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...Jesus came near & went with them |
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Upcoming Events:
- The Seminar on Lutheran Liturgy
- Summer Spiritual Practices Series
- German Style Sausage Dinner
- Faith Communities Uniting for Pride
- Listening to the Spirit-Spiritual Retreat
- Wild Goose Festival
Grant Opportunities:
- ELCA Domestic Hunger Grants
Resources for Students:
Service and Sponsorship:
- Project Pikipiki
- Volunteer for LSS Choice Food Pantry
- YouthWorks Mission Trip to West Virginia
- LWF Ingathering - Load the Truck
Coaching & Support:
- Leaderwise: Ministering to the Minister
Partner Updates:
- HopeWood Outdoors Camp Curriculum
- LMM Ambasador Gram
- World Refugee Day Worship
Resource Sharing:
- Sermon Supply
- Free Choir Robes - First, Stryker
Position Postings:
- Lakeside Chautaqua Seasonal Positions
- Church Musician - Messiah, Toledo
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Coordinator of Children, Youth & Family Ministry - Providence, Holland & Community of Christ, Whitehouse
- Organist - Zion, Sandusky
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The Seminar on Lutheran Liturgy
Minneapolis, August 13-15
The first gathering of The Seminar on Lutheran Liturgy will take place in Minneapolis August 13-15; early-bird registration is now open. Under the theme Let It Be With Me According To Your Word: From Praying to Knowing to Doing, the Seminar will host Pastors, Deacons, Musicians, and Seminarians to discuss liturgical formation in the ELCA in the evangelical catholic tradition. Plenary speakers include Max Johnson (University of Notre Dame), Ed Foley (Catholic Theological Union, Chicago), Audrey West (Lutheran School of Theology/Yale), and Lizette Larson-Miller (Diocese of Huron), as well as Daniel Schwandt, Kevin Vaughn, Andrew Schaeffer, and the Minnesota Boychoir as musicians.
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In the Presence of God:
Summer Spiritual Practice Series
Community of Christ, Whitehouse
Now through August 28th
Community of Christ Lutheran Church invites you to a Summer Spiritual Practice Series, an intergenerational event where we will explore various prayer practices. Each week, a pastor/leader from NW Ohio will teach the history and steps of the spiritual practice. Then, participants will have time to do the spiritual practice as a group followed by reflection time.
Some spiritual practices in this series include:
- Labyrinth Prayer
- Visio Divina - Praying with the Eyes
- Centering Prayer
- Improv Theater as Spiritual Practice
- Prairie Meadow Walking Prayer
- Praying with Beads
- Lego Building as Spiritual Practice
- Hymn Sing
To learn more about each spiritual practice and to register for events, please visit the website below.
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German Style Sausage Dinner
July 2, 2025 - Trail Marker Park in Woodville
Join us at Trail Marker Park on July 2! Solomon Lutheran Church and School will be serving up delicious German-style sausage dinners at the Beverage Tent the evening before the Woodville 4th of July Celebration. Dinners are $20 and available by pre-sale only. To purchase tickets, contact the church office at 419-849-3600. Beverages will be available for purchase. All proceeds benefit the Solomon Lutheran Scholarship Fund—supporting students as they grow in faith and learning!
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Better Together:
Faith Communities Uniting for Pride
August 16, 2025 -Toledo Pride
(Promenade Park & Adams St.)
As part of the 'Better Together: Faith Communities United for Pride" initiative, the organizing team is once again inviting communities to join in the parade as well as encourage shared traditions to share a booth to continue the spirit of collaboration and connection, to invite more inclusive congregations to be represented, and to save more space for other vendors and community groups. Pastor Melanie Forrey (Zoar Lutheran Church) has applied for a booth for Toledo area ELCA LGBTQIA+ welcoming congregations to be present together for this awesome event. Learn more and sign up for parade and booth opportunities, below!
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Listening to the Spirit - Spiritual Retreat
August 25-28, 2025
Spiritual Center of Maria Stein, Maria Stein, OH
Join us for a three-day, three-night Benedictine-style spiritual retreat for rostered leaders and SAMs. It offers plenty of quiet time for reflection, meditation, reading, and prayer plus morning, midday, and evening worship and daily eucharist. Contact Pastor Dave Westphal with questions at pastordavedelc@gmail.com.
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Wild Good Festival
August 28-31, VanHoy Farms and Campground
Join us at the 2025 Wild Goose Festival, a celebration of Spirit, Justice, Music and Art. Taking place August 28-31 at VanHoy Farms and Campground. The festival offers inspiring speakers, music, and workshops to deepen spiritual connection and community. Together, we’ll explore how faith intersects with action and transformation.
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ELCA Domestic Hunger Grants
Letters of Inquiry Accepted through July 2, 2025
ELCA World Hunger Domestic Hunger Grants accompany congregations and their partners throughout the United States and Caribbean as they draw on the strengths of communities to address local issues such as food security, clean water, housing, job access, human rights, policy change and more. Together, these ministries are part of a comprehensive approach to breaking the cycle of poverty and hunger — for good. The application is currently open for 501c3 community organizations to submit Letters of Inquiry.
