October Mission Challenge

For the month of October, we will be collecting items to fill our College Care Packages. Please see the display in the Gathering Area for items needed and return no later than November 2.

Pastor Appreciation Month

October is Pastor Appreciation Month so please pray for Pastor Bill and Jen throughout the month. We will be recognizing Pastor Bill and Jen on Sunday, October 19th if you would like to show appreciation of them through handwritten letters, emails, gift cards, or other practical gifts. We will also have frames for you to sign before/after the service this week and next week. We are blessed to have their leadership for our church!

- Staff Parish Relations Committee

College Care Packages

Calling all college students and parents of college students! We would love to show our college students that their church family is still here for them even if they are away at college or in the military. Young adulthood can often be a time of great change and transition and so it is important for those in that stage of life to know that their church family is supporting and uplifting them.

If you have a student that is either in college or the military, please email the office or Jen with their name, mailing address, and a picture of them by October 12th.

Christmas Musical

This will be our 10th year of doing a Christmas Musical with these amazing kids! We have yet to decide on which musical we will do this year. It will depend on how many kids will be participating. Bethany has information sheets available with the practice schedule included. Our first listen-through/practice will be NEXT Sunday, October 12 from 11am-noon in the Youth Room with performances on Sunday, December 7. Please let Bethany know ASAP if your child will or will not be participating so we can choose the program that best fits our numbers.

Update from SPRC

We have hired Noah Liming as our church custodian and appreciate the work he is doing to maintain the building and keep it clean.

Note from the Trustees

If you were assigned a church key while serving on a church committee and are no longer serving, we are asking for you to return your church key. Please return these to Katie in the office ASAP. Thank you!

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 $297.42 for the church!

Greeters - New Dates Added!



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!

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.

District Newsletter: October 3, 2025 "Northern Waters News"

OPEN M Newsletter: Summer 2025

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 - Next meeting TBD

Our next event will be October 4th at Kingsway Farm. We have a party room reserved at 4 pm and you are welcome to come at any time during the day. Admission is $12/person with kids 3 and under free.

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):

Golf Club—Next meeting TBD

This will be a social golf group, providing an outlet to those interested no matter ability. Our next outing will be July 13th at 3 pm at Firestone Public for 9 holes of golfing.

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+.

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 Care: under age 3 - during Worship services in Nursery (Rm 103)

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

Sunday School for Grades PreK-Kindergarten: 11am-noon in Harmony Harbor (Rm 104)

Sunday School for Grades 1st-3rd: 11am-noon in Rainbow Room A (Rm 106)

Sunday School for Grades 4th-5th: 11am-noon in Rainbow Room B (Rm 107)

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.

Copley/Revere Tailgate – Help Needed!

Date: Friday, October 24

Time: Starting around 5:30 PM

Location: Revere Stadium Parking Lot

We’re excited to host another tailgate before the Copley vs. Revere football game! This was a fantastic event last year, and we’d love to make it just as special again.

We need volunteers to help with:

• Getting permission from the school and securing a tailgate spot
• Setting up and decorating
• Food planning and preparation

If you can help in any way, please reach out to Jen.

Project Feed – Meal Packing Event

Date: Sunday, November 16

Location: Kent UMC

Cost: $10 per person

We’ll be joining Project Feed again this year to pack meals for people around the world facing food scarcity due to famine and other causes.

This event sold out last year, so if your student would like to participate, please let Jen know by Oct. 19 so we can register in time.

This is a great opportunity for students to:

• Learn about global hunger
• Make a tangible difference in the lives of others

Youth Group

Tonight We will be discussing the second half of the book of Exodus. We will look at what it means to make a covenant, Israel's wilderness rebellion and while the book of Exodus starts with Pharaoh as the story's enemy, in the end, God's people are their own worst enemy. See you at 6pm

Sunday School – This Week’s Focus

This Sunday, we’ll explore:

How sin entered the big-picture story of Scripture.

The roles that Adam and Jesus play in the narrative of God’s mission to redeem the effects of sin.

Thank you for supporting and encouraging our youth ministry!

If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please reach out to Jen.

We will DOUBLE DOWN with letter "D" again this week in preschool! We will continue in our centers with dinosaurs, ducks, dice and dolphins. Our snacks will include dirt cups, dino chow and dog bone graham crackers. Wednesday morning we will be celebrating our preschool dads with a special "DONUTS WITH DAD" breakfast. Each dad will receive a special gift made by their child. On Friday, the preschool children will get a visit from Miss Heather and her dog Ginny. We will learn all about proper safety around dogs, and she will share a few tips on how to make our furry friends happy. We are incorporating our love for dogs into our October mission project by collecting gently used towels, blankets and flat sheets to be given to "One Of A Kind Pets Rescue". We would also love for the congregation to add to our donations! This week was extra special because we delivered our "Star Student" posters and treats to our pen pals at Copley Place. We look forward to a fun school year with our new friendships!

We still have openings in our classes if you know of any family that is interested in a morning preschool, with the option of lunch bunch until 1:00pm.

October Snack & 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