Faith & Spirituality

Beginning Sunday, Nov. 20, the congregation of Bay Village’s St. Barnabas Anglican Church will hold its 10:00 a.m. Sunday services in the auditorium at Bay High School until a permanent facility is built or purchased. In addition, the Anglican congregation – made up of more than 250 individuals – plans to change its name to Christ Church Westshore. 

The congregation is moving because its former building at Bradley and Wolf Roads – where many parishioners have worshiped for decades – was awarded to the Episcopal Diocese after a lengthy property dispute.  

“All will be welcome at Christ Church Westshore,” said Reverend Gene Sherman. “We are a community of believers who seek to know God, love one another, and serve the community around us.”

Are you a Christian musician? Do you love to hear God’s praise? Let's come together to share the joy of the Lord through music. My mother use to say, "Music is the universal language." It is obvious that music is a prominent means of pleasure for God as the Psalms is the largest book of the Bible and musical instruments, songs and singing is mentioned throughout the Bible. 

So the idea for Jam Night is one of bringing musicians together for an enjoyable experience of praise to God. This comes from the heart of Jeff Wilkins, whose band, Last Man Standing, plays in the area and who is also a member of the 24/7 Worship Band at CrossPointe Community.

St. Bernadette Parish in Westlake is pleased to host the Vatican International Exhibit of Eucharistic Miracles of the World.  This photographic exhibit has been brought to America by the Real Presence Association of Chicago, Ill.

The exhibit will showcase the various miracles that have occurred over the centuries in many countries. These miracles have been approved since the eighth century by the Vatican. The Eucharistic Miracles Exhibit has pictures that are printed on posters and displayed on wooden stands. There will be 152 posters along with maps showing the locations of the miracles with historical explanation.

It’s a simple idea... with far reaching ramifications! Christian musicians come together for an evening of celebrating any and every musical genre from contemporary, to hip-hop, rock, country, rap and gospel... any others? 

The first JAM Nite held in March had a small turnout with two bands and several individuals. On April 20 the event grew to four bands and several studio musicians who played spontaneously together. That was definitely fun! Two individuals came to sing with trax and one solo accompanied herself on the keyboard. It was a fantastic night; laid back, enjoyable, fun... a real celebration!

Pope Benedict XVI announced in his apostolic letter "Porta Fidei" ("Door of Faith") that there would be a “Year of Faith” for the universal Church to begin Oct. 11, 2012 and lasting through Nov. 24, 2013. During this year, the faithful are called to “a renewed conversion to the Lord, the one Savior of the world.” In other words, the Year of Faith is an opportunity for people to experience a conversion – to turn back to Jesus, rediscover and renew their relationship with Christ and his Church.

This Year of Faith marks three momentous occasions: the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, the 20th anniversary of the release of the "Catechism of the Catholic Church" and the World Synod of Bishops for the New Evangelization taking place in Rome this October.  

Begin your holiday season with a gloriously festive evening on Saturday, Dec. 3, by attending “Deck the Hall,” Unity’s fourth annual Christmas Concert. The evening will be filled with music as more than twenty musicians perform holiday favorites.

Coordinated by music director Bonnie Chase, the program promises something for everyone. Soloists, vocal ensembles, instrumentalists and the unparalleled “Choir on Fire” will perform in a variety of musical styles to help you get in the spirit of the season.

The festivities begin at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, at Unity Spiritual Center, 23855 Detroit Rd. in Westlake. Pizza and refreshments will be on sale before the concert, as well as during the intermission. Tickets are $15 each (children under 14 free) and can be purchased online at unityspiritualcenter.com, by phone at 440-835-0400 or at the door.

The Lutheran Home at Concord Reserve will hold a drop-in Blessing of the Animals in the Chapel area of the campus “Main Street” on October 9 from 2:45-3:15 p.m.

