Pastor’s Message – December 2020

Philip was a college sophomore with a bright future. He was a star on the basketball team and a handsome young man. Along with his athletic abilities and his teen heartthrob looks, he had good grades. Philip was well liked by his professors, the envy of all the young men on campus, and the desire of all the young women. As his celebrity climbed, so did his desire to attend parties and hang out. Soon, Philip was no longer a good student, his play on the basketball court suffered, and he was placed on academic probation. A semester later, he was removed from the basketball team and expelled from school for poor academic performance. Realizing this was a chance to demonstrate his resolve, Philip attended community college for a year, improved his study habits, and his grades rose. He returned to the university and graduated with a master’s degree in accounting. He now works for an international accounting firm and attributes the majority of his success to his expulsion and the year he spent improving his study habits.

“But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

Philippians 1:12-14

Paul was experiencing difficult circumstances, but he wanted the Philippians to know that God was using his suffering to promote the gospel. Being in prison would cause most of us to become bitter or give up, but Paul saw it as one more opportunity to spread the Good News of Christ Jesus. The apostle recognized that his current circumstances weren’t as important as what he did with them. Turning a bad situation into a good one, he reached out to the Roman soldiers who made up the palace guard and encouraged those Christians who were afraid of persecution. Other Christians were encouraged because they knew that Paul’s imprisonment was for Christ. They gained confidence and proclaimed God’s Word fearlessly because of him. We may not be in prison like Paul, but we still have plenty of opportunities to be discouraged. We may have times of indecision, financial burden, family conflict, church conflict, or the loss of our jobs. How we act in the midst of these situations will reflect what we believe. Philip used his expulsion not as a time of discouragement, but a time of encouragement. Philip’s resolve during that year will encourage others who encounter the same obstacle in the midst of their academic journey. When you run into the next stumbling block, you should look for ways to show your faith even in the toughest of situations. Regardless of how that situation turns out, your faith will grow stronger.

God’s blessings in all you do,
Pastor Ross

Coming Up…

< April 2025 >
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
    1Bible Study from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Focus on the Gospel of Mark
+ Google calendarBowling League from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
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2Community Lenten Luncheon from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Lunch at noon followed by a short reflection presented by a speaker from this week's host church.
Free and open to the public; goodwill offering will be accepted each week.
This Week's Host: St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Mary Queen of Saints Parish, Corner of Virginia Ave & 15th St, Monaca + Google calendarMAT Meeting from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
+ Google calendarMeeting of the Eves from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Aliquippa First + Google calendarAA Meeting from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
3Busy Hands from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Volunteer Group
Carey Community Center + Google calendar
4 5AA Meeting from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
6Adult Sunday School from 10:00 am to 10:45 am
+ Google calendarWorship w/ Communion from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Holy Communion Offered Church Sanctuary + Google calendarKids' Sunday School from 11:15 am to 12:00 pm
Times are approximate. Begins after children's message during 11am worship. + Google calendar
7Bible Study from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Focus on the Gospel of Mark
Aliquippa First UMC + Google calendar
8Food Pantry Distribution from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
+ Google calendarBowling League from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
+ Google calendar
9Community Lenten Luncheon from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Lunch at noon followed by a short reflection presented by a speaker from this week's host church.
Free and open to the public; goodwill offering will be accepted each week.
This Week's Host: First Presbyterian Church, 1301 Indiana Ave, Monaca + Google calendarAliquippa First "PhDs" 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 calendarRefresh & Recharge from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
+ Google calendarAA Meeting from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
10 11 12Coffee Mugs & Kids Club from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Stories and activities for kids; coffee and conversation for moms! Carey Community Center + Google calendarAA Meeting from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
13Adult Sunday School from 10:00 am to 10:45 am
+ Google calendarWorship from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Traditional worship, including prayer and the singing of traditional hymns. Church Sanctuary + Google calendarKids' Sunday School from 11:15 am to 12:00 pm
Times are approximate. Begins after children's message during 11am worship. + Google calendarVBS Planning Meeting from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
+ Google calendar
14Bible Study from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Focus on the Gospel of Mark
Aliquippa First UMC + Google calendarBook Club from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
"Reading United Methodists" Discussing:
The Bridge Over the River Kwai by Pierre Boulle
(Possible Movie Night!)
Aliquippa First UMC + Google calendar
15Hymn Sing from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Brighton Wellness & Rehab + Google calendarBowling League from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
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16United Women of Faith Meeting from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Program: “The Empty Tomb: What That Means to You,” presented by Pr. Jim Aliquippa First UMC + Google calendarPreparation for Easter Egg Hunt from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
MUMC + Google calendarAA Meeting from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
17Busy Hands from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Volunteer Group
Carey Community Center + Google calendarMaundy Thursday from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
6pm Potluck; 7pm Worship with Communion + Google calendar
18Good Friday Tenebrae from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Aliquippa First UMC + Google calendar
19Easter Egg Hunt from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Aliquippa First UMC + Google calendarAA Meeting from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
20Happy Easter! all day
+ Google calendarNo Adult Sunday School This Morning at 12:00 am
+ Google calendarWorship from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Traditional worship, including prayer and the singing of traditional hymns. Church Sanctuary + Google calendarKids' Sunday School Easter Party! from 11:15 am to 12:00 pm
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21 22 23Aliquippa First "PhDs" 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 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
24 25Movie Night from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Join us for dinner & a movie!
**other activities available for kids too young to enjoy the movie
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26AA Meeting from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
27Adult Sunday School from 10:00 am to 10:45 am
+ Google calendarWorship from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Traditional worship, including prayer and the singing of traditional hymns. Church Sanctuary + Google calendarKids' Sunday School from 11:15 am to 12:00 pm
Times are approximate. Begins after children's message during 11am worship. + Google calendar
28 29 30AA Meeting from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar