A Publication of the Oak Hill United Methodist Church
December 22, 2021

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Worship Services

See Holiday Schedule below.

Everyone is welcome.

Worship with us online at
facebook.com/OakHillUMC
or https://www.oakhillumc.org/live
The 11:00 service is livestreamed.

Holiday Schedule

Christmas Eve Services: 3, 5, & 7 PM (Indoors, In Person).
The 5 PM service will be live streamed and ASL interpreted.

Sunday, December 26: Only one service at 11 AM.
There will be no 8:30 service and no Sunday School. Youth will not meet.

Sunday, January 2nd: Only one service at 11 AM.
There will be no 8:30 service. Youth resume meeting.

The Pastors' Corner

We’ve spent the last four weeks of worship preparing our hearts for the arrival of Jesus Christ. Advent is a time of waiting, a time of great anticipation, a time of intentionality.

If we glance at the calendar, we’ll know it’s “crunch time” though. Time is up and we’ve got to be ready for Christmas. It will be very easy for us to get carried away and lose our focus by turning our attention away from God’s movement among us. However, if we continue to be intentional, we can get the “stuff” on our to-do lists accomplished while also preparing our hearts so they will be fully ready to welcome the Christ Child:

While decorating your home, pray for those who are without a home: for those who feel there is no room for them, for those fleeing unsafe conditions, for those whom the world has rejected
As you clean your house in preparation for guests, pray that God would cleanse your heart by pointing out the spots that could use tending to: What resentments do you need to let go of? Who do you need to forgive? What behaviors or attitudes are preventing others from seeing Christ in you?
While you cook meals or bake treats, pray for those who hunger and thirst: ask God to open your eyes to see who these people are right here in our community; ask for compassion, for direction, and for provision to meet their needs
As you wrap presents, think about ways you could give your presence to someone: Could you befriend someone who is lonely? Have you been too busy to show up for your family?
While you sing your favorite Christmas songs, smell your favorite Christmas scents, and taste your favorite Christmas delights, think of those for whom these sights and sounds, these smells and savors might stir up grief: how could you be of comfort to them?
As you drive around and notice all the Christmas lights, think of those who sit in darkness: pray that the light of Christ would shine upon them this season giving them a sense of the hope, peace, love, and joy of the Christ Child.

May your hearts be filled with JOY this Christmas Season!

Pastor Missy Jenson

Gifts for the Christ Child: No One Hungry

We originally set our goal at 50,000 meals for the Central Texas Food bank and we busted through that goal early on. Before we could even announce our new goal of 100,000 meals we broke through that with 153,180 meals! So, we're setting a new goal of 200,000 meals!!

So, if you're looking for great bargains this Christmas Season? One of the best buys for your dollar is a gift to the Central Texas Food Bank. Each $1 you give provides four meals for people experiencing food insecurities and with the current matching grant the meals are doubled to eight. There may be even more matching grants on the way.

Each week, approximately 75,000 people in a 21-county service area turn to the Central Texas Food Bank for help. Who are these people?

One in four children in our area face food insecurities, higher than the U.S. average of one in five children. In fact, 34% of food bank clients are children and teens. Twenty percent of client households are comprised of grandparents who have custody of their grandchildren.

These children are blessed to have caring grandparents to step in and support them when their parents can’t or are unable to do so, but many of the grandparents live on fixed incomes, barely getting by before they try to put food on the tables for growing children.

Gifts for the Christ Child stands with these grandparents and grandchildren, helping to ease the struggle to fight food insecurities and letting them know that they are not alone. You can join in the effort to support these families by making your gift on the church website. Under "Fund," select "Central Texas Food Bank." Help us in our goal of providing 200,000 meals for Central Texas families.

Thank you for your generosity.

Experience Joy with us this Holiday Season!

Check out the Joy website for all things Christmas. It's all here: Christmas Eve worship times, The Surviving the Holidays, Gifts for the Christ child information, and The Christmas Movie Festival. We hope you make plans to join together with us this Christmas season.

Poinsettia Pickup

If you purchased Christmas Poinsettias for the sanctuary, be sure to pick them up after the 7 pm Christmas Eve service.

Any still in the Sanctuary after Tuesday will be donated.

