Religion

With so much media attention currently being given to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and “going green,” it is easy to see why so many businesses have been jumping on the green bandwagon: it is a quick and inexpensive way to receive attention while bolstering the bottom line. Whereas many businesses are just “green-washing” (deceptively promoting the perception that a company’s actions or products offer some environmental benefit), other organizations have been quietly doing the real thing--all too often without recognition. Such is the case with some religious institutions in the area.

Fairmount Presbyterian Church and Forest Hill Church, Presbyterian, both located in Cleveland Heights, have made strong efforts to become the environmental stewards that their congregations expects of them. Both institutions are Earth Care Congregations, which means they follow “a structured certification program for Presbyterian churches to function in a manner consistent with God’s call to not only care for creation, but to commune with creation,” according to the guide "Earth Care Congregations: A Guide to Greening Presbyterian Churches."

This past summer, 50 members of Forest Hill Church, Presbyterian (FHC) broke into small, mixed-race groups and had numerous dinners in one another's homes. In an initiative called Courageous Conversations, they tried to gain a better understanding of racial bias and inclusivity in the community.

A large number of Cleveland Heights teens have been spotted going to church recently. Without their parents. Just by themselves.

Thanks to leaders and young people from more than a dozen churches in Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights, Mayfield Heights and surrounding areas, teens now have their own worship service. It’s called Converge.

The brainchild of Otte, youth director for Forest Hill Church, Presbyterian in Cleveland Heights, Converge is geared for teens, with a full band and a relevant message for young people.

Families looking for a Montessori-based Christian education program are invited to a Godly Play Festival at Hope Lutheran Church on Saturday, Feb. 18, from 1 to 3 p.m. Hope Lutheran is located at 2222 North Taylor Road in Cleveland Heights.

The Swedish organization, Nobel-Monitor Lodge, invites the public to attend a Saint Lucia program and celebration on Saturday, Dec. 10 at Forest Hill Church Presbyterian, located at the corner of Lee Road and Monticello Boulevard, in Cleveland Heights. The program begins at 4 p.m.

Disciples Christian Church will give its own Christmas gift to the community. On Sunday, Dec. 11, from 2 to 5 p.m., Disciples Christian Church will present Journey to Bethlehem, a free walk-through drama that recreates the sights and sounds of Bethlehem’s marketplace at the time of Christ’s birth.  

Before entering Bethlehem, participants will have an audience with King Herod and then be counted in the census. Once in Bethlehem, they can interact with street merchants, as well as view some animals. They can watch craftsmen at their work and be approached by beggars. They can listen while townspeople, shepherds and other biblical characters set the stage for the discovery of the newborn baby in the stable. 

As participants wait their turn to enter Bethlehem, they will be entertained by the No Strings Attached puppets, listen to music performances or sing along to Christmas carols.

"On its 60th anniversary, the Unitarian Universalist Society of Cleveland congregation continues its commitment to lifelong search for truth, enduring values, advancement of sound personal and community morals, and individual freedom of religion," said minister Rev. Colin Bossen.

Church of the Redeemer, a United Methodist congregation, views acceptance, diversity and inclusiveness as central aspects of the church. This also means that "Open Minds, Open Doors, Open Hearts" is not just a slogan, but a way of life. At Church of the Redeemer, everyone is welcome at God's Table.

Church of the Master was pleased to give a $2,500 grant to the city of South Euclid for its 2011 Summer Youth Initiative. The grant comes from American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) and its Children in Poverty (CIP) initiative.

Are you interested in traveling this summer but are on a budget? Are you taking “staycations” instead of vacations? Then, with its Disciples Go Global! series, Disciples Christian Church is the place for you. On most Sundays this summer, at 10:15 a.m., members of the church will speak and share photos of their world travels. The destinations range from Madagascar to Mexico, China to Chile and from the Galapagos Islands to Greenland.

For the fourth straight year, Disciples Christian Church provided a lunch as part of the Homeless Stand Down at the Masonic Auditorium downtown. Organized by InterAct Cleveland, the Homeless Stand Down provides boots, coats, mini checkups, podiatry services, haircuts and professional quality portraits to the needy of Greater Cleveland over three days.  

On Sunday, Jan. 30, around 53 members of Disciples Christian Church travelled to the Masonic Auditorium to prepare and serve lunch for those in attendance. Preparing for an estimated 700 people, members of the church donated chili and brownies, with other food—sandwiches and salad—provided by the Cleveland Foodbank. Bonnie Goldner, outreach cochair, organized the volunteers and food delivery for the event.

The new year welcomes a new congregation to Cleveland Heights. Imani Temple Ministries now proudly occupies the former St. Louis Parish buildings, which became available when the Catholic diocese closed St. Louis and more than 50 other parishes last year. The five-acre campus on North Taylor Road includes a newly renovated sanctuary, a school building and the former rectory. 

