Together we will raise more money for Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity than we ever could alone! Want to help? Support by making a donation to our team. The process is fast, easy, and secure… and you can be sure that it will benefit a great cause… affordable homeownership. So, let’s build this house together. …
Author Archives: ipcwordpre55
Shoe Collection
SHOE COLLECTION Let’s work together! We are collecting shoes alongside other churches in the Presbytery of the Western Reserve to help people abroad and to help two local charities. We are collecting shoes through the end of July and there are two DRIVE THROUGH and DONATE dates. Simply collect shoes and bring them to Independence …
Changes to IPC Worship Protocols (July 2021)
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. (Psalm 95:1-2) Motion from Session…At a special session meeting the elders of IPC voted to approve the following motion effective immediately… While encouraging distancing, handwashing and avoiding worship activities that involve physical contact …
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Updated COVID Protocols (June 2021)
Updated COVID Protocols The Session of Independence Presbyterian Church has voted to update our COVID-safety protocols for Sunday morning worship. As of June 6th, for indoor services, IPC will be strongly recommending people who are not fully vaccinated to wear masks, and optional mask wearing for people who are fully vaccinated. For outdoor services masks …
Holy Week (Mar 28-Apr 4)
Jesus’ triumphal entrance into Jerusalem is ironic. The people want a king who comes with power to deliver them, but Jesus will suffer, be crucified and resurrected, which suggests a different kind of power. Jesus does not come to rule over people but rather to model mutual service with people. The story invites reflection on the reign of God and what it might look like.
Week 5: Mar 21-27
As you pray this passage, imagine that you are present in the boat with Jesus and his disciples, endangered by the raging wind and waves of a storm. The boat is often depicted as a symbol of the church. As you pray with this text, think of storms that currently endanger your life and the life of the church and that threaten to undo us.
Week 4: Mar 14-20
On the heels of his baptism, Jesus faces diabolic temptation in the wilderness that tests his mettle for the ministry before him. None of the temptations the devil sets before him have ignoble ends in view — daily bread, the good of nations and victory over death all are worthy goals. But each temptation entails selfish manipulation rather than service to the glory of God. Jesus models service to others, refusing to give in to the diabolic temptation to serve himself.
Week 3: Mar 7-13
For the next three days, we will pray with Scripture that can help us reflect on our graced histories — that is, on your personal history of light (special experiences of God’s presence, love and justice), your personal history of shadows (doubts, questions, reflections of brokenness and sin), and your history of light out of shadows (compassion and insight out of pain and disorder, isolation).
Week 2: Feb 28-Mar 6
The parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin are powerful stories in and of themselves, but the context in which they appear is also important. Jesus tells these parables in response to grumbling about his hospitality to sinners! How might these parables prompt reflection on our own perception and reception of sinners? How might they bring to our awareness that within each of us that is lost?
Week 1 (Feb 21-27)
Psalm 46, one of the most beloved of the Psalter, inspired Martin Luther’s celebrated hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” It articulates deep trust in God amid turmoil and chaos — realities with which we are all too familiar in our current historical moment. There are many ways to pray with this psalm.