Two Sunday Mornings on State Route 43
Streetsboro United Methodist Church stands along State Route 43, a quarter mile south of State Route 303, near Giant Eagle in Streetsboro, Ohio. For more than six decades the building has been a steady presence in the city, and the parking lot on a Sunday morning fills with families, teens, and longtime members heading to one of two very different worship gatherings.
At 9:30 am the doors open for The WAY, a discussion-based service that meets over coffee and cookies in the WAY Room. The service is built around the simple idea that church should be a place where people can ask hard questions and get real, Bible-grounded answers. The current series walks through The Chosen video, with conversation that spills well past the screen. People pray for one another, sometimes organize a service project on the spot, and are home by 11:00. The WAY's tagline captures the spirit: yes, you can talk in church.
At 11:00 am the blended Traditional Worship Service begins in the sanctuary. Music bridges classic hymns and contemporary worship songs, led by a worship team with guitars and projected lyrics so everyone can sing along. After the music, one of the pastors preaches an expository sermon, working straight through a Bible passage. The service lasts about an hour and weaves prayer, Scripture reading, and praise into a single flow. It is livestreamed on Facebook and later archived on the church's YouTube channel.
Across both services the dress code is simple. Come as you are, in shorts and a t-shirt or dressed up. Just be respectful of God and of the people worshipping alongside you.
What the Church Believes
Streetsboro United Methodist Church holds to historic Christian orthodoxy, summed up in a statement of faith shaped by Scripture. The church teaches that there is one God, infinitely perfect, existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, who died on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice for the unjust. All who believe in Him are justified by His shed blood. He rose again according to the Scriptures and will return personally and visibly to establish His kingdom.
The Holy Spirit indwells, guides, teaches, and empowers every believer, and convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. The Old and New Testaments are the verbally inspired, inerrant Word of God, the complete revelation of His will and the only rule of Christian faith and practice.
The church teaches that human beings are made in the image of God, that all have sinned and fall short of His glory, and that salvation comes only through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. Those who repent and believe are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive eternal life, and become children of God. Baptism is celebrated as an outward sign of an inward change, a public identification with Christ, His death, and His resurrection. The local church is a community of believers joined for worship, prayer, fellowship, and the proclamation of the Gospel, with Christ as its Head. The church also looks forward to the imminent, personal, visible, and premillennial return of Jesus Christ.
From these convictions flows the parish's own mission: to follow the example of Christ's ministry in all that is said and done, to share God's love with everyone, to respect and respond to the needs and experiences of others, and to strengthen persons in Christian faith and service.
Sixteen Stained Glass Windows in a Sixty-Year Building
The building on State Route 43 has stood for more than sixty years as a place of worship, community, and service, and the symbols on its walls and in its logo tell the story of the people who built it.
About ten years ago, the sanctuary was filled with sixteen stained glass windows, each one made possible by families within the congregation and designed by artist Mark Lewis of Willoughby. When sunlight pours through those windows, the colors paint the pews and the floor with the same kind of light the early Methodist circuit riders would have carried with them. The church's logo captures the moment: at its center is the cross, mirroring both the large metal cross that stands at the front of the building and the cross inside the sanctuary above the altar. Behind the cross, a stained glass design represents those sixteen windows. A circle encloses the design, signifying eternity, the belonging of community, and the stone rolled away from the tomb on Easter morning.
Stained glass, the church explains, is a picture of how God works: He takes broken, imperfect pieces and transforms them into something beautiful when His light shines through. The same is true of the people who have walked these halls.
The Food Pantry in the Basement
Downstairs from the sanctuary, on the lower level of the building, the Streetsboro Community Food Pantry feeds thousands of people each year. The pantry is a joint outreach of Streetsboro United Methodist Church, St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, the Chapel at Tinker's Creek, and the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank. Its mission is simple: provide free food to families in Streetsboro who struggle to meet their daily food needs, while keeping their individual circumstances in mind.
Walk-in hours run on Mondays from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm, Tuesdays from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm, and Wednesdays from 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Visitors call 330-626-2239 from their car when they arrive and may return every thirty days. The pantry is always in need of substitute volunteers, food donations, and financial support, and for every dollar given, the pantry can purchase about four dollars' worth of food through the regional food bank.
