Something For Sunday:
Congratulations to our friend and sister, Rev. Courtney Clayton Jenkins and the South Euclid United Church of Christ congregations.
April is our Dedication Month here at South Euclid United Church of Christ! We are so thankful for the beautiful Sanctuary that God has blessed us with.
Our Dedication Month will begin with a time of spiritual revival. Please plan to attend two nights of revival Wednesdays April 6 and April 13. Our revival preacher for Wednesday, April 6 will be Rev. Dr. Gina M. Stewart, Senior Pastor of Christ Missionary Baptist Church (Memphis, TN). Our April 13 revival preacher will be the General Minister and President of United Church of Christ, Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer.
Our official dedication weekend will commence in a time of worship through diverse genres of music presented by our special guests: C. Anthony Bryant, Alcee Chriss III, Maria Jacobs, Mari-Yan Pringle, Dr. David Thomas and the Mass Choir.
All SEUCC members and friends are encouraged to celebrate the gift God has granted South Euclid United Church of Christ. On April 17, our sacred space and sanctuary located at 4217 Bluestone Road, will be dedicated and offered back to the Lord. Join us at our Blended worship service at 11 a.m. with our guest preacher Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Hale, Senior Pastor of Ray of Hope Christian Church (Atlanta, GA). Our day will culminate with our official Dedication service at 5 p.m. with our guest preacher Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, III, Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ (Chicago, IL). These worship experiences are sure to be historical moments for our congregation!
The Back Story:
The fire was devastating when it ripped through the Euclid Avenue Congregational United Church of Christ on Cleveland’s main street in March 2010. Though no one was physically hurt in the fire, which began when a bolt of lightning struck the roof of the building at 9606 Euclid Avenue, the building, more than 125 years old, burned quickly.
Cleveland firefighters were unable to save it, even though they had arrived on the scene within three minutes of the call.
Four years later, the members assembled in their new sanctuary in South Euclid. Renamed South Euclid United Church of Christ, the members bought the property from the Cleveland Catholic Diocese which had closed its Saint Mary Margaret Catholic Church at the corner of Belvoir and Bluestone. The new worshippers renovated a gymnasium on the property and converted it into the new sanctuary. “So the site we are in right now is temporary,” said the pastor.
Still, the members celebrated with song and prayers about the property. “This is a true joy to be able to be here today,” said Dave Buckle. He smiled as he greeted fellow member Charles Williams. “We came a long way since the fire and I tell you we are really blessed to be here today,” added Williams.
Carolyn Smith was in tears as she cried for happiness. “I was very much lifted in the spirit of God,” she said as she dabbed a handkerchief to her eyes.
There are several other buildings on the plot of land which will be utilized by South Euclid United Church of Christ. The congregation has plans to build a new sanctuary building on the site.
In the years between the fire and their moving to South Euclid, the members of Euclid Avenue Congregational worshipped in the former First United Methodist Church on Euclid at East 30th Street.
The first sermon, delivered by the Rev. Courtney Clayton Jenkins, who did not lead the congregation until after the fire, was about imagination. “I think that connected with our situation,” said Rev. Jenkins. She spoke on believing that through God, anything was possible.
At the time of the fire in 2010, the church was under the leadership of an interim minister. When she left, Rev. Jenkins was hired to lead the church which met in the rental space. Sunday, she and the members celebrated a new beginning as they thanked God for the journey which brought them all literally out of the ashes of a fire.
