The President's Corner

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This month I continue my series on Parma’s places of worship by spotlighting Ridgewood United Methodist Church, located at 6330 Ridge Road. Despite her very busy schedule, Rev. Karen Wolcott was gracious enough to take the time to meet with me to teach me about her church. What follows is a summary of what I learned.

What has always struck me over the years when I visit Ridgewood UMC is how welcomed I feel by all those with whom I come in contact. I had a similar experience the day I visited to gain the knowledge for this column. Rev. Karen, who has served as Pastor since 2014, and her staff were happy to answer my questions and provide me with a tour of their spacious church campus. In fact, she immediately provided me with a document she created summarizing the many activities and programs the church offers. 

Like many of Parma’s churches, Ridgewood got its start in Cleveland before moving here. In fact, the congregation first began meeting in 1869, before purchasing land in what was part of the Stahl Allotment at Ridge Road and Southington Drive in 1928.  The Stahl company developed a lot of pre-World War II Parma. According to a brochure, “the congregation met in the Community Town Hall in Parma until the basement section was dedicated on May 12, 1929.” The Great Depression proved very difficult for the church, but the congregation weathered the economic storm and finally dedicated their new church structure in 1952. Over the years more classrooms, a bell tower and other additions have been made.

In 2015, many Parma residents benefitted from the Work Mission Trip, which was hosted out of Ridgewood UMC under the direction of Chuck and Renita Nohejl. As part of the North Coast Mission, over 300 youth and adults from around the country descended on Parma and completed landscaping and repairs at the homes of many senior citizens and other needy residents. I was pleased to find that they plan to return to Parma in 2019 to continue their generous work.

Ridgewood UMC offers programs for everyone. For instance, they hold a bi-monthly caring dinner which is open to the community. Further, the youth program meets Wednesday afternoons September through March and includes Bible study, a family-style meal, music, drama, recreation and study time. Twice a year Ridgewood offers a Drive through Prayer, in which Pastor Karen and other members of the congregation pray for those who literally drive through on a Saturday morning. They also have junior and senior high school youth ministries, women’s ministries, a singles group, and a pet blessing in the fall for the community.

The church owns a small apartment building, as well as a parsonage, which are located on the campus. I was impressed with the fact that parsonage home is included in Ridgewood UMC’s Family Promise Program. As part of this program, the parsonage is used as a “bridge home,” in which a family that is transitioning to self-sufficiency is offered free rent for 6-12 months until they get back on their financial feet. This program further reveals how the folks at Ridgewood are committed to helping others.

During the summer, worship service is held at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings, followed by outdoor fellowship at 11:00 a.m. weather permitting.  From September through May, Sunday school is offered at 9:00 a.m., services at 10:00 a.m., followed by indoor fellowship, as well as adult Sunday school at 11:00 a.m. Ridgewood also offers wedding services for those who are interested. Further, their 250 capacity Friendship Hall is available for rent. 

The United Methodist Church was created in 1968 with the union of the Methodist Church (USA) and the Evangelical United Brethren Church and traces its roots back to 18th century England and founders John and Charles Wesley. It is the largest denomination of the Methodist movement, which claims 80 million members worldwide – 12 million of which are UMC members. It is the third largest Christian community in the United States with about 7.2 million members. Many will recognize the UMC’s flame logo, which represents the work of the Holy Spirit throughout the world, while the two parts of the flame represent the union of the predecessor denominations.

According to the UMC website, “As United Methodists, we have an obligation to bear a faithful Christian witness to Jesus Christ, the living reality at the center of the Church’s life and witness. To fulfill this obligation, we reflect critically on our biblical and theological inheritance, striving to express faithfully the witness we make in our own time.” In fact, the term Methodist is derived from the very methodical way the founders and followers practice their beliefs. The faith shares many of the same principles as other Christian denominations, including that God is one, but revealed in three distinct persons, salvation through Jesus Christ who became human, died and was resurrected, and that the Church is an extension of Jesus’ life and mission.

To learn more about Ridgewood United Methodist and its programs, visit their website at www.rumc-parma.com or call them at 440-885-1360. As Rev. Karen’s business card reads, “Our purpose is to open doors so that all may experience the grace of God through Jesus Christ.”  Clearly, all are welcomed to this special place of worship in Parma.