10-minute Christmas Eve

It’s been a long year.
Does your heart long for the wonder of Christmas Eve Candlelight worship?
But you’re not ready to bring your kids to church?
And you know they will never, ever sit through another online worship service?

We prepared this 10-minute Christmas Eve worship experience for families with children. We retell the Christmas story, share in brief prayer, and sing “Silent Night” by candlelight.

It’s not the same as being in a beautiful sanctuary filled with music and illuminated by candlelight; and that’s okay. Grab some candles or glowsticks, relax, and remember what Christmas is about.

Merry Christmas,
Pastor Stephen, Pastor Missy, and Pastor Ryan.

Christmas Movie Marathon

Jennifer put together quite an ambitious Christmas Movie Marathon encompassing four days of Christmas movie magic and a touch of nostalgia. The popcorn popper has been popping and the hot chocolate flowing (topped with tasty marshmallows). Bring your own drinks, your blankets, and chairs. You're encouraged to bring a friend as well. It's our last night of the marathon and we look forward to seeing you.

Wednesday, December 22
The Little Drummer Boy    (25 min)
The Star    (85 min)

Sunrise: Feed My Sheep

Let's end the year of food ministry at Sunrise on a generous note! On Thursday, Dec. 30, we will once again provide our delicious casseroles, baked goodies, and fresh fruit to our friends at Sunrise Church. What a year this has been for all of us, but especially difficult for our brothers and sisters who are without homes. It has been a blessing for us to be part of this ongoing food ministry, and to know that we have been a blessing to them as well! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4eaead2cabffce9-feed1

Wednesday Morning Study Group

The next study for Wednesday Morning Study Group will begin January 12, 10am to 12pm, Room 202 Adult Ed Bldg., with Meryl Kettler leading us through Max Lucado’s “Made for This Moment, Courage for Today and Hope for Tomorrow.”

“Are you weary from your challenges, wounded by your battles, or worried your world is spinning out of control? If so, the book of Esther brings welcome news. Like Esther, you may be staring down a seemingly impossible situation. And what’s true for Esther is true for you: deliverance will come. God will have his victory. He will rescue his people. The question is not Will God prevail? The question is Will you be a part of the team?”

Let Mary Allen know if you plan to attend and if you would like to order a book for $18. Call or text 325-226-3121; email mracha61@yahoo.com.

American Dreamer are a 4 piece 'string quartet' with the acoustic guitar being the odd non-traditional piece in the puzzle. The group is led by multi-instrumentalist Sasha Klare-Ayvazian their primary songwriter and vocalist. The strings are: Sasha's wife Courtney Castaneda on Cello, Camille Schiess on Violin, and Dana Marie on Double Bass. The group plays what I might call "emo pop"--pop and folk songs with a string section vibe that is unique and beautiful. Their brand of music is stunning, lively, dynamic and beautiful.

What: American Dreamers
When: Friday Jan 14, 2022 - Doors: 7:30 pm, Music: 8:00 pm
Where: 7815 Hwy 290 West, Austin, Tx
Cost: $25 suggested donation at the door.
Intermission: Hot Chocolate & S'mores
A link for tickets will be coming soon.

UMW Book Club

Our January selection is The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles. Our meeting will be on Thursday morning, January 27, at 10:00. We plan to meet in person in the Adult Education Building Room 101 or by Zoom, if you prefer. If you are new to the group, I will be happy to add you to our email list. Contact me if you have any questions, Diana Goodloe at dianagoodloe@gmail.com

Ham Bones for the Holidays

UMM has 15 x ham bones that are free for the taking. They are located in refrigerator in the Fellowship Hall kitchen. Bones include a fair amount of meat remaining; ideal to flavor soups and beans you may be preparing over the holidays. Come by during Church office hours or on Sunday to get one before they’re gone.

Men's Retreat

We are called in the new year to trust that God is always up to something in our lives, no matter our circumstances. What do we want out of life? How should we seek and respond to those possibilities that are “more than we can imagine”--through our work, family and larger community?

We will be returning for the 3^rd year to our new scenic retreat venue at the Wellspring Retreat Center. The retreat will take place January 21-22. So, come prepared to be inspired and uplifted. The registration fee includes three meals and lodging. You are welcome to join us for all or part of the time.

