Page 1

Keith

September 2019

Interpreter An Open & Affirming Congregation

Th

e

~ A Note From The Minister I grew up believing sin as the worst that we do, but

the heartbreaking truth is sin is always insinuating

itself into the best that we do and the holiest we

know. The warning sign of any cause, regardless of

its initial moral thrust, goad us, in the words of

Shakespeare, “to sin in loving virtue.”

In Jesus’ parable on the “Wheat and Weeds,” the

boss, when told that weeds have been planted among

the wheat, sown by an enemy in the wee hours of the

morning, replies, “No matter. Do not let that

consume you. Let them grow together. At the

harvest, we will straighten things out.”

I find myself tempted to assume my “wheatiness.” I

also know that I am more likely half wheat and half

weed. I also know that when I am most like wheat, I

am most vulnerable to the vicissitudes of judgment

and accusation. When, without humility, if I am

right, I will choose as my first course to pull up the

weeds around me, the ones who steal my sunlight,

the ones who irritate me and threaten my ideology.

My sense of rightness overtakes me.

What I missed is the nature of the enemy, that the

enemy in the night has deliberately sown weeds

among the wheat. He then leaves the field, the scene

of destruction, but confident that the damage he

intends will come to fruition. But how can he be so

sure? I sense the enemy understands the nature of

wheat, the “good folk.” They will do his job for him.

They will pull up the weeds and destroy the wheat as

well. The enemy does not have to worry if his intent

will be successful. It is a given—good folks

becoming bad folks by trying to put bad folks out of

business.

These days, these perilous days, I continue to think

and act from a perspective that fits me spiritually. I

rarely question my beginning assumptions. As a

person who mentions faith on a regular basis to my

congregation, I still marvel at my inability to nail

down this rabbi from Nazareth, this golden child of

responsible, righteous anger, who sweeps his sacred

space clean of charlatans making a buck of

pre-packaged temple souvenirs.

What I say and how I say it cannot be

overemphasized these days. How do I express my

convictions without adding to the toxicity of the

situation? Without some measure of humility, my

faith is subject to spotting. What if faith is best

expressed as grace, a quiet noun, experienced as a

verb. What if I rest under its soft shadow and

inviting light with little consideration of judgment?

What if I simply warmed myself with the thought

that the ugliest of my scars will be kissed?

What if I raised the gate of my heart to those who, by

my estimation and dismissal, are lying in wait to hurt

me with their brand of religion? What if I engage a

wrong with as much love and blessing and

forgiveness as it takes to change my life for the

better?

I confess such humility has never been my sense of

how to improve my corner of the neighborhood—to

look at what I perceive as evil in the eye and give

back a blessing, to try and love people I would never

invite home for Sunday dinner. When was the last

time I extended toward other people’s pain and

disappointment, even when I see them misbehaving

out of it? When was the last time I embraced them

and their stories without judgment? What if I have

been wrong in a way I never imagined—when the

need to be right supersedes and proves more

promising than any consideration of kindness?

Page 2

~ Notes From Council August Meeting Moderator Laura Emmer called the meeting to order. Joys and concerns were shared by Council members

and Keith Stuart led the opening prayer.

Minister’s Report

Keith made 679 contacts in July and August by telephone, email or visitation.

Treasurer’s Report

Total income for the month of July was $33,761 and expenses were $38,501.

We are at 62% of our pledged income, compared to 57% at this time last year.

Christian Education

Work is progressing on implementing the Godly Play Sunday School curriculum.

Other Business

Memory Loss Is Preventable, presented by Nate Bergman is Sunday, September 8, at 6:00 p.m.

Georgann Yonkers assumed the position of Coffee Hour coordinator.

The Church Picnic is September 15.

The Christmas Pageant is December 8.

Still receiving bids on repairing the roof.

Respectfully submitted,

Kurt Wiant, Council Clerk

DID YOU MOVE, CHANGE YOUR PHONE

NUMBER OR EMAIL?

Please keep the church office

informed of changes in your address,

phone number or email.

We use your email to send out the

Church Mouse and our monthly

newsletter.

CHECKS TO DOVER CHURCH

~ The church office receives many

checks over the course of a month.

Many are just made out to Dover

Church with no indication as to what it is for.

Articles of 150 words or less about

your group’s activities & events

(submissions will be edited for clarity and length).

The deadline for submissions

for the October edition is

Monday, September 23.

PASSAGES

We extend joyful congratulations to

Maria Velez and Aida Colon who were married by Rev. Keith

on August 25.

