The Outlook

an edition of

The United Methodist Reporter

Two Sections

Second Sunday Lunch | 4A

Section A

Its FUN. . .Really! | 8A

Christmastime in Ecuador | 4A

909160 Vol. 159 No. 38 January 18, 2013

chalk talk
BY DR. KENNETH W. CHALKER

New Ways to Meet

John Wesley, founder of what became the Methodist Church, understood the value of small groups. He knew that it was in small groups, apart from the larger worship experience, that true discipleship happened. In small groups, people formed relationships; when challenges arose, believers were there to walk alongside, offering prayer, companionship, a loving shoulder or a strong arm. In this Wesleyan tradition, some smallgroup opportunities will be offered in 2013: l Beginning Tuesday, January 15, at 8:30am, meet me at Panera Bread on Tiedeman Road, just south of I-480 (easily accessible from both sides of town). This 3045minute gathering will offer a number of things, besides a breakfast opportunity. First, it will be a chance for fellowshipa chance to see one another outside of Sunday morning. It will also give us an opportunity to discuss the scripture lesson
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planned for the coming Sunday, and see if we can predict where Dr. Chalker might go with it. Plus, we can share prayer concerns or praises as they arise. Plan now to be a part of this small-yet-mighty opportunity. Still in the works: I am looking to start support groups for people who have suffered a loss or are feeling alone as they care for a loved one, and would like a safe space where they can share, shed a tear, laugh or just take a break for a little while. If you are interested in being part of such a group, please contact me via email, a call or simply a note dropped in the offering plate (Ill get it). I would like this group to meet monthly, perhaps each first Saturday morning, beginning in March, at a time and location to be determined. Let me know if this would be a help to you, and well make it happen. ~ Heidi Denman, Coordinator of Pastoral Care

UPPITY WOMEN RETURN!

With the new year comes the return of those Uppity Womenwomen perhaps just like you or someone you knowwho will meet again with Heidi Denman to engage in a four-week study based this time on the book, Ten (Fun) Things to Do Before You Die by Karol A. Jackowski. Ms. Jackowski has a delightful outlook: Life is short; we had best make the most of it. While each class is designed to stand alone, together they will offer time and space to reflect, to laugh and to find fun in some unusual places. Ten (Fun) Things meets Sunday mornings through February 3 from 9:30 to 10:15 in the Parlor. Then, as Lent begins, Uppity Women will tone things down, but only a bit, says Heidi. Beginning February 17, we will experience a closer walk with God, working with a book by John Ortberg, God Is Closer Than You Think. This book will, as its title implies, lead us to seek God in the ordinary, everyday spaces of our livesto find the God in here, as opposed to the distant God out there. God is, indeed, closer than you think. Lets seek him together as we wander the path through Lent. This study begins Sunday, February 17, from 9:30 to 10:15am in the Parlor.

Historic Changes. . .
As the former Cleveland congregations of Epworth-Euclid and First Church pondered, planned, prayed and ultimately voted on January 31, 2010, to create University Circle United Methodist Church, several significant needs and action opportunities became increasingly apparent. Among them was the redesign of the chancel space within our magnificent East 107th sacred landmark. In the many months which have followed, our Administrative Council, Board of Trustees and Finance Committee have given careful attention to this need for the redesign of the chancel. In addition, through a series of congregational meetings, our entire faith community has been involved in evaluating the various design ideas put forward. In late 2011 and early 2012, the awardwinning architectural firm of Westlake, Reed and Leskofsky (WRL)a Cleveland-based firm specializing in the care and development of architectural landmark facilities presented design drawings and color renderings for a redesigned chancel space; a worship space that would be expanded in size, be accessible to all and preserve the architectural integrity of our sacred landmark structure. With the decision of our Administrative Council to support the WRL design direction, our congregation received a detailed presentation about the plans specifics, Continued on back page

Coming Events

Save this date:

Saturday, February 9 for the 2nd Annual UCUMC Mardi Gras Dinner! ~more information to come~

Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sunday, January 20, 11:00am University Circle United Methodist Church, Cleveland

The United Methodist Reporter (USPS 954-500) is published weekly by UMR Communications, 1221 Profit Dr., Dallas Texas, 75247-3919. Periodicals postage paid at Dallas, Texas and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to: The United Methodist Reporter, P Box 660275, Dallas, Texas 75266-0275. .O.

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THE UNITED METHODIST REPORTER

JANUARY 18, 2013

Second Sunday Lunch

The newest Random Act of Programming (RAP), SECOND SUNDAY LUNCH (SSL), took place on Sunday, January 13, when over three dozen UCUMC folks joined organizers Betz and Tim Richards after church for lunch at The Emperors Palace in Cleveland. With this successful gathering, it appears that a wonderful new tradition has taken its first steps into the future of our church. And youre encouraged to be a part of it as people get together at a different local restaurant each second Sunday of the month. Reservations must be made by calling or emailing Betz at 440-235-9343 or ChefBetz1@aol.com, usually by the Tuesday prior to the lunch. Our next SSL happens on Sunday, February 10, at the Mi Pueblo Mexican Restaurant at 11611 Euclid Avenue. Make your reservations with Betz NOW and consult a Sunday bulletin for more timely information.

