Andover First United Methodist Church gathers at 181 South Main Street in Andover, a short walk from the Pymatuning Valley schools that give the surrounding community its name. The congregation has built its recent identity around a single Sunday morning service of modern worship, a steady livestream that reaches shut-ins and neighbors, and three Friday food ministries that put the building to work for the surrounding township. For first-time visitors, the rhythm of the church is easy to learn: one Sunday service at 9:30 am, a livestream on YouTube, and a network of monthly food ministries that anchor the church to its community.
Sunday Mornings at 9:30
The weekly Sunday worship gathering begins at 9:30 am. The service includes modern worship music, media elements, and a pastoral message. Communion is observed monthly. The welcome is direct: from the parking lot to a seat in the sanctuary, including all the people a visitor meets in between, a warm, welcoming and worshipful presence will abound. The "come as you are" invitation signals that there is no dress code beyond whatever makes a guest comfortable, and greeters are on hand to help newcomers find their way.
Children's Church and Celebrate Wonder
Children are part of the 9:30 service from the start. They worship alongside the congregation through the music and opening portions of the gathering, then step out for the Celebrate Wonder Kids message and lesson for the week. This gives parents a chance to stay in the sanctuary for the pastoral message while children receive an age-appropriate teaching of their own. Children's Church takes place during the 9:30 service every Sunday that the church gathers, so families with younger children can plan to arrive a few minutes before the service begins.
Live Online and Digital Connection
Each service is livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel, and a digital connection card is available online for worshipers who want to share prayer requests or follow up after watching. Past messages are also archived on YouTube, so anyone who misses a Sunday can catch up on the same channel. A weekly bulletin is available as a downloadable PDF, with editions appearing each week for anyone who wants to follow along at home. Visitors who join in person are also invited to fill out a visitor response survey, and members can update their contact information through a separate form.
Youth Ministry for 6th Through 12th Graders
Middle and high school students have their own ministry under the leadership of Pastor Jason Hockran. The youth ministry covers sixth through twelfth grade and maintains a separate schedule that runs alongside the main church calendar. Pastor Hockran is the staff point of contact for youth families, and his name is shared publicly so newcomers can reach out.
Three Fridays a Month: Outreach on the Calendar
Outreach is the most visible part of the church's week, and it is built around three recurring Friday events. The first is Free Dinner Friday on the last Friday of each month at 5:30 pm. Dinner is served at 5:30 pm, with prayer and devotion time kicking off the fellowship. The meal is open to anyone in the community who wants to come in from the cold, sit down, and share a table, and no reservation is required.
On the second Friday of each month, the church hosts a local food pantry from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. The pantry is open to all those in need of assistance with groceries. Families facing an emergency at other times during the month are invited to reach the church office at 440-293-6290 for help between distributions.
On the fourth Friday of each month, Andover First UMC partners with the Cleveland Food Bank for a distribution from 10:00 am to noon. The Cleveland Food Bank distribution is open to all those in need of assistance with groceries from the Pymatuning Valley Local School District, and special dates apply in November and December because of the holidays. Families with emergencies during the month can also reach the church office for assistance at 440-293-6290.
Connection in the United Methodist Church
Andover First UMC is part of the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church, and within the conference it belongs to the Northern Waters District. The conference is led by Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, and the district is served by Superintendent Rev. Angela Lewis. The church invites visitors to learn more about the United Methodist Church's four areas of focus and to explore UMC Global Ministries as ways to understand how a small-town congregation fits into a worldwide connection. A link to Amplify Media, with the church's registration code FRMYTJ, is also offered for members who want to grow through online study resources between Sundays.
Giving and Building Use
Online giving is set up through Vanco Payment Solutions and accepts one-time and recurring gifts by credit card, debit card, or direct transfer from a checking or savings account. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express are accepted. Members can give through a "One Time Gift" option, set up a "Recurring Gift" through the Member Portal, or continue to give through their bank's bill pay service. None of the confidential card or account information is stored at Andover First UMC, and the secure encrypted transaction is handled directly by the financial institutions involved. Contributions can be made online at any time.
The church building is also available for community use, with a Church Facilities Rental Application available for download.
Visiting Andover First UMC
The church office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and can be reached at 440-293-6290 or by email at receptionist@andoverfirstumc.org. The mailing address is PO Box 207, Andover, OH 44003, and the physical building sits at 181 South Main Street. Subscriptions to the church's monthly newsletter are open through a sign-up form, and bulletins, past newsletters, and archived livestream messages are all kept online for anyone who wants to follow along between Sundays.