South Euclid United Church of Christ 175th Anniversary

South Euclid

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

GOD’S

Faithfulness through Our Journey celebrating one hundred seventy - five years of ministry

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REVEREND COURTNEY CLAYTON JENKINS Senior Pastor and Teacher

4217 bluestone road

| south euclid, ohio 44121 | 216-791-5200 | southeucliducc.org

LORD You are my God;

I will exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness You have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.

ISAIAH 25:1

First Presbyterian Church of East Cleveland

First Congregational Church of East Cleveland

Independent Presbyterian Church

Euclid Avenue Congregational Church South Euclid United Church of Christ

greetings from

REVEREND COURTNEY CLAYTON JENKINS SENIOR PASTOR and TEACHER - SOUTH EUCLID UNITED CHURCH of CHRIST

September 8, 2018 Beloved, I greet you in the mighty and matchless name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

It is my pleasure to welcome each of you to our 175th Church Anniversary. What a faithful God we serve! I am honored and count it a privilege to be a part of this most historic celebration. From our humble beginning of a Sunday School at Euclid Avenue and Doan’s Corner, to this present moment as South Euclid United Church of Christ, God has been with us every step of the way. The rich history of our church is a true testimony to the faithful commitment of our founders. They followed God who embarked with them on this journey 175 years ago.

Our congregation has always sought to stand for what is right, for inclusion and for a vision of the beloved kingdom becoming a reality. We have tried our best to pave the way. Today we stand as an old church and a newer church, having evolved into South Euclid United Church of Christ. It is a blessing to have made it this far.

While today we celebrate the past, we must also look to the future. The rate of church closures continues to increase across the nation. However, we are determined to evolve into the relevant ministry that God has envisioned for us. There is a vibrant and vital future for SEUCC. We can still have a significant impact in our city, our nation and our world.

This is the time and the season to rejoice in how faithful God has been. It is also time for us to step out on faith and follow God into uncharted territory just like our fearless founders. The Apostle Paul says it best in 1 Corinthians 2:9, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” Again, on behalf of our church family I say, "Welcome Home!"

Called for the purpose of the Kingdom,

Reverend Courtney Clayton Jenkins Senior Pastor and Teacher

greetings from

DEACON DERRYL HARRIS THE ANNIVERSARY MODERATOR

September 8, 2018 Dear Church Family and Friends, As a community of faith, South Euclid United Church of Christ has truly been blessed and for that we give thanks. To celebrate one hundred seventy-five years of service to Cleveland’s communities is an achievement few congregations reach.

To reach such a milestone, SEUCC has remained faithful in their service to God and community. We all know that in our walk with God there will be peaks and valleys. With faith that does not waiver, all that is placed before us can be conquered.

As we move forward, let us all continue to place maximum effort to follow the vision given to Pastor Jenkins. Let us all support our Pastor, staff, ministries, and one another as we strive to make South Euclid United Church of Christ a church that welcomes and embraces all, going beyond the boat, in our service to God. Sincerely, Deacon Derryl Harris Moderator

greetings from

DEACON FATIMA WRIGHT THE ANNIVERSARY LAY LEADER

September 8, 2018 Happy Anniversary Church Family, Today, “we stand on the shoulders of giants.” For 175 years, South Euclid United Church of Christ has been building on the forward thinking and prayers of our spiritual forefathers. We acknowledge our spiritual ancestors for the foundation our great history is built upon which gave way for the evolution of our church.

Our journey has been like a table set by God for a feast. Any great feast begins with an appealing table covered in a beautiful cloth. At each phase of our journey a table cloth has been used to protect our church in times of challenge and as a symbol of celebration of God’s new mercies. No table is complete without a napkin, as a symbol to wipe up the fragments of challenges, like rising from the ashes.

Dishes make a table beautiful. The arrangement of dishes used to set our table on this journey has been specifically selected to prepare for a great celebration planned long ago; hence, preparing us for the meal to come. Every table needs special utensils to consume the meal: the spoon, to stir up gifts from God; the fork, as an anchor for a solid spiritual foundation; and a knife, as spiritual discernment.

Now the table is set. It is time to dine. On our journey, the main course has been--and continues to be--an abundance of God’s grace and an ample supply of the Spirit’s power to sustain us. To complete this table, glasses are added, as well as flowers, and candles. The glasses are filled with God’s life-giving water. Flowers are symbolic of the love God has for each of us, and candles reflect light in times of darkness.

