Worship Sunday

January 1

Wesley Covenant New Years Service

10:00AM

"I Am The Bread Of Life"

Preacher: Rev. Jake Heskett

Scripture: John 6:35

Livestream Link

Watch via Facebook Live

Worship Resources:

• Worship Bulletin
• Children's Interactive Worship Bulletin
• Worship Engagement and Devotion
• Sunday School Home Activities
• Prayer List: Dec 29
• Digital Labyrinth
• Tithes & Offerings

Wednesday Night Dinner Worship

Resumes January 11

Worship at Crystal Park UMC:

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

Preacher: Rev. Paul White

Sermon: Acts of Faith

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-23  

Dear Church,

Thank you for all the wonderful Christmas cards, greetings, treats, and expressions of Christmas joy! 



Pastor Steve, Pastor Jake, and the church staff

NEW Church Office Hours

Effective January 1, 2023

8:30am-4:30pm Monday- Thursday

Closed Friday

The church building will still be open but Staff will work remotely and the office will be closed. 

Join in completing the 2023 Bible Year readings! Finish the year reading the book of Revelation and join us for reflection January 8 at 6:30pm via Zoom!

Day 358 Revelation 1:1-2:29

Day 359 Revelation 3:1-5:14

Day 360 Revelation 6:1-8:5

Day 361 Revelation 8:6-11:19

Day 362 Revelation 12:1-14:20

Day 363 Revelation 15:1-17:18

Day 364 Revelation 18:1-20:15

Day 365 Revelation 21:1-22:21

Anyone interested in participating in the Bible Year 2023, please contact Kathy Schmucker

Visioning Report and Recommendation

The Visioning Team’s Report and Recommendation to the Church Board for the January 10 meeting at 6:30 is now available for all to review. View it electronically here, or hard copies are available at the church in the Gathering Area. The report does not include descriptions of any of the goals. The descriptions are provided in the October 15 Visioning Summit Booklet that has been available since October. It is helpful to have a copy of the Visioning Summit Booklet with you when reading the Visioning Report and Recommendation. 

All are welcome to attend the January 10, 2023 Board meeting at 6:30 in-person or via Zoom. Everyone present is welcome to participate in the conversation. However, only Board members are permitted to vote.

As we begin this new year, let us be prayerful and discerning about the vision that God has for Faith United.

Adult Connect Groups

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

• The Book of Acts, Monday Night Bible Study, 6:30pm, Jan 9, Ron Luikart, Parlor
• Jesus Revealed, Tuesday Women's Group, 6:30pm, starts Jan 10, Sue Bell and Sue Schillings
• Second Wind, Chair Yoga with Michael Curtis, 1:00pm, Jan 10, Joann Fox, Tom & Betsy Douce
• The Lord's Prayer, Wednesday Women's Group, 9am, Jan 11 with Linda Reynolds
• Sewing for Missions, 6:30pm, January 4 & 18, Sue Bell
• After Dinner Table Talk, Wednesdays, 6:30pm, Room 5, resumes Jan 11
• Visio Divina Advent & Christmas Art Study – Explore the art featured in the Advent series as we blend visual meditation with group discussion, insight from the artists, and bible study. Jan 4 at 7pm, Zoom.
• Jesus Revealed, 6:30pm, starts January 4, with Pastor Steve
• Faith 101, Wednesdays, 6:30pm, starts Jan 18
• Prayer Shawl Ministry, Thursdays, 1:00pm, Coordinator: Mike Flechtner, Parlor
• Book Discussion Group, Life is so Good, a book banned at a school named after its author, George Dawson, 7:00pm, January 5, Coordinator Jan Baker
• Theology for Our Times, Fridays, 1:00pm, Tom Strauch, Zoom 
• Resilient, Men's Life Study, 8am, Jan 7 & 21, Beyesly's Restaurant, Jim Skinner
• Common Ground - Mom's Group, 9:45-10:25am, Sundays, Rebekah Heskett and Bethany Sedziol, Nursery
• From Generation to Generation Christmas & Epiphany Art, Sundays 9:30-10:30am, Wednesdays 6:30-7:30pm through January 11. Create ornaments and symbols based on each week's Christmas & Epiphany theme.
• Bible Year Monthly Discussion and Reflection, 6:30pm, January 8, Zoom

Join Sewing for Missions for a Sewing Workshop on Saturday January 7th, 2023 from 9:00 am to 2:00pm in Robinson Hall. We are concentrating on making hats and scarves to be distributed at Faith Kitchen Crystal Park on January 28th. We have fleece fabric so bring your sewing machine and a covered dish to share for lunch.  

