Dear Avon Lake UCC Friends,

Last night, at Church Council, ALUCC member Heather Ferguson shared that she has discerned a call to ordained ministry and will enter the Methodist Theological School in Ohio this fall as a full-time student. Our church will work with Heather as she pursues the ordination process through the United Church of Christ. It is thrilling to hear of Heather’s passion and gifts for ministry; please congratulate her when you see her!

We learned that the Easter offering total was slightly over $16,000 = we have sent half of that amount to Second Harvest Food Bank and are using half for our own food ministry. Thank you for your generosity!

I reminded Council – and I remind all of you – if you are here on evenings or weekends, please check all doors when you leave and be sure they are locked. Many groups are in and out, and there are times when the church has been left unlocked. Thank you!

Reminders of several upcoming events:

Next week, Scott Ewing and violinist Mary Beth Ions will present a concert together; Beau and I will read a selection of Mary Oliver poems in between their songs. Thursday, April 25, 7:30 PM.

Sunday, May 5, at 4:00 PM, the Cleveland Pops Chorus (directed by Bill Zurkey) will be in concert in our sanctuary; several church members are in the chorus.

These are great opportunities to invite friends!

I’m especially excited about worship the next two Sundays – this week, April 21, our friends from the UCC church in Crystal Lake, Illinois are back – their youth choirs (vocal and bell) visit us every four years. You will enjoy their enthusiasm!

April 28 is Member Recognition Sunday. We will be honoring all those who have been members for 30 or more years and displaying some church memorabilia and time lines.

As part of our Transition Year, I’m offering an opportunity for an exit-interview type conversation. Bill Cowles will be emceeing an event we’re calling “Ask Kelly…Anything” on Tuesday, May 21, at 7 PM. I’ll be sharing some thoughts about our life together these past 30 years. You may send your questions ahead of time to Bill:  williamrcowles@gmail.com.

On Wednesday, June 26, I will be leading a discussion of the book, Jesus and John Wayne – an exploration of some of the factors that led to the rise of white Christian nationalism. You may sign up in Realm here.  Let me know if you would like a Zoom link.

Finally, on Thursday, May 2, at 7 PM, Ginger Marshall of the MetroHealth Pride Clinic will present on “Wellness and Gender Care.” Please contact me if you have questions; register on Realm here.

As you can see, we are living up to our reputation of being “the busy church” – but we are busy with purposeful, meaningful activities!

Gratefully,

Kelly

Words and Music

Thursday, April 25, 7:30 pm

Guest artist Mary Beth Ions, violin, returns to the Avon Lake UCC Sanctuary on Thursday, April 25 for another presentation of Words and Music. Mary Beth, with Scott Ewing on piano, will offer a range of music, from classical favorites to jazz standards.

Alongside the music, we’ll hear readings of the poetry of Mary Oliver. Oliver was a Northeast Ohio native who had a long and celebrated career in poetry and education. A winner of the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, Oliver’s poetry is treasured for its accessibility and beauty, often highlighting the awe and interconnectedness of nature, reminding the reader that they, too, are a part of it.

This concert offers a peaceful and reflective look at the season of spring. Thoughts on growing, beginning again, and finding peace in the ever-changing seasons will be present in the words and music.

This concert is free and open to the public - those who wish to make a financial contribution to the Avon Lake UCC concert series will have the opportunity to do so.

The Cleveland Pops Orchestra Chorus, under the direction of William Zurkey, will be performing an eclectic mix of traditional and modern religious and Americana music. For 11 years, the chorus has performed at Severance Hall with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra.

The concert will feature Scott Ewing and members of the chorus, including several ALUCC members.

No tickets will be sold; free-will donations will be accepted at the door. Seating is on a first come first seated basis (last year this concert was a total sellout!). The concert begins at 4:00; doors will open by 3:30.

Cabin Fever Cornhole Tournament. This Sunday is the last day for our early bird discount! Register your team of two players in one of our three brackets!

This event is our largest fund raiser in support of our Sr. High Service Trip. Plan to join us for lunch concessions, raffles, auctions and action on the courts!

Register HERE

Volunteer HERE

Sponsorship HERE

Questions? Call or email Nate Taylor - nate@avonlakeucc.org or Tim Schulz - membership@avonlakeucc.org

Looking to add peace and intention to your days? Our Silent Meditation sessions will continue to meet through May 29 every Wednesday at 8:30-9:00 am. Join Lynn Miller in the Garden Room, or email her at Lynntwin@mail.com and she can send you the Zoom link. Each week we do 30 minutes of silent meditation, or a short guided meditation followed by silent meditation to finish up the 30 minutes, and alternate each week. You can be ready to go at 8:30, or join us whenever you can during the 30 minutes and dive right in, although please mute yourself if you are joining us later! ;) We will be off for the summer, then restart in September.  Meditation is an investment in yourself, and can bring a calm space to hectic lives. 

Desserts and snacks are requested to accompany a meal that will be prepared by ALUCC volunteers and delivered for families at Haven Center shelter on Saturday, April 20. Please drop off packaged and labeled items to the church kitchen by mid-day Friday (tomorrow). Thank you for assisting our team and this ministry!

The 2024 Spring Food Drive kicked off this past Sunday and will run through April 28. Our agencies need our help more than ever. We will be taking donations via checks, cash or online via Realm. Please use the “Mission Food Drive” drop down under “Fund” for on-line donations. If you choose to write a check, please indicate “Food Drive” in the memo line and mail to the church or drop off in person. For in person donations, we will be taking cash and check donations before and after services at a table by the Courtyard Cafe.

