Douglas Craver · A First: Two Churches To Worship As One

September 30th, 2009

Downtown Cleveland congregations to ‘experiment’ with combined services

Sunday, October 4 at 11:00am, the usual 250 attendees of First United Methodist Church located on the corner of E. 30th and Euclid will head to the corner of E. 107th and Chester to experience a combined service at Epworth-Euclid United Methodist Church in University Circle. That particular Sunday morning, the classrooms and sanctuary inside the First Church building will be silent.

“That Sunday, the people of First Church will be worshiping down the street a bit,” said Dr. Kenneth W. Chalker, Senior Pastor of First Church and, as of last July, also the Interim Executive Pastor of Epworth-Euclid. “I’m looking forward to our experiment with this combined service. And there’ll be a second combined service November 1 at First Church,” Chalker said. “So it’s an exciting time in the life of Methodism in Cleveland.”

In what is described as a first-of-its-kind approach to addressing the enormous financial challenges facing many of Cleveland’s urban congregations, members and staff of these two historic churches met to rethink how both congregations can change and grow. Their interest in finding new ways they together can have a strong presence of outreach and ministry in downtown Cleveland led to current thought that, eventually, using one location for worship and education frees up the other for community programming, while helping to address utility costs in both structures. So, trying some combined services was the logical next step.

“This is an inspiring example of congregations working together to find solutions, rather than having solutions imposed upon them from the outside,” Chalker explained.

The two churches worshiping together on October 4 “is particularly meaningful, as Christians around the globe observe World-Wide Communion Sunday,” said Bishop Judith Craig, who is assisting with this partnership and preaching most Sunday mornings at Epworth-Euclid. “This combined service will be a wonderful reminder of why we celebrate communion in the first place.”

The 11:00 service will include a compelling sermon offered by Dr. Chalker and exciting music performed by the talented organists and chancel and gospel choirs from both churches. Also taking part are the liturgical dancers from First Church. Infant and toddler childcare will be provided, and school-aged children are invited to attend the service with their families. Parking is available at nearby lots and on streets; handicap access is also available.

For more specifics about this unique transition in the lives of these two historic Cleveland churches, email ask@onecoolgod.com or visit http://OneCoolGod.com. Also contact First Church at 216-432-0150 or Epworth-Euclid at 216-421-1200.

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