Make your reservation now! The registration fee is $50, which includes lodging, three meals, entertainment, and inspiration. Scholarships are available. If you need transportation, we will be happy to coordinate shared rides from the church parking lot around 4:30. Details can be found by clicking here.

Please contact Steve Reese if you have any questions.

Women's Retreat

Dear friends,

You are invited to Save the Date for our 2022 Women's Retreat: Friday evening Feb. 18th, Saturday Feb. 19th and Sunday morning Feb. 20th.

Here are some things we know. This retreat will be a bit different from the past because everything is a little bit different now. And still, it will be at the same location, the Well Spring Retreat Center outside of Blanco.

This retreat will be more relaxed, less scheduled and allow more time for conversation, contemplation, communion with others, nature and God. The need for more time spent on these areas is the feedback we have received from every retreat we've held since I've been part of Oak Hill women’s retreats.

We look forward to a prayer walk led by Laurie Sharp, a book talk led by Patti Fowler, tea with friends provided by Linda Moore, a special type of scripture prayer done by doodling on paper, meals prepared and shared together, worship and communion with God, nature and each other. And as usual, there will be games!

I can't emphasize enough how much we need to be reminded right now that we are Created for Joy. We have been through a lot, and we're not finished yet.

So, Save the Date to join with other women from Oak Hill United Methodist Church and grab a little time away filled with rest, relaxation, laughter and JOY!

Blessings,
Jeannine Inbody

Use your IRA Required Minimum Distribution as a Charitable Donation

Once you turn 72, you must start taking annual Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from your Traditional IRA. Your first RMD must be taken by April 1 of the year following the year you reach age 72. Every year thereafter you must take an RMD by December 31. The amount of your RMD is calculated by dividing the value of your Traditional IRA by a life expectancy factor, as determined by the IRS. You can always withdraw more than the RMD, but remember that all distributions are taxed as income. If you don’t make withdrawals, you’ll have to pay a 50% penalty (that’s right, 50%, not a misprint!) on the amount you should’ve withdrawn.

If your make periodic or annual lump sum charitable contributions, there is a tax strategy related to your RMD that is worthy of consideration. Instead of taking your RMD and paying applicable taxes, consider directing your IRA custodian to transfer some or all of the RMD to a qualified charity (Oak Hill UMC e.g.).

By directing your IRA custodian to transfer the RMD (all or part) to a qualified charity you realize these benefits:

You reduce your total taxable income, thus reducing your tax liability whether you itemize or just take the standard deduction
You avoid paying tax on your IRA contribution and/or any realized gain
You can fulfill your annual pledge commitment (that you were going to do anyway) in one easy step
You add to the working capital of the qualified charity of your choice and hopefully, that choice is OHUMC

What a deal!

This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax, legal, or investment planning advice. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, you should consult with a qualified tax advisor, CPA, financial planner, or investment manager.

By Brad McMahon

Stocking Up for Christmas

A great way to make a donation to the church is by transferring to the church common stock held in your name. Actually, any investment grade security (stocks, shares of a mutual fund, shares of an exchange traded fund, etc.) that you own can be given to the church as part of your annual pledge contribution or just as an additional gift to the church. And, in general it is almost always better to donate these kinds of investment instruments than it is to donate cash. The main reason being: donating stock allows you to avoid capital gains tax, which you would incur if you sold the stock and gave the cash. And, by the way, you still take credit for a charitable gift equal to the original value of the stock plus all of the gain.

To execute such a transfer of stock from your portfolio, contact the OHUMC financial administrator, Angie Bragg and inform her of you intention to make such a donation. She will walk you through the remaining steps for transfer, the main step being to direct your custodian (broker, bank, etc.) to coordinate with Angie Bragg so a direct transfer to the church account can take place. You may have to provide your custodian a written order to execute the transaction, which would likely be just a one or two sentence email or signed letter stating your desire to make the transfer.

