From the Corner of Grace: Winter 2022

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

PR AY ER

From the Corner of

Poinsettias

will decorate our Hyde Park location on Friday, December 16th. Poinsettias may be picked up starting December 28th.

Cost: $12 per poinsettia

To order, go online at www.hydeparkchurch.org or contact the church office at (513)871-1345. The deadline to order is Wednesday, December 14th.

Poinsettias

Advent Starts the Sunday after Thanksgiving on November 27th. We hope you will join us on Sundays in-person or online as we prepare for the birth of our Lord and Savior.

November 27

THE CHILD WHO LEADS US TO HOPE Isaiah 11:1-9, Matthew 1:1-17 Rev. Kate Smith

December 4

THE CHILD WHO LEADS US TO PEACE Isaiah 7:14-16, Matthew 1:18-25 Rev. Dr. Todd D. Anderson

December 11

THE CHILD WHO LEADS US TO JOY Isaiah 35:5-7, Matthew 2:1-12 Meredith Menius

December 18

THE CHILD WHO LEADS US TO LOVE Isaiah 49:13-18, Matthew 2:13-23 Rev. Dr. Suzanne Allen

We are delighted to offer the Winter issue of our quarterly magazine, focusing on Prayer. As we move into the Advent and Christmas season, consider participating in one of the many opportunities our church is offering such as the Live Nativity on December 11, Pastor Suzanne’s Advent Retreat on December 3, or a special service on December 2 for those who are grieving this holiday season. We hope you will rejoice and celebrate with us on Christmas Eve. There are 4 services on Christmas Eve and there will be a livestream service on Christmas Day. We hope you have a blessed and joyous Christmas.

& Lisa Communications team

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Mid-Week Lift

Prayer Practicies Stephen Minisitry Season Upon Us

Be Still: From Words to Presence A Covenant Prayer

A New Vantage Point: Consider Becoming a Liturgist Youth Sunday What Does God Require to Do Justice?

Activities & Things

Shari

4:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m.

Candlelight Family Service with music from children’s choirs. Nursery care is provided.

Christmas Eve!

8:30 p.m.

Canterbury Brass and Cathedral Choir provide music. Candle lighting and Carols. NO Nursery care is provided.

11:00 p.m.

Candle lighting and Carols with music from Aimee Stockdale and our praise band. Nursery care is provided.

Rejoicing with Mary

with Rev. Dr. Suzanne Allen

Saturday, December 3rd

8:30am-12:30pm

Cost: $10 includes light breakfast (8:30-9:00am)

Pastor Suzanne will lead us in exploring the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) and how we can join Mary in her rejoicing for the coming of the Christ. We will explore different mediums of reading the scripture, and learn more about how this passage focuses on the joy that can be found in the Advent season. Mark your calendars and be sure to join us for this meaningful morning on December 3!

Contact Meredith Menius at mmenius@hpcumc.org with any questions.

Register Today!

Use the QR code or visit our website www.hydeparkchurch.org.

Childcare upon request as you register via Realm. Please indicate by November 28.

How can God take an essay personifying a Frisch’s Big Boy sandwich and turn it into the practice of prayer writing? This is that story. In fourth grade, we were told to write a personification story. I chose to write about the Big Boy. It earned an “A” and was sent to an English teachers’ conference. A seed was planted. Through the years, I was asked to write various things, but I either didn’t hear or search for God’s direction, or He saw that it wasn’t time for what He intended. Many years after the 4th grade experience, I felt a strong urge to study prayer, so I enrolled in The Way of Prayer class taught by Chris McHenry. In many ways, it opened my eyes and ears to God’s call on my life.

In January 2018, planning officially began at HPCUMC for a Capital Campaign. I was asked to serve on the leadership team as Prayer Co-Chair. My husband, David, suggested using Realm to share prayers for the Campaign. A plan was made to write a weekly prayer focusing on the sermon theme which was connected to the Capital Campaign. Two months later, the Capital Campaign was halted. It seemed like the weekly prayer would stop, too, but Bettye Beaumont said to me, “if anything should continue, it’s prayer.” I met with Rev. Doug Johns, and the weekly prayer continued and readership grew, and so did I. The HPC Prayer and Praise on Realm became a regular Wednesday offering.