Concord Reserve is the proud home of several “Main Street Ducks,” and five aviaries housing over 20 different species of small birds, including finches, canaries, and doves which inspire our residents and bring them joy each day. Several well-loved cats reside in our resident neighborhoods. The campus is also features an 1,100-gallon fresh water aquarium filled with fish from South America and South Africa.

Lutheran Home at Concord Reserve Chaplain, the Reverend Jim Kulma, will preside at the Pet Blessing. The brief ceremony will honor Saint Francis, patron Saint for the protection of animals, lover of all creation, and a champion of justice. Chaplain Kulma will also bless our campus “creature companions” that day.

“Open Harbor,”a second weekend worship service will be added Saturday evenings at Bay United Methodist Church beginning next month, William Buckeye, the pastor, announced.

Beginning April 6,  the new alternative will start at 5 p.m. Saturdays with coffee and fellowship. The service will begin at 5:30 and "Rev. Bill" promises the total time to be an hour or less.

The service will be structured on an Open Table/Progressive Christianity model, the pastor said, noting it will be a more contemporary and casual offering than the current, traditional service at 10 a.m. Sundays. This casual service is open to anyone, with the GLBT community particularly invited and welcome.

Unity Hall Presents, a new venue at Unity Spiritual Center, will host the renowned musical group Prayer Warriors, a blend of gospel, pop, rock and R&B, at its first annual SpiritFest, Saturday, Feb. 5, beginning at 5:00 p.m. Unity Hall is on the campus of Unity Spiritual Center, 23855 Detroit Rd. in Westlake. Tickets are $15 and cover the entire event. They can be purchased online at www.unityhallpresents.com, in the USC business office, or at the door.

SpiritFest will begin with a drumming circle hosted by The Cleveland Drum Circle. Bring your own drums, or rent one at the event. While the drumming circle is underway, a variety of holistic healing professionals will offer their services including reiki, massage, reflexology and other modalities at no additional charge. At 8:00 p.m., the Prayer Warriors will rock Unity Hall with their “inspirational groove,” crossing musical boundaries to deliver the message of peace, understanding and brotherhood.

The December massacre at Sandy Hook school in Connecticut carved a swath of inexorable pain through all of us. Thousands reached out, flooding the city of Newtown with love and support. Those living far from Newtown were left to seek solace with each other. 

Many found support through Facebook and other online sources, and many through their churches, temples and mosques. The advantage of having a spiritual community in which you are already integrally involved is enormous when troubled times appear. You have somewhere to go and kindred spirits with which to connect while feeling safe to talk, pray, cry or swear.

Master Stephen Co, who has been covered by CBS News and endorsed by health experts Deepak Chopra and Carolyn Myss, will present a workshop on healing at Unity Spiritual Center, Tuesday, April 17, at 7 p.m. Admission is $10. Master Co is very well known in the western U.S. and is now bringing his techniques to the Midwest. Unity is very pleased to be one of the first in this region to welcome him. 

Unity is located at 23855 Detroit Rd. in Westlake. To register in advance for the event and for details, visit www.unityspiritualcenter.com. You can also view the CBS news coverage of Master Co on the site. Although tickets will be available at the door, pre-registration is suggested to ensure seating is available.

Dr. Param Srikantia, a distinguished professor at Baldwin Wallace University, will be speaking at Unity Spiritual Center in Westlake on Sunday, Feb. 17, at 1:30 p.m. Dr. Srikantia blends the wisdom of Indian mystics with his knowledge of business and life to give people of all ages what he hopes will be a life-changing experience.

His two-hour presentation is entitled “Why Life Sucks: Enjoying the Lightness of Being... Addressing Contradictions and Transforming Inner Reality.”

Have you noticed how exhausted and drained out many of us are at the end of the day? Isn’t it strange that no matter how much money we make, we are in a condition of perennial scarcity? Isn’t it ironic that with increasing levels of material affluence, we are left with progressively less leisure or peace of mind to enjoy our lives?

