Message From Your Pastor

                The church year soon enters the time of Lent, the 40 day period (excluding Sundays) prior to Easter.  The Lenten season is often considered a time for reflection and study, a time to open our hearts to God so that God’s grace can pour in to redeem and renew.  Our faith is strengthened and we receive the courage to live boldly as followers of Jesus Christ.

                The theme for Medina United Church of Christ during Lent is “Unbinding Your Heart.”  Through 40 days of Prayer and Faith Sharing, we will understand more fully the hope that lies within us in Jesus Christ and how we might share that hope with others.  Our prayer is that our lives and ministry might be transformed according to the amazing grace of God.

                Join us on Wednesday evenings to enter a journey of discovery.  We gather at 6:15 p.m. for dinner in our Fellowship Hall.  At 7:00 p.m. we invite God to speak to us through study, discussion and prayer.

                Please come and worship with us on the northeast corner of the square.  We offer three unique services each Sunday morning – Chapel, Gathering Praise and Sanctuary.  Experience hope and new life amidst a joyful community of faith.  May you know  “No matter where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here at Medina United Church of Christ!”  God’s love ministers to us all.

May God give you strength and courage this day and every day.

Neal R. Sadler, Senior Pastor

                A New Year is about to unfold.  None of us knows the stories that will be written in our community, nation or the world.  We don’t know the stories that will be written in our own lives.  We have dreams and hopes.  We have made plans, and have scheduled activities.  But life never goes according to plan.  The journey can be rough, full of bumps and potholes, with unexpected twists and turns.

                One thing will be certain on our journey though.  We will not be alone.  God will be there with us.  Amidst the twists and turns of our journeys, we can always experience Good News. . . the good news of a God who showers us with his loving grace and joyful presence.   Amidst bleak economic reality and difficult personal challenges, God is still good.  God still provides.

                For many of us, 2009 was a difficult year, a year of economic hardship or uncertainty.  We hope 2010 will be better.  We pray we will find employment, or a better job, maybe make our mortgage payments on time and pay down our credit cards.  I pray that you will also find in God the strength to act courageously and the joy of a grace-filled life.  May you celebrate the Good News of a God who is alive and vibrant in this world of ours!

                As we begin the New Year please join us in worship on the northeast corner of the square.  We offer three unique services each Sunday morning.  Come and receive hope amidst a joyful community of faith.  May you know  “No matter where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here at Medina United Church of Christ!”  God’s love ministers to us all.

May you have a blessed New Year,

Neal R. Sadler, Senior Pastor

                We have entered the Advent season, a time of anticipation and preparation as we await the coming of the Christ child on Christmas Day.  We light the Advent candles, the candles of hope, peace, joy and love, and long for their fulfillment through the wondrous gift of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.  On Sunday mornings, our focus centers on the manger as we seek to know more fully the meaning of God’s coming through the perspectives of those who gathered around the baby.   We strive to share the love of God in tangible ways as we reach out to the less fortunate and the economically destitute among us.  We look forward to celebrations with family and friends.   In joy we decorate our church and homes with festive lights and ornaments.  With thanksgiving we prepare to honor one another with gifts.  We have entered a very special time of the year.

                During this special season we invite you to experience the fullness of Christ’s hope by worshiping with us each Sunday.  At the 10:30 worship hour on the following Sundays we are offering some special programs to celebrate and remember the season:

                Dec. 13^th – Children Christmas Pageant –  “The Twelve Days of Christmas” 

                Dec. 20^th – Sanctuary Choir Cantata – “Gloria” by Vivaldi 

                On Christmas Eve, we offer 3 worship services.  Each one will celebrate the coming of our Savior through the reading of the familiar Christmas story, the singing of beloved carols, and passing the light of Christ amidst the darkness of the sanctuary.

                6:00 – Family Service – Music by the Gathering Band and our children; story by Rev. Sadler

                9:00 – Traditional Service – Special music by our Sanctuary Choir; story by Rev. Sadler

                11:00 – A Festival of Lessons and Carols                      

I invite you to join us in worship each Sunday morning at Liberty and Broadway on the northeast corner of the Square.  We have 3 unique worship services from which to choose.  We have active programs for children, youth and adults.  Together may we grow to serve and love in the name of Jesus. 

May you have a blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year!                               

Neal R. Sadler, Senior Pastor

These economic times are difficult for nearly everyone.  Many are out of work and are barely holding on from week to week, paying only the most pressing bills, praying that a job will soon appear, and fearing their limited funds won’t make it through to the end of the month.  Others have jobs but live in constant fear of being laid off or fired.  Their employers demand more and more, and intimate that others are waiting in line for their position.  Even those whose jobs seem somewhat secure fear that retirement will be insufficient and the dreams that have sustained them will never be fulfilled.

So many of us live in fear these days.  We fret, we agonize, we lose sleep.  Yes, we know Jesus says, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. . .Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them.” (Matthew 6:25-26)  But those words seem so far from the reality of empty cupboards, foreclosure notices and a pile of unpaid bills.

In amidst difficult times, Jesus invites us to live not in fear, but in faith.  Disciples of Jesus are to live without worry, not because they are lazy or irresponsible or naïve, but because they have a deep faith that God will provide.  They know there might be some tough times, that they may have to work hard, or forgo some of their desires, but they live refusing to be anxious about tomorrow.  They trust in the Lord.  The Lord will provide.              

Such faith is not easy.  It can be nurtured only over time through prayer and trust, and amidst a supporting and loving community of faith.  The journey of faith challenges us each step, but the rewards are a joy and peace that can come only from the grace and mercy of a loving God

I invite you to join us in worship each Sunday morning at Liberty and Broadway on the northeast corner of the Square.  We have 3 unique worship services from which to choose.  We have active programs for children, youth and adults.  Together may we grow to serve and love in the name of Jesus.  “No matter where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!”  Come, discover the love of Christ with a joyful community of faith.

Blessings,                                         

Neal R. Sadler, Senior Pastor

These economic times are difficult for nearly everyone.Many are out of work and are barely holding on from week to week, paying only the most pressing bills, praying that a job will soon appear, and fearing their limited funds won’t make it through to the end of the month.  Others have jobs but live in constant fear of being laid off or fired.  Their employers demand more and more, and intimate that others are waiting in line for their position.  Even those whose jobs seem somewhat secure fear that retirement will be insufficient and the dreams that have sustained them will never be fulfilled.

So many of us live in fear these days.  We fret, we agonize, we lose sleep.  Yes, we know Jesus says, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. . .Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them.” (Matthew 6:25-26)  But those words seem so far from the reality of empty cupboards, foreclosure notices and a pile of unpaid bills.

In amidst difficult times, Jesus invites us to live not in fear, but in faith.  Disciples of Jesus are to live without worry, not because they are lazy or irresponsible or naïve, but because they have a deep faith that God will provide.  They know there might be some tough times, that they may have to work hard, or forgo some of their desires, but they live refusing to be anxious about tomorrow.  They trust in the Lord.  The Lord will provide.

Such faith is not easy.  It can be nurtured only over time through prayer and trust, and amidst a supporting and loving community of faith.  The journey of faith challenges us each step, but the rewards are a joy and peace that can come only from the grace and mercy of a loving God.

I invite you to join us in worship each Sunday morning at Liberty and Broadway on the northeast corner of the Square.  We have 3 unique worship services from which to choose.  We have active programs for children, youth and adults.  Together may we grow to serve and love in the name of Jesus.  “No matter where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!”  Come, discover the love of Christ with a joyful community of faith.

Blessings,                                         

Neal R. Sadler, Senior Pastor

Loved Ones:  Family and Friends –September 27

                Are our relationships built on honesty, justice and forgiveness?  Do they give us and our loved ones strength? How do we deepen these relationships?  Non-traditional relationships?

Vocation:  Work and Calling – October 4

 Do we see our life’s work as God’s calling and as service to others?  Do we honor the labor of all?  A healthy balance with the rest of our lives?  Our vocation beyond our jobs?

Leisure:  Play and Rest – October 11

                What do we do with our leisure time? Do we have too much?  Or not enough?  What is its purpose?  How do we rest?  How are we rejuvenated?  Do we honor the Sabbath?  How? When?

Economics:  Money and Things – October 18

                How much do we trust in money?  How do our things define us?  How do we spend our money?  Blessings?  Curses?  Impact on others?  Does money bring us together?  Or divide us?

Service:  Community and the World – October 25

                What do we have to offer to others?  How do we share the world and its resources as one human family? How do we seek unity amidst diversity?  How do we welcome the stranger?

Bodies:  Sex and Health – November 1

                Do we view our bodies as the temple of God and thus to be honored as God’s good creation?  How do we care for our bodies?  Physical and sexual boundaries for healthy relationships?

Religion: Church and God – November 8

                 Are we finding God in the church?  How much time do we give to church and its activities?  Where best do we serve?  Is the church necessary?

Commitment:  Discernment and Decision – November 15

                Have we gained any insights into our lives?  Are there decisions to make?  Are we ready for a deeper commitment?  Do we have a vision for how we want to live?  How do we get there?

I invite you to join us in worship each Sunday morning at Liberty and Broadway on the northeast corner of the Square.  We have 3 unique worship services from which to choose.  We have active programs for children, youth and adults.  Together may we grow to serve and love in the name of Jesus.  “No matter where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!”  Come, discover the love of Christ with a joyful community of faith.

Blessings,                                         

Neal R. Sadler, Senior Pastor

                During this past summer I pray that you and your family have had opportunities to experience life at a different pace and to enjoy the goodness of God’s world around you.  Summer offers many of us opportunities of recreation and re-creation to restore and refresh our sagging spirits.  Rest and relaxation help give us needed perspective in a sometimes hectic and stressful world.

                As our children return to school and the pace of activities increase for some of us, we begin making decisions that will not only dictate our schedules but also reveal our values and priorities.  To what will we say ‘yes’?  To what will we say ‘no’?  Will we make those decisions according to our deeper values or simply say ‘yes’ to what seems to be most pressing?

                I invite you to make your relationship with God a priority in your life this fall.  Find time for prayer, study, and reflection.  Worship regularly in the church of your choice.  Discover somewhere to serve with the gifts God has given to you.  Seek the joyful fellowship of others in the faith.

I invite you to join us in worship each Sunday morning at Liberty and Broadway on the northeast corner of the Square.  We have 3 unique worship service from which to choose.  We have active programs for children, youth and adults.  Together may we grow to serve and love in the name of Jesus.  “No matter where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!”  Come, discover the love of Christ with a joyful community of faith.

Blessings,                                         

Neal R. Sadler, Senior Pastor

                In recent weeks Medina United Church of Christ has had two mission teams return after serving in other communities.  An adult mission team journeyed to Costa Rica to assist a local church in Alajueta in their ministry to the poorest of the poor in the community.  The team assisted in a variety of ministries including building a simple house for a family whose home had burned.  The youth and their chaperones went to Henderson Settlement to serve in an Appalachian community in Kentucky.  They, too, performed physical labor as they helped to fix up homes for local families.  Both groups worked hard and returned with fresh energy and vision to minister to persons in our community.

                In mission work we discover a wonderful paradox:  growing hot, sweaty, tired and dirty when we are doing it for others and with people who share our commitment to serve can be refreshing and rejuvenating.  In the numerous mission trips in which I have participated, I have discovered that nearly every person returns with a deeper joy in their lives and a greater commitment to help others.  God created us humans to be giving people and so we are happiest when we are serving.