Soon, the pandemic and political and racial unrest dominated our lives and news feeds. More people turned to prayer. I was truly grateful to offer words of hope and encouragement through the prayer. It was still only available to church members who requested it, until early this year when Pastor Kate suggested it go out on the church’s Facebook page. That week, the same prayer appearing on Realm as HPC Prayer and

by Denise Harpring

Praise now could be seen on the church’s Facebook page as Mid-Week Lift.

People ask me how I write this prayer. It starts on Sunday morning, when I take notes during the sermon. The prayer usually reflects some theme or idea from the sermon, and it may include Scripture, a stanza from a hymn or song, and/or a quote. Monday and Tuesday are prep days. The first thing I do is pray –pray for the Holy Spirit to speak to me and use me as a channel of God’s love. I don’t know what each person reading the prayer is experiencing or needing, so I lift each person by name in prayer. Those who read it on Facebook or receive it from others are lifted, too. I may not know everyone’s name, but God knows what they need to hear. Then, I look at the notes from Sunday’s sermon, and, surrounded by various Bible translations, hymnals, and many color-coded index cards (yes, I’m an “old-school” writer, using index cards and legal pads), I begin the writing process. My goal is to have a rough draft by Tuesday night. Early Wednesday, I wake up, light 3 candles, and write the final copy, posting it on Realm by late morning.

It has been a blessing and a privilege to write these prayers. It has been a way to grow in my own prayer and spiritual life. It has shown me how God’s timing is perfect and how I can fully trust Him. The reactions to the prayer have been overwhelming. Hearing how a prayer touched someone just when they needed it, and stories of how people are sharing the prayer remind me that God truly loves each of us and finds ways to reach us. It has been almost 4 years since this prayer was born, and it is a constant reminder that God uses each of us in many ways. And, God is so amazing – planting a thought, a dream through a Frisch’s Big Boy and, decades later, turning that dream into a weekly prayer!

Advent Devotion 2022

Our Advent Devotion this year is focused on our Advent sermon series, “A Child Who Leads Us,” our global and local mission partners, and some modern-day icons by artist, Kelly Latimore. The combination of these aspects will invite you to reflect on the scripture that is familiar to you in a new way, with the hope of providing space for you to engage with unique and intentional images that tell the Christmas story. Below are a few icons by Kelly Latimore that you can expect to see in the devotional this year.

*Images can be used in print and digital format. Imagery cannot be used in profit-producing products. All right to imagery reserved to the artist.

Be sure to pick up a copy of the Advent Devotional from the Welcome Center table starting Sunday, November 20, and check our website for a digital version. If you would like one mailed to you or a loved one, please email Meredith Menius at mmenius@ hpcumc.org.

Alternative Christmas Gifts

Look for the devotional in the lobby and pick one up today!

Supports our Local and Global Partners

An Alternative Gift is a financial gift in honor of a loved one that makes a lasting impact locally or globally.

One of the ways we can show the love of God and neighbor in a tangible way is through Christmas Alternative Gifts. By making a financial donation to our mission partners in honor of a loved one through Christmas Alternative Gifts you will be making a lasting impact locally or globally.

The Alternative Gifts for this year supports families in Cincinnati and children/teens in Tijuana, Mexico.

Stop by the Welcome Center on Sundays leading up to Christmas to learn more about or purchase Alternative Gifts. Each donation includes a beautiful Christmas card and an explanatory note to give to a loved one. This is a great gift idea for honoring a loved one who has passed, families, or for the person who “has everything.”

“Mary: Keep Watch” by Kelly Latimore

“Holy Family of the Streets” by Kelly Latimore

“St. Joseph” by Kelly Latimore

Blue Christmas

A service for those who are grieving this holiday season.

