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CONVOY — Come and worship at the Convoy Methodist Church for the Ash Wednesday worship service at 7 p.m. Wednesday March 5, in the church sanctuary.
Ash Wednesday is a day of reflection and repentance from sin and the application of a cross of ashes being an outward sign to those around us. The service will include a sermon entitled “Where Your Treasure Is,” scripture lesson from Matthew 6:1-6 and 16-22, Holy Communion and applying of ashes will be offered to those who wish to participate during the service.
Each year, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day season (not counting Sundays) focusing on repentance, prayer, fasting, reflection, and celebration.
The church is located at the corner of N. Main and Sycamore St. in Convoy. Pastor Bill Thomas will officiate, with Linda Holden as organist.
POSTED: 03/03/25 at 7:25 am. FILED UNDER: Church
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HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP — St John Lutheran (Hopewell) Church is offering a pair of Ash Wednesday services for the community this year.
The first service will be held at 9 a.m. on Ash Wednesday, March 5. This will provide those who prefer to not drive at night or who may have an evening conflict to attend an Ash Wednesday service during the day. Both the Distribution of Ashes and Holy Communion will be offered to those who wish to participate.
The second service will be held at 7 pm.. on Ash Wednesday. Distribution of Ashes and Holy Communion will be made available that evening as well.
The church hopes you may find one of these services meaningful and easy to attend. St John Hopewell is located at 9009 Oregon Road, south of Rockford (corner of Ohio 118 and Oregon Road) with Pastor Adam Poe serving the congregation.
POSTED: 02/21/25 at 7:35 am. FILED UNDER: Church
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Pastor Jim Burns and his wife, Coletta are retiring from full time ministry after serving the Liberty Baptist Church congregation in Van Wert for 29 years.
The Burns’s have been involved in ministry for 49 years. Many of the local residence of northwest Ohio and Northeast Indiana have become acquainted with Pastor Burns through his 26 years of broadcasting “Something to Think About,” which is a one minute daily encouragement challenge on WERT 1220AM/104.3FM.
“We would like to thank the Liberty Baptist Church family and all of our northwest Ohio friends for your love, prayers and support for these nearly three decades, the Burns’s stated.
Their last Sunday at Liberty Baptist Church will be February 23. After that, they plan to move to Kansas to be closer to their family.
Liberty Baptist Church is hosting a come-and-go retirement/going away party from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday, February 15, at the church, 501 E. Third Street, Van Wert.
According to Pastor Jim Burns, Randy Long from Fort Wayne will be singing and testifying at the Liberty Baptist Church, 501 E. Third Street, Van Wert this Sunday, February 2, during the 10:45 a.m. worship service. Randy’s passion is to reach people through music and testimony and share his broken road. His mission is to use the gift God gave him to help others realize the gift God gave the world. Everyone is welcome. Photo submitted
POSTED: 01/27/25 at 11:10 am. FILED UNDER: Church
VW independent staff/submitted information
Many churches throughout the area have special services planned to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Most of those services will be held on Tuesday, December 24. Here is a list of services as submitted by local churches.
First Baptist Church, 13887 Jennings Rd, Van Wert will be exploring the theme “The Wonders of Christmas.” This theme is being used for family Sunday School and morning worship service during the first four Sundays in December. Family Sunday School begins at 9:30am, with worship starting at 10:30 a.m.
The Convoy Methodist Church is extending an invitation to a community Christmas Eve Candlelight Service to be held at 7 p.m.Tuesday, December 24. This will be a service of the Word, special, music and light, with the message on Luke 2: 1-20 “No Place” by Pastor Bill Thomas. The evening service will conclude with the singing of Silent Night by the congregation while the church is illuminated by candlelight. Please come in anticipation of the newborn King. Convoy Methodist Church is located at the corner of Main & Sycamore in Convoy.
The First Presbyterian Church in Van Wert will have a candlelight Christmas Eve service starting at 7 p.m
The Grover Hill Community Christmas Eve Service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 24, at Zion Community Church, 204 Harrison Street. Celebrate Christ’s birth with neighbors, family, and friends in a candlelight service. It’s a collaboration of Roselms Christian, Middle Creek UM, and Zion Community Church.
