Begin the summer at Lakeside with Rev. Kimberly Orr, Lakeside Chautauqua’s Director of Religious Life, as she preaches during Memorial Day weekend.
Orr brings pastoral experience, strong New Testament scholarship and a commitment to thoughtful, creative worship. Her preaching is rooted in Scripture and shaped by a focus on spiritual growth and connection.
She will preach at the 10:30 a.m. Hoover Worship Service on Sunday, May 24, in Hoover Auditorium, where she will also lead the liturgy. Her sermon is titled “Retention Issues,” based on John 20:19-23. Her theme for the week during Faith for Living Hour Monday-Thursday at 9 a.m. in Orchestra Hall is "The Holy Spirit Then & Now: Explorations Through Scripture & History."
Musical leadership will be provided by Michael Shirtz and the Chautauqua Choir. Worship music for the season is supported by James E. Beardsley & Doris F. Beardsley.
Following the opening prayer, children ages 5-11 are invited to proceed to Bradley Temple for Children’s Church with Chip Richter. They will enjoy a message from Richter, along with music, crafts, lemonade and cookies. Preschoolers are welcome if accompanied by an adult.
Immediately following the Hoover Worship Service, guests have an opportunity to receive Holy Communion. Communion will be served to those seated in the front rows of the center section.
Later that day at 3 p.m., all are invited to gather in the Memorial Garden at Chautauqua Park for a Memorial Stones Prayer Service. Led by Orr, participants will place the stones from the morning service around a tree in the garden, creating a meaningful, shared act of remembrance for those Lakesiders who have shaped our lives and community.
A Texas native, Orr became Lakeside’s Director of Religious Life in January 2025. She holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Sam Houston State University, a master’s degree in choral conducting from Rice University, and a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. She also minored in English.
Orr began her career teaching middle school music and later taught choral conducting at Rice University as a graduate assistant. A multi-instrumentalist, she plays guitar, bass, trumpet, piano, and “fiddles around” with the cello.
After completing seminary in 2005, Orr served as a pastor in the Texas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. Among the highlights of her ministry was serving as the Pastor of Spiritual Formation for Windsor Village United Methodist Church, a large, predominantly African American church in south Houston.
After 10 years at Windsor Village, she moved to Nashville to become Publisher at The Upper Room, a 90-plus-year-old devotional magazine and publishing ministry. She stepped into the role during a time of transition and led updates to organizational systems and processes before joining Lakeside.
Outside of her work, Orr enjoys two of Lakeside’s favorite pastimes — swimming and biking — and is an enthusiastic hobby board game fan.
Guests are welcome to attend Hoover Worship Services free of charge by requesting a complimentary Church Pass between 7:30-10:30 a.m. Sunday; valid until 1 p.m. The pass includes admittance for guests and auto and must be presented to the gate attendant upon departure. If allotted hours are exceeded, guests will be required to purchase a Daily Chautauqua Pass. The pass does not include access to the pool or wellness center. Complimentary passes are available for all worship services and Faith for Living Hour.