Dec. 2nd at 7pm

Perhaps, recently you have lost a parent, a friend, a sibling, a child, your innocence, a dream, a job, a marriage/relationship, or community. And you wonder, how am I to show up to all these parties, services, concerts, and family gatherings, when this person won’ t be with me, or this year has been really hard and I don’ t feel celebratory?

As we begin the Holiday season, this service is an opportunity to give yourself permission to embrace whatever you are feeling this season.

All Are Welcome.

Located at Hyde Park Community UMC, 1345 Grace Ave, Cincinnati, OH In the Sanctuary

Join Rev. Dave Weaver in reading and studying Prepare the Way for the Lord by Adam Hamilton!

The cost of the book is $10, and you can pick up the book from the Church Office anytime during office hours (M-F 9:00am-5:00pm).

If you have any questions, please contact Dave at dlweaver922@ gmail.com or 513-484-6697.

By Carolyn Keil

Prayer

PRACTICES

2022 stephen minister retreat

Once a year the Stephen Ministers of HPCUMC gather for a day long retreat. The day serves two purposes: 1) to provide us as Stephen Ministers several hours of continuing education, which they have committed to and 2) to provide some time for sharing and community building to help us provide better care to our Care Receivers, ourselves, and to each other. In September, we gathered for a retreat on Prayer Practices led by Rev. Dr. Todd Anderson, Rev. Dr. Suzanne Allen, Rev Dave Weaver and ORV District Lay Leader, Linda Young. Each of them shared a different way to practice prayer.

PRAYING THE NEWS

Rev. Todd talked about “Praying the News”. The focus is: awareness, wisdom, creativity, compassion, and imagination. He does this each day upon reading the News that is happening in the world. He described to us that being aware of the world around us and praying for people and situations is part of intercessory prayer because it is a way for us to show compassion as we become aware of the needs of others around us as Jesus did. He suggests that as we read the News and events of the world, we must use wisdom to know the difference between truth and fiction. We must look at the world from multiple points of view. This process might lead to intercessory prayer for others and help us to get the focus off ourselves because we think we know things that we really don’t know. If we can work on trying to impose ourselves a bit less on others, we might have a more holy experience.

DISCIPLES REQUEST TO PRAY

Rev. Suzanne shared about the “Disciples Request to Pray”. She asked to explore when we first learned to pray. How old were we? What was the prayer? She shared that our prayer needs change over time. Sometimes events or a crisis might change our perspective of prayer. She suggested that as Stephen Ministers we have three tasks around prayer.

1. We need to keep our own prayer life strong. “Don’t seek to develop a prayer life, seek a praying life”. We need to have a life saturated in prayer rather than in segments and this means to pray without ceasing.

2. We need to pray for our Care Receivers and situations as if we are a bridge to and through God.

3. And finally, when we pray, we are also teaching others to pray. We need to have an awareness of where someone is in their faith and may help to remove obstacles and provide resources.

CENTERING PRAYER

Rev. Dave shared about “Centering Prayer,” also called, “The Disposition of the Heart”. The practice of centering prayer comes for the Trappist Monk, Thomas Keating. In centering prayer, it is your intension that counts, not the method. Rev. Dave shared that this is a daily practice for him every morning. It may take time to become part of your day.

Try Centering Prayer at home!

• The principal method is to sit for a period of 10 to 20 minutes in quiet.

• At the beginning of the time, choose a sacred word that focuses on your intention. This may be a phrase or a word from scripture.

• Sit with your eyes closed, focusing on your breathing and introduce the scared word you chose as a symbol of your consent to God’s presence and action within.

• When engaged with your thoughts or distractions, return to the sacred word. Have a positive attitude about releasing any distractions. Don’t beat yourself up!

• At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence with your eyes closed for a few more minutes.

VISIO DIVINA: PRAYING WITH THE EYES

Linda Young shared a prayer practice known as “Visio Divina: Praying with the Eyes”. She talked about how art has always been part of the religious tradition, as well as about how the stainedglass windows in our own Sanctuary tell a story. Linda stated, “We are what we give ourselves over to, we become that to which we apply our attention.”

