Pastor’s Message for October 2025

Unstoppable Love

Picture it: The year was 1987 and a band that had been born of the psychedelic era named Jefferson Airplane had morphed into the pop-chart topping “Starship.” In every roller rink and shopping mall, the soaring voices of Grace Slick and Mickey Thomas brought America together with the anthemic power ballad “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now.”

I was ten years old at the time, and while I didn’t fully understand the cultural movements of the day, I knew one thing for certain: this song was the most awesomely awesome song ever written, a true masterpiece of popular music and cheesiness. However, in the decades since the ’80s’ zenith, tastes in music changed. Today, you might find much of Starship’s mid-’80s output on lists of “worst songs ever.” Apparently, there is such a thing as too much cheese.

Still, that cheesy declaration of unstoppable love makes a perfect doorway into Paul’s bold declaration about God’s love found in Romans 8:38–39:

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things, present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Paul’s version of “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us” isn’t about teenage romance or ’80s hair spray. It’s about the unstoppable, unshakable love of God. Notice how thorough he is: life and death, past and future, spiritual powers and worldly ones, the highest highs and the deepest lows—he ticks off every possibility and then stamps it all with God’s promise: Nothing can separate us from God’s love.

And here’s the kicker: that love is for everyone. Not just the people who look faithful, or act holy, or already “have it together.” God’s love is for the doubters, the strugglers, the outsiders, the in-betweeners. It’s for the person who feels unworthy, the neighbor we find difficult, and yes—even you and me on our worst days.

That’s why this passage is so powerful: it’s not just about God’s persistence, but about God’s embrace. Love doesn’t just endure—it expands, reaching every corner of creation and every human heart. That’s the Power of Love.

So when the world feels shaky, remember Paul’s anthem: God’s love will never let go. Nothing’s gonna stop us now.

God loves you, and so do I,
Pastor Jim Sands

Coming Up…

< April 2023 >
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
            1Adult Membership Class from 9:00 am to 12:00 am
Adults interested in becoming a member of Monaca UMC or Aliquippa First UMC are welcome to attend this informational session. Individuals who are currently members of a different United Methodist Church and interested in transferring their membership are invited as well. For more information, or to schedule an alternative time, please call or text Pastor Jim at (724) 833-1963. Aliquippa First UMC, 2816 Brodhead Road, Aliquippa, PA 15001 + Google calendarConfirmation Classes from 10:00 am to 12:00 am
6th Graders & older + Google calendarAA Meeting 10:30am from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
2Adult 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
3 4Bible 101 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Bible study led by Pastor Jim, Tuesdays through May - join at any time! + 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
5AA Meeting 7pm from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
6Busy Hands 1pm from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Knitting/crochet Group Carey Community Center + Google calendarWorship & Seder Meal from 5:30 pm to 12:00 am
5:30 worship followed by a look at the Last Supper and a pot luck dinner + Google calendar
7 8Confirmation Classes from 10:00 am to 12:00 am
6th Graders & older + Google calendarAA Meeting 10:30am from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
9Adult 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
10Blood Donation Drive all day
You could save a life! We are partnering with the American Red Cross to hold blood donation drives at the Carey Community Center on April 10th and June 12th. Blood donations are by appointment only. You can register via redcross.org or by calling 1-800-733-2767. Carey Community Center + Google calendar
11Community Lunch from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Held during monthly food pantry + Google calendarFood Pantry Distribution from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
+ Google calendarBible 101 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Bible study led by Pastor Jim, Tuesdays through May - join at any time! + 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
12AA Meeting 7pm from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
13Pickle Ball from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
At this time, for members only - See John H or Deb C for details Carey Center + Google calendar
14 15AA Meeting 10:30am from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
16Adult 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 calendarCome Warm Your Hearts from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm
a special worship service celebrating our United Methodist heritage + Google calendar
17 18Bible 101 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Bible study led by Pastor Jim, Tuesdays through May - join at any time! + 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
19United Women in Faith Meeting from 1:00 pm to 12:00 am
(formerly United Methodist Women) business meeting and informative program at Aliquippa First UMC Map+ Google calendarAA Meeting 7pm from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
20Busy Hands 1pm from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Knitting/crochet Group Carey Community Center + Google calendarPickle Ball from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
At this time, for members only - See John H or Deb C for details Carey Center + Google calendar
21 22AA Meeting 10:30am from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
23Adult 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
24 25Bible 101 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Bible study led by Pastor Jim, Tuesdays through May - join at any time! + 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
26AA Meeting 7pm from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
27Pickle Ball from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
At this time, for members only - See John H or Deb C for details Carey Center + Google calendar
28 29AA Meeting 10:30am from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
30Adult 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 calendarFellowship Hour from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm
Click/Tap for details Carey Center + Google calendar