October 19, 2025 Newsletter/Bulletin

Our Vision: "To Humbly Serve God through Loving and Caring for Others"

Sunday, October 19, 2025

Sunday Worship

MZUMC YouTube Page

10:00 am

Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:2

Matthew 15:14-30

John 14:1-3

Children's Worship Bulletin 3+

Children's Worship Bulletin 7+

Prayer Concerns

Have you ever felt like you are alone in your walk of life? Life’s responsibilities are many. Some days hopefully are easy ones that feel like a skip in the park. Yet if we are living the lives God has called us into, we should face challenges. We aren’t created to be do nothing people. And the more we do nothing with each day only choosing what is easiest, we begin to deteriorate from the people we used to know ourselves to be. I have often wanted every day to feel like a skip in the park until I realize those easy days don’t help me reach the potential God has placed in my life.

And so don’t be afraid to challenge yourself. My brother Michael for instance made it his mission of being able to walk a quarter mile. Walking at all for him had become a burden. But I give him all the credit in the world because every morning, he pushed himself a little more. Now several months later, a quarter mile is no longer his goal. He has long surpassed that goal and has set new horizons of fitness.

The same thing needs to happen in our spiritual lives. And with courage we step into faith knowing full well, when we go in Christ’s name, we never go alone. I grew up with a little plaque my parents had given me. I kept the plaque through all the moves in my life to Atlanta and back and now around Ohio. And it now sits on my office bookshelf. It says: To be able to lead others, a man must be willing to go forward alone.

At the end of the book of Matthew, Jesus reminds us of this important fact. “I will go with you to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28: 20. When we step forward in faith, it can feel like a lonely path we take. But remember, when go in Christ’s name, we never go alone. I have often wondered how I might be able to make sure I am headed in the right direction. GPS is great but as for me, I have never had any heavenly guided directions for some of the biggest challenges I have faced. I wish I had God’s big booming voice to tell me to turn right or left but so far life hasn’t been that way.

The devotion my sister Mary Beth sent me this morning helps to set some of those boundaries so we might better know if we have strayed off course and into our own future messes. It says this, that as we go seemingly alone in faith (we know we aren’t alone) we can fall off the path in two ways. If we step off in one direction, we can find ourselves mired down in the swamp of self-pity. We all get tired but if we find ourselves in the pattern of despair, then we have fallen off course. Friends, even if our road is a dark one and we have all travelled those, Christ goes with us to light the way. Do not despair. The opposite mistake is to stray off course teetering on the cliff edge of pride and ego. If things are going well, we can all be tempted to believe it is all because of our own valiant efforts. Yet pride truly is a dangerous cliff to dance on. And it has almost always led me to a fall. I don’t like to despair and I know the dangers of pride and so when I feel either one, they become course correctors to guide me back to the path of faith that I walk securely with Christ. I hope this is helpful and that you can apply it to your own faith walk. Don’t run from the challenges. We are made to overcome the challenges and remember we never truly walk alone. Thanks for reading and I hope to see you soon!

Bill

Prayer Concerns

Bensen Family

Brummett Family

Collins Family

Kaye Davis

Richard Grant

Liming Family

Nancy Peltier

*Please call the church with any prayer requests or pastoral care needs

News and Opportunities to Serve

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

All Saints Day

On Sunday, November 2nd we will celebrate All Saints Sunday. It is a time to remember and give thanks for our family who have passed away in this last year.

We are asking that you share photographs so that we can use their pictures in our worship service as we call their name and ring a bell in their honor and memory.

Please get pictures and information in to Katie in our church office no later than Monday, October 26th.

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.

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 10, 2025 "Northern Waters News"

OPEN M Newsletter: Summer 2025

Adult Class Opportunities

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 Ministry

Contact: Bethany Saris mzumcchildren@gmail.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.

Student Ministry

Contact: Jennifer Dyer mzumcstudent@gmail.com

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

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

Preschool

Contact: Nicole Korach nicolekorach@gmail.com

All about letter "E" is the focus for the children this week. Extra special snacks this week will include Eggo's, edamame, our famous Green Eggs and Ham, and Ames will be sharing his birthday treat with us on Friday! Our centers will include matching uppercase and lowercase letters that are written on eyeballs, making magic "E's" on eggs, and a super fun elephant game!

We are still collecting gently used blankets, towels and flat sheets for "One of a Kind" dog rescue. In chapel this week we will be participating in hands-on activities centered around "Jonah and the Whale." This past week, Pastor Bill's chapel lesson was about how each of us has special talents given to us by God, and how we can share our talents with others. We sure do love our preschool!

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)

Music Ministry

Contact: Joe Leaman joeleaman@me.com

Check back for future rehearsal dates.

Anyone who is interested in providing Special Music during the special music time on Sunday mornings, please contact Music Director, Joe Leaman via email: joeleaman@me.com.