Updated: January 26, 2023
Monclova Church Addresses Spousal Loss
The Monclova Road Baptist Church GriefShare ministry support group will present a one-time event, “Loss of a Spouse,” discussing the effects and challenges of grief and providing an encouraging path forward.
It will take place on Monday, January 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room of Building A at Monclova Road Baptist Church, 7819 Monclova Rd., Monclova.
GriefShare is a nondenominational group that features biblical teaching on grief and recovery topics. To preregister or for more information, call (419) 346-6991.
First Thursday Speakers Discuss Education
Rev. John C. Jones and Elisa Huss-Hage will present Our Journey to Create a Comprehensive, Community-Based Approach to High-Quality Preschool at the First Thursday discussion series at noon on Thursday, February 2 at Monroe Street United Methodist Church.
Rev. John C. Jones is the president and CEO of HOPE Toledo, a not-for-profit dedicated to the premise that strengthening education will increase opportunity for all of Toledo’s children and youth, grow prosperity for its residents and improve the future of our families and neighborhoods. HOPE Toledo’s focus is to ensure equitable access to education by expanding high-quality early childhood education and expanding the opportunity for every Toledo high school graduate to have a meaningful post-secondary educational experience.
Prior to HOPE Toledo, Jones served in various roles at ProMedica, most recently with the social determinants of health team. He has served as the president and CEO of the Greater Toledo Urban League and is a proven leader with expertise in diversity, inclusion and strategic community building. He has an EMBA from The University of Toledo and a bachelor of science in accounting and finance from Central State University.
Huss-Hage is HOPE Toledo’s director of ECE, leading the efforts to provide a comprehensive, community-based approach to high-quality education that gives 4-year-olds within Toledo’s neighborhoods the strong start they need in kindergarten and beyond. She has enjoyed a career focused on early education that has spanned the generations from toddler teacher to college professor, preparing those who serve young children and families. Huss-Hage joined HOPE Toledo after 25 years at Owens Community College as a faculty member in the department of teacher education. Her tenure was primarily focused on assuring that Owens’ teacher education graduates were well-prepared to serve the students and families in the Toledo community. To that end, she has dedicated significant time to NAEYC and its higher education work to establish and maintain teacher preparation standards for the ECE field. She is currently a commissioner on NAEYC’s Higher Education Commission.
The First Thursday series is prepared by an interfaith coalition of local peace and justice advocates and organized by Monroe Street United Methodist Church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and local social justice advocates.
The event includes lunch at noon followed by the presentation and Q&A discussion. First Thursday takes place at Monroe Street United Methodist Church, 3613 Monroe St., Toledo. Cost of $15.00 (cash or check at the door) includes lunch and presentation. Starting this month, the event will include only the “regular” lunch option; vegetarians and vegans may bring their own lunch at the reduced cost of $5.00 for the presentation only. It is expected that attendees will be fully vaccinated or wear a mask. Parking is available behind the church.
RSVP to FirstThursdayToledo@gmail.com by Monday, January 30.
First Thursday gatherings will continue on March 2 with Toby Hoover’s presentation, Gun Control: What Can I Do?
Hope And Healing Mass Set In Carey
The Basilica & National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation, 315 Clay St., Carey, will host a Hope and Healing Mass on Saturday, February 4 at 11:00 a.m.
There will an opportunity to present your needs and have one of the Franciscan friars pray with you. The Sacrament of the Sick will be celebrated, and all will receive an individual blessing with the Relic of the True Cross.
Perrysburg Symphony Performs At Zoar
The Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra, featuring music director and conductor Travis Jürgens, will perform at Zoar Lutheran Church, 314 E. Indiana Ave., Perrysburg, on Fridays, February 10 and March 10.
Tickets are $15.00 for adults and $10.00 for seniors; students are admitted free. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at www.perrysburgsymphony.org.
Monclova Church Hosts GriefShare
The Monclova Road Baptist Church GriefShare ministry support group will start a new series of weekly meetings offering two separate opportunities to participate.
Attendees may choose from one of the following: Mondays at 8:00 p.m. beginning on February 13 via Zoom; or in person on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. beginning on February 14 in the Community Room, Building A, at Monclova Road Baptist Church, 7819 Monclova Rd., Monclova.
The ministry is for those who are grieving the loss of a family member or friend. There is no time limit on how long ago your loved one may have passed; all are welcome.
GriefShare is a nondenominational group that features biblical teaching on grief and recovery topics. Each week is a different topic, and participants may join the group at any time during the 13-week program. To preregister or for more information, call (419) 346-6991.
Spaghetti Dinner Set At St. Joseph Maumee
The St. Joseph Maumee Rosary Altar Society will host its annual spaghetti dinner on Sunday, February 19 from noon to 5:00 p.m.
The all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner features homemade sauce and meatballs, tossed salad, garlic bread, beverage and dessert. The cost is $10.00 for adults and carryout, $5.00 for children ages 4-11 and free for children ages 3 and younger.
Dinner will be served in the St. Joseph Community Center at the corner of Allen and West Broadway streets in Maumee.
Redemption To Host Author Eric Metaxas
Redemption Church, 8605 Salisbury Rd., Monclova, will host Eric Metaxas on Sunday, February 26 for three services. He will be the featured speaker at both the 9:00 and 10:45 a.m. services and will then participate in a live Q&A panel at 6:00 p.m. at the church. The event is free and open to the public.
