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Valley of Cleveland     Scottish Rite News  January-February, 2001

Ross R. Black and Abbott Scholarships
Grants offered to Students

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  FAMILY LIFE PROGRAM  

Valley of Cleveland
Family Life Observance
11th annual Scottish Rite Worship Service
held at Old Stone Church

The Valley of Cleveland commemorated the annual “Family Life Observance” with a special Church Worship Service at Old Stone Church in Downtown Cleveland. The worship service is built on a theme developed by Supreme Council and commemorated throughout the U.S. 

The Valley of Cleveland worship service is held annually the Sunday before Thanksgiving. It is an excellent opportunity to recognize the importance of family values and family togetherness. 

Over 50 Scottish Rite Masons attended the 11th annual service. Wendell F. Strunk, and his Valley of Cleveland Committee are to be commended for the 2000 observance. 

Old Stone Church site of Valley Family Life
worship service program November 26

The Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite in the Valley of Cleveland held the annual Family Life Program Worship service at Old Stone Church on Sunday, November 26th. The annual event is the eleventh time that the brethren of the Valley have celebrated the Family Life Program.

Leading the Worship Service was Rev. & Doctor Gary L. Kornell, Pastor of Old Stone. He was assisted by officers from the Valley of Cleveland, Mark Bollinger, Master of Ceremonies of Eliadah Lodge of Perfection, Robert J. Draye, Junior Warden of Bahurim Council, Princes of Jerusalem, and G. Fred Buswell, Orator of Ariel Chapter, Rose Croix.

The service was based on a Thanksgiving theme. Music sung by the congregation included Come Ye Thankful People Come, and God of Grace and Glory.

Appropriate Thanksgiving music was sung by the world-famous Old Stone Church choir, which along with the Old Stone Church Pipe organ provided a moving religious experience for those who attended the service.

Dr. Kornell’s sermon topic “Home-Made Religion” was based on a passage from II Timothy verses 1 to 5 which reads “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.”

In the sermon, he talked about the Family. He said that home is where we were nurtured in our faith mostly by our parents and grandparents. Most of us learned about the Holy in the home through discussions with them. He said that family is the place not to learn about the theory of love...but the practice of it, and to celebrate the taste and touch of the Love of Christ through Home-Made religion.

Following the 10 a.m. service, a reception for the brethren and guests of the Valley of Cleveland was held in the church social hall. The Family Life Program worship service is an annual event on the schedule of the Valley of Cleveland. Plan now to attend this sacred and moving program at Old Stone Church. The date for 2001 is November 25th. Mark your calendars and plan to attend the service. Watch the Scottish Rite News for details.

Masonic Prayer
Delivered by Robert J. Draye at the
Valley of Cleveland Family Life Worship Service November 26, 2000
Great Architect of the Universe. We Thank you for the many blessings You bestowed upon us and our families. We recognize that family is one of the most precious. We would ask that You continue to Bless our families here on earth. Be their protector in danger, their comforter in distress, their physician in sickness, and their provider when in need. Grant, oh Lord, that we may live our lives in such ways that we are worthy of their love and affection. We especially pray for those members of our families who cannot be with us today and for those who are sick or in distress, and ask that You will be with them to comfort them and ease their pain. Finally, we ask that You keep all our family of mankind in Your watchful care and guide us in our labors. These things we ask in Thy Holy Name. AMEN

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Family Holiday Party attracts 500 children & parents

Homer...a unicycling juggling comedy act throws the dumbbells while balancing on his unicycle. It was amazing that he didn’t even drop one.

Paul Kohler, Master of Ceremonies for the Party leads the audience in singing some holiday songs. Paul also played the Marimba as part of the Holiday show.

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Thank You brethren for your food and clothing

FOOD PANTRY DONATIONS: Mesa Elkin and Beth Thomas, two of the guests at the Holiday Party add their food donation to the collection brought to the Children’s Holiday Party December 3rd. Admission was a can of food or toy to the Stage Show program witnessed by more than 500 children and adults. Thank you brethren on behalf of the Valley of Cleveland Food Pantry. Your donations will go to good use. Thank you brethren and ladies for your many donations of clothing to our annual clothing drive. Your help has made it possible to supply those who need coats, boots, trousers, and other clothing requirements for the harsh winter ahead.  Also thank you for donating canned and non-perishable food at the December Holiday Party and at other programs throughout the year. Our food bank is constantly being emptied due to hungry brethren in northern Ohio.  We are still taking donations for those who have not had an opportunity to drop off items at the Cleveland Masonic Center. We’re looking for good, clean clothing that you don’t need any longer. Bring the items to the Masonic Center and we'll put your clothing donation to good use. Men’s women’s and children’s clothing are needed. The Scottish Rite Ladies’ Association will make sure your donations get into the right hands.  Also when you attend any Scottish Rite events in the Masonic Center, please bring along a non-perishable item to donate to our food pantry. A receptacle will be available to receive your donation.  Your donations to our food bank and clothing closets will be greatly appreciated by those in need.  Thank you!!!

Honor the past...
Celebrate the future
SCOTTISH RITE MASONIC FAMILY
LIFE WEEK PROGRAM

How often do you stop and think about the most important times of your past? Do you recollect to reconnect with people and places long gone? And do you share those thoughts with your nearest and dearest?

Maybe you feel that looking back is mere nostalgia, just a sentimental exercise with little interest for anyone else. Think again!

It’s easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day. Some people can’t even eat lunch or get a haircut unless they have written it down in their calendars two weeks in advance.

We all need to keep some perspective in our lives, the perspective the past gives us, and we need to share that perspective with others.

It’s especially important to share our experiences and outlook on the past with the younger members of our families. An understanding of the past will form a crucial part of their foundation when they face future challenges we can’t imagine.

You can help history come alive for younger generations by giving them a sense of what life was like “way back when.” You can even pass along the stories of your own parents and grandparents, if you are lucky enough to have heard them talk about their old times.

Talk about your favorite moments and important events in your own past and your family’s. If you’re shy, write the stories down.

Of course, writing gives you a chance to select just the right words to convey your impressions and also preserves your stories.

If you aren’t a writer, try jotting down a few notes and tape them into your family album here and there. (“This was my favorite uncle, Joe, a Spanish-American War Veteran. Lived in Euclid and loved to fish in Lake Erie for perch.”)

Don’t have the patience to write notes? Talk into a tape recorder or point the video camera at yourself. Inspire yourself by thinking how much you would enjoy being able to hear your grandfather’s voice telling his favorite tale one more time.

If you’re more into action than reflection, plan a visit to a place important to your family’s history and take your children or grandchildren along. The younger they are, the closer in time and place these trips might be. Younger ones will probably find your old school building more interesting than your great grandfather’s Civil War battlefield. With older children, take a trip to historic sites in your community or to a history museum.

In this year 2000, we can prepare ourselves and our families for a brighter future in part by considering the lessons of the past.

For many years, we Scottish Rite Masons have sponsored family-centered activities during Family Life Week and at other times throughout the year. The Scottish Rite Masonic Family Life Program is intended to strengthen all families within our community. This year’s program urges you to honor the past and celebrate the future through your family life.

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