Streetsboro City Schools run holiday food drives, the Streetsboro Police Department runs a Fill-A-Cruiser campaign, and the USPS Stamp Out Hunger drive all provide seasonal support. Items most often needed include peanut butter, tuna, canned fruit and vegetables, soup, condiments, cereals, cake and brownie mixes, coffee, shampoo, bar soap, toothpaste, deodorant, and laundry detergent. The pantry is entirely volunteer-run and is one of the most visible ways the church loves its city.
Plarning Mats with Kent State Alumni
Each year the church partners with the Kent State University Alumni Association to provide greater comfort and safety for people living on the streets, by making sleeping mats from recycled plastic grocery bags. The process is called plarning: volunteers cut the bags into strips, loop them into plastic yarn, and crochet that yarn into durable, washable mats that are distributed through local homeless agencies.
On the first Monday of each month at 1:00 pm, the church hosts a mat making prep gathering where new volunteers are trained and the plarn materials are created. The annual mat making event then brings together church members, KSU alumni, and other community volunteers for a single morning of fellowship and crocheting. Last year's event drew 19 volunteers, and the church is back again with the same commitment: mats that keep a person off cold concrete and asphalt, made by hands that have come together for that one purpose.
The WAY Teen Edition and a Summer Vacation Bible School
Children and teenagers are a major focus of the parish.
Sunday School runs for children from kindergarten through high school during the Sunday school hour, where kids learn more about Jesus through crafts, games, and Bible study. Families are encouraged to arrive a few minutes early to check children in safely; the church makes children's safety a top priority through the Safe Sanctuaries program of the United Methodist Church, which requires applications, background checks, and renewals for every volunteer who works with youth.
Vacation Bible School is the summer highlight. Children gather for a week of games, music, crafts, skits, and Bible lessons, with a picnic and the church's now-legendary slip-and-slide to cap things off. The 2025 VBS, themed Road Trip, also reached outside the church walls as kids performed a serenade at Atrium Senior Center. Each summer brings a new national theme, and the church welcomes both child participants and adult and teen volunteers.
The WAY Teen Edition meets Sunday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 pm and is built around the trio of friends, faith, and fun. Teens ask the hard questions, whether about whether God is real, how Jesus can be both God and human, why the Bible has so many rules, or how to live out faith at school without sounding preachy, and they get real, honest, Bible-based answers. The teens also do things together: scavenger hunts, canoe trips and hikes, escape rooms, game nights, lock-ins, movie nights, cookie baking, Halloween parties with crazy costumes, and watch parties for the Super Bowl and Browns games. Service projects are part of the rhythm, from making mats for the homeless to packing Angel Tree gifts for the children of inmates.
For musically inclined teens, the church also runs a free Guitar Camp for beginners. Lessons run for two weeks in a positive, supportive, fun environment, and a few lucky students walk away with a free guitar of their own.
Scouts, AA, and Open-M
The church building is a working community center as much as a sanctuary. Boy Scout Troop 475 has been active at Streetsboro UMC for fifteen years and currently has thirty registered Scouts. The troop meets every Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall and runs fundraisers throughout the year, including a spring plant sale, to support summer camp and community service. Girl Scouts also use the building for meetings and activities.
Alcoholics Anonymous meets on Mondays and Thursdays at 10:00 am, and Al-Anon meets on Monday evenings at 7:00 pm, providing substance abuse support in a familiar and accessible setting. Grief recovery groups also meet at the church, offering comfort and companionship to people walking through loss.
Loaves & Fishes is a food and fellowship ministry that brings volunteers together to help with food preparation and serving, named for the miracle of the loaves and fishes. The church also holds a covenant relationship with Open-M, an inner-city mission in Akron, supporting the ministry with prayers, presence, gifts, and service, including a monthly financial pledge and donations to the Open-M Food Cupboard.
Beyond all of this, Streetsboro UMC serves as a polling place for city voters, hosts AARP free tax preparation, and partners with the Streetsboro Police Department, Streetsboro City Schools, and other local groups on community initiatives. The building is offered for facility rental as well, with inquiries handled through the church office.
Bible Studies on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
Streetsboro UMC takes seriously the idea that growing in faith happens best in community, and the church runs multiple weekly Bible study options.
Pastor Sue Ritts hosts a weekly adult Bible book study every Monday at 11:00 am. Recent studies have included An Unlikely Lent: Extraordinary People of the Easter Story by Pastor Rachel Billups, which walks readers through the side characters of the Easter narrative, the women and men whose stories are often overlooked but who help reveal what the resurrection really means.
