celebrationoffice Advent, Spirituality, The Longest Night, Worship

The Longest Night

The seasons of Advent and Christmas can be difficult for many reasons. Some may be feeling alone after the death of a loved one, missing distant friends or family, or grieving the loss of a relationship or job or good health. The outward “happiness” of the season can make it feel sad or painful at times.

On the longest night of the year, we make space for these mixed feelings. We invite you to gather reverently and hopefully before God for “The Longest Night,” a service of healing and hope, to share the Word that shines light into the darkness of despair, grief, and loneliness. This service will take place Sunday, December 21, at 7 p.m., here at Celebration.

There will be time for fellowship and light refreshments after the service. The service will be livestreamed on Celebration’s Facebook page.

celebrationoffice retreat, Spirituality

Everyday Spirituality – a one-day retreat

Join us at Celebration on Saturday, February 1, for an all-day (9 a.m.-4 p.m.) retreat on “Everyday Spirituality,” led by pastor, author, and spiritual director James Hazelwood. This retreat will include sessions on understanding Everyday Spirituality, practicing spirituality everywhere, reading the Bible as prayer, and the spirituality of dreaming.

Registration for this event is $10. Lunch, and morning and afternoon refreshments are included. Please register at this link (which will also direct you to a prepay link): https://forms.gle/qWBq9rZbuMNSkjF36

Pastor Hazelwood (former bishop of the New England Synod of the ELCA) is the author of “Ordinary Mysteries: Faith, Doubt, & Meaning” and “Everyday Spirituality: Weird Wisdom for the Second Half of Life.” He is also a storyteller, leadership coach, and spiritual director. You can read more about him at his website: https://www.jameshazelwood.net/

celebrationoffice Advent, Spirituality, The Longest Night, Worship

(Almost) The Longest Night

The seasons of Advent and Christmas can be difficult for some. For those who feel alone after the death of a loved one, a broken relationship, the inability to have a child, the loss of a job or health, or for many other reasons, the outward happiness of the season can make it sad or painful.

As we approach the winter solstice – the longest night of the year – we invite you to gather reverently and hopefully before God for “The Longest Night,” a service of healing and hope, to share the Word that shines light into the darkness of despair, grief, and loneliness. This service will take place Wednesday, December 18, at 7 p.m., here at Celebration.

There will be time for fellowship and light refreshments after the service. The service will be livestreamed on Celebration’s Facebook page. Here is the program (PDF).

celebrationoffice Care of Creation, Holy Hikes, outreach, Spirituality, Worship

What is a Holy Hike?

Holy Hikes-Northeast Ohio, a ministry sponsored by Celebration Lutheran Church, is part of a nation-wide eco-ministry dedicated to rebuilding communion between all of God’s creation through liturgical hikes in area parks. On each hike, we pause at three different stations to hear scripture, pray together, and share Holy Communion. Think of it as “church in the woods!” In between each station, we enjoy one another’s company and learn a bit about the ecosystems around us. The hikes are typically an hour long, covering approximately two miles. If dogs are permitted in the park, they are welcome on our hike, as long as they are on leash!

Chardon, Ohio is surrounded by several beautiful systems of county parks and is a relatively short drive from the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The hike location for each month is posted on Facebook – the Holy Hikes-Northeast Ohio page, and Celebration’s page. We hike year-round, canceling only for heavy rain, lightning, or for temperatures under 20 degrees!

Join us this Saturday (one of the few hikes that does NOT take place on the last Saturday of the month!) at the North entrance of Girdled Road Reservation (12840 Girdled Road, Painesville).

celebrationoffice Christian education, outreach, Spirituality, Vacation Bible School

Vacation Bible School, August 9 and 10

Celebration Lutheran Church will hold a “mini” Vacation Bible School, August 9 and 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Operation Restoration: Mending God’s World” is appropriate for children in kindergarten through 7th grade, and will be a fun mix of faith, science-and-nature lessons, music, and making stuff! Lunch will be provided. Participants must register in advance; here is the link: https://forms.gle/HRhT2UQxfssdujEf7

celebrationoffice Faith Formation, Lent, Spirituality, Worship

Preparing for Lent

Midweek Lenten Worship: Join us on Wednesday, March 1, 15, and 29, for a soup supper at 6:15 p.m., followed by a short worship service at 7:00 p.m.

Even though Ash Wednesday comes more often in February than it does in March, it still feels “early” to me, this year! But today we enter the liturgical season of Lent, a forty-day period during which we who follow Jesus devote more intentional time to reflection, repentance, and reformation: how closely do our lives align with what we understand to be the will of God? How closely do we pattern our conduct after the life of Christ? The forty-day span recalls Jesus’ forty-day fast in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2, Luke 4:1-2), as well as Moses’ forty-day fast on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:28).

This past Transfiguration Sunday, at the end of our worship service, we “put away the ‘alleluia,’” following a centuries-old Lutheran Lenten tradition. We will not utter the word again until we celebrate Easter Sunday. The tone of Lenten worship changes somewhat, as well, becoming more penitential and reflective. Each Sunday service will begin with a sung confession, and we will encourage periods of silent reflection and prayer during the prelude and postlude.

We will have midweek soup supper-and-worship on March 1, 15, and 26. Supper begins at 6:15 p.m., and worship begins at 7:00 p.m. We’ll have sign-up sheets on the oak table for contributing soup and sides. On the Wednesdays in between – March 8 and 22 – I will offer a short online (Zoom) prayer service, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Email Pastor Marilyn for the link.

As you begin your own Lenten journey, there are many good resources to guide and accompany you. Below, I share a number of them. Peace and blessings – Pastor Marilyn

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