Imani Temple Ministries, led by Rev. Dr. Rodney S. Thomas, is a non-denominational, Bible-based church, welcoming people of various faith traditions. The church was founded by Rev. Thomas in 2001 with 55 members and now has about 500 active members from African Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, Catholic and other backgrounds.

Many of us find the holidays a real struggle in the aftermath of major losses in our lives. The stores, the lights, the music—even our houses of worship—all remind us of what once was and is no more, and often cause more pain than delight. It is not uncommon for people enveloped in disappointment and sorrow to avoid past traditions and communities altogether and alternatives are not easy to locate or create anew.

Church of the Redeemer will sponsor a service at 7 p.m. on Dec. 15 for those who are experiencing difficulties this Christmas season due to grief, loneliness, illness, divorce or disappointment. 

The Swedish organization, Nobel-Monitor Lodge, invites the public to attend a Saint Lucia program and celebration on Saturday, Dec. 11 at Forest Hill  Church Presbyterian, located at the corner of Lee Road and Monticello Boulevard, in Cleveland Heights. The program begins at 4 p.m.

On Saturday, Dec. 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Church of the Redeemer will host a Holiday Market and Soup Café featuring homemade baked goods and handcrafted items. The market will include fair trade booths and vendors from the local community, including J Bird’s Garden. In addition, there will be a café where one may enjoy a bowl of soup and relax while browsing the market.

Disciples Christian Church will give its own Christmas gift to the community. On Sunday, Dec. 12, from 2 to 5 p.m., Disciples Christian Church will present Journey to Bethlehem, a walk-through drama that recreates the sights and sounds of Bethlehem’s marketplace at the time of Christ’s birth. 

Before entering Bethlehem, participants may have an audience with King Herod and then be counted in the census. Once in Bethlehem, they can interact with street merchants, as well as view some animals. They can watch craftsmen at their work and be prodded along by Roman guards. They can listen while townspeople, shepherds and other biblical characters set the stage for the discovery of the newborn baby in the stable.

Disciples Christian Church in Cleveland Heights is reaching out in many ways. It's ministries touch church members, their friends and family, as well as people in the community.

Meet the Neighbors is DCC’s free community meal. On the last Thursday of the month, unless rescheduled for a holiday, a delicious meal is prepared and served by church members and volunteers. All are welcome. Whether someone is looking for a hot meal or the fellowship of others, he or she has an open invitation to the meal served in the beautifully decorated Fellowship Hall.

“Rock of Faith: The Transformation of the Soul Spoken through Rock Music” will feature the music of Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, Kenny Chesney, Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow and many others, performed by 16 talented contemporary music singers. They will be accompanied by a seven-piece band made up of some of Northeast Ohio’s best contemporary instrumentalists. This gala event takes place on Saturday, Sept. 11, at the First Baptist Church of Greater Cleveland, in commemoration of 9/11.

Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral held its annual Greek Festival Aug. 19-22. People come from all over Northeast Ohio to Cleveland Heights each year to celebrate the music, dance, food, culture, faith and Greek hospitality. 

According to Pantelis “Pete” Moissis, the festival chair, planning for this major event started in April, the baking started in June, and hundreds of people helped with the final arrangements starting early August. 

About 50 people from a dozen area Christian congregations gathered at Hope Lutheran Church on North Taylor Road in Cleveland Heights on May 22 to both celebrate and consider the challenges of ministry in diverse communities.

The conference -- "Diversity in the Church: Lessons Learned" -- explored multicultural ministry not only in terms of race, but also age, gender and sexual orientation.

It was a day for small churches – Methodist, Episcopal, Presbyterian and United Church of Christ -- to share their experiences and look to the future.

Where else can you hear a sousaphone played by one who once dotted the “i” in Script Ohio, but at sunrise in Cleveland Heights on Easter Sunday? Bob Windle, of Shaker Heights, the i-dotter, who in 1960, in the fall of his senior year at Ohio State University, is that sousaphone player. He has been playing his instrument as part of a brass band for seven years at the Easter Sunrise Service, sponsored by three local United Methodist Churches and open to all early risers.

The idea for a sunrise service at Lake View Cemetery originated in the mid 1980s with the Rev. Sally Dyke of Church of the Redeemer (S. Taylor Road in Cleveland Heights). She and a church member decided that the cross monument of the John L. Severance family, at the crest of the ravine east of the Garfield Monument, would be the ideal location for an Easter service.

For the third year, Disciples Christian Church provided a mid-day meal as part of Homeless Stand Down in downtown Cleveland. Organized by InterAct Cleveland, Homeless Stand Down provided boots, coats, mini checkups, podiatry services, haircuts and professional quality portraits to the needy of Greater Cleveland.