The practice of Visio Divina comes from the exercise of reading scripture known as Lectio Divina. Rather than focusing on scripture, one focuses on an image. One sees with the eyes rather than the word and listens with the heart. The steps of this prayer practice are as follows:

1. Pick out an image from a photograph, painting or icon.

2. Look at the image and let your eyes stay with the very first thing you see.

3. Keep your attention on that one part of the image that first catches your eye.

4. Try to keep your eyes from wandering to other parts of the picture.

5. Breathe deeply and let yourself gaze at that part of the image for a minute or so.

6. Now, let your eyes gaze on the whole image.

7. Take your time and look at every part of the picture. See it all. Reflect on the image for a minute or so.

8. Consider the following questions: What emotions does this image evoke in you? What does the image stir up in you, bring forth in you?

9. Does this image lead you into an attitude of prayer? If so, let these prayers take form in you. Write them down if you desire.

10. Now, offer your prayers to God in a final time of silence.

Hopefully one of these prayer practices speaks to you and might be a way of incorporating more prayer in your daily life. HPCUMC has been a Stephen Ministry church for many years. If you are interested in becoming a Stephen Minister let us know. If you are going through a difficult period in your life and would like the support of a Stephen Minister, please talk with one of the pastors.

If you would like to learn more, another Stephen Minister, Barry Evans, highly recommends reading Teresa A. Blythe’s book, 50 Ways to Pray. Chapter 9 is a compendium of techniques and suggestions on how the prayer person organizes a prayer’s content and presentation!

Season Upon Us

The sun shines upon the vacant trees, naked and gray; fluctuating in mid-day breeze

The leaves below rustle with the whistle of the wind, brooding along the paths only spots of sun glimpse.

The cracks in the pavement filled to the brim with shriveled up weeds, haunting of lushes green and the sizzling sun’s kiss

The grass is gradient from green, tan, brown, to mud; stunting its growth, preparing for the lack of the sun’s wink

Birds chirp as they scrounge for the last of the season; yearning for the journey somewhere warmer and brighter.

The earth has its seasons, for better not worse; everyone plays their role; some stay and some go

It may seem gloomy, lonely, and bare in our neck of the woods; but this season encourages rest, reflection, and repair

by Sarah Knapton

Take a deep breath, this season will fade, but there is a purpose, a hope, care presented in the season of winter waiting at our doorstep.

From Be still …

Presenc�� t�Word�

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Thessalonians 5: 16 - 18 (NRSV)

“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4: 2 (NRSV)

“Prayer is not primarily saying words or thinking thoughts. It is, rather, a stance. It’s a way of living in the Presence, living in awareness of the Presence, and even of enjoying the Presence.”

Richard Rohr (1)

Prayer … “is listening to the voice that calls us ‘my Beloved.”

Henri Nouwen (2)

When I was growing up in the Presbyterian church, I never thought much about prayer other than prayers on Sunday morning, grace at the dinner table, or prayers at bedtime. Prayer to me was always about talking to God and making sure you used the right words which were usually scripted. “God is great. God is good. …” or “Now I lay me down to sleep. …” These are beautiful prayers, acknowledging God’s greatness, goodness, bounty, and protection and wonderful prayers for young children to learn.

As I grew into my teens and early 20’s, life was about achieving and deciding a career path. I continued regular church attendance but God was not foremost in my mind. Prayer became more a cry for help - help me pass the next big exam, help me decide on a career. Prayer also became a petition for protection from “the big scary world out there.”