A Nativity Sunday to Remember

Sunday, December 16, many UCUMC members brought their personal nativity scenes to church, joining Dr. Chalkerwith the wood set he createdin displaying them in the front of the sanctuary for others to enjoy.

Christmastime in Ecuador
from Hank and Evelyn Tarshis, relocated former UCUMC members As we prepare to celebrate our first Christmas here, weve noticed some differences in how Christmas is celebrated in Cuenca. Although we have had a few glimpses of Christmas trees in peoples homes, the outside of most houses and businesses are not decorated. Some of the expats here do decorate their balcony apartments. The city has put up a nice display along the river that runs along a main downtown avenue, and the mall put up their Christmas tree in September! Unlike in the U.S., childrens gifts here typically consist of candy and cookies. Its nice to see that the Ecuadorian culture has not fallen for the overthe-top commercialism of Christmas. We are well and enjoying our lives here. Learning Spanish has taken time, and we manage to keep fairly busy. Were hoping to receive a document from the U.S. within the next week or two so we can apply for our permanent residency here. Our small church currently meets in a Quonset-tent-type structure, and we hope to construct a new building sometime next year (2013). It would hopefully be warmer than our current meeting place. One challenge weve experienced, and would solicit your prayers for, is the difficulty in obtaining medications from the U.S. FedEx recently managed to lose one package of our meds being shipped (from) Cleveland. On a sad note, on December 4th we lost a close friend here in Cuenca. Big Lori, 47, was in a committed relationship with life-partner Little Lori for 27 years. They were the first people we made friends with when we

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, 2012

University Circle United Methodist Church

returned to Cuenca this past May. She will be sorely missed. We send our warmest wishes to our UCUMC family that you (had) a blessed Christmas and will have a wonderful, healthy, prosperous and Christ-centered New Year.

Ash Wednesday Services

This year, on February 13, UCUMC will offer two Ash Wednesday services in the chapel. The noon service will offer just the imposition of ashes, while the 7pm service will include worship and musical soloists. Plan now to be a part of one or both of these offerings.

Let us pray. . .
UCUMC offers a number of ways to engage in prayer. On Sunday mornings, following worship, the Circle of Prayer gathers in the Library next to the Chapel for a time of sharing joys and concerns and praying for one another, for UCUMC and for our communities and the world. We also have a prayer chain. A number of individuals will graciously receive your concerns and pray over them. Contact Heather in the church office, via email or telephone, to leave your request. Early-risers are invited to join Heidi Denman at Einsteins Bagels in Lakewood, 14615 Detroit Avenue, Thursdays at 6:45am when she facilitates an existing weekly prayer group. They discuss scripture, share concerns and praises, and pray together before heading out into the world by 7:15am. See Heidi for more information.

Cleveland journalist and noted violinist Obie Shelton provided several very moving musical pieces during the December 30 worship service.

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THE UNITED METHODIST REPORTER

JANUARY 18, 2013

Outreach Opportunity!
Sunday, January 20, the UCUMC Outreach Committee concludes its collection of supplies for the HandsOn Northeast Ohio Homeless StandDown. Will you have contributed? These are really basic needs you can pick up at Marcs or Walmartthings we can easily take for grantedto be included in much-needed personal hygiene kits: Toothbrush Toothpaste Deodorant Soap Shampoo Conditioner Washcloth Body wash Razors Shaving cream Tampons Sanitary napkins

GRACENOTES
Its FUNreally!
B Y N AT H A N M O T TA
Director of Music & Arts

In addition, monetary donations to help HandsOn purchase these items could make a huge difference. A group of HandsOn volunteers will assemble the kits on January 20, following worship; lunch will be provided for them. You must email UCUMCOutreach@gmail.com with your RSVP to participate in this kit assembly. And as always, THANK YOU for your involvement!

chalk talk
Continued from front page

With the beginning of 2013, the Music & Arts departments New Years Resolution is to get the word out about how much fun it is to participate in the various ensembles at University Circle United Methodist Church. In addition to the fun we usually have in rehearsals, were adding other social stuff like lunches, crazy picture-taking and shaking up rehearsals with new activities. The new year is a PERFECT time to join an ensemble! Need more incentive? Try these events: ~ The annual MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Celebration in Worship is Sunday, January 20, featuring presentations in music, dance and the spoken word. ~ With Februarys BLACK HISTORY MONTH, well celebrate with gospel music, spirituals, dance and more! ~ LENT: experience great music and dance as well as additional worship opportunities and special presentations in worship, including the Lenten Cantata in March featuring highlights from various requiem masses. So come to worship ready to move and be moved! And if you want to have an extra-good time, come check out a Music & Arts group at UCUMC!
Sunday, January 6, the University Circle United Methodist Women sponsored the first church potluck of the new year, with speaker Ms. Kevin Schaner offering her observations about Epiphany and the stories behind those in scripture who gathered around the baby Jesus in the humble stable. Standing with Kevin (left) are Marilou Abele and Cathy Day.

