NOV. 23, 2018

A PUBLICATION OFOAK HILL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

7815 Hwy. 290 W.Austin, TX 78736 • (512) 288-3836

Pastors Jim Roberts, Katy Fitzgold, Laura Smith Adam

Worship ServicesSunday, Nov. 258:45 a.m., 10 a.m. “Pathways,” and 11:15 a.m. Mike Trujillo and Robin May-Davis “Stories From Community Ministries” — James 2:14-17 Sunday, Dec. 28:45 a.m., 10 a.m. “Pathways,” and 11:15 a.m. Pastor Jim Roberts “Signs” — Luke 21:25-36

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Sponsor a Foundation Communities Family for HolidaysExtend Christ’s love during the holidays by sponsoring a Foundation Communities family and helping to fulfill the wish lists of children and parents.

Several of the families live just down Texas 71 at Live Oak Trails and Southwest Trails, two affordable family complexes that Oak Hill UMC has partnered with for various events and projects.

To help a family, go to the Sponsor Registration page. You can designate Live Oak Trails and/or Southwest Trails in the comment section at the bottom of the form.

Sponsor forms are due by Tuesday, Dec. 4.

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Help Decorate the SanctuaryIt’s time to get busy! Every year the Worship Team makes sure the Sanctuary is festively decorated for the Advent/Christmas seasons.

Sanctuary decoration: Help us trim the tree and hang the holly! The fun begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. Coffee and donuts will be provided.

Poinsettias: To order a poinsettia for the Sanctuary, look for order forms inside Sunday morning bulletins or in the church office. Orders are due by Dec. 14. The price is $15 each...same as last year!

For more information about decorating and ordering poinsettias, please contact Susan McBride at maddygin@austin.rr.com.

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Radical Hospitality at Oak Hill UMC: A desire to invite, welcome, receive, and care for those who are strangers so that they find a

spiritual home and discover for themselves the unending richness of life in Christ.

Agape Christmas Market Returns Dec. 2 Sunday, Dec. 2 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Fellowship HallLooking for a way to honor someone at Christmas? Interested in supporting area programs that support and uplift our neighbors?Want to support fair trade efforts throughout the world? Consider the Agape Christmas Market for your holiday gift giving! Joinus Sunday, Dec. 2, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.

Among the vendors present will be True Vineyard Ministries and 10,000 Villages, and Agape Christmas Market shoppers also will be able to purchase alternative gifts in support of Oak Hill UMC Community Ministries partners, including Central Texas Food Bank, Foundation Communities, Oak Hill Community Alliance, The Refuge for DMST (Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking), Water to Thrive, and others.

Don’t miss this terrific opportunity to take care of much...most...all of your Christmas shopping!

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Bring Your Teddy Bear on Sunday!Oak Hill UMC will once again host area families at the Travis County Community Center. The party, 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, will include breakfast, holiday crafts, story time, bounce houses, and, of course, Teddy Bears.

Plan to bring your furry friend to church on Sunday, Nov. 25, or Sunday, Dec. 2. Leave Teddy in the pew as you leaveworship. Bears will be collected and given to area children at the party. If you prefer to bring your donation earlier, look for donation boxes in the foyer and Fellowship Hall. Want to help with the party itself? Learn more at the Connection Station or contact Vicki Matustik at vicki@oakhillumc.org.

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Thanks to Those Who Donated to the Hugs ProjectThanks to the church members and others who have generously donated to the Hugs Project. This Christmas season we have mailed 38 Large Flat Rate boxes containing Christmas cards that troopers can send to their friends and family, and 494 filled Christmas stockings. Already we have received an email thanking us for our Christmas gifts. Here is part of the email from one of the three chap-lains to whom we sent the boxes:

“I’m the new chaplain here ... We were delighted that your care boxes of Christmas stockings came ... We have had wonderful feed-back (from the troopers) so far. Attached is a photo of two Airmen who took some of the supplies out to their Maintenance teammates (before we decorated). And the other photo is what we’ve done with stockings after some Airmen have opened and enjoyed the candies ... Thank you again for your generosity and prayers...”

This email and the pictures are proof positive that your donations plus the Hugs Project volunteers have made the Mideast troops aware that people in the U.S.A. still remember and appreciate the troopers’ service.

—Sandy Wilkerson

Children’s News

Youth NewsNov. 25 — Sunday School with Lisa and Nikki. Join the fun at 10 a.m. Youth Group meets from 5-7 p.m.

