Pastor’s Message for March 2026

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in their place… What is humanity that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?
Psalm 8:3-4

Greetings, Friends!

     When was the last time you considered the heavens? With everything going on here on Earth, it can be difficult to look beyond this rock of ours and look up to the heavens. But let’s consider the heavens for a moment. There have been amazing things going on above the sky. We had a comet pass by last summer. We had a rare conjunction of planets around Christmas time which was reminiscent of the Bethlehem star. We just landed another rover on Mars. We explored an asteroid. We’re discovering new planets orbiting other stars every day. We’re creating new rockets, thinking about sending manned missions to other worlds, and discovering more ways to explore beyond our world.

     What I have found is that the more we explore beyond our world, the smaller and more insignificant we seem. We used to believe we were the center of the universe — that everything revolved around us. Now we know that we are not the center of the universe. We’re not the center of anything really. Our solar system is just one of billions of stars in our galaxy. Even our galaxy is just one of possibly billions of galaxies in our universe. Who’s to say our universe isn’t just one of billions of universes? And those billions of universes just one of a multi-multi-verse?

     So when we consider that the universe is very, very big, and we are very, very small, we may ask the same question which the psalmist asked so many centuries ago as he pondered the cosmos. What is humanity in comparison to the vastness of the created works of God? If we are not the center of everything, why would God be interested in any of us? If our God is so very, very big, why would God care about this very, very small world of ours? And more than that, why are we who are so very, very small so eager to tear apart and destroy each other?

     Consider this: If God, who created the stars and planets and galaxies, considers us worthy of life and love and grace, why don’t we consider each other worthy of these things? As we argue over things which we think are so important, maybe we should consider that in the grand scheme of things, our biggest concerns are nothing compared to the vastness of God’s love.

God loves you, and so do I,
Pastor Jim

Coming Up…

< December 2022 >
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
        1 2 3AA Meeting 10:30am from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
4Adult Sunday School from 9:30 am to 10:30 am
Sunday School for adults seeking a deeper connection to the Word. Overflow Room + Google calendarWorship w/ Communion 11am from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Holy Communion Offered Church Sanctuary + Google calendarChildren's Sunday School from 11:15 am to 12:00 pm
Open to children of all ages and no pre-registration required. After the children's message during worship, the children are welcome to receive additional age-appropriate lessons in the Word during this time that is all about them! Sunday School classrooms, Lower Level + Google calendar
5 6Bowling from 7:00 pm to 12:00 am
Join the Methodists at the lanes for laughs! Must pre-register. Baden Bowl + Google calendar
7AA Meeting 7pm from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
8 9 10AA Meeting 10:30am from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
11Adult Sunday School from 9:30 am to 10:30 am
Sunday School for adults seeking a deeper connection to the Word. Overflow Room + Google calendarWorship 11am from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Traditional worship, including prayer and the singing of traditional hymns. Church Sanctuary + Google calendarChildren's Sunday School from 11:15 am to 12:00 pm
Open to children of all ages and no pre-registration required. After the children's message during worship, the children are welcome to receive additional age-appropriate lessons in the Word during this time that is all about them! Sunday School classrooms, Lower Level + Google calendar
12 13Community Lunch from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Enjoy some chili and a taste of Christmas on 12/13 at MUMC's Community Lunch!
Free and open to all local residents, food pantry patrons, and church members on a first come, first served basis, while supplies last. See our Community Lunch page for more information.
Carey Community Center + Google calendarChristmas Food Pantry Distribution from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Open to residents of Monaca and Center Township. Proof of income not requested. In addition to food bags, we'll be treating guests to gift cards to help with grocery shopping and a plate of Christmas cookies! Advanced sign-ups at 724-774-7068 encouraged. + Google calendarBowling from 7:00 pm to 12:00 am
Join the Methodists at the lanes for laughs! Must pre-register. Baden Bowl + Google calendar
14AA Meeting 7pm from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
15 16 17AA Meeting 10:30am from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
18Adult Sunday School from 9:30 am to 10:30 am
Sunday School for adults seeking a deeper connection to the Word. Overflow Room + Google calendarWorship 11am from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Traditional worship, including prayer and the singing of traditional hymns. Church Sanctuary + Google calendarChildren's Sunday School from 11:15 am to 12:00 pm
Open to children of all ages and no pre-registration required. After the children's message during worship, the children are welcome to receive additional age-appropriate lessons in the Word during this time that is all about them! Sunday School classrooms, Lower Level + Google calendar
19 20Bowling from 7:00 pm to 12:00 am
Join the Methodists at the lanes for laughs! Must pre-register. Baden Bowl + Google calendar
21Blue Christmas Program from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
For anyone not feeling the Christmas spirit this year. See our event link for details. Church Sanctuary + Google calendarAA Meeting 7pm from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
22 23Blood Donation Drive from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm
You could save a life! We are partnering with the American Red Cross to hold blood donation drives at the Carey Community Center on October 7th (Noon-5pm) and December 23rd (9:30am-2pm). Blood donations are by appointment only. You can register via redcross.org or by calling 1-800-733-2767. Carey Community Center + Google calendar
24AA Meeting 10:30am from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendarChristmas Eve Afternoon Worship from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Celebrate the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, at MUMC! Two worship times being offered this year: 2pm and 8pm. A 6pm service is also being offered at First UMC, Aliquippa. Church Sanctuary + Google calendarCANCELLED - Christmas Eve Evening Worship from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Tap this link for details. Please enjoy a safe and merry Christmas + Google calendar
25ALL ACTIVITIES CANCELLED all day
+ Google calendarCANCELLED - Cookies & Carols from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
There will be no worship at MUMC this morning. Please enjoy a safe Christmas. + Google calendar
26 27NO BOWLING from 7:00 pm to 12:00 am
+ Google calendar
28AA Meeting 7pm from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
29 30 31AA Meeting 10:30am from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar