German, was "Gutenberg, you valiant man, you stand glorious on the square!” Interestingly enough, he regarded the tune as somehow inappropriate for a sacred text - perhaps it was too jaunty - but, after his death, a fellow arranger overruled him.
What Child Is This is a setting of “Greensleeves,” a 16th-century English folk song referenced twice in Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor. This is a fine example of how popular music fed into carols - the tune in 6/8 time conjures up a Renaissance ensemble and a lilting dance.
Silent Night was written and first sung in 1818 as a simple melody accompanied by guitar in the small Austrian town of Obendorf. The original manuscript has been lost but one written two years later in the hand of the lyricist, Joseph Mohr, has been discovered recently. Little did he and its composer, Franz Gruber, know that this tune would be sung by millions in the next centuries and be translated into 130 different languages. Talk about the power of a “simple” song to help proclaim Christ’s humble yet magnificent birth.
Joy to the World’’s text was inspired by Psalm 98, written by hymnwriter Isaac Watts as part of his Psalms of David, Imitated in the Language of the New Testament. We don’t think he had a musical setting in mind, but sure enough, in 1836, American composer Lowell Mason wrote the beloved tune, “Antioch,” which we now delight in. Fascinatingly enough, he attributed his writing to Handel, although to this day, we haven’t found any Handellan precedent for it.
Ben
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Dear Church family,
As I write this, I’m approaching my third Christmas as part of the LCC family, and each Advent season and Christmas has truly been unique. We have gone through a lot together and even though we still can’t quite predict what will happen from one day to the next, I know that we will make the most of each moment- just as we have been doing.
Please be sure to mark your calendars for our upcoming events. If needed, updates and adjustments will come through Remind texts, email, and the CYF Facebook group.
Remember that I am here for you and you are welcome to reach out any time if you need information or would just like to chat.
As we kick off 2022, we will hang tight to our belief that God is always with us. I look forward to gathering again and lighting our candle...
“We light this candle
And watch it glow.
God’s love is with us
Wherever we go.”
Many blessings, Rachel Burns
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Thoughts from the Treasurer
December 15th, eleven of our fellow congregants met via Zoom to discuss our church's finances. This multi-generational, well maybe bi-generational, group represented members who have been life-time members and those of more recent times; all smart, experienced, and most importantly, offering guidance, inputs, questions, clarifications and expressing a genuine interest in the financial health of our church. Briefly, we covered topics including our endowment, current income and expenses, and preliminary budget for 2022. We plan to meet again early in 2022 to prepare a new year’s budget. HOW EXCITING, and a hearty thanks to all of you who participated.
Steve Hotchkiss
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To respect varying privacy preferences, we will simply include names in this email and we will share more detailed information with permission within our Prayer Group and ongoing prayer spreadsheet. Help to keep the prayer list up to date by letting the office know of any changes.
Prayers for: Pastor Catherine Lawrence, Eric and Heather Tuck-Macalla on the passing of Eric's mother, Ethna Haag, Doug Pekarik, Bruce Matthews, Charlotte Brown, Mary Jane Cariens, Harry and Annemarie Brockman, Gene Stair, Linda Lodge, Dale and Tom Spooner, Vance Awa, Dylan McIntosh, Rachel Faulkner, and the citizens of Zimbabwe and Mozambique, healthcare workers, educators, and small businesses.
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Children, Youth, & Family: News & Events |
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Important Dates for Children, Youth, & Families
- Sunday, Jan. 9, 10am: Worship & Faith Formation (4 years-8th grade)
- 11:30am: HASO meeting for youth and parent/guardian
- 12pm: Musical rehearsal (3rd-5th grade)
- 1pm: Musical rehearsal (6th-12th grade)
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Saturday, Jan. 15, 4:30pm: Homeless Awareness Sleep Out
- Sunday, Jan. 16, 10am: Worship with HASO youth sharing and Faith Formation (4 years-8th grade)
- 12pm: Musical rehearsal (3rd-12th grade)
- Sunday, Jan. 23, 10am: Worship & Faith Formation (4 years-12th grade)
- 12pm: Musical rehearsal
- Sunday, Jan. 30, 10am: Worship & Faith Formation (4 years-8th grade)
- 12pm: Musical rehearsal
Coloring Pages for all ages!
The coloring pages we use for Faith Formation are suitable for all ages! Adults and children are invited to take coloring pages from the basket near the children’s worship bags.
