About Me

Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Spreading the good word about One Cool God and the new University Circle United Methodist Church at 1919 East 107th St. & Chester Ave., Cleveland, Ohio, 216/421-1200. Please join us Sundays at 11am and energize your week. Where all are welcome all the time.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

High School Youth Group Kickoff!

DAWN AND FRED McELRATH are our new High School Youth Group Coordinators!
They will develop and lead educational, spiritual, mission, recreational and fellowship opportunities for youth in grades 9-12 on Sunday mornings and beyond.

The McElraths are long-time members of our faith family. Dawn and Fred were married by Dr. Chalker at First Church 21 years ago. They are the proud parents of Fred, Jr. (23), Angela (20) and Brianna (13), and loving grandparents of 15-month-old Jamir. Dawn is a project specialist in Heart and Vascular Research at the Cleveland Clinic, where she has been employed for the past 16 years. She coached cheerleading for girls ages 9-13 for eight years, recently resigning so that she could attend all of Brianna's 8th grade activities and spend as much time as possible with baby Jamir. Dawn loves singing in our Gospel Choir and dancing with the Liturgical Dancers. Dawn has known many of our teens since they were babies, as she volunteered in the nursery and Sunday School at First Church for many years! Fred works as a Warehouse attendant at Johnsonite in Middlefield, Ohio, where he has been employed for 11 years. He coaches basketball for 7th and 8th grade boys and has served as a mentor to young men through the Distinguished Gentlemen Organization. Dawn and Fred bring both vision and passion for working with young people to their new roles as coordinators of our high school youth group.

We look forward to their leadership in the coming year!

HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP MEETINGS BEGIN on Sunday, November 13.
Our new UCUMC High School Youth Group, under the leadership of Dawn and Fred McElrath, will meet for the first time and all youth in grades 9-12 are welcome! We will meet in the "step down room" next to the gym at 11am. Following worship on November 13, all high school youth and their parents are invited to meet with Dawn and Fred to discuss plans for the coming year. We will meet in the Reception Room and a light lunch will be served. Please RSVP to Heather in the church office at hhoward@churchinthecircle.com; or contact Amy Wheatley at 4wheatleysATsbcglobal.net.

High Schoolers, come join us!

Posted via email from OneCoolGod at University Circle UMC

Lynn Rabb Obituary

Friday, October 21, 2011

Let's Celebrate Church Street Ministries!

On Wednesday evening, November 9, Dr. Chalker will be the guest speaker at a dinner celebrating the 25th anniversary of Church Street Ministries. The catered meal will be held at Berea High School, 165 East Bagley Road, Berea 44017. Doors open at 6pm and dinner is served at 6:30pm. $15 tickets may be purchased in the church office following the worship service today. Checks may be made payable to "Church Street Ministries." Deadline for ticket sales is October 30.

Church Street Ministries is an ecumenical outreach with a threefold mission. The first is the Second Mile Thrift Shops in Berea, which provide a way to transfer donated goods into funding the outreach missions. The second is the Outreach Mission itself, which serves the needs of preadolescent, at risk, chemically dependent, homeless, transients, refugees, those in need of emergency assistance, and counsel. The third is to educate people in the community about those in need, training volunteers in the shops, and involving people in outreach opportunities in the community.

Posted via email from OneCoolGod at University Circle UMC

UCUMC Committee on Outreach and Local Mission

The "Hands On" team of UCUMC's Committee on Outreach and Local Mission continues to move forward with its mission of reaching out to serve the various needs in our community. During the month of October, the "Hands On" team joined the Cleveland Foodbank in organizing food donations for distribution throughout Cleveland, as well as MedWish International, where our volunteers assisted in the organization and preparation of donated medical supplies for international distribution to countries in need.

UCUMC has reserved multiple slots for participation in the following HandsOn projects:

Tuesday, November 8, 5:45-7:45pm
Bingo Night with Seniors at St. Augustine

Thursday, November 17, 6:15-8pm
Project Play at the West Side Community House
We will assist in activities for children while parents attend various workshops and meetings.

Saturday, November 19, 10am-12:30pm
MedWish International, organization of donated medical supplies for distribution

Working with the UCUMC "Hands On" Team offers an excellent opportunity for meeting members of our wonderful, diverse congregation, while providing much needed services throughout the Cleveland area. Those who have attended a HandsOn orientation session may sign up for any or all of the three volunteer opportunities above by visiting HandsOnNEO.org. If you are not already a member of UCUMC's HandsOn Team, we would love to have you! Please contact Doug Blank (dblank3ATgmail.com), Pat Roberts or Marilyn Sutton for more information.

Posted via email from OneCoolGod at University Circle UMC

Jazz In the Heights for Human Rights This Sunday, October 23, 7pm at Nighttown

jazz_in_the_heights_poster.pdf Download this file
This benefit, sponsored by our UCUMC Gay-Straight Alliance, supports the human rights campaign in a terrifically fun way. Come on Sunday, October 23, at 7pm to Nighttown (Cedar Road in Cleveland Heights). Our very own "Full Circle Combo" will perform jazz and music theater standards from 7-10pm, with all proceeds donated to the Human Rights Campaign. Tickets are $10 (presale through the office or churchinthecircle.com website) and $15 at the door. Please share the concert flyer above and invite a friend.