Larry Morrow, multiple award-winning broadcaster and author, will speak Jan. 27 at Bay United Methodist Church. Morrow, who won numerous awards during his broadcast career of nearly 40 years, will appear in the church's "Living the Faith" series. A member of the Radio and Television Hall of Fame and the Cleveland Broadcasters Hall of Fame, he is the only Ohio broadcaster nominated to the National Radio Hall of Fame.

A late 1950s U. S. Marine Corps veteran, Morrow went to Vietnam to interview troops on their war experiences and brought home their recorded messages for their families. Some were aired by Cleveland and Pennsylvania stations during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.

Morrow moved to Cleveland to work at WIXY 1260 in 1966, arriving in the midst of the Hough riots. He and his wife, Rosary, live in Chagrin Falls.

Christmas means many things to many people. Make Christmas this year personal and meaningful with all Unity Spiritual Center has to offer.

The snow will be flying soon, and when it does, it really means that the holidays are here as well. Unity Spiritual Center begins the Christmas season with an inspirational program based on the book by Jean Houston, "Godseed: The Journey of Christ."This is a spiritual journey of the Nativity to be held on four Tuesdays from Nov. 27 through Dec. 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. 

Unity Spiritual Center offers a two-part program for Lenten preparation based on the theme of releasing your inner splendor by affirming divine wholeness and erasing thoughts and patterns that no longer serve us. On Tuesday evenings from Feb. 21 through April 10, Unity will offer a guided meditation from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. 

Following the meditation, a book study will be held from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m based on Unity co-founder Charles Fillmore's book "Keep A True Lent." It contains thought-provoking essays and affirmations on self reflection and prayer that guide the reader toward a spiritual awakening. You may attend either of the events or both.

They came by the hundreds: little children ages four through Grade 5 and teenagers who will be entering grades 6-12.  They were from Bay Village, Avon Lake, Avon, Westlake, North Ridgeville, Rocky River and Lakewood. Even former Bay Village residents, who had moved to China and were back in the States visiting for the summer, sent their children. The last week of July is Vacation Bible School time at Saint Raphael Parish – and this year it was PANDAMANIA!   

As you drive through area neighborhoods and travel around the country each summer, there is something common to all of America: Vacation Bible School. Churches of all sizes advertise VBS with cartoon characters, catchy slogans and the promise of holy fun for five days.

"The mind can go in a thousand directions. But on this beautiful path, I walk in peace. With each step, a gentle wind blows. With each step, a flower blooms." – Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Buddhist monk

In the month of October, Unity Spiritual Center is offering those who are seeking ways to pray a variety of programs that will open new doors to prayer. For example, on Saturday, Oct. 6, from 10 a.m. to noon, you can give yourself the gift of a Saturday morning and join in the ancient practice of labyrinth walking. You will learn from a short lecture what's behind the growing attraction of the mysterious labyrinth and why it is being revived in popular culture. It is a powerful tool for transformation whether you are seeking healing, exploring the next steps on your personal life path, exploring your own soul work or you just want to learn what the labyrinth is all about. 

How can you pray without talking to God? Come to Unity's Fall Program and learn how.

Beginning Sept. 13, 2012, we can listen to the Universe and become lifted to new heights of awareness and understanding with the observance of the World Day of Prayer. At Unity Spiritual Center in Westlake, the World Day of Prayer begins the Fall Program small-group book discussions.

Nationally recognized speaker, trainer, and writer Reverend Ric Schumacher will travel through the pages of Myrtle Fillmore's most powerful writings in his own unique way. Myrtle Fillmore, an Ohio native, was a co-founder of Unity.  

In this lecture-style workshop on Sunday, May 27, 1-3 p.m., at Unity Spiritual Center, 23855 Detroit Rd., Westlake, Rev. Schumacher uses powerful graphics to illuminate deep spiritual principles making them easy to understand and apply to your personal situation.

Everyone knows meditation is good for you. In fact, everyone from Buddha to Dr. Oz recommends it for better physical, mental and spiritual health!

