A Fall Visit to Chautauqua!

     As you can see Fall has come to Chautauqua and the UM House.  The 'work weekend' produced the following accomplishments:

A new storage shed

Leaves were raked

Porch winterized

        The upstairs is being painted and new carpeting will soon be arriving.

Property chair Chuck Bolan prioritizes work.

         Volunteers are the mainstay of the UM House and they provide its constant care and renovation.  We salute their efforts!

      We look forward to the upcoming 2011 Season and hope that you will join us on the porch at that time.

 

Day is Dying in the West!

     The end of the 2011 Chautauqua season is upon us.  What a great summer it has been at the United Methodist House and the last week was no exception.  The ninth week is always one filled with great speakers and outstanding entertainment.  Sandra Day O'Connor and Rev. Cynthia Hale highlighted the week and Neil Sedaka and Bob Newhart ended it.

Sandra O'Connor: resident Justice

Neil Sedaka's songs revisited

  

     The UM House was a center of enthusiasm as the chaplains,  Laura and Steve Calos, proved to be a worthy ministerial duo.  We ended the year with the Board meeting and the 'closing three taps of the gavel' by Thomas Becker made it official.

Our tag team ministry

Happy Birthday Jim Hammerlee

  

Lois Sandberg sings

The girls of Kenmore

Mort and Iris November kept everyone in line.

Thank you Celia Thompson

A Cynthia Sayer performance

The Cleveland Jazzzzz Orchestra

Intense conversations

        As the sun sets over the United Methodist House we wish all of you a peaceful and healthy winter and look forward to seeing you on our porch next summer.

A Week of Celebration!

     Kool and the Gang made the term "Celebration" a phrase and song future generations could relate.  The expression took on added meaning this week at the UM House.  Our past President Robert Richard's family and friends celebrated his granddaughter's baptism in the chapel on Sunday.  This was closely followed by the annual Baldwin-Wallace College reception and fine arts presentation.  But the most momentous celebration came when the Sec. General of the Board of Discipleship of the Methodist Church arrived from Nashville, Tennessee to lead us in discussion and fellowship for the week as our chaplain.  Rev. Karen Greenwaldt proved to be a fresh warm addition to our 'porch' and her husband Russell Harris, a potter by trade, complemented that hospitality.

Baby Tatum baptized with water from the River Jordan.

Mom Stephanie and Tatum

 The Yellow Jackets

Russell and Karen

Chautauquan Gothic

  
Other 'celebrations' during the week:

Visit from son Ryan and his wife Jill

Professional singer, Stephanie Arbuckle

Final concert and celebration for Youth Symphony

Salman Rushdi

The ladies of Park UMC, Northeast, Pa.

Celebration, Celebration, Celebration!

We were an attraction to the Venerable Bhikku Bodhi.

Arrival of the new 'Volt'

Gretchen Wilson

PEACE!

Sacred Space: The United Methodist House

     The seventh week at Chautauqua was entitled "Sacred Spaces", emphasizing the connection between physical location and spiritual intensity.  Along with the observations of Ken Burns, the cinematographer, and his bent on the subject, the discussion on the 'porch' was the importance of the UM House as a 'sacred space.'  Our mission statement emphasizes our house as a place of respite and renewal.  Whether one likes the comfortable chairs, the peaceful parlor and chapel or the cookies and cold drink the UM House provides a sanctuary from the 'real world.'

Ken at ampitheater

The quiet Field Memorial Garden

Solitude on the roof

A place for worship

A meeting place

A peaceful parlor

Truly a sacred place

          The week's activities:

Chaplain Rev. Larry Lundgren

Joan and Helen

Westfield Ladies

Abba revisited

Professor Heitzenrater originator of the Wesley secret decoder ring.