Pastor’s Message
The year 2009 will bring many changes. For the first time in eight years our nation will have a different president. Barack Obama will be inaugurated January 20th. No doubt there will be some changes in the coming months.

There will also be some very difficult and complex challenges in 2009. There is record unemployment. A financial crisis still looms from the meltdown last fall. Our nation is still at war, fighting terrorists, just to name a few.

No one knows what will happen in the future. We can only speculate as to what might happen in the next twelve months. At least we can learn from our mistakes from the past and resolve to do better.

A new year gives us an opportunity to make some personal changes. Some will resolve to lose weight. Others will resolve to be nicer to their families. Some will decide to work harder or have more fun, depending on their needs.

To be sure, changes will occur and some of them will affect our lives. It seems to me that we have two choices: we can worry and be anxious about what might happen therefore being dismayed and negative, or we can look back and say “since we’ve managed to embrace challenges in the past there is no reason not to be hopeful in the present.”

I have no idea what will happen in the year 2009. Hopefully, our government will protect us and enable our nation to keep people employed and take care of the masses. But I am realistic enough to know that many things are beyond my control. I can only manage my own life.

For me, 2009 is no different than any other new year. I am confident that God is still with us and we need not live in fear. I also believe that the Church has a unique role in society. It continues to be a source of hope and inspiration for the bewildered and the lost. It is also a sanctuary for the lonely and disenchanted.

It is my experience that the Church offers some things that government or society cannot offer. The church is the primary means for fellowship, providing people who care about us and want to share life with us. It is through the Church that we experience forgiveness, hope, wisdom and grace. It is not perfect, nor is the Church a panacea for all of our problems.

Nevertheless, the Church is still the only place in society that offers weekly worship, a place to gather to say our prayers, sing our hymns and as a community of faith, lift up our praises to God. Through the Church we corporately share our resources with any who has need.

The new year may challenge us in a variety of ways and as a result we will face both victories and defeat. Thankfully the Church will always be there as a reminder of the presence of God and the one true source of hope we can rely on.
Blessings and peace, Dr. Keith Wagner

Council Briefs
The Christmas Decorating Committee was thanked for the beautiful appearance of the sanctuary and building in general. On Saturday, January 3, at 9:00 a.m., the decorations will be dismantled. The congregation is encouraged to help.

Replacement of the drinking fountain in Fellowship hall is recommended.

Messages of appreciation have been received from the Alpha Center and FISH for our donations. $300.00 in proceeds from the December 7th bake sale will be used to help a needy family.

Fifty-five church giving units have pledged a total of $86,588.00 so far for the 2009 budget.

Treasurer’s Report
Income - $14,199.11
Expenses - $14,323.17
Kent Smith, Recording Secretary

Eagle Scout
Congratulations to Chase Rossman. He was awarded the Eagle Scout Award on Sunday, December 28th at St. Paul’s Church. Chase is a member of Boy Scout Troop 97. He is the son of Chris Rossman and Nancy Rossman.

More Precious Than Jewels
A monk, in his travels, once found a precious stone and kept it. One day he met a traveler, and when the monk opened his bag to share his provisions, the traveler saw the jewel and asked the monk to give it to him. The monk did so readily.

The traveler departed, overjoyed with the unexpected gift of the precious stone that was enough to give him wealth and security for the rest of his life. However, a few days later he came back in search of the monk, found him, gave him back the stone, and entreated him, “Now, please give me something much more precious than this stone, valuable as it is. Give me that which enabled you to give it to me.”
The Newsletter Newsletter

Summary of Life
GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:

1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap.

GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:

1) Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree.
2) Wrinkles don't hurt.
3) Families are like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.
6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD

1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional
2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.
4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
5) Its frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.
6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.

Sisters
A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter.

"Don't forget your Sisters," she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. "They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need Sisters. Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them. "Remember that 'Sisters' means ALL the women... your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other women relatives too." "You'll need other women. Women always do."

“What a funny piece of advice” the young woman thought. “Haven't I just gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!”

But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact with her Sisters and made more women friends each year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about. As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, Sisters are the mainstays of her life.

After more than 50 years of living in this world, here is what I've learned:

THIS SAYS IT ALL:

Time passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.

BUT.........Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you.

A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach. When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end. Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...Or come in and carry you out.

Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers, aunts, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life!

The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other. Every day, we need each other still.
Submitted by email – Doris Wiford

Thanks from the Staff
The church staff, Keith, Amanda, Jen, Jerry, Wes, and Dar, wish to thank everyone who gave us Christmas cards, gifts and goodies.

You are Invited
The newsletter is always looking for articles/recipes/stories for upcoming issues. If anyone has a story to tell of how they came to St. Paul’s church or a memory they would like to share, send it to the church office by the 20th of the month newsletter deadline. Thanks. Dar

Un-Deck the Halls
On Saturday, January 3rd at 9:00 a.m., everyone is welcome to come and help take down the Christmas decorations. Refreshments will be served.
Jenny Coverstone, Worship deacon

Annual Meeting
The Annual Congregational meeting will be held on Sunday, January 25th, at 11:15 a.m., following the morning worship service.