Posted via email from OneCoolGod at University Circle UMC

RSVP: First-Sunday Potluck - "A UCUMC Sanctuary for the Future"

Potluck_Reservation_Form_October_2011.pdf Download this file

Posted via email from OneCoolGod at University Circle UMC

RSVP: Wednesday Night Renewals...for Body, Mind, Spirit - Oct./Nov. Class Opportunities

Wednesday_Evening_RSVP_Oct_2011_rev3.pdf Download this file

Posted via email from OneCoolGod at University Circle UMC

Friday, October 14, 2011

Additional UCUMC Announcements for Sunday, October 16th

NAMETAGS PERFORM MIRACLES: Try wearing your UCUMC nametag and introducing yourself to anyone you don't already know. You will be amazed at who you will meet and what you will learn. No excuses: if you do not have a nametag, just request one by stopping by the office, picking up a yellow card from the nametag rack at the back of the sanctuary or finding a way to contact Heather Howard. Membership is not required but you must have a name.

"WAITING FOR LEFTY": Member Dave Hundertmark has been cast in this edgy and timely Clifford Odets drama at Ensemble Theatre of Cleveland (formerly Coventry School), 2843 Washington Blvd., Cleveland Hts. The show runs October 7-30. Call 216-321-2930 for tickets.

BIBLES AVAILABLE: Fall cleaning has uncovered several large Bibles which are on a table in the narthex (entrance hall behind the sanctuary) for you to review and take if you wish.

"FOR LOVE OF LIBERTY: THE STORY OF AMERICA'S BLACK PATRIOTS" tells the inspiring saga of African American military sacrifices from the Revolutionary War to present day fighting in Afghanistan. Art Saunders (a member of our church family and 1st Lieutenant with the Tuskegee Airmen) has generously made available two DVD versions of this compelling narrative; a shorter 20 minute summary or a full-length documentary. Both of these DVDs are well worth your time! If you are interested in borrowing either DVD for a two- week period, please contact Sharon Seyfarth Garner at 440-808-8535 to make arrangements.

Posted via email from OneCoolGod at University Circle UMC

October 2011 Administrative Update From kay Hogg

Entrance and Hallways
Notice the new carpeting that was installed this week in the E. 107th lower entrance, up the stairs to the main floor and throughout the L-shaped hallways leading to the administrative offices, parlor and ladies' restroom. New coat racks have also been added and a new bulletin board is coming. Wall-mounted racks that will be used to display art work are on order. The carpeting at the entrance and on the stairs is industrial "walk-off" carpeting that removes dirt and water from the soles of shoes as people enter the building and before they walk onto the lighter hallway carpeting. All the carpeting is in large squares which can be easily removed if soiled to be cleaned and reinstalled or replaced.

Education Areas (Mezzanine Level)
In the next two weeks, new carpeting will be installed in the educational rooms and in the large mezzanine hallway and steps that lead to the gymnasium. The bathroom on this level will be industrially cleaned and painted. Once the carpeting is installed, classrooms will be thoroughly cleaned and furniture and supplies will be set up. At that time, all storage boxes which are currently in the mezzanine will be removed. Volunteer help with the cleaning and setting up of these classrooms will be greatly appreciated. Please notify the church office if you are available during daytime hours to help. Your name will be added to a list and you will be contacted as soon as the work can be scheduled.

Staff Changes
Due to the current and potential future use of our building for church programming and use by external agencies, two staff changes were made this week that will allow us to provide improved building security/custodial assignments and more efficient and effective deployment of staff. These changes are being made without any impact to our personnel budget.

Desmond Clark, who cares for us and the building as a custodial and security employee, has been assigned to a regular schedule as a second-shift employee. He will work approximately 3-8pm Monday through Thursday, 9am-5pm Friday and continue his Sunday morning rotation as well. Karl Clark and Hassan Lee will continue as our first-shift Care personnel.

Andria Jamison has begun a new position at UCUMC as Kitchens & Food Service Coordinator. She will be part of our Administrative staff, but no longer a member of our Care Team. Andria is uniquely qualified for this job as she has held similar positions at several churches through the years and was originally hired to do this for Epworth-Euclid UMC. In this new position, Andria is responsible for preparing food for Sundays and special church programs like our new Wednesday night renewal/supper events. Our intention for Sundays is that food will soon be available to purchase for a nominal fee – just to cover expenses – from the kitchen in the Great Hall, 9:30am to 1pm. The menu will include breakfast and light lunch items so that people who are arriving early or staying for meetings following worship have eating options – all available at the church kitchen. This will be an evolving effort which will start small but hopefully grow and provide a wonderful service to a growing church family. As part of her responsibilities, Andria will prepare the Sunday reception in the Parlor following worship and keep the first-floor and Great Hall kitchens clean, organized, and stocked.

We are delighted to have the kinds of Administrative staff members who are supportive and flexible and make it possible for us to use their talents in new and effective ways.

