Religious Offerings: Epworth commemorates 9/11 with community service

Sep. 5—Epworth United Methodist Church hosts a community worship service, commemorating the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Ohio Sen. Theresa Gavarone is set to participate, as are, virtually, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle and former vice presidential candidate John Edwards. Local faith leaders who are participating include the Rev. Cecil Thompson of Braden United Methodist Church, the Rev. Michael Shaheen of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, and Rabbi David Kaufman of Temple Shomer Emunim.

The University of Toledo ROTC is set to post the colors.

Epworth Pastor Stephen Lowell Swisher delivers the message at the service: "The Positive Power of Perseverance." The worship service is also set to include interactive opportunities to share experiences and memories and to pay tribute to friends and loved ones affected by 9/11, as well as honor first-responders.

Epworth continues the weekend with a back-to-church event, including boxed meals after each weekend worship services on Sept. 11-12. Services are at 4:30 p.m. Saturdays and at 8:30, 9:45, and 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sundays at 4855 W. Central Ave., Toledo.

For more information, go to epworth.com.

Compassion Games

September's Compassion Games kick off on Saturday.

The Compassion Games are a friendly competition among communities around the world, which record volunteer and fund-raising work during a two-week period. Greater Toledo, whose participation is coordinated under the MultiFaith Council of Northwest Ohio, has consistently scored as the world's top player in recent years.

This year's games run through Sept. 21. Local participants can register their participation at tinyurl.com/kknkzds6, and record their community service projects at tinyurl.com/ztnt6rk.

For more information, go to multifaithcouncil.org.

Rally Sunday

Rally Sunday celebrates the start of the new program year at St. Michael's in the Hills Episcopal Church on Sept. 12. A communion service begins at 10 a.m., with music provided by the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts, organist David Saunders and St. Michael's Choir.

Food trucks Lyle's Crepes and Trip'N Biscuits, as well as flower vendor Flowerology419, will be set up outdoors after the service. Visitors will also have an opportunity to learn about the church's fall programming, including children's and youth programs, an adult spiritual study, the parish retreat at Bellwether Farm, a book/dinner club, game nights, choirs, and other special events and ministries.

"St. Michael's is a very warm, friendly parish and we welcome all who seek God into our church," Father Foster Mays, priest-in-charge, said in part in a statement. "Our parishioners come from all over the Toledo area to join us in our worship, activities, and outreach that is based on the Bible, the riches of the Book of Common Prayer and the Sacraments."

Attendees are requested to wear a face mask and socially distance. St. Michael is at 4718 Brittany Rd., Ottawa Hills. For more information, go to lovelearnserve.org.

Final sermon

The Rev. Tim Philabaum preaches his final sermons at Zoar Lutheran Church, 314 E. Indiana Ave., Perrysburg, at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday. The pastor is retiring after 36 years of service.

Pastor Philabaum came to Zoar as an associate pastor in 1985, and has served as the faith community's senior pastor since 1993. It's one of the largest in the in the Northwest Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The Rev. Paul Reichert, who was installed at the church in late May, succeeds him as senior pastor at Zoar Lutheran Church.

First Published September 4, 2021, 8:00pm