Oak Hill United Methodist Church

Transcription

1 Oak Hill United Methodist Church Where everyone is a minister Volume December 16, 2016 There s a special Christmas service just for you at Oak Hill UMC! Christmas is coming, and Oak Hill UMC offers a variety of services to match your schedule and worship preferences! Tuesday, Dec p.m. Blue Christmas. A space for worship when grief accompanies Christmas. Christmas Eve, Dec p.m. Family Worship. Children of all ages are encouraged to attend this service that tells the story of the Nativity. Wear a costume of a character or animal! 7 p.m. Traditional Worship. If you love the music of Christmas, this candlelight service is for you. Our chancel choir will be performing a cantata with a congregational singalong. Child care is available if desired. Mark your calendars for the retirement party honoring Pastor Suzanne Steves! Sunday, Jan.15, 2017 after the late service Children s Building Great Room Sunday, December 18 8:45 & 11:15 a.m. Worship Services Pastor Jim Roberts Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6 10:00 a.m. Pathways Service Pastor Katy Fitzgold Prince of Peace Luke 10:3-6 Sunday, December a.m. Worship Service Pastor Pam Sheffield The Christmas Connection Romans 5:1-5 Sunday, January 1 10 a.m. Worship Service Pastor Katy Fitzgold By Another Road Matthew 2: p.m. Contemporary Worship. The Pathways Band will perform and lead us in this service, which will include Communion and candlelight. 11 p.m. Candlelight Worship. This late-night candlelight service is the calming finale to a busy day. Communion will be offered. Christmas Day, Dec a.m. Blended Worship. Carefully step over the presents, pets, and wrapping paper and join us for a celebration led by Pastor Pam! The chancel choir will be on hand for a reprise of your favorite Christmas carols. Have you turned in your pledge? If you have not turned in your 2017 pledge, it s extremely important that we hear from you soon. Oak Hill UMC counts on the pledges of its members to support our ministries, missions, and programming. Your pledge supports staff salaries as well. There will be pledge cards in the pew backs. Please take a moment to fill one out and place it in the offering Sunday. You may also our Financial Administrator, Angie Bragg, at angie@oakhillumc.org. Let her know the amount you intend to give for God s work in Lay-Led Worship & Communion - 6:15 p.m. Dec. 21: No service Dec. 28: No service 7815 Highway 290 W. Austin, Texas Pastors Jim Roberts, Pam Sheffield & Katy Fitzgold

2 Family Christmas Eve service Everyone is invited to join us for our 5 p.m. Family Christmas Eve Service. This service is especially child-friendly and is affectionately known as Bedlam in Bethlehem. All children are encouraged to come dressed as a Nativity character or animal and participate in the service. (Some costume pieces will be available, but you are encouraged to bring your own so we ll have some to offer our guests). At the close of the service, all families with babies born in the last year will be invited to gather around the manger up front. Following this service there will be birthday cake for Jesus in Fellowship Hall. Bring your family, your friends and neighbors, and join us! Reminder! No children s Sunday School classes Dec. 25 or Jan. 1. Classes will resume Jan. 8. Children s News Youth News The children s choirs had a party to celebrate Christmas and The Incredible Adam Angel. Created by God will begin in January for 5th and 6th graders Created by God is our course on human sexuality from a Christian perspective. It is for 5th and 6th graders and their parents. This year s course is January Details will be ed to all families with 5th and 6th graders. To find out more or to save a spot for your child, please contact Jennifer Barkis at jennifer@barkisbrothers.com. Ugly sweaters and fun gifts will be at our potluck party! Bring your parents, your favorite dish to share, your ugliest sweater, and a white elephant gift! Christmas comes a week early as we celebrate with friends, food, and festivity. Don t miss it Sunday, Dec. 18, from 5 7 p.m. December events for you... Winter Break party at Altitude on Wednesday,.. Dec. 21, at 6 p.m. (We ll meet you there!) Pre-New Year s Eve party at the Crows house..on Friday, Dec. 30, from 5 8 p.m. Oak Hill UMC still accepting applications for youth director The deadline for submitting resumes has been extended. Resumes should be ed to jobs@oakhillumc.org. More information about the fulltime position is available on our website at No youth activities on Christmas Day or New Year s Day

