MasonBuzz.com

The band Switchfoot is one of many acts to perform this weekend at SpiritSong. The Christian music concert series runs Thursday through Saturday at Kings Island. Photo provided

Some of the biggest acts in Christian and Gospel music will converge in Mason today through Saturday at the annual SpiritSong concert series at Kings Island.

Now in its 19th year, SpiritSong uses an amusement park setting to present a soul-searching message from top contemporary Christian acts, including TobyMac, RED, Switchfoot, Jeremy Camp, Third Day, Needtobreathe and Owl City, plus nationally known speakers.

“We bring in an astounding lineup of Christian music talent and speakers,” said Richard Young, director of operations for Premier Festivals, the event’s sponsor.  “People look forward to having fun, fellowship and worship in a unique atmosphere with all that the park has to offer, too.”

• View SpiritSong’s three-day lineup 

Cost: $48.99 for one day, $66.99 for two days or $76.99 for three days. Tickets include admission to Kings Island, Soak City Waterpark and the performances in the Timberwolf Amphitheatre.

Information: 800-965-9324, www.spiritsongfest.com.

Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, Community, Events, Kings Island, Recreational events, Religion |

Tags: Tags: christian, concert, jeremy camp, kings island, mason, music, needtobreathe, owl city, series, spirit song, SpiritSong, switchfoot, third day, tickets, tobymac

Christian music group Third Day is among bands to perform at the 19th annual SpiritSong concert series to be held June 28-30 at Kings Island. File photo

One of the Midwest’s largest Christian music festivals returns this month to Kings Island.

The 19th annual SpiritSong concert series is set for June 28-30 at the Mason amusement park.

The three-day lineup features nationally known speakers and some of the biggest acts in Christian and Gospel music, including Owl City, TobyMac, RED, Switchfoot, Jeremy Camp, Third Day and Needtobreathe.

Tickets include admission to Kings Island, the all-new Soak City water park and performances in the 10,000 seat outdoor Timberwolf Ampitheatre.

“This festival offers a fun and unique way to bring top Christian artists and speakers to a place that people love to visit with family and friends,” said Richard Young, director of operations for Premier Festivals, the event’s sponsor.

“We bring in an astounding lineup of Christian music talent and speakers,” he added.  “People look forward to having fun, fellowship and worship in a unique atmosphere with all that the park has to offer, too.”

Tickets are available online at ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-745-3000 or from Kings Island.  Groups of 15 or more can purchase discounted tickets online at itickets.com or by phone at 800-965-9324.

Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, Events, Kings Island, Recreational events, Religion |

Tags: Tags: christian, christianity, gospel, jeremy camp, kings island, mason, music, needtobreathe, owl city, premier festivals, red, religion, richard young, SpiritSong, switchfoot, third day, tickets, tobymac

Christian college teams from across the nation descended on Prasco Park this month in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Div. I and II Baseball National Championship World Series.

The Div. 1 championship game will be played at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Mason athletic facility. Oklahoma Wesleyan will look to defend its National Championship title against California Baptist University.

Toccoa Falls College beat out Florida Christian in the Div. II championship, held on May 12.

This is the fourth year for the NCCAA World Series at Prasco Park, which opened in 2008. The 550-seat stadium built to Major League specifications is on the corporate campus of Prasco Laboratories and is an initiative of the Arington Foundation, named for Prasco founder Thomas Arington.

Arington Executive Director Jeff Zurcher said the partnership is a matter of faith, in addition to providing a first-class baseball experience.

Arington’s mission is to positively affect the values of young people through Christian influence in sport, media and education — values which merge with the Christian intercollegiate athletic association, he said.

As part of their participation in the World Series, each team donates service hours at Matthew 25 Ministries, a Blue Ash-based charity.

The park maintains a code of conduct for guests, which prohibits profanity, alcohol and excessive displays of affection, and opens each game with a prayer.

“It’s a values match,” said Zurcher of the NCCAA. “We love God and we love people and we try to do that in a safe, pleasant experience. We’ve created a destination not only for baseball fans, but for families.”