Articles for the Annual report are due to the office by Monday, January 15th.

New Baby
On December 19th, 2008, Justin William Weaver was born. He is the son of Kimberly & Ray Weaver.

RIGHT SPEECH
There is a Chinese saying which carries the meaning that "A speech will either prosper or ruin a nation." Many relationships break off because of wrong speech. When a couple is too close with each other,we always forget mutual respect and courtesy. We may say anything without considering if it would hurt the other party.

A friend and her millionaire husband visited their construction site. A worker who wore a helmet saw her and shouted, "Hi, Emily! Remember me? We used to date in the secondary school." On the way home, her millionaire husband teased her, "Luckily you married me. Otherwise you will be the wife of a construction worker." She answered, "You should appreciate that you married me. Otherwise, he will be the millionaire and not you."
Submitted by email

How Spirituality Keeps You Well
Planning on going to church this holiday season? That should be good for the spirit, of course—and perhaps also for the body. According to a study in Annals of Epidemiology, people who attend religious services tend to be healthier than the rest of us. More specifically, weekly churchgoers have a lower risk of death than those who never set foot inside a place of worship.

The report came out earlier this year, but it’s only the latest in a series of studies exploring the link between health and spirituality. This research has found that prayer and meditation seem to be associated with improved immune systems and fewer episodes of chronic inflammation.

Not surprisingly, the benefits extend to mental health as well. People who identify themselves as more religious reveal lower rates of depression. A study reported in September by the Journal of Affective Disorders showed lower suicide rates among people who regularly attend religious services.

So is church a healing place? While some faithful may believe it is, scientists point out that religious people often take better care of themselves. Studies show that regular churchgoers are also people who don’t smoke, drink rarely, and see their doctors regularly. More important, people who make church a habit—and the same goes for people who worship at mosques and synagogues—are more socially integrated, which means they have more friends and acquaintances and a better support system to help them cope with stressful life events.

Many researchers also believe that at bottom there seems to be a strong connection between the mind, the spirit, and the body. Improve one, and you have an effect on the other. Praying, medicating, or attending religious services may not cure a disease, but those activities may make you feel better and contribute to a more positive outlook on life.
By Dr. Ranit Mishori
Parade Magazine

January Birthdays
1 Joshua Holloway
2 Dawn Clayton, George F. Clayton
3 Ava Coverstone
4 Philip Walter, Megan Moore, Shelbie Anderson
5 Dorothy Baker
6 Alyssa Kemp
7 Ann Spillers, Doris Coverstone, Barb Neer, Cathy Barnes
8 Tom Emerson, Jim Weaver
10 Eileen Schneider, Connie Harlamert, Sherri Overholser
11 Evan Goubeaux, Alexander Climer, Ana Adams
13 Mitch Harlamert, Julia Easton
14 Jeff Sargeant, Rod Wiford, Emily Hoying, Hayley Swiger
15 Jerika Martens
16 Marie Stevens, Betty Barker
17 Stephen Blanford
18 Darlene Neuman, Ranee Wyer, Emma VanMatre
19 Michelle Kinell, John Skorupski
20 Jane Peterson
21 David Kemp, Renee Geise
22 Lisa Seeger
23 Fred Santo, Tom Thompson
24 Louanne Stockstill, Robyn Lauth
25 Jerrod Swanton
28 Caleb Schroer
29 Russ Mummey, Ann VanHorn, Addison Berlekamp
30 Wendy Kidd

Anniversaries in January
6 Connie & Steve Harlamert
8 Kathy & Brian Geib
15 Juli & Todd Alton
20 Betty & Howard Yanda

Can You Help?
If anyone would like to donate a new or used baby stroller and infant car seat, please contact Kent Smith @ 492-3336. The items will go to a needy family.

Baptism
On Sunday, December 21st, Jayson Michael Hughes was baptized before the worship service. He is the husband of Amanda Hughes.

On Sunday, December 21st, Mariah Ann Johnson was baptized after the worship service. She is the daughter of Jenny Molitor and L. Cedric Johnson.

Our Deepest Sympathy
To the family of Norma Jane Vordemark. She died on December 25, 2008 at the age of 90.

SPIRIT GROUP NEWS
Mark your calendars! The Spirit Group is sponsoring a Soup and Cobbler Lunch on Sunday, February 8th following the worship service. The Mary Esther Circle will furnish the Soup: Chicken noodle, Vegetable, and Chili. We need 10 people to bake the cobblers, either blackberry or peach. Kent Smith has the blackberries for the cobblers. You can sign-up at the Hospitality Desk if you can donate a cobbler. Recipes for an 8x8 pan are also on the Hospitality Desk. There will be a freewill offering and proceeds will go to Jayne Russell for her expenses while serving as a missionary in the Ukraine. Join us for Soup and Cobbler on February 8th at 11:30 a.m.

