September Mission Challenge

For the month of September, we are collecting money to help provide warm winter items for our neighbors at South Street Ministries. Our goal is to collect $1500! Money can be put in offering plates with "Monthly Mission" in the memo line or by clicking here.

Back to School Sunday/Blessing of the Backpacks

This Sunday we are back! Sunday School classes for all ages start back up this Sunday, August 30th. We will also be having a Blessing of the Backpacks during worship for all students and teachers! Bring your backpack/laptop bag to worship to be prayed over for a great year!

In the evening from 5pm-7pm we will kick off the year with a bonfire for all families of youth and children and friends! Hot dogs and marshmallows will be provided for roasting and each family is asked to bring a dessert or side dish to share.

Leadership Training Opportunities

We have two training opportunities open all church members taking place here at Montrose Zion UMC. These classes are offered and taught through the Northern Water’s District by lay servant trainers. Each class is taught on two Saturday’s.

The first class discusses what are our Social Principle Beliefs are within the United Methodist denomination. The course will cover our beliefs related to our environment (creation), economic principles (money and justice), social community (nurturing community) along with other social issues and finally the political community. We also discuss our UMC Social Creed.

The Social Principles classes will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026, and Saturday, October 3, 2026, starting at 8:30 AM until 3:30 PM. We provide snacks and a light breakfast type foods along with drinks. You would need to bring your lunch. The cost is $35.00 to cover the book plus other materials needed for the class.

The second class is Finding Your Spiritual Gifts. This class discusses the various spiritual gifts each of us are given through the Holy Spirit. How we can identify them and use them? It’s a great way to discover your spiritual gifts and learn some ways to use them within our church. This class will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, and Saturday, October 17, 2026, starting at 8:30 AM until 3:30 PM. We provide snacks and a light breakfast type foods along with drinks. You would need to bring your lunch. The cost is $35.00 to cover the book plus other materials needed for the class.

Each class has something to offer everyone. So if you’re looking to learn more about the where the United Methodist Church stands on social issues and how they are scripturally based or you want to find out what spiritual gifts you have and how you could use them, please consider joining one of these training sessions.

Click here to complete the registration document. If you have any questions, please contact Debbie Breyley at dabreyley@aol.com or (330)606-6840.

Council on Ministries

Our next COM Meeting will be on Wednesday, September 2nd at 6:30 pm. We will meet in Rooms 6 & 8 downstairs.

Women's Luncheon

Our next luncheon will be at noon on Wednesday, October 14, at Red Lobster in Montrose.  Red Lobster wants an earlier head count than we usually have, and we will need your reservation by the end of the day on Monday, October 5. You can call or text Nancy at (330)814-4081. You can also call or text Bev at (330)696-1183.

Acme Community CashBack Has Begun

The Acme Community CashBack program has begun! Please save any receipts dated after August 1, 2025 and put them in the collection bin by the welcome center. Last year we earned approx. $235 for the church!

Counters Needed

We are in need of volunteers to help count the Sunday giving after services. Please contact Beth Gerberich if you are interested and able to help!

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: August 28, 2026 "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 11:15, starting back Aug 30th

We will start up again on Aug 30th at 11:15 downstairs in room 3/5/7 and will trial a new curriculum called Faithelement for the first few weeks of class and the decide if we want to switch to Faithelement, or go back to Wired Word. Home 2020 - Faithelement is an online Bible study curriculum that is group oriented and offers multiple options of ways to discuss the scripture for the week, including a podcast as well as a video, online links, and different options for discussion questions. Our class would love to have others join us for a time of discussion and fellowship, so please come if you are interested.

Contact: Samantha Gunkelman samevin@yahoo.com

Pickleball Group—Tuesdays, 6-8 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

Women’s Bible and Book Study—On Summer Break - return date TBD

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: 

Eat, Pray, Play - August 30

Families, couples, kids and kids are heart are invited to gather for times of fun together. Our next event will be August 30th from 5-7 pm, combined with the youth for a back to school cookout. More details to come.

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: Debby Breyley dabreyley@aol.com

Bible and Beer Men’s Fellowship - Last Monday of the month at 6:30 pm

We gather the last Monday night of each month beginning in September from 6:30-8:30 PM at a rotation of houses. We wrestle with issues of life and faith. Bring your favorite beverage. Snacks provided.  

Contact: Matt Cern matthew.cern@gmail.com  

Other Groups (meeting frequency varies):

Golf Club— Next outing TBD

This will be a social golf group, providing an outlet to those interested no matter ability. We will get together next on Sunday, May 17th at 2:30 pm for a friendly round of fold followed by snacks and spirits. Contact Lee or Mark to RSVP.

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+. 

Busy Bags are also available for any child to borrow - please return the bags after the worship service.

Children’s Church

If you have a child who is at least 3 years old up through those who are in or have just completed 3rd grade, please feel free to have them join us during the worship service for Children’s Church.

Sunday School

Sunday School classes are available for all our school-aged children. These classes are offered at 11am after the worship service and are split into 3 different grade levels. See the breakdown below for more information.

Nursery: available during Worship service in Cry Room at rear of Sanctuary - all are invited to use this space with your child while still participating in our worship service via the window and live sound feed

Children’s Church: ages 3 through 3rd Grade - during Worship in Rainbow Room A (Rm 106)

Sunday School for Grades PreK-Kindergarten: 11am-noon in Let the Children Come (Rm 103)

Sunday School for Grades 1st-3rd: 11am-noon in Rainbow Room B (Rm 107)

Sunday School for Grades 4th-5th: 11am-noon in Harmony Harbor (Rm 104)

Interested in volunteering for our Children’s Church or Sunday School programs? 

We would love to have you! Adult and Youth volunteers are crucial to our programs and we will assist you with anything you need to know prior to volunteering. Please reach out to Bethany to volunteer.

This Sunday we are back! There will be youth Sunday school at 10am. In the evening from 5pm-7pm we will kick off the year with a bonfire for all families of youth and children and friends! Hot dogs and marshmallows will be provided for roasting and each family is asked to bring a dessert or side dish to share. 

9/6 - We will have our first youth group meeting from 6-7:30pm. All students grades 6-12 are invited. We will have a lesson all together and then middle school and high school will split for discussion. 

9/13 - Jurassic Park Night! - We will start at 5pm, make "jurassic" with mashed potatoes and dino-nuggets and then watch Jurassic Park. We should be wrapped up by 7:30

9/18 - Tailgating at Copley Stadium @ 5:30. All Copley and Revere families are welcome to join in the fun

NOW ENROLLING FOR THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR

CLASSES FOR AGES 3-5

Give your child a joyful start to learning in a loving, nurturing, Christian environment!

● Curriculum Based Hands-on Learning

● Creative Play

● Music, Movement and Fun

● Christian Values

● Social Skills and Friendship Building

● Kindergarten Readiness

Now offering a half-day or extended day options!

● Half day option: 9:00-11:30 am (lunch bunch is optional)

● Extended day option: 9:00-2:00pm (This includes our normal class time from 9:00-11:30 am, lunch bunch from 11:30-1:00 pm and our exciting new “Learning Lab” from 1:00-2:00pm)

For more information you may email Nicole or you may call (330) 665-9817 Ext. 205 Schedule a tour today! We’d love to meet your family! 

Summer Office Hours:

Monday - Friday

9 am - 2 pm

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

(330)665-9817

www.mzumc.org