This is the most common thought concerning meditation: “I can’t meditate because my mind won’t be still.” Perhaps the truth is that your mind won’t be still because you won’t meditate. However, like nightly flossing or keeping your personal papers organized, meditation is something many people feel they should do, and know would be helpful, but day by day manage to postpone it. Often, just sitting down to try it seems to stir up the active mind even more!

My parents and I went on a trip to Hawaii, from Westlake, just before the 4th of July. This was my first trip to Hawaii and I had a great time. I snorkeled and enjoyed seeing how other boys like me were running away from the fish. I also went to Waikiki Beach and went to the Polynesian Center and really enjoyed myself.

Many West Shore residents have come to know and love Unity Spiritual Center through many different avenues. It might be through yoga, meditation, reiki, and fantastic speakers on many different topics. It might be through the Spiritual Cinema which will have its last movie for 2012 on Friday, Nov. 16, from 7-9 p.m. This month it is "Painting the Future" which reveals how the thoughts we choose create the life we live. The film is based on the teachings of Louise Hay and explores the power of positive thinking in healing past struggles and learning to live joyfully and heart-centered. This movie is truly inter-generational with a nine-year-old young lady stealing your heart away.  

The Christ Church Westshore congregation will begin holding Sunday services at Bay Middle School on Sunday, June 17, due to summer construction at Bay High School where the congregation has been worshipping since November 2011. The Anglican congregation – made up of more than 250 individuals and together for more than 50 years – held services in the St. Barnabas church building at Bradley and Wolf roads prior to moving to Bay High School last fall.

“Bay City Schools are wonderful hosts to Christ Church,” said Rector Gene Sherman. “When they alerted us about their summer renovation plans, they gave us a choice to stay in the high school during construction with no air conditioning and, likely, with construction obstacles in and around the facility. We chose air conditioning, frankly! Bay Middle School offers air conditioning, beautiful windows and a lot more flexibility in set-up options than the stationary seating in the high school auditorium.”

Moms of preschoolers and younger children looking for a faith-filled group of women to share the parenting journey are invited to join us for inspiration, laughter and some creative time while your little ones are safely cared for in an age-appropriate setting. We will meet every other Tuesday, beginning Jan. 24, from 9:30-11 a.m. at Westlake United Methodist Church.

The group is reading "A Mom after God's Own Heart" by Elizabeth George. Free professional childcare is offered for infants up to age 3 and story time with our librarians Miss Judy & Miss Nanci for the older children. Infants are welcome to stay with their moms for the book group.

Unity Spiritual Center invites anyone interested in exploring their inner life supported by the power of group prayer to participate in "The Gathering." From July 10 to August 18, Unity will host a 40-day program of daily and evening sessions of group prayer, based on the book "The Gathering" by Jim Rosemergy. 

People of all faiths or no faith are are welcome to attend and to experience improvement in their personal lives through the power of centered group prayer using the guidelines of "The Gathering." There is no charge for participation. The program is somewhat like a book study but amplified with group prayer using the book's nine steps.

Fall is here! School is starting! Do you wish for the days when you looked forward to meeting new friends and learning new things? At Unity Spiritual Center, you still can!

As a part of the annual Fall Program at Unity, the 2012 Book Study Groups are beginning their signup the week of Aug. 19. There are over 15 different groups in various Greater Cleveland locations, as well as Unity Spiritual Center at 23855 Detroit Rd. in Westlake, accepting members for the seven weekly gatherings. Their book this year is "How to Pray Without Talking to God."

What a unique opportunity! "Powers of the Universe" is a new program at Unity Spiritual Center brought to you by a truly amazing facilitator, Maureen Haggerty, who shares her lifelong passion for our evolving Universe Story and the exploration of our evolving consciousness in which she is adept at making deep connections between the scientific, the philosophical and the spiritual!