Metaxas is the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of Is Atheism Dead? as well as Fish Out of Water, Martin Luther, If You Can Keep It, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, Amazing Grace and Miracles. His latest book is Letter to the American Church (September 2022). His writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and The New Yorker, and Metaxas has appeared as a cultural commentator on CNN, Fox News and MSNBC. He is the host of The Eric Metaxas Show, a nationally syndicated daily radio show heard on 300 outlets nationwide and aired on television on TBN. He is visiting from New York City, where he lives with his wife and daughter.
For more information, please visit www.experienceredemption.com or check out www.ericmetaxas.com/books, facebook.com/ericmetaxas and @ericmetaxas on Twitter. For any other questions, email jamey@experienceredemption.com.
“Starting Again” Offers Grief Support
New Hope Center for Grief Support and Waterville United Methodist Church will host an ongoing, peer-led grief support program for widows and widowers. The group is called “Starting Again” and provides an opportunity to share experiences with others who have gone through a similar loss. Discussions will include dealing with grief issues, learning new coping skills and searching for answers together. The goal is to help each person find hope, healing and new beginnings.
The group is open to everyone who has lost a spouse. It will meet on the second and fourth Fridays of the month, at Waterville UMC, 7115 Waterville-Monclova Rd., Waterville. No registration is necessary. For more information or questions, call (419) 360-5584.
Zoar Lutheran Offers Free Dinners
Zoar Lutheran Church, 314 East Indiana Ave., Perrysburg, offers its Kitchen of Hope as its response to Jesus’ call to care for our neighbors by providing nutritious free dinners served with generosity and love. Open to everyone, Zoar invites all those residing in the community and church members to attend.
Dinners include a main entree, vegetable, starch, salad and fresh-baked dessert. There is no charge for the meal; however, donations can be made to the Kitchen of Hope ministry or in honor/memory of a loved one.
Dinners are held on the fourth Friday of the month at noon in the Family Life Center at Zoar Lutheran Church. Please note: No dinners are offered in June through August. All are welcome. This is a time for everyone to come together in fellowship and enjoy a delicious meal.
Reservations are necessary; deadline is the Monday prior to Friday dinner. Please call the church office at (419) 874-4346.
WUMC Continues New Coat Collection
Waterville United Methodist Church continues collecting new coats for Susie’s Coats, a local nonprofit organization that provides free coats, hats and gloves to area children. One large giveaway event occurs in late fall, but coats are offered to children in need when school personnel are alerted.
Items can be dropped off at the church, 7115 Waterville-Monclova Rd., Waterville, during office hours Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to noon, or in the drop-off tote outside the entrance.
Waterville UMC To Host IFGathering 2023
Waterville United Methodist Church, 7115 Waterville Monclova Rd., Waterville, will host IFGathering 2023 on Friday and Saturday, March 3-4. Join the gathering to equip women with gospel-centered resources, events and community so they may learn more about who God is and disciple other women right where they are. This event is being livestreamed from Dallas, Texas, with Jennie Allen and friends.
Find more information about IFLocal 2023 at https://www.ifgathering.com/if2023. The speakers for the weekend are Jennie Allen, Timothy Ateek, Christine Caine, Lauren Chandler, Tori Collier, John Mark Comer, Layla de la Garza, Jada Edwards, Davy Flowers, Sadie Robertson Huff, Jamie Ivey, Earl and Oneka McClellan, Charles and Florence Mushinga, Christy Nockels, Bianca Juarez Olthoff, David Platt and more.
Mark your calendars for March 3, 7:00 to 10:30 p.m. and March 4, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Childcare will be provided. Please note if you will need childcare when you register at https://www.ifgathering.com/find-an-iflocal with zip code search 43566. The cost is $25.00 for the two days, including the livestreaming from Dallas, meals and snacks, childcare and supplies.
Zion UMC Offers AW Food Pantry
Zion United Methodist Church, 10926 Maumee St., Whitehouse, runs a community-supplied food pantry on the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Anyone needing food assistance who lives, works or worships in the Anthony Wayne school district is invited to use the pantry. No documentation is required.
The pantry survives on donations from the community, so if you would like to help, nonperishable food items can be dropped off in the storage bin near the parking lot door. (Please, no expired items.) If your garden is overflowing, Zion has some capacity to hand out recently delivered produce; please contact Zion by phone at (419) 877-5820 or email zionwhitehouseumc@gmail.com before bringing your produce. Volunteers from the community are always welcome.
The food pantry can also be found on Facebook as Anthony Wayne Food Pantry.
Hope UMC Hosts Community Lunches
Community lunches, hosted by Hope United Methodist Church in Whitehouse, are open to anyone in the community and are held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month year-round except during the month of December. A freewill offering is accepted.
Clothing items and small household goods are available at The Hope Chest from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of the month and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
The church is located at 10610 Waterville St. in Whitehouse, next to the fire station.
Food & Hygiene Pantry Announces Hours
Providence Lutheran Church at 8131 Airport Hwy., Holland, offers food and hygiene products on the fourth Thursday of each month.
Hours are 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Items are prebagged and provided via drive-thru only. A valid driver’s license or picture ID is required.
Waterville Drive-Thru Pantry Available
The Anthony Wayne Community Food Ministry offers a drive-thru food pantry at Waterville Community Church, 8217 Dutch Rd., Waterville, on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Clients must meet Ohio household income requirements for food assistance. Visit www.AWCFM.com or the Anthony Wayne Community Food Ministry Facebook page for more information.
Food Pantry Available For Those In Need
Maumee churches and the St. Luke’s Foundation offer Under One Roof, a joint food pantry located at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 310 Elizabeth St., Maumee, for those who need food and toiletries. Those interested in receiving help or in making donations should call (419) 794-0111 for more information or to make an appointment.