At 4855 West Central Avenue, just across from Wildwood Preserve Metropark at the intersection of Valleyview Drive, Epworth United Methodist Church has been a steady presence in northwest Toledo for more than a century. Founded in 1894 with 163 charter members and now part of the United Methodist Church's West Ohio Conference, Epworth is the kind of large, active parish where three Sunday morning services fill a stained-glass sanctuary, a state-accredited preschool fills the lower level during the week, and a converted warehouse across town fills with donated furniture every third Saturday. Its members describe the church with a simple line: "Help for today, Hope for tomorrow, and a place to call Home." That promise shows up in Holy Communion offered to anyone who walks in, in a nursery pager handed to every parent of an infant, and in a Furniture Ministry that has now helped more than two thousand families establish safe homes.
Three Sunday Mornings, One Open Table
Epworth's Sunday rhythm is built around three distinct services in the Sanctuary, and visitors are welcome at all of them.
The earliest gathering begins at 8:30 a.m. and centers on traditional hymns and instrumental music with weekly Holy Communion. Communion is offered by intinction, with ushers guiding worshipers to the altar where they receive the bread and dip it into the cup. No common cup is shared. This is the service Epworth's leaders recommend to anyone who also wants to attend a Sunday morning class, because childcare runs from birth through fifth grade and the hour ends in plenty of time to walk to a study.
At 9:45 a.m., the Traditional Worship Service fills the Sanctuary with congregational singing led by the Epworth Choir and the pipe organ. On bright mornings the stained-glass windows wash the space in color, and the same hour is when Children's Sunday School meets in the Children's Wing for ages three through fifth grade. Two adult Sunday School classes meet during this hour as well, and a nursery for infants through two-year-olds is staffed by licensed caregivers. Parents of children under 25 months receive a pager so they can worship with confidence their child is safe.
At 11:15 a.m., the Modern Worship Service takes over with a praise band, contemporary songs, and an inspirational message. Epworth describes it as casual, come-as-you-are, and uplifting, and notes that the 11:15 hour is where a guest is most likely to find people in jeans rather than jackets. The 8:30 and 9:45 services are livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube.
Holy Communion is open to everyone at Epworth, without exception. It is celebrated weekly at the 8:30 service and on the first Sunday of each month at the 9:45 and 11:15 services.
A Congregation Rooted in 1894
Epworth's story begins on May 24, 1894, when Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church was officially established with 163 charter members to serve the growing population in what is now the Old West End. Seven months later, on December 30, 1894, the first building, a frame structure on Scottwood Avenue, was dedicated. By September 1908 the congregation had outgrown it and built a larger facility at the southeastern corner of Parkwood and Delaware Avenues, an auditorium with Sunday School rooms, a kitchen, and a dining room. A January 1, 1922 addition nearly doubled the size and brought the sanctuary that would define the next generation of worship.
In 1939 the name changed to Epworth Methodist Church when The Methodist Church reorganized. Almost twenty years later, on September 7, 1958, an arson fire severely damaged the building, but Epworth did not miss a single Sunday. After two weeks in borrowed spaces, services moved to DeVeaux School on Sylvania Avenue for three years while the property was sold to Mary Manse College, which remodeled the old sanctuary into its library. On October 15, 1961, the congregation dedicated its current home at Valleyview Drive and Central Avenue. The mortgage was burned on May 28, 1978, and the building was consecrated that same year. In 1968, with the merger that formed the United Methodist Church, the name became Epworth United Methodist Church.
The centennial came on May 24, 1994, marked by a major addition that included the Family Life Center, new offices, and classrooms. In 2003 the chancel area of the sanctuary was significantly remodeled. Through it all, Epworth has been served by more than twenty pastors, from John Donnan in 1894 to Barry W. DeShetler, who returned as a named supply pastor in 2023, and the current Senior Pastor, Rev. Cecil J. Fitzgerald Thompson, who began his appointment in 2024. Rev. Liz Trigg serves as Associate Pastor.
