Calvary, Clifton will unveil new Homeless Jesus statue June 14.

Calvary, Clifton, will be the site of a new religious statue that has been causing quite a stir in other cities. The Homeless Jesus bronze statue depicts Jesus as a homeless person sleeping on a bench, identifiable only by the crucifixion wounds on his feet.

St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral in Buffalo, New York, unveiled their Homeless Jesus statue in April of this year, and offerings - apparently meant for Buffalo's homeless - began showing up on the statue. Items have included money, food, books and clothing. The church collects the items each day and donates them to a local organization that helps the homeless.

St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Davidson, North Carolina, installed their Homeless Jesus statue on its property in the middle of an affluent neighborhood, and the reaction there was quite different. Some neighbors have taken offense to the shrouded depiction of Jesus, and have been very vocal about their opinions on the matter.

Calvary will unveil its statue on Sunday, June 14, with a special worship service beginning at 10:30 a.m., followed by a reception.
 

Calvary's rector, the Rev. Jason Leo, anticipates neighborhood and community support for Homeless Jesus, but does not rule out the possibility of a few detractors. "Great art that provokes a response- bad or good- affords people the opportunity for dialogue. We look forward to sharing in conversation about the church's commitment to the homeless population in our city. The garden where the statue is to be placed is dedicated to George Ferguson, one of our long-time members whose service to the homeless was an inspiration to many. Contributions to the project were made in his honor and memory."

Sean Moore, an Eagle Scout with Boy Scout Troop 161, which meets at Calvary, oversaw the design of the Ferguson Garden and the installation of Homeless Jesus. Moore is a senior at Walnut Hills High School.

All are welcome to attend the official unveiling of the statue on June 14. Dean Gail Greenwell from Christ Church Cathedral, downtown, will offer the blessing, and there will be light refreshments served. Those who plan to come are encouraged to contribute to Calvary's outreach work by bringing non-perishable food items to this event. All items collected will be donated to St. Andrew's Food Pantry in Evanston.

Calvary Church is located at 3766 Clifton Ave. in Cincinnati. Call 513.861.4437 for more information.

Life Line Screening

The Church of the Good Samaritan, Amelia, is pleased to again offer a preventive health event. Life Line Screening, a leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, will host their affordable, non-invasive and painless health screenings on Wednesday, July 8 at the church.

Life Line Screening has partnered with over 150 hospitals across the country and has screened nearly eight million people. Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems related to: blocked arteries which is a leading cause of stroke; abdominal aortic aneurysms which can lead to a ruptured aorta; hardening of the arteries in the legs which is a strong predictor of heart disease; atrial fibrillation or irregular heart beat which is closely tied to stroke risk; and a bone density screening for men and women, used to assess the risk of osteoporosis. 

Register for a screening from $149 ($139 with our member discount). All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete. In order to register for this event and to receive a $10 discount off any package priced above $129, please call 888.653.6441 or visit www.lifelinescreening.com/community:partners. 

There is also a free annual wellness visit if you are a Medicare beneficiary which includes a one on one consultation with a licensed nurse practitioner. The consultation includes a thorough review of your medical and family history to identify risks to your long term health, screening for depression and memory impairment, review of daily living skills, fall prevention and home safety, a written screening and immunization checklist/ schedule for the next 5 to 10 years, and personalized prevention to help you stay healthy and active for as long as possible. 

Pre-registration is required. Call: 866.579.5069. Church of the Good Samaritan is located at 25 Amelia-Olive Branch Road in Amelia. 

Coming this summer: The Sycamore

A new cathedral publication designed to expand our horizons

This summer, the cathedral community will see the roll out of a new publication. Designed to open readers to formation in a way to deepens and expands faith, The Sycamore will be both an online and print magazine. The targeted audience for readership goes beyond the cathedral congregation to include diocesan members, Episcopalians throughout the Midwest and progressive Christians anywhere who are interested in an inclusive and reflective practice of faith. 

Just as Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree to gain a clear view above the crowd upon learning that the great rabbi Jesus was visiting his hometown of Jericho (Luke 19: 1-9), The Sycamore will offer readers a fresh perspective on Christian teachings and the ways in which they can expand the horizons of their own faith journeys.

The first issue will be published in July. Subsequent issues will be published quarterly. Notices will be sent electronically announcing each new issue as it is published online. If you wish to be on our list for notifications as each issue is published online, or if you wish to subscribe for a print copy, please contact the editor, Barbara Lyghtel Rohrer.