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From the Pastor’s Desk Advent: A Season of Invitation …………….…...

Lay Leader’s Corner. The Greatest Love….........................................

Intentional Faith Development Adorning the Church at Advent …………….….. Advent Events Schedule …………….……...…. Advent Prayers …………………………………. On the Journey of Knowing God …………….... Christmas Story Quiz ………….…….........…… Noon Day & Watch Night Service ………..……. Men’s Bible Study ………………………………. Answer to Christmas Story Quiz ………………. Advent Daily Devotionals ……………………….

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12 Days of Christmas……………………. Risk-Taking Mission & Service Health & Wellness Center ..................... Recruiting New Health & Wellness Members ……………………...…..….….. Café Agape ............................................ December SHARE Menu........................ Radical Hospitality Coping with Grief During the Holidays ..

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Member Connections December Birthdays ........................ Prayer List …………….…………...... Calendar ............................................. Miscellaneous ……………….….…...…

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Issue XII December 2013

holy days. This year our dual themes of invitation and prayer will center our Advent disciplines on in-viting people into meaningful small groups for fel-lowship, prayer and worship.

This year, I am inviting you to make the Season of Advent personal. Write some hand written notes; give the gift of time or share out of your generosity in ways that will really be a long lasting blessing into someone’s life. Don’t forget to give yourself a special treat of rest and renewal during this Advent season.

The sermon themes of the Advent season this year are: Stay on the Lookout, Prepare for God’s Coming Blessing, Are You the One, and Living Expectantly. The month closes out with a sermon titled, An On Time Delivery.

Each Sunday during the Seasons of Advent and Christmas we will sing many of the songs that have warmed our hearts throughout the years. We will incorporate into our worship celebrations the hang-ing of the greens, the lighting of the Advent Wreath and the Chrismon Tree.

As an added blessing, this year our New Horizons Children’s Ministry will present a special Advent

Continued on page 5

Advent: A Season of Invitation

The Liturgical season of Advent begins our countdown to Jesus’ birth – a time when the Prince of Peace will come. This year, the greatest gift that we can hope for is peace. If we really want to experience the joy of

the long awaited Prince of Peace, we must look beyond the hype of the commercialization of the Christmas sales and secular celebrations. It is essential to remain focused on the real reason for the season.

Advent is the four weeks including four Sundays that we focus our attention on the preparation for Christ’s birth. The word Advent comes from the Latin adven-tus, which means “coming.” Each year Advent calls the community of faith to prepare for Christ’s arrival with distinctive acts of celebration and worship. This year I have chosen to use a dual theme for our worship focus – invitation and prayer.

The Advent season is a great time to extend an invita-tion to family, friends, co-workers, and perfect strangers to focus our attention on the real meaning of the season. It’s hard to focus on the biblical meaning of Christmas with all of the commercialization of these

“Prepare for the coming of the Lord”

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ADORNING THE CHURCH AT ADVENT

The Greatest Love

Christmas is right around the cor-ner. It's the time of year we set aside to celebrate the virgin birth of Jesus. Christmas gives us an op-portunity to thank God for His un-conditional love--a love that led Him to send his only Son to atone for our sins.

Imagine if you will, the grief that God must have felt as He sent the Holy Spirit to impregnate Mary, knowing that it was the beginning of Jesus' human journey to the most horrific death possible: crucifixion. Try to feel the anguish that Jesus felt as He knelt down and prayed on the Mount of Olives: "Father, if you are will-ing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Consider for a moment that Jesus was so weakened that an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. Once strengthened, Jesus

LAY LEADER’S CORNER prayed even more. In fact, the Bible says he prayed so earnestly, that His sweat fell to the ground like drops of blood. Finally, put yourself in God's place as He lis-tened to His Son crying out for mercy from the Mount of Olives, knowing full well that He could not grant it. We only need to reflect on our own anguish when our children get hurt in any way. It is a hand wringing, gut wrenching, prayer invoking experience. We do every-thing we can to protect them from all harm and danger and we would never make a conscious decision to al-low them to be hurt...yet that's exactly what God the Father did. How could God do such a thing and how could Jesus summon the courage to obey his Father? Jesus himself provided the answer in John 15:12-14: "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command." Yes, the celebration of Jesus' birth is a celebration of The Greatest Love. God did it for you and He did it

