Family Life

75 Thirty Second Degree Masons kickoff Valley Family Life Week

Assisting in the Valley of Cleveland Family Life Observance at Old Stone Church in Downtown Cleveland with Pastor, Rev. Dr. K. Dean Myers, second from right, were from left: Jonathan P. Cherry, Captain of the Guard of Lake Erie Consistory; Martin R. Woodworth, Junior Warden of Eliadah Lodge of Perfection; Pastor Myers; and John L. Sperber, Master of Ceremonies of Bahurim Council, Princes of Jerusalem.

The Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Cleveland held the annual Family Life Program Worship Service at Old Stone Church on Sunday, November 23th. The annual event is the 14th time that the brethren of the Valley have celebrated the Family Life Program at Old Stone Church.

Over 75 Thirty Second Degree Masons and their families were in attendance for the annual program which was developed several years ago by Supreme Council to work toward building a moral and ethical society based upon the ideals of equality, freedom of conscience, and brotherhood. Charity and the importance of the family as a lifeline of human growth and survival, long have been guiding factors in our lives.

Leading the Worship Service was Rev. & Doctor K. Dean Myers, Pastor of Old Stone Church. He was assisted by 320 Masons Valley of Cleveland officers, Jonathan P. Cherry, who gave the Prayer of the People, and Martin R. Woodworth, and John L. Sperber, who gave the New Testament readings from Revelation 1:4-8 and John 18:33-37 respectively.

Special music for the service was provided by the Women’s Chorus, directed by William C. Shaffer, of the church. Accompanying the chorus and the congregation on the pipe organ was Eric W. Wicks. 

The Old Stone Church Family Life service was based on a Thanksgiving theme. Hymns sung by the congregation included traditional Thanksgiving hymns “We Gather Together to Ask the Lord’s Blessing”, “We Plow the Fields and Scatter”, and “Now Thank We All Our God.”

Thomas C. Anderson, Senior Warden of Bahurim Council, Princes of Jerusalem, his wife Shirley, and Timothy M. Daley and his wife Mary Louise were parishioners at the 14th annual Old Stone Church / Valley of Cleveland Family Life Program Worship Service.

The Family Life Program worship service is an annual event on the schedule of the Valley of Cleveland. The Valley of Cleveland Family Life Program received an Honorable Mention award for 2002. The chairman of the program in 2002 was John Whitehouse, who was recently recognized for his effort by Supreme Council at the Valley of Cleveland Recognition program held October 6th.

Chairman for the 2003 Valley of Cleveland Family Life Observance program is Jonathan P. Cherry. Thank you Jonathan for arranging this vital and spiritual church service for the Valley of Cleveland at Old Stone Church.

Family Life Observance programs are scheduled regularly during the year by the valley. Watch for them in the Valley of Cleveland Scottish Rite News. Plan to attend them with your family.