Children, Youth, and a State-Accredited Preschool
Children and families are at the center of Epworth's weekday life as well as its Sunday school. The Early Learning Center has operated since 1982 as a private, Christian, non-profit program licensed by the State of Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services. It is licensed for 127 children ages two through five and holds a GOLD Star Step Up To Quality designation, Ohio's voluntary five-star rating system that recognizes programs going beyond compliance to meet nationally researched standards for quality, safety, and child development. The center combines Creative Curriculum, faith-based learning, and nature-based exploration, with daily prayer, Bible lessons, crafts, circle time, group music, literacy and math skill building, and indoor and outdoor play. Facilities include engaging classrooms, an enrichment room, Children's Church for group music and dance, an indoor gym, and a fenced outdoor playground.
Two programs run under one roof. Children's Day Out (CDO) serves two- and three-year-olds in a play-based environment where children do not need to be potty trained. Preschool serves three- through five-year-olds who are potty trained, with curriculum aligned to Ohio Early Learning Content Standards and kindergarten readiness benchmarks. Sessions range from one to five days per week, in mornings (8 a.m. to noon) or afternoons (12:30 to 4:30 p.m.). Monthly tuition ranges from $211 for one day per week to $1,041 for five days. Families communicate through the Brightwheel app, which handles invoicing, daily activity summaries, and instant alerts. Registration opens in February: the first Sunday for Epworth UMC members and current ELC families, the second Sunday for the public.
On Sundays, Children's Sunday School runs at 9:45 a.m. for two groups, Epworth Preschool Kids (ages three through kindergarten entry) and Epworth Elementary Kids (grades K through 5). Children are checked in at lobby kiosks, where parents use a cell phone number to print secure name tags for each child and a matching tag for pickup. Family Worship Sundays, scheduled several times a year, send children into the sanctuary with their families for the full service and give teachers a break from the classroom.
Vacation Bible Camp takes over the Children's Wing, lobby, and gym for a week each June, generally the second full week. It is free for children who are potty-trained age three through fifth grade, runs Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, and culminates in a Sunday celebration during the 9:45 worship service. Crew leaders, station leaders, hospitality volunteers, and behind-the-scenes helpers make the week possible.
For older youth, SWAT (Students With A Testimony) gathers middle and high schoolers for Sunday morning Bible study in the Deep End at 9:45 a.m. The Confirmation program walks youth through the meaning of membership and the theology of the United Methodist Church. The Director of Youth Ministries, Michael Authenreith, leads these ministries alongside adult volunteers.
Healing Ministries: A Circle of Care
Epworth's Healing Ministries are described as embodying Christ's compassion through presence, prayer, and practical care, and they form one of the most developed networks of lay caregiving in the church.
The Prayer Team lifts needs before God through a prayer chain that members join by phone, email, or prayer cards filled out during worship. Anyone can be added by contacting the church office, and confidentiality is expected to honor the trust of those who share requests.
Stephen Ministry pairs trained lay caregivers with individuals facing grief, illness, divorce, job loss, or other difficulties. Each Stephen Minister completes fifty hours of training and commits to serve for at least three years, meeting weekly with their care receiver and gathering monthly with the Stephen Ministry group for supervision and encouragement. The ministry is designed so that no one in the Epworth community walks through a valley alone.
Congregational Care tends to those who are homebound, hospitalized, or simply in a difficult season. Coordinated by Lynn Wieligman, the team assigns two to three homebound members to each volunteer for monthly contact through cards, calls, or visits. They arrange meals and rides for those recovering from surgery or illness. They also staff the Lobby Treats table between services on Sundays, providing a casual space for fellowship, and they run three special congregation-wide touchpoints each year, including Caring Sunday, a summer gift delivery, and a hand-delivered Christmas cookie box.
The Healing and Wholeness Service meets on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel across from the Sanctuary. A laity-led team gathers for scripture, hymns, prayers, a homily, and time to share joys and concerns, followed by oil anointing and hands-on prayer for anyone who wishes to receive it. Holy Communion is also served.
The Memorial Garden, just outside the Chapel, has been a sacred space of reflection and remembrance since 1992. It offers both ground interment with a name memorialized on a granite tablet and columbarium interment with a memorial plaque, with an expanding water feature, winding pathway, seating areas, and a new columbarium planned. Pricing is $3,000 for ground interment with memorialization and $6,000 for columbarium interment with memorialization. Membership is not required for interment, and the garden is open to anyone who considers Epworth their spiritual home, as well as to immediate family members.