It wasn’t long before all this striving to achieve felt empty. There was a void in my life that book knowledge and achieving couldn’t fill. God seemed distant. Prayer, at best, was something done out of obligation and at worst, pointless. Things began to change when a spiritual director helped me understand that a primary form of prayer was listening to what God wanted to reveal to me. Listening was prayer?!! No words! WOW! If I could set aside my preoccupations, not worry about what words to say, and sit quietly I may experience the presence of God! And being in the presence of God was prayer! My concept of prayer was further expanded through the writings of such people as Richard Rohr and Henri Nouwen as well as through various educational opportunities. I learned about the importance of contemplation as a form of prayer. Through contemplation, by slowing down and taking the time to look at what was before me in an unhurried, nonjudgmental way, I could experience God’s presence in all of creation and the interconnectedness of all things. My void now was filled with the knowledge that God was all around me and within me and desired my presence. God was waiting for me to show up! I realized that anything done with the intent of being present in the moment with God was prayer. Whether reading a book, looking at art, listening to music, walking in nature, doing the dishes or the laundry, or being silent, if my intention was to be in God’s presence with open eyes and ears and mind and heart, then I was praying. This opened up a whole new way of being for me.

There are a lot of things that can sidetrack me from my best intentions. A long “to do” list, concerns over health or family or the world, the feeling of self-sufficiency (“I can do it on my own!), and complacency are just a few such things. It has been my experience that when I get sidetracked, when I forget who I am and whose I am, when I put God on the sidelines, I usually get a “nudge” from God saying, “Don’t forget that I am here!” And when I get that nudge, if I pause and take several deep breaths that usually helps me get back into the Divine flow, as Richard Rohr,

Franciscan priest and author, calls it. The other practice that helps me is a breath prayer. A breath prayer is meant to be said in one inspiration and exhalation cycle. It might be a prayer that I have written using my name for God and stating my desire such as, “Good Shepherd, may I know your voice and your voice only.” It also can be a verse of scripture such as, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need.” (Psalm 23: 1) Both pausing and breathing and using a breath prayer refocus my intention of putting God front and center.

I still pray the prayers of the church and use words to speak with God. If I set my intention to be in God’s presence, I do experience God in these prayers. But I also find God through other people, art and music, nature, scripture, other writings, and the use of imagination. And I find God in myself as I sit in silence. Psalm 46: 10 has taken on new meaning for me. “Be still and know that I am God.” I don’t have to have the correct words. I just need to slow down and be still and open myself to God’s presence. As Lee Jones, a long-time member of Hyde Park Church who passed away a few years ago at age 100, said, prayer is being in the presence of God. How do you experience prayer? What opens you up to God’s presence and love? When have you been aware of God’s presence and what was that experience like for you? As we continue our spiritual journeys may we set our intentions to be in God’s presence and thus to experience God’s love and the promise of abundant life. Blessings to us all as we continue our sacred journeys.

(1) Richard Rohr, Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer,Crossroad Publishing, New York, 2013.

(2) Henri Nouwen, Daily Meditations, Henri Nouwen Society, January 13, 2015.

A Covenant Prayer

When asked if there was a United Methodist prayer, I immediately thought of a special prayer called A Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition. Steve Manskar describes the prayer in this way: “John Wesley (the founder of the Methodist Movement) adapted this prayer from the Puritan tradition that was so important to his parents, Samuel and Suzannah, and life in the Epworth rectory. It informed his theology and preaching. He expected the people called “Methodists” to pray this prayer at the beginning of each new year as a way of remembering and renewing their baptismal covenant.”

This prayer has been very meaningful to me as I have led Covenant renewal services in congregations at the beginning of the new year. I have returned to this prayer many times in my life when I have been struggling and needed to more fully trust God’s direction for my future. It was also very meaningful when my family responded to the invitation by the Bishop and Cabinet during the months of the Covid lockdown, to pray this prayer each night before dinner:

“I am no longer my own, but thine.

Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.”

As we move through the end of one year into another new one, I encourage you to make this Covenant Prayer a part of your prayer life. God opens new paths in our lives and our spirits when we are willing to turn ourselves fully over to God’s will and way for us.

by

Pastor Suzanne

a new vantage point

by Lucinda Hurst

Several years ago, as a member of United Women in Faith (formerly United Methodist Women), I offered to do a reading at our Ash Wednesday service mostly because no one else volunteered. It was during the time that Bishop Palmer was acting as interim pastor at our church so I met with him a few days before the service to discuss the Bible verses I was going to read. Although our conversation was not a long one, Bishop Palmer challenged me to think about the verses and how they illuminated the meaning of Ash Wednesday. Over the next few days, I read the verses a couple times a day, reflecting on their connection not only to Ash Wednesday but to my faith as well.

