St. Paul's Community Church UCC — Local services in Cleveland

Normally I would give St. Pauls Community Church a 5 star but I have to now give it a one star. Usually My boyfriend and I go there during the free meals and we are treated well and can receive a good meal but there have been a few changes recently that are puzzling for a church that claims its for the community. A few weeks ago my boyfriend and I came for the free meal and because it was a cold day we went into the front door of the church. We were going to wait out the service and then join the meal after service was over. That unfortunately was not what happened. When we first arrived there were no seats available. we were deciding where to go when someone began to tell us what to do. This person was waiting outside the service and getting quite insistent on telling us what to do. I told him to leave us alone. The man became defensive and stood up as if he was going to attack me. I repeated "Leave us alone" At the same time church members told us to go down the hall and wait. So we left to get away from the volital situation but when we arrived down the hall we were to to go back the other way. All we were trying to do was get out of the rain and cold. Other things happened, misunderstanding, confusion. But then a church member came back to the entrance of the area where they hold the free food and said to the man at the door, don't no one get into the room until the church members come in first. I was appalled. I have spent my whole life dedicated to the helping of humanity in my spiritual practice and this church member is saying don't let his brothers and sisters come in because we don't go to service? Jesus says to love your brothers and sisters as you love yourself. To help the needs of the poor. Is being poor and needing help an excuse to exclude them from the love of God. Members who believe themselves to be better than all the rest are in need of a wake up call. All of us deserve love and compassion. I could say more and I have tried to nice as to the review. St. Paul Community Church does tremendous amount of good work for the community. But include everyone in...

St. Paul's in Ohio City is much, much more than an amazing church. Under this one roof is an Outreach Program with a food pantry and services such as acquiring id's, bus passes and housing referrals. Down the hall is an angel with a stethoscope (Parish Nurse) who's compassion and skill tend the needy. Across the hall is the Turning Point recovery program headed up by a caring, bright man. Down the hall further is a soup kitchen where an angel serves warm lunches with a smile. The gym hosts basketball players who have an opportunity to get their game on and at the very end of the building is a thrift store where every Tuesday cold and/or needy friends can enjoy a complimentary sweatshirt or pair of pants. Oh yes St. Paul's on W. 45th and Franklin is much, much more than a church. Stop by and see...

Also: Summer Youth program beginning July 8 @9am; deep dive Bible study on Wed. @6; Contemplative (meditative) service on Thu. @5:30; Yoga on Tue. @7; Creation Care (climate change) Team every 3rd Wed. @7; Thrift store open Wed. 1-5 & Sat. 10-12; other meetings posted...