3 December 4 Sunday School: 207 ReCharge: 34 8:45: :00: 82 11:15: 220 Legacy Oaks/Affinity: 36 Total in Worship: 486 Our Presence Our Gifts December 4 General Fund: $59,256 Building Fund: $388 Deaf Ministry: $25 Endowment Fund: $100 Endowment Grant: $3,200 Memorial Fund: $175 Missions - LA Flood: $927 UMCOR - Flood: $100 Agape Christmas Mkt: $5,335 UMW Manna Bags: $168 UMW Fair Trade: $220 Our Prayers December 11 Sunday School: 205 ReCharge: 26 8:45: :00: :15: 262 Legacy Oaks/Affinity: 63 Total in Worship: 660 December 11 General Fund: $21,984 Building Fund: $200 Deaf Ministry: $300 Endowment Fund: $500 Memorial Fund: $50 Agape Christmas Mkt: $5,248 UMW Fair Trade: $14 Annette (Jeannine Inbody s sister) Casey Barho (Eddie and Rae Barho s nephew) Andy Deskins Mike Eide and family (on the passing of Mike s father) Cathy Heath (on the passing of her mother) Mary Beth Gartner Emily Glover Alicia Gonzales (Leticia Marquez s mother) Jody Hanna Gary Jenson Diana Nelson Will Pannabecker Karen Roets George Shineldecker Robert Watts, Sr. Nelda White (on the passing of her brother) Violet Wilson (Beth Kells mother-in-law) Calling all men! Oak Hill UMC Men s Retreat is Jan Be sure to hold the dates for our 2017 Men s Retreat, Jan , Friday night and Saturday morning. We re again at the refurbished 7a Ranch in Wimberley. We ll have a great time of fellowship, and Chet Miles is already planning a steak dinner for Friday night. More details to follow, but you may contact Steve Reese at steve.reese@utexas.edu, (512) , for more information. HELP! Volunteers needed NOW for Wednesday night dinners! Please check out the sign-up calendar for our spring dinners in Fellowship Hall. Spots are open! If you have questions or you d like to help with a team, but would rather not lead one, please contact Pastor Katy at katy@oakhillumc.org. We need your commitment ASAP. Dec. 20 Blue Christmas begins Oak Hill UMC Christmas services The first Christmas without a loved one. A season of unemployment and financial hardship. The struggle of living with a devastating illness. There are times in life when the joy and celebration of the Christmas season either forces us to paint on a fake smile while weeping inside or leads us to avoid church altogether. The Blue Christmas service, (often referred to as the Longest Night ), is an intentional space of worship in the midst of everyone else s joy where those grieving can come as they are, tears included. Join us at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20. Wednesday group begins 2017 with a four-session book study The Wednesday A.M. study group will resume meeting after the holidays with a study of The Faith of a Mockingbird, written by Rev. Matt Rawls. It will begin at 10 a.m. Jan. 11 in Room 201. Ramona Boughan will lead the four-session study, which will help to discover your world, God s world, and the world of Atticus Finch. All women of the church are welcome! To ensure enough seating space and hand-outs, we need to know who plans to attend. Please call Gail Jones, (512) , or gjones1342@aol.com on or before Monday, Jan. 2. Church members can help six families have a Merry Christmas Six families in the valley (gifts need to be shipped) are still on our Angel Tree. These might very well be the only gifts that the children receive and they will be coming from their incarcerated parent via the loving membership of Oak Hill UMC.

