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Saint Paul United Methodist Church

Phone: 540-382-2410 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.stpaulvaumc.org

St. Paul’s Pages

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

ST. PAUL’S PAGES Page 12

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

110am Pray-

er Shawl Min

11:45-First

Thursday

Luncheon

2 3

49am—

Sunday

School

10am

Worship

5 69am-

Prayer

Group

10am Joy

Singers

7Our

Regular

Wednesday

Schedule

811:30am

Circle 5

luncheon

9 10

119am—

Sunday

School

10am

Worship

12 139am-

Prayer

Group

10am Joy

Singers

14Our

Regular

Wednesday

Schedule

15 16 17

189am—

Sunday

School

10am

Worship

Cantata

Sunday

19 209am-

Prayer

Group

10am Joy

Singers

21

TBA

22 23

Church

Office

Closed

24

5pm Family

Service

8pm Carols,

Candles &

Communion

259am—

Sunday

School

10am

Worship

Christmas

Day

26

Church

Office

Closed

27

Church

Office

Closed

?

28 29 30 31

December 2016 From the Pastor’s Study

Inside this issue:

Saint Paul United Methodist Church

St. Paul’s Pages

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

November Birthdays 2

Christmas Eve Serv 3

Upper Room 3

Christmas Store 4

Christmas Prayer 4

Children’s Choir 5

UMM 5

December birthdays 6

Cantata 6

Wrapping Booth 7

Michelle West 8

Pack 145 9

Flower Calendar 10

Nov. Calendar 11

Dec. Calendar 12

Fruitful Life

When I moved to Christiansburg the summer before

last, I saw a grapevine growing in the parsonage yard. It

grew wild with many branches and it bore no grapes. This

past spring time I pruned it and weeded around it, remov-

ing lots of poison ivy. And I expected that I could harvest

some grapes in the fall. Actually I saw some young bunch-

es of grapes sprouting out in the spring and growing bigger

during the summer time. But they became dried out. The

grapevine was still growing rich in color and with many

branches but it bore no grapes. So what should I do with it?

Wait for another year? Or remove it? It reminds me of Je-

sus’ parable of the fig tree in Luke 13:6-9. A man looked

for the fruit of the fig tree for three years but did not find

any. And he asked the worker to cut down the tree but the

worker replied “Sir, leave it alone for one more year. I will

dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine!

If not, then cut it down.” The point of this parable is the

grace and judgment of God.

The season of harvest comes. We see around us the

richness of harvest, the beauty of nature, autumn foliage,

farm fields harvesting their crops, shelves full of fresh

fruits and vegetables in the grocery stores. This season

points us to ponder on our fruitfulness in life as God ex-

pects from us. Our life is a gift of the grace of God, and

God expects each of us to bear fruits according to the gifts

and talents granted by God, the fruits of love, hope, and

faith, the fruits of justice, mercy, and service. How can we

live a fruitful life?

Continued on page 2)


Jesus teaches us how to bear fruits in life.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vineyard keep-

er. 2 He removes any of my branches that don’t pro-

duce fruit, and he trims any branch that produces fruit

so that it will produce even more fruit. 3) You are al-

ready trimmed because of the word I have spoken to

you. 4) Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A

branch can’t produce fruit by itself, but must remain in

the vine. Likewise, you can’t produce fruit unless you

remain in me. 5) I am the vine; you are the branches. If

you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce

much fruit. Without me, you can’t do anything”.

(John 15:1-5, CEV)

The truth is this: it is not we who bear fruits. Jesus bears

fruits through us when we remain in him. Therefore, fruit-

fulness in life begins with our relationship with Jesus. So

we continue to pray, “God, help us to grow in our relation-

ship to Jesus.”

May God richly bless you in this season of harvest.

Pastor Paul

.

(Continued from page 1)