This 12-week spiritual journey is based on cosmologist Brian Swimme's DVD series and the spirituality of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. You can now participate in this program which includes a unique combination of lecture, DVD viewing, group discussion, artistic expression, meditation and energy embodiment with energy exercises with Patrick Davis. Beginning Jan. 24, 6-9 p.m., at Unity Spiritual Center, this program explores the 10 cosmological dynamics that have shaped our universe since the Big Bang.

Everyone experiences shifting emotions and feelings throughout the course of a day, but many of us simply try to ignore them and get on with being productive. However, if we can be a "student of our own experience," we can increase our awareness and understanding of our feelings and emotions, and ultimately move our lives in the direction we choose, rather than being at their mercy. 

The practice of being a "student of experience" will be presented at Unity Spiritual Center, June 9 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. and is free to the public. Due to limited seating, registration at www.unityspiritualcenter.com is requested. Author and creator of the Student of Experience practice, Jim McDonald, will guide participants in exploring the idea that we are responsible for our suffering, and that believing someone or something outside of us is responsible is a learned pattern that prevents us from ever being truly free.

A full spectrum of educational and enlightening events will be open to the public at Unity Spiritual Center and Unity Hall this fall. Unity is located at 23855 Detroit Rd., a block west of Clague Road.

Thursday, Sept. 22 (7 p.m.) – "Forks Over Knives," the acclaimed movie, traces the personal journeys of a pair of pioneering researchers, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn of Cleveland Clinic and Dr. T. Colin Campbell of Cornell University. They examine the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed by rejecting our present menu of animal-based foods.

The experience of observing a beloved parent's mind diminish from dementia or Alzheimer's is difficult to endure, but it also raises fascinating questions about the mind, brain, soul and consciousness.    

Consciousness is pure awareness. It is the ability to be aware that we are aware. It is different from the "content" of your consciousness which may comprise all of your experiences, knowledge, relationships and beliefs. In my own experience with my mother's dissolving memory, I see that she no longer remembers all of what she was, but she knows that she is.  She exists, she feels, she wonders about her world; she is fully conscious.

Popcorn anyone? Following the successful opening of the Unity Spiritual Cinema Series with the June 15 showing of "The Keeper of the Keys" featuring local author Lisa Ryan, July 20 and August 17 are dates to be marked on everyone's calendar for the next two very different movies. The Spiritual Cinema Series prides itself on having a wide variety of movies that are just plain wonderful!

Friday, July 20, at 7 p.m., the movie (with popcorn!) entitled "Biology of Belief 'Lite'" will be shown. We all somehow "know" that the mind/body connection is key to real health. Are you tired of trying to find the words that describe how the mind and body are related, and why their relationship is important to proper health? A renaissance in cellular biology has led to a new understanding of the mechanisms of the mind/body connection. Research scientist Bruce Lipton, Ph.D.,introduces a long-awaited paradigm shift in the biomedical sciences. The movie will inspire your spirit, engage your mind and challenge your creativity as you comprehend the enormous real potential for applying this information to your life.

Master Stephen Co returns to Unity Spiritual Center March 14, back by popular demand. A highly regarded master in Pranic healing (which involves the body's own energy centers), Master Stephen Co has a following among spiritual teachers like Deepak Chopra and Wayne Dyer, but is also respected by many celebrities. 

Actress Melanie Griffith said, "Master Co is one of the most interesting and intriguing healers that I have ever had the honor of being touched by." Actress Mary Steenburgen said, "In a seemingly egoless way, he shares his phenomenal knowledge and talent so that others may benefit from all he has discovered. I admire him very much."

Returning by popular demand, Twin Engine retakes the Unity Spiritual Center stage for their annual “The Night in Bethlehem” performance. If you witnessed the performance last year, no doubt you'll want to see it again. This year's performance will be held Sunday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults; $10 for children; and $10 each for four or more tickets.

“The Night in Bethlehem,” a delightful tale for the young and young at heart, takes place after the birth of Jesus, as a young boy named Samuel anxiously awaits his time to talk with Joseph. He’s waited all day for Joseph to explain how this came to be, from the Angels to the Kings and how they all arrived in Bethlehem. But Samuel, a seven-year-old boy, is also excited to play his drum for the new baby Jesus.

