Noble churches serve neighbors

The Noble neighborhood of Cleveland Heights is home to several long-established congregations.

Situated next to Denison Park, Church of the Master, 4050 Monticello Blvd., traces its history to a merger of congregations, one of which included John D. Rockefeller. Rockefeller’s legacy continues in this newer congregation through the Cleveland Baptist Association. Rev. Rena Baker has pastored this church for 12 years and leads the services on Sundays at 10:45 a.m. Rev. Joyce Butler leads a Bible study and prayer service on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m., and Rev. Julia Moses ministers to many of the boys and young men who play basketball in the park. Contact the church at 216-381-1001.

Noble Road Presbyterian Church, 2780 Noble Road, is a dynamic, progressive community of faith, working to meet the needs of neighbors at home and across the globe through its partnerships with other communities of peace, justice and inclusion. NRPC hosts a monthly community meal, helps Noble Elementary School children and their families, reaches out to Noble area refugees, and builds support for Dougbe River Presbyterian School of Liberia. Sunday worship is at 10 a.m. Visit https://noblechurch.wordpress.com or call 216-382-0660.

Bethel Church of Cleveland Heights, 2706 Noble Road, is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. What began as a Swedish Baptist church is now a multicultural congregation within the Converge movement. Bethel offers basketball and Bible study every Thursday at 7 p.m. for young adult men. In January, the church hosted the International Student Fellowship dinner for 50 international students from Case Western Reserve and Cleveland State universities. The Latvian Baptist Church of Cleveland has met in Bethel’s building for more than 50 years. Bethel’s services are Sundays at 10:15 a.m. For information, call 216-381-5501 or go to www.thebethelchurch.net.

Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 2392 Noble Road, is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2015 with special events from April through November. Rev. Ryan Beffrey brought new life to this congregation with his arrival in 2012. Look for Mount Olive’s open house, rummage sale and vacation Bible school events this summer. Its Divine Service liturgy takes place Sundays at 10:30 a.m. (10 a.m. in the summer) and at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays. Contact Mount Olive at 216-381-2873 or www.mountolivelcms.com.

Straightway Bible Fellowship meets in the smaller building behind Mount Olive Lutheran Church. SBF’s free community assistance program offers legal, financial, counseling and help resources. Pastor Elijah Span co-leads Noble Monticello Pastors and Churches (NOMO), which hosts a prayer walk four times each year to pray for the neighborhood. SBF’s services are at 11 a.m. on Sundays, and its prayer service and bible study is at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. Call 216-381-4563.

Central Bible Baptist Church, 2285 Noble Road, is led by Pastor Harry Cain Jr. This congregation actively reaches out to the community with a fruit and vegetable pantry on the first Saturday of each month, March through November, in partnership with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. CBBC hosts several community-based events, including a block party and vacation Bible school. On April 26, CBBC invites the public to commemorate its 23rd anniversary as it celebrates on the day of the Noble Community-Wide Home and Yard Sale. Sunday services are at 8 and 11 a.m. Contact CBBC at 216-291-4406, or find the church on Facebook.

StartRight Church, 977 Caledonia Road, is renovating its historic 1925 building to better serve its neighbors. Pastor Jimmie Hicks Jr. provides a food pantry on the fourth Saturday of each month, hosts a vacation Bible school each summer that also feeds children for seven weeks, and works with the City of Cleveland Heights on neighborhood beautification efforts. He provides jobs and trains young people to run their own businesses through a project set up to mow vacant lots in the area. Everyone is welcome at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service. Call 216-458-1808 or visit www.startrightministries.com.

Noble-area churches invite you to visit!