PERRYSBURG—In celebration of God’s marvelous creation of the universe, Zoar Lutheran Church will host a special Pre-Eclipse Party on April 7. The event at 314 East Indiana Avenue will kick off with a One-Service Sunday, where participants can enjoy the 10 a.m. special worship service time.
Following the service, Zoar’s Family Life Center will serve as the hub for an exciting Pre-Eclipse Party that will include a complimentary lunch, a brief presentation about the eclipse, and a Q&A breakout session with astronomy experts. The event is designed for all age groups and will include eclipse-themed opportunities for singing, crafting, science, and games.
The event provides the community an opportunity to get to know Zoar better and to learn more about the importance of safety when viewing the eclipse. For this reason, the event will also include free eclipse glasses for those who attend (while supplies last). It is recommended that those interested in attending RSVP for the event by contacting the church office, visiting zoarlutheran.com or finding the pinned post about the event on Zoar’s Facebook page. This is a free event and open to the community.
The idea to host this fun gathering sparked when congregants learned that Zoar’s senior pastor, Pastor Paul Reichert, happens to have a special interest in astronomy and has a wealth of knowledge on the topic. The vision for the party quickly rocketed into action with support from the Zoar Foundation.
In addition to Pastor Paul Reichert’s knowledge on the topic, Zoar is fortunate enough to have astronomer Dr. John Laird, as a member of Zoar’s church congregation. Laird is Emeritus Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Bowling Green State University. Reichert and Laird will be guest speakers during the presentation and Q & A breakout session about the science behind this miraculous eclipse and astronomy.
Reichert has been fascinated by space and astronomy ever since his parents woke him to watch the Apollo 11 moon landing in July 1969. He has experienced many l opportunities to learn and pursue astronomy over the years such as getting to view lunar eclipses, Halley’s Comet in 1986, the Grand Alignments in 1982 and 2000, Comet Hale-Bopp in 1996-1997, and the International Space Station.
Laird became interested in studying astronomy when he saw Saturn through a telescope in junior high school. The Apollo moon landings and other NASA missions fed his interest. Once he started a more serious study of astronomy in college, he was hooked. He remains fascinated by astronomy and has been fortunate throughout his career to continue feeding that curiosity and contribute his own research to the field. Laird still finds that a clear, dark night sky with a view of the Milky Way is one of the most beautiful sights.
They hope to help people learn how to experience the eclipse safely and not harm their eyes. They agree that a total solar eclipse is unique, remarkable, and possibly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The last total eclipse in northwest Ohio was in 1806, and the next one won’t happen until 2099. They hope through conversations they can help people catch a glimpse of the wonder of the universe. the magic of God’s creation can be directed to the church office by calling 419-874-4346.