For the eighth year, St. Raphael Church in Bay Village will conduct a series called Catholics Coming Home on seven Wednesday evenings from Jan. 30 to March 13 from 7-8:30 p.m. These sessions are for non-practicing Catholics who might be interested in returning to the Church. There will be informal sharing and an update of the Catholic faith in support-group format.

If you’ve never seen the riveting film, “What the Bleep Do We Know!?” you need to make your way to Unity Spiritual Center on Friday, April 26. In fact, even if you have seen the movie, see it again. It’s simply that kind of movie that yields something more, something different, each time you see it.

For those who haven’t seen it, be aware that “What the Bleep Do We Know!?” is a unique type of film. Released in 2004, it is part documentary, part story and part elaborate and inspiring visual effects and animations. Blending science and science fiction, this strange and fascinating film asks the question, “What is real, what is unreal, and how do we really know the difference?”

Unity was teaching people about the universal law of attraction 100 years before the famous movie "The Secret" came out in 2006. Many people who viewed the film became enthusiastic about it but, without a consistent effort, failed to realize much change in their personal lives.

The law of attraction is summed up in Unity's law of mind action: thoughts held in mind, reproduce after their kind, and out-picture on the screen of life as our experience. It is also in keeping with Unity's fifth basic principle that encourages people to practice and live the Truth they know.

Jeremy Johnston, an avid student of the law of attraction for over 16 years, brings his enthusiasm, skill and dynamic talent in group interaction to making the practice of the law fun and rewarding.

“In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then the angel of the Lord stood before them...” When we hear these familiar words from the Christmas narrative, the sentimental lens through which we read gives us the image of gentle and devout men prepared for a visitation from God. In contrast, first-century Rabbinic texts describe shepherds as a rough, thieving bunch who stole from their employers and surrounding land owners. 

Which view is correct? Were the shepherds gentle, devout herders, or disreputable thieves? They were probably neither, instead ordinary people doing a job that was necessary for their communities, but nonetheless held in contempt by many of those who benefitted from their labor. What we know from the narrative is that they were so highly valued by God that He sent Jesus for their salvation.

Dave and Tony, two young men in recovery, have launched a Christ-centered 12-step recovery group for teens and young adults. Fill the Void meets every Sunday at noon at CrossPointe Community, 1800 Columbia Road in Westlake (just south of Hilliard). It is a discussion group. Dave and Tony facilitate the group utilizing Scripture and the 12 Step Recovery Bible. 

These two young men realize the importance of carrying the message to other addicts. They have come to realize that a major component of their own recovery is intensive work with others recovering from substance abuse.

During the summer, 36 youth with seven chaperones under the guidance of teacher Laurie Lenz from St. Paul Lutheran Church in Westlake were able to participate in a life-changing YouthWorks Christian Mission Trip to the community of Warrensburg, N.Y., in the Adirondack Mountains.

The youth assisted with painting homes, helping on farms, making a mosaic in a neighboring town, creating a garden in rocky soil, setting up a rummage sale, trimming greenery, cutting down trees, helping people and sharing the love of Jesus. Having morning quiet time for devotions and Bible servant-based discussions in the evenings really made a difference as each person shared the miracles of that day.

"What has come into being with him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it." –John 1:3b-5 (NRSV)

Candlelight has an especially dear place in our worship at Christmas. The glow casts a warmth in the now, a longing and hope for what is to come. When we light a candle prior to a meal or a prayer, it is said that we invite and instill a sense of the sacred in each of us gathered there. 

Darkness comes in many forms. It can be physical or emotional; even spiritual. Upon what manner of darkness would we hope for our candle, our prayer, to cast light? Do we pray for peace? Joy? An experience of the holy? What needs and opportunities in the world around us would our candles expose and illuminate?