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…

< 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