September 14, 2025 Newsletter/Bulletin

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

Sunday, September 14, 2025

Sunday Worship

MZUMC YouTube Page

10:00 am

Jeremiah 18:1-11

Luke 14:25-33

Children's Worship Bulletin 3+

Children's Worship Bulletin 7+

Spending Time in Devotion

Trading Weakness for Strength

What are the places in which you are your weakest? I was reading a morning devotional two days ago about our strength and weakness. In what places do you feel most strong? I got into a fight when I was 14 with a close friend at the time. Our lives went in very different directions from that point forward. I was pretty well beat up after the fight. I remember coming home and my grandfather Stephen Hering was at our home. He couldn’t hear well and he stood hunched over having aged well into his 80’s. His body was failing him and but a fire inside of him burst forth. And that back that was bent stretched upwards and he looked so strong. I am not sure he even knew exactly what was going on. He didn’t need to understand everything. He understood one thing: I was hurt. When he looked at me all bruised and swollen, his first instinct was to wade into the fight. My grandfather was never a violent man. I never saw him that way but when someone he loved was hurt, he didn’t hesitate to stand up for them. There was a strength and love inside of him that didn’t just come from him. And that love had no fear. It was not in him cause harm but rather to protect those he held dear.

I know that part of him lives inside of me and my son Noah. One of my favorite musical artists is a guy named Tim Armstrong. And one of his lyrics says this:

“Back down? Never, to no one.

Understand exactly where I come from.

Take me into the action.”

I have observed my son Noah who has this very same instinct for better or worse. There are things we learn to survive which make things like fear a none factor. A good friend of mine once said that the only person he fears in this life is our Savior Jesus Christ. I found that an odd statement- not the lack of fear of the world, but rather the fear he has of Christ. I can’t speak for him, but I know this to be true for myself, it is our savior who can do what I will never be able to do alone. Christ is my strength when I have no strength left. As strong as we think we can be, we will always find a place where we fall down. And in that point of weakness, it is Christ alone who is our strength.

The apostle Paul said this in II Corinthians 12: 10, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” And it has made me reflect, that the greatest things we can accomplish in life are not the places where we are fearless or even feel strong. Instead, light shines through our place of weakness. In the places where we have fallen down or are even terrified, it is there in that moment that our greatest strength, God’s strength, emerges through our human weakness.

I have not just observed this. Our family has lived this, not because we wanted to. I mean, who chooses to fall down? But when we do, it is God who rises within us. Our awareness of how fragile we are allows God to shine through us and complete us. In the Bible, a little boy named David takes on and defeats a Philistine giant named Goliath. Moses who has a speech impediment goes and delivers a speech to set an entire nation free from generational slavery. The prophet Isaiah talks about how even young people grow weary and feint but when we call on God, God will renew us and we will mount up on wings like eagles. And when Christ, looked utterly defeated, broken and alone on the cross dying, it was in that moment that God showed his greatest glory overcoming even death itself.

So my point is this: do not hide nor shy away from the places in which we are weak. Instead ask God into those places and trust that strength will come and God’s light will shine through us. Through God, it is in our weakness that we find our greatest strength.

Thanks for reading!

Bill

Prayer Concerns

Bensen Family

Brummett Family

Collins Family

Kaye Davis

Marilyn Gerberich

Richard Grant

Liming Family

Nancy Peltier

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

News and Opportunities to Serve

September Mission Challenge

For the month of September we will be collecting peanut butter for the OPEN M food pantry. Donations can be placed in the bin outside the main doors or at the table in the Gathering Area.

Women's Bible Study

Women's Bible and book study will resume Wednesday September 10th at 10:00 am. We will begin with Max Lucado's in depth look at 40 people in the Bible who walked with God. Contact Margie Cossin for more information.

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!

Women's Luncheon

Our next women's luncheon will be at noon on Wednesday, October 8, at P.F. Chang's. As always, everyone is welcome. Let Nancy know if there is someone who would like to be added to the email list or Bev's phone list. We need your reservations by the end of the day on Monday, October 6. You can email Nancy or call/text her at (330)814-4081. You can also call or text Bev at (330)696-1183.

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: August 29, 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 - September 14th

We will meet after Sunday School on September 14th at noon for lunch in the 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):

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

This week in youth group we are jumping into Genesis, specifically looking at chapters 1-11. We will be looking at creation, humans' role in creation, our mistakes and God's response. We will be meeting Sunday night from 6-7:30pm.

On Sunday morning we will be looking at how all of scripture points to the coming of Christ and how all of scripture, both the Old and New Testament helps us draw closer to Christ.

Acts of Kindness Day

On September 21st we will be joining youth from around the Akron area to participate in an "Act of Kindness Day." We will meet at Westminster Presbyterian at 4pm and do a "scavenger hunt" type activity where we will be challenged to do random acts of kindness. Afterwards we will gather back at Westminster, eat a meal together, and share our experiences. Because we will be driving to various locations I do need to know if your student is planning on attending this event. Please let Jen know by the 17th if they can come so that we can make sure to have enough drivers for the event.

Preschool

Contact: Nicole Korach nicolekorach@gmail.com

We are off and running with "Letter A" this week! We will be tasting different kinds of apples, learning about ants, alligators, animals and their habitats, and exploring the different sizes and weights of acorns. Snacks will include avocado toast, animal crackers, Apple Jack cereal and applesauce.

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.

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.