Reaching Beyond the Walls: The Furniture Ministry and More
The most visible expression of Epworth's Mission and Service ministry is the Epworth Furniture Ministry, which has its own warehouse, the Furniture Mart, where donations are sorted and families shop with dignity and choice. The ministry began in 2007 when members of Epworth helped build a Habitat for Humanity home and discovered the family had no beds. Within weeks they were furnishing other families, and by May 2008 the Administrative Council had officially blessed the new ministry. As donations grew beyond the original Wesley House garage, God provided a dedicated warehouse where the Furniture Mart now operates.
Selection Saturdays happen on the third Saturday of each month at the Furniture Mart. Families are referred by trusted community partners and walk through a respectful, choice-based selection process. Volunteers help collect, sort, clean, and prepare items, and on Selection Saturdays they welcome clients, assist with selection, pack blessings, and help load vehicles. The Furniture Ministry's reported impact through 2025 includes 2,197 families served (improving life for 6,116 people), 20,881 pieces of furniture distributed, and more than 46,965 volunteer hours contributed by over 75 volunteers. In 2025 alone, 111 families were served, 362 family members supported, 2,685 volunteer hours given, and 1,056 pieces of furniture distributed along with hundreds of bedding, cookware, lighting, small appliances, and children's books.
The Mission and Outreach team also leads Feed Your Neighbor, a weekly food pantry held at Epiphany Lutheran Church, where Epworth members collect and distribute staple food items to families in the Hawkins neighborhood and beyond. On the first Saturday of each month, Epworth volunteers prepare and serve lunch at St. Paul's Community Center for approximately fifty people who are experiencing homelessness. Each October a mission trip heads to Athens, Ohio, where Good Works, Inc., serves families in rural Appalachia through home repairs, meal preparation, and fellowship. Epworth also partners with Habitat for Humanity's Interfaith Build, contributes to the American Red Cross blood drives, and supports UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) disaster relief and Wings of the Morning, a flight ministry that delivers critical aid to isolated communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Hawkins STEAM Partnership: A Decade with a Neighborhood School
For more than a decade, Epworth has built a sustained relationship with Hawkins STEAM Academy, a Toledo Public Schools K-8 building of about 385 students in the Hawkins neighborhood. Volunteers tutor students weekly in reading and math, staff the school library two days a week every other week, and run a series of book initiatives: Kindergarten Family Night with dinner and book distribution, a Second Grade Family Library Night hosted with the Reynolds Corners Branch Library, spring book clubs for third through fifth graders, weekly rotating Reader Bags for first and second graders, and a Kindergarten Book Day where every kindergartner receives a hardcover copy of Elmer read aloud by a library storyteller.
In 2024-25, Hawkins's tenth year as Epworth's partner school, the school celebrated the "Big Year of Birds" in alignment with its STEAM identity, "In Sync with Nature," and was recognized as an Ohio STEAM Designated School in spring 2025. The Epworth partnership also supports the Grace School Supply Pantry, which serves Hawkins, four other elementary schools, and Rogers High School by providing teachers and students with essential classroom materials throughout the year. Total unduplicated Epworth volunteers that year numbered 32, contributing 1,446.8 hours across tutoring, library support, book initiatives, staff recognition, and the school supply pantry.
Adult Discipleship and Small Groups
Epworth's Adult Discipleship ministry is built around four lanes: Sunday morning classes, weekday Bible studies, Wesley Groups, and the Walk to Emmaus.
Sunday morning at 9:45 a.m. is the busiest time for adult study. In Room 214 the Adult Bible Study uses Cokesbury's Adult Bible Studies in year-round short-term classes, each facilitated by a different group member. In Room 205, Coffee and Conversation takes an informal approach, discussing current events and the teachings of Jesus in light of them, with an upcoming online study from Hillsdale College on "The Exodus Story." At 11:00 a.m., an additional class meets in Room 213 with planned studies such as Adam Hamilton's "The Call - Life and Message of the Apostle Paul," followed by "WHY - Making sense of God's Will" and "FAITHFUL - Christmas Through the Eyes of Joseph."
Weekday studies include the Women's Monday Night Bible Study at 6:30 p.m. in Room 214 and the Men's Bible Study on Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. in Room 205, plus Men's Breakfast gatherings held quarterly with a devotional or guest speaker.
Wesley Groups are small groups of three to twelve people that meet in homes or at the church, often weekly or biweekly, for accountability, prayer, and the study of scripture. The model traces back to John Wesley's class meetings and the principle that Christians grow in holiness by watching over one another in love.
