Sunday Worship

September 18

"Intersection of Faith and Politics"

Preacher: Rev. Jake Heskett 

Scripture: Amos 5:6-7, John 18:33-38

In-Person: 8:30 Traditional, 10:30 Modern

Livestream Link for 8:30am 

Livestream Link for 10:30am

Watch via Facebook Live

• Traditional Worship Bulletin
• Modern Worship Bulletin
• Children's Interactive Worship Bulletin
• Worship Engagement and Devotion
• Sunday School Home Activities
• Prayer List: Sept. 15
• Digital Labyrinth
• Tithes & Offerings

Three Baptisms This Sunday

Please Sign Baptismal Certificates

Piper de Fays

Elizabeth McMannis

Walter Slivka

A Letter for You to Pick Up

In an effort to be good stewards, we encourage you to help us save on postage by picking up your letter this Sunday.  Congregational letters will be on a table in the Gathering Area in alphabetical order.  Letters not picked up will be mailed on Tuesday.

Does your politics inform your faith?

Yes, No, Other

Share your answer here

Find out the results of the survey in worship tomorrow (September 18)

Sunday School Opportunities

• Sunday School activities for all ages 9:30-10:30am, in the Gathering Area & Chapel. Stay as long as you would like after first service or come early to second service.
• Nursery Care and Preschool Sunday School (up to age 5), during both worship services in Room 18.
• Adult Sunday School opportunities can be found on the church calendar and website.

Worship at Crystal Park UMC:

Traditional Worship at 11 a.m. | 2219 Mahoning Rd NE, Canton, 44705

September 18 - Day of Singing

Hymn sing and sharing of stories about the hymns.

Library Book Giveaway

Sept 20 - Oct 3

Gently loved books available for donations to support new library resources.

Have books that you’d like to donate? You are welcome to add your books to the book tables beginning Sept 20 

Churchwide Visioning Summit

Saturday, October 15, 8:45 am - 12:00 pm

In the Family Life Center

All are encouraged to participate and to be prayerfully engaged in this important event as we discern God's vision for Faith United in the next 5 to 10 years.  Some of the many goals for consideration include: 

• Upgrading our 40+ year old organ
• Remodeling the basement
• Equipping the Family Life Center with live-streaming capability allowing its use for modern worship
• Expanding the church building increasing our ministry capacity
• Many creative ideas for reaching new people, younger people, and a more diverse people with the good news of Jesus.  

Trunk or Treat

October 30, 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm

In the church parking lot

Mark Your Calendars for Sunday, October 30 for Trunk or Treat at Faith United! Let's bless our church neighborhood! Contact Rebekah Heskett or Kathy Schmucker if you would like to decorate your trunk and/or pass out treats.

We are also looking for donations of mums, cornstalks, hay, pumpkins to decorate.

Items can be donated or borrowed.

Wednesday Night Dinner Worship is Back!

An evening of fun, food, faith and fellowship resumes Wednesdays 5:45-6:30pm!

Leave the cooking to us and enjoy a great meal and mid-week worship!

Groups for adults, youth and kids follow worship. Childcare where little ones learn about God is available during adult groups on Wednesday evenings.

Prayerfully consider how you can be involved on Wednesday Nights! Many of these could be once a month or once a quarter. 

• Good at organizing? Serve as a Wednesday Dinner coordinator to help coordinate meal planning.
• Love to cook? Share your culinary skills by cooking a meal, or a side dish or dessert.
• Coordinate with a local restaurant to provide a meal.
• Help bake prepared meals. Ingredients and supplies can be reimbursed from Spiritual Formation budget.
• Want to showcase your ministry team or group? Provide a meal, side dish and/or dessert and you and your group will be highlighted during Wednesday Dinner Worship to help others learn about your ministry and get involved.
• Assist with Little Wonders Childcare, Wednesday Wonder Elementary Kids, and Wednesday Youth.
• Coordinate a program for adults

Adult Connect Groups

Get connected at Faith United, Fall groups are now forming! Contact Kathy Schmucker for information on starting, or participating in, an adult group.

