The Mountain Messenger How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger. - Isaiah 52:7A

S t . Pa u l ' s U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h Matthew Paugh, Pastor Home Phone 301.453.3405 Cell Phone 301.501.0572 E-mail—[email protected]

Matthew’s Musings When we approach the seasons of Advent and Christmas, there is sometimes a tendency to treat these observances as routine. After all, the plot is always the same. The elements of the story never change. Each year we light candles. Each year they lead us to the nativity. Each year we encounter the same cast of characters. But these seasons are anything but predictable, everyday, or ordinary. It all starts with the season of Advent, an opportunity to begin again. As we embark on a new journey through the Christian year, we once again commence remembering, retelling, and celebrating the whole drama of God’s revelation. Based on the Latin word “coming,” Advent proclaims the coming of Christ in the birth of Jesus, in the Word and Spirit, and in final victory when God’s kingdom shall be complete. As Christians, our task involves preparing for Christ’s coming, so that we will not miss life’s greatest gift. Sometimes the hype and clichés of the season can distract us. Clever marketing efforts can make us desire tangible things – things that we can hold in our hands and savor as gifts. But advertising hype and catchy slogans can’t answer the deep questions of the heart. They can’t explain the mystery of God’s presence or help us comprehend the meaning of our existence. Yet all these gifts are promised to us in the Advent season. Advent promises the greatest gift: God’s intervention into human history. That can’t be contained in Christmas light displays or exchanging presents. Advent communicates the message that all humankind is embraced. We are all held close by a God of love. Jesus Christ has come, is present with us now, and will come again in final victory when all darkness, pain, and evil will be more. After four Sundays, Advent, the season of preparation and expectancy, will give way to Christmas. We will join the angel chorus in singing, “Christ the Savior is born.” Christmas allows us to talk about God in terms we can understand. Because of Jesus, we can make sense of our lives. Because of Christmas, we can understand who we are, where come from, and where we are going. Earlier in the fall we studied Colossians in our morning worship services. In that book, Paul describes Jesus this way: “He is the image of the invisible God … in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things …” (1:15-20).

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When we look at the created world, it helps us understand the unknowability of God who has fashioned a creation billions of light years in size. I don’t know about you, but my mind can’t grasp the vastness and the complexity of such a creation, let alone the Creator who brought it all into existence. Were we left with just creation, we might feel that God is distant, uncaring, and unapproachable. But when Jesus appears, he reveals this transcendent God. God becomes near, loving, and approachable. Now we know that God understands us, and we can begin to understand God. The birth of Jesus allows us to experience God with us and within us. Moses was told not to look on the face of God (Exod. 33:20), but Jesus said that we see God when we see Jesus (John 14:9). The great mystery of God unfolds in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Now we know who we are: we are God’s beloved children. Now we know to whom we belong: we belong to our faithful redeemer. Now we know where we are going in our journey of life: we are going to a place prepared for us. That’s why the Christmas story represents such good, good news – because it holds the key to unlocking the deepest mysteries of our lives. What a gift! During this Advent season as we prepare for Christ’s coming and during the Christmas season as we celebrate Christ’s coming, let’s not settle for the usual, the same old same old. There’s a Christmas prayer that asks that we may celebrate anew the joy of the Messiah’s birth. That is my prayer for each of you. May the wonder of the familiar story of Advent and Christmas never cease to inspire and amaze you with its priceless gift. Grace and peace,

Epic Bible ADVENTures Join us on the Thursdays during Advent for a time of fellowship and learning as we journey through this season of expectation and anticipation of Christ’s birth. We meet at 5:00 pm for a covered-dish dinner. Then, we have Bible learning and activities for children and youth and a Bible study for the adults on the Christmas story from Matthew’s Gospel. We end by 7:00 pm.

Don’t miss the opportunity to join your Church family for this journey on the following Thursdays: December 1 December 8 December 15 December 22

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Pennies for Mission December 11 - “It’s In the Bag” Pennies for Mission for Sunday, December 11, will go to “It’s in the Bag.” It's in the Bag is growing and needs our help to provide food for at-risk children in Garrett County’s elementary schools. Your gift will help feed a hungry child over the weekend during the school year. Children who are well fed over the weekend show up at school on Monday ready to learn and studies show that these children do better when they are well nourished. It costs $280 to feed a child for the entire school year.

January 8 - UMCOR January 8’s Pennies for Mission offering will benefit the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), a ministry dedicated to alleviating human suffering around the globe. UMCOR’s work includes programs and projects in disaster response, health, relief supplies, and more. UMCOR’s work reaches people in more than eighty countries and provides humanitarian relief when war, conflict, or natural disaster disrupt life to such an extent that communities are unable to recover on their own. UMCOR cooperates with other aid organizations to offer not only temporary relief, but long-term education, training, and support. UMCOR spends 100-percent of designated donations on relief programs and projects. When you give, you join UMCOR as the hands and feet of Christ.