Page 3

~ For Your Information BOOK GROUP

Monday, September 9, 1:30 p.m.

A Gentleman of Moscow

by Amor Towles.

In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is

deemed an aristocrat, and is

sentenced to house arrest in the

Metropol, a grand hotel across the

street from the Kremlin. Rostov has

never worked a day in his life, and must now live in

an attic room while some of the most tumultuous

decades in Russian history are unfolding outside the

hotel’s doors.

A Gentleman of Moscow is brimming with humor, a

glittering cast of characters, and one beautifully

rendered scene after another. It casts a spell as the

count endeavors to gain an understanding of what it

means to be a man of purpose.

We meet in the parlor. Our discussions are lively,

friendly and fun.

A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING

EVENING BOOK CLUB

Monday, September 17 , 6:45 p.m.

Our September selection is The

Storyteller’s Secret by Sejal

Badani.

Nothing prepares Jaya for the heartbreak of her third

miscarriage and the slow unraveling of her marriage.

Desperate to assuage her grief, she decides to go to

India to uncover answers to her family’s past.

In India she learns about the “struggles, secret love,

and tragic fall of her pioneering grandmother during

the British occupation.” This beautifully written

novel portrays the “unrelenting force of love, the

power of healing, and the invincible desire to

dream.”

Please join us in the parlor for a lively discussion.

MICAH’S CAFÉ

Located in Dover Church’s old Bridal

Room, Micah's Cafe is serving fresh

brewed coffee, tea and hot chocolate.

Munchies are available too. We have

mints, almonds and biscotti.

All proceeds will go to mission projects. To help,

please contact Martha at martygras2@gmail.com.

Sunday, September 8, 6 p.m.

Dover Church

Dr. Nate Bergman, DO

Kemper House, speaker

Dr. Bergman will present

ways to achieve optimal brain

health for adults

at every age and stage.

For the first time, we are seeing research and results

that give hope in the fight to prevent and treat

cognitive decline. The key is knowing and getting

ahead of it early!

The program is for anyone who is interested in

improving their cognitive health, at risk for

developing cognitive decline or living with

dementia and needing guidance.

Sign up at our Hub and invite your

friends and family.

Coming in October

Dover Watercolorists Art Show & Sale

Sunday, October 20, during coffee hour.

Hosted by the Dover Watercolorists

who meet at Dover Church

Refreshments will be served.

Open to the public at 11:30 a.m.

Page 4

~ For Your Information

~ On Dover’s Website

www.doverucc.org

~ PLAY IT AGAIN ~ Want to hear Keith’s terrific sermon again? At the home page, click on the

‘Who We Are’ drop down tab and select Worship Services & Sermon, then Sermon

Archive.

~ CONTRIBUTIONS ~ To make your contributions to Dover Church: at the home page click on the

‘Supporting Dover-Our Offerings’ drop down tab and follow the directions.

~ PICTURES~ Photos of current church activities are posted under pictures. To have your activity included,

just email photos to the church office.

~ Christian Education

The Christian Education program is

excited to debut our new curriculum,

Godly Play in September. Join us on

Sunday, September 15 for an Open

House to learn more about our new

program model. The Open House will follow

worship, and conclude before the church picnic

begins.

Our classrooms will be open for you to view and

explore, while a storyteller will lead a sample story

for those in attendance.

This method focuses on mindful storytelling while

using physical representations of characters to allow

the children to visualize the story as it’s being told.

Students will be asked “I wonder” questions to foster

active thought processes, and engage them in faith

development.

It is our hope to create a sacred experience for our

young ones as they develop their faith. We are

excited for this new beginning, and hope you will

join us on September 15 to learn more about it.

Craig and Meghan Jenkins

“BE OUR GUEST”

CHURCH PICNIC

Sunday, September 15,

12:00 - 2:30 p.m.

An afternoon of Food and Fun!

Great Food, Good Friends,

Balloon Art, Bounce House,

Yard Games, Crafts, & More!

Hamburgers, Hot Dogs &

Fixn’s provided.

Bring a covered dish to share.

This Year’s Grill Masters:

Jeff Hughes & David Knoepp

Page 5

BLESSING BAGS

Blessing Bags are totes filled with basic

necessities including: hygiene products,

water, a blanket, socks, underwear and

‘meals ready to eat.’

Please take one if you drive where the homeless are

asking for help; you’ll be able to help on the spot.

You’ll find them in Thomas Hall.