On Sunday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. Forest Hill Church, 3031 Monticello Boulevard, will offer a worship experience showcasing sacred works written in jazz styles. The service will feature the Forest Hill choirs (Anne Wilson, director), the Cleveland Heights High School Barbershop Group, and a jazz combo featuring trombonist Paul Ferguson and trumpeter Jack Schantz.There will be a free-will offering and a reception following the service. For more information, contact Anne Wilson at 216-321-2660. 

"If it's not fun, it's not worth doing." So say the pastors of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church in Cleveland Heights.

Fun in worship is one of the catalysts behind Forest Hill's alternative worship services. The next service, Swing to the Lord a New Song, at 7:30 p.m. on April 11, at the church (3031 Monticello Blvd.), will be a toe-tapping, joy-filled jazz fest, showcasing sacred works written in jazz or gospel styles.

Tetelestai—a contemporary musical portrayal of the trial, execution and Resurrection of Jesus the Messiah—is returning to the Heights area after a 15-year absence.  

Gesu Parish in University Heights will host Tetelestai on March 19 at 8 p.m., March 20 at 8 p.m., and March 21 at 3 p.m. in Gesu Church at 2470 Miramar Boulevard

Gesu Parish in University Heights held its fifth annual Day of Service on Dec. 5 at 46 Cleveland area social agencies, churches, shelters and nursing homes.  Service projects included cooking and serving food, cleaning, decorating for the holidays and planning activates for adults and children.  Nearly 1,000 people of all ages volunteered for the 2009 day of service, said Meg Wilson, coordinator.

On Saturday, Dec. 12 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. the Church of the Redeemer will host a Holiday Market and Café featuring homemade baked goods and unique handcrafted gifts. In addition there will be a café to enjoy a bowl of soup and relax while browsing the market. While parents are shopping, children 12 and under can shop in Santa’s Dollar Store for new and “nearly new” gift items. Admission is free. All proceeds will help to support the missions of Church of the Redeemer.

On March 29, every attendee at Forest Hill Church in Cleveland Heights received an unexpected gift--a red envelope containing a fifty dollar bill. Pastor John Lentz, with the support of the church’s governing body, took a risk and passed out $15,000 of church funds. Thus began “The Big Give.”

Disciples Christian Church will present  a Christmas gift to the community on Sunday, Dec. 13. from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., with Journey to Bethlehem, a walk-through drama that recreates the sights and sounds of Bethlehem’s marketplace at the time of Christ’s birth.  

At a time when many urban churches are closing, Fairmount Presbyterian Church in Cleveland Heights is joining with 11 other Presbyterian churches to help a sister congregation, North Presbyterian Church.

Disciples Christian Church worships in a casual setting with contemporary music on Sunday, Oct. 18 at 11:30 a.m., at 3663 Mayfield Road (at Yellowstone) in Cleveland Heights.

The one-month-old “Connections” worship is offered the third Sunday of each month and is open to the community. A praise band sets the tone for the service with upbeat music, reminding attendees of God’s love.

Saint Ann Church will offer the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick during the liturgy on Saturday, Oct. 17 at the 4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass.

The Anointing of the Sick is a liturgical and communal celebration that provides strengthening, peace, and courage to overcome the difficulties that go with the conditions of illness. The sacrament can be received by all baptized Catholics who have received the sacrament of the Eucharist and who are suffering from serious or chronic illness, preparing for surgery, or suffering with emotional and physical addictions.

Yes, we have the Cavaliers to brighten up these soggy days, but let’s face it, times are not the easiest. The economic situation makes us want to withdraw, hunker down and hold on to our things tightly. There is a tendency to focus on the lack of resources. 

So sometimes you just need to shake things up a bit. At the Forest Hill Church, Presbyterian (3031 Monticello Blvd.), the Ministry of Justice and Mission handed out sealed red envelopes with $50 bills in them to everyone who attended worship on Sunday, March 29. During the sermon, when everyone was instructed to open their envelope, the gasps were audible. The Big Give had begun. At that service almost $15,000 was distributed to member and visitor

In the still dark hours of a cold February morning, 38 people gathered at Hopkins Airport to start their journey to Honduras. A group organized by Gesu, a Catholic church in University Heights, were beginning a week-long mission trip “in hopes of alleviating some of the many needs of the Honduran people.”

Disciples Christian Church has hosted seven "Meet the Neighbors" free community meals, and Pastor Kristine Eggert is always thrilled to see returning guests and meet new ones.

Kimberly Vaughn was ordained into the Christian ministry at Hope Lutheran Church in January, becoming one of a handful of African American women ministers in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The holidays are known as a time of giving. For many people this means a time of exchanging gifts and visiting families. At Gesu Catholic Church in University Heights, the holidays are a time of service.