• Not In It To Win It, Men's Life Study, 8am, Sept 24, Kim Reynolds, Beyesly's
• The Vanishing Conscience, 9:45-10:45am, Sundays, Bob Snyder
• Called - Tuesday Women's Group, 6:30pm, Sue Bell & Sue Schillings, Parlor
• The Book of Luke - Monday Bible study, 6:30pm, Ron Luikart
• The Chosen - Wednesday Women's Group, 9am, Linda Reynolds
• Faith 101 - Wednesdays, 6:30pm, Parlor/Zoom
• Bible Year Monthly Discussion and Reflection, 6:30pm, Sept. 25, Zoom
• Book Discussion Group - Wish You Were Here, 7pm, Sept 29, Jan Baker
• Common Ground - Mom's Group, 9:45-10:25am, Sundays, Rebekah Heskett and Bethany Sedziol, Nursery
• Prayer Shawl Ministry, Thursdays, 1:00pm, Mike Flechtner, Parlor
• Theology for Our Times, Fridays, 1:00pm, Tom Strauch, Zoom
• Sewing for Missions, 6:30pm, Sept 21, Sue Bell
• After Dinner Table Talk, Wednesdays at 6:30pm
• Second Wind, Tuesday, October 11 at 1:00pm, Joanne Fox, Coordinator
• Treasure - Thursdays at 7:00pm beginning October 6, Zoom, Michael and Elise Krigline
• Treasure - Fridays at 10:30am beginning October 7, Conference Room or Zoom, Pastor Steve.

Click here or scan for more details about all the group opportunities and programs happening at Faith United. 

Faith and Environment Weekly

How can a church reach environmental sustainability?

It becomes a way of life, but it starts small.

The church – our church – can achieve environmental sustainability once the congregation buys into that goal. It’s mostly focused on overlooked things that we use or do consistently – from how the church is heated to the content of sermons to the products purchased for events.

Being a green church becomes a habit, but to get there takes organization, a committed leader, and engaged team members who notice how we do things, and question how to do them better. For instance:

• Where does our electricity come from? Are there opportunities for us to buy renewable energy, as a congregation and as individuals? If not, how can we as a church work to make those available?
• What is the church doing with our trash? Are there ways to reduce our trash and increase our recycling and composting?
• What about transportation to church?

And then we connect our small issues to the global ones:

• How are we advocating for environmental stewardship in our community, state, nation, and world?
• What justice issues do we need to tap into?
• Climate change is already affecting people, leading some to seek refugee status and asylum in other countries—what are we doing to support them?
• How do we help people in other communities have access to clean water?

The takeaway – Think about Faith United starting down the path of environmental sustainability  

For more information:  Christian Century Article

The views of this, and other F&E articles, do not necessarily reflect the views of the congregation, nor every member of the F&E group.

Edited by Tom Strauch on behalf of the Faith & Environment Ministry Group. Text your comments to Tom Strauch at 330 283-9883

We invite you to continue to share your ideas in person, on the whiteboard, or electronically via google form.

As you consider God's vision for our church, we invite you to keep God's mission for the Church in mind: to be, make, and mature disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Consider, "How can we reach new, younger, and more diverse people?" We also recommend reading “God’s Mixed Ecology” – a 13-page article to help us think in new ways with visioning. 

Sunday School activities are in the Gathering Area and Chapel weekly between worship services.

Celebrate Wonder home activities are available in the weekly worship emails for Nursery-5th Grade. Pick 1-2 activities to do and learn and wonder about God together. View each week's Bible story and music videos on Amplify Media which has special videos for kids! Follow these steps to register or contact Kathy Schmucker.

Wednesday Wonder Kids

Grades K-5 gather from 6:30-7:30pm following dinner and worship to learn about faith through games, Bible stories, activities, service and mission projects and worship experiences!

Little Wonders, up to age 5, learn about God in a loving, caring environment. Contacts: Kathy Schmucker, Kristin Krach, Bethany Sedziol, Rebekah Heskett. 

Sing-along choir for preschool and elementary students begins September 21 at 5:00pm. Contact Sandy Wallace (pianoplayer@sandywallace.us) for details.

Faith United welcomes children of all ages in worship. Our worship experience is enriched as we gather together to experience and praise God.

• Worship Kits and worship manipulatives are available to guide children as they pray and learn about God
• Family Prayer Ground at the front of the sanctuary for families to have a comfortable, close-up view of worship.
• Rocking chairs in the Narthex and Family Prayer Ground.
• Nursery care/Preschool Sunday School (birth-age 5) during worship (room 18)

2022-2023 Children/Youth Emergency and Permission Form.

For the safety of our children and youth, our Safe Sanctuary Policy asks that parents/guardians complete an emergency form for children (birth through high school graduation) participating in church activities each year. Designate the activities your child has permission to participate in so you only need to complete one form for the year.

Fall Ministries Volunteers

Let’s show families that kids matter at Faith United!

Check out all the opportunities to serve. Prayerfully consider how God is calling you to make a difference by helping make our children’s ministries a great experience for kids and families in our congregation and community!

• Sunday School teachers and helpers (Sunday A.M.)
• Wednesday Wonder Kids (Wednesday P.M.)
• Wednesday Night Faith Connections meal team
• Nursery and Childcare (Sunday A.M. and Wednesday P.M.)
• Adult Group Facilitators and Coordinators
• Library Story Time with FFLC Students

Kids need our church. Kids need Jesus! Kids need You!

For more information contact Kathy Schmucker or Sandy Vaughn.