Your donations will be used to support the needs of our seven (7) local agencies:

• Haven Center is the only 24/7 homeless shelter for families in Lorain County
• St. Paul’s UCC which is our sister church in Ohio City, Cleveland
• CRS (Community Resource Services) that serves our residents who are suddenly in a need of emergency assistance
• Mercy Resource Mothers in Lorain who support new, single expecting mothers through their pregnancy and their baby's first year
• Primary Purpose (male addiction rehab home)
• Road to Hope Margeau’s House (female addiction rehab home)
• Genesis House (Lorain county’s center for Domestic Abuse)

The need is great and ongoing! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Sid Stech at sidstech24@gmail.com

Thank you in advance for your unwavering help and support!

ALUCC Volunteer Event at Second Harvest Food Bank - May 6, 5:00 - 7:00 PM

5510 Baumhart Road, Lorain, OH 44053

Our mission at Second Harvest is to create pathways to nutritious food in our community. Be a part of the mission to end hunger in our region! Pack Pantry Boxes full of food before they are distributed at Mobile and School Pantries. Other projects may include inspecting food and nonfood products for quality, sorting products and boxing products for distribution to Partner Charities. Sign Up HERE!  

Volunteers must be 12 years or older for this opportunity. If a volunteer is under 18 years, they must volunteer with a parent or guardian who is 21 years or older.

Spring is here! The Property Crew is looking for volunteers to start prepping the grounds for the upcoming season.

Please mark your calendars for Sunday, April 28, after worship, from 12:30-3:30 for our property clean-up/workday.

We look forward to this day of service! CJ and Nate plan for the Trustee's team, the Youth Group, and church family to spruce up the grounds. We'll need lots of help to haul and spread mulch.  

We hope you can join us for this great day of fellowship! There will be lunch at 12:30 in the Buoy and then we'll get started. 

Please contact CJ to volunteer on the Property Crew, 440-864-2599 or

buddyonthelake@yahoo.com

Wellness and Gender Care Presentation, May 2 at 7:00 PM

Ginger Marshall will talk about what she has learned working for the MetroHealth Pride Clinic, including the medical/physical/emotional/psychological aspects of the LGBTQ experience. This is a presentation for parents of youth who describe themselves as LGBTQ or non-binary. Ginger will also share a brief update on Ohio laws and regulations that might impact LGBTQ and non-binary youth in Ohio. RSVP here via Realm

April is nationally recognized as Child Abuse Prevention month; the last Sunday of April is called ‘Blue Sunday’ and churches are asked to help raise awareness. We pray that abused children will be rescued, that they will be placed with caring persons, that their bodies and minds will heal, and that they will find hope. In Lorain County it is the hope to also raise awareness of the need for foster parents. I am proud to share that we were raised by parents who, many years ago, responded to this need. Many foster children shared our home over the years.

Allergy season is here! If you have tree/grass/weed allergies I do not have to tell you; more than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies. Exposure to these pollens, even for a short time, may increase symptoms. If you are pollen allergic, limit outdoor activities between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., when the pollen count is the highest.

L.I.F.E. Memory Café: We continue to host this program each Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The program is for both the Care Giver and Care Receiver and provides resources, education and engaging activities, which promote and improve quality of life.  Information is at the Welcome Center. Please share if you have a friend or family member on this journey. All are welcome.

Support Groups dates for May:  (all support groups meet in the Garden Room)

• Grief Support: Thursday, May 2 at 7:00 p.m.
• Mental Health Caregiver’s Support Group: Tuesday, May 7@ 7:00 p.m.
• Caregiver’s Support Group: Tuesday, May 21 @ 7:00 p.m.

Please be in touch if you have a need or are aware of a need as we care for each other: parishnurse@avonlakeucc.org or cell: 440-225-3183

SUNDAY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Our WORSHIP SERVICES need additional volunteers. Your consideration is appreciated!



Communion Assistants - we need five on the first Sunday of each month. Additional ushers are needed for special services. Greeters at the doors and Welcome Center are needed at each service.

Use this link to sign-up and assist at worship. More questions? Please see a deacon or staff member on Sunday or contact Angela office@avonlakeucc.org or phone 440-933-3241 during the week.

Nursery and Sunday School volunteers are needed for the 11:00 AM service. Sunday School lessons are simple, and all materials are provided for you. The Nursery and Sunday School sign-up link can be found here. 

If you are interested in learning more about volunteering, please talk to Eileen Zakel or Pastor Beau. You can email Eileen Zakel at christianed@avonlakeucc.org or Pastor Beau at beau@avonlakeucc.org.

If you, a group of you, or a specific team would like to host Coffee Hour, please sign up below on the Sunday that works for your schedule. 

We are making it super simple. Coffee and paper products will be supplied and ready by church. The host of coffee hour just needs to handle providing simple snacks for after the service and serving them with a smile 😊. Please see the sign up for more information or you are welcome to contact Kim Rose, outreach@avonlakeucc.org, as well. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e044aa4a728a20-coffee#/

Save these dates:

April 25: Spring Concert, Mary Beth Ions and Scott Ewing, 7:30

April 28: Member Recognition Sunday

April 28: Property Cleanup, 12:30 - 3:30

May 11: Cabin Fever Cornhole Tournament, see above

May 19: Sr. High Car Wash during services

May 19: Inquirer's Class for prospective new members, 4:00

July 24: Dirty Dog 5K and Dog Wash, 6:00, register here

Nov 16: Legacy Gala - email coming soon!!

Our Prayer List can be found in Saturday's email and will be available on page two of The Current. This weekly brief newsletter is also available in the Gathering Space following worship. If you would like us to pray for a family or friend, and add them to the weekly prayer list, please e-mail pastor@avonlakeucc.org or beau@avonlakeucc.org or office@avonlakeucc.org