Pastor’s Message for December 2024

“How’s Your Family Doing?”

We often ask, “How’s your family doing?” in our conversations. Sometimes it’s out of genuine concern—maybe we’ve heard about an illness or are worried about someone’s well-being. Other times, it’s simply a question we ask out of habit, a way to fill space in a conversation. Yet, when we ask, it often leads to stories—sometimes funny, sometimes poignant—that reveal the dynamics of our families: the nephew who always finds trouble or the grandmother recovering from surgery. These stories can bring laughter, tears, or sometimes both.

Now, imagine Mary, the mother of Jesus, watching her son go off into the wilderness, returning with new and radical ideas about life and religion. He begins a ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing. Some even claim he is making bold statements about his own identity. It’s not unlike any parent sending their child off to college, only to return home a changed person—someone who seems completely different, maybe even a bit radical. Some people even believed Jesus had been possessed by an evil spirit, and most of his family thought he had lost his mind.

It would have made for an awkward family gathering, to say the least.

As the holiday season approaches, many of us will find ourselves gathering with family—sometimes the only time of the year we come together. This togetherness often requires effort to maintain, or else we risk drifting apart. During this season, we might be faced with relatives whose views we don’t share, whose choices we don’t understand, or who’ve returned home with new and challenging ideas about life and identity. But perhaps this holiday season offers us a unique opportunity to connect more deeply. Maybe we’ll learn something about that difficult relative—or even something about ourselves—in the process.

So, how’s your family doing?

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

Coming Up…

< March 2025 >
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
            1AA Meeting from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
2Adult 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
3Bible Study from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Focus on the Gospel of Mark
Aliquippa First UMC + Google calendar
4Bible 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
5Ash Wednesday Worship from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
with the Imposition of Ashes Aliquippa First UMC + Google calendarAA Meeting from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
6Busy Hands from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Volunteer Group
Carey Community Center + Google calendar
7 8Daylight Saving Time Begins all day
DST begins at 2am 3/9/2025. Remember to "spring forward" and turn your clocks ahead before bedtime! + Google calendarAA Meeting from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
9Adult 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 calendarLadies' Tea Planning Meeting from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Those willing to help with the upcoming Ladies’ Tea are asked to join a brief meeting following worship. See Vera Lovewell or Tina Allen with questions. Help from both ladies and gentlemen appreciated! Upper Level Meeting Room + Google calendar
10Bible 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 Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar
Aliquippa First UMC + Google calendar
11Food Pantry Distribution from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
+ Google calendarBible 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
12Community 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: Redeemer Trinity Lutheran Church, 819 Washington Ave, Monaca + Google calendarNo PhDs Today (Aliquippa 1st) from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
+ Google calendarMeeting of the Eves from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Evening Women's Group of Monaca & Aliquippa First UMCs Monaca UMC + Google calendarAA Meeting from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
13 14 15Coffee 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
16Adult 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 calendarNOW Movie from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Showing God's Not Dead Aliquippa First UMC + Google calendar
17Bible Study from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Focus on the Gospel of Mark
Aliquippa First UMC + Google calendar
18Bible 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
19Community 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.
Monaca UMC is this week's host! (813 Indiana Ave, Monaca) + Google calendarStaff-Parish Relations Committee Meeting from 6:00 pm to 6:45 pm
+ Google calendarExecutive Council Meeting from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
+ Google calendarAA Meeting from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
20Busy Hands from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Volunteer Group
Carey Community Center + Google calendar
21 22AA Meeting from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendarTrivia! from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Tap link for details
Aliquippa First UMC + Google calendar
23Adult 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
24Bible Study from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Focus on the Gospel of Mark
Aliquippa First UMC + Google calendar
25Bible 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
26Community 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: Monacrest Free Methodist Church, 995 Elmira St, 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 calendarAA Meeting from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
27 28 29AA Meeting from 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
30Adult 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 calendar5th Sunday Donut Fellowship from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
+ Google calendar
31Order Deadline for Easter Flowers all day
Tap link for details
+ Google calendarBible Study from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Focus on the Gospel of Mark
Aliquippa First UMC + Google calendar