Next Generation Band (grades 6-12) is taking a break as our youth kick off the musical season. However, if youth are interested in providing special music for worship, please contact our Children and Youth Music Director, Tim Hampton. We always love to hear our youth sing in church. Our children will begin learning new music during Faith Formation in January. Information about upcoming performances will be provided to parents. For more information about children’s and youth music, please contact Tim Hampton.
Homeless Awareness Sleep Out
Since 2006 (except for 2020 which we probably don’t need to explain), the youth of LCC have participated in the Homeless Awareness Sleep-Out. They construct outdoor “homes” made out of tarps and cardboard boxes and literally sleep out on the front steps of LCC overnight, all night. Every year in mid-January, in the snow, sleet, rain, and/or zero-degree temperatures, they collect money to donate back to those who are in need. Over $53,000.00 has been raised since the program first began.
Our Homeless Awareness Sleep-Out (HASO) will be January 15th beginning at 4:30pm and will continue through worship on the 16th. All 6th-12th graders are encouraged to participate. 6th-8th graders will need to have a parent chaperone for the event. All participants are expected to attend our HASO information meeting with a parent on January 9th from 11:30am-12:45pm. A pizza lunch will be provided. Questions prior to the event, contact Kristen Humphreys or Liz Maugans.
Books for Children, Youth, and Families
We are continuing to add books to our collection for you to borrow. Be sure to check out the book-shelves under the CYF bulletin boards!
Sunday Morning Nursery Care
Nursery care is available each Sunday for infants thru preschoolers in the LCC nursery, located on the 1st floor of the church. Please ask a greeter if you need help finding it. If you will need nursery care, please complete the annual Faith Formation Registration found here: https://forms.gle/m5AAwAnwMd1x7qjR6
Older youth and adults are warmly welcomed to volunteer in the nursery! Please email or text Rachel with when you are available to volunteer. Thank you!
Stay Up To Date
Stay up to date with all of our happenings for children, youth, and families! Please be sure to be signed up for the text alerts through Remind so you can receive updates, changes, and reminders.
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.
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Parents of children in 5th grade or under- Send a text to 81010 with this message: @gae42kk.
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Youth and parents of youth (grades 6-12)- Send a text to 81010 with this message: @ae6g96.
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Congratulations to our brand new cast of our 2022 youth musical, Shrek!
The cast is excited to begin rehearsing this month! For information and updates about our musical, keep an eye on future newsletters, the bulletin, and CYF bulletin board. Families of the cast can also find updates in the LCC Musical Facebook group.
Rehearsals: Sunday afternoons beginning Sunday, January 9:
- 1/9: 3rd-5th grade 12pm, 6th-12th grade 1pm
- 1/16: All 12pm (costume measurements + rehearsal)
- 1/23 & 1/30: 12pm (actors called TBA)
Performances: Friday, 4/1, Saturday, 4/2, and Sunday, 4/3.
Please contact Rachel Burns with any questions.
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Faith Formation Registration
Every first Sunday of the month is Worship for All Ages and there will be no Faith Formation classes. Nursery care is available every Sunday, please see the note below regarding how to sign up. The high school class meets the 4th Sunday of every month.
Please be sure to register for Faith Formation as soon as possible at FORM
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Faith Formation Classes
In Faith Formation classes, young people learn about the Bible, our Christian faith, and how to connect our faith to our lives. Faith Formation often includes music, crafts, activities, and discussions.
On Sundays when we have Faith Formation class, young people should attend worship. Part way through the service, there will be an invitation for them to leave worship to attend their classes. On their way to their classes, they will also have an opportunity to put an offering in the Miracle Jar.
Every 1st Sunday of the month is Worship for All Ages.
There will be no Faith Formation classes.
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LCC's Community Meal
We will be offering our monthly
Community Meal
Thursday, January 6
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Our take away Community Meal for December was pork with gravy, mixed vegetables, biscuits, apples, and beautifully decorated Christmas cookies which were done by the families of the church. We had approximately 24 people attend and all our meal were taken. Our cost was $75.94 and are very hard working crew were Jennifer and Frank Schwelik, Susan Walker and Bob Paraska.
The families that decorated cookies were: Liz, Dave, Avery and Penny Spahr, Rev. Joanna, Evelyn, Amos and Suzie D’Agostino, Andy, Teegan, and Kendall Barlow, Nicky and Lily Wills, Amy, Evey and Anya Lardi, Vicki Smigelski, Rachel Burns and Rev. Catherine Lawrence. Rachel commented that it was a whole lot of fun!
