Pastor’s Message for December 2022

Blessed Advent, Friends!

     When I was a youngster, there was nothing that I wanted more for Christmas than a Nintendo Entertainment System. I begged. I pleaded. I even pouted a time or two. Oh how I longed to squash Koopa Troops with Mario and slay evil monsters with Link from the Legend of Zelda. I couldn’t think of anything in life that I wanted more than that Nintendo.

     You can imagine my delight when I found my brand-new Nintendo Entertainment System (with Super Mario and Duck Hunt included) under the Christmas tree. Oh, it was the best Christmas ever! I spent hours playing those video games. I squashed Koopa Troops with Mario. I slayed evil monsters with Link. I couldn’t have been happier. What a perfect Christmas gift!

     But then, about a year later the Super Nintendo Entertainment System came out. It had a 16-bit processor! It had Super graphics and stereo sound! Forget Super Mario Brothers; it had Super Mario World (with Yoshi)! It had Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past! Suddenly, my Nintendo Entertainment System wasn’t good enough. Now I had to have a Super Nintendo!

     You can imagine my delight when I found it under my Christmas tree, just two years after I’d received my old Nintendo. Of course my happiness only lasted until the Nintendo 64 came along…

     And so it goes. We’re always looking for the next big thing. Those things which seem so important now will eventually become yesterday’s news. Something better will come along, and we will never be satisfied with what we have.

     Jesus knows this about us. Only Jesus has the ability to satisfy our longings sufficiently. Whatever material thing it is that we want, whether it be the latest toy, the biggest house, the fastest car, or even the most friends on social media, those things are unable to satisfy the desires of our heart. We will always be looking for the shiny and new.

     As Christmas approaches, my prayer for you is that you find your heart filled to overflowing, not by the material goods which you might find under your tree, but by the only One who can satisfy your soul.

God loves you, and so do I,
Pastor Jim

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
+ Google calendar
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
+ Google calendar
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
+ Google calendar
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
+ Google calendar
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