Church and religious events

Arcadia UM ARCADIA — The Homebuilders' Class at Arcadia United Methodist Church will hold its annual ice cream social from 4:30-6:30 p.m. July 26 at the church, 19397 County Road 216 (Brown Road). The menu will include shredded chicken sandwiches, sloppy joes, potato salad, noodles, pies and ice cream. Proceeds from the event will benefit those in Arcadia and youth functions. College First A welcome reception for the Rev. Kirk and Heather Schneemann will be held from 2-4 p.m. Sunday in the fellowship hall at College First Church of God. Light refreshments will be available. Cricket will be played at Kremer Field from 6-8 p.m. Monday. A trip to Mount Gilead is planned from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday. Activities available include an inflatable water park, basketball court, gaga ball, a sandy beach, two pools, giant board games, a water slide and paddle boats. The cost to attend is $20. The church's vacation Bible school, "Influencers: Be Salty, Stay Lit!" will be held from 6-8 p.m. Monday through Friday. The event is open to children entering grades K-5 in the fall. Enon Valley Enon Valley Presbyterian Church, 20307 U.S. 224 East, will host an ice cream social from 4-6 p.m. July 20. The event will feature sandwiches, desserts and homemade ice cream. Donations will be accepted. First Lutheran All are welcome to come to First Lutheran Church as the eighth Sunday after Pentecost is celebrated. The Rev. Chris Dittmar will preach from the Gospel of Mark 6:14-29. The worship service is at 9:30 a.m. The service will feature special music by Lizzy Fisher, playing a Brahms clarinet solo. A noisy offering will be collected with money going to a special charity. Access to the weekly bulletin and announcements can be found on the webpage at www.1stlutheranchurch.org . A video of the service will be available on Monday afternoon by going to the webpage and clicking "Online Services." Requests for Lutheran Social Services this month are cereal, shampoo, bar soap, laundry soap and dish detergent. Items can be placed on the cart by the elevator or dropped off at the LSS Pantry on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Rev. Tucker O'Leary continues to lead a 15-minute midday prayer service at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday in the chapel for members and the community to sit and refocus their day with personal prayer. First Presbyterian First Presbyterian Church, 2330 S. Main St., welcomes all to worship at 9:30 a.m. Sunday for its Simple Sunday Hymn Sing. The congregation will sing some favorites as well as requests. The preschool and elementary children are invited to the Prayground for quiet activities during the service. The church will host this week's community dinner in the great room from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The menu includes pulled pork or chicken sandwiches, relish tray, salads, watermelon and cookies. The service can also be viewed online at Facebook and YouTube. Good Hope Lutheran ARLINGTON — The Rev. Steve Ramsey's sermon on the eighth Sunday after Pentecost at Good Hope Lutheran Church will be "Herod, John, and Jesus." Bible text for the day will include Amos 7:7-15; Psalm 85:8-13; Ephesians 1:3-14; and Mark 6:14-29. The church has three worship services each weekend including 5 p.m. today and 7:30 a.m. Sunday with Pam McCloud as organist. Madison Thomas will be welcomed as organist at the 10 a.m. service Sunday. She will be joined by LouAnn Cousino for "They'll Know We Are Christians by our Love," "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" and "Amazing Grace." Sunday school and Bible study for all ages will continue meeting through the summer at 9 a.m. Beverages are always available. The Good Hope sewing ladies will meet from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday. Everyone is welcome to attend and help. The church's Bible school will be held from 6-8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. All are welcome and volunteers are needed. Howard UM Howard United Methodist Church, 220 Cherry St., will be offering "Camp Firelight" as its Vacation Bible school Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public for children age 4 through fifth grade. Registration can be completed at the opening session or by calling the church at 419-422-8412. Redeemer Lutheran Glennda Stelnicki will give the sermon on Sunday at Redeemer Lutheran Church. Dave Roth will conduct the service to the congregation. The service will conclude with the regular communion service with Stelnicki and Roth. The congregation continued with the study guide for the last episode of "The Chosen" last week. St. Luke's Lutheran, Lima LIMA — St. Luke's Lutheran Church Downtown will host its third respite lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday. The community is invited to refuel, recharge and renew. The event, which takes place on the first and third Thursday of each month, is designed to provide a welcoming space for those working, living and studying in Lima. Lunch is provided by QT Kay's Kitchen. Attendees can enjoy their meals in the church's New Life Center, engaging in fellowship and building meaningful relationships within the community. The church is located at 209 W. North St., Lima. For more information, visit the website at https://stlukeslima.org. St. Marks UM St. Marks United Methodist Church on Sunday will welcome home youth from their mission trip to Puerto Rico. Their messages home say they have done many service projects for widows and a boys' orphanage. They also created a fun vacation Bible school experience for several children in the village. The sermon "What is That in Your Hand?" will be given by retired pastor, the Rev. Erma Metzger. Her inspiration comes from Exodus 4:1-17. There is also a Red Cross blood drive schedule July 25 at the DOCK. Pre-register at redcrossblood.org. St. Paul Lutheran JENERA — A special congregational meeting will be held at 10:15 a.m. Sunday at St. Paul Lutheran Church to further discuss and vote on the construction of a proposed prayer garden. Traditional worship starts at 9 a.m., followed by Sunday school at 10:15. A contemporary worship service begins at 11:15. Vacation Bible school begins Sunday and continues through Thursday. The theme is "PandaMania – Where God is Wild About You!" Meals will be served at 6 p.m., followed by music, games, crafts, a movie and Bible story for children in preschool through fifth grade. A closing program for children and their families and friends will be presented at 7:45 p.m. Thursday. Ice cream will be served and outdoor activities will begin after the program. Register online at https://vbsmate.com/events/StPaulLutheranJeneraOhio/29275. Salem New Beginnings Salem New Beginnings Church will hold its annual chicken barbecue from 4-7 p.m. today at the church, 4699 County Road 236, Findlay. Both dine-in and carry-out are available. The cost is $12 for half of a chicken, potato salad, baked beans or applesauce, roll, dessert and beverage. There will also be a bucket auction. Trinity Lutheran, Arcadia ARCADIA — Trinity Lutheran Church, 18974 Ohio 12, will host the Arcadia Farmers Market from 4-6:30 p.m. on July 23. Vendors may set up on the church property free of charge. The market, a nonprofit event, is hosted by the church as an outreach program and is open to anyone who wants to take part. The event is supported by a grant from VisitFindlay. Additional market dates are Aug. 13 and Sept. 24. Call Teresa Margraf at 419-306-4269 for more information. West Independence FOSTORIA — The Rev. Ben Wallick will continue his sermon series from the book of 1 John on Sunday at West Independence Church. The sermon is "By This We Know" based on the scripture 1 John 2:1-6. Worship begins at 9 a.m. There is a nursery available for infants through preschoolers. Attendees are welcome to coffee fellowship before Sunday school classes begin. Classes are available for all age groups from 10:15-11:10 a.m. A noisy offering will be taken July 21 to benefit the City Mission. The service is also livestreamed on YouTube. West Independence Church is a Global Methodist Church, located east of Findlay at 22876 U.S. 224, Fostoria.