In closing, in honor of our 175th Anniversary, let us sit at the table prepared for us and rise to the blessed occasion. God is with us.

With gratitude, Deacon Fatima Wright

Sunday, September 8, 2018 | 11 O’Clock in the Morning | South Euclid United Church of Christ

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175 ANNIVERSARY WORSHIP EXPERIENCE

INVOCATION

Reverend Carla Jo Howlett

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN

SEUCC Choir and Praise Team “Our God Who Art In Heaven” CALL to WORSHIP LITURGY Aries Fitzgerald and Will Fitzgerald Leader Dear Lord, thank You for drawing us to You as a congregation to become part of Your church.

People

Thank You for our ancestors who listened to Your voice and were obedient to Your call to organize this congregation for Your purpose.

Leader

Help us to teach our young Your ways and their history so they will know who You are and who they can be.

People Inspire us with a vision for the future and use that vision to direct the path of this congregation.

Leader Help us to lean not on our own understanding, but to lean on every promise of Your Word.

People Grant us the authority to conquer all divisiveness and fill us with a desire to love one another.

Leader

Lord, please hide us in Your bosom and protect us from all evil and from the wiles of those spirits that seek to destroy the peace You have given us.

People May Your spirit continue to infuse our church with courage, hope, and grace.

Leader

Teach us to know Your voice and give us the courage to obey it.

Lord, please continue to provide Your Church with a light for the world.

People

Leader God, we’ve gathered in this place to acknowledge that we did not choose

You, but You chose us, and appointed us, to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.

People We praise You for choosing us and calling us out of darkness into Your wonderful light.

Leader

You have searched us and You know us, yet You continue to love and use us.

Wash away all our iniquity and cleanse us from our sin.

People

Leader

As we reflect upon the work You have done through us, help us never forget the message, mission, and work to which You have called us.

People You are the vine and we are the branches; apart from You, we have no work of our own.

People

To love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

To work for justice on behalf of those whose voices are not heard.

People

All

For this is how our God is glorified, that we bear much fruit, showing ourselves to be His disciples. Amen.

ANNIVERSARY VIDEO

STATEMENT of OCCASION The Reverend Doctor Paul Sherry WELCOME of GUESTS Deacon Derryl Harris GREETINGS and FELLOWSHIP “SEUCC Welcome”

SEUCC Choir and Praise Team

WELCOME of NEW MEMBERS Pastor Courtney C. Jenkins INTRODUCTION of GUEST PREACHER

SERMONIC SELECTION SEUCC Choir “Faithful Medley” SERMON

Doctor David E. Goatley

CALL to DISCIPLESHIP

Pastor Courtney C. Jenkins

OFFERING SEUCC Choir “We Made It” DOXOLOGY

All

DEDICATION of OFFERING

Carter and Chloe Johnson

PASTORAL REMARKS

Pastor Courtney C. Jenkins

BENEDICTION

Pastor Courtney C. Jenkins

SENDING SONG SEUCC Worship Team “You are God Alone” Lord, You are my God; I will exalt you and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness You have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.

ISAIAH 25:1

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To feed the hungry and to clothe the naked.

Sunday, September 8, 2018 | 11 O’Clock in the Morning | South Euclid United Church of Christ

Leader

175 ANNIVERSARY WORSHIP EXPERIENCE

Leader As we move forward in this ministry, we recommit ourselves to the principles of Your Word—to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, and soul.

our guest speaker

DAVID EMMANUEL GOATLEY, PhD Research Professor of Theology and Black Church Studies Director of the Office of Black Church Studies - Duke Divinity School

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rofessor Goatley is a constructive theologian whose scholarship and practice is at the intersection of ecclesiology, missiology, Black theology, and leadership strategy. A globally recognized missiologist, he emphasizes cross-cultural experiential learning with indigenous communities to deepen understanding, broaden horizons, and strengthen Christian discipleship and leadership formation.

He is ordained in the National Baptist Convention, USA and serves in leadership capacities with the NAACP, Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Society, the Baptist World Alliance and the World Council of Churches.

In addition to articles, essays and book chapters, Goatley is Editor of Black Religion, Black Theology: Collected Essays of J. Deotis Roberts (2003) and authored Were You There?: Godforsakenness in Slave Religion (1996, 2007), A Divine Assignment: The Missiology of Wendell Clay Somerville (2010), and Missions Is Essential (2011). His current research projects include leadership development informed by liberation theology, contemporary missiology, and strength-based organizational theory, Black Baptist missiology and African-American pneumatology.

