The Beacon Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and His name shall be called Emmanuel (which means, God with us). Matthew 1:23 The Newsle er of St. Paul s UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST McConnellsburg Trinity UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Fort Loudon DECEMBER 2015 Christmas Eve Services St. Paul s at 6:00 p.m. Trinity at 8:00 p.m. CHRISTMAS COOKIES: Donations of homemade cookies are needed to fill cookie tins for shut-ins and friends of St. Paul s on Sunday, Dec. 6. Cookies will also be shared for the luncheon that day and any that are left over will be donated to the Fulton Co. Med Auxiliary for their Cookie/Bake/Craft Sale on Friday December 11. The Fort Loudon-McConnellsburg Charge of the United Church of Christ 228 North 2nd Street McConnellsburg, PA 17233 STAMP
Pastor s Message As the years go by, it seems to me that Advent/ Christmas comes around every 4 or 5 months. As a child it seemed to me that the annual Christmas Celebrations took forever to arrive. From either perspective, Christmas is almost here and during the next four weeks of Advent, we will celebrate Christmas, 2015. Have you ever wondered why we celebrate four weeks of Advent prior to Christmas Day? The four Sundays prior to Christmas Eve, known as Advent, provides a time to "prepare for the Christ-child's birth". It allows us in busy America to slow down a little and focus clearly on the gift of Emmanuel- which means "God with us". The Christmas Season (even though it now begins around Halloween for merchants) can be stressful, sad, tiring and expensive. On the other hand the Christmas Season can be reassuring, joyful, exciting and reasonable. During this next month we will explore the present day understanding of Emmanuel - "God with us". As a part of the season we will sing favorite Christmas Carols, the children at St. Paul's will participate with the Joyful Noise Band allowing us to once again see the excitement of the Christmas event through the eyes of children. The Christmas Eve services at St. Paul's (6:00 pm) and Trinity (8:00pm) will include the traditions of communion and lighting of the candles to recognize and honor the Christ-child. And who knows, with the decorations, lights, special music and the focus on God's presence among us...you might even hear angels singing about something God has decided - and to us in Central Pennsylvania is born this day in the City of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2: 8). Pastor Tussing Pastor Tussing Dr. Merritt read in Touching Lives Broadcast. This was originally written by Jason Lehman a 14 year old boy. PRESENT TENSE. IT WAS SPRING... BUT IT WAS SUMMER I WANTED. THE WARM DAYS, AND THE GREAT OUTDOORS. IT WAS SUMMER, BUT IT WAS FALL I WANTED, THE COLORFUL LEAVES, AND THE COOL, DRY AIR. IT WAS FALL, BUT IT WAS WINTER I WANTED, THE BEAUTIFUL SNOW, AND THE JOY OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON. IT WAS WINTER, BUT IT WAS SPRING I WANTED, THE WARMTH AND THE BLOSSOMING OF NATURE. I WAS A CHILD, BUT IT WAS ADULTHOOD I WANTED, THE FREEDOM AND RESPECT. I WAS 20, BUT IT WAS 30 I WANTED, TO BE MATURE, AND SOPHISTICATED. I WAS MIDDLE-AGED, BUT IT WAS 20 I WANTED, THE YOUTH AND THE FREE SPIRIT. I WAS RETIRED, BUT IT WAS MIDDLE AGE I WANTED, THE PRESENCE OF MIND, WITHOUT LIMITATIONS. MY LIFE WAS OVER. BUT I NEVER GOT WHAT I WANTED. Submied by Mary Haubrick
Trinity s Consistory Notes Trinity consistory met on November 10, 2015. Opening prayer was given by Pastor Tussing followed by the reading and approving of the minutes. It was noted that Sam Burns helped Lana Pine hand out Halloween candy at the church. The Treasurer's report was approved. The Deacons will schedule a (me and date to meet to work on the 2016 budget. The trustees reported that there is no longer a sink hole in the cemetery. Sam Rotz got the dirt and Glenn Crouse and Cooper Cessna helped fix the hole as a Ruritan project. The Evangelism Commi3ee reported the following upcoming events: The Thanksgiving Eve service will be held at the Freedom Lighthouse following a meal of soup, dessert and drink which begins at 5:30. Trinity choir will be singing. November 29th will be the day to bring cookies to church for packaging for the truck stop ministry for Christmas. December 1st is the Women's Christmas party hosted by the Methodist Church in their basement at 6:00 p.m. December 13th will be the Christmas caroling at the Shook Home at 2:00 p.m. December 16th at 6:00 p.m. there will be a community gathering at Trinity including soup and sandwiches followed by singing Christmas carols in the sanctuary. Trinity's Christmas Eve service is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. A copy of the Pastor's Report was presented for the period of October 14- November 10, 2015. Under old business, Linda Best has gone over the informa(on about the safe church policy. She feels that we need this policy but that we need to go over the informa(on in detail before pu?ng the policy into place. The search commi3ee is working on the final correc(ons for our church profile. Rosie Shives will be the first person on the list for weather cancella(ons and will start the phone calls as needed. We will begin looking for nominees for the consistory. Under other business, Trinity received 2 cer(ficates at the Mercersburg Associa(on mee(ng. One was for our 100% payment for the 2014 church assessment to the Mercersburg Associa(on. The other one was for 2014 Our Church's Wider Mission payment of our commi3ed total. With no further business, the mee(ng was adjourned with the praying of our Lord's Prayer. Submi3ed by Kathy Hess, Trinity Secretary ***Time for year end reports, dates will be in the bulle3n Announcements***
