December 12, 2021
Dave Blazer, Worship Leader, Director of Music
Elizabeth Gerencser, Worship Associate
One of the highlights of West Shore's Christmas traditions is our Annual Holiday Choral Concert as part of the B. Neil Davis Artist Series. This year, our West Shore Choir will perform the outstanding "Gloria" by John Rutter, his most frequently recorded, large-scale piece. Andy Pongracz and Bruce Golden will be joining us in the Choir Loft on timpani and percussion.
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May 24, 2020
by Reverend Anthony Makar and
David Blazer, Director of Music
He has been called “our most distinguished and indispensable grouch” and “a satirist with a heart, a moralist with a whoopee cushion, a cynic who wants to believe.” He is 20th century author, humanist, and Unitarian Universalist Kurt Vonnegut. Come and experience his presence among us, as I share my personal letter to him.
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May 17, 2020
by Reverend Anthony Makar and
David Blazer, Director of Music
Pre-corona vs. post-corona. Old normal vs. new normal. The world changed on us with shocking swiftness, and now that we are several months in, perhaps it is time to take stock. What are our new responsibilities to each other? What is the new normal we are entering into?
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April 12, 2020
by Reverend Anthony Makar and
David Blazer, Director of Music
Easter is tough for everyone. On top of that, Easter poses special difficulties for Unitarian Universalists. Even so, we need Easter. We need Easter now more than ever. Why? Come join us to find out.
Flower Celebration Ritual for this Easter Sunday!
For this upcoming Easter morning, our greeting time will draw from a powerful and beautiful tradition coming from the founder of Unitarianism in Czechoslovakia, Dr. Norbert Capek. This tradition is called The Flower Celebration. The first one was held in late spring, June 4, 1923, in Prague, and Dr. Capek asked each member of his congregation to bring a flower to church. That flower was meant to represent their uniqueness. They would bring their flower to church and place it in a common bouquet, which was meant to represent the community as a whole - a community of unique and wonderful individuals, gathered as one. At the end of the service, everyone was asked to take a flower home with them as a gift of love from a fellow congregant.
When we are back to worshiping in face-to-face fashion, we will observe the Flower Celebration again. But for this Easter morning - in these times we’re living in - we need the comfort and the inspiration of our spiritual heritage.
So bring a flower - perhaps a live one, perhaps one you drew on paper or crafted in some other way. Bring your flower and, at a certain point in the service, I’ll ask you to place it near your chalice. If you want to take a picture of it and post it, that would be appreciated by everyone.
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May 19, 2019
Reverend Anthony David Makar and
Michael Miller
Worship Associate
Unitarian Universalists speak of their faith as a “living tradition.” We see that language on what might be the most popular and used book in our congregations, our hymnal entitled, “ Singing the Living Tradition.” But what is the story of our Tradition that Lives? Join Rev. Makar for an inspiring and uplifting message about who we are in the world and who we aspire to be. Immediately following the service, please plan to attend the Congregational Meeting. This will be a two-part meeting. The first part will be our Annual Meeting to elect the new Board of Trustees and Nominating Committee members. The second part will be a special congregational meeting on calling Rev. Anthony Makar as our NEW Senior Minister.
May 20, 2018
West Shore Choir David Blazer, Director of Music Join us for this year’s final installment of the B. Neil Davis Artist Series, as the West Shore Choir presents Missa Gaia (A Mass in Celebration of Mother Earth) released by Paul Winter in 1982. It is an environmental liturgy of contemporary music. The Mass features the instrumentation of the Paul Winter Consort along with choir, vocal soloists, and the calls of wolves, whales and many other animals that are woven into the pieces. Joining David Blazer with the instrumental accompaniment will be Jon Eager (Soprano Sax), Marty Neubert (Oboe/English horn), Derek Snyder (Cello), Brian Kozak (Guitar), Dan Shell (Bass), Mell Csicsila and Evan Mitchell (Percussion).
