A Congregation Entering Its Third Century on South Broad Street
Canfield United Methodist Church has stood on South Broad Street in the village of Canfield, Ohio, for more than two hundred years. The congregation marked its bicentennial in 2020 and 2021 with recorded remembrances from long-time members, reflections on the church building shared by Jason Henry, and a 200th Anniversary Worship Celebration led by Rev. Don Christensen. The church's motto - "open hearts, open minds, open doors" - captures the spirit of a community that has welcomed generations of Canfield families and today runs one of the village's longest-standing preschools.
Sunday Worship, In Person and Online
CUMC holds one weekly worship service on Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. The service blends traditional and contemporary music with prayers, scripture readings, and a sermon from the pastoral team. On the third Sunday of each month, children are invited to take part in the children's message and the Noisy Offering, dropping spare coins into a bucket to support local missions.
The service is livestreamed on Facebook Live, and recordings remain available on the church's YouTube channel. Members who are traveling, homebound, or simply curious about the congregation can follow along from anywhere.
Sunday School for Every Age
Sunday School is a centerpiece of life at Canfield UMC. The church teaches that Sunday School is the place where followers of Jesus meet to encourage one another, where faith connects to daily life, and where members see where God is at work in the world.
Children's Sunday School uses a rotation model: over the course of a month, children explore common Biblical themes while moving through a variety of settings, with Christian teachings reinforced through story, drama, crafts, and movies. JaM, which stands for "Jesus and Me," is the Sunday morning program for children ages 3 to 11. Children enter the sanctuary with their grown-ups, hear a children's message, and then head upstairs for a lesson and songs. Parents are given follow-up materials to continue the lessons at home.
Youth Sunday School is available for ages 12 through young adult, with life-centered and thematic teaching content. On alternate years, Confirmation class is offered to junior high youth, running concurrently with the school year. Adult Sunday School classes select their own studies, providing a diverse mix of learning opportunities for everyone from newcomers to long-time believers.
Youth Ministry with a Mission Focus
The Canfield UMC Youth Ministries offers a supportive, caring group of Christian peers within a nurturing faith community. Youth have the opportunity to grow spiritually and learn to live their faith while taking part in a variety of church events and activities throughout the year. The Missions Committee supports annual youth mission trips to various parts of the United States, giving teens a chance to serve beyond the Mahoning Valley.
Canfield United Methodist Preschool (C.U.M.P.)
One of the most visible ministries of Canfield United Methodist Church is its preschool, C.U.M.P. The preschool's mission is to provide a loving and secure environment, positive guidance, and to assist families with the education of their child, to fulfill God's purpose for their lives. Teachers use developmentally appropriate practices, drawing on the individual goals parents have for their child, the domains of learning, the State of Ohio Early Learning Development Standards, and kindergarten readiness skills. Classrooms are organized into stations with rotating materials that expose children to academic themes and a wide-ranging knowledge of the world. The program uses the "Creative Curriculum" to help children become curious and enthusiastic learners in preparation for life-long learning.
C.U.M.P. offers four program options for the school year:
- Little Learners: For children age 2 by August 1, with a parent present. Meets Tuesday or Wednesday from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Tuition is $63 per month.
- T/TH Preschool: For children age 3 by August 1, Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Tuition is $200 per month.
- M/W/F Preschool: For children at least age 4 by August 1, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Tuition is $230 per month.
- PreK Class: For children eligible for kindergarten the following year, Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Tuition is $300 per month.
Registration is $50 (non-refundable) with a one-time supply fee of $100. Registration opens in February for the following school year.
Enrichment programs include Lunch Bunch, an option for morning preschoolers to stay until 12:50 p.m. on Wednesday or Thursday for lunch with friends and free play, at $5 per day. Gymsters is a six-week fitness and movement program offered on Mondays in the fall and spring, where teachers bring fitness and sports equipment to the preschool for non-competitive classes that build fitness, health, aerobics, and nutrition. Cost per session is $54.
Twice a month, preschool children gather for chapel time with songs, object lessons, Bible stories, and prayers. The children also collect food and coins throughout the school year for Operation Blessing, a non-government-funded food pantry housed at Canfield Presbyterian Church. Each May, the preschool hosts an evening art show in the church atrium to celebrate the children's work.
Adult Learning and Bible Study
Adult Learning Opportunities at CUMC include Sunday School classes, Bible study, and other small study groups. The church encourages Christians, new and seasoned, to continue to grow in their understanding of faith. Bible study is a way to meet new people, build relationships, and strengthen faith as individuals and as a community of believers.
Missions and Outreach Across the Mahoning Valley
The CUMC Missions Committee manages and engages missions and service opportunities on behalf of the congregation, with the goal of showing Christ's love by supporting local and global missions. Every month, the congregation collects items for different organizations. Groups helped in recent years include Operation Blessing, the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley, Sojourner House, Protestant Family Services, the United Methodist Community Center of Youngstown, and Akron Children's Hospital. The Noisy Offering, taken on the third or fourth Sunday of every month, is distributed to various missions.
Beyond Mahoning County, the church has sponsored adult trips to Mississippi for post-Katrina reconstruction and adult and young adult trips to a Russian orphanage. Financial and volunteer support is provided to local outreach ministries including Operation Blessing, the United Methodist Community Center of Youngstown, Protestant Family Services, and the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley.
United Methodist Identity and Beliefs
Canfield UMC is a United Methodist congregation in the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church, with conference offices in Canton, Ohio. The church belongs to the Mahoning Valley District of the East Ohio Conference.
The United Methodist Church was formed in 1968 from the merger of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church. With more than 12 million members worldwide, the UMC is one of the largest mainline American denominations. CUMC stands on the Articles of Religion (the 25 basic beliefs that founder John Wesley made the rubric of the beginnings of Methodism) and the Confession of Faith of the Evangelical United Brethren Church. Beliefs include faith in the Holy Trinity, the resurrection of Christ, the sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for salvation, original sin, free will, justification, good works, the Church, baptism, and the Lord's Supper.
Pastoral Leadership and Staff
Pastor Paul Turner leads Canfield United Methodist Church. The staff team includes Elizabeth Orlando as Coordinator of Children and Youth Ministries, Miranda Johnson as Preschool Director, Janet Williams as Musician, and George Lee as Pastor Emeritus.
Each year, the CUMC Scholarship is awarded to a graduating high school senior pursuing higher education, with applications reviewed by a committee chaired by Jason Henry.
Supporting the Church
CUMC welcomes donations through several channels. Online giving is available, and a quick text-to-give option allows gifts by sending a text message with a dollar amount to 330-787-9764. Mailed contributions may be sent to Canfield United Methodist Church, Attn: Financial Secretary, 27 South Broad St., Canfield, Ohio 44406. Electronic funds transfer is also accepted.
Designated giving categories include the General Fund, Trustees Work Project Fund, Permanent Endowment Fund, CUMC Scholarship Fund, Youth Mission Trip, Chicken Challenge, Vacation Bible School, and other designations. Memorial gifts and gifts to the General Fund can also be made through PayPal.
For more information about the church, call the office at (330) 533-9801 or email office@canfieldumc.org. To reach the preschool, call (330) 533-9802 or email preschool@canfieldumc.org. Church facilities are available for rental for events.