The Walk to Emmaus is a three-day spiritual renewal experience rooted in the story from Luke 24 of the walk to Emmaus. Participants share a weekend of singing, prayer, worship, reflection, small group discussions, and Holy Communion, then are invited to continue growing in small accountability groups of four to six that meet weekly. The Northwest Ohio Emmaus community supports these walks year-round.
Music, Choirs, and Theatre Arts
Music is woven through every service at Epworth. Cecil Baughman, Director of Music, leads the music program alongside A/V Director Aidan Fischer and the Passionate Worship Committee chaired by Laura Ingersoll.
The Chancel Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. in Room 209 and sings in the Sunday morning service from late August through May. The Adult Bell Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. in the Sanctuary, and the Youth Bell Choir and Children's Choir run during the same season with schedules adjusted to their ministry calendars. The Praise Band rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary and leads the 11:15 Modern Worship Service throughout the year.
Each week the altar flowers are donated in memory or in honor of a loved one, with a recommended gift of $125 helping to provide fresh arrangements. A Sign Up Genius coordinates scripture readers, ushers, and Communion stewards on rotating monthly schedules.
Epworth also runs a growing theatre ministry. ETM (Epworth Theatre Ministry) launched in 2025 as a way to connect faith and the performing arts through community outreach. Productions have included Fame Jr. and The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, with a monthly drama club for students. Camp Encore, a free summer theatre camp for students entering fifth grade through outgoing twelfth grade, runs alongside the productions. ETM's upcoming show is School House Rock!, scheduled for spring 2027.
Hospitality, Fellowship, and the FED Team
Epworth's Hospitality ministry is built around the conviction that every person walking through the door should experience the dignity and worth with which they were created. The Radical Hospitality team meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in Room 213 and supports a network of sub-ministries that include Greeters and First Impressions, New Members, Congregational Care, Prayer Team, Healing and Wholeness, Stephen Ministry, Communications, Fellowship Excite Disciple (FED), and Wonderful Wednesday.
The Greeters Team stations volunteers at entrances before each service to offer smiles, directions, and assistance. Most greeters volunteer for the service they personally attend and stay a few minutes after the start of worship to welcome late arrivals, with each assignment typically lasting twenty to thirty minutes. First Impressions follows up with first-time visitors to offer appreciation and information about getting connected.
FED (Fellowship Excite Discipleship) plans and hosts the events that bring people together beyond Sunday morning: movie nights, potlucks, picnics, Touch A Truck (the Saturday before Mother's Day), the Spring Party, Trunk-or-Treat, and 5K Walks. In 2024, FED partnered with Sylvania Arts to support their youth theater program by providing rehearsal space, meals, volunteers, and prayer, a tangible example of the team's commitment to discipleship through service.
Wonderful Wednesday, held on the second Wednesday of each month from noon to 1:30 p.m., is a long-running tradition of lunch and fellowship prepared by Chef Les. The cost is $10, with limited scholarships available and a donation option for those who can give more.
For prospective members, Discover Epworth offers a casual evening of conversation and connection over a pizza and salad supper, typically from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the church lobby. Pastor Cecil and other ministry leaders share about opportunities to grow in faith and service. Attendance does not commit anyone to joining, and reservations can be made by emailing assistant@epworth.com.
Scouting, Sports, and Singles
Epworth sponsors Cub Scout Pack 149 and Boy Scout Troop 2, with weekly meetings in the church gym. Boys and girls are welcome to participate in both programs. Cub Scouts runs in Dens organized by age for youth in kindergarten through fifth grade, with parent volunteers serving as Den Leaders. Scouts BSA is the traditional Scouting program for youth aged 11 to 17, with activities in camping, hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, and more.
Epworth's Sports and Recreation Ministry gathers adults and families for friendly competition and fitness. Pickleball is the most active, with Intermediate play on Mondays and Fridays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., Advanced play on Mondays from 6:15 to 8:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., all in the gym. Basketball is open to young adults and children for weekly evening games. Jazzercise meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. in the gym, and Body by Design follows from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on the same days. A Golf League meets on Thursdays during golf season at various local courses.
The Singles Ministry connects and supports single adults from Epworth and the surrounding community, including adults who have never married as well as those who are divorced or widowed. Open to singles aged 30 and up, the group gathers for concerts, theater, movies, meals, museum visits, park outings, and church events. A Solo Parenting branch is being developed alongside the main Singles Ministry.