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OHYOUTHMIN/For all the latest info check out our Parent Info App: https://band.us/n/afa4Y8a9a0G1p

REMEMBER: The Youth Sunday School Class has partnered with the Travis County Community Center at Oak Hill to collect food and other personal items all year long. Donations will be delivered monthly to the center. Look for the collection bin in the hallway between the coffee bar area and the Youth Sunday School classroom.

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Our PrayersPam Baggett (Carolyn Blackwood’s friend); Bob and Fran Batch; Alex Bennett; Ruth Anne Bush (Lois Rice’s friend); Jim Chionsini (Jennifer Cortez’s father); Les Conley; Carole Cortez; Jean and Larry Cortez (Mark Cortez’s parents); Brad Davis (Cathy Ingersoll’sfather); Sandy Edwards (Debbie Sansom’s friend); Amy Kadlecek; Aidan Marenco; Carl and Mary Ethel Moore; Diana Nelson; Cindy Nolan (Nancy Davila’s cousin); Stan Reece; family and friends of William (“Bill”) Pampe (Bill passed away Nov. 20; his funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, in the Oak Hill UMC Sanctuary); Beth Regan (Lou Heavner’s friend); the family of Ransom Scott (Car-olyn Blackwood’s great-nephew passed away Nov. 7); Karen Seuser; Susan Shineldecker; Cherrie Shoemaker; Teresa Talley (Lynn Sampsell’s daughter); Anne Tiedt; Rick White (Karan and David Stripling’s son-in-law); Janet Whitworth (Susan Shineldecker’s friend); Reggie Wilson. Prayers of joy for the birth of Tinsley Baron (daughter of Daniel Byron and granddaughter of Margaret and Danny Brown). Prayers of joy on the 46th wedding anniversary of Gary and JoAnn McGill. ——————— Thank you to my Oak Hill UMC family for the many notes and prayers during my family’s difficult loss. Please continue to lift the Scott family in your prayers. — Carolyn Blackwood

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 are interested in becoming a Stephen Min-ister, please email Alana Oehler at also@austin.rr.com or call her at (512) 289-1988. For more information: www.oakhillumc.org/stephen-ministry/.

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Stephen Ministers Are Available for PrayerThe holiday season can be a very difficult time of year. Those who are grieving or struggling with personal or family issues may find this to be a time of sadness, loneliness, and hopelessness. Whatever you are feeling, a Stephen Minister is available to you for prayer after every church service. They are waiting to listen, hold your hand, offer a welcome hug, and extend God’s love through prayer with you. Please contact Alana Oehler if you would like a Stephen Minister to meet individually with you. Alana can be reached at 512-289-1988 or also@austin.rr.com

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Find Hope in “Home for Christmas” Sundays Beginning Dec. 2 12:30-2 p.m. Room A206, Adult Education BuildingJoin Pastor Laura for Home for Christmas, and find hope in unexpected places during Advent! This four-week study features the real-life stories of formerly incarcerated men and women as they find work and opportunity through Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, California. Their experiences will “bring home” the hope, love, joy, and peace of Christmas to all of us.

The study begins Sunday, Dec. 2, from 12:30-2 p.m. BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag – lunch, that is). The book costs $11. Childcare is available by registration. Sign up at the Connection Station or by email to Pastor Laura at laura@oakhillumc.org.

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December Begins With Blood Drive Sunday, Dec. 2 9 a.m. - Noon Oak Hill UMCCome lend a helping arm and save local lives. It’s easy; just make an appointment online. The mobile van will be stationed inthe parking lot.

If you have eligibility questions, check out We Are Blood’s website. If you have more specific questions or would like assistancesigning up, call We Are Blood at 512-206-1266.

For questions specific to our drive, contact Anita Barton at anitabchef@yahoo.com or 512-299-7551.

Remember! Eat a full meal before donating, and bring your photo ID.

Thanks to Drew Wilson for playing a saxophone solo for the offertory at the 11:15 a.m. service on Nov. 18!

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“Coats for Kids” Continues Coat Donations Needed Through Dec. 4 Coffee Bar AreaSomewhere in your life you have coats that you are not using anymore. Please consider donating them! All sizes are accepted—toddler to teens. They will be cleaned and given to residents of Oak Hill at the “Brown Santa” event on Dec. 8. Please drop off coats Please drop off coats in the barrel in the coffee bar area of Fellowship Hall by Dec. 4. Last year we gave out more than 180 coats!