Continued on page 5

During the season of Advent, the church, mainly the sanctuary is adorned with what at first glance may appear to be decorations. However many of the items placed in the sanctuary are not Christmas decorations, but symbols for the season of Advent. The purple or blue paraments, the branches or trees of cedar, wreaths or garlands of evergreen, branches of holly and ivy and the Advent wreath of can-dles are all symbols representing our coming Savior. The colors purple or blue (we are using blue this year), represented by the paraments and the candles on the Advent wreath represent royalty. Also representing the royalty of Christ, our King, are the branches of cedar. The cedar tree is a sign of immortality. The prophet Jeremiah says in Jeremiah 23: 5, The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David[a] a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. Garlands of pine and fir, often in the form of wreaths are placed to symbolize the eternity of Christ. Wreaths

Continued on page 9

Isaiah 9:6-7

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:

and the government shall be upon his shoulder:

and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor,

The mighty God, The everlasting Father,

The Prince of Peace. Of the increase

of his government and peace there shall be no end,

upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom,

to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice

from henceforth even and ever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts

will perform this.

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Advent is a season of the church year during which we prepare our hearts for Christ's coming. Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year for Christians. The dates of Advent this year are December 1 - 24, 2013. As we prepare our hearts during this season of expectation and hope, take a moment to focus on how we can share this season of expectation and hope with others. Below are events scheduled during the Advent Season.

Share the message of the season by extending an invitation to others

to join you and celebrate Advent

December 1 Worship @ 10:00 a.m. - Sermon: Stay on the Lookout December 1 First day of the St. Paul Daily Advent Devotional available at www.stpumcmd.org December 7 Holiday Guide to Grief and Bereavement @ 10:30 am in St. Paul UMC Fellowship Hall December 7 Fellowship at Carroll Apartments for senior citizens sponsored by UMM, UMW and UMY. Carroll House is located at 410 M St. SE Washington DC. Meet at St. Paul at 10:00 am. December 8 Worship @ 10:00 a.m. - Sermon: Prepare for God’s Coming Blessings December 11 Feed My Sheep Ministry providing a hot lunch from 12 Noon – 2 pm December 15 Worship @ 10:00 a.m. - Sermon: Are You the One? December 20 Cage Agape featuring Janine Carter from 7:00 – 10:00 pm December 22 Worship @ 10:00 a.m. - Sermon: Living Expectantly 12 Days of Christmas presented by the Church School during the morning worship December 24 Worship with Corkran Memorial United Methodist Church @ 7:00 pm Corkran Memorial UMC is located at 5200 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 December 29 Worship @ 10:00 a.m. - Sermon: On Time Delivery December 31 Watch Day Service @ 12 noon with a light repast following the service December 31 Watch Night Service @ 10:00 pm

All events are at St. Paul UMC, 6634 St. Barnabas Road Oxon Hill MD 20745 unless otherwise noted. Contact the Admin Office at 301 567 4433 for more information.

You Are Warmly Invited to Celebrate the Season With Family & Friends

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We believe in HOPE - As we begin Advent, we light a candle to banish the darkness of pain, disease and suf-fering. In the candle’s glow, we are aware of the words of the prophets of old, who foretold the coming of the Light of the World, and of today’s prophets who tell us that it is possible to banish needless deaths from our midst.

We pray - Beloved God: Our lives and our world sometimes feel overflowing with reasons for regret and lamentation. We know too much of sorrow. But we also know from the prophet Isaiah that the people who walk in darkness will see a great light. You, Lord, expand our joy, for a child has been born – for us – and there will be no limits to the wholeness he brings. Help us in this time of anticipation to craft new hopes and to dream new dreams of a world where joy overshadows sorrow and dancing overcomes our mourning. Then, God, make us strong and generous enough to be the bearers of those dreams to the world. Help us to create the world we crave. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

We believe in PEACE - As we light the second Advent candle, we remember the words of philosopher Baruch Spinoza that “peace is not an absence of war, it’s a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confi-dence, justice.” Peace means not only living in the presence of God, but inviting and enabling others, especially those who are sick or hurting or less fortunate than we are, to dwell in shalom with us.