Posted via email from OneCoolGod at University Circle UMC

Richard Evan Francies Memorial Scheduled for 4pm, Sunday, October 16 at University Circle UMC

r. Francies worked his way up from an Installer to and Engineer/Manager for the former Ohio Bell Telephone Company in Cleveland, OH, from 1946 until his retirement in 1981. He devoted 35 years of his career to the Phone Company. He was a proud veteran of the US Army, Signal Corps and a Prisoner of War for the 3 ½ years of World War II. In 1937, he enlisted in the Army Signal Corps at 18, asking to be stationed in the Philippines to get as far away as he could from a first Sgt. he hated at Fort Monmouth, NJ. He spent 2 years as a Tech. Sgt. in the Philippines, building radio stations and maintaining the equipment. He was just 3 days away from going home to the United States when the Pearl Harbor attack took place on December 7, 1941. He was a survivor of the "Bataan Death March", Japanese "Hell Ship" and slave labor camps. He was part of the "Battling Bastards of Bataan" - American and Filipino servicemen who fought in a doomed holding action at the start of America's war in the Pacific. Many times, as other prisoners escaped, he was threatened with the firing squad. He and his men were doing radio work for the Japanese, therefore, their lives spared. They also sabotaged many of those radios, helping with the effort in the Philippines. Mr. Francies was a 1936 graduate of East High School in Euclid. He was active in the Kiwanis Club of Cleveland Heights, was a Ham Radio Operator and was very active in POW reunions. He has returned 6 times to the Philippines to join his friends and fellow POW's. He enjoyed the people of the Philippines, as they risked their lives to help the prisoners survive. The flag flying in front of the Cleveland Heights City Hall now flies twenty-four hours per day in his honor. He is survived by his daughters Susan (John) Heaton of N. Barrington, IL and Katharine (Kent) Kleiva of Palatine, IL, grandchildren Richard Evan, his namesake, Laura, Kristen and Kate. He also leaves his loving companion Margaret "Peg" Skelly of Willoughby, OH. His parents William Evan and Edna Marie (nee: Richards) Francies and sister Eleanor Smith are deceased. Private family burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, DC at a later date.

A memorial service will be held for Richard Francies at 4pm on Sunday, October 16, at University Circle United Methodist Church. The after-service reception is to be held in the Parlor.

Posted via email from OneCoolGod at University Circle UMC

RSVP: Wednesday Night Renewals...for Body, Mind, Spirit - Oct./Nov. Class Opportunities

Wednesday_Evening_RSVP_Oct_2011_rev2.pdf Download this file

Posted via email from OneCoolGod at University Circle UMC

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Architect Ralph Johnson's new Tinkham Veale University Center at CWRU will bring 21st-century flair to University Circle | cleveland.com

Born out of the union of Western Reserve University and the Case Institute of Technology in 1967, CWRU has grown over the decades without a strong campus center to unify its two halves.

That’s about to change. The university plans to break ground next spring on the $50 million Tinkham Veale University Center, a centrally located building intended to give CWRU a 24/7 student hangout, a home for student organizations, a jumping-off point for campus tours and a big community gathering space.

The design for the 82,000-square-foot building, released to The Plain Dealer by the university, has a decidedly 21st-century look, with thrusting, wedge-like shapes and sloping green roofs rising two stories out of the ground.

Given its location northeast of Severance Hall between Bellflower Road, Euclid Avenue and East Boulevard, the center will be a highly visible new landmark in University Circle, Cleveland’s cultural, educational and medical hub.

Posted via email from OneCoolGod at University Circle UMC

Friday, October 7, 2011

Additional Announcements for Sunday, October 9th

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: A group of six UCUMC volunteers worked at the MedWish warehouse, counting and sorting medical supplies on Saturday, October 1. MedWish receives donations and sends large quantities of medical supplies overseas to regions in need. The Outreach Committee thanks all who participated! Talk to Doug Blank (dblank3ATgmail.com) about how to get involved in future Outreach events, such as sorting items at the Cleveland Foodbank this Wednesday, October 12!

WE ARE SERVING THE CLEVELAND FOODBANK through UCUMC's partnership with HandsOn Northeast Ohio this Wednesday, October 12, at 6pm. Remember, for HandsOn events, you must have attended an orientation session with HandsOn. Sign up for this event at www.HandsOnNEO.org.

NEIGHBORHOOD LUNCH serves the church's local neighbors in our Great Hall on the last Sunday of every month. Our next day to host is Sunday, October 30. Your help is needed to bring beef stew (recipe provided), cornbread, Granny Smith apples, applesauce, cupcakes, brown sugar or milk. There is a signup sheet posted on the bulletin board across from the office. Please review it to see what you might contribute and serving help at 1pm is also needed.

CHEERS FOR THE OSU MARCHING BAND, which now includes Kathleen and Bob Lawther's granddaughter, sophomore Julie Richard, playing the mellophone (French horn).

DVD RECORDINGS OF THE CHALKER CELEBRATION, which took place at UCUMC on August 17, are available in the church office for $3.

Posted via email from OneCoolGod at University Circle UMC

RSVP: Wednesday Night Renewals...for Body, Mind, Spirit - Oct./Nov. Class Opportunities