Special Music Presentation

Anthony Pattin, Pharm.D. – Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Toledo

YOUTH GROUP – Walleye Faith & Family Night 2020

On Sunday, March 1, 2020 members of the First St. John Lutheran Youth Group and families enjoyed a day with the Toledo Walleye Hockey team. In the afternoon they attended the annual Faith and Family event where they listened as members of the team shared the importance and benefits of their faith in Jesus Christ to their personal and professional lives. Then they enjoyed watching the Walleyes game where the Walleyes defeated the Wheeling Nailers, ( 6 – 0). 

Four players of the Toledo Walleyes share their faith stories

Getting ready to watch the game.

Everyone had a great time being together at the game.

With the Walleyes winning, everyone was all smiles.

It was great being together to enjoy the game.

LENT 2020 – To Seek and To Save

We began the journey of Lent with our Ash Wednesday worship where we received the mark of ashes, a reminder that we are sinners redeemed by Christ the Crucified. In our lesson from God’s Word, we learned that, just as Lazarus was unbound and released from his burial wrappings, we are released from the deadly bonds of our sin through the forgiveness that is ours in Christ Jesus. Join us throughout the month of March for our special Wednesday worship at 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary.

March 4 – Week 1: That One Man Should Die (John 11:45-53)

This week in our Lenten worship we will hear in God’s Word the prophecy of Israel’s high priest: “It is better than one man should die than the whole nation perish. ‘ That one man is the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who died, not just for one nation, but for all the people of the world. Our Savior Jesus Christ, the only truly innocent One, took onto himself the penalty of death that we deserved. He offered up his life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. Through his death and resurrection, we are set free from our sins.

March 11 – Week 2: For My Burial (John 12:1-8)

This week in our Lenten worship we will see how Jesus is anointed ahead of time for his burial, an act of love and devotion by Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. We too have been anointed, by the water and Word and Spirit of Baptism. We have been united with Christ in holy Baptism, joined to his death, burial and resurrection. We have been buried and raised with Christ Jesus to new life.

March 18 – Week 3: Up to Jerusalem (Mark 10:32-34)

This week in our Lenten worship we will see how Jesus sets out for Jerusalem, knowing what lies ahead for him during the week we now call Holy Week. According to God’s plan and foreknowledge, Jesus will be delivered into the hands of his enemies, tried and condemned and crucified. But also according to God’s plan, he will rise, and he will one day raise us up from death. Jesus told his disciples what lay ahead for him in Jerusalem and, obedient to his heavenly Father, he took up his final steps to the cross. We follow our Savior through life, into death and into eternal life in his presence.

March 25 – Week 4: The Cup That I Drink (Mark 10:35-45)

In this week’s Lenten worship, we will learn how some of Jesus’ disciples wanted special places of honor in his kingdom. They did not remember that we are to live in humility, putting the needs of others ahead of our own needs, just as Jesus did for us. We often think of ourselves first, before we think of the needs of others. Two of Jesus’ disciples do the same, as they make a special request of the Savior. Jesus reminds them that his kingdom is a place of humble service. Before glory comes the cross. We will see that on the cross, Jesus drained the cup of God’s judgement against sin, so that there is nothing left in it for us to drink.

April 1 – Week 5: To Save the Lost (Luke 19:1-10)

All through Lent we are reminded that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. In our Lenten worship this week before the start of Holy Week, we will see how Jesus finds one lost sinner—up in a tree! We will join Zacchaeus, a lost sinner found by Jesus, and rejoice in the salvation won for Zacchaeus and for all of us on the cross. That is the reason Jesus came, to seek and to save the lost setting us free from our sins through his suffering, death and resurrection.

2018 Graduates – CONGRATULATIONS

CONGRATULATIONS to our 2018 Graduates

(Pictured are, left back row – Thomas Cluckey, Pastor Rayl, Garret Anderson;  left front row – Rachel Nelson, Jay Smith)

On Sunday, June 10, 2018. during the worship service, we recognized the achievements of our Graduates. Congratulations and prayers for God’s richest blessings go to:

Garret W. Anderson (Clay High School) – Honors Diploma. National Honor Society, 4-Year Honor Roll, 4-time league champion in wrestling, Archie Griffin Sportsmanship Award recipient. Future Plans: Attend Lourdes University majoring in Secondary Math Education. Will wrestle for the Gray Wolves.

Alexandria Church (Clay High School) – National Honor Society, 4-year band member, Toledo Community Scholarship recipient. Future Plans: Attend the University of Akron majoring in Electrical Engineering.

Thomas Cluckey (Clay High School) – National Honor Society, 4-year honor roll, MVP in North South Classic Football, 4-year varsity soccer, Business Professionals of America National Qualifier. Future Plans: Attend University of Toledo majoring in Mechanical Engineering, as well as playing football.

Jacob Margin Goa (Bedford High School) – Finished class work in January, 2018, and left for the Army on March 12, 2018. Future Plans: Currently serving in the U.S. Army—Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

Rachel Nelson (University of Findlay) – Bachelor of Science in Health Science– Pre Occupational Therapy. Graduated Summa Cum Laude. Pi Theta Epsilon Occupational Therapy Honor Society and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Future Plans: Continue in the Masters program at University of Findlay for Occupational Therapy.

Jay Smith (Ohio University) – Bachelor of Analytics and Information Systems. Graduated Cum Laude. Member of the Entrepreneurs Club and American Information Technologies Professionals. Future Plans: Currently working full- time for Andersons, Inc.

Olivia Shay Tilton (Clay High School) – 2016-2017 High School Artistic Representative for District 46. Member of track team and the varsity tennis team. Future Plans: Attend Owens Community College to study Nursing. Will continue her love of art at her leisure. She has an immense love for her family and friends and will continue to share her life with them.

Video – J.A.M. Kids Sing During Worship on March 11, 2018

The place was JAMMING when the Kids from our Sunday School, J.A.M. (Jesus And Me) shared the songs they have been learning on Sunday morning during the second worship service on March 11, 2018. COME JOIN US EVERY SUNDAY AT 9:00 a.m. – First St. John Lutheran Church, Toledo, Ohio. (Thanks to Jarid Donley for the video recording)

Christmas Eve Late Worship Service Recording

First St. John Lutheran Altar decorated for Christmas Eve worship 2017

Listen to the 2017 Late Christmas Eve Worship Service at First St. John Lutheran Church.