In addition to hosting the NCCAA World Series, the park is the permanent home of the Cincinnati Spikes amateur baseball team. Select colleges, universities and youth programs also use the facility.

Admission is free and open to the community. In addition to the tournament are family-friendly games, activities, vendors and food in a festival-like atmosphere..

Prasco Park is at 6125 Commerce Court in Mason. For more information, go to www.prascopark.com.

Posted in: Events, Recreational events, Religion, Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: arington foundation, baseball, baseball national championship world series, california baptist university, christian, div. i, div. ii, florida christian, free, jeff zurcher, mason, national christian college athletic association, nccaa, oklahoma wesleyan university, prasco laboratories, prasco park, religion, thomas arington, toccoa falls college, world series

Whether you’re looking for an Easter egg hunt or sunrise service or brunch, MasonBuzz has all your Mason area Easter events right here. All events are free unless noted otherwise.

Does your church or organization have an Easter event not listed here? Send it to MasonBuzz!

Saturday, April 7

Easter Egg Hunt Eggstravaganza
When: Two hunts at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Where: Cottel Park, 5847 Irwin-Simpson Road, Mason
What: Easter egg hunts for children up to 12 years of age. Visits with the Easter bunny and give-aways.
Contact: Sponsored by Deerfield Township. 513-701-6958; www.deerfieldtwp.com

Easter Egg Hunt
When:  1 p.m.
Where: WC Armco Park, 1223 North S.R. 741, Lebanon
What: Easter egg hunt for children, rain or shine
Contact: Sponsored by Warren County Parks District. 513-695-3980; www.co.warren.oh.us/parks

Easter Bunny Express
When:  10 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.
Where: Lebanon, Mason & Monroe Railroad, 127 South Mechanic St., Lebanon
What: Meet the Easter Bunny, hunt for Easter eggs and take a train ride on the Easter Bunny Express.
Cost: $18.50 adults; $15.50 seniors and children ages 5-16; $8.50 toddlers ages 2-4; free for children under 2
Contact: LM&M Railroad. 513-9338022; www.lebanonrr.com

St. Susannah Catholic Church Easter vigil Mass
When: 8:30 p.m.
Where: 616 Reading Road, Mason
Contact: 513-398-3821; www.stsusanna.org

Holy Saturday Labyrinth Walk & Prayer Vigil
When: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Where: Tylersville Road Christian Church, 6771 Tylersville Road, Mason
Contact: 513-754-0777; www.trcchurch.org

—————————————————————-

Easter Sunday, April 8

St. Susannah Catholic Church
When: Mass at 7 a.m., 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.; Spanish Mass at 4 p.m.
Where: 616 Reading Road, Mason
Contact: 513-398-3821; www.stsusanna.org

Tylersville Road Christian Church
When: Fellowship brunch at 9 a.m., followed by worship service at 10:30 a.m. and a Easter Egg Hunt at noon.
Where: 6771 Tylersville Road, Mason
Contact: 513-754-0777; www.trcchurch.org

Christ’s Church at Mason
When: Worship services at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Where: 5165 Western Road Road, Mason
Contact: 513-229-3214; www.ccmason.org

Hope Church
When: Worship services at 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11:30
Where: 4934 Western Row Road, Mason
Contact: 513-459-0800; www.hope-church.org

Mason United Methodist Church
When: Worship services at 8:30 a.m., 9:45 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Where: 6315 South Mason-Montgomery Road, Mason
Contact: 513-398-4741; www.masonumc.org

Rivers Crossing Community Church
When: 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
Where: 5937 Kings Island Drive (former Rave Cinema), Mason
Contact: Tickets recommended, reserve online at www.riverscrossing.cc

Heritage Presbyterian Church
When: Sunrise service at 7 a.m., breakfast at 7:45 a.m., worship services at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., followed by the Youth Worship Band at 12:15 p.m.
Where: 6546 South Mason-Montgomery Road, Mason
Contact: 513-398-7671; www.hpcmason.org

Posted in: Community, Events, Religion |

Tags: Tags: deerfield township, easter, easter egg hunt, eggstravaganza, events, faith, holy saturday, lebanon, mason, religion, warren county, worship

More than 400 hundred people crammed into the Grace Chapel last Saturday, Feb. 25, for the 10th annual Faith Forward event sponsored by At Work on Purpose (AWOP).