TRINITY S FINANCIAL UPDATE Month Received Budget to Date Expended to Jan. Oct. $51,712.13 $60,555.80 $47,997.87 January Beacon ar3cle deadline is DECEMBER 21. Nov. 1-24 $ 5,403.18 $ 5,123.88 $ 4,475.38 TOTAL YTD $57,115.31 $65,679.68 $52,473.25 Secretary - Pam Carmack buckpcar@embarqmail.com (717)-485-4795 St. Paul s UCC 228 N Second Street, McConnellsburg, PA 17233 (717)-485-5554***mcbucc@embarqmail.com Facebook & www.uccmccbg.weebly.com Trinity UCC P.O. Box 253 13189 Main Street, Fort Loudon, PA 17224 (717)-369-4773***trinityuccIloudon.webs.com www.pccucc.org (Penn Central Conference) www.ucc.org DECEMBER 2015 Tuesday, December 1 Sunday, December 6 Tuesday, December 8 Wednesday, December 9 Sunday, December 13 Tuesday, December 15 Trinity Ladies Christmas Party, 6:30 p.m., at United Methodist Church. Sign up on the hall table St. Paul s Fellowship lunch and Hanging of the Greens. Men needed!!! Trinity Consistory meet at 7:00 p.m. St. Paul s Church Women United meet at 7:00 p.m. Trinity Caroling at Shook Home at 2:00 p.m. Trinity Change Collec(on for Hartman Center St. Paul s Consistory meet at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday December 16 Trinity Community Carol Service Soup and Sandwiches at 6:00, Worship follows at Trinity Sunday, December 20 Thursday, December 24 Trinity Christmas Program during morning worship Trinity Building Fund Offering St. Paul s Christmas Eve Service at 6:00 p.m. Trinity Christmas Eve Service at 8:00 p.m.
St. Paul s United Church of Christ Consistory Meeting November 17, 2015 Members present were Loy Garber, Seleen Shives, Carol Mellott, Kirk Cover, Pam Carmack, John Glazier, Donna House, Hillary Alexander. Pastor Keith Tussing was present and opened with a Litany prayer. Minutes from the previous meeting were approved as presented on a Carol and Seleen motion. Treasurer s report was reviewed and approved, as presented, on a Hillary and Donna motion. Treasurer s report is attached to these minutes in the church office. Loy requested information from Denise on funds for church repairs we have spent $1763.05; $1227.00 was the new fuel tank, electrical work $122.60, plumbing $89.25, sign $120.00, computer $204.20. Bill to be paid for the new hot water heater from the general fund, $510.15 was approved on a Seleen and Donna motion. A motion from Donna and Hillary for Denise to return $100.00 to the Memorial fund from an uncashed check. Loy presented The Changing Religious Landscape to start thinking about the preserving of this church. This survey was taken from data from 2014. A copy is attached to these minutes. A good discussion was had about the reasons that people don t make attending church a priority. Hillary suggested a game night with silent auction as a fund raiser for the Sunday school kids. Hillary and Linda Garber will get together for planning. Consistory is in support of this project. Pastor Tussing presented his report and touched on the Mercersburg Association Fall Meeting, he brought back from the meeting two certificates for St. Paul s contributions to the conference. Fuel oil tracking was reviewed, a copy is attached, we are tracking the gallons used and the price paid. Memorial Fund amount of $200.00 was not donated to any cause. Search committee has submitted the church profile to the conference, we are waiting for Trinity to submit theirs. Nominations for consistory are being sought, Kirk is willing to serve another term. We need to have a complete slate of nominations for the Congregational meeting in January. Pastor Tussing asked for suggestions to the service, he is open to things we would like to try. Our Christmas Eve service is at 6:00 p.m. Meeting was adjourned on a John and Kirk motion, by all praying The Lord s Prayer. Respectfully submitted Total Income for October, 2015 $ 4,289.28 Pam Carmack Total Expenses for October, 2015 $ 3,019.31 Interest Earned for October, 2015 $ 1.97 NET GAIN $ 1,271.94 ***Time for year end reports, dates will be in the bulle3n Announcements***
2 Jennifer Brubaker 4 John Duffey 7 David Brubaker Daryl Heckman 8 Terry Pine 10 Be3y Keefer Tina Wood 12 Roger Higgins 14 Ronald Bricker Paul Dietrich Mary Ellen O3 16 Judy Dietrich 20 Seleen Shives 21 Ethan Barclay 23 Be3y Newman 30 Mark Crouse John Hornbaker Karen Fox 31 John Burns Trinity s Ushers: Rosie Shives and John Hornbaker Bertha Byers Be3y Daniels Dorothy and Paul Stevens Gary Stevens Gene, Elsie and Barb Bricker Joyce and Thurman Hassler Military and families Sponsored Children: Adrianus, Marc Philip, Thierry, Marcela Zeis family Jean McLucas Diane Baxter Rosie Shives and Family Kylene McLucas Arwood Elaine Armstrong Nancy Barmont All individuals and families affected by cancer All Sunday school classes Our Church & it s ministries If you have any addions or correcons to the prayer list or the birthday list, please contact the church office. St. Paul s Ushers: Dave and Ruth Brubaker