Life Events: Weddings, Funerals, and the Sanctuary
Weddings at Epworth are Christian celebrations of love and commitment, with most ceremonies held in the Sanctuary, which seats up to 450 guests and features a long marble aisle, warm wood tones, and beautiful stained-glass windows. Smaller and more intimate weddings may be held in the Chapel or in the Memorial Garden. The gym, located on the office level, is available for receptions and accommodates up to 250 guests. Engaged couples are asked to contact the church office to begin planning their ceremony and to arrange premarital counseling with one of the pastors. Epworth also allows weddings for nonmembers with some restrictions, and inquiries can be directed to the Wedding Coordinator at weddingcoordinator@epworth.com.
Funeral and memorial services may be held at Epworth, at a funeral home, or at a graveside, depending on the family's wishes. Pastors and the care team assist with planning, scripture, music, and service elements. When a death is imminent, Epworth's pastors are honored to come and pray with the family; an emergency line, 567-249-0885, connects callers to the pastor on call after office hours. The Memorial Garden, the Chapel, and the Sanctuary are all available settings, with pre-planning and pre-payment options available for those who want to ease the burden on loved ones.
For baptisms, Holy Baptism is described as a covenant between an individual and God, the adoption by grace that begins a lifelong journey of growing deeper in faith and commitment to Christ. Persons of any age are welcome to be baptized, and the United Methodist Church recognizes baptism from other faith traditions and does not re-baptize. Membership is not required to schedule a baptism.
Annual Events and a Full Calendar
Epworth's annual calendar brings the church family and the wider community together throughout the year. February opens with the ELC Open House, where prospective families tour the preschool and Children's Day Out programs. April brings the Spring Party, with games, crafts, and seasonal activities held outdoors on the church grounds. May is busy with Touch A Truck (the Saturday before Mother's Day, hosted by FED in the church parking lot) and the Maple and Main Festival in downtown Sylvania, where the ELC participates as a volunteer and host of family-friendly spaces. The Annual Epworth Church Picnic in August offers a free lunch with live music, cake walks, face painting, mini golf, and a bounce house. Parents' Night, held on the last Monday before Labor Day, lets ELC families meet teachers and explore classrooms.
In October, Trunk-or-Treat transforms the parking lot into a safe trick-or-treating alternative. The Arts and Crafts Bazaar in November is the Women's Ministry's largest fundraiser, with dozens of local artisans and crafters offering handmade gifts on the first Saturday of the month. December wraps the year with Gingerbread House Decorating, the Adult Choirs' Christmas Concert, the Children's Christmas Musical performed a week before Christmas, and the ELC Christmas Program in the Sanctuary.
Weekly rhythms weave through these seasonal events. Scouts meet in the gym, choirs rehearse in the choir room and sanctuary, the Men's Bible Study gathers on Thursdays, the Women's Monday Night Bible Study meets in Room 214, Stephen Ministry leaders confer, the Outreach Missions Team meets on the second Wednesday of each month, and the Priscilla Circle sews and crafts for community outreach on the second Thursday. Each month brings a Healing and Wholeness Service on the second Monday, Wonderful Wednesday on the second Wednesday, a Service at The Woodlands on the third Wednesday, and Selection Saturday at the Furniture Mart on the third Saturday.
Getting Around the Building
Epworth's building is three levels, all serviced by a centrally located elevator, with parking lots entered from both Central Avenue and Valleyview Drive and a few spaces reserved for first-time guests. Accessible parking is available in both lots and in front of the Valleyview entrance. Greeters are stationed at the main entrances and are ready to direct visitors to the Sanctuary, Sunday School rooms, classrooms, the nursery, the coffee pot, or the gym.
The Sanctuary seats up to 450 guests and is the home of all three Sunday worship services. The Chapel across from the Sanctuary hosts the Healing and Wholeness Service on the second Monday of each month and smaller weddings. The Children's Wing houses Sunday School classrooms and the nursery, with secure check-in through lobby kiosks. The Memorial Garden sits just outside the Chapel. The gym, on the office level, hosts receptions, Scouts, sports ministries, fitness classes, and Vacation Bible Camp. The church office, open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., is the first stop for questions about baptisms, weddings, funerals, Memorial Garden pre-planning, or any of Epworth's ministries.