                Of course, we do not need to go to other communities to serve.  Wherever we live, wherever we journey, God provides opportunities for us to serve.  In our serving and our caring, we are always blessed.  We find that in God’s providence we receive far more than we give.

I invite you to join us in worship each Sunday at Liberty and Broadway on the northeast corner of the Square.  Together may we grow to serve and give in the name of Jesus.  “No matter where you are on life’s journey,  you are welcome here!”  Come, discover the love of Christ with a joyful community of faith.

Blessings,                                         

Neal R. Sadler, Senior Pastor

                In Medina this year, our high school graduation comes on Pentecost Sunday.  Over the years graduation has been a time of optimism and opportunity, of dreams and daring.  We go forth eager and excited to make our place in the world.  At least that is what graduation has usually meant.  This year though, is a bit different.  Graduates are uneasy, maybe a bit scared.  Opportunities seem scarce; jobs almost non-existent; dreams seem to be dreams and nothing more.  School doesn’t seem so bad anymore.  The real world of work and responsibility appears overwhelming.

                In the early church Pentecost was a day of dreams and opportunities as well.  The Holy Spirit came upon the early believers with power and drove them into the streets of the city to testify to the risen Christ.  Everything was new and exciting.  Everything was also scary and uncertain.  Where would the Spirit lead?  What would happen next?  Would they be ready?

                Pentecost and graduation prove to be alike.  They are times of expectation and promise, but also times of fear and anxiety.  Life is always a stirring mixture of the good and the bad, joy and sadness, success and failure.  Worry intrudes amidst our moments of greatest delights and new challenges temper our most satisfying successes.

                And so every day becomes a day to trust in the goodness of God and to seek the help of the Holy Spirit.  Only through God’s presence can we have the courage and faith to venture forth in the knowledge that God will be working in and through us.  As we celebrate the graduations of friends and family members let us seek the filling of God’s Spirit to lead and empower us to attempt great things for God and for God’s world.

                Please join us in worship on the northeast corner of the historic square in Medina.  We offer three unique services each Sunday morning.  Come and receive hope amidst a joyful community of faith.  May you know that “No matter where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here at Medina United Church of Christ!”  May God’s Spirit shine among us!

May God bless us all as we grow together in faith ,

Neal R. Sadler, Senior Pastor

                I have just completed my first winter here in Medina (though with the weather this week I am not certain that winter is over just yet).  I expected the snow and the cold of northeast Ohio for I have lived most of my life in similar climates.  What I did not expect though, was the endless succession of gray, dreary days.  It appears that sometime in November the sun packs up and leaves this area, refusing to make anything more than a brief visit until March.  Even now, it doesn’t seem to want to stay around for very long.

                We live for several months in the hope of spring – blue skies, warm breezes, daffodils, green grass and flowering trees.  We long for the appearance of new life in the natural world all around.

                How often much of our life seems to be stuck in winter.  We endure long dreary, gray days of job loss, or relationship breakups, or chronic illnesses, or uncertain futures.  We long for the clouds to disappear and the warm blue skies of spring to make all things better.  We sometimes wonder whether it will ever happen.

                Then, somehow, from somewhere, spring arrives.  Our hope is renewed.  Our world is good once again.  At least for awhile.

                In our Christian faith, this hope can be found at all times in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  In the empty tomb on the first Easter morning, God proclaims that life, new life, eternal life awaits us.  God offers the hope of eternal resurrection not only for our lives, but also for the whole world.  God desires us all to know the blessings of a God who conquers death and invites us to live amidst God’s holy reign.

                Please join us in worship on the northeast corner of the historic square in Medina.  We offer three unique services each Sunday morning.  Come and receive hope amidst a joyful community of faith.  May you know that “No matter where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here at Medina United Church of Christ!”  We are an Easter people.

May God bless us all as we grow together in faith ,

Neal R. Sadler, Senior Pastor