Theological Hmm: All you need is love. But a little chocolate every now and then doesn't hurt. - Charles Schulz
Coming soon:
- SIX WEEK GROUPS BEGIN this week. If you are starting a group and if you have room for more people, let us know so we can advertise for you. If you'd like to be in a group but not lead a group, let us know. And maybe we can help create one. Thank you for taking Jesus' Great Commission seriously and sacrificing six weeks of TV, sports, or other good things to make Acts 2:42 a reality
- GOOGLE HANGOUT PASTORS CLASS begins 2/19 @ 7:30pm online. Contact me ASAP if you want to join since screen space is limited. Participants interested in being baptized Easter Sabbath APR 20 should join class and must have a free Google account / email address
- VALENTINES FOR TOLEDO FEB 16 Our annual winter church evangelistic effort is Saturday night @ 7pm - 8:30pm. It's when we gather to praise God through music for so loving the world that He sent the Son while blessing a local non-profit organization with our prayers, presence, and financial support. This year teen piano protege and sophomore class president of Northview, Elle Rhee, will be our musical guest and financial recipient of our love offering at intermission. No gift is too large or small. 100% of the funds contributed will be given to her local non-profit organization she created called "Spectacles for Students" providing prescription glasses for students who cannot afford them. So plan now to invite some friends to join you
- VEGGIE FOOD ORDER DEADLINE FEB 26 Printed copies of the price list will be on the table in the church foyer, or you can contact our treasurer, Duane Gustrowsky at treasurer@
toledofirstadventist.org for a price list to be emailed to you. As always, orders must be by case. To reduce errors, please type the UPC code, description, and case price with the quantity. Delivery to church office MAR 5 - INTERNATIONAL FOOD FESTIVAL MAR 2 begins @ 6:30pm. Inexpensive tickets can be purchased at the door and all proceeds go to purchasing hospitality baskets. We usually have a live band and a good time
- YOUTH PIZZA MAKING MAR 16 Join us in the kitchen right after church
- RE-SCHEDULED MAR 16: ALZHEIMERS'S TALK I heard from many of you that you and others battling this disease were interested in hearing Dr. David's previously scheduled talk on Alzheimers that was canceled in January due to winter weather. We have re-schedule this presentation for MAR 16 @ 7:30pm so hopefully, those who are interested, can spread the word and attend
- FAITH, HOPE & LOVE MAR 19 is a heartwarming romantic comedy that opens in theaters nationwide mid-March about two vulnerable, lost souls who have each suffered deep losses and have their guards up, as a result. When their lives connect, they begin to discover new perspectives on life, love, and faith. Anybody wanna join me TUE MAR 19 @ 7pm to see it? We could get a group together, invite some unchurched or non-attending community friends, and go see it together. Stay tuned for location and specific start time. Click here for a preview
- FIFTH SERVICE SABBATHS MAR 30 The church will be open on months with a fifth Sabbath but no organized worship service will occur 3/30; 6/29; 8/31 and 11/30. We encourage you instead to plan ahead as Sabbath Schools or Six Week Groups or church friends to be a blessing to others. The older members are invited to make Cards for Soldiers in the fellowship hall. A sign up sheet to serve the midday meal at Cherry Street will be available. A list of church members shut in that teams could visit will also be available. Additional service opportunities as you submit them will be listed on the bulletin board. May God help us stop pretending to be pious religious know it alls. May we see what the Pharisees missed: Sabbath is also a day for doing good #Deuteronomy 7:10 #Luke 13:10-17; Luke 20:45-47
- TOLEDO BLADE ARTICLE You can read the recent FEB 2 newspaper article about churches that stream and archive their worship services online that included Toledo First member comments here
- YOUTH MISSION TRIP PLANE TICKETS We purchased 11 plane tickets for the group to join ADRA in Brazil in July. Please continue to pray for the group going as they prepare to travel and serve
- CAMPANAS CRISTALIS Our bell choir, Campanas Cristalis, is raising money to purchase an additional large silver bell. To give, please mark your tithe envelope accordingly and place in the offering plate
- SPANISH ADVENTIST GROUP OF TOLEDO meets each Sabbath in the Fellowship Room from 9:00am - 12:15pm. Please keep hallway and kitchen noise to a minimum. Last week there were 38 people present; 22 were guests PTL!
- FREE PANERA BREAD available FRI 9-10am. Come to side door under canopy
- VEGAN CHALLENGE POTLUCK is next week FEB 23. There is no dinner at church this week
- SINGING BANDS You are invited to join the singers and encouragers who will visit Genesis HealthCare at 5757 Whiteford Rd. at 3pm after church this week
- WOMEN'S PRAYER GROUP meets after worship in the church office
- OPEN TABLE CONTINUES Mondays. Please pray for Lorie and our church volunteers ministering to her throughout this year as she re-acclimates to life after being rescued from human traffickers. We have secured permission from her and from The Daughter Project to share her first name with you
- SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY GROUP 10am-12noon for Bible Study with Regina Davis—at church and continues Sundays same time. Everyone is invited
- RE-CHARGE HIGH SCHOOL GATHERING APR 6 ReCharge The Ohio Conference invites high school aged youth to a high school gathering scheduled April 6 at 10:30am, Worthington SDA Church, Worthington, Ohio. Join us for food, worship, and games! For more information contact Edward Marton: 567.274.7087 or emarton@ohioadventist.org
- DOCUMENTARY SHOWING: "GETTING TO 1" APR 6 Every Christian in NW Ohio should be equipped to share the readily available resources to combat the rising infant mortality rate among black babies. This documentary helps do that. Please make plans to invite other Christian friends to join us. Stay tuned for specific room location but showing will be at church
- BAPTISM APR 20 Easter is a great time to be baptized. Romans 6:3-4 says, "3 Have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives."
