Volume 18 Issue 12 Frankfort, KY 40601

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1 December Louisville Road Volume 18 Issue 12 Frankfort, KY website: phone: (502) Dear Sisters and Brothers, A bit of a fuss always arises this time of year over the greeting Happy Holidays! versus Merry Christmas! Of course, that need not happen for us believers, since we can see that the word holidays derives from the phrase holy days. While every day of life is holy, the birth of Jesus Christ is one of our true holy days. So a wish to be happy on this holy-day seems very appropriate. What has really annoyed me in past years, is the blatant commercialization of the day we deem holy. Decorations up the day after Halloween (really another holy or hallowed day); Santas out before Thanksgiving; Sacred carols alongside secular holiday music on speakers for weeks; the advertising push to buy more and more, so you and yours will be happy... You know what I mean. Well, I had a flash of insight a week or so ago that has helped me deal with it, and maybe it will help you too. What had grated so on my nerves was that all the secular stuff seemed to be pushing against the joy and love and goodness of the Coming of Christ. But I realized that if I will focus intentionally on that joy and love, the other stuff can't intrude-- and that only I myself have the power to do it for myself. Focus on Christ, abide in Christ. Pray harder and grimace less! And I can still enjoy what I want to enjoy of the more secular side of season: Charlie Brown specials, parades and marching bands, the beautiful wreath that went up on my neighbor's house the week before Thanksgiving. Focus on Christ. We celebrate the Incarnation of God our Creator/ Emmanuel/ God With Us! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

2 Soaking in the love of Christ-- Pastor Donna My Christmas gift to you, the St. Paul UMC Family, is once again the donation of a goat to a needy family somewhere in the world through Heifer International. The family will receive a female goat along with training and support, and they will later give one of her off-spring to another family. This makes me happy, and seems a good way to share our abundance! Christmas at Church: Caring and Sharing Christmas is a tender time for many people. Those who have lost loved ones and this will be the first year without them-- or the twenty-first.. Others, who during this time of family gatherings are miles apart from, or even tragically estranged from their own families. Many people are deeply touched by music or memories of the season, and yearn to come close to God. Please make a special effort to invite family members, neighbors, co-workers to join us in worship. Our Christmas Eve together will be a very special service of stories, music, and candle-light-- and it may very well change someone's life. Worship In December Dec nd Sunday of Advent, Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 3:1-6, Remove: The Boulders Dec rd Sunday of Advent, Isaiah 12:2-6, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18, Rejoice: In the Lord Dec th Sunday of Advent, Micah 5:2-5, Luke 1:47-55, Choir Cantata Dec. 24 Christmas Eve (7:00 pm), Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 2:1-20, Communion, Remember: God's Love Dec st Sunday After Christmas Dec. 31 Fellowship starting at 6:00 pm, Watch Night Service at 9:00

3 Looking forward to and beyond The list of church officers and leaders of Ministry Teams is available on the table outside the Office. Please pray for all this people, as we commit and re-commit our gifts and talents to God! Some of our teams need to meet in December or January to continue or begin important work that will take us into the year: Leon Replogle will be calling a meeting of Trustees, and Jimmy Clark will do the same for Finance. Pastor Donna will take on the leadership of the Communication Team until a chair is chosen, and a meeting will be set for January 11 or 12 in the evening: Michael Henson, Ricki Gardenhire, Linda Axon, Sarah Schmitt, Shelley Green, Jennifer Davis. Please let me know if one or the other day is better, or I will pick one. Plan to make every effort to attend: This will be a VERY important meeting. Thanks! If there are other committees/teams that will meet in the next few weeks, please let Jennifer know so it can be announced. So grateful and proud of these St Paul folks who attended the LACE training Nov. 21: Steve Coleman, Sue Harrington, Mary Martin, Jim and Linda Axon, Becky Shipp. When we learn, we can improve our witness! Attention Garden Team and others interested in care of Creation-- Would anyone be interested in expanding the work of our garden group to include such things as energy efficiency, re-cycling, good stewardship of our outdoor space, inviting speakers, etc. Please talk with Pastor Donna.