I continued to do the readings at future UWF Ash Wednesday services, until one day someone at church (I don’t remember who) approached me about becoming a Sunday morning liturgist. I was flattered but didn’t know if I had what it took (or at least what I thought it took) to do it. Although I had participated in several Bible studies over the

years, I was by no means a regular Bible-reader. Should I really be the person standing at the lectern delivering the Word to the congregation when I had very little understanding of what I was actually saying? The more I considered it though, the more I thought, “Why not me?” I was sure there were others in the congregation who were as intimidated by the Bible as I often was. Plus, I felt I would not have been asked if they didn’t think I was “qualified”.

I have been a liturgist for several years now, most notably during the height of the pandemic when it was just me, Cathy or Doug Johns, Brenda Portman, Ben Owen, maybe a soloist, and Zeke Plymesser in the sanctuary. It has been so meaningful to me in so many ways. I get to be up there right next to the choir whose voices make my heart sing and my soul soar. I get to look out upon a congregation I care for so deeply and see the faces of people I admire, respect and call friend. I get a different vantage point of our church in all its glory (and good

gracious is it ever glorious). But the biggest reason I enjoy being a liturgist is the “deep dive” I take into the scripture reading as I prepare the Prayer of the People. I hesitate to call it research but that’s really what it is to me since I didn’t grow up attending church and started my faith journey in my early 30s. As liturgists we are asked to keep the Bible verses in mind when writing our Prayer of the People. As someone who often does not understand the Bible verses upon first reading, I peruse Biblical scholars, religious leaders, and even simply Bible aficionado take on the verses. I find this extremely fulfilling as I continue to shape my faith and the role it plays in my day to day life.

Being a liturgist has enhanced my Sunday morning worship experience by giving me the opportunity to explore the meaning behind the message. I now have a deeper appreciation of how the scripture, the prayers, the sermon, and the hymns are all intertwined in an offering of peace, love, and reflection as we worship together each week.

What the Ten Commandments mean for us today

Youth Sunday Coming February 5, 2023

written by Chuck Brandt

Last year’s Youth Sunday chancel drama was appreciated by many. The Youth presented what the words of our Lord’s Prayer mean in the language of today: The disciples of Jesus asked him to give them a short prayer which encapsulated their life-of ministry in service to God. They wanted a prayer like the one John the Baptist had given to his followers, a compact prayer for daily use. Like much of the Hebrew hymns, prayers, and poetry, Jesus gave them a prayer in matching couplets (a pair of successive lines of verse), like most of the psalms.

He taught them to pray about the focus of their ministry, then about the process of doing that ministry in God’s name. Jesus taught them in their own common daily language.

THE PRAYER COUPLETS, IN OUTLINE FORM ARE:

1a. Our Praise to God.

2a. Our Kingdom Mission.

3a. Our Tools.

3b. Our Love.

2b. Our Protection in ministry.

1b. Our Confidence in God.

OUR LORD’S PRAYER:

1a. Our Father, Who art in heaven; hallowed be Thy name!

2a. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

3a. Give us this day our daily bread;

3b. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

2b. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.!

1b. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen!!

These words were translated from Greek, which came from the original common Aramaic language of Jesus. They used words and phrases which do not carry the same understanding today as they did back then. For example, bread was their staff of life, and represented all they needed for successful daily living and in sharing with others.

Based on the ideas found in Fr. Dominic Crossan’s book THE GREATEST PRAYER, here are what the words of Jesus are conveying to us today. (presented in the outline form of couplets, as was done above)

1a. Thank you God for giving us a wonderful world and a chance to be a meaningful part of it. You are a great God and deserve our praise.

2a. Help us to bring Your rule of love into our world each day.

3a. Supply us with all that we need to succeed in our Christian life, especially what we need to advance our kingdom building ministry.