STREET MINISTRY

Our next outing for Street Ministry will be Sunday,

October 20, after worship.

We always take food to share with those on the

street. If you don’t feel comfortable going on an

outing, please consider donating sandwiches or

soup. And, we have a dedicated group of sorters

who take your donated clothing and sort it into sizes

and types. To volunteer, contact Bette English

at 440-835-5235.

Please, do not donate any clothing, toiletries or

underwear we have enough and no more room for

storage.

~ Mission & Caring ~ For Your Information

MEN OF DOVER RETIRED

(OR NOT) LUNCH

The third Tuesday of each month

at 12:00 Noon

join us at Mahle’s Restaurant on

Detroit Road in Westlake.

A time to enjoy a good lunch

and the fellowship of other Dover UCC men.

Reservations not needed.

SEPTEMBER GATHERING

A CONVERSATION WITH KEITH

Monday, September 23

at 7:00 p.m.

in Thomas Hall

Dover women, get your questions ready, it is time to

ask the pastor, and your probing questions will help

guide the conversation.

Soul Sisters is a monthly gathering of the women

who attend Dover Church. All are invited and

encouraged to attend. Hope to see you there!

Lanni Lantery,

PRAYER GROUP

Dover’s prayer group will begin meeting

on Wednesday, September 11, at 9:45 a.m.

Traditionally the group meets for a brief

study and to pray for people and concerns

of the church.

The group, led by Rev. Keith and Parish Nurse Julie,

will discuss other prayerful options for the coming

year. You are invited to join in exploring these new

possibilities.

NEIGHBORS IN NEED OFFERING

The neighbors in Need offering supports

the UCC’s ministries of justice and

compassion throughout the United

States.

Information and an envelope will be in your bulletin

on September 29 and the offering will be received on

October 6.

Page 6

~ From the Parish Nurse

MEMORY LOSS CAN BE PREVENTED STARTING NOW!

Finally, we are starting to hear good news about the

treatment of memory loss. It can be prevented. It is

not a hopeless situation and a normal or expected

part of aging.

Research and results are giving us hope to fight and

prevent cognitive decline. According to the Chief

Scientific Wellness Officer for Kemper Cognitive

Wellness, Dr. Nate Bergman, the key is knowing and

getting ahead of it early. In fact, the younger we start

the better.

According to the CDC, 60% of adults fear memory

loss. We fear memory loss more than we fear loss of

physical abilities. One reason for this, is the

unfortunate perception that this decline is

untreatable, inevitable and hopeless.

We have seen, and maybe personally experienced the

devastation that severe cognitive impairment, such as

that seen with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease can

bring. Not all cognitive impairment is Alzheimer's,

and not all cognitive impairment is severe. About 6

million Americans do have Alzheimer's, but an

additional 16 million are living with some level of

cognitive impairment.

Part of the solution lives in the field of functional

medicine, a model described as an individualized,

patient-centered and science-based approach

empowering patients and practitioners to work

together in order to address the underlying causes of

disease and promote optimal wellness. A functional

medicine practitioner will incorporate modalities

such as nutrigenomics, studying an individual’s

interaction between nutrients and their genes,

pathophysiology and biochemistry to optimize

function.

Dr. Bergman specializes in this type of medicine. He

has worked closely with Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Dale

Bredesen and other notable experts in the prevention

and treatment of cognitive decline. He has a passion

for preventing memory loss that is personal. He

himself went to a neurologist as a younger adult in

his mid-30s because he was experiencing progressive

and scary memory problems. While he initially tried

to dismiss the problem, it reached a level of being so

alarming he could no longer ignore it.

The final straw came when Dr. Bergman could not

remember his own address while making

arrangements for an auto repair. The good news is

that he learned how to treat this problem, and

succeeded in turning it completely around with

adjustments in several lifestyle habits.

Sunday September 8, 2019 at 6pm, Dr. Bergman

will share his story, as well as insights and expertise

in the prevention and treatment of cognitive decline.

This informative program will be hosted here at

Dover UCC. More good news: It is free and open to

the public, although reservations are required by

calling Virginia at 440-871-1050

Dr. Bergman's message is important for adults of

ALL ages. As mentioned, he himself benefitted

when he was in his mid-30s. He mentions that

women in their 50s especially have great potential of

creating positive impact, during this time of

hormonal change. Again, the key is knowing and

getting ahead of it early.

We hope to see adults of all ages in attendance.

