Pastor’s Message for May 2022

I sure get tired of commercials about supplemental Social Security insurance. They are on all the time, with a host of celebrities urging you to call the number on the screen to make sure that you are getting all the benefits you deserve. Joe Namath, William Shatner, George Foreman, Jimmie J.J. Walker, and other suggest that you may be missing out on some extra benefits that you may not be aware of.

“Call now!” “It’s free!” Then, in each commercial, a host of actors and actresses attesting to the results of calling that number.

“I called to get free hearing aids.”

“I called to get free eye glasses.”

“I called to get money added back to my Social Security benefit.”

“I called to get everything I deserve.”

Maybe I am watching too much television! However, those commercials do have me thinking about the way we see God. Is this our understanding of God? “Call now!” “It’s free!”

“I called to get my eyesight restored.”

“I called to get my hearing back.”

“I called to get more money.”

What is our focus in life? Is it, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done?” Or, is it, “My kingdom come, My will be done?”

Is life all about “my kingdom” and “my will,” and God is the resource that we look to in order to accomplish what we want and to make sure that our desires are fulfilled? Or, is life really about God’s kingdom, and God calls upon us as resources to bring about His will?

Jesus struggled with that very issue in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus acknowledged that what God was asking him to do was very different than what he personally preferred to do. Yet, he surrendered his will to the will of his heavenly Father. As Christians it is important that we are attentive to God’s kingdom and God’s will, and that we affirm and support what God is doing in the world. It is too easy to get swept up in the desire to fulfill our personal wants and wishes. We need to trust the Lord that when we seek first His kingdom, then He will be faithful to care for all the other areas of our lives. We must remember that we are to take active rolls in helping to bring the kingdom of God into fruition. Are we asking God to show us what we need to do? Are we calling God for the right reason?

Ask God what He wants you to be doing in His kingdom. Call now! It’s free!

Blessings,
Pastor Dave Vaughn

Coming Up…

< April 2026 >
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
      1Youth 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
2Busy Hands 1pm from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Knitting/crochet Group Carey Community Center + Google calendarMaundy Thursday Seder Meal 6pm @Aliquippa First from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
First UMC, 2816 Brodhead Rd, Aliquippa, PA 15001 + Google calendar
3Good Friday Tenebrae Service 3pm @Aliquippa First from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
First UMC, 2816 Brodhead Rd, Aliquippa, PA 15001 + Google calendarNA Meeting 8pm from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Meeting of Narcotics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
4Easter Egg Hunt @Aliquippa First all day
2816 Brodhead Rd, Aliquippa, PA 15001 + Google calendarAA Meeting 10:30am from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
5Happy Easter! all day
Celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior! + Google calendarWorship w/ Communion 11am from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Holy Communion Offered Church Sanctuary + Google calendarKids Sunday School Easter Party ~11:15am from 11:15 am to 12:00 pm
*Start time is approximate. Kids Sunday School begins immediately following the Children's message during 11am worship. + Google calendar
6 7Bowling Night @Baden Bowl from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
+ Google calendar
8"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
9 10NA Meeting 8pm from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Meeting of Narcotics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
11Coffee Mugs & Kids Club 10am from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
2nd Saturday of each month. Fun for the kids; caffeine for the adults! Carey Community Center + Google calendarAA Meeting 10:30am from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
12Refresh & Recharge Worship 11am from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
+ 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
13Book Club 7pm–And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie @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: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Discussion led by: Kathy Cindric
2816 Brodhead Rd, Aliquippa 15001 + Google calendar
14Food Pantry Distribution 11am-Noon from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Free and open to all Monaca area and Center Township residents + Google calendarChampionship Roll-Off from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
MUMC's Bowling League: 1st Half Winners vs. 2nd Half Winners + Google calendar
15United 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
16Newsletter 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 calendarBusy Hands 1pm from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Knitting/crochet Group Carey Community Center + Google calendar
17NA Meeting 8pm from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Meeting of Narcotics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
18AA Meeting 10:30am from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
19Worship 11am from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Traditional worship, including prayer and the singing of traditional hymns. 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
20 21Bowling Banquet from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
+ Google calendar
22Thank you, Administrative Professionals! all day
Thank you, Norma Coast and Kristen Sands! + Google calendarEarth Day all day
+ Google calendar"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
23 24NA Meeting 8pm from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Meeting of Narcotics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
25AA Meeting 10:30am from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
26Worship 11am from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Traditional worship, including prayer and the singing of traditional hymns. 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
27 28 29AA Meeting 7pm from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
30