3b. Move us to love all whom we live with and meet. May our loving attitude of forgiveness draw others into a closer relationship with You, just as Your forgiveness has made us whole.

2b. Guide us with Your Holy Spirit away from worldly pleasures; direct us into a Godpleasing life’s path. Protect us in the times when we might stray into dangerous behavior.

1b. For Your kingdom is a good and righteous world. Glory and praise be to You our Lord and mighty God. Thanks again. May it be so.

Super SERVE

Our youth are busily preparing for the 2023 Youth Sunday service. It will be another chancel drama; with this year’s topic being about teaching what the Ten Commandments mean for us today. They are not just a dusty old bunch of rules, but guidance for our lives in Christ for today. Youth Sunday will be on February 5th in just several months from now.

Walking Humbly! That was the beginning of the Justice Ministry at HPCUMC. As much as some of us felt we wanted to be a community of believers doing justice and loving mercy, we realized we had a lot to learn about how to do these things. We began our journey by reaching out to organizations that were in the JUSTICE business. We identified several that we could support their work and in return they would lead us in becoming workers for Justice.

One meeting we attended gave us that immediate “Aha” moment. It was “All-In Cincinnati”, a racial equity coalition. All-In, birthed in 2017 was supported by Interact for Health, United Way of Greater Cincinnati and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. A core team of representatives from these organizations was recruited.

AMOS Project Collective Empowerment Group

Cincinnati Black United Front Intersections

Cincinnati Union Cooperative

LISC of Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky

Cincinnati Human Relations Commission Strive Partnership

Cincinnati Economic Inclusion Department Urban League

Cincinnati Health Department

Women’s Fund Greater Cincinnati Foundation

All-In now consists of over 150 community members. HPCUMC Justice Ministry is honored to be counted as one of those members.

“All-In seeks to understand racial disparities and create a policy road map to ensure prosperity for all. With a focus on Black Women, All-In works on policies concerning economic mobility, education, justice, health and housing” , Segann March explains.

Attending monthly All-In meetings, HPCUMC has been included in All-In's work. Each meeting consists of hearing from experts about policy and issues in the five critical areas and then we break into working groups to address issues about change and improvements that will bring about positive change and greater equity for everyone. Examples of programming are reports from the Mayor, the Superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools, the Health Collaborative and the Bail Project to name a few.

Micah 6:8

What does the Lord require of you? To do justice To Love Mercy To WALK HUMBLY with your God.

What does the Lord require of you?

Some of the accomplishments listed below in each area are: HEALTH

• Partnered with Kroger for a low-contact, convenient service that allows customers to shop online for groceries using SNAP benefits or EBT cards and pick up their order curbside at a nearby Kroger stores.

• Partnered with 84.51 to update the food distribution map to include an overlay of Black women in poverty to address food access.

• The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners declared Racism a Public Health Crisis. Their resolution outlines action steps to address systemic racism and promote justice, including supporting All-In Cincinnati and other local organizations driving racial equity issues.

• Partnered with The Health Collaborative to address Covid-19 community testing, education and awareness, and data sharing.

HOUSING

• Partnered with LISC to support rental and eviction protection policies and the Affordable Housing Trust Fund with Cincinnati City Council.

ECONOMIC MOBILITY

• Partnered with the Women’s Fund and provided support for the passage of the Salary History Ban and voted to endorse the passage of Issue7

• We’ve partnered with Co-op Cincy and the Business Legacy Fund to support Black Female owned businesses.

EDUCATION

• Partnered with Dr. Gail Christopher and local universities to implement

• Rx Racial Healing training throughout the country. The University of Cincinnati now has a Racial Healing Center and will host racial healing circles.

• All-In Cincinnati officially voted to endorse the passage of the Cincinnati Preschool Promise –Issue 17.

• Partnered with Cincinnati Public Schools to address the digital divide as well as to assist in developing an Anti-Racism policy for the district.

JUSTICE

• Partnered with the Community Economic Advancement Initiative and the Urban League to prioritize testing and mask distribution in Black communities.

