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…

< November 2022 >
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
    1Bowling from 7:00 pm to 12:00 am
Join the Methodists at the lanes for laughs! Must pre-register. Baden Bowl + Google calendar
2AA Meeting 7pm from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
3 4 5AA Meeting 10:30am from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
6Adult 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 calendarPoinsettia Sale Ordering Deadline from 12:00 pm to 12:00 am
Today is the deadline for ordering poinsettias for pick up after Christmas Eve worship + Google calendar
7 8Monaca Ward 2 Voting from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm
Monaca UMC's Carey Community Center is the polling place for registered voters in Monaca Borough Ward 2 Carey Community Center + Google calendarDATE CHANGE - Food Pantry & Lunch 11/15 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
See Nov. 15th for details of our special Thanksgiving meal bag distribution and free community lunch + 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
9AA Meeting 7pm from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
10 11 12AA Meeting 10:30am from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
13Adult 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
14 15Thanksgiving Meal Bag Distribution from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Open to residents of Monaca and Center Township. Proof of income not requested. Advanced sign-ups encouraged: Call 724-775-6702 answering 3 questions:
1) Name/Phone number of person(s) picking up
2) Turkey breast or Full turkey preferred (turkey breast is great for serving 1-2 people)
3) Staying for a sandwich/snack in the Community Center?
+ 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
16AA Meeting 7pm from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
17 18 19AA Meeting 10:30am from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
20Adult 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
21Decorating for Advent from 6:00 pm to 12:00 am
The season of Advent will soon be upon us! Please join us in decorating the church for this festive season of anticipation. Pizza will be provided! + Google calendar
22Bowling from 7:00 pm to 12:00 am
Join the Methodists at the lanes for laughs! Must pre-register. Baden Bowl + Google calendar
23AA Meeting 7pm from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
24 25 26AA Meeting 10:30am from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
27Adult 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
28 29Bowling from 7:00 pm to 12:00 am
Join the Methodists at the lanes for laughs! Must pre-register. Baden Bowl + Google calendar
30Executive Council from 7:00 pm to 12:00 am
+ Google calendarAA Meeting 7pm from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar