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The Columns - November 2021
News from your LCC Leadership
Dear Church Family, 

In February 2016, when I was serving a church in Wisconsin, I wrote about the "leap year." Lent began fairly early that year, which meant February 29th fell within the Lenten season. I wrote a whole newsletter article about how Lent had an extra day that year: 41 days (plus 6 Sundays); a Bonus Day God gave us this Lent. I inquired of the congregation: "how will we use our Bonus Day this Lenten season to give glory to God?"

Would you believe not one person corrected me?! Not. One. Person.

They did not say, "Pastor Joanna, a leap day does not create an 8-day week." No one gently said, "Ah yes, Blursday the 29th. Can't wait." Not: "Nice reflection, but Lent is still 40 days (plus 6 Sundays)?"

When I realized my mistake, I thought either: A. Nobody read it, or B. They didn't want to hurt my feelings.

... Now I like to think we all just had wishful thinking. A Bonus Day? That sounds pretty nice. "I'll take it."

There are weeks in the winter when I want to hibernate until the flowers bloom, and there are weeks when I really need a Blursday so I have extra time to do the things I need and want to do. I could write more about Kronos and Kairos time, or about Ecclesiastes, or about how "today's troubles are enough for today" (Matthew 6:34), or the many other time-references in scripture. But I'm going to make a leap here instead to bring up something administrative--

The Executive Team and I asked for a Blursday this year when we postponed the Annual Meeting by one week. We needed a Bonus Week, in a sense, to get our ducks in a row. I really appreciate your patience and grace.

For those of you who have served in church leadership or been active in the church for a long time, you likely know all about the Annual Meeting, and how much effort it takes to assemble an annual report. It's a lot of loose ends, a lot of nagging, a lot of double and triple checking. If you haven't been a part of this process, here's a bit of a summary:

Each year, our church (and many/most churches) compile an annual report. It’s a document that gathers together reports from the various church leaders, staff, and the minutes from our congregational meetings, as well as the budget and financial statements for the year behind us and the year ahead. It's a packet that tells us about the life of the church-- what happened and perhaps what didn’t happen; who joined the church, who was baptized or married or died. It tells us about the church's financial health and how God has been at work among us.

Some church folks anticipate this every year, and read the report cover to cover. Some never read it, and some didn’t know it existed. I try to remember when developing the Annual Report that it is not just a document for today; it's a document that will become history. I've read many of LCC's past annual reports, seeking insight about our church's roots. Your next pastor (60 years from now when you kick me out) will read the 2021 annual report and learn about how we faithfully navigated our second pandemic year, the same way I dug through our archives to read about 1918 and 1919 to find out what happened the last time the church lived through a pandemic. It's not to look back and reinvent what used to happen, but to look back and trace our roots, to see the twists and turns in our faithfulness throughout the years, and to wonder how God will continue to generate new growth through us in the years ahead.

The Annual Report takes a lot of time and energy to complete, and it's helpful to remind us of the year we just had. But ultimately it is a storytelling document of the church that will live on for future generations.

So, now that we got ourselves a Bonus Week-- a Blursday Week-- the Annual Report will come out on February 5th or 6th, and the Annual Meeting will be on Sunday, February 13th (that doesn't mean there are 53 weeks this year; it just means the annual meeting is a week later than usual). You'll receive the report by email, but you can also request a hard copy to be sent in the mail or you can pick one up at church. On Sunday, February 13th we will gather on Zoom to discuss, celebrate, ask questions, and approve the annual report. We really hope you'll read the report and attend the meeting if you are able. It's quite a blessing to see God's work in our midst.