4 >>St Paul will be serving our brothers and sisters at the Access Soup Kitchen on Dec. 30. Contact Kenneth/ Gayla Powell if you would like to be on the team. Giving Thanks: For all who helped with the Bazaar/Burgoo, for Mary serving supper at the Women's Shelter, for the Abide Team and their silly yet so meaningful Shining Eyes Awards, for Jim and his sax and Shelley and her flute, for everyone who came to learn about Prayer from our DS Rev. Paul Fryman at Charge Conference, for all the boxes and bags of food given for the Food Pantry, for all your thoughts and prayers for Judy Hartley and John, for the awesome slate of officers and ministry leaders for the coming year. CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY DAY AT THE CAPITOL Children's Advocacy Day at the Capitol began in 2004 as an effort to unite advocates from across the state to raise their voices on behalf of children's safety, health, education, and economic well-being. Hundreds of advocates from counties across Kentucky now gather at the Capitol in Frankfort every year to ask legislators to prioritize children. Children's Advocacy Day played an essential role in three key "Blueprint for Kentucky's Children" wins for kids this year -- and in numerous other wins in the previous 10 years. With your support and commitment, that momentum will continue in Our Methodist Home partners with Kentucky Youth Advocates in support of children and is very involved in this event. Please mark your calendars to join St. Paul's United Methodist Women and many others for the 12th Annual Children's Advocacy Day on Thursday, January 14, St. Paul UMC will be the gathering place for coffee and light breakfast fare at 9 AM. The group will be shuttled to a rally in the Capitol Rotunda at 10 AM. There will be an opportunity to speak with legislators regarding children's issues. Everyone is invited. Please join us and stand with hundreds of other advocates for this cause on January 14. Your voice makes a difference!

5 Sound Room Schedule 12/6- Randy Shipp 12/13- Doyle Mills 12/20- Kerry and Jan Hines 12/27- Steve Coleman Happy Anniversary Kerry & Jan Hines 12/01 Mike & Barbara Davis 12/26 Randy & Becky Shipp 12/29 Phyllis Beason 12/01 Jean Mason 12/02 Brenda Heightchew 12/03 Melody Rose Mills 12/04 Jennifer Davis 12/05 Karen Johnson 12/07 Joyce Sturgill 12/09 Jesseka Ritchie 12/11 Helen Davis 12/14 Tim Luscher 12/14 Marvin Polsgrove 12/15 Mason Porter 12/19 Eric Eisiminger 12/20 Tom Luscher 12/21 Greta Smith 12/21 Meghan Martin 12/21 Sara Barbour 12/23 Cyrus Richie 12/25 Carmen Thompson 12/28 Courtney Woodyard 12/28 Jared Eisiminger 12/31 Sandy Lightle 12/31 Children's Message Schedule The schedule for the Children's Message and Discovery Kids is posted on the bulletin board. Please sign up for any Sunday that you feel led to do the message and/or Discovery Kids. We encourage more people to take part in this very important ministry. You may speak with Jennifer Davis for more information. 12/6- Mary Martin 12/13- Shelley Green 12/20- Marti Booth 12/27- Pastor Donna Aros