BS: University of Louisville MDiv, PhD: The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

our church history

THE CHURCH OF MANY NAMES 1843-2018

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ur church began as a Sunday School class started by Sally Cozad Mather in 1828, but did not become an actual church until November 30, 1843, when 19 people signed a document resolving that they call themselves THE EAST CLEVELAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. They built their first church building at Doan’s Corners, which is now the corners of East 105th and Euclid, where the Ronald McDonald House now sits, an area then known as East Cleveland. It was a cooperative church founding effort between Presbyterians and Congregationalists.

Many of these 19 and those who joined later, were abolitionists--in particular the Cozads and the Fords--who helped enslaved people escaping from the south find their way to freedom in Canada. They soon wanted to separate themselves from the Presbyterians, a denomination that accepted slavery. In 1852, they publicly denounced the Presbytery of Cleveland for its position on slavery and voted to call themselves henceforth THE INDEPENDENT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The church gradually added new members and flourished.

In 1868, the congregation had 109 members. In one revival meeting in 1872, it took in 84 new members at once. It became clear that the congregation preferred a Congregational form of government over a Presbyterian one.

For that reason, a new constitution was adopted and they began calling themselves THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST CLEVELAND. By the time the Civil War was over, the church had outgrown its building at Doan’s Corners. In 1867, they began building a new, larger one at East 96th and Euclid. This building was never finished and what was built was torn down. Another building was built on the same spot in September 1887. By then, the church was known simply as EUCLID AVENUE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH (EACC).

Years of prosperity followed as the church became one of the fashionable churches on Millionaire’s Row, which Euclid Avenue--with its many elegant mansions--was nicknamed.

Its members numbered in the 900s by 1915 and the 1100s by the 1920s--all of them white and most of them wealthy.

Yet, in 1897, black educator Booker T. Washington addressed a large audience there and later its pastor, Rev. Ferdinand Quincy Blanchard, began consistently preaching on issues of racism and social justice.

By the 1930s, the neighborhood began to change. Other churches on “Millionaire’s Row” began to move to the suburbs, and so did many EACC members. Euclid Avenue

Congregational Church decided to become proactive, instead of reactive, and started an outreach program that brought in the church’s first black members in 1955.

Euclid Avenue Congregational started 4 churches as missions, including Park Congregational at Crawford and Hough Avenues, and Lakeview Congregational. In 1934, Hough Avenue Congregation merged with Euclid Avenue Congregational. The Hough riots in 1966, alarmed enough members that a move to Pepper Pike, or a merger with a suburban church, was brought to a vote in 1967. Both were rejected by large margins. The church--now called THE EUCLID AVENUE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF THE UCC because it had joined forces with the United Church of Christ--remained at East 96th and Euclid. Avenue.

Through the 60s and 70s, EACC held its own and became truly racially integrated, although its membership remained small. There was a strong music and arts program, and in 1985, a gospel choir was formed. The choir was later named after member Robert Plater, who devoted his gifts and talents to the choir. Its membership declined from 1200 to 212 by 1985. It continued in its mission and outreach to the community with after school, summer and Saturday programs for youth, a day care center, and the creation of a food bank and soup kitchen.

In 1997, EACC reached another plateau when they voted in Deacon Kathie Buckner as the Church moderator. Kathie was the first African-American woman to be moderator of the church. EACC had a constant struggle throughout the 80s and 90s with the debate over moving or merging as EACC continued to suffer a decline in membership.

The idea of moving always brought protests because the building at East 96th and Euclid was so beloved. On March 23, 2010, this cherished old building was struck by lightning and burned to the ground.

We were blessed to immediately rent space in the United Methodist Church, located at 30th and Euclid, without missing a Sunday of worship. In October 2010, the church hired Rev. Courtney Clayton Jenkins, the church’s first African-American pastor and also its first female Senior Pastor. After a long search, property was found on Bluestone Road in South Euclid, and the congregation moved here. In this space, existing buildings have been renovated and a new sanctuary built. The first worship service in our new sanctuary was held on New Year’s Eve 2015. The church currently has 650 members. After many conversations and a church vote, EACC adopted yet another name, in a new area, open to many possibilities. We have proudly become the SOUTH EUCLID UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST and the journey continues.

marcs CHRISTOPHER

DESIGN