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

Explore some great resources for your spiritual journey!

Amplify Media is a video library with 1,000's of videos for adults, youth and kids to view from your phone, tablet, computer, or tv. These resources can be used for individual or group studies, and has a special section just for kids! Follow these instructions to access your free account. Contact Kathy Schmucker, Spiritual Formation Director.

Faith and Environment Weekly

The good news: 190 countries approved a sweeping United Nations agreement to protect 30% of the planet’s land and oceans and biodiversity

And the bad news: THE UNITED STATES IS NOT ONE OF THEM

Biodiversity is declining worldwide at rates never seen before in human history. If left unchecked, this jeopardizes the planet’s food and water supplies as well as the existence of untold species around the world.

Researchers have projected that a million plants and animals are at risk of extinction, many within decades. The last extinction event of that magnitude was the one that killed off the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.

The deal lays 23 environmental targets, placing 30% of land and sea under protection. Countries agreed to manage the other 70% of the planet to avoid losing areas of high importance to biodiversity and to ensure that big businesses disclose their biodiversity risks and impacts. This pact includes provisions to make targets measurable and to monitor countries’ progress. “Now you can have a report card,” said the co-chairman of the negotiations. “Money, monitoring, and targets” would make the difference this time”.

The United States is just one of two countries in the world that are not party to the Convention on Biological Diversity; a contingent blocked this crucial pact. To counter that setback, the President signed an executive order that would similarly place 30 percent of United States land and waters under protection. 

The Takeaway – Nurturing the distressed environment that we all share meets continual opposition from misguided groups. We must match their misguided destructive actions with relentless resolve to preserve this planet, our only home.  

More Information

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

The January issue of the Upper Room Devotional and the Daily Bread are available for pick up on the Gathering Area Information Display Board.

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 - Resumes January 11

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

Sing-along choir for preschool and elementary students occurs Wednesdays at 5:00pm. Contact Sandy Wallace pianoplayer@sandywallace.us for information. 

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.

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.

Summer is starting in Paraguay. The school year has just ended and seniors have graduated. In just about 6 weeks, the New Horizon School will be gearing up for the 2023 school year. That will be the time when we need to send our financial support to sponsor students. 

To continue to partially fund five students, we would need to send $2,400. Currently we have about $1,700. Thank you! We need $700 more by the beginning of the new school year to fund the same number of young people. It’s easy to donate. You may write a check to the church with Pennies for Paraguay on the memo line. You can drop cash and currency in the metal bucket in the hallway near the library. If you have a large number of coins to donate, contact Trudy Jones at trudy@neo.rr.com. She will arrange for the coin transfer and use a fee-free coin counting machine to convert the coins to currency. Thank you for supporting this mission for 21 years!

Start off the New Year with a book! Explore some of the great resources available in our library!

The Books and Resources available in Faith United’s Library to nurture your spiritual journey! You can connect to us through an app on your phone or through our church website. Please email library@faithumchurch.org if you need help with that.

• 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

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

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.

Sunday, January 1

10:00am-11:30am One Worship Service - Live Stream (Sanctuary)

10:00am-11:30am Nursery Care & Preschool Sunday School (Room 18)

Monday, January 2 - Church Building Closed for Holiday

Tuesday, January 3

9:30am-11am Celebration Bells (Sanctuary)

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

6:30pm-8:30pm Program and Worship Planning Meeting (Conference Room)

Wednesday, January 4

6:30pm-7:30pm Jesus Revealed Study (Conference Room)

6:30pm-8pm Sewing for Missions (Robinson Hall)

7pm-8pm Visio Divina Art Study (Zoom)

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

Thursday, January 5

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

7pm-8pm Book Discussion Group (Parlor)

Friday, January 6

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

Saturday, January 7

8am-9am Resilient Men's Life Study (Beyesly's)

9am-2pm Sewing for Missions (Robinson Hall)

Calendar Snapshot - View more at myfaithunited.org/calendar