“Brighton”-ing the Holidays

This year, the Ministry Action Team and SONshine Club at Monaca UMC unofficially adopted Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center (Brighton Wellness) this Christmas to brighten the holiday for the staff and residents.

While it was cold outside on December 6th, CJ Mangin in Monaca was full of warmth. This was thanks in part to all of the messages of good cheer crafted at Monaca UMC’s booth during Monaca’s Hometown Christmas celebration. The completed cards were then delivered to residents of Brighton Wellness.

At this year’s event, we offered traditional blank cards to color, as well as linocut cards for the more craft-adventurous in the community to create!

Special thanks to Vera Lovewell for organizing our participation in the event and to Tina Allen and Trish Ziegler for volunteering at our booth!

In addition to the Christmas cards, several Brighton Wellness residents also received Christmas gifts from our congregation! Thank you to everyone who took a gift tag and returned it with a loving present for residents who might not otherwise have received anything to open on Christmas Day.

The residents weren’t the only ones who received a Christmas surprise. The SONshine Club packaged a Christmas pin with a candy cane and Bible verse for each of the 150 nurses and other staff at Brighton Wellness.

We love serving the community! If your organization can use support in the coming year, please contact us.

Coming Up…

< June 2026 >
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
  1 2 3Youth Group 6pm from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
+ Google calendarEves Meeting 6:30pm from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Evening women’s group of Monaca & Aliquippa First UMCs
Meeting location alternates between the two churches.
Aliquippa First UMC: Jan, Mar, May, July, Sept, Nov
Monaca UMC: Feb, Apr, June, Aug, Oct, Dec
+ Google calendarAA Meeting 7pm from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
4Busy Hands 1pm from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Knitting/crochet Group Carey Community Center + Google calendar
5NA Meeting 8pm from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Meeting of Narcotics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
6AA Meeting 10:30am from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
7Worship w/ Communion 11am from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Holy Communion Offered Church Sanctuary + Google calendarKids Sunday School ~11:15am from 11:15 am to 12:00 pm
Begins immediately following the children's message during 11am worship in the sanctuary + Google calendar
8Book Club 7pm–The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee @Aliquippa First, Lounge from 7:00 pm to 8:15 pm
"Reading United Methodists" monthly book club with snacks, books, and fellowship!
This month's pick: The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee
Discussion led by: Vera Lovewell
2816 Brodhead Rd, Aliquippa 15001 + Google calendar
9Food Pantry Distribution 11am-Noon from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Free and open to all Monaca area and Center Township residents + Google calendar
10"PhDs" 6:30pm @Aliquippa First, Lounge from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
For "Projects Half Done" - knitting/crochet group; 2nd & 4th Wednesday of the month at Aliquippa First UMC + Google calendarAA Meeting 7pm from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
11 12NA Meeting 8pm from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Meeting of Narcotics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
13AA Meeting 10:30am from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
14Worship 11am from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Traditional worship, including prayer and the singing of traditional hymns. Church Sanctuary + Google calendar
152026 VBS 8:30am-Noon from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm
+ Google calendar
162026 VBS 8:30am-Noon from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm
+ Google calendar
172026 VBS 8:30am-Noon from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm
+ Google calendarUnited Women of Faith 1pm @Aliquippa First from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
2816 Brodhead Dr, Aliquippa, PA 15001 + Google calendarAA Meeting 7pm from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
18Newsletter Deadline Day all day
Please submit any items for inclusion in the church's newsletter, THE MESSENGER, by the 3rd Thursday of the month. + Google calendar2026 VBS 8:30am-Noon from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm
+ Google calendarBusy Hands 1pm from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Knitting/crochet Group Carey Community Center + Google calendar
192026 VBS & Wrap-Up Party 8:30am-1:00pm from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm
+ Google calendarNA Meeting 8pm from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Meeting of Narcotics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
20AA Meeting 10:30am from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
21Happy Father's Day! all day
+ Google calendarWorship 11am from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Traditional worship, including prayer and the singing of traditional hymns. Church Sanctuary + Google calendar
22 23 24"PhDs" 6:30pm @Aliquippa First, Lounge from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
For "Projects Half Done" - knitting/crochet group; 2nd & 4th Wednesday of the month at Aliquippa First UMC + Google calendarAA Meeting 7pm from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
25 26NA Meeting 8pm from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Meeting of Narcotics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
27Monaca Community Day @3pm-Fireworks all day
Visit our booth! near Monaca Riverfront Park & Pumphouse + Google calendarAA Meeting 10:30am from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
28Worship 11am from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Traditional worship, including prayer and the singing of traditional hymns. Church Sanctuary + Google calendar
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