November Birthdays

Elizabeth Blount— 1

Charles Whitescarver—2

Donna Chafin—4

Mary Lee Bush—5

Sue Speed—6

Mike Gummer—7

Sonia Badillo—7

Peggy Anderson—8

Charles Shadel—8

Matthew Feggeler—8

Norma Loudermilk—9

Susan Hood—10

Joyce Kanode—10

Karen Poff—11

Ava Grayce Tucker—12

Karen Birchfield—13

Alan Sherman—16

Pat Paxton—20

Terri Mitchell—21

Jordan McCoy—22

Matt Birchfield—23

Bruce Schleicher—25

Nora Tucker—25

Sandy Cox—27

Kady Cox—29

Bob Dickenson—29

Peggy Long—29

Nolan Arthur—30

Bill Lyons—30

Page 11 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

19:00 am—

Prayer Group

10:00am—Joy

Singers

210am-Fast

Track

6:00pm Dinner

6:30Children’s

choir 7pm-Bible

Study

7:15 Choir

311:45 am-

First Thursday

Luncheon

10 am –Prayer

Shawl Ministry

4 5

69 am Sun-

day School

10am Worship

5 pm Fast

Track Bible

Study

7 89:00 am—

Prayer Group

10:00am—Joy

Singers

2pm Circle 4

7pm Circle 2

9Regular

Wednesday Sched-

ule

7 pm Charge

Conference

10

10 am—

Circle 5

11 12

139 am

Sunday School

10am Worship

5 pm Fast

Track Bible

Study

14 159:00

am—Prayer

Group

10:00am—Joy

Singers

16

Regular

Wednesday

Schedule

1710 am—

Prayer Shawl

Ministry

18 19

209 am

Sunday School

10am Worship

5 pm Fast

Track Bible

Study

21 229:00

am—Prayer

Group

10:00am—Joy

Singers

23

Regular

Wednesday

Schedule

24

Thanksgiving

Church Office

Closed

25

Church Office

Closed

26

279 am

Sunday School

10am Worship

5 pm Fast

Track Bible

Study

28 299:00

am—Prayer

Group

10:00am—Joy

Singers

30Regular

Wednesday

Schedule

November 2016


Flowers for 2017

The cost is $25 and checks can be made payable to St. Paul and mark for flowers. We

will order the flowers for you each week.

January 1____________ July 9_____________

January 8____________ July 16____________

January 15___________ July 23____________

January 22___________ July 30____________

January 29___________ August 6___________

February 5___________ August 13__________

February 12__________ August 20__________

February 19__________ August 27___________

February 26__________ September 3_________

March 5_____________ September 10________

March 12____________ September 17_________

March 19____________ September 24_________

March 26____________ October 1____________

April 2______________ October 8____________

April 9______________ October 15___________

April 16 Easter Flowers October 22___________

April 23____________ October 29___________

April 30____________ November 5__________

May 7_____________ November 12_________

May 14____________ November 19_________

May 21____________ November 26_________

May 28____________ December 3___________

June 4_____________ December 10__________

June 11____________ December 17__________

June 18____________ December 24 Poinsettias

June 25____________ December 31_________

July 2_____________


The Upper Room

Recently I wrote about the wonders and inspiration of The Upper Room

Devotional magazine published by The United Methodist Publishing House.

It is a wonderful source of inspiration, devotional and spirit building hope!

Over the last 40 years or so, Penny and I have used it each morning to begin the

day. We have seen it grow to include people from all over the world, it is truly an

international source of sprit uplifting and faith sharing.

I would urge you to get a copy from the church, they are available in the

vestibule of the church, free or you man contribute a dollar for cost.

And one of the “neat ideas” is to save and create a “Devotional Booklet” for

yourself from the various writers and articles that appear. You can create and use

for a personal and private devotional guide. You may have also had a devotion by

me that was inspired by The Upper Room guide.

So, why not give it a try, you will like it, and it will make a difference in your

life, as it has in ours and in the lives of others I am sure!

Ole Doug,

Pie, Cake, Ice Cream and Fried Chicken

Christmas Eve Services

Saturday, December 24th—5:00 pm & 8:00 pm

Family Service 5:00 pm—This service will focus on children and

youth

8:00 pm Service—”Carols, Candles and Communion”

We look forward to many of you sharing in this beautiful service. We

encourage you also to invite friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and co-workers. We can

help our world by sharing the love and hope we have found in Jesus.


Come Volunteer at The Christmas Store and MCEAP

Hello, St. Paul UMC!

We have volunteer opportunities

NOW at Montgomery County Emer-

gency Assistance Program (MCEAP)

and coming up quickly for the Mont-

gomery County Christmas Store.

Come join us and make someone's

holiday a whole lot brighter!

Volunteer at the Christmas Store

http://www.signupgenius.com/

go/10c0e4dabae2aabfa7-2016

Volunteer at MCEAP

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e4dabae2aabfa7-20161

Our Christmas Prayer

God grant you peace at Christmas

And fill your heart with cheer;

God grant you health and happiness

Throughout the year.

God guide you with His wisdom

And keep you in His care;

This is our special wish for you —

This is our Christmas prayer.

Have a Blessed Christmas


PACK 145NEWS

Cub Scouts of Pack 145 are thankful for the support of the St. Paul United Methodist Men! Cubs have been working hard on achievements towards rank which will be awarded on Tuesday, November 29th Court of Honor Pack Meeting in the St. Paul main building. Cubs have also been providing service by

removing weeds and planting flowering bulbs in mulch areas of the Activity Building. Cubs have been collecting canned fruit and winter gloves to support efforts of the Montgomery County Christmas Store.

Cub Scouts are thankful for Veterans and will be honor-ing local veterans with a special Flag Retirement Cere-mony on Friday, November 11th starting at 7:00 PM. A reception will follow. If anyone has an old, torn or worn flag, please see the collection box at the Activity Building after November 2nd.