- IMMERSION YOUNG ADULT RETREAT APR 19-21 Ohio Conference invites you to a high school gathering scheduled APR 6 at 10:30am, at Worthington SDA Church. Enjoy food, worship, and games! Q’s? contact Edward Marton: 567.274.7087 or emarton@ohioadventist.org
- SAVE THE DATE APR 28! DON'T MISS THIS! Please circle SUN APR 28 @ 5-7pm on your calendar for the “I Remember When..." Party. Come for a light supper at 5pm, reminisce, chuckle at old photos, sing, and play a game or two. It’ll be fun for all!
- LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE is a half hour television talk show focused on living a full, healthy and balanced life. It features panel discussions, interview and demonstration segments focused on whole life health, including fitness, nutrition, relationships. outlook and more. You can find the programs each week on Sky Angel Faith and Family TV, Uplift TV, DirecTV channel 368 or 378, Hope Channel, NRB Network, faithfortoday.tv, lif
estyle.org, Roku, AppleTV, and AmazonFire TV. Please check these networks’ websites for air times or call Faith for Today at 805.955.7681 - LEADERSHIP TRAINING ARCHIVE is avail online. So if you missed it 12/1, you can now watch and send me your TF Takeaways
- JESUS MOVIES What's your fave? Faith, Hope & Love, Christmas Grace; The Nativity Story; The Star; The Conscientious Objector (2004); The Ultimate Gift; Shadowlands; The Shack; Cutback; Soul Surfer; Grace UnPlugged; End of the Spear; The Mission; Beautifully Broken; Running for Grace; Steve McQueen: American Icon; The Resurrection of Gavin Stone; Expelled - No Intelligence Allowed; Is Genesis History?; God's Not Dead; Fireproof; War Room; The Case for Christ; The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry; Amazing Grace; Once I Was a Beehive; I Can Only Imagine
- GEOSCIENCE RESEARCH INSTITUTE If you've never heard of the Geoscience Research Institute, here's their website https://www.grisda.org
Established in 1958, this organization is sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Church with a mission to discover and share an understanding of nature and its relationship with the Biblical revelation of the Creator God. It has all kinds of resources and articles related to intelligent design and evolution and dinosaurs and many other interesting subjects. I enjoy reading their quarterly email update. You can subscribe by clicking here and filling out the form asking to be included in their quarterly e-newsletter - ONLINE BIBLE STUDIES The Discover Bible Study series is online. Anyone can enroll and complete them in the privacy and comfort of their own home. Good for friends and family interested in becoming acquainted with the Bible and finding answers for facing the issues and challenges you deal with every day. Remember and refer others to this website: biblestudies.com
- PRAYERS AND PRAISES Because we need to be praising God with our lips (Psalm 63:3), here's another alternative...email CathieH directly at heathcs@sbcglobal.net with your praise. Yes, it can be anonymous, if you prefer. Just specify in your email you don't want your name mentioned. You can still write your prayers & praises and put them in the box at the foot of the cross in the foyer at the courtyard exit doors. Cards and pencils are provided
- BEST COMMENTARIES ON DANIEL AND REVELATION Want a chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse practical but thorough commentary on the book of Daniel or Revelation from an Adventist viewpoint? Here's what I use and recommend Daniel: Wisdom to the Wise and Revelation of Jesus Christ
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NEW SERMONS Please see church website for sermon archives and more info at tfsda.org
- FEB 16 - Is Love Enough? (Pastor Mike preaching from Luke 22:31-46)
- FEB 23 - Betrayed Again (Pastor Mike preaching from Luke 22:47-53)
- MAR 2 - Denied (Pastor Mike preaching from Luke 22:54-65)
- MAR 9 - Denied Again (Pastor Mike preaching from Luke 22:66-71)
- OUR WELCOME We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, gay, filthy rich, dirt poor, y no habla ingles. We extend a special welcome to those who are crying newborns, skinny as a rail, or could afford to lose a few pounds. We welcome you if you sing like Andrea Bocelli or can’t carry a note in a bucket. You’re welcome here if you’re just browsing, just woke up, or just got out of jail. We don’t care if you’re more Catholic than the Pope, or haven’t been in church since little Joey’s baptism. We welcome service dogs and their handlers. We welcome Muslims, Jews, politicians, and sinners like us. We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome soccer moms, NASCAR dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk- food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you’re having problems, or you’re down in the dumps, or you don’t like “organized religion;” we’ve been there too. If you blew all your offering money at the casino, you’re welcome here. We offer a special welcome to those who think the earth is flat, who work hard, don’t work, can’t spell, or come because grandma is in town and wanted to go to church. We welcome those who are inked, pierced, or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down your throat as a kid, or got lost in traffic and wound up here by mistake. We welcome tourists, seekers, doubters, bleeding hearts...and you.
- OUR STORY Our church website at the very bottom of the home page has an excellent downloadable resource featuring our story and explanation of our unique Christian Adventist emphasis. It's called the Toledo First Assimilation Manual and if you've never read it, I would encourage you to do so. And don't forget, God loves you like crazy. And so do we (2 Corinthians 5:13-14 NLT)!
Love ye,
