Church briefs for July 2-3

SANDUSKY • First Congregational United Church of Christ, at 1158 Cleveland Road in the Sandusky Plaza, invites you to in-person worship for each Sunday at 10 a.m. Join us this weekend for a sermon titled "Burden Bearing" from Rev. Lenore Kure. This will be a service of Holy Communion, and fellowship will follow the worship service. At 11:20 a.m., Rev. Lenore welcomes people to join her for devotions. Our Shoreline ministry also continues at the Shoreline Park Pavilion — rain or shine — at 8 a.m. Sundays. Each week, we will have a speaker deliver a message about "how the awesome love of God has impacted my life." We will also take up an offering at each service and the proceeds of such will go to the offering focus of the day. This week, we will hear from Marcus Harris, the Diversity and Economic Opportunity Manager for the city of Sandusky. The Ada M. Harris Scholarship will be the offering focus. We are an open and affirming congregation and all are welcome here. Our building is fully accessible. Weekly and upcoming church events include: - On Monday, July 4, The Center for Peace Through Understanding will have a booth at the Stars & Stripes Festival downtown from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The booth will have a comfort station, as well as a raffle for a beautiful handmade quilt. Tickets may be purchased this Sunday after the worship service or at the festival. The winner will be drawn at the end of the festival, and all proceeds will be dedicated to First Congregational. - An open 11th Step Meditation Alcoholics Anonymous group gathers at the church from noon to 1 p.m. every Tuesday. For more information about the church, worship services and any events/groups taking place, please call the church office at 419-625-8105 or check out our Facebook page (@firstconguccsandusky). • Zion Lutheran Church, at 503 Columbus Ave., will host the following events. In addition to being in-person, the communion services can also be viewed on the church's "The Hill of Zion Sandusky" YouTube channel. - Saturday, July 2: Communion service at 6 p.m. - Sunday, July 3: Communion service at 8 a.m.; Faith Formation for all Communion service at 10:30 a.m. - Monday, July 4: Office closed - Tuesday,July 5: Quilters at 9 a.m. - Wednesday, July 6: Book Connection at 2 p.m.; Agape women's Bible study at 6:30 p.m. - Thursday, July 7: Priscilla women's Bible study - Saturday, July 9: Youth-sponsored car wash from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Zion's parking lot; Communion service at 6 p.m. • St. Stephen United Church of Christ, at 905 E. Perkins Ave., has worship at 8 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Sundays. Sunday school will resume in the fall. All are welcome. Upcoming events include: - Thursdays: Quilters at 10 a.m. • Emmanuel United Church of Christ, at 334 Columbus Ave., has worship at 10 a.m. Sundays. All are welcome. Masks are optional. • First Presbyterian Church, at 265 Jackson St., worships at 10 a.m. Sundays. • Until July 17, St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church is temporarily worshiping at 10 a.m. Sundays at the American Legion Post #83 at 3615 Hayes Ave. Revs. Philip A. Gardner and Lance N. Franke are assisting the congregation. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to 419-625-6800 by noon on the Wednesday before. • Trinity United Methodist Church, at 214 E. Jefferson St., has in-person worship at 11 a.m. Sundays. The pastor is Rev. Dr. Diane Bell. Masks are optional and social distancing is observed. The worship service is also broadcast live at trinitysandusky.net or on the church's Facebook page. • Grace Episcopal Church, at 315 Wayne St., hosts in-person worship at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m Sundays and 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Everyone is welcome. Grace Episcopal's 10 a.m. Sunday service can also be viewed via live-streaming. To join, go to Grace's website, gracesandusky.org, and click on the teal "Boxcast Sunday Streams" box. The service can also be heard by calling toll-free 888-477-9081 or by visiting Grace Episcopal Church-Sandusky Facebook page. • Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, at 502 Bardshar Road, has worship services at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sundays, with children's Sunday school at 9 a.m. The first and third Sundays of the month will have Communion services and the fifth Sunday services will occur at 9 a.m. and are lay led with no Sunday school. • Christian Singles Fellowship is a group that promotes Christian support, social activities and fellowship for all born-again single adults, whether divorced, widowed or single by choice. It provides singles with positive fellowship and interaction with other singles within the context of Christianity and to minister to people's special needs. For questions, call Karson at 419-433-0085. Upcoming events include: - Monday, July 4: Family and friends Fourth of July picnic and fun. This event starts at noon and goes all day. Meet at Karson's home, 1401 Berlin Road, Huron. Hot dogs will be provided; bring meat to grill and a dish to share. Outside yard games and water activities will occur. Bring the kids and your swim suit. - Friday, July 8: Picnic at the lake; meet at 6:15 p.m. at Lake Front Park in Huron. Hot dogs will be provided; bring a dish, dessert, pop to share. Bring your swim suit if you'd like to swim. - Monday, July 11: Planning meeting; meet at 7 p.m. at North