to encourage open reaction and suggestions for potential improvement. Two full-color renderings of the WRL plan have been displayed in the entrance to our sanctuary since that vote of support. One of those renderings appears on the front page. I think and believe it is time in 2013 that we move forward to make the plan for this redesign of chancel space a reality. We must get it done. In the next several weeks, a series of opportunities will be created for conversation, suggestion and final congregational authorization of this chancel redesign project and its funding. Following our discussions as a family of faith, the plans will be set in motion to complete this important project. Indeed, it is my hope that, beginning in late June of this year, construction can be initiated and the project completed by October, 2013. As you would expect, during the months of construction we will be gathering for worship as a congregation in the Great Hall. These are most exciting times for our faith family. University Circle United Methodist Church is a marvelous adventure in urban ministry. It is not always an easy faith association. We face great challenges. But, with Gods continued presence among us, those challenges are not so much barriers as

Deadline for the next Outlook issue is Monday, February 4, 2013 outlook@churchinthecircle.com

opportunities for powerful witness for what God is enabling us to accomplish. Globally, in a time when despair, spiritual ambivalence and urban decay continue to diminish the quality of life for so many, University Circle United Methodist Church is a beacon of hope in our city. We are not a faith community gathering in a convenient place and occupying a benign space. We are on one of lifes great thoroughfares. We are a cathedral of hope, housing a congregation that initiates and supports exceptional programs of education, social justice, outreach and mission, even saving lives in the process. There is nothing convenient about any of this. It is full of risk, and there are never any guarantees that it will work. Thank God, though, that this is true! We are a mission that matters. We are an example of a congregation and a place that does not function on guarantees but, rather, on opportunities to serve, empowered by Gods promises to be there for us. We are standing on those promises. We are marching on those promises. We are an outward and visible symbol of faith in action, illustrated in part by our efforts to create a space and a congregation that increasingly welcomes, facilitates and inspires all who decide to become a part of this one-of-a-kind community of faith. Our redesign of the chancel is just one example of the outward and visible symbols of our powerful, faithful, courageous, inward spiritual grace. And we must make it happen. We must make it happen now.

Dancing the Spiritual

In January and February the UCUMC Liturgical Dancers will present choreography set to American Negro Spirituals; an indigenous musical art form, named a national treasure by the Congress of the USA. Each Spiritual tells a story based on life experiences that mirror the human condition. Many of the lyrics are based on Bible stories, and the themes represent all seasons of the liturgical calendar. During Black History Month the dancers will explore the element of dance in the rhythmic composition of the spiritual. Dance is as original to the spiritual as are the unbeaten drum beats that are the foundation of the spiritual. The message of the spiritual is one of hope, faith, optimism and perseverance. Through all these songs there breathes a hope, a faith in the ultimate justice and brotherhood of man. Dancing the spiritual is a joyous expression of freedom and deliverance! ~ Edna Duffy, Director/Choreographer, UCUMC Liturgical Dancers

~Youth News~
Gingerbread Galore!
Lots of children, tweens and teens gathered with parents and teachers in the Great Hall on Sunday, December 16, to build and decorate gingerbread houses for the holidays. Pictured, Hannah Jones joined mom Emma to create two treasured mementos of Christmas 2012.

Dr. Chalker in the News

THE UNIVERSITY CIRCLE OUTLOOK
printed every four weeks as an edition of THE UNITED METHODIST REPORTER for University Circle United Methodist Church Dr. Kenneth W. Chalker, Senior Pastor 1919 E. 107th St., Cleveland, OH 44106 www.churchinthecircle.com; 216/421-1200 Outlook Editor: Jim Hogg outlook@churchinthecircle.com Photographers: Jeff Day, David Hughes, Brian Misch Editorial Staff: K. Shamp, E. Prince, C. Day, M. Abele

Before Christmas and just following the loss of children and teachers in Newtown, Connecticut, TV5 anchor and journalist Leon Bibb interviewed Dr. Chalker about his 40 years of ministry and, specifically, about his conviction that spirituality is an absolute necessity in life in order to avoid living it in selfish, hurtful ways, without values, direction and perspective. Go to newsnet5.com (http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_ news/my_ohio/cleveland-clergymancomments-on-violence-and-prays-morepeople-developer-stronger-spirituality) to view this important message.

Comfirmation Orientation
Eighth-graders and parents attended the Confirmation Orientation session, January 13, to begin the Confirmation Program as a time of intensive preparation to help youth decide if they want to affirm their baptismal vows and become a formal member of our congregation. In addition to other activities, they will meet monthly with a mentor of their choosing to develop a statement of faith that they will share with the congregation on Confirmation Sunday, May 12. Please contact Pastor Sharon with any questions.