Living Hope High School Update We’ve receiving the following updates from our missions partner in Bungoma, Kenya:   

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The Science Lab has been completed and is being used by the students everyday! Enough new computers have been donated to completely r esupply the school’s Computer Lab. Now all students will have some limited access to learn about computer use.

Christmas is coming! Kenyans celebr ate the bir th of our Savior in a much more serious and less commercial way. Everyone attends church and concentrates on God’s gift of salvation to humankind. The only gifts that are given are possibly new church clothes from parents to children. The Healing Hut is our next pr oject. Not only will this facility ser ve Living Hope students in need of medical care, but we will also treat emergencies in the community. . A local nurse will dispense medication. We hope to have the project done and in use by the end of 2018. If you have any questions about our ministr y, contact us via email at [email protected]. 3

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Annual Christmas Caroling: Men, women, and childr en, please join us on Sunday, December 4, in making a joyful noise and spreading Christmas cheer to local nursing home residents. They light up with delight when we share a song or two and pause to remember them. Bring a friend and share refreshments at the Church after caroling. We will meet at the Church at 3:00 pm. Joy of Christ – What an amazing response to our request for help with this annual community celebration! The items you signed up to bring should be delivered to the Church Kitchen by Sunday, December 4. Remember, St. Paul’s evening of service is Tuesday, December 6, from 5:00-9:00 pm. Your help in serving would be greatly appreciated. Please make an effort to join in the celebration at the Oakland Community Center (the former National Guard Armory) all week on Monday through Friday, December 5-9. All food and events are free. You’ll find friends and neighbors sharing time together. The entertainment schedule is as follows: Monday, December 5 — 6:30 pm - The Faith Boyz Band 7:00 pm - Southern Valley Gospel Tuesday, Demember 6 — 6:30 pm - Sharon Honsaker 7:00 pm - Garrett Highlands Pipes & Drums 7:45 pm - Remley Family Wednesday, December 7 — 6:30 pm - Pleasant View Christmas Band 7:30 pm - Maria Rose & Danny Elswick Thursday, December 8 — 6:30 pm - Teal Steel 7:30 pm - Just 4 Fun Quartet Friday, December 9 — 6:30 pm - Allegany Community Symphony Orchestra 7:30 pm - Closer Look Cookie Walk - This annual fundraiser, sponsored by the United Methodist Women and faithfully supported faithfully by the Church, will be held on Saturday, December 10, from 9:00-11:00 am. Signup sheets are on display in the Church narthex and the kitchen passthrough window. Your support in baking cookies is appreciated. And don’t forget to come out and purchase cookies! Come early for the best selection, and remember to get some for your friends and neighbors! Angel Tree – This is an opportunity for you to share in making a child’s Christmas brighter. “Angel tags” are on the trees in the narthex and fellowship hall. Each tag lists a needed item for a child in our church, community, or Burlington United Methodist Family Services. As an “angel,” your task is to take a tag or two, purchase the item listed on the tag, and return the unwrapped gift with the angel tag attached to the Church office no later than Sunday, December 11. Thank you for your continued support of this annual holiday tradition of giving at St. Paul’s! The Susannah Circle will not meet in December . Our fir st meeting for 2017 will be held on Wednesday, January 4, at 1:00 pm in the Church Library.

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Created by Lloyd Larson Music by Lloyd Larson, Marty Parks, and Jay Rouse According to Larson, “Christmas is a season of joyous sounds. Familiar strains of timeless melodies fill the air in our places of worship, our homes and concert halls, and in the places we shop. It is also a season of stories as we recall meaningful traditions, memorable experiences and joyous family moments. Most importantly, Christmas is the season to revisit and celebrate Christ’s story: the prophecies which pointed to His coming, His birth, and His life. It is the incarnation story which is front and center: God coming to earth to live among us.”

Annual Christmas Program St. Paul’s United Methodist Church Chancel Choir Sunday, December 18, at 3:00 pm

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United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia, Inc.

