Cleveland Park Congregational UCC
Nurturing love of God and love of neighbor in the world
I invite you to read my bi-weekly newsletters below for reflections on Sunday worship and updates on congregational life. I hope, and believe, you will also enjoy my Sermons. I look forward to seeing you and sharing worship with you.
Blessings,
Pastor Ellen
Please call or e-mail to schedule time with Pastor Ellen:
M, W, Th: Appointments and visits
Tuesday: Day off
Friday: Sermon and study day
Here are some spiritual resources that I find myself returning to time and again. I hope you will also enjoy them.
UCC Feed Your Spirit
Bite in the Apple
Patheos.com
The Listening Hermit
RickMorley.com
Larry Patten.com
As we begin this forty-day season, what are you called to do?
Last weekend LaTia Barrett and I participated in a Racial Justice Facilitator Training with thirty other UCC congregation members from the Central Atlantic Conference. To be honest, it wasn’t quite what we’d expected (or hoped), but it did provide an opportunity to think carefully about where our congregation is and what work lies ahead. At the moment, I’m letting these thoughts percolate, but I’ll soon meet with LaTia
Read More
Warm Greetings~
This week’s message is about Saturday’s benefit concert for the Asylum Seeker Assistance Project. Please come at 4:30 pm (with friends, family, and neighbors) for an hour of musical selections featuring themes of sanctuary and hope, along with stories shared by refugees. Admission is free, though of course we hope you’ll make a donation to the important work of this wonderful organization. A celebratory reception will follow!
Last year, the Music Committee and Choir paired with the
Read More
Greetings~
I was listening to 1A on NPR yesterday when someone called in and said he believed the president was doing a good job stopping illegal immigration while supporting legal immigration. Fortunately, one of the guests on the show was able to explain that, regardless of one’s position on the former, the caller’s opinion on the latter was factually incorrect. In fact, legal immigration has been significantly curtailed by the current administration over the past two years. And this
Read More
Winter Greetings~
This Sunday, 1/27, we’ll gather for that yearly ritual of UCC churches all over the country—the Annual Meeting! A great thing about UCC polity (church governance) is that “every voice has a vote.” This means, if you’re a member of our congregation you get to vote on: church lay leaders (Cabinet and Trustee members), the church budget (including clergy and staff salaries), our church’s mission and vision (fleshed out in the strategic plan) and, when
Read More
It’s Winter.
And it feels like it. The water in my recycling bin turned to ice last night. Snow is predicted for the weekend. And the government has frozen (in mind, body and spirit).
I’m concerned about all the individuals and families who can’t afford to miss a paycheck. And you might be surprised how many there are! A number of our own church members work directly for the federal government or as federal contractors, and none will
Read More