We pray - Beloved God: In the good, in the bad, and even in the most ordinary moments of our lives, we know that your love abides. In Jeremiah we read that you have declared your plans for us to prosper, to live in hope and to have a future. The prophet tells us that when we seek you with all our heart, we will find you. This Advent, Lord, we seek you, confident that the hope and future you promise extends to all your children. Help us to be agents of your peace. Let even the smallest choices we make and the actions we take serve and glorify you. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

We believe in FAITH - The third candle in the Advent wreath is often pink, set apart to be lit on Gaudete (rejoice) Sunday. The name reflects the Scripture in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say rejoice.” This candle also often symbolizes Mary, the mother of Jesus, who was told by an angel in Luke 2 that she, a virgin, would bear the son of God. Mary answered the annunciation with an audacious “Yes” that still inspires today. This Advent, we seek to echo Mary’s yes, with yeses of our own as we work to bring the possi-bility of life to children across Africa and the world.

We pray Dearest God: The angel who visited Mary told her that nothing is impossible with you. In our hearts, we don’t always believe that’s true. Sometimes we seek to limit your power or our response to your call to do astonish-ing things. Lord, this Advent, we ask that you make us midwives to remarkable things, created to honor you and to bring healing and wholeness to our world. Help us recognize the sacred in everything we touch and everyone we encounter. Help us to be vulnerable so that we can discover the strength to do the impossible and transform the world. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

We believe in LOVE As we light the final Advent candle, we are reminded this is a sacred season in which memory and imagination often merge. Our past and future weave themselves into the present day, to love.

We pray Dearest God: Too often we get mired in the familiar and close ourselves off in solitude or in a circle of commu-nity with those to whom we feel close. But we are not alone. You created us as a global community, woven together in a tapestry that tells the human story. As Advent’s flame lights the darkness, let us be a light to the world. Help us to shine through the generosity of our gifts, our willingness to act on behalf of the least and the lost, and our ability to love beyond comfort. Let the old hymn be true: Let the world “know we are Christians by our love.” Together, as people of faith, we cry out: “Come, Lord Jesus, come.” So be it. Amen. By Melissa Lauber, UMConnection Staff, Baltimore-Washington Conference of The United Methodist Church, November 13, 2013 Imagine No Malaria: The sacred work of Advent (Reprinted with Permission)

HOPE, PEACE, FAITH, LOVE: ADVENT PRAYERS

The First Week of Advent

The Second Week of Advent

The Third Week of Advent

The Fourth Week of Advent

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-- Deborah Johnson, CLM

When I recently asked current partici-pants what they liked about Journey 101: Knowing God, I received the following responses:

Fast paced. I love how we work together in groups. I like the parking lot for additional questions. I like the videos and discussions. I like the variety of each session. The students do most of the talking. I like that we are in a different small cluster each week

so I can hear what others have to say. The food and fellowship while studying is great. Must we end at 8:30? This is a great class.

What the participants are describing is the new learn-ing experience -Journey 101: Knowing God that is de-signed to have students discuss each segment of the class in small groups and learn as much from the expe-riences of others as they do from the videos and other class materials.

Seated each week in groups of four or five, each person has a voice and an opportunity to be heard. In this unique classroom setting, participants arrive, pray, gather their snacks for the evening and get busy con-necting from the week before, focusing on the guide questions for the session and seeking answers to how

On the Journey of Knowing God

drama during one of our worship services. You don’t want to miss their celebration of the Advent season.

Undergirding all of these seasonal celebrations is our Church-Wide call to prayer. This year we will begin a new tradition by creating a Prayer wall where we will post our prayers and answers to prayers as a continu-ous reminder of God’s faithfulness in our lives through-out the Advent season.

Each Sunday in Advent will be an adventure; plan now to invite other; come prepared to participate; and come with generous and expectant hearts.

May your Advent be filled with Joy,

Pastor Smothers

ADVENT: A SEASON OF INVITATION, CONTINUED

for me. Not only that, His Son Jesus did it for you and He did it for me. Because of this undeniable, incomprehen-sible, indescribable, undeserved love, we are free from the penalty of sin.

Not only that, we have been adopted into God's family and we are joint heirs with Jesus Christ. So as we cele-brate this Christmas, let's love one another as Jesus loved us. In so doing, Jesus himself will call us "friend." It just doesn't get any better than that!

