Faith features

News of a religious nature may be submitted for Faith Features to editor@News-Herald.com; The NewsHerald, 7085 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094; or faxed to 440-9752293. Deadline is the Tuesday before the Saturday of publication. We cannot guarantee publication.

Caregiver support group: The Alzheimer’s Association has announced a new caregiver support group is starting at St. Helen Catholic Church, 12060 Kinsman Road, Newbury. This spiritually-based group is open to all and offers a safe place for caregivers, family and friends currently caring for persons with dementia to develop a support system. There is no charge to participate and all groups are conducted by a trained facilitator. The St. Helen’s group will meet the second Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Meetings will begin Sept. 14. Alzheimer’s Association caregiver support group members exchange practical information on caregiving challenges and possible solutions, talk through issues and ways of coping, share feelings, needs and concerns and learn about community resources. The new group is the second in Geauga County. Chardon’s St. Mary’s Church hosts a monthly evening caregiver support group on the third Wednesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. To find a support group in another area or at another time, visit alz.org/ cleveland. Call the 24-hour Helpline 800.272.3900 anytime to speak with a trained professional about any issue or concern regarding Alzheimer’s or other dementia.

Walking Through Grief: Willoughby United Methodist Church will host a 10-week Walking Through Grief class beginning on Sept. 12 from 7 to p.m. The goal is to be the arms of Jesus to people who are grieving the death of a loved one and give them much needed tools, support, encouragement and hope in their grief journeys. Over 175 people have come through this program since it was started in 2014, and this will be the third class session to meet at WUMC. This class is open to anyone in the community. All materials are provided free of charge and there is no cost to attend. For more information or to register, contact group facilitator Cathy Schneithorst via cellphone at 440-477-2010 or email cathyapicello@sbcglobal. net. Willoughby United Methodist Church is located in downtown Willoughby, across from Point Park. More information is at the church website dtwchurch.org.

Holing Hiking: St. Gabriel parish in Concord Township is offering opportunities this fall that will help enlighten and strengthen faith. Join in God’s Creation at local parks to pray, reflect, and hike! Fr. David Stavarz will lead the reflections and hikes while participants focus on the Gospel of Luke on the following dates, times, and locations — Aug. 31 Luke 14:1, 7-14, The Wedding Feast, Location: Lake Erie Bluffs; Sept. 14 — Luke 15: 1-32, The Good Shepherd, Location: Girdled Road Reservation/Skok Meadow; Sept. 28 — Luke 16: 19-31, Lazarus and the Rich Man, Location: Penitentiary Glen Reservation; Oct. 12 — Luke 17: 11-19, Jesus, the Healer, Location: Chapin Forest Reservation; Oct. 26 — Luke 18: 9-14, Prayer of a Penitent Man Location: Lake Erie Bluffs Nov. 9 — Luke 20: 27-38, The Resurrection of the Dead, Location: Girdled Road Reservation/Skok Meadow. Required registration (no cost) and more details for Holy Hiking can be found on www. St-Gabriel.org or call the parish office 440/352-8282. “Cruise-In” Car and Motorcycle show: Custom and vintage cars and motorcycles will be on display from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 7 at Vineyard Community Church, 1928 E. 300th St., Wickliffe. The event will feature classic tunes and free food plus fan favorite awards. To find out more, call the church office at 440-944-4402. Blessing of the Pets: Calling all dogs, cats, hamsters, goldfish and parrots — and any other animal who is part of your family. A “Blessing of the Pets” will be held at Advent Lutheran, 7985 Munson Road, Mentor at 2 p.m. Oct. 5. Pastor Larry Mackey will be blessing the pets. Please meet in the front parking lot where a short service will be conducted to thank God for all the creatures we have been blessed to call part of our family. This will be held rain or shine (a canopy providing a covered area will be in-place). All are welcome.

Teatime for Peace: In April 2017 Advent Lutheran Church in Mentor sponsored an event called “Teatime for Peace.” Participants were presented with an opportunity to engage in a healthy dialogue with local Muslim brothers and sisters and to learn more about the Muslim faith — thereby promoting love, unity and understanding of a faith that the vast majority of Americans know very little about. In this same spirit of love and unity, Advent Lutheran Church is planning for another event that will expand the dialogue beyond Muslims. It is called Teatime for Peace — The Next Step. The premise of the program is that, when it becomes culturally and politically acceptable to marginalize any one particular group because of their race, creed or religion, it is at that point that all Americans become potential victims of these same discriminatory machinations — be they technically legal or not. Teatime for Peace — The Next Step will be conducted at Advent Lutheran Church, 7985 Munson Road, Mentor from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 29 Registration and gathering time will begin at 6:15 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. All are welcome.

Free Series at Willoughby House of

Prayer: Are you comfortable praying with others? Doing so is something many of us shy away from needlessly. Come and learn some simple techniques that will increase your comfort level. Discover how you can become more responsive to those opportunities for offering support to others through spontaneous prayer. The sessions entitled “How to Pray with Other People” will be held at the Willoughby House of Prayer, 4091 Erie St., at 6:30 p.m. on five consecutive Wednesday evenings. Call Darlene at 440-537-0687 to register.

Caring Christian Women: The Christ Child Society of the Western Reserve is looking for “Caring Christian Women” to attend an Informational Coffee at 1 p.m. Sept. 6 in the St. Gabriel’s Church community room in Concord Township. If you are a woman of faith and want an opportunity to broaden your friendships while serving the needs of the children of Lake County you will want to attend (registration is required). To receive an invitation and answer questions, call Jackie Kozich, Membership Chairperson at 440974-6026 or contact your parish rep.