April Mission Challenge

For the month of April, the church will be collecting canned fruits and vegetables for the Akron Canton Food bank. Please NO glass jars/bottles (per food bank request)! Donations can be dropped off at the table in the Gathering Area or in the bin outside of the main entrance doors.

Children and Youth Ministry Volunteers

The Children and Youth of MZUMC are the future of our church! We are currently looking for volunteers who are willing to help us guide these young members of our church family in their spiritual journey. There are MANY ways to volunteer with various time commitment options. If you can spare any time to help in the Nursery, assist with Sunday School classes, lead Children's Church, facilitate Youth Group or be a member of our VBS team, please click here to fill out the form. Whether it's a weekly commitment, monthly commitment, or just on occasion a few times per year - we need you! Thank you for your willingness to serve in this much needed capacity.

The Preschool Is Hiring

The Preschool Board will be interviewing candidates for our open Director position on April 21st. If you would like to be considered with our other applicants, please email the church office.

Trustees Need Your Help!

Lawn Maintenance - The trustees are hoping to put together a law cutting crew. We would like to get 4 groups together to share the lawn cutting responsibilities.

Painting - The trustees are also looking for people to help paint various areas around the church.

If you are available and willing to help with either of these, please contact Brian Beal, Trustee Chair.

LENTEN SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS ON 

EXPERIENCING THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The last class meeting will be on April 20! With the Pancake Breakfast on Palm Sunday, we're breaking out of the Liturgical Calendar and closing our Lenten Study outside the Lenten season.

Please note: there will be coconut. And fruit. And the Spirit.

If you can't be present that Sunday, but would like the beads you were given and prayer cards you used, you're welcome to pick them up in the Sunday School room where we met.

Greeters



Anyone who would enjoy saying hello and helping direct visitors with basic questions about our church like, “Where are the restrooms?” and “Where is the sanctuary?” are welcome to sign up to greet at the side or main entrance doors. We ask greeters to be at church 15 minutes before the service starts and remain there 5 minutes after the service begins so all who are attending worship are welcomed. You can serve monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly and at your convenience! For those who are interested, sign up here. If you prefer to sign up with Katie, you can do so in the church office during the week!

District Newsletter: April 11, 2025 "Northern Waters News"

Weekly Groups:

Java & Jesus—Sundays at 11 am

Using the scriptures from Sunday's worship service, we dive deeper into them and discuss applications to our Christian lives. No preparation is needed. So come meet fellow parishioners and take part in the discussion. We meet in Room 8 in the basement at 11 am after worship.

Contact: Jo Quandt jmquandt@yahoo.com

Wired Word—Sundays at 11 am

The Wired Word discusses big questions and scripture loosely related to a current event each week while we enjoy a time of fellowship. No preparation needed and it is a new topic each week, so it's ok if you can't come every week. We meet downstairs in room 3/5/7 after the worship service.

Contact: Samantha Gunkelman samevin@yahoo.com

Pickleball Group—Tuesdays, 6:30-9 p.m. (Adults only)

Players of all levels are welcome. Consider joining this fun group. We have a weekly text to confirm players so please send your contact info to Beth or Marjorie.

Contact: Beth Gerberich bgerberich825@gmail.com or Marjorie Dye marjorietdye@gmail.com 

Tuesday Morning Bible Study—Tuesdays at 9:30 am

A little history, a little theology, a whole lot of life application! Every Tuesday morning except the last of each month.

Contact: Bill Liming bliming75@gmail.com 

Women’s Bible and Book Study—Wednesdays at 10 a.m.

A combination of book and Bible Study as guided by the participant’s interests. A time for prayer and fellowship, as well. 

Contact Marjorie Cossin marjorie.cossin@gmail.com 

Monthly Groups: 

Bible and Beer Men’s Fellowship—Last Monday of the month at 7 pm

We gather the last Monday night of each month beginning in September from 7-8:30 PM at a rotation of houses. We wrestle with issues of life and faith. Bring your favorite beverage. Snacks provided (usually pizza!).  

Contact: Bill Liming bliming75@gmail.com 

Eat, Pray, Play - April 26

We will meet at 4 pm on 4/26 at Renee Williams house. Contact Renee or Jen for further information.

Contact: Jennifer Dyer mzumcstudent@gmail.com

Food Bank Service Team—Last Tuesday of the month at 9 am

"You found me hungry and you gave me something to eat..." Live out the words of our Savior and make a huge difference in the lives of countless people across the greater Akron area. 

Contact: Bill Liming bliming75@gmail.com 

Other Groups (meeting frequency varies):

Book Club—Next Meeting TBD

Come together for fellowship and to discuss a good book. Our next book is "James" by Percival Everett. We will meet on Monday, October 28th at 7 pm at MZUMC.

Contact: Liana Lake leach.liana@gmail.com 

Golf Club—Next meeting TBD

This will be a social golf group, providing an outlet to those interested no matter ability. We will meet the last Sunday of the month to learn and enjoy golf, and social time before or after events.

Contact: Lee Christman (leechristman1@gmail.com), Brad Beltz (bbeltz11@msn.com), and Mark Gerberich (mwgerberich@aol.com)

Children's Bulletins are available on the tables in the back of the sanctuary for kids ages 3+ and 7+.

Sunday School Classrooms:

Sunday school is every Sunday at 11 am. We are excited to learn and grow in our faith.



Nursery (Rm 112): under age 3

Rainbow Room (Rm 106): Preschool & Kindergarten

Harmony Harbor (Rm 104): Grades 1-5

Happy Easter! There will be no youth group this Sunday. We will celebrate Easter all together at 10am. We will resume our normal schedule next Sunday April 27th.

We are currently looking for volunteers to help with our youth and children's ministries. We are looking for both regular (weekly or monthly) volunteers as well as people who are willing to help on a not so regular basis (one time events). It is crucial to have adult leaders in order to have quality events for our kids and youth. If you are interested please fill out the interest form which can be found at this link: https://forms.gle/C5iyTqCXEr9MN2ZN8

We will continue our learning in April with a very e“X”citing “X” week! X-rays, xylophones and “X” marks the Spot Treasure Hunt will find us very e“X”husted. Our snacks will include X & O cookies, X-Marks the Spot muffins, X-Mas jello and CheX MiX. Our Chapel Lesson with Ms. Sharon on Wednesday will find us At the Empty Tomb learning about the miracle of Easter. Friday we will celebrate Earth Day with some very special friends that the children invited. We will sing some songs, play Bingo, win prizes, eat a fun snack and dance some silly dances together, and raise some money to help sponsor the African Lion at the Akron Zoo. What a blessing it is to have the children invite a family member to their preschool to experience the love they feel everyday.

April Mission

We will be collecting money donations this month in Honor of Earth Day. This year we have voted to help sponsor the African lion residing at the Akron Zoo! Last Year we raised $180 for their Humboldt Penguin There is a marked jar in the Gathering Area if you wish to add to our mission.

Registration for our 2025/2026 school year has begun!

Please help us advertise our preschool by taking a flyer to your place of employment, Mother’s Group, or to your neighborhood friends with children. Don’t forget to LIKE us on Facebook to help spread the word.

April Preschool Newsletter (click here)

April Snack and Activity Calendar (click here)

Office Hours:

Monday - Friday

9 am - 2 pm

565 N. Cleveland-Massillon Road, Akron, OH 44333

(330)665-9817

www.mzumc.org