Happy Birthday Jesus.

Blessing, Kevin West, Lay Leader

THE GREATEST LOVE, CONTINUED

to navigate their discipleship journey in the community.

Journey 101: Knowing God meets each Wednesday at 7:00pm in the St. Paul UMC Fellowship Hall. Come and

join the class and see what the buzz is all about. The class facilitators are Pastor Rodney T. Smothers and Minister Deborah Johnson. For more information, con-tact the church office at 301- 567- 4433.

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In the spirit of being our brother's keeper, we offer in-formation to our church fami-ly about coping with grief dur-ing the holiday. The first ma-jor holidays after losing some-one you love can be most chal-lenging, to say the least. We

offer these following tips to assist during this time.

1. Plan Ahead - Decide what you want to do early and don’t let the day catch you by surprise. You may want to donate your time to a charity or to your church com-munity.

2. Allow Yourself to Remember - Acknowledge your loved one; share memories with other family members and friends. This will help release your stress level.

3. Seek Support - Call a friend and explain your appre-hension. The St. Paul Grief and Bereavement team is available to you. Know that if you don’t feel like doing anything, that’s acceptable. Whatever you do, do not isolate yourself.

4. Do Something Tangible - Honor the memory of your loved one by placing a wreath at the gravesite, light a candle at a special place at home, play their favorite songs.

5. Be Self-Indulgent – Treat yourself to something nice. Sometimes just splurging on yourself can help prevent self-pity.

6. Try Something New – Start a new tradition. Don’t restrict yourself by doing what you’ve always done or what others expect of you.

The Bereavement and Care Ministry is at your service year round. Minister Cecelia Logan assists families during their time of need as it relates to funeral and cemetery arrangements. Sister Gwen Terrell, ministry director, along with the St. Paul Lay Servants and other volunteers, provides care and comfort after a family has experienced the loss of a loved one. The team also provides support to the pastoral office through visita-tion to the sick, communion visits, coordination for funerals and seminars.

Continued on page 8

Men's Bible Study

What a great time to be alive in the Body of Christ. Instead of doing what so many people do at this time of year; that is to sit and worry about what is going happen next as the holidays approach, we can take the opportunity to em-brace the true purpose for the holidays. Now some may ask the question: "What does this have to do with Men's Bible Study at St. Paul United Methodist Church?" Well, we are so glad that you asked.

This is a time to be more involved in spiritual growth op-portunities rather than less. People often find that their time is more limited during the holiday seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas. People often fill up their time in ways that support the commercial side of those holidays. People are either working additional hours in order to shop, add additional shopping, or make arrange-ments to visit or receive family and friends. While there is nothing particularly wrong with any of those activities, they are often done while putting God on the side in a safe resting place. Did we forget already that God is the reason for each of these seasons?

Recently someone brought documents to a Thanksgiving dinner that confirmed that Thanksgiving is and always was intended to be a holiday that honors God. It is a time that the entire country if not the world says "Thanks". It is a time when families (as they are able) come together to say "Thank You" for all you have done for us. It is not just about the meal. Of course, the Advent Season is a time when we welcome the birth of Jesus Christ. And again you say, "What Does This have to do with Men's Bible Study at St. Paul United Methodist Church?". I'm glad that you asked again. Now is the time for men (and women) to actively embrace the principles for which the holidays are named and celebrated. The bible study group gives all of us an opportunity to deal with spiritual principles as they manifest themselves in everyday life. We are asking all men, young lions and seasoned lions, to join us on Thursdays at 7 p.m. for spiritual growth. We can't wait to see you and hear from you.

Facilitators: Ernest Adams and Carrington Smith

Coping with Grief During the Holidays

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Drink to Lower Your Blood Pressure

When you want to lower your blood pressure, think beyond slashing salt, calories and fat — and also con-sider what you can add to your diet. More vegetables, fruits and lean protein, says the Institute of Medicine in a February 2010 report on preventing and control-ling high blood pressure. Plus, recent research points to three beverages that also may help to lower blood pressure.

