News and Announcements
October, 2012: Pilgrimage to Washington D.C.
Continuing the journey of the Courageous Conversations on Race, the Ministry of Justice & Mission is beginning a series of domestic pilgrimages to important African-American sites in the United States.
First up is an October 2012 pilgrimage to Washington D.C. to see the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, the African-American Civil War Museum, the exhibit of African-American history and culture at the Smithsonian Museum of American History, and other sites of importance. Plans are being made to worship Sunday morning on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, where Dr. King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech.
This journey will be far more than a mere tour or sight-seeing expedition. It will be a journey of on-going transformation as we become a more hospitable, inclusive and diverse church family. It will allow us time to reflect upon our experiences and how traveling the road of the past will help shape our future at Forest Hill Church.
Co-facilitators Barb Cloud and Anne Smith are working on arrangements for transportation, hotel rooms, tour guide, and meals. They will have an information table in Fellowship Hall after worship on May 20. Stop by to sign up for a Washington D.C. you may have never seen before and to receive updates on this exciting adventure.
April 10 - 16, 2012 Information Gathering Trip to Haiti (For more info on this completed trip, see International Connections - Haiti.)
With the support of the Ministry of Justice and Mission, a team of 8 FHC members will travel to Haiti to explore the potential for establishing an ongoing partnership with a Haitian community or organization.
Team members will observe projects in the Hinche central plateau area north of Port Au Prince sponsored by various church and independent organizations. These projects include an eco-village, nutrition clinic, rural school, orphanage, hospital and midwife training center. The Presbyterian Church (USA) is involved in various projects, including the Peasants’ Movement of Papaye (MPP). The MPP creates eco-villages that offer agricultural skills to the huge influx of urban citizens moving into the rural areas after the devastating earthquake of 2010.
Ralph Jean-Mary first envisioned the trip to Haiti. As a graduate of the “Faith Leader” program, Ralph’s Personal Plan for Ministry (PPM) was to establish a medical clinic in Haiti. Because Ralph grew up in Haiti and now lives in the United States, he has a unique perspective. His parents live in Pandiassou and operate a hotel where the group will be staying.
Ralph’s vision brought the other team members together. Deanne Lentz, a new Justice and Mission ministry Elder, has always wanted Forest Hill to offer adult work trips. She shared: “Mission trips were a formative part of my faith development during my teenage and young adult years. I can only imagine that to travel to Haiti with adults will be even more powerful and transformative.” Deanne thinks it is no coincidence that Ralph was “brought to Forest Hill. All my years at FHC, I hoped we could start an ongoing international partnership. Forest Hill does everything else!”
Pix Mahler, the World Mission (PCUSA) partnership facilitator for Haiti, will work with the Forest Hill team preparing them for the trip and connecting them with the projects in Hinche. After observing and listening to the needs and dreams of Haitians, the FHC team will return home to discern potential long-term ongoing partnerships. Possibilities include financial support for a specific project and/or developing more personal relationships.
The Haiti Team includes Deanne and John Lentz, Kermit Lind, Ralph Jean-Mary, Anne and Jeff Smith, Steve Sedam and Virginia Weiss. Keep these people in your prayers as they seek to broaden our church’s commitment to justice and equity locally and globally.
February 22 - April 8, 2012: Lenten Schedule
Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22: 6:30 Light supper, 7:30 worship. Child care available
Wednesday, March 7: 6:30 Light supper, 7:30 Intergenerational program “Care of Creation,” led by Rebecca Barnes-Davies, Associate for Environmental Ministries (PCUSA) General Assembly Mission Council - Compassion, Peace & Justice Ministry
Wednesday, March 21: 6:30 Light supper, 7:30 Worship Child care available
Maundy Thursday, April 5: 6:30 Light supper, 7:30 Worship Child care available
February, 2012: Black History Month Sunday Events & Schedule
Feb. 5: 12:30 - 1:30pm: SGORR Workshop (Bodwell Hall) ~ Approximately 300 students from Shaker Hts. High are involved in the SGORR (Student Group On Race Relations) program promoting good social relations among all people. These students have introduced this program to thousands of high school students and adults through the Cleveland City Club, the National Conference on Community and Justice, and Shaker PTO meetings. Their primary focus is workshops for elementary and middle school students in the Shaker schools. A small group of SGORR members will lead this workshop.
Feb. 12: Movie (South Hall) ~ “Gifted Hands” starring Cuba Gooding, Jr. From Amazon.com: “Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr. stars in this true story about a renowned brain surgeon who overcame obstacles to change the course of medicine forever.” (Immediately after worship until 2 pm)
Feb. 19: Speaker (Bodwell Hall) ~ Noted human rights advocate, scholar and author, Professor Maghan Keita from Villanova University in Pennsylvania will preach during worship, and speak to us in Bodwell Hall following worship.
Feb. 26: Book discussion on Kindred by Octavia Butler (Bodwell Hall) ~ From Amazon.com: “Dana, a modern black woman, is celebrating her twenty-sixth birthday with her new husband when she is snatched abruptly from her home in California and transported to the antebellum South. Rufus, the white son of a plantation owner, is drowning, and Dana has been summoned to save him. Dana is drawn back repeatedly through time to the slave quarters, and each time the stay grows longer, more arduous, and more dangerous until it is uncertain whether or not Dana’s life will end, long before it has a chance to begin.” The book is available for purchase. Please see Pastor Beal if you would like a copy.
