“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