Hibiscus Tea:

Wondering about how to lower blood pressure? It’s as easy as one, two, tea: Study participants who sipped 3 cups of a hibiscus tea daily lowered systolic blood pressure by 7 points in 6 weeks on average, say researchers from Tufts University–results on par with many prescription medications. Those who received a placebo drink improved their reading by only 1 point. The phytochemicals in hibiscus are probably responsible for the large reduction in high blood pres-sure, say the study authors. Many herbal teas contain hibiscus; look for blends that list it near the top of the chart of ingredients–this often indicates a higher con-centration per serving.

Low- or Nonfat Milk: Both supply potassium and calcium, two nutrients that are associated with healthy blood pressure, and are fortified with vitamin D—a vitamin that new re-search suggests promotes healthy blood pressure. Substituting low-fat dairy—including milk—for full-fat versions may also help lower blood pressure, re-ports a 2009 study in the British Journal of Nutrition. In healthy people, arteries are “elastic”: they relax (widen) and constrict (narrow) to keep blood pres-sure within a normal range. Full-fat dairy contains significant amounts of palmitic acid (much more than low-fat dairy), which can block signals that relax blood vessels, leaving them in a constricted state that may keep blood pressure elevated.

Cranberry Juice: At your next celebration, raise a glass of…cranberry juice? Turns out, cranberry juice has the same blood pressure–lowering effects as red wine, according to a 2010 study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. (The study was partially funded by Ocean Spray.) Both beverages—as well as apple juice and cocoa—boast antioxidants called proanthocyanidins, which inhibit synthesis of a compound called ET-1 that plays a role in constricting blood vessels.

Continued on page 10

Health & Wellness Corner RECRUITING

The Health and Welfare Ministry invites YOU to become active in this exciting area of service to St. Paul and the community.

The Health and Wellness Ministry works to heighten the awareness of all our church members—young, old, and in-between—about the role of good health and wellness in their ability to be useful in the service of the Lord. To achieve our goal, members of this ministry are involved in the following activities:

Submit monthly Health and Wellness articles to the St. Paul United Methodist Church news letter, The Beacon.

Collaboration with the Health Screening Mobile Unit from Maryland Hospital Center to provide free cardiac and diabetes risk assessments to St. Paul members and community. The assessments also covered cholesterol, blood sugar and triglycerides, blood pressure testing and flu shots.

Support Warm Nights, during which St. Paul provides food and shelter for homeless men, women and children for one week.

Responded to the crisis in Haiti by assembling and send-ing Health Kits to the UMCOR Haiti Project .

Participated in the Health Maryland Initiative to increase the state tobacco tax to reduce teen smoking and help critical health care and public health programs .

Participated in the organization and distribution of Thanksgiving Baskets to families identified by members and community agencies.

Participated in the nation-wide Angel Tree Program by

providing gifts for celebrating Christmas to children whose parents incarcerated.

Coordinated the attendance of Dr. Patricia Dawson from

Washington Hospital Center to speak to women on Health and Wellness.

Coordinated the participation of outreach workers from

the Prince George’s County Health Department at the St. Paul's Community Day.

Participated in the Annual Health Fair supported by Councilman Obie Patterson at the Harmony Hall Recrea-tion Center.

* Participated in the Change the World Mission Impact Weekend

If these activities appeal to you and if you would like to serve as a member of a team that carried out a much-needed ministry in the community, please join us. To join, or if you have questions, send an email to Jacquelin Smith, Chairperson for Health and Wellness Ministry at jsmith3249@aol.om.

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Our Favorite Christmas Carols

Did you know that “carol” or “carole” has medieval origins be-lieved to mean a circle dance ac-companied by singing? No matter its origin, the tradition of singing Christmas carols that speak of the coming of Christ has been around for a very long time. Some of our

favorites were written in foreign tongues and have been translated, passed down and enjoyed for hun-dreds of years.

We are reminded and inspired by the retelling of the Advent and Christmas stories through the lyrics and magic of music each year when we hear and sing these beautiful songs. It is ironic that these very popular songs that deliver words of hope, love, and peace are only heard for a short period once a year.

Listed are some of the favorite songs among St. Paul members based on the feedback of those who respond-ed to the online poll. The poll was just for fun and not necessarily representative of the entire congregation. We were unable to establish a “top 10,” but these are the top ranked songs.