Point Baptist Church, 3702 Hayes Ave. Sandusky. - Friday, July 15: Nature walk; meet at 6:15 p.m. at Sheldon's Marsh on U.S. 6, west of Huron. Afterward, we will eat dinner at Berardi's restaurant. - Saturday July 23: Canal boat ride experience; meet at 10:30 a.m. to carpool from North Point Baptist Church. We will travel to Providence, Ohio, near Bowling Green. Bring a sack lunch. Tickets for adults are $7 and $4 for kids. Afterward, we will eat dinner at an area restaurant. Bring the kids to step back in time for a horse-drawn boat ride on the Eric Canal at Lock 44. - Friday July 29: Bike and Bible Night, meet at 6:15 p.m. at Karson's home. Sloppy Joe sandwiches will be provided. Bring a covered dish/dessert, pop. Bring the kids for some physical and spiritual exercise. - July 23- 29: Beulah Beach Bible Missionary conference at 601 W. Lake Road, Vermilion. For details, call 440-967-4861 or beulahbeach.org. This is open to the public. • St. Stephen AME Church, at 312 Neil St., hosts worship at 10:30 a.m. Sundays. Everyone is welcome. • Father's Heart Family Church, at 2211 Mills St., has worship at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sundays. • Faith Christian Ministries, at 200 Hancock St., is a non-denominational church located that invites you to join us for Sunday worship at 11 a.m. We have Bible study at 11 a.m. Wednesdays, where we study God's Word together. A Wednesday evening Bible study takes place via conference call (617-691-8135) at 6 p.m. All are welcome and please call 419-366-0057 for more information. • Columbus Avenue United Methodist Church, at 2401 Columbus Ave., invites you to join us for worship on Sundays at 9 a.m. Sunday school meets at 10:40 a.m. On every third Saturday of the month from 6-7:30 p.m., join us in our Memorial Hall for a "Come As You Are" alternative worship service, potluck meal and testimonies about recovery and recovery principles. NORWALK • St. Paul Episcopal Church, at 87 W. Main St., invites you to its prayer service at 10 a.m. Sunday. This is a service which includes psalms, scripture readings, hymns and prayers. This is the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost and the color green is used at all services and symbolizes our growth in following Jesus Christ as we seek to join Him in God's Kingdom. This Sunday we reflect on the peace of God offered to us, which we, in turn, extend to others. Peace can begin with a smile, a nod, a greeting — our first acknowledgement that the other person matters. Even if it is not returned in kind, we keep trying. We choose to bring a greeting of peace wherever we go. Spread it among family, friends, neighbors, the nation, the world. Whether it is received or not, in our hearts we all want peace and it begins with us. The readings for Sunday are: • Isaiah 66:10-14 • Psalm 66:1-8 • Galatians 6:1-16 • Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 All are welcome — no exceptions. • St. Peter Lutheran Church, at 243 Benedict Ave., invites you to join us for worship on Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. and Sundays at 9 a.m. (outdoors) or 10:30 a.m. The 10:30 a.m. worship service is broadcast on WLKR 95.3 and Facebook. We are hosting our outdoor worship service at 9 a.m. in place or our regular 8 a.m. service. Please bring your own chair. Also included will be family activities 15 minutes before and after the outdoor service in our shelter. This year's Vacation Bible School, "God's Good Creation," will take place from 9 a.m. to noon July 11-15. Registration forms may be picked up in the church office or downloaded from our website, stpeter-elca.org/, education, VBS. Please return them to the church office. From 2-5 p.m. on Saturday, July 9, we are kicking-off VBS Week with Messy Church under the shelter. The theme for the day is "Creation." Messy church is a hands on way of learning and sharing God's gospel. All are welcome. There will be food and activities for all ages, from two to 102. Chair aerobics is offered for free on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Anyone is welcome to join us, come and bring a friend. We will spend time getting our heart rates up, stretching and doing some body toning. Christian Day Nursery School is having open registration from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Registration forms are available in the church narthex, the preschool office or on the church website, stpeter-elca.org/, click education, then Christian Day Nursery School. • This Sunday at Norwalk First United Methodist Church, at 60 W. Main St., Pastor Brian's sermon, from Mark 9, is titled "But What Can I Do?" Love Fund offerings are always welcome. Don''t miss our summer movies, It's Christmas in July on July 21 in the chapel at 10 a.m. Bring your favoritemovie snack. Child care will be available for up to six children. Please contact the church office before the movie. Vacation Bible School children will perform and sing after a week of the "Food Truck Party on a roll with God." Summer office hours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Just for Men Bible study continues at 7 p.m. Tuesdays. A choral concert will take place at 3 p.m. July 31. A free will offering will be taken. We'd like to put together a community choir of many voices to prepare the concert. Please contact the church office for choir rehearsals. Interested singers should call the church office at 419-668-1938. Bible studies continue at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and at 10 