•Additionally, the City of Cincinnati approved recommendations from our partnership with Cincinnati Black United Front and the Ohio Justice and Policy Center regarding the Collaborative Agreement and healthy policing.

• Partnered with Council Member Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney to encourage City officials and staff to take part in the Racial Equity Matters “Groundwater” and “Phase 1” sessions. Groundwater and Phase 1 Trainings are designed to create a culture of racial equity consciousness. All training will be provided at no cost to the city.

And so we continue to WALK HUMBLY following the lead of partners like ALL IN.

“Charity is no substitute for justice. If we never challenge a social order that allows some to accumulate wealth–even if they decide to help the less fortunate–while others are short-changed, then even acts of kindness end up supporting unjust arrangements. We must never ignore the injustices that make charity necessary, or the inequalities that make it possible. ”

– Michael Eric Dyson

What does the Lord require of you? To do justice, To Love Mercy , To WALK HUMBLY with your God.

REGISTRATION 2023-2024

Preparing Children for Success in Life

Enroll your child age 2 1/2 – 5 for the 2023-2024 school year at Hyde Park Community UMC Preschool. Our goal at HPCUMC Preschool is to encourage the development of each child's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills, as well as spiritual growth in order to prepare each child for the formal learning experience. Register today and learn more by visiting our website www.hydeparkpreschool.org.

Questions? Email us at preschool@hpcumc.org.

Every summer HPCUMC Preschool offers camps on a variety of engaging topics for children ages 3-5 led by Preschool staff. Summer FUN Camp will be offered August 7-11 and 14-18, 2023 from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, just before school starts back to help children transition smoothly from home to school.

Registration materials will be made available in February/March 2023.

ACTIVITIES & things

DECEMBER

Blue Christmas Service, 7:00pm Advent Retreat, 8:30am-12:00pm

Order Deadline is Monday, Dec. 5th!

UMW Cookie Walk pickup

Special 9:30 Worship Service with choirs & orchestra

Jazz Vespers Service, 7:00pm

Super Serve Saturday

Live Outdoor Nativity 5:00-8:00pm, Christmas fun for the entire family! We hope to see you at our Christmas Eve Services (listed on the inside cover)

MERRY

Cookie Walk

& Craft Sale

It’s the annual holiday event everyone is talking about…

United Women in Faith (UWF) at HPCUMC raise funds to support local charities with 100% of the proceeds supporting our local mission partners serving women, children and families. Your contribution to our fundraising campaign will lift up our most vulnerable.

PLEASE ORDER BY MONDAY DECEMBER 5, 2022 for PICK UP SUNDAY December 11th in the WELCOME CENTER or choose an delivery option below. THANK YOU for your continued support of this annual event! Payment is expected at time of delivery, cash or check payable to UWF. THANK YOU for your continued support of this annual event!

Visit www.hydeparkchurch.org and order today!

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS NEEDED

Hyde Park Community UMC Preschool, a non-profit, play-based preschool program, is hiring SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS.

When asked to substitute at our school you will ultimately be filling the role of the Assistant Teacher. Below is a description of your duties and responsibilities during your time on campus:

• Assisting the teacher in the general supervision and management of the children ages 2 1/2-5 years of age in accordance with the policies and philosophies of the school and the church;

• Assisting in implementing the daily program, during school hours, under the direction of the teacher;

Pastor of Mission & Outreach and Young Adult Ministry

Pastor of The Warehouse

Pastor of The Warehouse

Rev. Dr. Suzanne Allen

Rev. Dr. Todd D. Anderson

Rev. Kate Smith

Pastor Sadell Bradley

Pastor Sherman Bradley

Want to make a positive difference in the community? Support young children to help them grow and thrive? Consider becoming a SUBSTITUTE TEACHER!

Rev. Suzanne Allen

Denise Harpring

Lucinda Hurst

Sarah Knapton

Carolyn Keil Christine McHenry Jan Seymour

Senior Pastor

Senior Pastor