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The Newsleer of
St. Paul’s UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST McConnellsburg
Trinity UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Fort Loudon
The Beacon
DECEMBER 2015
“ 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 Fort Loudon-McConnellsburg Charge STAMP
of the
United Church of Christ
228 North 2nd Street
McConnellsburg, PA 17233
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.
Pastor’s Message
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.
Submi�ed by Mary Haubrick
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 be-gins 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 pre-sent 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 excite-ment 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 tradi-tions 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
PastorTussing
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 sand-
wiches 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***
Secretary - Pam Carmack
[email protected] (717)-485-4795
St. Paul’s UCC
228 N Second Street, McConnellsburg, PA 17233
(717)-485-5554***[email protected]
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
TRINITY’S FINANCIAL UPDATE
Month Received Budget to Date Expended to
Jan.—Oct. $51,712.13 $60,555.80 $47,997.87
Nov. 1-24 $ 5,403.18 $ 5,123.88 $ 4,475.38
TOTAL YTD $57,115.31 $65,679.68 $52,473.25
January Beacon ar3cle deadline is
DECEMBER 21.
DECEMBER 2015
Tuesday, December 1 Trinity Ladies’ Christmas Party, 6:30 p.m., at United Methodist
Church. Sign up on the hall table
Sunday, December 6 St. Paul’s Fellowship lunch and Hanging of the Greens. Men needed!!!
Tuesday, December 8 Trinity Consistory meet at 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 9 St. Paul’s Church Women United meet at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 13 Trinity Caroling at Shook Home at 2:00 p.m.
Trinity Change Collec(on for Hartman Center
Tuesday, December 15 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 Trinity Christmas Program during morning worship
Trinity Building Fund Offering
Thursday, December 24 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 at-
tached 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 mo-
tion.
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 com-
plete 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 Christ-
mas 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
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 addi�ons or correc�ons to the
prayer list or the birthday list, please contact the
church office. Trinity’s Ushers:
Rosie Shives and John Hornbaker
St. Paul’s Ushers:
Dave and Ruth Brubaker