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Pierstorf College Fund
Application Now Open Through June 30, 2025
The Pierstorf College Fund is a one-of-a-kind financial aid program designed to support Lutheran students in Ohio pursuing a higher education. This program offers interest-free loans to full-time students enrolled in a four-year undergraduate program at any accredited college or university. The maximum loan is $4,000 for the 2025-2026 school year. This program is open to all Lutherans living in Ohio, whether they are new or returning students. No family income information is required, and the program strives to offer loans to every eligible Lutheran student. Since its founding in 1994, the Pierstorf College Fund has awarded over $14 million in loans, enabling students to focus on their studies without the burden of tuition costs.
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Global Mission Board Summer Appeal:
Project Pikipiki
85% of evangelists in the Dodoma Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania serve remote communities, often walking 12-20 miles between parishes to preach, provide worship leadership and pastoral care to multiple communities of faith. This summer, the Global Mission Board of the Northwestern Ohio Synod will match gifts made towards the purchase of pikipikis dollar for dollar! $1600 buys one motorcycle with regular maintenance and makes ministry more accessible for one evangelist in Tanzania. This is a great project for Vacation Bible School kids, Sunday Schools or families! Perhaps create a competition between the adult forum and WELCA group for who can raise the most funds, or invite the whole parish to raise funds for Project Pikipiki!
The resource kit includes games, a video explainer from Bishop Daniel, a funding tracker and more!
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2025 Ingathering for Lutheran World Relief
October 11, 2025
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Pemberville
Come and bring all supplies that your congregation has collected for Lutheran World Relief! The truck that will be parked at St. Paul will have space for all Baby Care kits, Personal Care kits, Fabric kits, School kits and lovingly-made quilts. Please box, tape shut and properly label all supplies. Please contact the church 419-287-4731 and leave a message with any question, or email Joan Simon at simonj@bgsu.edu.
| | Ministering to the Minister
| Regardless of where anyone stands on the political spectrum, it's safe to say that it's been difficult to lead in these times. We are offering you a menu of opportunities to support clergy, whether that clergyperson is you, someone in your care, or someone who you call "your pastor." We purposely put together a range of opportunities at a range of price points, so there is something for everyone. And, if you're needing something that just isn't here, please reach out to us! LeaderWise is called to walk alongside you, and in times like these, we feel our calling more deeply than ever. | |
2025 World Refugee Day Worship
June 22, 2025
Join congregations across NWOS to pray for all who are journeying to safety. Explore the Welcome the Stranger order of worship, designed by ELCA partner Global Refuge, and consider how your congregation may incorporate prayer for refugees on June 22. Share that your congregation intends to participate, so that we can lift up the variety of opportunities to worship on the commemorative day. This invitation has been extended by the Mexico Companionship team of the NWOS Global Mission Board, as inspired by the work of our companion church Iglesia Luterana Mexicana as they accompany migrants and refugees.
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Camp Curriculum Creation Opportunity
HopeWood Shores, HopeWood Pines + Online!
This Fall, HopeWood Outdoors will gather together campers, artists, educators, and more to create a curriculum for use in summer 2026 at HopeWood Pines, HopeWood Shores, and HopeWood Connect. Thanks to a grant from the Stewardship of Life Institute, a small stipend will be provided to all those who assist in the creation of this resource. Are you interested in helping to create a curriculum that will impact thousands of lives in 2026--and even more once it's published? Click the button below to indicate your interest!
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Sermon Supply Library
Region 6 Sermon Resource
We’re excited to officially launch The Sermon Supply, a collaborative project from the synods of Region 6!
Beginning today, congregations can access a growing library of sermon videos and manuscripts—designed to support preaching ministry across our synods. Whether you're looking for pulpit supply options, a fresh voice, or support during vacation time, these sermons are free to use and rooted in the Gospel.
The first sermon available corresponds with Lectionary 12 - Lectionary 15, June 22 to July 13, 2025. Each sermon is filed in a folder by lectionary number, making it easy to find what you need.
Thank you for being part of this shared ministry. We hope these sermons equip and encourage you and your communities in the weeks to come.
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Free Choir Robes - Adult & Child Sizes
First Lutheran Church, Stryker
First Lutheran Church in Stryker, Ohio has approximately 30 redish/burgandy adult choir robes that need a new home! We also have approximately 20 light blue children's choir robes and a few white robes available. Please email Jody with interest or questions.
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Church Musician
Messiah Lutheran Church, Toledo
Messiah Lutheran Church, Toledo is currently seeking a church musician. This position requires the following abilities:
· To read sheet music.
· To play the organ and or piano.
· To provide appropriate music for a traditional Lutheran worship service along with the flexibility to incorporate contemporary worship music.
· To be willing to work alongside of the pastor and cantor.
· To be willing to work with a future seasonal choir.
· Be available for weekly Sunday morning service and special services.
The interested candidate should contact Pastor Mark Kuhlman to audition.
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Coord. of Children, Youth & Family Ministry
Providence, Holland & Community of Christ, Whitehouse
Providence, Holland & Community of Christ, Whitehouse are seeking a coordinator of Children, Youth, and Family Ministry.
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Organist
Zion Lutheran-Sandusky
This year-round position which involves essentially 2 Sunday services at 8 am and 10:30 am respectively along with our choir practice on Thursday evenings. We do not have choir during the summer months and so that lightens the load during the summer months. Please see the job description attached for more details. Email Lori Wobser, church administrator or call 419-625-2112.
| | If you have an announcement or an event that you would like to share throughout the synod, click below to access our submission form. Questions: news@nwos-elca.org | | | | |