Blessings, Julie Kiefer RN

Permission to reproduce this article written for

Westlake/Bay Village Observer was given

by the author, Lydia Gadd, Director of Westlake

Center for Community Services.

Page 7

Informal Worship in the Chapel ................................ 8:15 a.m.

Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary ...................... 10:00 a.m.

The first Sunday, children & youth are in worship.

Coffee Hour ............................................................. 11:00 a.m.

Worship Schedule

1 8 15 22 29

Greeters Sue Jachnick

Martha Vivona

Sue Jachnick

Martha Vivona

Lois Berriker

Sheri Tool

Lois Berriker

Sheri Tool

Lay

8:15 a.m.

Mary Mann

8:15 a.m.

Roberta Leach

8:15 a.m.

Noreen Thompson

8:15 a.m.

Pete Thompson

8:15 a.m.

Judy Askin

Reader 10:00 a.m.

Jeff Hughs

10:00 a.m.

Millie Harley

10:00 a.m.

Laura Emmer

10:00 a.m.

David Kaschak

10:00 a.m.

Amy Keller

Media

Sharron

Wilkins

Walter

Kalix

David

MacKeigan

Dave

Kuhar

Flowers

Erna

Kloos

Rae-Rita

Chomoa

Lucy Bufkin

Jacquie DelMonte

Leita

Spencer Open

Coffee

Hour

Cynthia

Stuart

Lauren Falcone

Sue O’Neil

Sharron & Don

Nichols

Georgann

Yonkers Open

~ Worship Ministry

Ushers

September Lucy Bufkin, Jacquie DelMonte, Ruth Kroll, Dorothy Pastura, Carol Riordan

Please pray for God to be with these individuals, and for them to feel God’s presence in the

midst of their concerns:

Marilyn Ashbaugh, Marie Black, Emily Borocz-Johnson, Gerrard (friend of Kevin Kurth),

Mary Gerdel, Sofia Greer (friend of Jeff & Amanda Hughes), Paul Horning, Nanci Keller

(Amy Keller’s mother-in-law), Jason (David Wakelee’s partner), Rev. Tom Madden (dear

friend of Lois & Marilyn), Helen Libens, Shirley Lustek, Guy Mann (Jim Mann’s father),

Jeff Matos (friend of Jan Jones), Gail Mendel (Bobby Mendel’s mother), Les Nichols, Melissa Nolan, Tanya

Popi (Dover Church Custodian), Patty Porter (friend of Jane & Larry Coil), Karen Pittak (Lindsey Kaschak

Pittak’s mother-in-law) Susan Reynolds (sister of Denece Praeger) Linda Reynolds, Donna Shiley, & Pat

Daily (friends of the Koehlers) Ruth Schneider, Jennifer Shultz (friend of Lauren Falcone), Helen Sima

(neighbor of Kevin Kurth), Mateo Smith-6 years old (family friend of Deanna Dunbar), Winnie Streicher

(neighbor of Betty & Mike English), Robin Thomas, and 18 month old Evelyn Turk (child of a friend of

Lauren Falcon).

Page 8

Rev. Keith Stuart ...........................................Pastor

Rev. Scott Patterson ...................... Pastor Emeritus

Rev. John Rinehart .................... Minister of Justice

Craig Reynolds............................... Music Director

Jan Jones ................................................... Organist

Vicki Thompson........................................ Organist

Virginia Lockmeyer ....... Administrative Secretary

Gail Schuenemann ...................Financial Secretary

Julie Kiefer, R. N. ............................. Parish Nurse

Serving the Church

Laura Emmer ........................... Council Moderator

Kathleen Poe ................... Council Vice Moderator

Kurt Wiant ....................................... Council Clerk

Larry Coil .................................. Council Treasurer

Martha Vivona ..................................... Lay Leader

Meghan & Craig Jenkins .................. CE Directors

Amanda & Jeff Hughes ................. Youth Advisors

Katie Alexander and

Georgann Yonkers ............ Assist. Youth Advisors

Katie Alexander .................................... Child Care

The vision of Dover UCC is to seek justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God.

OPEN AND AFFIRMING STATEMENT

Dover Congregational United Church of Christ is an Open and Affirming congregation. We affirm

that God’s grace is available to all. We welcome people of all ages, genders, races, views, abilities,

sexual orientations, expressions and identities, ethnic, educational and economic backgrounds into the

full life and ministry of our church. We declare this in the name of God, whose Son, Jesus Christ,

welcomed all people into God’s circle of grace.