Welcome to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church

The mission of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church is
To practice hospitality and love by
nurturing faith in Jesus Christ.
To connect people in deep friendships through
worship, prayer and service.

We are a United Methodist Congregation that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds; we desire to be an open congregation to all ethnicities and race. We are committed to being an inclusive community; a community for all people regardless of race, economic status, physical or mental disability. St. Paul’s UMC is a warm and friendly congregation centered on worship and witness under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Our hope is that as you enter this fellowship, you will feel the love and acceptance extended by Christ and share with us the challenge of faithful discipleship.

Church Office Hours: Monday thru Friday, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm

Church Office Phone: 717-285-5020; Fax: 717-285-1375.

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E-mail Address: office@stpaulsmtv.com

Pastor’s Corner

     There is not a more intriguing character in the Old Testament than King David.  Part of the attraction is that you meet King David in scenes that cover his life from the boyhood shepherd to the triumphant King, and then to his moral fall from grace and his repentance.  Through David’s life story, we can learn lessons that enhance our own life’s experience.  We can also see in King David a flow of life through stories that include not only the victories but also the failures.  We can often learn more from viewing others’ failures as to how to faithfully conduct our own lives.

     When we see King David’s sins that included adultery and murder, we can find hope that in our relationship with God we will find grace.  As Christians, we find that hope is made known through the sacrifice and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. 

    The Hebrew writers didn’t find it necessary to tell only the valiant events of the Biblical heroes.  They also related the times they faltered in living up to the standards of God.  The Old Testament writers presented stories of their heroes falling off their pedestals.  You know being human like us!  In so doing we can relate to their humanness.  We can feel closer to them in our own journey.

    One of the last statements Jesus made while hanging on the cross was “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”  In his act of radical forgiveness we take the clue for our own action toward others.

    In our humanness we do not always do what we know God would have us do.  We sin and fall short of God’s will for our conduct.  It is so important as Christians to follow God’s example of forgiveness toward King David, and Christ’s forgiveness of those who humiliated, tortured and murdered him.  It is importan to FORGIVE.

    It is also important for us to feel God’s forgiveness in our lives so that we move forward in service to His Kingdom rather than wallow about how terrible we are.  All fall short of God’s will. The Good News is that we are all forgiven just as the prodigal son was forgiven by his father upon his return home.

    Because Christ has covered our sins, we are forgiven.  Thanks be to God.

                                                                                                             Pastor Janet