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…

< 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