Our Faith Is Strong In Our Community : Local Churches Offering Online Worship

The pandemic has swept the nation but last month it seemed like a far off concern for us as a country and a state, but now it has consumed every part of our communities and lives. Schools, movie theaters, restaurants, boutiques, salons, factories, businesses, churches, (and the list goes on), have been closed due to this virus. We are left as a community unsure of when we will get back to our “normal” way of living again.

With most things in life, our mindset is very important in how we handle circumstances and situations that arise before us. Although uncertainty and fear have been an emotion many of us have struggled with during this pandemic, I have also watched and experienced hope, grace, and unbelievable support and love among one another within our communities; watching the community still support local businesses and restaurants, etc. during this time has been incredible to witness. And experiencing my church, and other local churches rise to the occasion to make sure their community is still be strengthened and encouraged by their faith, has given me, and countless others, hope in the midst of this pandemic.

During times of tribulation and uncertainty, people lean on God and their faith more than ever. And although I personally believe that our faith is more about our daily practices of faith, (whatever that may be for you), and how we live that out daily, attending church is still very important within our lives in growing and expanding our love, knowledge, community, and faith.

So with local churches everywhere closing their doors to this pandemic, how do we still find that support and encouragement from our churches and place of worship during this time?

Luckily, we live during a time of great resources and our churches and places of worship are utilizing these resources in amazing ways. Local churches are now streaming their worship services, sermons, and faith practices all online for their members and community to still engage and watch. They are using apps and websites to further their message and to reach those in need of hope.

The following is a list of some local churches that are bringing hope and utilizing resources in order to still broadcast their faith during this time:

1. Toledo Calvary Church – (Maumee): Toledo Calvary Church is now streaming their Sunday services (8:15, 10:00, 11:45 am) online on their website and on their Facebook Page, “Toledo Calvary“. They will also be streaming their Wednesday night prayer services on these websites as well.
2. Cedar Creek Church – (West Toledo, South Toledo, Perrysburg, Oregon, Whitehouse):   Cedar Creek Church is now streaming their services online on their website. You can stream the live services on Saturday night at 5:15 pm., and Sunday mornings at 9:00 am., 10:45 am., and 12:30 pm. In order to keep their children and student ministry engaged, they have free access to resources that provides thousands of Bible studies and videos for students to watch and grow within. In addition to these resources, members can also read daily Bible studies.
3. One Hope Toledo – (Toledo) One Hope Toledo is streaming their Sunday Services (9:30 am, 11:15 am) on their Facebook page.
4. Islamic Center of Greater Toledo – (Perrysburg) The Islamic Center of Greater Toledo will be streaming their Sunday lectures live at 12:30 pm on their Facebook page. They will also be streaming a lecture every Friday at 1:30 pm on their Facebook page as well.
5. The Church – (Maumee, Fremont):  The Church streams its services every Saturday at 6 pm and Sundays at 9 am and 11 am. You can find the direct link to the live stream here.
6. Findlay First Church of the Nazarene – (Findlay): Findlay First Church of the Nazarene will be hosting live services on their Facebook page at 10:45 am on Sunday morning.
7. Christ the King Catholic Church – (Toledo): Christ the King Church will be live streaming during normal mass times. Mass times are Saturday at 5 pm, and Sunday at 8:30 am, 10 am, 12 pm, and 6 pm. Daily mass is at 8 am. You will be able to stream it here.
8. St. Joeseph’s Catholic Church – (Maumee): Weekly mass will be available to live stream on the St. Joeseph’s Catholic Church’s Facebook page. Mass will be available every weekday at 8 am, and 10 am on Sundays.
9. Saint Rose Catholic Church – (Perrysburg): St. Rose Catholic Church will be live streaming at 9:15 am daily and 10 am on Sundays. They will be live streaming it from their website.
10. Westgate Chapel – (Toledo): Westgate Chapel will be live streaming their service here at 10:45 am Sunday morning. They will also have kids teaching service on their kids’ Facebook page at 9 am on Sunday morning and 6:30 pm on Wednesdays.
11. Church 3TwentyOne – (Sylvania): While there are no in-person services, Church 3TwentyOne will be live streaming services here at 9 am, 10:30 am, and 12 pm on Sundays.
12. Waterville Community Church – (Waterville): The Waterville Community Church will be live streaming their service every Sunday at 9 am on their YouTube channel.
13. Soma City Church – (Toledo): Soma City Church is providing a live stream of their service on their Facebook page at 10 am on Sunday mornings.
14. H2O Church – (Bowling Green): H2O Church is hosting live streams of their Sunday morning service on their YouTube channel at 10:30 am.
15. Vineyard Church – (Toledo): The Vineyard Church of Toledo is having its service live-streamed on their Facebook page at 10 am Sunday morning.
16. Bowling Green Christian Academy – (Bowling Green): The Bowling Green Christian Academy is offering live streams of their chapel service on Thursdays at 11:30 am. You will be able to find the live stream on their Facebook page.
17. Diocese of Toledo – (Toledo): The Diocese of Toledo is offering many different suggestions when it comes to streaming and listening to Mass. In this announcement, they list radio and TV stations that you will be able to join in remotely.
18. Trinity Lutheran Church – (Delta): You are able to find the live stream of their services on their Facebook page for their services starting at 8 am and 10:30 am.
19. St. John XXIII – (Perrysburg): During this time, St. John XXIII will be live streaming their mass at 10 am Sunday mornings and 9 am on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursdays.

I can honestly say I have never felt so proud of our community stepping up and helping those in need, in whatever way they can, especially our churches and places of worship. Even though social distancing has been hard for all of us during this time, we know that it will benefit our community, state, and the country as a whole.

Utilize these resources our churches are providing for us. Stay connected and grow in your faith that way. However, I would also encourage you to look at this time as an opportunity to slow down, reflect, and pursue your faith in your own personal time at home. During this time of concern and fear, let us place our hope and trust in our faith, and look for the beauty and possibilities during this pandemic to shine a light and hope to those around us.

I know that this pandemic more than ever will be a moment in history I look back on and remember just how important it is for us individuals to BE the church and to BE the light in a troubled world. This last week might indeed be affecting many areas within our lives, but this virus can never eliminate our faith.