6 ACOLYTE SCHEDULE Dec 6- Jennifer and Giselle Chavez-White Sashes-All Saints Day Dec 13- Katie Axon and Reagan Davis- Green Sashes in Kingdomtide Dec 20- Audrey Davis and Maddie Green- Green Sashes in Kingdomtide Dec 27 - Jennifer and Giselle Chavez- White Sashes- Christ the King Sunday Tuesday December 1, 2015 Come to St. Paul at 6pm for a light supper and stay for a unique, bilingual service of Holy Communion, which starts around 7pm. This program is offered on the First Tuesday of each month in English and Spanish. Music Garten Schedule Thursdays at 10am St. Paul UMC Children 3-5 years old Tell friends and neighbors!! We need volunteers to help Sandra each Thursday for about an hour. (One each day) Please contact me jben549@gmail.com- Jo Bennett Altar Flowers 12/6 Linda Axon (Communion) 12/13 Linda Axon 12/20 Joan Burklow 12/27 Marti Booth Congregation members are welcome to provide flowers for the altar table on any Sunday. If you would like to provide altar flowers please contact the worship committee member designated for the date of your choice. Also, please contact the church office so your flower donation can be printed in the bulletin

7 All men are invited to attend the UMM breakfast and meeting on Saturday, December 5th, at 8 am. All officers are encouraged to attend the Ad Council meeting on Sunday, December 13th, at 3 pm. The UMM would like to thank all those that donated to help defray the cost of ingredients for the burgoo. Again, Thank You. Why This Jubilee?: Advent Reflections on Songs of the Season by James C. Howell This book will guide our discussion and prayers on the four Tuesdays in December before Christmas December 1, 8, 15 and 22. Pick up a copy in the narthex and join in reading the short daily entries and gather to share your favorites with the group once a week Tuesdays at 1pm. Here is an excerpt from the Introduction: Advent perches on the border between light and darkness We suffer much loss, but we persevere. We are sad, but we need not despair. Life is there as is death always. Light shines brightest when it breaks out of the shadows. So come, let us adore him.

8 THE CHRISTMAS STORY In Carols and Poetry A Christmas Cantata presented by the Chancel Choir and Power Choir Sunday, December 20 during the 11:00 am service This is a moving rendition of the familiar Christmas Story by Marty Parks incorporating familiar as well as new songs, some that are outbursts of celebration and some which are softer, more introspective creations, woven together with exquisite poetry by Debra Grubbs. Nursery News - "A picture is worth a thousand words..." In order to fully appreciate the changes going on in the nursery, I would invite you as a congregation to look in the nursery for yourself. There has been extensive painting, furniture removed and a nursery organizer installed. We're not done yet! For Epiphany Sunday in January, there will be a special dedication service for all the nursery workers and team. We will have a special prayer that God would bless our congregation with some little ones. Also, plans are in the works for a outreach ministry for young mothers. "Even the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, Where she may lay her young-" Psalm 84:3

9 SUN 6 Sunday School 9:50 AM Worship 11:00 AM Play Practice 5pm MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 Small Group pm NA 7pm First Tuesday at the table 7 8 Small Group 1pm NA 7PM 2 Bible Study 6:30pm Bells 7:30 9 Bible Study 6:30pm Bell 7:30 3 Musik Garten 10am 10 Musik Garten 10am 4 NA 7pm 11 NA 7 PM 5 UMM Breakfast at 8am 12 UMW 10am Piano Recital/SPorter from 2-4pm Sunday School 9:50 Abide AM Team Worship Dinner 11 AM Play Practice 5pm Ad Council 3pm 20 Sunday School 9:50 AM Worship 11:00 AM Play at 6pm Christmas Cantata 15 Small Group 1pm NA 7PM Small Group 1pm NA 7pm 16 Bible Study 6:30pm Bells 7:30 23 Bible Study 6:30pm Bells 7:30 17 Musik Garten 10am 24 Christmas Eve 18 NA 7 PM Ricki G Girlscout Troop 25 Christmas Day Sunday School 9:50 AM Small Group 1pm Worship 11:00 AM NA 7pm Play Practice 5pm 30 Bible Study 6:30pm Bells 7:

10 The Epistle St. Paul United Methodist Church 1800 Louisville Road Frankfort, KY Sunday Schedule for St. Paul. Fellowship 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:50 a.m. Worship 11:00 a.m. Power Choir 5:30 p.m. Chancel Choir 6:30 p.m.

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