The Ohio City United Methodist Church will be offering Communion by Candelight from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, December 24. The public is invited to stop in to share in this remembrance of Christ’s birth together. You may come and go as you wish during that hour.
St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church at the corner of N. Washington St. and Sycamore St. in Van Wert will hold a Christmas Eve Holy Communion Service at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 24, and an 11 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service.
St. Paul’s Church at 6077 German Church Road, Ohio City, will be its annual Candlelight Christmas Eve service at 6:30 p.m. December 24. Along with the service, the church will be celebrating Holy Communion.
The Wren Olive Chapel Church, 111 Main St., Wren, is extending an open invitation to join them for a special Christmas Eve worship service from 5:3-6:30 p.m. There will be light refreshments and everyone is welcome, come as you are.
POSTED: 12/20/24 at 6:57 am. FILED UNDER: Church
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A special Christmas concert with Denver Bierman of Denver and the Mile High Orchestra, is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, December 12, at Trinity Friends Church in Van Wert.
Denver and his trumpet are returning to Van Wert with his “Merry and Bright Christmas Tour,” a musical celebration featuring traditional Christmas carols and some original songs for this special time of year.
“In a year as unique as this has been, it is a powerful reminder of all the precious gifts in our lives that God has so richly blessed us with,” he said. The greatest gift we can ever receive is the gift of eternal life and unfailing love through Jesus Christ.”
This time of beautiful Christmas music will provide a welcome break in a time that can become stressful for many. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and the concert is slated to begin at 6 p.m. The earlier concert time was set so that families can bring their children to enjoy the concert with them.
No tickets are required. A freewill offering will be received. Trinity Friends Church is located at 605 North Franklin Street in Van Wert.
VW independent staff
All local churches are encouraged to send information about their Christmas Eve services, including the time or times and any special plans for the service. The information will be compiled and published on the VW independent’s Church page on Friday, December 20.
Please send the information to editor@thevwindependent.com no later than Wednesday, December 18.
Submitted information
Christmas celebrations are in full swing at St. Paul’s Church, located on 6077 German Church Rd. in Ohio City.
The annual Children’s Christmas program will be held at 10 a.m. during the December 8 church service. The inaugural nativity showcase featuring nativity sets from members of the church’s families and the new outdoor nativity scene will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday,December 13-14. Coffee, hot cocoa and cookies will be served to all visitors.
Attention all singers: St Paul’s will be caroling at local care facilities on December 15th beginning at 1:30 at Hearth and Home.
Christmas Eve service will be at 6:30pm on December 24.
POSTED: 12/02/24 at 7:14 am. FILED UNDER: Church
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DELPHOS — The community is invited to the 46th Delphos Community Christmas Worship Service presented by the Delphos Ministerial Association at 7 p.m. Monday, December 9, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.
Scripture readings and songs will guide our thoughts and prayers. Delphos Jefferson and St. John the Evangelist Catholic School high school choirs, as well as local church choirs and soloists will be participating.
POSTED: 11/20/24 at 9:32 pm. FILED UNDER: Church
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When you are grieving a loved one’s death, the holiday season can be especially painful. Trinity Friends Church is hosting a Surviving the Holidays seminar from Griefshare which will help participants discover:
- How to deal with emotions
- What to do about traditions
- Helpful tips for surviving social events
- How to find hope for the future
There are two opportunities for community members to participate: December 4 from 6-8 p.m. or December 11 from 12-2:30 p.m.
The seminar will be held in the Fireside Room in TFC’s Family Life Center at 605 N. Franklin St., Van Wert. It is free of charge, but to help plan for space and materials, pre-registration is requested by calling 419.238.2788, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
From 6-7 p.m. December 18, TFC will host a special Christmas of Hope service in the Youth Room for the community to honor their missed loved ones and also hear a message of hope this holiday season. This service is open to not only participants of the seminar, but all who wish to honor a deceased loved one this Christmas.
POSTED: 11/16/24 at 10:41 am. FILED UNDER: Church