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

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

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