a.m. Thursdays. • First Baptist Church, at 67 E. Main St., invites you to join us on Sunday, July 3 for worship and praise in our Sanctuary at 10:30 a.m. Pastor Art will give part 2 of his message, "Jesus, The New Way" from Luke 6:12-19 "Apostles, Disciples, and a Great Multitude!" We encourage you to join us in person or by live-streaming on YouTube, just search Norwalk First Baptist Church. The church will be open to the public for the Fourth of July parade, you can come in and cool off, use the restroom; we will have a room for mothers to use if needed. We also will have water and chips available. Our Vacation Bible School this year will be from July 28-30. "Faith Builders — Building Faith One Block At a Time" will be our theme. Watch for more information. Our office is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Our phone number is 419-668-4144. If no one answers the phone, leave a message and we will get back with you as soon as possible. If you have any questions or concerns, Pastor Art is in the office on Wednesdays. You can call and speak with him, make an appointment to see him in person, or request a visit. We have had wonderful success with our "Hangin At The Haven - Part 2" program from 5:30-7 p.m. Mondays for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade. Our goal is to introduce the kids of our community to the love of Jesus. This is a nondenominational group meeting. There is a game time, devotion time, and snack time. Children will gather every other Monday until the end of the school year. Parents are welcome to stay. For more information, call the church office. • First Presbyterian Church, at 21 Firelands Boulevard, invites you to join them for its worship service at 9:30 a.m. until September. The Sunday service will also be found on our YouTube channel and we will post it shortly after the service to our Facebook page and our website, firstpresbyterian.net. If you can't be in person or livestream the service, First Presbyterian is on WLKR radio 92.9 FM at 10 a.m. Sundays. The office will be closed on Monday, July 4, for the holiday. Happy birthday, America! All high school youth are invited to a weekly beach party with Young Life on Wednesday evenings. Contact our youth pastor Malcolm James at the church office, 419-668-1923, for details. Please save the date for our outdoor worship service and picnic at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 10, as well as our annual rummage sale happening Aug. 12 and 13. HURON • Zion Lutheran Church, at 930 S. Main St., provides traditional worship service at 9 a.m. every Sunday. Visitors are welcome to join us! • Upcoming events at First Presbyterian Church, at 225 Williams St., include: - Worship begins at 10 a.m. on Sundays. We also livestream our worship service on our Facebook page. - This week we continue our "Simple Faith" series on the Apostles' Creed with the topic "I Believe in the Holy Spirit." - The church office will be closed through Tuesday, July 5 as Dawn takes a well-deserved vacation. If you have an office-related need, please contact Pastor Sara at 610-955-3075, or pastorfpchuron@bex.net. - Riverfest is coming up the weekend of July 8-10. We're looking for parking lot attendants to help with this fundraiser. Sign up at church, or contact Doug Quinn or the church office to volunteer. - Join us for "The Wired Word" every Sunday as part of fellowship hour. We will rip stories from the headlines each week and explore the Biblical perspective. Pastor Sara will lead, and will email each class member with the weekly topic. Join us for this enriching time of discussion and prayer. This week's topic: Noise pollution. - For the summer months, we like to include a variety of "special music" while the choir is on their "official summer break." Therefore, we're looking for soloists, duets, small ensembles, and vocal and instrumental music. If you'd like to volunteer or know someone who needs to share their musical talents with us, please contact Jann or Pastor Sara. This summer, we would also like to feature favorite hymns of members and friends of the church. We can sing the hymn during worship and share whose favorite hymn it is and why. There is no limit to the number of hymns you can suggest. Just contact Jann, and we will get yours in this summer! - The church office has new summer hours. The office will only be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursdays. First Presbyterian continues to serve community meals indoors, however, face masks are required to enter. Lunch is served every Monday at noon, and dinner happens at 5 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesday each month at the church. CASTALIA • Grace Lutheran Church, at 203 S. Washington St., hosts worship at 9 a.m. Sundays and adult Sunday school at 10:30 a.m. each week. The church will host a free community meal from 5-6 p.m. (or until food is gone) on July 13. Free drive-thru pickup will be available. Delivery is available for shut-ins by calling 419-357-3672 to schedule a delivery. The menu will consist of grilled chicken breast, baked cheesy potatoes, cole slaw and dessert. • Castalia Congregational United Church of Christ, at 205 Main St., hosts weekly worship and Sunday school at 10 a.m. Sundays. Communion occurs on the first Sunday of the month. COLLINS • Collins United Methodist Church at 4290 Hartland Center Road, Collins, offers worship at 8 a.m. or 11 a.m. West Hartland United Methodist Church, at 1401 Zenobia Road, Norwalk, has worship at 9:30 a.m. Watch us