What is the Foundation? The Foundation began 37 years ago as United Methodist Charities of West Virginia. The Foundation’s mission is to serve united Methodist individuals, families, local churches and Conference–related ministries by raising, managing and distributing funds for the benefit of United Methodist causes in West Virginia and Garrett County, Maryland. How does the Foundation help individuals? The Foundation helps donors answer their calls to ministries of giving by serving as a trustee when necessary, providing life-income gift arrangements, visiting and providing information and education concerning planned giving, estate planning, and opportunities for giving. How does the Foundation help the church?  Custodial Accounts — Custodial accounts can be held at the Foundation. Funds are distributed when the church asks for them with no maturity dates and no penalties for withdrawal. The church can take advantage of the investment management opportunities offered by the Foundation and still have the funds available for current ministry.  Endowment Accounts — An endowment account creates a resource for future ministry. The principal is set aside and invested to provide income. Donors give to an endowment with the confidence that it is a perpetual resource.  Many services — At no cost, the Foundation will help with document preparation, consultations, visits and appointments, service calls, presentations to group or committees or preaching. Tell me more… The Foundation has a staff dedicated to its mission and ministry. Contact any of them for help. Jeff Taylor, President Kim Matthews, Associate Director Sally Sloan, Accounts Administrator Becky Wolfe, Administrative Assistant The Foundation is chartered in the State of West Virginia and has corporate offices in Charleston, West Virginia. A volunteer Board of Trustees provides general guidance and support of the Foundation. Contact the United Methodist Foundation: United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia, Inc. PO Box 3811 ⁕ Charleston, WV 25338-3811 (304) 342-2113 ⁕ Fax: (304) 342-2632 Toll Free: 1-800-788-3746 ext 45 Email: [email protected] ⁕ Web site: www.umfwv.org

Thank you for supporting the radio ministry in 2016! We br oadcast our 10:45 ser vice live on WMSG 1050 AM and WKTZ 95.9 FM. Because of your generous giving, we are able to be in the homes of many in the community who are not able to attend a weekly church service. We are currently accepting sponsorship for the weekly broadcasts in 2017. A full broadcast is $110.00; however, a partial amount of your choice is also welcome. If you feel led to support this ministry, please contact the church office at 301.334.2391. 6

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Excursion to Emmanuel Parish of the Episcopal Church Cumberland, MD St. Paul’s UMC will be embarking on a field trip to Emmanuel Parish of the Episcopal Church in Cumberland on Saturday, January 21. The tour begins at 2:30 p.m. with Mr. Ron Growden, the docent for Emmanuel Church. The tour will cover the history of Fort Cumberland in the mid-18th century, a discussion of the church and its construction in the mid-19th century, a review of the site's participation in the Underground Railroad leading up to the Civil War, and an exploration of the 260 year-old tunnels. Mr. Growden will share the story of Samuel Denson, a slave who came to Cumberland from Mississippi in the early 1850s. Rather than move onto freedom, Mr. Denson decided to stay and help those who came after him. Slaves came into Cumberland via the C&O Canal and stayed in Shanty Town where they remained hidden until Mr. Denson rang the Emmanuel Church bell at the incorrect hour in the middle of the night. The slaves then moved through underground passages under the Emmanuel Church. They remained a day beneath the Church for rest, food, and first aid. Upon nightfall, the slaves moved to the Rectory cellar door where transportation awaited to take them across the Mason-Dixon Line and onto freedom.

Are you intrigued? Join us for this historical, uplifting tour. Dinner will follow at Oscar’s Restaurant in Cumberland. Parking on Washington Street by Emmanuel Church is very limited, so we will meet in the church parking lot at 1:15 p.m. in order to carpool. Please email or call Lois at the Church office ([email protected] or 301.334.2391), if you would like to attend and whether you’ll be car pooling or driving separately. In case of snow, the tour will take place the following Saturday, January 28.

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The Prayer Closet Advent and Christmas mark the beginning of the Church and calendar New Year. These can be difficult days. Less daylight, colder temperatures, and expectations surrounding the holidays can all contribute to feeling stressed and depressed. For many, this is a time of year that reminds them that they are alone. For others, strained family relationships make the holidays difficult. We rush around trying to get presents and get the tree up and decorated. We try to make merry even if we don’t feel like it because we are John Wesley’s Prayer Closet supposed to be merry. It is Christmas, after all. The holidays can certainly be a challenge. But there is good news! The good news is spoken in the name given to the baby in the manger: Emmanuel, God with us. This is the beauty and glory of the story that unfolds through Advent and Christmas; God came to be with us. He came to live life with us. He came to be there with us as we rush around and make merry. He came to be with us in holiday loneliness. He came to be with us in the midst of our difficult family challenges. As we walk through the seasons of Advent and Christmas, may we seek out the face of the One who came to be with us. James 4:8 assures us that when we draw near to God, He draws near to us. This Advent and Christmas season, let us draw near to God even as He draws near to us. We often think we have to follow a prescribed pattern or that we need to have elegant prayers, but He does not need complicated prayers from us. We can simply ask Him to draw near to us or be with us. We can pray His name, Emmanuel. That is a one word prayer that can be spoken in our hearts and minds at any time. And just as His name is a prayer, it is also a promise. He is and always will be fulling that prayer. He is with us. He is with us in loneliness. He is with us in our relationships. He is with us in our busyness. He is with us in our working and our resting. The good news that we celebrate is that He gave Himself to us at that Christmas so long ago, and He still gives Himself to us today.