Community Meal could not exist without the wonderful commitment by LCC members-if you are interested in volunteering to help us with our assembly, distribution or dessert making please feel free to contact us. Michael and Peggy Mizen
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Undie Sundays
Traditionally during the month of January at LCC, we collect new socks and underwear to donate to the homeless families staying with Family Promise. Something as simple as clean socks and underwear provides a small bit of dignity for families in crisis. This year we will continue the tradition with a few enhancements due to COVID-19.
We will be collecting CHILDREN’s socks and underwear in all sizes and WOMEN’s socks and underwear in sizes large, extra-large and 2XL. You can drop your donations off in the church office during office hours. Or you can send a check to the church with Undie Sundays in the memo or donate on the church website and we’ll do the buying for you. Or you could purchase socks and underwear online (how about using Amazon Smile and helping LCC at the same time?) and have them delivered directly to the church. We appreciate your help!
Please contact Vicki Smigelski or the church office with any questions.
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LCC Volunteer Opportunities |
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Coffee Hour is on hold until we see a decline in Covid cases.
However, when it resumes, we are looking for helpers to prepare, serve and clean up after coffee hour on Sunday mornings. You need to arrive around 9:30am am make coffee and set up in the Parlor. After worship, clean up includes loading the dishwasher and tidying up the Parlor. This is a once-a-month commitment. Please contact Vicki Smigleski through the church office or using her contact information in the Church Directory, if you are interested.
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Please use the link below to sign up to read during the service and the liturgy will be emailed to you before your Sunday.
A large print version will be left for you in the Liturgist's Mailbox in the office.
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Sound/Video Volunteers Needed for Sunday Mornings |
We are looking for volunteers for Sunday mornings to work the LCC sound board and the video camera.
No prior knowledge needed. We will teach you everything you need to know.
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JOIN YOUR LCC FAMILY FOR THESE
JANUARY EVENTS
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- Monday, January 3,
- 7:30pm: Prayer Shawl, Zoom
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Tuesday, January 4, 7pm: Listening Group, Zoom
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Wednesday, January 5, 7:30pm: Blazing River Freedom Band, rehearsal, Social Hall
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Thursday, January 6, LCC Community Meal (4:30pm Volunteers, 5:30pm Meal)
- 7:00pm: Handbell rehearsal
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Sunday, January 9, 10:00am: Worship with Faith Formation (please use a name tag today), Birthday Sunday
- 11:00am: Building Tour, Narthex
- 11:30am: HASO Meeting, Youth Room
- 12:00pm: Shrek Rehearsal, Social Hall
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Monday, January 10, 7:00pm: AA
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Wednesday, January 12, 12:30pm, Adventures in Reading, Parlor
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7:30pm: Blazing River Freedom Band, rehearsal, Social Hall
- Thursday, January 13,
- 7:00pm: Handbell rehearsal
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Saturday, January 15, 5:00pm: Homeless Awareness Sleep Out
- Sunday, January 16, 10:00am: Worship with Baptism, Faith Formation, Coffee Hour
- 12:00pm: Shrek Rehearsal, Social Hall
- Monday, January 17, OFFICE CLOSED
- 7:00pm: Executive Team Meeting
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Wednesday, January 19, 7:30pm: Blazing River Freedom Band, rehearsal, Social Hall
- Thursday, January 20,
- 7:00pm: Handbell rehearsal
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Friday, January 21, Haynes Lunch Bunch, classrooms
- Sunday, January 23, 10:00am: Worship with Faith Formation
- 12:00pm: Shrek Rehearsal, Social Hall
- 4:30pm: Windsong Rehearsal, Sanctuary
- 6:30pm, New Member Dessert
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Wednesday, January 26, 7:30pm: Blazing River Freedom Band, rehearsal, Social Hall
- Thursday, January 27,
- 7:00pm: Handbell rehearsal
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Saturday, January 29, 3-5, Rental, Parlor
- Sunday, January 30, 10:00am: New Member Sunday, Worship with Faith Formation, Coffee Hour
- 12:00pm: Shrek Rehearsal
- 4:00pm: Windsong Concert, Social Hall
OFFICE HOURS: The office will be open Monday-Friday, 9:00am-3:00pm
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Monday, January 3rd, 7:30pm |
Will meet Monday, January 3rd from 7:30pm to 9pm via Zoom and enjoy some fellowship too. We have extra yarn if needed and would love to have you join us!
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For many years, women of all ages in our church community have gathered on the second Saturday of the month. Our group actually grew during COVID when we weren't gathering in-person and we were looking for ways to connect. These connections have remained strong as we've started to gather once again in our church building.
