A Table Community in Point Place
Point Place United Church of Christ sits on the corner of 116th and 297th Streets in the Point Place neighborhood of Toledo, just across from the Point Place Library and a block west of Summit Street. The congregation describes itself as a small, table-based community rooted in love for one another and designed for encountering God and one another. With roots that go back to 1917, the church has spent more than a century adapting to the neighborhood around it while keeping the communion table at the center of its life.
Two Kinds of Sundays
On Sundays, the church gathers in two very different ways. Half of the Sundays find worshipers upstairs in the sanctuary for what the church calls a Sanctuary Gathering. There, the congregation follows a more familiar pattern: singing, praying, and hearing teaching from the Scriptures. Music comes from a range of styles and traditions, used to help people connect with God, grow in Christ, and lift their voices in praise.
The other Sundays are reserved for what the congregation calls Breakfast Church. Held downstairs, this gathering begins with a shared breakfast and is described by the church as their Eucharistic Meal. Members and guests eat together, share stories, sing, pray, and engage with a teaching. The setting is informal, with more conversation than a typical worship service, but the focus remains squarely on the Gospel of Jesus. Visitors are invited to share their thoughts or simply listen.
Alternative Gatherings and the Church Calendar
Beyond the regular Sunday pattern, Point Place UCC occasionally gathers in other ways. These Alternative Gatherings are described as creative and ecumenical, sometimes held outdoors, sometimes alongside other Point Place churches or community groups. Many follow the Christian Church Calendar, marking seasons such as Ash Wednesday and Christmas Eve.
Seasonal study groups round out the rhythm of the year. In the winter and spring, the church hosts a Lent Soup & Study series. In the summer, members gather for Porch Sessions. Both are designed to bring people together around conversation, learning, and shared meals.
Feed My Sheep and the Mustard Seed
Hospitality extends well beyond the building. On the last two Tuesdays of every month, from 5 to 6 pm, the church hosts a free community dinner called Feed My Sheep. Sit-down guests are welcome, and to-go meals are offered for those who cannot stay.
The congregation also partners with the Mustard Seed food pantry and clothing closet, joining other Point Place churches, groups, and individuals in regular financial support, in-kind donations, and seasonal drives. These include Thanksgiving Baskets in the fall, an Adopt-a-Family Christmas Gifts program in December, and Back-to-School supplies each year. Anyone interested in supporting the Mustard Seed directly can reach the pantry at 419-727-1800.
Pastor Jon and the Parish
The Rev. Dr. Jon Komperda began serving as pastor of Point Place UCC on September 1, 2010. He holds a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (2008) and a Doctor of Ministry from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (2024). He is married to Lauren, and together they have three children: Leah, Asher, and Baden.
Pastor Jon describes the congregation as open to adapting, experimenting, and exploring what new directions the Spirit of Christ might be moving in this day and age. That posture shapes the church's willingness to try nontraditional forms of worship, partner with neighbors, and rethink the role of a pastor.
A Eucharistic Way of Life
The word Eucharist runs through everything Point Place UCC does. For the congregation, the word literally means Thanksgiving and refers to the bread and wine of communion, tied to Jesus giving thanks at the Last Supper. The church hopes the word means more than a short ritual in a worship liturgy. The community seeks to receive all of life as God's gift gratefully and to approach all of life as an opportunity to know, love, and serve.
The tagline captures this: Cultivating communal encounters that Create Eucharistic lives. Themes have included Holy Fools, Icons not Idols, An Accountable Community, A Table Community, and What's Resurrection Got to Do with It?
A Century and Counting
The congregation's history in Point Place stretches back over a century. The community goes back to 1917 and is continually renewing as God keeps doing new things among them. That blend of long memory and willingness to change shapes everything from the Sunday menu to the study topics.
First-time visitors are welcome to come as they are. The church's own invitation is plain: dress however you are comfortable, doubt honestly, ask boldly, and stay open to new ways God might be moving in your life. Free parking is available around the building, and the church can be reached at (419) 726-7390 or office@pointplaceucc.com. Worship services are also available on the church's YouTube channel, and online giving is available through Tithe.ly.