We look forward to sharing these events with you! ~ Black History Month organizers: Barb Cloud, Annette Himes, Vikki Nowak, Doris Allen
November 13, 2011: Converge - A New Kind of Worship Experience - Launches!
Youth Director Kristen Otte had a vision of a new kind of worship experience for Forest Hill youth. But she was dreaming bigger than just Forest Hill. And soon more than a dozen other churches and their youth directors and pastors had signed on to Converge ~ A New Kind of Worship Experience for This Generation.
With a full band (drums, electric guitar, keys) and a relevant message for youth, Converge launches Sunday, Nov. 13 @ 7pm. Services will be held at First Baptist Church on Fairmount Blvd in Shaker Heights.
Kristen Otte will speak on Matthew 14:22, 1 John 4, and Romans 8 in her message on how to move past the fear within each of us. Learn more about the services, the participating churches, and how to get involved on the Converge webpage.
August 26, 2011: Fall 2011 Kerygma Bible Study small groups forming now
Sign-ups are starting now for this Fall’s 
Kerygma Bible Study small groups. Four different group options are available, and described in detail here. The Fall classes will focus on the second book of the Old Testament - Exodus. The stories of Exodus lay the foundation for the covenant relationship between God and God’s people that underlies the entire Bible. Register at church, or print out a Registration Form, complete it and return to church by September 18.
August 21, 2011: Discernment Task Force seeks congregational input
Especially in today’s economy, it’s vital for an organization’s budget to reflect its deepest core values. When the organization is a church, those values come from the goals and desires of its congregation.
To ensure that the 2012 budget reflects Forest Hill Church’s core values, Session asked the Discernment Task Force to ascertain the goals and desires that inform those values. In other words, they were asked to discern who, what, when, where and how God is calling Forest Hill to “do church.”
Surveys mailed out by the Discernment Task Force are due back by Sunday, August 21. Additional copies may be printed here. Or you may go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ForestHillChurch and complete the survey online.
August 7, 2011: FHC Softball Team wins 5th consecutive championship
Congratulations to the Forest Hill ‘B’ Softball Team as they won the Heights Church League Softball Championship. This is the 5th consecutive year Forest Hill has claimed the Championship. After losing the first game to Church of the Saviour 11-9 in extra innings, the team won the deciding game 11-4. Thanks to all who participated in this year’s most successful season!
July 1 - July 31, 2011: Portraits of Homelessness Exhibit on display in Fellowship Hall
As part of our year-long focus on homelessness, the Ministry of Justice & Mission is sponsoring Portraits of Homelessness, on display through the end of July in Fellowship Hall. This collection of images and stories was created by photographer and writer Lydia Bailey in partnership with Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry’s 2100 Lakeside Men’s Emergency Shelter.
Bailey, Coordinator of Volunteers at the shelter, explains on LMM’s website that she sees “these men not as an abstract problem, but as individuals with concerns and hopes like yours and mine.” Her goal was to “convey their gifts and vital personalities as well as the hopeless, confusing, fearful, human elements of homelessness.”
Be sure to set aside time in July to view these poignant images and stories.
May 27, 2011: Forest Hill Church one of two Ohio congregations to earn PC(USA)’s Earth Care Congregation designation
Forest Hill has been designated an Earth Care Congregation under the PC(USA)’s stringent requirements. Our Earth Care Team has adopted the following Mission Statement:
Care of the Earth is central to all discipleship and stewardship in our lives and is achieved through encouragement and education, enabling change within our individual lifestyle, church and greater community.
The Earth Care team is busy planning activities and programs to encourage and assist our congregation in fulfilling this mission as the months proceed. Read more about Forest Hill’s commitment to safeguarding our planet here.
May 22, 2011: Two national Presbyterian advocates together at Forest Hill Church
It was a great privilege to welcome Cynthia (Cindy) Bolbach, Moderator of the national Presbyterian Church (USA) to our pulpit this morning. And it was an honor to have her recognize our Parish Associate, Rev. Tricia Dykers-Koenig, for her unceasing efforts to shepherd the acceptance and ratification of G-6.0106b of our Book of Order. As a congregation and as a denomination we owe a huge debt of gratitude to Rev. Dykers-Koenig.
PC(USA) Moderator Cynthia Bolbach (left) and Forest Hill Church Parish Associate Rev. Tricia Dykers-Koenig (right)
May 1, 2011: Change in the Book of Order
A majority of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s 173 presbyteries have ratified an amendment to the church’s constitution that replaces the current G-6.0106b.
As a result of the vote, ordaining bodies – local church sessions for elders and deacons and presbyteries for ministers – will have more flexibility in determining individual candidates’ fitness for ordained office in the denomination.
What has changed is that persons in a same-gender relationship can be considered for ordination. The new wording states:
Standards for ordained service reflect the church’s desire to submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life. The governing body responsible for ordination and/or installation shall examine each candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation and suitability for the responsibilities of office. The examination shall include, but not be limited to, a determination of the candidate’s ability and commitment to fulfill all the requirements as expressed in the constitutional questions for ordination and installation. Governing bodies shall be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying standards to individual candidates.