As long as your stock donation has a value of $2 or more, and you make the donation to a deductible gift recipient charity (OHUMC is one of those), you can claim on your tax return the full value of the securities that you donated. Like any other tax deduction, you should keep a receipt or proof of the transfer in case you are ever audited by the friendly and gracious auditors of the Internal Revenue Service. In the situation we are addressing here, proof of the transaction would be your OHUMC statement of giving (showing receipt of the gift by the church) & your custodial account statement showing the transfer of the securities out of your portfolio. That documentation should be sufficient for any reasonable audit.

By Brad McMahon

Rada Cutlery Fundraiser

Christmas comes but once a year! The holidays are right around the corner. If you have people on your gift list that need Rada Cutlery in their lives, please place your order today! Gift sets and stocking stuffers galore. Every purchase you make using the shopping link below helps Oak Hill UMC. So far in the month of December, OHUMW made profits of $136.39 from Rada Cutlery Sales! Rada is offering specials FREE tomato slicer with a $44 order So, let’s keep the momentum going. Thank you for your support! Click here to browse the catalog and place your order.

Job Opportunities

Oak Hill United Methodist Church is looking to fill four positions. For full details on the positions and how to apply, please click on the job title.

Office Manager (Part Time) - Support the mission of Oak Hill by performing administrative functions for the church in order to empower the congregation to serve its mission.

Custodial Position (Part Time - Evenings) - The custodial person will be responsible for cleaning and sanitizing, classrooms, restrooms, kitchen and dining room and all other common areas. The ideal candidate for this position is detail-oriented, flexible and willing to take on non-routine cleaning and special task as the need arises.

COVID Precautions

We are thankful that the number of COVID cases has dropped significantly in Austin. Public Health officials have moved Austin to Stage 3.

While the situation is significantly improved, we still have among us people who are vulnerable to the virus, particularly children too young to be vaccinated. Out of Christian love for those not yet vaccinated:

We highly encourage everyone including children over two-years of age to wear a mask when gathered indoors with others
We highly encourage everyone to wear a mask when gathered outdoors if you are not practicing social distancing.
All worship leaders, including pastors, musicians, and church staff will wear masks indoors if they are in close proximity to others
Everyone working with children and youth will wear masks when gathered indoors. If outdoors and not practicing social distancing they will also wear masks.
The kitchen is open for use and holding meals in the Fellowship Hall is permitted. We ask that you only unmask while you are eating.

The Responsible Return Team continues to listen to the guidance of public health officials. As conditions improve, we will further adjust our guidelines.

We know this has been a difficult season for many of us. We are finaly starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Let’s continue to act in Christian love and compassion for all of God’s children.

Sunday School Classes

If no building or time is mentioned, classes will meet in the Adult Education Building from 9:45 - 10:35 am each Sunday.

Children's Sunday School Gathering - Meet in the Great Room of the Children's Building - In Person - Contact Jennifer Barkis
Christian Fellowship - Room 202A - In Person - Contact Alice Wiley
Family Faith - Room 201A - In Person - Contact Kristen Bridgeman
Friends in Faith (FIF) - Zoom - Contact Paul & Diana Nelson
Friendship Bible Class - Room 203 - In Person - Will Zoom simultaneously if requested. Contact Chuck Feuerbacher
Open Door - Room 206 - In Person - Will Zoom simultaneously if requested. Contact Vicki Matustik
Regenerates - Room 102 - In Person - Contact Susan Coffman

Zooming & In Person

Hillside Ringers - Handbell Choir - Contact Sarah Walton - Meets other Sunday at 4:00 pm
Mom2Mom - Book Club - Contact Catharine Corder - Meets in person in members' backyards and porches every other Thursday at 7:30 pm
UMW Book Club - Book Club - Contact Diana Goodloe - In Person - Meets the last Thursday of the month at 10:00 am
Wednesday Morning Study Group - Contact Meryl Kettler.

Stephen Ministers care for people facing tough times through confidential, one-to-one Christian care. They provide the emotional and spiritual care needed when someone is faced with a crisis or difficulty such as grief, spiritual needs, health issues, relationship problems, job situations, or other life challenges. If you are in need of someone to share your concerns, or if you are interested in becoming a Stephen Minister, please email Alana Oehler or call her at 512-289-1988. For more information click on:
www.oakhillumc.org/stephen-ministry