Religion
Lakeside Chautauqua
Lakeside’s programming is built upon the four pillars of Chautauqua: religion, education, cultural arts and recreation. The religion pillar hosts a number of summer season programs, including Sunday Worship Services, Faith for Living Hour, Wednesday Family Picnics and Vespers by the Lake, as well as children, youth and teen ministries. Check the calendar for the most current listing of programs and events.
Complimentary passes are available for all worship services and Faith for Living Hour.
Preachers of the Week
At the heart of the Lakeside experience is the religion pillar; fostering faith in the Christian tradition. As part of our Preacher of the Week series, we welcome inspiring preachers to live in residence during the summer to bring spiritual enrichment to the community.
Religion, in Christian tradition, is both personal and social holiness. There are many expressions of religion, and one’s faith journey is not the same as another’s faith journey. Each summer, Lakeside invites preachers from around the world to bring their message to our Sunday Hoover Community Worship Services at 10:30 a.m. while the Chautauqua Choir sings.
Every preacher represents a different understanding of faith. We encourage them to share stories of their own faith journeys and lead our Faith for Living Hour at 9 a.m. Monday-Thursday in Orchestra Hall. We’re excited to welcome the following preachers to bring their different perspectives of faith to Lakeside in 2023 for our 150th Anniversary.
Memorial Day Weekend – May 28 – Rev. Dr. Brian McLaren, Author and Pastor, Cedar Ridge Community Church, Spencerville, Maryland – Supported by Steve & Jane Anderson
June 4 – 8 – Rev. Zac Hess, Training Pastor, Grace Polaris Church, Columbus– Supported by an anonymous donor
June 11 – 15 –Rev. Dr. Simangaliso Kumalo, Acting Dean, School of Religion, Philosophy, and Classics, the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Scottsville, South Africa – Supported by the Rev. Dr. Ned & Shirley DeWire Endowment
June 18 – 23 – Lutheran Chautauqua – Rev. Dr. Michael Adam Beck, Director, Fresh Expressions House of Studies, United Theological Seminary, and Co-Pastor, Wildwood United Methodist Church, Wildwood, Florida
June 25 – 29 – Rev. Katherine Willis Pershey, Associate Minister, First Congregational Church, Western Springs, Illinois– Supported by the Gretchen A. Curtis Endowment
July 2 – 6 – Rev. Magrey deVega, Senior Pastor, Hyde Park United Methodist Church, Tampa, Florida– Supported by the Knobel Family Endowment
July 9 – 13 – Rev. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli, Senior Pastor, Foundry United Methodist Church, Washington, D.C. – Supported by the Ruth C. Shannon Endowment
July 16 – 20 – Father Gregory Boyle, S.J., Founder of Homeboy Industries, Los Angeles, California – Supported by Jim & Susan Hackbarth
July 23 – 27 – Sesquicentennial Camp Meeting – Rev. Michael Slaughter, Pastor Emeritus, Ginghamsburg Church, Dayton – Supported by the Rev. Dr. T. Mac & Susan Hood
July 30 – August 3 – Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel, Conference Minister, Michigan Conference of the United Church of Christ, East Lansing, Michigan – Supported by the Charles & Susan Baker Endowment
August 6 – 10 – Bishop David M. Wilson, Resident Bishop, Great Plains Area of the United Methodist Church, Topeka, Kansas– Supported by the Rev. Dr. Bud Cox Endowment
August 13 – 17 – Rev. Ernie Matijasic, Former Pastor, Grace Episcopal Church, Sandusky– Supported by Bill & Make Drackett
August 20 – 24 – Rev. Dr. James Harnish, Pastor & Author, The United Methodist Church, Longwood, Florida – Supported by the Hottenroth Family
August 27 – Dr. Valerie Bridgeman, Dean & Vice President for Academic Affairs, Associate Professor of Homiletics and Hebrew Bible, Methodist Theological School in Ohio, Columbus – Supported by Rev. Dr. Charles & Barbara Yoost
September 3 – Luke Witte, Carolina Division Director of Marketplace Chaplains, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina– Supported by James & Jean Disher
Worship Music for the 2023 Summer Season supported by James E. Beardsley and Doris F. Beardsley
Faith Walk Devotional
At the heart of the Lakeside experience is the religion pillar; fostering faith in the Christian tradition. As part of our Preacher of the Week series, we welcome inspiring preachers to live in residence during the summer to bring spiritual enrichment to the community.
We are seeking writers for the 2023 Faith Walk Devotional. Devotions should be between 200 – 300 words and died to a “thin place” in Lakeside, where heaven and earth come close together and the presence of God seems especially near. Submissions should include a Bible verse or short Scripture passage and a reflection question at the conclusion. Please send submissions to cyoost@lakesideohio.com with “2023 Devotional” as the subject line. Deadline is January 10, 2023.
Local Churches
There are a variety of worship services located on the grounds of Lakeside. However, if you’re interested in exploring the spiritual community outside the gates or finding a site for a specific denomination, we encourage you to find a church from this list.
Chapel on the Lake
Heritage Hall Museum & Gift Shop features books about the history of Lakeside, Lake Erie Islands and surrounding area. Maps, posters, Abigail Tea Room wallpaper, note cards, historic postcards, bookmarks, toys, historic district markers and memorial brick pavers are available to purchase.
- 10:30 a.m. Sunday Worship Services