Offerings: 5-3

5/3/2014
BLADE STAFF

Kids Go Trucking

Turns out a Touch-a-Truck event is not a contest to see who can keep a hand on a pickup the longest to win the truck. Some might call that childlike. No, Touch-a-Truck is actually for children. At Epworth United Methodist Church, 4855 W. Central Ave., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, emergency vehicles and other trucks and cars will be on display in the parking lot, and kids are welcome to sit in them, climb on them, honk the horns, and turn on the sirens. Touch-a-Truck is free and open to all, and YES-FM will be broadcasting from Epworth during the event.

Inspirational Ring

David Ring refers to himself when he asks people a particular question: “I have cerebral palsy—what's your problem?” An evangelical speaker with a difficult life story—born with cerebral palsy, orphaned at age 14, facing continuing challenges into adulthood—he took up the Christian faith and now encourages others. Mr. Ring will speak at First Baptist Church of Greater Toledo, 6520 Pilliod Rd., Holand, at 7 p.m. Sunday. The event is free, but an offering will be taken. RSVPs are requested at 419-865-9171 or info@fbcogt.com.

Leaders named Francis

Before she steps down from her seat as the first endowed chair in Franciscan integration at Lourdes University, Patricia O'Connell will deliver a free public lecture, “Franciscan Leadership for the 21st century: Lessons from St. Francis and Pope Francis,” at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the conference room of Regina Hall. Lourdes is at 6832 Convent Blvd., Sylvania.

Caregivers get care

People caring for others often don't get care because they're focused on giving. Waterville Presbyterian Church, Hospice of Northwest Ohio, and the Area Office on Aging are attentive to that. They are presenting a series on “Caring for Caregivers: Finding the Blessings” at the church, 611 Farnsworth Rd., Waterville. It starts Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and also meets May 13 and May 27. Though free, space is limited and registration is required by calling 419-878-2806.

French Wine

The Evening Alliance and Layman's League of First Unitarian Church of Toledo, 3205 Glendale Ave., presents its annual William Wine Lecture Series Wednesday, with wine and check-in at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6, and the program at 7. Dan French, a University of Toledo doctoral candidate, will speak on “We Have Met the Enemy and He Is Us: Past and Present Perspectives on Modern Energy.” Admission is $10, and reservations are due by Sunday to gamble4@bex.net or 419-535-6126.

Reviving conference

The Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance's annual conference presents three nights of preaching on the theme “Same Gospel, New Season” at Warren AME Church, 915 Collingwood Ave., with the Rev. E. Dewey Smith of Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church, called the House of Hope Atlanta, in Decatur, Ga., starting Wednesday at 7 p.m. On Thursday at 7 p.m., the Rev. Jamal-Harrison Bryant of Empowerment Temple in Baltimore, Md., returns for a second consecutive year. Then Friday at 7 p.m., the Rev. Otis Moss III of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago closes the series. A community choir will take part nightly.

Friendly volunteers

The Friendship Circle, a companionship program for children and young adults with special needs, supported by Bais Menachem Mendel Lubavitch Chabad House of Toledo and the Jewish Federation & Foundation of Greater Toledo, hosts its fifth annual volunteer appreciation and awards ceremony, including a light buffet, Thursday at 6 p.m. at Southview High School Auditorium, 7225 Sylvania Ave., Sylvania. Cost is $18, but volunteers attend free. The speaker is Daniel Tratt, an award-winning triathlete and marathon participant who teaches special education in the Bronx, New York, and leads the New York chapter of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association.