Chuck Proudfit, founder and president of At Work on Purpose, interviews local Christian business leaders on how they incorporate faith values at work at the 10th annual Faith at Work event Feb. 25. (MemoriesMatter Photo)

“We want to mobilize the work world for Christ and boldly tell others to do the same,” said Chuck Proudfit, AWOP founder and president. “Our work world is largely disconnected from God, so we need practical, proven practices to integrate faith and work.”

While on stage, Proudit interviewed local members of the business community and told the audience ways they could integrate faith into the work world.

“Too many of us have bought into the lie that the sacred and secular are separate,” Proudfit said. “But we can live out our faith lives fully at work by adhering to biblical principles in the way we treat others. Taken within the context of your sphere of influence, your workplace is your congregation.”

Other speakers from the event included Molly Talbot of Life Enriching Communities; Christ Flores of The Katalyst Company; Greg Orcutt of Orcutt & Company CPAs, Ltd,; Bernie Reagan of Duplicator Sales, Inc.; Ryan Chapin of General Electric; Darrel Geis of Christian Blue Pages; Art Garza of Star 93.3; Mike Peters of Christian Marketplace Network; Pete West of Procter & Gamble; Brad Rogers of Urban Harvest; Rob McCann of Self-Sustaining Enterprises; and Kevin Gilles of 25th Hour Associates.

Also during the event, Jeff Greer, senior pastor at Grace Chapel, spoke on re-conceptualizing church as a place where marketplace ministry is not just allowed, but encouraged.

Currently, Grace Chapel invests in and supports BizNistries, which are philanthropically-minded businesses that dedicate excess profits to fund ministry work. The local chapel is also the umbrella organization for Self-Sustaining Enterprises, a nonprofit that supports ministries such as Back2Back Ministries, dedicated to widow and orphan care; H2O Nigeria, a fresh-water drilling project near Jos, Nigeria; Roc-A-Fellas Pizza in Sharonville; New2You thrift stores in Mason and Clifton; All4You Apparel in Mason; and the Mason Food Pantry.

“We’re on the front end of a movement,” Greer said. “If God can multiply us by hundreds of thousands, think what ‘damage’ we can do for the Lord.”

For more information about AWOP, visit www.atworkonpurpose.org or call 800-513-9580.

Posted in: Community, Events, Religion |

Tags: Tags: at work on purpose, AWOP, chuck proudfit, grace chapel, Grace Chapel Mason, jeff greer

Registration is now underway for youth summer day camp and before/after-school programs at Christ’s Church at Mason.

The church’s summer day camp is open to children in grades 1-6 while the before-/after-school program is limited to preschool-age children.  Both programs are part of Weekday Ministries, a ministry of the non-denominational Mason church.

Tours of the facility are available.  For more information or to register or schedule a tour, call 513-229-5405 or go to www.weekdayministries.org.

Posted in: Events, Religion |

Tags: Tags: after-school program, before-school program, christ's church at mason, preschool, religion, summer day camp, the landing, weekday ministries, youth

The Northern Hills Synagogue-Congregation B’nai Avraham will hold its Hanukkah party at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24.

The party, sponsored by the congregation’s Men’s and youth clubs, features a dairy dinner with latkes and sufganiot (donuts), dreidel tournament, Hannukkah crafts, games and activities.

Attendees are asked to bring a menorah to light, as well as gently-used eyeglasses to donate.

Dinner cost is $12 for adults, $6 for children ages 3 to 10 and free for children under 3. There is a maximum family charge of $40.

