November Mission Challenge

For the month of November, we will be collecting boxes of cereal for OPEN M. We have a goal this year of 200 boxes! Donations can be dropped off at the table in the Gathering Area or in the bin outside the main doors.

Permanent Endowment

The Permanent Endowment Committee is now accepting applications from non-profit organizations. Applications are due into the church office by November 12th and can be found here.

Memorial Bricks

We will once again be placing an order for memorial bricks to be installed in our Memory Garden. Celebrate the life of a cherished loved one with these engraved bricks. The cost is $30 per brick. Please return the order form (printed copies available at the Welcome Center) as well as payment no later then November 12th. Contact Gary Pennington with any questions.

Women's Luncheon

Our next luncheon will be at noon on Wednesday, December 11, at the Fairlawn Hilton. Bev has everything arranged for us. We will be in a separate room and can pay individually.  We need reservations earlier than usual this time.  Please give Nancy or Bev your reservation by the end of the day on Wednesday, December 4.  You can call or text Nancy at (330)814-4081. You can also call or text Bev at (330)696-1183.

Greeters



We are looking for those who enjoy saying hello and helping direct visitors with basic questions about our church like, “Where are the restrooms?” and “Where is the sanctuary?”. We will need people at both the main door and the side entrance who are willing to be at church 15 minutes before the service starts and remain there 5 minutes after the service begins so all 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, our Office Administrator, you can do so in the church office during the week!

Acme Community CashBack

The Acme Community CashBack program has begun! Please save any receipts dated after August 1, 2024 and put them in the collection bin by the welcome center. Last year we earned $297.42 for the church!

District Newsletter: November 1 "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 330-714-6303

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, 7-9 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-Next meeting 11/17

Families, couples, kids, and kids at heart are invited to gather for fun and fellowship together. We will meet next on November 17th at noon in FFC and then December 15th at noon in FFC.

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—Monday, October 28th at 7 pm

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 starting back up September 10th 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

Fishes & Loaves (Rm 131): Grades 1-3

Harmony Harbor (Rm 104): Grades 4-5

Check out the Children's Ministry Website for updates here

This week we are continuing on in our new series "Take a Bow," which looks at the tension between living a life of humility and confidence at the same time. This week we will talk about how following Jesus is the only way we can find real rest. Students are constantly comparing themselves to those around them and to the social standards they believe are expected of them. We will talk about how to give these stressors and burdens to Christ in concrete ways and draw closer to Christ. We will focus on Matthew 11:28-29. 

Christmas Activity Guide

As we inch closer to Christmas we all know how busy the holiday season becomes. This year I'm hoping that we can all find sometime in our busy lives to prioritize our faith. Teens especially are at a stage in their faith development where they are deciding what they believe and how that belief is going to live out in their own lives as they grow toward adulthood. With this in mind we are hoping that the following Advent devotional can help your family put Christ at the center of the holiday season. If you click here you will be taken to an Advent devotional that goes through the different names for Jesus in the scriptures. This is geared towards students ages 8-18 but can be adapted to any age. This isn't meant to be another "to-do" on your already busy schedules but a way to focus and enhance the season of celebration. If you would like a printed copy of the devotional either sign up on the sheet at the Welcome Table or email Jen at mzumcstudent@gmail.com and she will get one to you. 

This week the children will be introduced to the letter “H” with many unique and creative learning activities which will include hammers, a hungry hippo, and some “Horsing” around a hen house! We will count hearts, sequence hamburger patterns, and find some hens, hats, and hotdogs buried in some hay. We will all join in on a “silly hat” parade on Wednesday and begin to craft our special “Thankful Turkey” we will be bringing to our Pen Pals at Heritage Crossing Retirement Center. Our Chapel lesson will have a learning another Fruit of the Spirit: Happy!! (I mean JOY of course) Hooray for letter “H”!

November Snack and Activity Calendar (click here)

November Preschool Newsletter (click here)

Office Hours:

Monday - Friday

9 am - 2 pm

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

(330)665-9817

www.mzumc.org