4 New ministry targets young members who have left the nest Do you have a member of your family who has recently graduated from high school and is attending college or building their career? If so, we want to know about them. Starting a new ministry that reaches out further than this community, Oak Hill UMC wants to show support to those who have left the nest and have started a new adventure away from home. We want to start first with sending them goodie bags, we miss you notes, and a birthday card. And, if you want to volunteer to help, that would be wonderful, too. To share your student s/career family member s name, current address, and birthday (as well as noting any food allergies), please contact Pastor Pam at (512) or pam@oakhillumc.org. Starting in February, we will build the goodie bags and ship them out. Celebrate the new year and Epiphany at 10 a.m. on Jan. 1 Don t miss the annual visit by the Magi as we mark the new year and Epiphany Sunday! Holy Communion will be served, the Pathways Band will provide music, and Pastor Katy will give the message. Remember just one service on Jan. 1. We ll see you there! Feb. 2 Emmaus Gathering will be held at Oak Hill UMC Emmaus Gatherings scheduled for the beginning of 2017 include the February event at Oak Hill UMC. Here is more information: Jan. 5, 2017 First UMC, Austin. Pot luck dinner at 6 p.m. Worship starts at 7:15 p.m. 4th Day speaker TBA. The gathering is a reunion for: Walk #480 (1/11/1996, Mt. Wesley, Kerrville, LD Deborah Berkey Wilder), Walk #491 (3/7/1996, Omega Center, Boerne, LD Gail Gourley), Walk #1140 (3/25/2004, Highland Lakes, LD Diane Albin), and Walk #1152 (5/13/2004, Mt. Wesley, Kerrville, LD Wade Lindstrom). Feb. 2, 2017 Oak Hill UMC. Pot luck dinner at 6 p.m. Worship starts at 7:15 p.m. 4th Day speaker TBA. The gathering is a reunion for: Walk #504 (5/16/1996, Omega Center, Boerne, LD Don Roets), Walk #513 (7/18/1996, Omega Center, Boerne, LD Ralph Rash), and Walk #1161 (7/29/2004, Omega Center, Boerne, LD Sherry Wilkison). For more information, contact Alana Oehler at (512) or also@austin.rr.com. Pastors Pam, Katy, and Jim display their running form and rugged determination at the Trail of Lights Fun Run, held Dec. 3 at Zilker Park. At right is the Oak Hill UMC team, the Short Circuits.

5 Studies cover finances, the Gospels, and Old Testament prophets Sign up in the narthex and plan for a Spring 2017 that will bring deeper understanding! If you have questions about any of the classes, please contact Pastor Pam at pam@oakhillumc.org. Financial Peace Sundays, Feb. 12 April 16 5:30 7 p.m. This is a step-by-step program of personal financial wisdom, freeing you from debt, building wealth, and becoming a better steward of what God has given you. Learn the skills it takes to be a better money manager. Program is video led by Dave Ramsey and facilitated by Mike Sheffield. Disciple Study: Jesus in the Gospels Thursdays, Mid-January April 7 9 p.m. Led by Sandra Fudge, this two-part class will help connect Scripture to your daily life through this study and observation. Learn the similarities and differences in the Gospel stories. This is a 30-week class and will consist of 15 weeks this spring and another 15 weeks in the fall. You will be signing up for the entire class. The cost is $55 and covers all materials. Disciple Bible III: Remember Who You Are Mondays, Jan. 23 Mid-May 6:30 9 p.m. The driving idea in this study is the connection between memory and identity as the people of God. The word You in the title is meant to be heard individually and communally. Students will read the major and minor Old Testament prophets, with the exception of Daniel, and will read the 13 letters traditionally attributed to Paul. This class is led by Gary Mann and is 32 weeks. It will break for summer but resume in the fall. Cost for the materials is $40. Oak Hill 101 begins Jan. 8 Join us at 10 a.m. or 11:15 a.m. Jan. 8 for Oak Hill 101. If you want to learn more about Methodism and more about Oak Hill UMC, this once-a-month class is for you. For more information, please contact Pastor Pam at pam@oakhillumc.org or call (512) Thank you, church! I personally appreciated so much your special Sunday events that brought attention to our ministry offerings at OHUMC. Kudos to everyone who organized and set up these events, one after another. First, the Ministries Fair Visual displays along with the opportunities to talk to someone and sign up made all the difference to me. And the Missions Sunday After hearing Keith speak about ARCH (Austin Resource Center for the Homeless), my husband and I signed on the dotted line to help. Then, the Agape Christmas Market Wonderful, successful new idea. As a result, we are helping with the Angel Tree Project this year. Our commitments would have probably not happened if you hadn't had these presentations and the focus on service. Jobs well done everyone. Thank you from The Allisons. Christmas carols filled the air Sunday, Dec. 4, as two groups from Oak Hill UMC visited area senior living communities. Pictured above are the singers who visited Englewood Estates. A group of youth and youth leaders also visited Legacy Oaks. Thanks to everyone who participated and shared the gift of music! Save the Dates! Church Council Meeting Jan. 22 UMW Women s Retreat Feb