2022-2023 Children/Youth Emergency and Permission Form.

For the safety of our children and youth, our Safe Sanctuary Policy asks that parents/guardians complete an emergency form for children (birth through high school graduation) participating in church activities each year. Designate the activities your child has permission to participate in so you only need to complete one form for the year.

Contact Matt Kluchar for other Middle/High School youth events and details.

Coffee and Donuts Team

Back in the days before the pandemic, we used to have donuts and coffee and other goodies in the Gathering Area on Sunday mornings for fellowship.  

Mike Flechtner has offered to bring donuts if someone else will make the coffee!  We'd also like someone to consider some healthier gluten free options too!  Is God calling you to help?  

If you are interested in helping or want more information, please contact the church office.

Faith United is searching for Part-Time Child Care Providers - flexible hours on an as- needed basis. For more information and an application email kschmucker@faithumchurch.org 

or visit our website. 

Faith Friends Learning Center has two part-time teaching assistant positions available. 

Email Grace Berry at: gberry@faithumchurch.org

Stop in the library for your Fall reading. 

Come in and check out some of the the new books and resources we have available in the library to nurture your spiritual journey!

• Visit the Library Webpage -Click the link to open the online system.
• Or Download the app, Librista, on your mobile device.
• Email the library if you need help getting set up.

Type a topic in the search bar to see available resources.

News from Paraguay

Because there is no postal service in Paraguay, our communication comes sporadically, when someone hand-delivers mail to the ministry office in Tennessee. The current school year began in February at New Horizon School, but we just received our first correspondence.

 Students are now in the second semester, having just returned from their winter break. From the student letters as well as ministry reports, the students are doing well. Many students, however, do have deficits in learning because they had no access to the online lessons provided during the COVID shutdown. To solve this problem, the school established a tutoring program, funded with monetary gifts from a variety of sources. 

When mothers came to pick their children up from the tutoring session, they often shared their needs and the hard situations in their family. The school began two discipleship classes for the mothers. These classes are staffed by volunteers, including some psychology students. The school continues to provide excellent education experiences while they help child and adults grow closer to Christ.

We will be collecting money for the 2023 school year until the end of January. You may give by check, with Pennies for Paraguay on the memo line. There are also collection buckets in the gathering area and in the east hallway. Thank you for contributing to this ministry for 21 years!

Sunday, September 18

8:30am-9:30am Traditional Worship - Live Stream (Sanctuary)

8:30am-9:30am Nursery Care & Preschool Sunday School (Room 18)

9:30am-10:30am Sunday School Activities (Gathering Area & Chapel)

9:45am-10:25am Confirmation Class (Robinson Hall)

9:45am-10:45am Mom's Group (Nursery Room 18)

9:45am-10:45am The Vanishing Conscience (Conference Room)

10:30am-11:30am Modern Worship - Live Stream (Sanctuary)

10:30am-11:30am Nursery Care & Preschool Sunday School (Room 18)

12:30pm-2:30pm Visioning Team (Robinson Hall)

6:30pm-8pm Celebrate Arts Chorus for a Cause (Sanctuary)

Monday, September 19

2:30pm-3:30pm Men's Emmaus Accountability Group (Zoom)

6:30pm-8pm Book of Luke Study (Parlor)

September 20 - October 3 Library Book Giveaway (Gathering Area)

Tuesday, September 20

9am-11am FFLC Library Time (Chapel)

2:30pm-3:30pm Women's Emmaus Accountability (Zoom)

6:30pm-8pm "Called" Women's Study (Parlor)

6:30pm-7:30pm Finance Ministry Team (Conference Room/Zoom)

7pm-9pm Boy Scouts (Robinson Hall or Pavilion)

Wednesday, September 21

9am-11am "Chosen" Study (Parlor/Zoom)

5pm-5:45pm Sing Along Kids Choir (Room 8)

5:45pm-6:30pm Wednesday Dinner Worship (Robinson Hall)

6:30pm-7:30pm Faith 101 (Parlor/Zoom)

6:30pm-7:30pm Little Wonders Child Care (Nursery)

6:30pm-7:30pm Wonder Kids (Chapel/Room 6)

6:30pm - 7:30pm After Dinner Table Talk

6:30pm-7:30pm Sewing for Missions (Robinson Hall)

6:30pm-8:30pm Calling Team Meeting (Room 8)

7:30pm-8:30pm Chancel Choir (Sanctuary)

Thursday, September 22

1pm-2:30pm Prayer Shawl Ministry (Parlor)

6:30pm-8pm Stephen Ministry Team (Room16) 

Friday, September 23

1pm-2pm Theology for Our Times (Zoom)

Saturday, September 24

8am-9am Men's Life Study at Beyesly's

10am-12pm Faith Kitchen at Crystal Park

Calendar Snapshot - View more at myfaithunited.org/calendar