September Pastoral Letter
To all God’s Beloved in the Zion United Church of Christ, Steubenville, Ohio, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from our Triune God, the Holy One of Israel.
With many members of the church council on vacation or out of town, there was no meeting of the Church Council in August and therefore no August issue of Joyful Noiz. We even canceled Worship on August 9th because so many regular worshipers were not going to be able to attend.
On August 16 we hosted our second poet for the Poetry in Season series. Steubenville native and award-winning poet Dr. Debra Fleming read the Psalm in worship and then engaged five participants in a lively poetry workshop focused on the summer season.
Our next poet for Poetry in Season will be Steubenville native and current Cincinnati Poet Laurette Richard Hague. He will be with us in worship on September 27 to read the Psalm and afterwards will present a poetry workshop focusing on the fall season. Everyone attending worship may attend the workshop for free, but others will be charged $10.00.
We will host our fourth poet for Poetry in Season on January 3, 2027. Beat Poet John Burgess will join us for worship to read the Psalm and like all the other poets before him will present a Poetry Workshop after worship, his workshop focusing on winter.
All Poetry in Season workshops are open to the public for a $10 fee but anyone attending worship that day may attend the Poetry in Season workshop at no cost.
In other news, the after-worship Bible Study recently finished reading through the Gospel According to Mark and will soon begin reading through the Gospel According to John. Never starting earlier than 11:00 AM and sometimes later if worship runs over an hour, and always wrapping up by noon, we meet around the tables in the office, sometimes with snacks and coffee. We open with a Prayer for Illumination and then take turns reading out loud passages and discussing them. We share our thoughts, ask tough questions, sometimes laugh, and always walk away with more insights.
Labor Day, the end of summer vacations and the beginning of a new school year, remind us of the opportunity to begin again the practices that sustain our lives and spirits, including attending worship and perhaps also Bible Study after worship. We invite you to consider your commitment to spiritual practices and disciplines such as worship and Bible Study as we enter the season of Fall.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you
John Edward Harris
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