Pastor’s Message for May 2022

I sure get tired of commercials about supplemental Social Security insurance. They are on all the time, with a host of celebrities urging you to call the number on the screen to make sure that you are getting all the benefits you deserve. Joe Namath, William Shatner, George Foreman, Jimmie J.J. Walker, and other suggest that you may be missing out on some extra benefits that you may not be aware of.

“Call now!” “It’s free!” Then, in each commercial, a host of actors and actresses attesting to the results of calling that number.

“I called to get free hearing aids.”

“I called to get free eye glasses.”

“I called to get money added back to my Social Security benefit.”

“I called to get everything I deserve.”

Maybe I am watching too much television! However, those commercials do have me thinking about the way we see God. Is this our understanding of God? “Call now!” “It’s free!”

“I called to get my eyesight restored.”

“I called to get my hearing back.”

“I called to get more money.”

What is our focus in life? Is it, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done?” Or, is it, “My kingdom come, My will be done?”

Is life all about “my kingdom” and “my will,” and God is the resource that we look to in order to accomplish what we want and to make sure that our desires are fulfilled? Or, is life really about God’s kingdom, and God calls upon us as resources to bring about His will?

Jesus struggled with that very issue in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus acknowledged that what God was asking him to do was very different than what he personally preferred to do. Yet, he surrendered his will to the will of his heavenly Father. As Christians it is important that we are attentive to God’s kingdom and God’s will, and that we affirm and support what God is doing in the world. It is too easy to get swept up in the desire to fulfill our personal wants and wishes. We need to trust the Lord that when we seek first His kingdom, then He will be faithful to care for all the other areas of our lives. We must remember that we are to take active rolls in helping to bring the kingdom of God into fruition. Are we asking God to show us what we need to do? Are we calling God for the right reason?

Ask God what He wants you to be doing in His kingdom. Call now! It’s free!

Blessings,
Pastor Dave Vaughn

Coming Up…

< January 2025 >
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
      1Happy New Year! all day
+ Google calendarAA Meeting from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
2Busy Hands from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Volunteer Group
Carey Community Center + Google calendar
3 4AA Meeting at 10:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
5Adult Sunday School from 10:00 am to 10:45 am
+ Google calendarWorship w/ Communion at 11:00 am
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
6 7Bowling League from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
+ Google calendar
8Aliquippa First "PhDs" at 6:30 pm
For "Projects Half Done" - knitting/crochet group; 2nd & 4th Wednesday of the month at Aliquippa First UMC + Google calendarMeeting of the Eves from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Evening Women's Group Monaca + Google calendarAA Meeting from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
9 10 11AA Meeting at 10:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
12Prodigal God Study from 10:00 am to 10:45 am
Adult Sunday School
+ Google calendarWorship at 11:00 am
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
13Book Club from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
"Reading United Methodists" Discussing:
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Aliquippa First UMC + Google calendar
14Food Pantry Distribution from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
+ Google calendarBowling League from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
+ Google calendar
15Staff-Parish Relations Committee Meeting at 6:00 pm
+ Google calendarAA Meeting from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendarExecutive Council Meeting at 7:00 pm
+ Google calendar
16Busy Hands from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Volunteer Group
Carey Community Center + Google calendarMinistry Action Team (MAT) at 6:00 pm
+ Google calendar
17 18Story Hour & Coffee Klatch from 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Story and games for the kids; grown-up conversation for the adults Carey Community Center + Google calendarAA Meeting at 10:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
19Prodigal God Study from 10:00 am to 10:45 am
Adult Sunday School
+ Google calendarWorship at 11:00 am
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
20Martin Luther King Jr. Day all day
+ Google calendarBible Study - Part II from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Focus on the Gospel of Mark
Aliquippa First UMC + Google calendar
21Bible Study - Part II 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
22Aliquippa First "PhDs" at 6:30 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
23 24 25The Eves' Bake-a-Thon at 10:00 am
Baking cookies for the local first responders.
Please RSVP. Flour, sugar, butter, eggs provided. Bring recipes, mixers, pans.
Aliquippa First UMC + Google calendarAA Meeting at 10:30 am
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
26Prodigal God Study from 10:00 am to 10:45 am
Adult Sunday School
+ Google calendarWorship at 11:00 am
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
27Bible Study - Part II from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Focus on the Gospel of Mark
Aliquippa First UMC + Google calendar
28Bible Study - Part II 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
29AA Meeting from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship Hall + Google calendar
30 31