Contact: Contact Address:

Kay Hogg, Dir. of Parish Administration 3000 Euclid Ave.

Phone: 216-432-0150 Cleveland, OH 44115
Fax 216-432-0134 khogg@firstchurchcleveland.com

Press Release
For Immediate Release; Kill Date 10/4/2009

A First:
Two Churches
To Worship As One

Downtown Cleveland congregations to 'experiment' with combined

services

Cleveland, Ohio, September, 2009 — Sunday, October 4 at 11:00am, the usual

250 attendees of First United Methodist Church located on the corner of E. 30th and
Euclid will head to the corner of E. 107th and Chester to experience a combined
service at Epworth-Euclid United Methodist Church. That particular Sunday morning,
the classrooms and sanctuary inside the First Church building will be silent.

"That Sunday, the people of First Church will be worshiping down the street a bit,"
said Dr. Kenneth W. Chalker, Senior Pastor of First Church and, as of last July, also
the Interim Executive Pastor of Epworth-Euclid. "I'm looking forward to our
experiment with this combined service. And there'll be a second combined service
November 1 at First Church," Chalker said. "So it's an exciting time in the life of
Methodism in Cleveland."

In what is described as a first-of-its-kind approach to addressing the enormous

financial challenges facing many of Cleveland's urban congregations, members and

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staff of these two historic churches met to rethink how both congregations can
change and grow. Their interest in finding new ways they together can have a strong
presence of outreach and ministry in downtown Cleveland led to current thought
that, eventually, using one location for worship and education frees up the other for
community programming, while helping to address utility costs in both structures.
So, trying some combined services was the logical next step.

"This is an inspiring example of congregations working together to find solutions,

rather than having solutions imposed upon them from the outside," Chalker
explained.

The two churches worshiping together on October 4 "is particularly meaningful, as

Christians around the globe observe World-Wide Communion Sunday," said Bishop
Judith Craig, who is assisting with this partnership and preaching most Sunday
mornings at Epworth-Euclid. "This combined service will be a wonderful reminder of
why we celebrate communion in the first place."

The 11:00 service will include a compelling sermon offered by Dr. Chalker and exciting
music performed by the talented organists and chancel and gospel choirs from both
churches. Also taking part are the liturgical dancers from First Church. Infant and toddler
childcare will be provided, and school-aged children are invited to attend the service with
their families. Parking is available at nearby lots and on streets; handicap access is also
available.

For more specifics about this unique transition in the lives of these two historic Cleveland
churches, email ask@onecoolgod.com or visit http://OneCoolGod.com. Also contact First
Church at 216-432-0150 or Epworth-Euclid at 216-421-1200.

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