Ranked 1st Place (tie) O Holy Night (c. 1847) Silent Night (c. 1818)

Ranked 2nd Place (tie)

Do You Hear What I Hear? (1962) Joy to the World (c. 1719)

O Come All Ye Faithful (c. 1751)

Ranked 3rd Place

Go, Tell it on the Mountain (1865)

Ranked 4th Place (tie) Hark the Herald Angels Sing (c. 1739)

Little Drummer Boy (1941)

Ranked 5th Place (tie) Away in the Manger (c. 1884)

Deck the Hall (c. 1866) It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (c. 1849)

Mary, Did You Know (1984)

Ranked 6th Place (tie) O Come O Come Emanuel (c. 1850)

O Little Town of Bethlehem (c. 1865)

We extend an invitation to you to participate in the following seminar: A Holiday Guide through Grief and Bereavement on December 7, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. Save the date for an educational session that is being planned for March 15, 2013. Additional information will be provided in the January issue of The Beacon. We are honored to assist families during this delicate time. Contact any member of the Bereavement and Care Ministry. The information in this article is reprinted with permis-sion from simplicityplan.com.

GRIEF AND BEREAVEMENT, CONTINUED O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of our dear Savior's birth.

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have no beginning or end and are made from the ever-greens of the pine or fir trees. These greens appear to never die season after season.

Branches of holly and ivy, symbolic of Jesus Christ, our Savior, are displayed to represent the suffering, death and resurrection of our Savior. The prickly thorn like leaves, the red berries and the bitter bark are symbolic in telling the story of the suffering, death and resurrec-tion of Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Also included in the adornment of the sanctuary will be the Advent wreath. The Advent wreath will include four candles. A new candle will be lit each Sunday dur-ing Advent symbolizing the hope, love, joy and peace we have in Christ. To complete the adornment of the sanctuary, we will use blue paraments in the pulpit area and the communion table.

The Chrismon Tree, a tree decorated with symbols of Christ, will be placed in the Narthex. It is our hope that the tree will be one form of our witness to the commu-nity symbolizing Christ as the light of the world.

You are invited before and after the service to come forward for a closer look at the adornments and medi-

Select the correct answer without opening your Bible. 1. Jesus was born

a. at night b. in the morning c. at an unknown time

2. Jesus was born a. in a stable b. in a manger c. at an unknown place

3. The shepherds found Jesus a. in a stable b. in a feed-bin c. in a house

4. The Magi found Jesus a. in a stable b. in a feed bin c. in a house

5. Angels a. sang a beautiful song b. terrified farm workers c. told the wise men to go home another way

6. A star a. appeared on the night of Jesus' birth b. guided shepherds to the manger c. led the Magi westward

7. The animals mentioned at the manger included a. ox, donkey, sheep, cows, doves b. pigs, lobsters, shrimp c. none of the above

8. The weather at the birth of Jesus was a. not mentioned b. moderate to warm c. Snowy

9. When the shepherds arrived, Jesus was a. asleep on the hay b. wrapped like a mummy c. not crying

10. The posture of the shepherds when the angel

appeared was: a. seated on the ground b. lying in the fields c. not mentioned

Answers on page 10

Christmas Story Quiz

Mark Your Calendar and Join Us

Two opportunities to worship on New Year’s Eve

As we celebrate another year and the blessings and favor the Lord has

so graciously bestowed upon each of us in 2013

Wednesday, December, 31, 2013

12 Noon 10:30 PM

Invite your friends and family A light repast will be served following the noon day service

For additional information, contact Gloria Y. Turner-Simpkins, CLM

artglos4301@verizon.net

ADORNING THE CHURCH AT ADVENT, CONTINUED

Noon Day and Watch Night Services

tate on what each symbol represents. The adornments used in the sanctuary are not limited to the building we call a church; these adornments may also be placed in our homes, chapels and other scared places. If you want to know more about the symbols or Advent, search Advent at www.gbod.org .

Noon Day Service Watch Night Service

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1. c—The time of the birth of Jesus is nowhere mentioned in the Bible. Many carols seem to suggest he was born at night, including "O Holy Night" and "Silent Night"

2. c—The exact place of the birth of Jesus is nowhere men-

tioned. He was placed in a manger, but that does not mean he was born there (very unlikely—nearly physically impossible!) or even in a stable (stables would have been unlikely in a town).