online and give electronically or come in person to any of three different services. We have air conditioning, ample parking, handicap ramps and all kinds of people. Dress up or wear jeans. Take an hour to give praise to the God who loves you. Be encouraged by others as we sing, pray and learn together. Hope to see you soon. We are open to all and are handicapped accessible. A "junior church" is optional for children at the 11 a.m. service. A nursery is also available. If you have questions, please call 419-668-6203. GREENWICH • Shiloh Pentecostal Church of God, at 117 Baseline Road West, will host its "End of Summer Bash" for youth ages 12-18 at 6 p.m. on On Aug. 27. Free popcorn, cotton candy and a food truck will be available. Come see a free concert by Rare of Breed. Limited seats are available, so pre-register by emailing spcogchurch@gmail.com. • John 1:1 says that the Word was here before the Earth began, was with God, then it says, the Word was God. Verse 2 says, the same was in the beginning with God. The words "with God" are used twice. How can this Word be God, yet with God? In Genesis 1:26, "God said, Let us make man in our image…" Let me leave you with a question. Since Jesus created everything, who was He talking to in Genesis chapter one? The Church At Huron County under Gerusalem Order, at 30 Orchard St., has its worship service at 11 a.m. Sundays and Bible study at 7 p.m. Mondays. The phone number is call 419-964-6533. If you need help in knowing who God is, reach out to us. God would love for you to get to know Him personally as an individual in Christ Jesus. To contact the church, write to Box 271, Willard, Ohio 44890 or go to gerusalem.org. The Churches Under Gerusalem Order consist of every temple (individual) of God who is a part of His Spiritual Kingdom. These individuals' hunger and thirst after righteousness and do not desire the traditions of man. But they desire every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the living God, being led by the Holy Ghost in faith, which reveals God's nature to us and in us. WILLARD • Steuben Congregational United Church of Christ, at 1307 Steuben Square, will celebrate 200 years of worship and service in July. On July 3, 1822, the church was founded by Revs. Alvin Coe and Lot B. Sullivan, who were missionaries from Connecticut. This year, starting on Sunday, July 3, the church will have special services at 10 a.m. The celebratory services will take place each Sunday in July and conclude on Sunday, July 31. After the July 3 service, the church will host a dinner for members and invited guests. On July 31, the church will have a picnic in the park for the Steuben community. Each week in July, special events will take place. There will be special music, an old hymn sing and a presentation of old books. A time capsule from 1997 will be opened, and a new time capsule will be filled to be opened in 2047. The church is located in the square in Steuben, at the corner of Ohio 162 and Peru Center Road. The red brick church sits in the northwest corner of the square. The church will open its newly renovated fellowship hall and showcase the history wall. Pastor Ron Jesse will lead services each week, and the church's history will be read each week by the church historian. All services are open to the public. NEW LONDON • Fitchville United Methodist Church, at 1593 U.S. 250, New London, hosts worship at 9 a.m. Sundays. Adult Sunday school classes occur at 8 a.m. and children's Sunday school classes take place during the worship service. PORT CLINTON • Trinity United Methodist Church, at 135 Adams St., has resumed outdoor worship at the Sutton Center in Port Clinton. Services are at 9 a.m. and all are welcome to attend the 63rd year of our "come as you are and worship in your car" service. • The congregation at Peace Lutheran Church invites surrounding communities to join them for hybrid services. The church will host hybrid services while the weather permits it to do so. People can choose to be either in the large parking lot outdoors in a car or lawn chair, weather permitting. People are also welcome to come into the sanctuary masks and social distancing required. For questions, call the church office at 419-732-3800. Weekly services are 10:30 a.m. Sundays. MARBLEHEAD • The parishioners of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, at 506 E. Main St., welcome Father Joseph Repko to their parish. Father Joe will celebrate his first two divine liturgies: at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 2 and 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 3. Prior to his move to Marblehead, he served as pastor of St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church in Clinton Township (Detroit), Michigan. He succeeds Father Andrew Nagrant. Current and former parishioners, family members and friends are invited to attend divine liturgy and welcome Father Joe. St. Mary is located adjacent to the historic Marblehead Lighthouse. • First United Church of Christ-Congregational, at 802 Prairie St., hosts its worship service at 10:30 a.m. Sundays. Masks and distancing are of individual choice. A summer Bible study will occur from 4-5:30 p.m. Mondays on July 11 and 18; and Aug. 1 and 8. It is based on professor Amy-Jill Levine's book, "The Difficult Words of Jesus." BELLEVUE • Lyme Congregational United Church of Christ, at 5451 Ohio 113, hosts worship at 8:15 a.m. Sundays. The interim pastor is Bryan Niebanck. Starting June 5, worship time will be at 10:45 a.m. on Sundays.