Noble Road Presbyterian Church is working on a mission for rural Africa, the result of a call felt by Isaac Monah, one of the church's elders.

On Sunday, Dec. 14, continuously from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Disciples Christian Church will present Journey to Bethlehem, a walk-through drama that recreates the sights and sounds of Bethlehem’s marketplace at the time of Christ’s birth.

Fairmount Presbyterian Church will host a Community Pancake Breakfast and Thanksgiving Food Drive on Sunday, November 23, after its 11:00 a.m. worship service. Everyone, church members and non-members alike, is welcome to join in worship and afterward share in the breakfast, open to the public. Pancakes, syrup, sausage, fruit cocktail, juice and coffee will be served in the church’s lower level after the worship service, around noon.

Disciples Christian Church will present its own Christmas gift to the community. On Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008, continuously from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Disciples Christian Church will present Journey to Bethlehem, a walk-through drama that recreates the sights and sounds of Bethlehem’s marketplace at the time of Christ’s birth.

Sister Marietta Rohr, a Sister of Charity of St. Augustine and a Cleveland Heights resident, was inspired to found the Rainbow Peace Ministry, united hearts in prayer for the city of East Cleveland. Sr. Marietta ministered for nine years in East Cleveland and wanted to continue loving and blessing the city in a powerful way.

Grace Church, 13001 Cedar Road, Cleveland Heights, will host a free sit-down Thanksgiving meal at 1 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008.  175 meals will be served. Reservations are required and due by Thursday, Nov. 13.  Please call 321.2790.

Disciples Christian Church Pastor Kristine Eggert deemed the first Meet the Neighbors free community dinner a huge success. Over 110 meals were served and there was much interaction among all who attended. Held in August, the event brought together church members and neighbors from the community to share a meal. Lasagna, salad, rolls, as well as a dessert and beverage, made up the first meal. The church’s next Meet the Neighbors free community dinner is planned for Thursday, Oct. 30 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. All are welcome. For more information, contact Disciples Christian Church, 3663 Mayfield Road, 216-382-5344.

Ron Werman is a Cleveland Heights resident and member, elder, choir member and communications chairperson of Disciples Christian Church.

Disciples Christian Church is celebrating its name change and a bright vision for the future. The church, at 3663 Mayfield Road (corner of Yellowstone) in Cleveland Heights, is celebrating its new name with a Transformation Celebration on Sunday, September 14. The community is invited. Worship will begin at 11 a.m. (music prelude at 10:30) followed by barbeque and entertainment from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.

Although she is only 26, Meredith Bowen, a University Heights resident, has already given a lifetime of service to others. She is an active member of St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights, serving on the Global Mission Action Group and Apostleship Commission. She also serves on the state level of the Episcopal Church, as a member of the Episcopal Bishop of Ohio’s Commission of Global and Domestic Mission and she is a board member of the statewide Episcopal Community Services Foundation.

The large colonial style church on Mayfield Road across from Severance Center has a new name. No longer is it called Euclid Avenue Christian Church. Nn overwhelming majority of the congregation voted to change the name to Disciples Christian Church. The church is part of the denomination Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The church also has a new pastor, the Reverend Kristine Eggert, who was called to the church almost a year and a half ago.

Sr. Jeanne Tighe, sfcc, began her teaching career at Gesu School in University Heights in the 1969-70 school year as an 8th grade science and math teacher.

Upon her retirement in June, she shared memories about the Gesu community’s wonderful families, students, faculty, staff members and parishioners living throughout the Heights.

Being a pastor in the Heights (Forest Hill Church, Presbyterian), I have followed the recent brouhaha concerning presidential candidate Barak Obama’s relationship to his pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, with great interest. For I too have said things from the pulpit that many disagreed with. I too have been caught up in rhetorical flourishes to make a point that later I wished I might have toned down. But then again, the role of a preacher, particularly one who claims the mantle of the prophets, is not to preach an easy, comfortable, or socially acceptable sermon. The role of a prophetic preacher is to agitate, confront, and disturb.

Building Bridges Mural Program and The Rumi Foundation have recently joined efforts to create The Interfaith Arts Collaborative. The Interfaith Arts Collaborative is a joint effort to support visual and performing artists who are exploring the relationships between art and spirituality. The purpose of the Interfaith Arts collaborative is to allow the arts to be a vehicle for peace between our faith communities, by seeking to learn and understand each other’s traditions as they are expressed through the arts.

The Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, recognized for his work in Civil Rights and who has served as a presidential advisor, will be preaching at the Sunday, March 30th, 11 am Service at Fairmount Presbyterian Church