With fondness and care, Pastor Joanna
Settling Into Ministry
     How quickly time flies. February 1st will mark our third month in ministry together. Beginning our journey, the first step was to identify an office space. The team decided on a lower-level room that faces the parking lot, formerly used for craft storage.
    After a color collaboration, John painted my new office, and we began our furniture search. I stand in awe, of what began as a random process and somehow gracefully evolved into a warm, inviting, spiritual space. My desk, chairs, rug, lamp, and end table were “found” throughout our building. A lateral filing cabinet and book case were donated from the UCC National Office as they prepare to move to a new location.
    The Mizens donated a hearty live tree and my stoles adorn a lovely clothes tree in opposite corners. Thanks to John, Karen and Rachel, my amazing quilt is artfully hung in the center. A memorial gift in remembrance of a dear friend, it was designed by her daughter. Its placement has magically created a grace-filled invitation to ponder a vision of the wonder, beauty, and amazing potential that exists within God’s creation.
  Reminded of Pastor Joanna’s Star Word of Rootedness for the year 2022, this space of ministry affirms the power of rooting oneself in our Still Speaking God’s amazing grace.  I am awed by the color, warmth, and beauty of God’s creation that invites people into this wondrous space.
  This has certainly been a memorable ninety days. Thank you for your presence, prayers, caring acts of kindness and continued warm, gracious welcome as I adjust to our ministry together and my new pacemaker. I have been richly blessed and look forward to our journey growing toward improved health and wholeness.
Grace and Peace, Catherine
Since the top of the new year, our lovely Chancel Choir has been on hiatus, to keep everyone safe and comfortable in what is hopefully the worst COVID surge we’ll have to navigate. Fortunately, we have four superb soloists and section leaders who have been filling the breach with their wonderful voices and musicianship. Hearing their voices filling the Sanctuary in person or at home, you may have noticed them singing several anthems in Latin. I thought this could make for an interesting little detour into the history of why Latin is probably the most universally sung language in churches around North America and Europe (other than maybe English.)

As with many things, we can blame the monks. In 10th and 11th century Italy and elsewhere in Europe, efforts began to start codifying the chants that monks had been singing for centuries, snippets of melody which went with the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible. A pioneer in these effort was the Italian Guido d’Arezzo. He was responsible for both the beginnings of the horizontal line and shape “staff” notation which eventually evolved into standard 5-line staff Western music notation. He also came up with solfege syllables (think “do, a deer; re, a drop of golden sun”), which were the first syllables of a Latin hymn to John the Baptist. Actually, it was originally “ut re mi,” but that didn’t catch on, so we changed it to “do re mi.” Things took off from there…while everyone singing chants together was nice and all, we humans like to complicate things, so a few hundred years later, we started having motets, which are what you’ve been hearing lately.

Motets can most easily be explained as intricate tapestries of vocal writing where each part (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) is equally important and there is complex, exquisite crafting. Sometimes, things are homophonic (everyone is singing the same text on related notes at the same times in the same rhythms) and other times, they are more polyphonic (the parts are staggered). Over the centuries, the style of writing motets evolved until, by the late 16th century, the time that much of what we’ve been singing was written, the form had jelled into the beautiful music you’ve been hearing.

Interestingly enough, not all sacred music from Medieval and Renaissance times started in the cloisters of the monastery. Often, a popular tune - a folk song or even, heaven forfend, a drinking song - would make strike a composer’s fancy, who would then use it as a jumping off point for a motet or movement of a mass. This blending of the sacred and profane might seem suspect, but I think we can agree that God sometimes works in mysterious ways. And, more recently, the 1778 drinking song hit “To Anachreon in Heaven” found new life as “The Star-Spangled Banner,” so repurposing melodies has a fine pedigree.

If you’re curious to learn a little more about motets and the difference between homophony and polyphony, this website has a nice little crash course on this music: https://owlcation.com/humanities/Music-of-the-Renaissance-Era-Motets-vs-Madrigals

We hope you continue to enjoy the music this year - we’ll have the choir back asap and meanwhile we’ll be hearing some neat offerings from the handbells on February 13. Meanwhile, if anyone has suggestions for hymns or other music in service, please don’t hesitate to send them my way.
Thanks for reading, Ben
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: the family of Earl Gottlieb on his passing, Pastor Catherine Lawrence, 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.
Children, Youth, & Family: News & Events 
Important Dates for Children, Youth, & Families
  • Sunday, February 6, 10am: Worship for All Ages
  • Sunday, February 13, 10am: Worship & Faith Formation (4 years-8th grade)
  • 11:15am: HASO meeting for youth and parent/guardian
  • 12pm: Musical rehearsal 
  • 2pm: Annual Meeting (zoom)
  • Sat-Sun, February 19-20: Homeless Awareness Sleep Out
  • Sunday, February 19, 10am: Worship & Faith Formation (4 years-8th grade)
  • 12pm: Musical rehearsal
  • Sunday, February 20, 10am: Worship with HASO youth sharing and Faith Formation (4 years-8th grade)
  • 12pm: Musical rehearsal 
  • Sunday, February 27, 10am: Worship & Faith Formation (4 years-12th grade)
  • 11:15am: Youth Planning Meeting
  • 12pm: Musical rehearsal 

Homeless Awareness Sleep Out
The Homeless Awareness Sleep Out is back! The 6th-12th grade youth of LCC are invited to participate in HASO February 19-20. 6th-8th graders will need to have a parent/guardian chaperone for the event.
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. 
Online registration will be available early this month.
Questions prior to the event, contact Kristen Humphreys.