The event is open to the community.  Northern Hills Synagogue is at 5714 Fields Ertel Road in Deerfield Township and can be reached at 513-931-6038.

Posted in: Community, Events, Religion |

Tags: Tags: community, congregation b'nai avraham, deerfield township, dinner, donation, dreidel, faith, family, hanukkah, latkes, northern hills synagogue, religion, sufganiot

Rabbi Yosef Kalmanson of the Jewish Discovery Center. File photo

Jewish families will see their faith represented among local holiday displays this month.

The Jewish Discovery Center will kick off the Festival of Lights at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20 at Deerfield Towne Center.

Mason’s new mayor, David Nichols, and other local dignitaries and community representatives will assist in kindling the 12-foot-tall ‘Menorah of Freedom.’ The celebration also includes Hanukkah treats, live music, raffles and pictures with Judah the Maccabee.

“This is the first time we will come together as a community light a public Menorah in the area,” said Rochel Kalmanson, education director of the center. “We have received extraordinary support from the wider community. What a wonderful way for all freedom loving people to come together and celebrate religious freedom.”

Hannukkah, the eight-day Festival of Lights, begins at sunset on Dec. 20 and continues through Dec. 28.

The Jewish festival commemorates a victory over Greek tyranny more than 2,000 years ago. Its underlying message is a belief in miracles, based upon the story of lamps in a Jerusalem temple that burned for eight days on a single day’s supply of oil.

“It’s a message with broad appeal to everyone who believes in religious freedom, indicating that faith and determination can triumph against even the most overwhelming odds,” said Rabbi Yosef Kalmanson, the center’s director. “The Chanukah lights provide warmth, joy, strength and inspiration.”

The event is free and open to the community. For more information, call 513-234-0777 or go to www.jdiscovery.com.

Posted in: Events, Religion |

Tags: Tags: chanukah, david nichols, deerfield towne center, festival of lights, hannukah, jewish, jewish discovery center, jews, mason, mason mayor, menorah of freedom, rabbi yosef kalmanson, rochel kalmanson

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati will celebrate Asian heritage and culture on its World Mission Sunday event at St. Susanna Church in Mason on Sunday.

Catholics of all cultures are invited to the special Mass, which begins at 3 p.m. that day. The event also includes a reception with Asian food and entertainment and fellowship in the church’s Meyer Hall.

The celebration is presented by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s Mission Office, Blessed Chavara Syro Malabar Catholic Mission and the Catholic communities of St. Andrew Kim Korean, Filipino and Our Lady of LaVang Vietnamese.

The event is free to attend and open to the community. St. Susanna Church is at 616 Reading Road. For more information, call the Mission Office at 513-421-3131, ext. 2632, or email mission@catholiccincinnati.org.

Posted in: Events, Religion |

Tags: Tags: archdiocese of cincinnati, asia, asian, blessed chavara syro malabar catholic mission, culture, filipino, heritage, mason, mass, our lady of lavang vietnamese, religion, st. andrew kim koren, st. susanna church, world mission day

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati will celebrate Asian heritage and culture on its World Mission Sunday event at St. Susanna Church in Mason on Sunday, Oct. 23.

Catholics of all cultures are invited to the special Mass, which begins at 3 p.m. that day.  The event also includes a reception with Asian food and entertainment and fellowship in the church’s Meyer Hall.

The celebration is presented by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s Mission Office, Blessed Chavara Syro Malabar Catholic Mission and the Catholic communities of St. Andrew Kim Korean, Filipino and Our Lady of LaVang Vietnamese.

The event is free to attend and open to the community.  St. Susanna Church is at 616 Reading Road.  For more information, call the Mission Office at 513-421-3131, ext. 2632, or email mission@catholiccincinnati.org.

Posted in: Events, Religion |

Tags: Tags: archdiocese of cincinnati, asia, asian, blessed chavara syro malabar catholic mission, culture, filipino, heritage, mason, mass, our lady of lavang vietnamese, religion, st. andrew kim koren, st. susanna church, world mission day