Please consider joining us at 9am on Saturday, January 8 for an hour of conversation, reflection and prayer. You can contact the church office with any questions.
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Adventures in Reading held their December 8th book discussion in the church parlor with twelve members present including a zoom member. Susan Walker led the discussion of My Remarkable Journey: A Memoir (2021) by Katherine Johnson. The book and movie Hidden Figures turned Johnson into an international star when she was in her late 90’s. She rose from anonymity and discrimination to become a research mathematician whose precise calculations helped many vital projects, including John Glenn’s 1962 orbit of Earth. She broke many barriers throughout her life, receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom and other honors before she died at age 101 last year.
Our schedule for the next month follows:
January 12 (Wednesday) 12:30pm
Location: Church Parlor - bring your lunch at 12:00 to socialize
Book: Still Life (2005) by Louise Penny Marilyn Minteer will be the discussion leader.
Preview:
We start the new year with a mystery - an award winning first novel by Canadian author Louise Penny. Still Life introduces an engaging series hero, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, who is called with his investigators to the suspicious death of Jane Neal in a rural village south of Montreal.
Looking ahead to February:
February 9 (Wednesday) 12:30pm
Book: White Like Her: My Family’s Story of Race and Racial Passing (2017) by Gail Lukasik Margaret Barr will be the discussion leader.
All book club meetings will be held at LCC for the 2021-2022 years.
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Meet for 'Eats and Deets': an informational evening for all |
Meet for 'Eats and Deets': an informational evening for all
Have you been attending worship at LCC either in person or virtually for a while now as a visitor and are thinking about next steps?
- Who is LCC?
- Who is the UCC?
- What does membership mean?
Or maybe you’re already a member and you have questions about how to get more involved through volunteer opportunities or with core groups or interest groups. If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, you’re invited to join us on Sunday, January 23 at 6:30 pm in the church parlor for dessert and an informal session to learn more about our church.
Please RSVP to the church office at 216-221-9555 or reach out to Pastor Joanna or
Vicki Smigelski. All are welcome!
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Merry Christmas from the Mens' Group. Look for information for future get togethers in next month's The Columns. Contact Tom Leatherman to be included on the Men's Group emails. |
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Friend's Circle enjoyed a Holiday Gathering in the Parlor on December 14th! Lots of great food, conversation, and Alison Connors, from Kemper House, shared interesting info about Brain Health. We hope to have her back at LCC for a demo Brain/Body Boot Camp demo some time in February or March. Check the Columns and your emails for upcoming details!
Also, we collected 10 dozen of diapers which have been donated to Providence House.
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Joanellen Hurley
Ellen Babcock
Olivia Bando
Kristen Humphreys
Bruce Matthews
Joan Metzner
Kendall Barlow
Lori Waddell
Avery Spahr
Debi Kasper
Nancy Fraunfelder
Peter Kwiatkowski
Ella Touhey
James Werts
Jonathan Bala
Lennox Shearn
Jimmy Rowland
Nathan Greenland
Matthew Winters
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Michael Greenland
Lisa Blackburn
Tim Einhouse
Jane Brady
John Hancock
Barbara Szucs
Muriel Campbell
Paula Atfield
Doug MacDougall
Mona Atfield
Stephen Hotchkiss
Marguerite Harkness
Ellen Kwiatkowski
Andy Barlow
Aaron Hill
Veronica Lee
Hunter Smith
Jennifer Warden Robey
Eliza Bala
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Bill & Debbie Langenhop
Ann & Joe Schleckman
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Mark your calendars for Lakewood Congregational Church's Annual Meeting:
Sunday, February 6
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Living Water Association News/Events |
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Chair: Liz Spahr
Vice Chair: Bill Fraunfelder
Moderator: Jan Young
Buildings and Grounds: Michael Fleenor
Diaconate: Lauren Smigelski
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Nurture and Growth Ministries: David Diemert
Outreach Ministries: Open
Treasurer: Steve Hotchkiss
Welcoming Ministries: Vicki Smigelski
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Covid Protocols for Indoor Worship: HERE
Each Week, our livestream service can be accessed on Facebook or Youtube, or at
To access the list of sources where we obtain COVID-19 data that informs our decision-making process, please see the Google doc. HERE
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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.
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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:
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Donate through our website: Give
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Fill out your 2022 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
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Office Hours are: Monday - Friday from 9:00am-3:00pm.
There is a mailbox by the West Clifton door for your after-hours drop off.
The office will be closed from December 27 - January 2
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