(Editor’s note: Many Christian churches will be celebrating the first Sunday of Advent this
week.Observation of the season varies from church to church with many lighting Advent candles or
wreaths.)BOWLING GREENGuest Pastor Jeff Bolwerk’s theme Sunday at Abiding Word Evangelical Lutheran Church
will be "Don’t Wait for Your Father to Act.""Walking Toward Christmas," will be Pastor
Dennis Gugger’s sermon Sunday at Bowling Green Alliance Church.Evangelist Harold Driver’s sermon Sunday
morning at Bowling Green Church of Christ will be "Habits That Hinder Social Acceptance." The
evening service will be "A Prophet Like Unto Moses."Pastor Kevin Crawford will be speaking on
"Transformed to Suffer Well," part of the "Transformed" series Sunday at Brookside
Church.Rev. Howard Mayne’s sermon Sunday at Cloverdale United Methodist Church will be "His Name Shall
be Called Wonderful."Rev. Brent Pomeroy’s sermon Sunday at First Christian Church will be "What
did You Expect?"Rev. Gary Saunders’ sermon Sunday at First Presbyterian Church will be "Knowing
What’s Around the Corner."Pastor Tom Mellott’s sermon Sunday at First United Methodist Church will be
"Christmas Is not Your Birthday – Expect a Miracle."The program Sunday at Maumee Valley Unitarian
Universalist Congregation will be "What Would Buddha Do?" by Rev. Lynn Kerr.Pastor Denny Maurer’s
theme for Sunday’s services at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church will be "Look Out." Pastor Melanie Haack
will preside at the Saturday service.Pastor Larry Whatley’s sermon Sunday at Turning Point United Methodist
Church will be "The Power of Gratitude."The sermon by David K. Boswell, minister for the first
Sunday of Advent at Village View Church of Christ will be "The Coming King."BAIRDSTOWNRev. Susan
Kronbach’s sermon for the first Sunday of Advent at Bairdstown United Methodist Church will be,
"Watching and Waiting in Peace."BLOOMDALEPastor Jeff Ridenour’s sermon Sunday at Trinity United
Methodist Church will be "Hey! What’s so Important? What’cha got Here That’s Worth Living
For?"BRADNERPreacher Dan Horner’s sermon Sunday at Bradner Community Christian Church is "God’s
Complete Makeover, Part 1."Pastor Jeff Ridenour’s sermon at Bradner United Methodist Church is
"Hey! What’s so Important? What’cha got Here That’s Worth Living For?"CYGNETPastor Dean Durant’s
sermon Sunday at Faith United Methodist Church will be "Your Mission, Should You Decide to Accept It
…"DUNBRIDGEPastor Dale Smeltzer’s message Sunday at Christ’s Bible Church will be "Letter to the
Church in Philadelphia."HASKINSRev. Jennifer Jackson’s sermon Sunday at Haskins Community Church will
be "What’s Your Vision for Life?"Rev. Jim Paulson’s theme for the first Sunday of Advent at St.
Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church will be "Waiting by the Telephone."HOYTVILLE"Finding the
Faith of Christmas," will be Pastor Rick Adams’ message Sunday at Hoytville United Methodist
Church.LEMOYNEPastor Ron Shinkle’s message Sunday at Lemoyne Baptist Church will be "Greater Heavenly
Tabernacle."LUCKEYPastor Randy Winsand’s sermon Sunday at Zion Lutheran Church will be "Preparing
for the Unknown."Pastor Ernie Sampson’s sermon topic Sunday at Zion United Methodist Church will be
"Get Ready! Wait."NEW ROCHESTERPastor James Budke will bring the message for the first Sunday of
Advent at St. Paul Lutheran Church.NORTH BALTIMOREJanet Goldnet of St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
will lead a "Good News and Amen" Bible Study on Galatians Thursday at Briar Hill Health Campus at
9:30 a.m. Similar study at the church (see below).Rev. Susan Kronbach’s sermon for the first Sunday of
Advent at Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist will be, "Watching and Waiting in
Peace."Both the Trustees and the Church Council will beet on Thursday at 6:30 and 7:15 p.m.,
respectively.Pastor Jon Rhinehart’s sermon title Sunday at Praise Chapel Pentecostal Church of God will be
"The Treasure Hunt.""Finding the Faith of Christmas," will be Pastor Rick Adams’ message
Sunday at St. James United Methodist Church.Pastor Ralph Mineo’s sermon topic Sunday at St. Luke’s
Evangelical Lutheran Church will be "Seeing the Word: Light," the first in a four-part Advent
series. Members will decorate the sanctuary for Christmas following worship.Bill Straley will lead a
"Good News and Amen" Bible Study Thursday at 6 p.m. with pizza served. Similar study at Briar Hill
Health Campus (see above).PEMBERVILLEPastor Matthew Musteric’s sermon Sunday for the first Sunday of Advent
at Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church will be "Be it Known, O King …"Pastor Jim Miller’s
sermon Sunday at First United Presbyterian Church will be "Preparing for the Messiah."The
Priceless Pancakes breakfast will be Saturday. (See Briefs for details.)PORTAGERev. Bruce McDaniel’s sermon
Sunday at Christ United Methodist Church will be "From Expectation to Incarnation:
Expectation.RUDOLPHPastor Larry Garzony’s sermon Sunday at Rudolph Christian Church will be "What Is
Christmas all About?"STONY RIDGEPastor Daniel Beaudoin’s sermon Sunday at St. John Lutheran Church will
be "Worship Fully."SUGAR RIDGEPastor John Randall’s sermon Sunday at Sugar Ridge Community Church
will be "The L.L.W.G. Church."WAYNE"Christmas Is not Your Birthday: Jesus’ Wish List, Part
1," will be Rev. Mark Kuhlman’s sermon Sunday morning at Wayne United Methodist Church. There will be
no "The Well" service Sunday evening.WESTONPastor John Merseth’s theme Sunday at Grace Evangelical
Lutheran Church will be "Decorate Your Heart."Advent worship will be held on Wednesday at 7
p.m.Pastor Chris Boggs’ sermon Sunday at Sonlight Church and Community Center will begin his Advent series
"Hope Is on the Way," with "Managing Un-expectations." Music will be provided by Derek
Boggs.Rev. James Stewart’s sermon Sunday at Weston United Methodist Church will be "Where We Find
Bethlehem."