By Kevin Greer, Lakeside Communications Manager
This past summer, Lakeside community saw the return of many beloved Religious Life programs. Faith for Living was back in Orchestra Hall and the joyful Chautauqua Choir, led by Michael Shirtz, was again singing as part of the Sunday morning Community Worship Service in Hoover Auditorium. In fact, more than 29,000 Lakesiders took part in Religious Life programs during the 2022 season.
“Our Religious Life programs were practically up to the strength that we were in 2019,” Rev. Dr. Charles Yoost, Lakeside’s Senior Director of Religious Life & Pastoral Care, said. “I feel like we really bounced back, and Religious Life programming was very significant this summer.”
Hoover Community Worship
Something else returned to Lakeside’s sacred grounds — the people. The number of Lakesiders who took part in Religious Life services and activities has grown. Nearly 7,900 Lakesiders attended the 15 inspiring Hoover Community Worship services.
“We had about 90% of the attendance in Hoover that we did pre-COVID,” Yoost said. “That’s remarkable because some local churches are still around 30-40%. I feel very proud of that.”
Yoost was pleased with this year’s Preachers of the Week and would like to have many back in the coming years. They all had great messages, but Yoost especially enjoyed listening to Rev. Dr. Janet Forbes and Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan.
“I thought they really hit it out of the park in terms of helpful advice for people and really issuing a challenge,” Yoost said.
He was also very happy to have music as a big part of Chautauqua Services again. Yoost said Lakesiders missed having Dee Dee Gain on the organ and Shirtz leading the Choir. Special guests, including jazz and gospel artists Johnny Parker and Jacob Bates and percussionist Jerry Powell joined the Choir for select services that moved Lakesiders.
“The music was great,” Yoost said. “It added so much, and I think the Choir itself was very excited about it. We were lucky to have Michael back as the Music Director and Dee Dee on the organ. The guest musicians were quite well-received.”
Roman Catholic Mass
New this season, Roman Catholic Mass was held every Thursday evening at the Train Station. It was celebrated by Father James Peiffer, who is engaged in part-time liturgical ministry at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marblehead. He’s no stranger to Lakeside and is better known as “Father Jim.”
“Catholic Mass went very well, and the number of Lakesiders who attended exceeded our expectations,” Yoost said. Most days there was standing room only in the Train Station, and many Lakesiders were appreciative of the addition of a Catholic service to our Religious Life offerings.
Religious Life Seminars
Featured Religious Life speakers, Dr. Charles Modlin and Luke Witte, hosted seminars in Orchestra Hall, and both spoke about their faith and careers. Modlin is the first and only black Kidney Transplant Surgeon in the history of the Cleveland Clinic, and one of only approximately 20 black transplant surgeons in the nation.
Witte is a former basketball player with Ohio State University (OSU) and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Witte’s OSU team was involved in one of the biggest brawls in college sports history during a game at the University of Minnesota in 1972. Witte discussed the 50th anniversary of the melee.
“You see what two people have done to make a difference in the world and how many lives have been affected,” Yoost said. “The word ‘inspiring’ gets overused, but that’s how I would describe them. You just came out of the seminars feeling better than when you went in.”
Witte also hosted a youth basketball clinic at Bettinger Park. Witte connected with all the young Lakesiders, from elementary school through high school and beyond.
“Witte’s time on the basketball court with the kids was magical,” Yoost said. “He really took the time to pay attention to them and give them encouragement. That was definitely one of the highlights of the summer.”
Family Programs
As usual, Religious Life programs involving Lakeside’s youth were a big hit. More than 1,800 kids attended Children’s Church during the season. Chip Richter’s God Squad and the Wilkies’ Middle Grade Madness (MGM) had a combined total of nearly 5,700 kids.
Richter and the Wilkies continue to write their own music about faith and Lakeside that have been family favorites for many years. Yoost said their programs are Lakeside traditions that are reaching another generation of Lakeside families.
“A young woman carrying a baby said to me, ‘I grew up going to God Squad every summer at Lakeside, and I want the same for my daughter,’” Yoost said.
Richter started God Squad in 1995 and MGM will celebrate its 20th anniversary next season. Lakeside is blessed by Richter’s and the Wilkies’ huge role in Lakeside’s children’s ministry. Yoost shared that his granddaughters are eager to get back to Lakeside next summer to participate in MGM with their friends.
“Chip Richter has become a legend at Lakeside and the kids are mesmerized by him,” Yoost said. “His positive witness of love and acceptance and the joy of living is simply contagious. John and Bonnie Wilkie work year-round to plan for the dynamic MGM program. Every year they develop a theme and curriculum. The kids learn Bible stories and concepts while having fun. Chip and the Wilkies are amazing, and so multi-talented.”
Yoost has been preparing for next year’s Sesquicentennial for quite a while. Like many other Lakesiders, he’s looking forward to the celebration.
“I think we have a tremendous opportunity to share the Lakeside story,” Yoost said. “It’s an opportunity to look to the future and emphasize what we’re trying to do in the future rather than just looking back at the past. So, I’m very excited about that.”