Pack 145 will be participating in the December 9th Holi-day Parade through Downtown Christiansburg. The theme will be “Toys, Trains and Candy Canes”.

2017 will be an exciting year for Cub Scouts with a Muse-um sleep-over, learning to play Frisbee Golf, Blue & Gold Ceremony, Pinewood Derby, Fishing, camping and more! Youth can join anytime!


Hello All!

I hope you have had a wonderful October. It has certainly been an eventful

one! This October, Youth have continued to learn about the Ancestors in their Bible,

the Children have continued their Sunday School curriculum, and Families have con-

tinued studying Matthew. We successfully fundraised over $250 with our LuLaRoe

Party. Also, we have enjoyed an average attendance of about 20 for our Wonderful

Wednesday Program. Speaking of Wonderful Wednesday, we have wrapped up our

study of Paul and will continue with an Advent study by James Moore on November

16. In the study “All I want for Christmas,” we will talk about the greatest Christmas

Gift of all… Jesus Christ.

Before the study we will be having a night of intercessory prayer for the na-

tion as we prepare to come together as we vote for the next set of leaders in the nation.

Join us on November 2nd for a time of prayer and study. On November 9th, we will be

coming together to take care of church matters and celebrate our church’s accomplish-

ments over the past year and plan for the next.

In November, as we give thanks for all the blessings we have in our lives, we

will begin planning for 2017. The youth are looking to start a book club, the Children

Sunday School will be starting Deep Blue Curriculum, and Families we will be starting

a topical study in their classrooms as well. We are hoping to have a Youth retreat this

spring and a mission trip in the future. Also, the youth will be gleaning crops with So-

ciety of St Andrew on November 12.

Thank you for all your support of children, youth, and families here at St Paul!

Agape,

Michelle


Children's Choir children are off to a great

start! We would LOVE to have more children of the church and com-

munity join us on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:00 p.m. in the choir

room. If there is any children out there between Kindergarten age and

5th grade that you know, send them our way! We meet in the Choir

Room.

United Methodist Men Update:

Our October dinner meeting included family members at Alta Mons,

where we received a facility overview and projects update. We rode out on

the church bus, enjoying the Fall colors on the way.

Our November meeting will be November 17th, the regular 3rd Thursday,

at 6:30pm. Our agenda will include officer elections and planning for our

December activity of delivering Christmas meals to deserving families

identified with the help of MCEAP/Christmas Store. Traditionally there is

no December meeting. Contact Henry Bass with questions and to find out

our location: [email protected]


December Birthdays Glenn Cochran—1 Vickie Charlton—2 Tara McCoy—3

Judy Williamson –4 Betty Lambert—5 Pat Simpson—6

Justin Griffith—6 Penny Kanney—6 Nate Birchfield—9

Foster Williams –11 Elaine Clark—11 Eddie Lester—14

Ernie Akers—15 Peggy Chafin—16 Elena Linkous—17

Debbie Williams—17 John Byrd—19 Wayne Bishop—22

Phyllis Williams—24 Susan Bishop Thomas –25 Scottie Dickenson-26

Kim Newman—30

The St. Paul Adult Choir is proud to present this year’s Christmas

Cantata “Canticles in Candlelight” by Joseph M. Martin on Sunday, December 18

at the 10am service. The choir has put in extra rehearsal time to prepare this

wonderful cantata that tells the treasured story of Christ’s birth. Canticles in

Candlelight includes new Christmas songs, as well as, some of the beloved tradi-

tional Christmas carols. We hope you can join us on Sunday, December 18, as we

celebrate the light of Christ this holiday season!


Wrapping for a Reason is a holiday wrapping booth to raise money for local emer-

gency assistance. We are located in NRV Mall near Belk's indoor entrance the booth

is open from Nov. 25 - Dec. 24. Volunteers are needed to wrap gifts. All proceeds ben-

efit Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program, commonly known as

'MCEAP' which provides emergency food, clothing, utility, rent and mortgage assis-

tance to Montgomery County residents year-round. This booth is an ecumenical effort,

and we invite all who want to help their neighbors to join us during this season of giv-

ing. The Sign Up link is http://bit.ly/Wrap4aReason2016. We also have a Face-

book Group that you can join at https://www.facebook.com/groups/

wrappingforareason/. Contact Jennifer Poff Cooper at [email protected] or

381-5854 for more information.

The shifts listed indicate the minimum people we need to run the booth. Feel free to

bring extra folks along; it's a great way to spend time together. Gift wrappers need to

be 12 or older and able to wrap neatly once trained.

Special thanks to volunteers Coreen Bookout and Janet Spencer for creating this "How

To" Instructional Video for gift wrapping.

Video link: https://youtu.be/Y_hx3itAT-U

Contact Numbers

Jennifer Cooper 381-5854 or Cindy Rollison 392-5377

Location: New River Valley Mall

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