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December 18, 2016
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Featuring The West Shore Choir with
David Blazier
Director of Music and
Reverend Patricia Hart
One of the highlights each year is our annual holiday choral concert as part of the B. Neil Davis Artist Series. This year West Shore Choir will perform the “Gloria” by John Rutter. This work was commissioned by the Voices of Mel Olson and first performed on May 5, 1974 in Omaha, Nebraska under the direction of the composer.
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May 15, 2016
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by Dan Forrest
Performed by David Blazer, Director of Music and
West Shore Choir
One of the musical highlights in the life of this church is ourannual Springtime Choral Sunday. This year the West Shore Choir will present Requiem for the Living, written in 2013 by Dan Forrest. This program is our final installment this yearof the B. Neil Davis Artist Series. Part of the mission of this concert series is to include some of the best musicians in the Cleveland area to accompany this work. We will be joined by Andrew Pongracz and Mell Csicsila on percussion and Calvin Stokes on Harp.
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May 18, 2014
Featuring West Shore Choir; David Blazer, Director
In 2008, UU interim minister Rev. Frances Dearman was
inspired to write the text of a Latin Mass for Unitarians. She
titled her work “Missa Brevis pro Serveto,” honoring Michael
Servetus, one of the founders of our Unitarian tradition.
Servetus was a Spanish theologian, scientist, and critic
of the doctrine of the trinity; he was executed for heresy in
Geneva in 1553. The “Missa Brevis” received its world premiere
in May 2010 at the annual meeting of the Canadian
Unitarian Council in Victoria BC. Our choir will present this
work as the central element of this all music service.
May 19, 2013
Our annual Spring Choral Service will feature the works of French organist and composer, Maurice Durufle. The Requiem, op. 9, was commissioned in 1947 by the French music publisher Durand and is written in memory of the composer's father. Our West Shore Choir joins the Holtkamp organ to present this dramatic choral work.
Featuring the West Shore Choir; David Blazer, Director 
February 10, 2013
The Tin Man's plaintive plea in The Wizard of Oz was finally answered by the Wizard, who told him that he had all the compassion, sensitivity, and good will that he needed, whether he had a real heart or not. We might say today that the Tin Man had "emotional intelligence." Rev. Wayne will unpack that phrase, and reflect on how the emotional life we live is just as important to religious liberals as our intellectual life.
With Worship Associate Jeremy Beech
The Offertory music is available in it's entirety at the end of the service.
December 16, 2012
John Rutter's initial inspiration for his Magnificat was another great masterpiece, The Magnificat by J.S. Bach. The Magnificat, the canticle of Mary (Luke 1: 46-55) traditionally formed part of the ancient service of Vespers in the medieval Roman rite. It has been set to music more often than any liturgical text other than the Mass itself.The West Shore Choir is joined by a chamber orchestra to present this work along with special holiday organ selections to open and close this special morning. Following an introit that includes our Junior Choir.
Featuring the West Shore Choir
David Blazer, Director
May 20, 2012
To bring the solemnity of the classical-based Mass together with the down-home sparkle of bluegrass – now there’s an assignment. Your assignment is to make sure you attend the annual Spring Choral Sunday. We return to ONE service only. The West Shore Choir will present The World Beloved – A Bluegrass Mass by Carol Barnett. Guest musicians will assemble to form a Bluegrass Band to accompany this work. Also, a Ceremony of Child Dedication will be celebrated on this Mother's Day. The Outreach Offering for this month will be given to the Joyful Noise
Music School.
April 1, 2012
Many of us have come from a variety of other religious traditions before we discovered the liberal force of Unitarian Universalism. What events turned you away from your past? How did people and places change your way of thinking? As we begin this monthly theme of "Growth," David will share with you his spiritual journey which led him to West Shore. Since it's April Fool's Day, expect the unexpected.
with Reverend Kathleen Rolenz and Intern Minister Ellen Carvill-Ziemer