Night of Prayer The United Methodist Churches in Southern Garrett County are holding a monthly Night of Prayer for the nation on the Third Wednesday of each month at 6:00 pm. The December 21 Prayer Meeting will be held at Bethel United Methodist Church, located at 512 Dave Turney Street in Mountain Lake Park. In January, we will be hosting the prayer meeting here at St. Paul's. Please join us in the sanctuary on Wednesday, January 18.

Prayer Chain Would you like to be added to our prayer chain? The prayer chain ministry enables you to support others in their time of need by interceding on their behalf. You can receive prayer requests via telephone or email. To add your name to our list of prayer warriors or to obtain more information, please call or email the church office at 301.334.2391 or [email protected]. Prayer requests may also be submitted to the office at any time.

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Operation Christmas Child Thank You! The United Methodist Women would like to thank the members and friends of St. Paul’s for their generous support of Operation Christmas Child for the 2016 season. OCC is a project of Samaritan’s Purse which has touched the lives of millions of hurting children since 1993 by distributing gift-filled shoe boxes and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ in crisis areas of the world. St. Paul’s has completed its seventh year of filling shoe boxes. We filled 66 shoe boxes in 2016. Thanks to each one of you!

Special thanks to all who contributed throughout the year to OCC and to those helped pack the boxes. It can be a challenge to make everything fit! We are looking ahead to 2017 so that the United Methodist Women can continue what we started in 2013, and that is to have a pledge drive. We are asking that you make a pledge to St. Paul’s Operation Christmas Child Fund. Your pledge would be a pledge of any amount you choose. (We are suggesting $100.00 to $120.00 that would be due by September 2017). The funds received will be used to purchase the items that are needed to fill the shoe boxes. We shop for items for the shoe boxes all during the year so that we can buy on sale if at all possible. Our goal is to again fill 66 shoe boxes in 2017. Shipping for the shoe boxes if $7 per box. We will use funds donated to Pennies for Missions in October 2017 to help fund the $462 needed. We will, of course, take additional donations to help cover shipping anytime during the year. Please make all checks payable to St. Paul’s United Methodist Women, mark OCC in the memo line, and give to Sue Damon. Operation Christmas Child Committee

Operation Christmas Child 2017 Pledge Name: ___________________________________________________

Phone: ___________________________________________________ Total 2017 Pledge: _________________________________________ I will pay my total Pledge with one check: ______________________ I will pay my Pledge in installments: ______________________ I will pay by September 2017. Please return this pledge sheet to Sue Damon.

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The Boy Scouts will be selling Christmas trees at Oakland CVS beginning Friday, December 9 through December 16. Proceeds from these sales will help fund a trip to Florida Sea Base in 2018. On July 8, Scouts attended summer camp at Heritage Scout Reservation near Farmington, PA. They worked on their First Class Skills and Merit Badges. Six scouts attended the Fall Camporee in October at Camp Potomac near Oldtown. They practiced skills such as archery, tomahawk throwing, and fire building without matches. On November 4, Scouts visited the US Naval Academy as guests of the Elks. They toured the Academy and enjoyed a homecoming football game with a flyover from Patuxent Navy Air Station.

The holidays are upon us! Don’t forget to visit the UMC Market to make your purchases. When you use UMC Market to shop, a percentage of your purchase (donated by the retailer) are combined with the purchases of other members from St. Paul’s. The UMC Market then donates our earnings back to us by a check when we reach $100!

If you have not registered yet with the UMC Market, go to https://umcmarket.org and click Get Started. Sign up with a user name and password or use your Facebook account. You may download the Easy Give Button or click Do This Later. Find Y our Ministry and type in St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Oakland MD Click the red Detail button, then click Donate to Organization. Each time you shop online, please go first to https://umcmarket.org, search for the retailer with which you want to shop online, click their logo, and start shopping.

