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…

< 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