RELIGION

Offerings: Compassion Games begin this weekend

9/9/2017
BY NICKI GORNY
BLADE STAFF WRITER
  • Planned-Parenthood-At-100-4

    ASSOCIATED PRESS

    • Compassion Games

    The Compassion Games kick off Saturday, inviting community members to record their volunteer work for two weeks. Toledo will then compete with other cities around the world in such categories as number of participating volunteers, number of volunteer hours, and total funds raised.

    Toledo had a strong showing last year, ranking first in number of volunteers and second in number of volunteer hours among 91 global teams. For more information on this year’s games, contact the head coach at davidomon@sbcglobal.net.

    The MultiFaith Council of Northwest Ohio will recognize the start of the Compassion Games at its annual Harvest Festival, on Sunday, at Monroe Street United Methodist Church, 3613 Monroe St. A Sufi universal worship service, led by Sara Jobin and Judy Trautman, will begin the festival at 3 p.m. An update on the “Sacred Grounds” native landscaping program for faith communities will be at 4 p.m. and a potluck meal at 5 p.m. will follow.

    Conflict to Communion

    Bishop Daniel Thomas, of the Diocese of Toledo, and Bishop Daniel Beaudoin, of the Northwestern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, will lead a joint prayer service at 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Findlay. The service comes as a shared commemoration of the Protestant Reformation, which Martin Luther sparked in 1517 with the publication of his 95 Theses.

    The Northwestern Ohio Synod is recognizing the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in numerous regional events this fall. St. Michael the Archangel is at 750 Bright Rd., Findlay. A reception will follow the service.

    Hurricane relief

    At least 15 volunteers through Cornerstone Church will head to Texas this month to assist with ongoing hurricane relief efforts. The nondenominational church, in collaboration with its global network, also raised more than $22,000 for the cause.

    Volunteers, who range in age from 17 to 60, will be in Victoria, Texas, between Sept. 15 and Sept. 22. They will partner with Heal the World, a nonprofit that represents the collective outreach of the Cornerstone Global Network, and Samaritan’s Purse, a humanitarian aid organization that is already active in Texas. The volunteer team is comprised of area church members from Toledo and Lima, and from Virginia and Washington.

    ‘Living Proof Live’

    Best-selling author Beth Moore is bringing her “Living Proof Live” tour to the Huntington Center on Sept. 16. The daylong event invites participants to “laugh, pray, and study Scripture with thousands of women from all walks of life.” Travis Cottrell, a pastor and recording artist, will lead worship.

    Sessions will run 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at the Huntington Center, 500 Jefferson Ave. Registration is $69. For more information or to purchase a ticket, go to lifeway.com/livingproof or call 800-254-2022.

    Syrian performer

    Social Services for the Arab Community will host Syrian violinist Mariela Shaker at Lourdes University on Sept. 17 in a performance intended to entertain and raise awareness for families fleeing violence. Ms. Shaker, of Aleppo, fled the war by way of a music scholarship in the United States. She has been named a "Champion of Change for World Refugees" by President Barack Obama and has performed at the Kennedy Center and the United Nations, among other venues.

    “Alive From Aleppo” starts at 6 p.m. at the Franciscan Center at Lourdes University, 6832 Convent Blvd., Sylvania. Tickets are $50 for adults, $25 for children and $85 for a couple and can be purchased online at marielashaker.bpt.me. For more information, call 419-902-7732 or email ssfac@yahoo.com.

    Contact Nicki Gorny at ngorny@theblade.com or 419-724-6133.