3. b—A "manger" is a feed-bin for animals. 4. c—Matthew’s account mentions only that Jesus was born

somewhere in Bethlehem and that the wise men found him in a house.

5. b— Luke says that the heavenly host SAID (not sang!)

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace to peo-ple of good will." The Magi were warned by a dream to go home another way. "Angels We Have Heard on High" says the angels sang this. "Silent Night" has the angels singing something that at most one angel said—"Christ the Savior is born." No angels are recorded to have said or sang "Alleluia" (also attributed to them in "Silent Night") in the biblical birth stories.

6. c—The Magi were from the East, and depending on how

one translates the Greek, the star was either in the east-ern sky, or the Magiwere describing the fact that they saw it "at its rising" (astrological term). In either event, since they were from the East, they had to go west (counter to the star if it was in the East!) to get to Judea.

7. c—No animals are mentioned as being at the manger.

We are not told what the shepherds did with their sheep. "What Child Is This" and "Good Christian Friends, Rejoice" mention "ox and ass." "The Friendly Beasts" mentions the others listed in a. The animals in b were unclean and would not have been anywhere near a Jewish settlement.

8. a— The Bible says nothing directly about the weather.

Snow would have been unlikely if sheep were out in the fields; but other than this, we are not told. "Snow had fallen, snow on snow," and "a cold winter’s night that was so deep" are both Northern hemisphere fictions.

9. b—Swaddling clothes were rather like a "body wrap."

There is no mention in Scripture what else was in the manger, if anything. Scripture also never says Jesus never cried as a baby. "Away in a Manger" says both a and c.

10. c—"The First Noel" says the shepherds are "in the fields

where they lay keeping their sheep," and "While Shep-herds Watched Their Flocks by Night" has them "all seat-ed on the ground." The Bible doesn’t tell us.

Copyright General Board of Discipleship. www.GBOD.org.

Used by permission

Beetroot Juice: Beetroot juice is one of the richest dietary sources of antioxidants and naturally occurring nitrates. Ni-trates are compounds which improve blood flow throughout the body – including the brain, heart, and muscles. These natural nitrates increase a molecule in the blood vessels called nitric oxide, which helps open up the vessels and allows more oxygen flow as well as lower blood pressure.

Beetroot juice may also be an important ally to lower blood pressure. Whether the yellow or red kind of beets, the juice provides excellent blood pressure-lowering ability. Meta-analysis (a quality study that reviewed many past studies) of 254 people between 2006 and 2012 showed clear reductions in blood pressure, with the systolic blood pressure (the num-ber on top) showing the best reduction.

Eat Or Drink Beets? In many cases, eating the whole food is the best way to get all the nutrients, fiber and healthy effect. But, in this partic-ular case for blood pressure lowering, you are actually bet-ter off drinking the juiced beet root to get the maximum benefit. When you cook the beet or ferment a beet (like we find in a pickled beet), the amount of healthful nutrients for blood pressure benefits will decrease. By juicing, you are going to get 100% of the phytonutrients (plant chemicals) that help your blood pressure decrease. Reprinted with permission from www.BlackDoctor.org

Please share your thoughts and ideas about what you would like St. Paul’s Health and Wellness Committee to plan, or topics to research to help keep our pews filled with healthier mem-bers. Send your suggestions to Jackie Smith at jsmith3249@aol.com.

HEALTH AND WELNESS, CONTINUED CHRISTMAS QUIZ ANSWERS

Throughout the advent season, a different devotional will be posted on the website each day featuring re-flections written by members of the St. Paul UMC fami-ly.

Read the Daily Advent Devotionals at www.stpumcmd.org/Advent

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December SHARE Menu

$20.50

$30.50

$39.50

$22.50

Entertainment donation $5.00 Dinner at additional cost

Café Agape Presents

Families Receiving SHARE Gifts for Thanksgiving

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May God Bless You

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December Calendar

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December 16

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Library Hours

The St. Paul Library, locat-

ed on the Lower Level, is

open according to the fol-

lowing schedule:

For one hour following

Sunday morning worship

service;

Wednesdays (10:30

a.m. to 12:30 p.m.);

By special request.