Religion Offerings: 1-18
1/18/2014Two churches, one service
Because of water damage from burst pipes earlier this month, First Unitarian Church of Toledo held its Jan. 12 service at Park Congregational Church after Park's own worship.
On Sunday the two congregations, one Unitarian Universalist and the other United Church of Christ, will continue to be at Park, 1456 Harvard Blvd., giving tribute to the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. They will join in one ceremony at 10 a.m., with leaders and the choirs of both congregations taking part. The Rev. Beth Marshall, minister at First Unitarian, and the Rev. Ed Heilman, Park's minister, will each give shorter sermons.
Sunday had originally been a “pulpit swap” day, when the Rev. Heilman would preach at First Unitarian and the Rev. Marshall at Park; that will take place later this year. The ministers are members of the Beverly Cluster, a group of clergy from several churches who meet periodically for discussion, fellowship, support, and occasional pulpit exchanges.
Church after the fire
St. Mark Baptist Church, which lost its building to fire Jan. 3, will continue to meet Sundays at the Driscoll Alumni Center at the University of Toledo, 2801 W. Bancroft, while its pastor, the Rev. I.J. Johnson, and the congregation make plans for the church's future. Bible study is at 10 a.m. and worship at 11.
On Feb. 2, a community service to help St. Mark will be held at Indiana Missionary Baptist Church, 640 Indiana Ave., at 4 p.m. A guest minister and special choirs will be featured. For more information, contact the Rev. Cedric Brock, pastor of Mt. Nebo Baptist Church and president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, at 419-261-3852.
Walking at two St. Josephs
Wednesday is the 41st anniversary of the Roe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court legal abortions ruling. Among the local observances, the Knights of Columbus of St. Joseph Parish, 104 W. Broadway, Maumee, host a March for Life Sunday starting at 2 p.m. from the church to its cemetery. On Jan. 26, St. Joseph in Sylvania holds its Rose Procession after the 10:30 a.m. Mass, with plans to have people from ages 1 to 41 representing each year since the Roe decision.
Toledo King events
On Monday, the federal Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday, the city and the University of Toledo have their annual unity celebration at 9 a.m. in Savage Arena, 2025 Douglas Rd. Mayor D. Michael Collins, university president Lloyd Jacobs, and Toledo NAACP president Ray Wood will speak and the Interfaith Mass Choir will sing. A free community luncheon will be served after the ceremony.
Also on Monday, Lo Salem Baptist Church, 660 Vance St., hosts the Rev. Lee Williams, pastor of Search Lite Community Church and staff chaplain at St. Luke's Hospital, Maumee, as keynote speaker for its MLK celebration at 10 a.m. A march around Savage Park follows, then lunch will be at MLK Kitchen for the Poor, 650 Vance St.
Praying for peace
The annual Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania peace prayer service is Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel, 6832 Convent Blvd., Sylvania. Prayers will include praise for beauty, gifts, and goodness of earth; commitments to care for and heal the planet; and promises to be peacemakers.
Talking while eating
Bob Yano of Fayette is starting The Inquiring Mind Cafe, Where Thoughts Evolve, a discussion group “to bring to our modern-day society the long-ago practice of examining and dialoguing our thoughts and beliefs,” he said in an email. The first meeting is at Barry Bagels, 302 Dussel Dr., Maumee, Jan. 25 at 10 a.m. Topics are selected by those attending.
Mr. Yano's free "TIM Cafe" adds to religion-oriented discussions in the area like the free Lifetree Cafe. the national Lifetree hosts gatherings in two greater Toledo locations: Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at Maumee United Methodist Church, 405 Sackett St., Maumee, with the same topic the following Saturday at the Francis Family YMCA, 2000 W. Dean Rd., Temperance.