Youth Planning Meeting
6th-12th graders and parents/guardians are welcome to attend our upcoming Youth Planning Meeting on February 27th, 11:15am-noon in the Youth Room. At the meeting we will discuss ideas for upcoming events for the Spring and Summer. Please bring your calendar (and a bagged lunch if you’d like).
Questions? Please contact Rachel Burns.

Children’s and Youth Music
Next Generation Band (grades 6-12) is taking a break as our youth continue 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 continue learning new music during Faith Formation in February. Information about upcoming performances will be provided to families.
For more information about children’s and youth music, please contact Tim Hampton.
 
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!

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.

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. 
  • 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. 
Rehearsals for Shrek, the Musical began last month, and the cast is off to a great start! We will begin putting our stage crew together soon. Any 6th-12th graders interested in helping with set, makeup, costumes, crew, etc, should contact Rachel to get involved. 
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 by signing up for Remind text alerts (text @2022lcc to 81010).
Performances: Friday, 4/1, Saturday, 4/2, and Sunday, 4/3. 
Please contact Rachel Burns with any questions.
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
OUTREACH/INREACH NEWS

LCC's Community Meal
We will be offering our monthly
Community Meal
Thursday, February 3
Our January community meal guests were very fortunate to enjoy a roast turkey dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean, fresh apples and dessert on a cold winter's night. The turkey was originally planned for our church family dinner following the pageant but when that was canceled Community Meal group was the lucky recipient! Our helpers were Nancy Fraunfelder, Bob Paraska, Jennifer Schwelik and Paula Deal and our dessert (Rice Crispy treats and chocolate chip cookies) were made by a new member of our committee, Beth Hendricks. Our cost was $97.50 - we had 19 guests attend.
I know that many of us were saddened by the cancellation of the pageant and family dinner however we feel that we were very fortunate to share the turkey with our community at large. We have enough turkeys to share them with our community three more times!
Michael and Peggy Mizen
Food delivery services have changed since the onset of Covid. If you have the means to donate, two local organizations that could be donated to are the Cleveland Food Bank and the Lakewood Community Service Center.
LCC Volunteer Opportunities
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.
Liturgy Reading
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.

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.

LCC Meetings/News/EVENTS

JOIN YOUR LCC FAMILY FOR THESE
FEBRUARY EVENTS

  • Wednesday, February 2, 7:30pm: Blazing River Freedom Band, rehearsal, Social Hall
  • Thursday, February 3, LCC Community Meal (4:30pm Volunteers, 5:30pm Meal)
  • 7:00pm: Handbells
  • Sunday, February 6, Worship for All Ages, Coffee Hour
  • 12:00pm: Youth Musical Rehearsal
  • Monday, February 7, 7:00pm: AA
  • Wednesday, February 9, 12:30pm, Adventures in Reading, Parlor
  • 7:30pm: Blazing River Freedom Band, rehearsal, Social Hall
  • Thursday, February 10, 
  • 7:00pm: Handbell rehearsal
  • Sunday, February 13, 10:00am: Worship with Faith Formation (please use a name tag today)
  • 11:00am: Building Tour, Narthex
  • 12:00pm: Shrek Rehearsal, Social Hall
  • 2:00pm: Annual Meeting (Zoom)
  • Monday, February 14, 7:00pm: AA
  • Wednesday, February 16
  • 7:30pm: Blazing River Freedom Band, rehearsal, Social Hall
  • 7:30pm: Pub Theology, Parlor
  • Thursday, February 17, 
  • 7:00pm: Handbell rehearsal
  • Saturday, February 19, Homeless Awareness Sleep Out (HASO)
  • Sunday, February 20, 10:00am: Worship, Faith Formation, Coffee Hour
  • 12:00pm: Shrek Rehearsal, Social Hall
  • 3:00pm: Rev. Barber Devotional Series, Zoom
  • Monday, February 21, 7:00pm: AA
  • 7:00pm: Executive Team Meeting
  • Wednesday, February 23, 7:30pm: Blazing River Freedom Band, rehearsal, Social Hall
  • Thursday, February 24, 
  • 7:00pm: Handbell rehearsal
  • 7:30pm: AA
  • Sunday, February 27, 10:00am: Worship with Faith Formation
  • 12:00pm: Shrek Rehearsal, Social Hall