Thanks to all for the Hat and Mitten donations in November and December. 50 pair of gloves, 24 hats, 18 hat and glove sets and 1 head band was given to the Alpha Center.

The Mary Esther Circle will not have a meeting in January or February.
Marie Russell, Leader

Happy New Year
The New Year’s chief value to us is its spiritual opportunity. A year from now we may be richer or poorer than we are today, stronger or weaker; more famous or more obscure.

But these factors will not determine the real value of the year.

If the year makes us more patient and courageous, conscious of a deeper fellowship with the Spirit of Christ, it will have brought us the richest rewards it can bring.

Whatever else the new year may mean to us, it surely means the opportunity for spiritual enrichment. If we approach the new year prayerfully and purposefully, God will redeem our days and bring us into a closer relationship with him.
The Newsletter Newsletter, George E. Horr

Worship Services for January
USHERS for the month are: Jim Stockstill (head usher), Paul Goins, Vivian Goins, Chris Rossman, Mike Climer, Ron Hill, Kathy Ferree, Steve Ferree.

January 4
Sermon – “The Seasons of Life”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-13
Worship Leader – Liz Custis
Greeters – Jane & Dale Peterson
Children’s Message – Kent Smith
Children’s Church – Sherri Overholser & Jenny Wagner

Coffee Hour Sponsors
Janet & Roger Aschenbach, Sharon Boss, Bette & Jim Brentlinger, Jackie & Jeff Deatherage, Judi & Jim Stewart,
Belinda Wearly, Katie & John Wearly

January 11
Sermon – “Reversing Course”
Mark 1:4-11
Worship Leader – Tom Dunnavant
Greeters – Lisa Heaton, Lauren & Layla
Children’s Message – Angie Mentges
Children’s Church – Julie Maurer

January 18
Sermon – “Not So Great Expectations”
John 1:43-51
Worship Leader – Kathleen Anderson
Greeters – Pam& Rick Holloway and family
Children’s Message – Keith Wagner
Children’s Church –

January 25
Sermon – “Destinations Unknown”
Mark 1:14-20
Worship Leader – Vivian Goins
Greeters – Tom & Brenda Thompson, Marcia Thompson
Children’s Message – Meggan Weaver
Children’s Church – Mary Ann Yinger

Hospitalized
Howard Schumann, Wilson Memorial Hospital
Frank Neville, Wilson Memorial Hospital
Don Shatto, Wilson Memorial Hospital

Attendance and Offerings
Nov.30 – 107 - $2,866.00
Dec.7 - 165 - $3,152.10
Dec.14 – 152 - $3,578.00
Dec.21 – 150 - $2,329.85
Dec.24 – 250 - $3,672.24
Dec.28 – 117 - $1,690.25

Holy Communion – 2009
January 4th
Feb. 25th Ash Wednesday – 7:30PM
April 9th Maundy Thursday – 7:30PM
May 24th Memorial Sunday
July 19th Mid Summer
October 4th World Wide Communion Sunday
November 22nd Thanksgiving Sunday

Change of Addresses
Summer Neville, 1626 Beck Dr., Sidney, OH.

Brittany Billing, 911 Port Jefferson Rd., Sidney, OH.

January Calendar

1 - Happy New Year
3 - 9:00 a.m. – Take down Christmas decorations
4 - 7:30 a.m. – WMVR radio broadcast; 9:00 a.m. – Adult Sunday School class, FH; 10:15 a.m. – Worship, communion; 11:15 a.m. – Coffee Hour, FH
5 - 7:00 p.m. – Pastoral Relations Committee Meeting, CR
7 - 7:00 p.m. – Choir Practice; 7:00 p.m. – Confirmation
8 - 11:00 a.m. – Bible Study, CR
11 - 7:30 a.m. – WMVR radio broadcast; 9:00 a.m. – Adult Sunday School class, FH; 10:15 a.m. – Worship
12 - 7:00 p.m. – Church Council Meeting, CR
13 - 5:30 p.m. – Habitat for Humanity Meeting, CR; 7:00 p.m. – Endowment Committee Meeting, CR
14 - 7:00 p.m. – Choir Practice
15 - 11:00 a.m. – Bible Study, CR
18 - 7:30 a.m. – WMVR radio broadcast; 9:00 a.m. – Adult Sunday School class, FH; 10:15 a.m. – Worship
19 - Martin Luther King Day
21 - 7:00 p.m. – Choir Practice
22 - 11:00 a.m. – Bible Study, CR
25 - 7:30 a.m. – WMVR radio broadcast; 9:00 a.m. – Adult Sunday School class, FH; 10:15 a.m. – Worship; 11:15 a.m. - Congregational Meeting, Sanctuary
28 - 7:00 p.m. – Choir Practice
29 - 11:00 a.m. – Bible Study, CR