Each year at Christmas we decorate our altar area with poinsettias. The flowers will be displayed on Sunday, December 18, through the Christmas Morning service. Poinsettias may be ordered through the church office, or you may purchase and place them yourself. The flowers that are purchased through the church office are $10.00 each and are in a 6-inch pot. Please submit the information with payment (if applicable) to the Church office no later than Thursday, December 8. ______ In loving Memory of

______ In Honor of

______ In celebration of

___________________________________________ By: ________________________________________ If placing your own plant, it must be brought to the church no later than 12 noon on Friday, December 16. Flowers can be taken home after the Christmas Morning service. 10

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DECEMBER

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday 1

Friday

Saturday

2

3

9

10

5:00Epic Bible ADVENTures

4 Second Sunday of Advent Communion 3:00 Christmas Caroling 3:00 Girl Scouts

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9:30 Sew Crafty Ladies 11:00 Seekers 4:00 Church Council 7:00 Choir Practice

9:30 Christian Crossing 10:00 Civic Club 5-9 Joy of Christ 5:30 Trustees Meeting

11 Third Sunday of Advent

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9:30 Sew Crafty Ladies 11:00 Seekers

9:30 Christian Crossing

Pennies for Mission - Its In the Bag

18 19 Fourth Sunday of Advent 11:00 Seekers 3:00 Christmas Cantata 25 26 Christmas Day Office Closed 10:00 - One Morning Worship Service

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8 5:00 Epic Bible ADVENTures

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9-11 Cookie Walk

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5:00 Epic Bible ADVENTures 7:00 Choir Practice

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21

22

9:30 Christian Crossing 5:00 Soul Food

6:00 Prayer Meeting at Bethel UMC

5:00 Epic Bible ADVENTures 7:00 Choir Practice

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28

29

11

17 10:00 Choir Practice

23

24 7:00 Christmas Eve Service

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JANUARY Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

1 2 New Year’s Day Office Closed 10:00 - One Morning Worship Service with Holy Communion

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4

5

9:30 Christian Crossing 5:30 Trustees Meeting

1:00 Susannah Circle 7:00 NOW Meeting

7:00 Choir Practice

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10

11

12

9

Pennies for Mis- 11:00 Seekers 9:30 Christian sion - UMCOR Crossing

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22

16

17

18

19 7:00 Choir Practice

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26

25

11:00 Seekers 9:30 Christian Crossing Deadline for February/ March Newsletter 29

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Saturday

6

7

13

14

20

21

7:00 Choir Practice

11:00 Seekers 9:30 Christian 6:00 Prayer Crossing Meeting 5:00 Soul Food

24

Friday

7:00 Choir Practice

31

11:00 Seekers 9:30 Christian Crossing

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2:30 -Trip to Emmanuel Parish in Cumberland 27

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On behalf of the students and staff at Broad Ford Elementary School, we want to thank you for the abundance of school supplies you donated to us at the beginning of the school year. We are so blessed by your generosity. A special word to Mr. and Mrs. Damon for shopping, storing, and contacting me to arrange a pick up time before school starts officially. Many Blessings, Kelley Davis, School Counselor Dear Friends in Christ, Living Hope High School students and teachers would like to thank you for your generous donation. We put it on the Science Lab for finishing the outside with gutters and painting. Thank you, and may God bless you. God is at work, Marilyn Uhl, Living Hope High School Thank you so much for the dinners you brought us. It was very good and very much appreciated. Tony and Catherine Sullivan

2017 Commitments Thank you for supporting our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world by prayerfully considering your giving for the coming year and by returning your 2017 Commitment Card. If you haven’t had a chance to return your Commitment Card, it’s not too late. We will accept them through the end of the year. If you didn’t receive a mailing or need an additional one, please contact the Church office at 301.334.2391 or [email protected]. We look forward to what God is going to do in and through St. Paul’s in 2017!

Online Giving St. Paul’s UMC offers on-line giving through our website at www.stpaulsumcoakland.com. You may give through PayPal or by credit card. You will receive a receipt for your offering via email, and St. Paul’s Financial Secretaries will maintain a copy of your donation and continue to track your giving. For assistance or questions, please call Gary and Melissa Rank at 301.387.2630.

Deadline for submission for the February/March The Mountain Messenger is Monday, January 23. Thank you. 13

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

St. Paul's United

PAID Oakland, MD PERMIT NO. 56

Methodist Church 318 East Oak Street Oakland MD 21550

Phone: 301/334-2391 Email: [email protected]

Address Service Requested Sent with a prayer to:

CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE Saturday, December 24 7:00 pm

CHRISTMAS DAY

Sunday, December 25 ONE Worship Service at 10:00 am No Sunday School classes

NEW YEAR’S DAY

Sunday, January 1 ONE Worship Service at 10:00 am Fellowship and Refreshments following the Service Make it your resolution to invite a friend! No Sunday School classes

Our regular Sunday schedule with worship at 8:15 and 10:45 will resume on January 8, 2017.

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