6 Hugs Project volunteers send Christmas cheer to troops This is a special thank you to all the persons supporting the Hugs Project with donations and prayers for the troops in the Mideast. Because of you we were able to send a total of 22 boxes containing Christmas cards (four large, flat-rate boxes) and 388 filled Christmas stockings and other useful items (18 boxes). The following is a quote from one of the chaplains who received the boxes: Please extend my greetings and gratitude on behalf of all our soldiers here to your team and the Oak Hill United Methodist Women. Please thank your pastor and all the parishioners for your much-appreciated and much welcomed and much requested prayers...thank you for all you have done...to boost morale and to show love and care to our troops. We all certainly feel your hugs from back home. We couldn t do what we do without knowing we have the support and prayers of folk like you and your team. Thank you... Dear Church Family, Words cannot express how grateful we are for the thoughts, prayers, and well wishes with which you blessed us during Gary s recent surgery and recovery. We could feel your prayers working daily and felt enveloped by a sense of peace, knowing that we weren t walking through this alone. God is good! Blessings, Gary and Carla Jenson Stephen Ministers can help when your days aren t merry and bright For some people the holiday season can be a very difficult time of year. It is a time of sadness, loneliness, and hopelessness; a time of self-evaluation and reflecting about the past; and a time of anxiety about the new year to come. Those who have lost loved ones, separated from loved ones, or dealing with health issues can find it to be a very blue time. With the current state of the economy and unemployment rates, many people are likely to be feeling the financial blues, too. Too much pressure from the season brings on stress and depression. Whatever you are feeling, a Stephen Minister is available to you for prayer after every church service. You will find one in the front pew waiting to listen, hold your hand, give a welcome hug, and extend God s love through prayer with you. Alexander Hamilton is the subject of the UMW Book Club Our January UMW Book Club selection is Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. It is an award-winning book that reveals much about our country s early history and the brilliance, and personal struggles, of one of our Founding Fathers. It s a long book, but perfect for winter reading. Please join us for our next meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at Panera Bread on William Cannon. Please contact Diana Goodloe at or dianagoodloe@gmail.com if you have questions. Agape Christmas Market purchases can be made through Dec. 18! Look for the table in Fellowship Hall between Sunday morning services. Choose gifts from Habitat for Humanity, Heifer International and more!

