Religious Offerings: Sylvania church celebrates opening of new facility

■ Five Lakes Church is celebrating the grand opening of its new Sylvania facility in two worship services Sunday.

Services will be held at both 9 and 11 a.m. at the new location, 4255 Mitchaw Rd.

The nondenominational church was founded in 1965, originally known as the McCord Road Christian Church until 2020. As the congregation continued to grow, a larger space became needed to accommodate, welcome, and inspire the more than 1,100 people the church reaches each week, according to a press release.

Groundbreaking on the new facility was made in spring of 2022. The new space will enhance Five Lakes’ worship experience and outreach opportunities.

Visit fivelakes.church for more information.

■ The Rev. Jim Bacik presents his first public lecture of the academic year at Lourdes University on Thursday with the topic “The October 2024 Synod in Rome: An Overview and Arguments for Ordaining Married Men.”

He will overview the agenda of the 2024 Synod on Synodality, a three-year process of dialogue to help discern the future of the Catholic Church. He will also offer arguments for opening up the priesthood to married men of proven good character.

The lecture begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Franciscan Center, 6832 Convent Blvd., Sylvania. Admission is $10, cash or check at the door; students and religious are admitted free.

Father Bacik is a widely regarded theologian, writer, lecturer, and retired diocesan priest. He has lectured frequently at Lourdes University, which has been home to the Father James J. Bacik Archives, as well as an endowed chair in theology in his name, since 2014. Recordings of his previous talks can be found at frjimbacik.org .

■ As summer turns into fall, area churches are offering an opportunity to take home household items at upcoming rummage sales .

Hope United Methodist Church holds its Trash to Treasure sale Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 4069 W. Sylvania Ave., Toledo. There will be furniture, books, toys, games, housewares, tools, and more.

St. Michael’s in the Hills Episcopal Church holds its fall rummage sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 4, from 9 to 11 a.m. Oct. 5, and with a $5 bag sale from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 5. Cash or check only. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Isabelle Carter Arts Camp, which is held at the church in June. St. Michael’s is located at 4718 Brittany Rd., Ottawa Hills.

■ The First Thursday discussion series at Monroe Street United Methodist Church is set to resume next week for its seventh season, which will run through April.

Mark Heller, a senior attorney at Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, will kick off the series by addressing the issue of immigration. He’ll highlight issues relevant to Lucas County and efforts his office is taking to serve the Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio.

A lunch is served at noon Oct. 3, followed by the talk and a Q&A session, at 3613 Monroe St., Toledo.

The event is $15, cash or check, at the door. Those who do not wish to purchase a lunch will pay only $5 for the presentation.

The Culture at the Crossroads series will continue through April, except in December, with topics spanning Native American issues, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, capital punishment, the rights of nature, and the challenges of prisoner re-entry. It is hosted by an interfaith coalition of social justice advocates.