Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024

  • 9:00 a.m. Easter Sunday Worship in the Sanctuary and online
  • 10:00 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt (meet in Andersen Hall)
  • 11:00 a.m. Easter Sunday Worship in the Sanctuary and online

The Time Is Now: Our Urgent Need for Sabbath

We live in a fast-paced world that seems to be getting faster all the time. We’re always busy, always multitasking, always trying to check another thing off our to-do list. The world is constantly telling us to have more, to do more, to be more efficient, more productive, more everything–and it seems like busy-ness has become a virtue. But…that’s not what God wants for us. Jesus said…

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Discover more about our 2023-2024 Program Year

Holy Week

Triduum Eve Contemplative Prayer Service
Wednesday, March 27th at 5:30 p.m. in the Chapel
The Thursday through Sunday of Holy Week are known as the Triduum (“three days”)–the holiest period of the Christian year. On the eve of the Triduum, Fairmount will host a 45-minute candlelight prayer service with chants, lectio divina, and communion. 

Maundy Thursday
Thursday, March 28th at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
We gather a table with space for stranger and sibling, sinhttps://fpccle.org/event/good-friday/ner and saint. A table set with intention, tenderness, and care. An ever expanding table for all who wish to take their place. 

Good Friday
Friday, March 29th, 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at St. Pauls Episcopal Church
On the day when we mourn the death of Jesus, Fairmount pastors will join pastors from other Heights churches for an ecumenical “Seven Last Words” worship service.

Holy Saturday
Saturday, March 30th, 10:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. in the Chapel
Jesus died on Good Friday and was raised on Easter Sunday. But there was a day in between, Saturday, The Sabbath. On Holy Saturday, we’ll offer a guided time of prayerful waiting. You can drop in anytime between 10:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. for individual prayer and silence. 

Easter
Sunday, March 31st at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary
The message of Easter is simple: God’s love is the most powerful force in the universe. Join us on Easter Sunday to celebrate the good news of God’s love for all creation. Families and children are invited to our Easter Egg Hunt at 10:00 a.m. 

Special Announcements

Rev. Dr. Bruce Reyes-Chow Visits Fairmount on Sunday, April 7th.
The Rev. Dr. Bruce Reyes-Chow, author of our Lenten study book, Everything Good about God Is True, will preach at Fairmount during the 11:00 a.m. worship service on Sunday, April 7th. That morning, there will be one worship service at 11:00 a.m., followed by our Breaking Bread lunch. From 12:45 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Rev. Dr. Bruce Reyes-Chow will discuss his book and take questions from the congregation. Learn more about Rev. Dr. Bruce Reyes-Chow, his book, and our April 7th event, click here

Spring Women’s Retreat on Saturday, May 11th, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 pm.
Fairmount is thrilled to announce the return of its annual retreat designed to center the needs of women and femme-identifying individuals. This Mother’s Day weekend day-long retreat will create sacred space to step back from the hustle of everyday life and embrace the delightful and divine gift of Sabbath. This retreat is an invitation to come together in fellowship, reflection, and mutual growth. Through generative workshops, story sharing, breaking bread together, and worship, we will deeply connect with God and one another. Registration will be available soon. There will be a fee for this retreat, as well as scholarships available. Please contact Pastor Lindsay with any questions, lindsayhl@fpccle.org.

The Interfaith Group Against Hate (IGAH) is a diverse coalition of faith-based organizations united to confront hate and white supremacy. Its founding members are: Fairmount Presbyterian Church, Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple, Oliver Institutional Baptist Church, St. Dominic Catholic Church, and the Chagrin Valley Islamic Center. Fairmount’s IGAH leadership team is Ben Sperry (elder), Susan Kent, Debbie Wilber, Maurice Smith, and Pastor Ryan. Discover upcoming Interfaith educational and worship events. Click here.

Music Events

Rush Hour Concert, Tuesday, April 9th,  5:30 p.m.  A free 50 minute program of music by Zsolt Bognar, pianist and Tyler Young, saxophone.  Funding for this program is made possible by the Eleanor R. Baird Music Fund.

From Generation to Generation, Sunday, April 28th, 11 a.m.  A celebration of the Music Ministry at Fairmount Presbyterian with singers, bell ringers, and instrumentalists of all ages.

Lent at Fairmount

This Lenten season our worship themes and daily devotions are grounded in Everything Good about God Is True: Choosing Faith, a brand new book by Rev. Dr. Bruce Reyes-Chow. Bruce is a Presbyterian pastor in California. He’s pastored several congregations, written 6 books, and served as the youngest moderator of our national denomination, the Presbyterian Church (USA). Bruce wrote this latest book as a guide for progressive Christians to claim and proclaim “a more complex, nuanced, loving, and just version of the gospel.” We have created a daily devotion which is available in Andersen Hall that picks up on the questions and ideas that Bruce puts forward and invites you to engage in your understanding of faith and belief more deeply. We invite you to take one home with you as you prepare to begin this Lenten season. We also encourage you to pick one up for anyone you know who might benefit from this offering. 

Copies of the book, Everything Good about God Is True: Choosing Faith, are available in Andersen Hall. $10 suggested donation. Rev. Dr. Bruce Reyes-Chow will lead a book discussion after our April 7th worship.

Faith in Action

2024 Stewardship
In 2024 we hope to reach $750,000 in pledges to give us the resources needed to support this thriving church. The stewardship season is well underway, with $705,000 in pledges received so far. This is amazing, and we are so grateful to those of you who have pledged. If you have never pledged before, please consider doing so! It is important to pledge so that we can best prepare for the exciting mission of our church in 2024. Pledge cards can be found in the church pews, and you can always pledge online or call our church office.

Serving Our Community

Help Stock our Little Free Pantry
The LFP is a Fairmount ministry which addresses food insecurity in our community through our donations of non-perishable food and personal care items. The pantry is especially in need of soups, cereals/oatmeal, pasta and sauce, macaroni and cheese, and canned fruits and vegetables. Please bring your donations to Anderson Hall marked LFP. Thank you. Sign up to help curate our Free Little Pantry.

Help the Children from the Cleveland Sight Center
“Touch and Tell” is the name that Fairmount Temple has adopted for making alphabet Braille books under the direction of the Cleveland Sight Center. The third Wednesday of each month, volunteers meet at Fairmount Temple from 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and work together to create the books. You need no special abilities just a willingness to cut and glue. The best part, when the books are complete, we read them with the pre-school, visually impaired kids. Questions? Contact Hedy Westra.

For Children, Youth, and Families

WE Time: Most Sundays, children in Pre-K through 3rd grade in Room 214 and nursery care available for children under 5 in Room 212.

Confirmation: A class for youth in 7th grade and up to explore Presbyterian faith and understand what it means to become a member of Fairmount. Classes on Sunday mornings, October through May, beginning October 8.

The Fairmount Labyrinth: We invite you to come and walk the labyrinth in the side lawn whenever you have a few free moments in your day. We hope you will consider incorporating this into your sabbath practices.

Get Involved @Fairmount

After reading all these announcements, are you thinking to yourself…“This is the greatest church on earth and I must get involved”? If so, then fill out the Get Involved @Fairmount” form on our website to let us know what you might be interested in.