Calendar & News
Mission Minded - Collection Drive for One Run Together - Month of May
St. Vincent Mission Committee is pleased to announce our first collection drive for this year will benefit the One Run Together Organization, whose mission is to provide financial assistance to local cancer patients while they are undergoing treatment.
For the month of May we will be collecting items such as:
- toothbrushes, toothpaste
- lotion, shampoo and other toiletries (full size preferred)
- inspirational books
- gas and grocery gift cards
Please place these items on the table in the back of the church.
For more information about One Run Together visit their website at http://oneruntogether.org/
Blanket Making - Next and Final Time, Sunday, May 22, 11AM
Enjoy a time of fellowship with the Mission Committee, who hosts a blanket-making group. The group had their second session on April 24 for making beautiful blankets to benefit the ORT organization and others that may need them. The final get together is May 22 immediately following Sunday Service. Materials and instructions will be provided (as well as BRUNCH!). Hope you will join us for this “hands on” mission project.
Thanks from the Mission Team, Danielle S, Scott E
St Vincent UCC Chicken BBQ, Saturday, July 16 @ 12PM-3PM
AND Outdoor Craft Fair, Saturday, July 16 @ 11AM-4PM
BBQ: Includes 1/2 Kaufman’s Chicken, a baked potato, slaw, roll & dessert TAKE OUT ONLY - Cost is $12 Please consider donating to defray the costs of supplies.
CRAFT FAIR: We are also having an outdoor craft fair. If you or someone you know would like to reserve a table, contact Deb R to register. Any questions contact Deb or Brenda McF.
Introducing The Rev. Kevin J. McLemore, new Associate Conference Minister
Guest Preacher at St Vincent UCC - Sunday, August 21
Rev. McLemore was elected as our new Associate Conference Minister for the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference at our last Fall meeting. His job description includes assisting the local churches of our conference with the search and call process for pastors and any concerns that need to be addressed around that placement, as well as sharing with us in our church celebrations. Since joining the staff, Rev. McLemore has become a member of St. Peter's Pikeland UCC (Pastor Doug's church) and spends his time traveling to the many churches of our conference to meet pastors and their congregations, to preach and teach among us and to get to know us better. Now, here's your opportunity to get to know him better in his own words:
My family is from Mississippi, though I was born in Singapore to a family whose father worked in the oil business. At age 2 we were transferred to Indonesia, and I stayed there until I was around 12 years old when we moved back to the United States. My parents were not religious people, and I was essentially the same until I became a Christian at age 13, which transformed my life and my life journey. That encounter with the living Christ changed my world, and I become involved in various Southern Baptist churches. At a Southern Baptist youth camp in Oklahoma, I walked “the sawdust trail” and accepted a calling to pastoral ministry at age 15.
However, during my senior year of high school I came to realize that I was a gay man and I spent some time struggling with my future in the church during the first few years of college. Eventually I became involved with a local Presbyterian Church (USA) congregation near the University of Alabama campus and remained Presbyterian up until my senior year at Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Because the PC (USA) was not ordaining openly LGBTQ persons at that time, I chose to seek a path where I could be open and honest about my identity, eventually becoming a minister in the Metropolitan Community Churches.
In 2005, I was granted Privilege of Call in the UCC, which was a moment of theological homecoming of sorts for me. I deeply love this collection of churches that is the United Church of Christ and am so glad to call it my denominational home. I am appreciative of our proclamation of the Gospel in both words of love, and welcome for all and in our deeds meant to bring about justice in this world.
Over 23 years of ordained ministry, I have served as a part-time pastor, while holding down 2 other jobs, a new church start pastor, an associate pastor in two different settings, one being at a large church that had 2100 attendees on Sunday, and a small church pastor in a rural setting. Currently I am in my 10th year of serving as the Lead Pastor of the good people of Epiphany UCC in Chicago, IL. I have pastored congregations that have numerically grown and numerically declined and ones where money was never an issue to congregations that told me not to cash my weekly $300 paycheck until the plate offering was deposited a few days after my payday.
One of those churches I served has even closed. Like many of you, I have seen tremendous changes in the church, and new challenges I could never have imagined 23 years ago, but I must bear witness that God has been present for me in all that change and challenge and for that I am thankful.
As your ACM, I will bring my experience within different kinds of ministry settings to the work of supporting congregations in their search and call process and doing so as creatively and passionately as possible. I am aware of how difficult this work is right now, both in PSEC and elsewhere, but I am by nature a person of hope, and believe that God still has great use for us, the church, in bringing about the realm of God’s grace, love and justice to this world.
Freezer Meals Ministry - Ongoing
The Evangelism and Fellowship Committee thanks those who have placed meals in our freezer downstairs. All the meals received so far have been dispersed. So the freezer needs restocking!
Please consider preparing some meals that can be frozen in advance and available to be shared. Questions? Contact Chris B or Sam T.
A small gesture, like providing a meal, can be a blessing both to the giver and receiver. The program is an opportunity for volunteers to prepare meals that can be frozen in advance and available to be shared with families or individuals in our church or community who are facing a life event (i.e. welcoming a new child, experiencing a personal crisis or medical issue, grieving a loss, etc.).
Retirement Announcement
Our beloved choir director, Keith P has officially announced his retirement from his position here at our church. In his letter to the Consistory, Keith said, “I have so enjoyed the last 25+ years at St. Vincent and hope I've been able to bring joy and love through my music ministry.” Well, there is no doubt that you have, Keith.
With a beautiful voice and a deep devotion to your faith, you have been an inspiration to us on so many occasions. Your leadership among the choir has brought you many friends for life and is most appreciated by all of us who heard the weekly anthem performances. Every anthem gave us a little glimpse of heaven on earth. And don't get us started on those outstanding Cantatas every year.
We will not forget the gift of your ministry and we look forward to more - as you promised in your letter, “I am always happy to make a guest appearance whenever possible.” And we'll look forward to celebrating YOU the next time you do so. In the meantime, Keith – thanks for the memories!
Humanitarian Aid Efforts for the People of Ukraine
As an appeal on behalf of the people of Ukraine, the UCC continues to work with global partners to assist vulnerable communities within that country and the neighboring countries who have became hosts to the refugees. Our appeal includes prayer for those in need; donations to assist in the care of the refugees; and encouraging others, including our government, to offer humanitarian assistance. Let us truly become the heart and hands and voices of Jesus on behalf of those in need and make of ourselves part of the answer to the cries of the world.
All donations we make will be deposited into the International Disasters fund designated for “Ukraine Relief” and used by our global partners for those in areas of greatest need. To donate, send your check made payable to the United Church of Christ directly to UCC, PO Box 71957, Cleveland, OH 44194. Please be sure to note “Ukraine Relief Fund” in the memo section of that check.
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SUPPORTING YOUR CHURCH
There have been questions about how to continue to make your offerings. Members are mailing in their offerings routinely, some have signed up for e-giving, and others have asked if they could use PayPal. Yes, you can use PayPal via the "USE APP" button on our ST. VINCENT UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Facebook page to donate to St Vincent UCC. By pressing the blue "USE APP” bar under the large picture of the church, you can connect to your PayPal account. Then follow the PayPal instructions. Thank you to ALL our congregants and friends that continue to support our church while socially distancing.