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.
E-mail Address: office@stpaulsmtv.com
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PASTOR’S CORNER (May/June 2013)
“But Lot’s wife looked back and she became a pillar of salt.” Genesis 19:28
Do you remember the story of God destroying the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah? As Lot and his family were fleeing Sodom for their lives, they were told not to look back. But Lot’s wife could not resist and as they ran across the plain she took that last peek and ended up being turned into a pillar of salt.
We have used that story to teach that we need to look forward to where we are going, and let go of the past and where we have been. Good memories are nice, but if that is all we have, if that is all our lives become, we are paralyzed into a way of life that turns us into pillars of inactivity. we become bundles of Nostalgic memories for what was. God always challenges us to move forward.
Tom always cringes when I start to clean out the house. He knows that I want to make space. He is aware that I don’t like to have things junked up.
In leaving a parish, I like to do the same for the new pastor. I like to have my stuff cleaned out so he/she can move in their stuff. That is more than just packing up the books and hippos in my office. It is about making sure my impact does not interfere with what the next pastor envisions for the parish. It is the reason pastors are asked to not be in contact with their parishes after they leave for at least the first year. You have to let go of a place you have come to love so that you and the church can move forward rather than looking back and dreaming of what was. To only look at what was will stunt your growth.
The world is a different place than when we were younger. Technology has changed us. We can argue all day long whether it has been for good or bad, but it really gets down to the fact that we need to let go of what was in order to move forward to what can be. We need to be like our foreign missionaries who have to learn a new language and understand a new culture in order to minister to people who look at life differently than we do. We need to speak in a way that they can hear God’s message. Are we up to that? If we are not, then we need to get out of the way and make room for those who can. We need to do this because our world has a drastic need for the Good News.
One reason for my retirement is that I like the “old” ways. Those ways were right for one point in time, but now the “new” needs to take over so more people can hear the Good News of Jesus Christ.
I have come to deeply love this congregation. While there is always a temptation to stay and bask in the warm and cuddly feelings, Christians are called to follow where God leads them. I feel God calling me to new adventures and new paths. I know I will greatly miss people here who gave me a delightful and fulfilling experience in my last parish. Thank you for being who you are and spreading that joy to me.
May God bless you and keep you all the days of your lives. Amen. Pastor Janet