OFFICE HOURS: The office will be open Monday-Friday, 9:00am-3:00pm
Please check your emails for up-to-date snow plans during the winter season
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, February 12 for an hour of conversation, reflection and prayer. You can contact the church office with any questions.
Adventures in Reading
Adventures in Reading held their January 12th book discussion in the church parlor with eight members present. We spaced out our chairs in a circle and kept on our masks - no lunch this time. Marilyn Minteer led the discussion of Still Life (2005) by Louise Penny. We started the new year with a mystery - the first novel by the author and the 17th book in the series with Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Was the death of an elderly former teacher a careless hunting accident or a murder? We followed the clues but were still surprised at the conclusion.

Our schedule for the next month follows:
February 9 (Wednesday) 12:30pm
Location: Church Parlor
Book: White Like Her: My Family’s Story of Race and Racial Passing (2017) by Gail Lukasik
Margaret Barr will be the discussion leader.

Preview: Former Clevelander and author Gail Lukasik tells the story of her mother who changed her racial identity from black to white when she married in 1944 and moved to Cleveland, Ohio. With that move she abandoned her black family and racial heritage and, in her mind, became white like the man she married. In coming to terms with her decision to publicly out her mother, Gail changed how she looks at race and heritage. Part of this true story takes place in Parma, Ohio.

Looking ahead to March:
March 9 (Wednesday) 12:30pm
Book: Sold on a Monday (2018) by Kristina McMorris
Nancy Gibbs will be the discussion leader.

Please R.S.V.P. To Kathy MacDougall (contact information in our Instant Church Directory)
Rev. William Barber UCC - 5 Week Devotional Series
Rev. William Barber one of the greatest spiritual leaders of our time will be coming to Cleveland in March. Join us for a devotional series created by the United Church of Christ ahead of his visit. The devotional is built around Rev Barber’s book. The Third Reconstruction; Moral Mondays, and the Rise of a New Justice Movement.  Rev Barber is the co-leader of the reinvigorated “Poor People’s Campaign” started by Martin Luther King Jr. His book is transformative and shines light on how Christians can live their faith in our greater community. The book is only 126 pages long and promises to generate excellent conversation and ideas.

Lead by Paula Deal and Heather Tuck-Macalla on Sundays at 3:00pm. via Zoom: February 20 -March 20.

Culminating optional event: Rev William Barber is tentatively scheduled to visit Cleveland on March 14 at Old Stone Church. All are welcome to attend.

The Third Reconstruction is readily available at National chain bookstores.
Contact Paula Deal with questions or for additional information.
Marian Kenney
Meg Winters
Calvin Basile
Mark Hogan
Sandra King
Martha Skillen
Sarah Maibauer
Bonnie Harbaugh
Ellen Fleenor
Justin Hiller
Peggi Mizen
Amelia Diemert
Peter Kuhn
Amy Kemp
Lily Wills
Jack Wills
Laura Sangree
Sarah Pierce
Sally Alkire
Christopher Leo
Max Winters
Grace Sangree
Tom Leatherman
Looking Ahead at LCC
Friends Circle, a social group of LCC women, will be gathering on Tuesday, March 8th in the LCC Parlor from 7:00-8:30pm.
Our agenda will include a time to catch up and chat with friends and a participation-presentation by Alison Connors from Kemper Cognitive Wellness group. Alison will lead us in some Mind and Body exercises from her Brain Boot Camp, age-appropriate for our group!
Dessert will be provided, but BYOB. Wear something green and comfortable for movement and bring a package of Size 5 or 6 diapers to be donated to the Lakewood Community Service Center.
(Masks are required.)
Living Water Association News/Events
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: Open
Treasurer: Steve Hotchkiss
Welcoming Ministries: Vicki Smigelski

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
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
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 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
LCC Office Schedule
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