7 Oak Hill UMC Calendar of Events For the latest calendar info: Saturday, December 17 9:30 AM Reunion Group, A102 Sunday, December 18 8:45 AM Blended Worship Service, Sanctuary 9:00 AM B.A.S.I.C. Sunday School Class, A201 Agape Christmas Market, Fellowship Hall 9:15 AM Legacy Oaks Worship, Legacy Oaks 10:00 AM Pathways Worship Service, Sanctuary Sunday School, Adult Ed. Bldg, Children s Bldg, FH 11:15 AM Seven Sunday School Class, A102 Traditional Worship Service, Sanctuary 1:00 PM Brownie Troop 1822 Meeting, Children s Building 5:00 PM Youth and Family Christmas Party, Fellowship Hall 5:30 PM Advent Study, A Monday, December 19 10:00 AM Dorcas Quilters, A203 6:00 PM Emmaus Reunion Group, A102 6:30 PM Bell Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary and Choir Room 7:00 PM Boy Scout Troop 505 Meeting, Fellowship Hall Tuesday, December 20 5:30 PM Kids Acting Studio, Choir Room 5:45 PM Yoga Class, A206 6:30 PM Stephen Ministry Meeting, A203, A102 7:00 PM Blue Christmas Service, Sanctuary Wednesday, December 21 No dinner tonight No ReCharge service tonight 4:30 PM Emmaus Reunion Group, A102 5:30 PM Emmaus Group, A204 6:15 PM Music Rehearsal, Choir Room 7:00 PM Chancel Choir Rehearsal, Choir Room 8:00 PM Praise Band Rehearsal, Sanctuary Thursday, December 22 Friday, December 23 7:00 AM Emmaus Reunion Group, A102 10:00 AM Knitting Class, A102 Saturday, December 24 9:30 AM Reunion Group, A102 5:00 PM Family Worship, Sanctuary 7:00 PM Traditional Worship, Sanctuary 9:00 PM Contemporary Worship, Sanctuary 11:00 PM Candlelight Worship, Sanctuary Sunday, December 25 No children s Sunday School No youth activities 9:15 AM Legacy Oaks Worship, Legacy Oaks 10:00 AM Churchwide Worship Service, Sanctuary Monday, December 26 6:00 PM Emmaus Reunion Group, A102 6:30 PM Bell Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary, Choir Room 7:00 PM Boy Scout Troop 505 Meeting, Fellowship Hall Tuesday, December 27 Youth movie marathon at the Salleys house 5:45 PM Yoga Class, A206 Wednesday, December 28 No choir rehearsal tonight No dinner tonight No ReCharge service tonight 4:30 PM Emmaus Reunion Group, A102 5:30 PM Emmaus Group, A204 8:00 PM Praise Band Rehearsal, Sanctuary Thursday, December 29 Friday, December 30 Pre-New Year s Eve party at the Crows house 7:00 AM Emmaus Reunion Group, A102 10:00 AM Knitting Class, A102 Saturday, December 31 9:30 AM Emmaus Reunion Group, A102 Issue Submission Deadline January 6 January 2 January 20 January 16

8 The Cornerstone (USPS ) is published by Oak Hill United Methodist Church at 7815 Hwy. 290 W., Austin, TX POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Cornerstone, 7815 Hwy. 290 W., Austin, TX This newsletter issues semi-monthly. Subscription rate: $12/year. OHUMC office hours are 9 a.m. -5 p.m. M-Th and 9 a.m.-noon Friday. Submit announcements and articles to cornerstone@oakhillumc.org. Oak Hill United Methodist Church 7815 Highway 290 West Austin, TX Ministers All members of Oak Hill UMC Pastors Jim Roberts Pam Sheffield Katy Fitzgold Financial Administrator Angie Bragg Facilities Administrator Billy Keating Director of Communications Don Kerr Pathways Worship Leader Greg Graham Handbell Choir Director & Accompanist Cathy Ingersoll Director of Music Ministries Suzanne Pence Associate Director of Music Ministries Kati Cox Director of Children s Ministries Suzanne Steves Director of Preschool Ministries Jennifer Barkis Office Manager Kathy Williamson CelebrateChristmas AT OAK HILL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Blue Christmas A space for worship when grief accompanies Christmas Tuesday, Dec. 20, 7 pm Christmas Eve 5 pm Family Celebration 7 pm Traditional Worship*+ 9 pm Pathways Contemporary Worship*~ 11 pm Candlelight Worship*~ * Candlelight ~ Communion + Interpreted for the Deaf Christmas Day 10 am Combined Worship New Year s Day/Epiphany Sunday 10 am Combined Worship For more information, visit