Pastor Gordon Blickle leads a Thursday evening study on the Gospel of Mark via Zoom at 7:00 pm. The study uses the New International Version, with study guides provided each week by email. Mark's Gospel is presented as the first eyewitness account of Jesus, written by John Mark, an associate of Paul and Peter, who extensively interviewed Peter for his observations of Jesus. The study notes that Mark pulls no punches about the doubts even the closest followers of Jesus had, which makes it an uplifting account for believers who themselves may be struggling with doubt.
Pastor Gordon also leads a Saturday morning adult study group at 9:00 am, and the church periodically launches new groups for adults and youth. The WAY at 9:30 am Sunday is itself a Bible-based study, and members are encouraged to start their own groups when none exists for their stage of life.
Outside of the Bible studies, Sit & Sew meets every Wednesday at 10:00 am for craft and fellowship. United Methodist Women is a fellowship for all women of the church, focused on missions and service opportunities, and United Methodist Men meets on the second Sunday of the month at 9:00 am for breakfast. All are invited.
A Prayer Team, Coffee with the Pastor, and a Writing Ministry
Pastoral care at Streetsboro UMC is built on accessibility. The church fields a prayer team of 35 prayer warriors who, each week, lift up the requests that come in. Anyone who would like prayer can ask, and the team commits to praying.
Coffee with Pastor Gordon is offered on Sunday afternoons from 12:30 to 5:00 pm and on Mondays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The format is simple: grab a coffee, tea, or bottled water and some cookies, and talk about anything on your mind. Topics have ranged from questions about God and faith to baptism, weddings, funerals, and life decisions. All meetings are by appointment.
The church also runs a writing ministry called Life Answers, a series of in-depth articles tackling the biggest questions of life and faith. The pastoral staff writes on topics like why Jesus was crucified, the biblical view of motherhood, resisting temptation, the feeling that God is far away, letting go of guilt and shame, managing anger and resentment, conquering fear and uncertainty, dealing with doubt, overcoming loneliness, and finding hope in depression or despair. Each piece blends Scripture, personal reflection, practical steps, and prayer, and invites readers to reach out for conversation. A companion feature, Got Questions?, invites readers to ask their own questions in the comments, with answers from the pastoral staff.
Hale Farm, Blue Christmas, and the Chili Cookoff
A handful of annual events have become woven into the church's identity.
Each spring the church holds its Annual Hale Farm Chapel Service at Hale Farm & Village, a living history museum within the boundaries of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Doors open at 10:30 am and the service begins at 11:00 am. After the service, attendees are invited to pack a lunch and stay for a time of fellowship on the grounds, with restrooms available. The chapel is wheelchair accessible, with parking off Oak Hill Road at Gate 4.
Blue Christmas is a quiet worship experience designed for those who find the holiday season difficult, including those grieving loved ones, struggling with illness, facing depression, or walking through seasons of loss. The service includes Scripture readings focused on comfort and hope, guided prayer, moments of silence, soft music, candle lighting, and a gentle, peaceful environment, all in mid-December.
The Chili Cookoff is the church's signature fundraiser. Twenty chilis are entered, dozens of prizes are awarded, and proceeds benefit the church's ministries and missions. The event is supported by an army of local sponsors, from restaurants and breweries to boutiques and ice cream shops, and the church has celebrated each new year as a chance to gather, laugh, and raise money for the work that goes on year-round.
Plan Your Visit
The church is at 8940 St. Rt. 43, Streetsboro, OH 44241, about a quarter mile south of State Route 303, near Giant Eagle. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to noon, or by appointment. The phone number is 330-626-4393, and the email is [email protected].
First-time visitors are encouraged to fill out a Plan Your Visit form so the church can save a seat, set up a tour, or pre-check in kids for childcare. Sunday morning is relaxed and casual, and visitors are welcomed as guests. The 11:00 am service is livestreamed on Facebook, and past services are archived on YouTube for those who cannot attend in person.
The pastoral staff includes Pastor Gordon Blickle and Pastor Sue Ritts, both available for prayer, conversation, and counsel. The church's motto is simple: real people, real answers, Jesus-led, Bible-focused. The vision is to make disciples of Jesus, providing hope and meaning through a Christ-focused, spirit-filled, and mission-minded family of faith, following the example of Christ, sharing God's love with all, responding to needs, and helping to create mature disciples of Jesus Christ.
Streetsboro United Methodist Church is more than a Sunday morning destination. It is a community of faith that lives out its calling through worship, study, service, and a stubborn belief that questions are welcome and everyone is welcome, too.