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Crafty Christians to Celebrate Christmas! Thursday, Dec. 6 7 p.m. Coffee Bar Area of Fellowship HallJoin the Crafty Christians as they choose from a cornucopia of Christmas crafts for gift giving! Jan Roberts will have a variety of projects ready for the group’s get-together on Thursday evening, Dec. 6. As always, bring $2 and good cheer!

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UMW Book Club to Look at Life on the Ranch Thursday, Dec. 6 10 a.m. Panera Bread, 4625 W. William Cannon Dr.The Hawkins Ranch in Texas: From Plantation Times to the Present is our next selection. Author and family descen-dent Margaret Louis Furse writes a panoramic view of 160 years of ranch life. Please join us as we meet at 10 a.m. Thursday morning, Dec. 6, at Panera Bread on William Cannon. Contact Diana Goodloe at dianagoodloe@gmail.com if you have questions.

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500 Hours of Fall Sharing Is Winding DownFind your place in ministry! Sign up Sundays at the Connection Station in the courtyard or visit www.oakhillumc.org/500-hours-of-sharing-fall-2018/. Our goal is to reach at least 500 hours of volunteerism by church members this fall. For moreinformation, contact Vicki Matustik at vicki@oakhillumc.org.

Remaining opportunities in 2018:Dec. 2 – Blood Mobile – blood donationDec. 2 – Agape MarketDec. 8 – Breakfast with Santa*

*Family-friendly for kids 8 and older with a parent.

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“Blue Christmas” Service Tuesday, Dec. 18 7 p.m. SanctuaryAre the holidays one of the most lonely, difficult times of the year for you? Join us in the Sanctuary on Tuesday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. for “Blue Christmas” … an opportunity to acknowledge your feelings … and to invite God’s healing presence into the midst of your sadness and pain.

Christmas without a loved one, unemployment and/or financial hardship, a devastating illness, a broken relationship—these, and a multitude of other situations—are times in life when the joy of Christmas is difficult to find. “Blue Christmas” offers us an intentional space for quiet worship in the midst of everyone else’s joy. Come as you are and bring who you are, tears included. You are not alone!

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(Left) Members of Oak Hill UMC helped provide 5,602 meals to Central Texans in need! The industrious group volunteered at the Central Texas Food Bank Saturday, Nov. 17. (Right) Oak Hill UMC Community Ministries worked with TreeFolks to help restore saplings along Lady Bird Lake, also on Nov. 17. The church has left the building!

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2019 Men’s Retreat Is in the Works! Jan. 11-12, 2019 Wellspring Retreat Center in BlancoAttention, Oak Hill UMC men: The annual United Methodist Men Men’s Retreat will be held Jan. 11-12, 2019, at the beautiful Wellspring Retreat Center in Blanco. Stay tuned for more information!

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Oak Hill UMC Members: Join a European Journey!Fellow travelers, please join Steve and Carol Reese this summer on a European journey! In June, the group will travel to Salzburg,Vienna, and Prague. In July, they will travel to Croatia and Slovenia, with visits to Dubrovnik, Split, Kotor, Plitvice National Park,Zagreb, and Llubjana.

Steve and Carol have been leading groups on educational international tours with the American Council for InternationalStudies (ACIS) for more than 20 years. These outstanding tours include all airfare, three-and four-star hotels, all breakfasts, all dinners, admissions to activities as listed, private bus transportation, excellent guides, basic insurance, taxes, and more. A tour manager remains with their group 24/7.

They would love to have you join them on one of these trips. Below are the links to view the itineraries. Please pass this info along to anyone else you know who may also enjoy travel opportunities!

June 4-13, 2019: Salzburg, Vienna and Prague “The Sounds of Europe” (A combined trip with 15 teen orchestra students—a great trip for adults and families!)https://www.acis.com/tripsite/?key=RFJjUDY2SGUzODNUQnBQNEFPdz0%3D&code=150July 1-10. 2019: Croatia “Along the Adriatic” (A terrific trip for adult travelers!) https://www.acis.com/tripsite/?key=RFJjUDY2SFIxTTdRQTVPSWRKZz0%3D&code=AADDeposits for each trip are due by Dec. 1, 2018. Questions? Contact Carol at carolreesegt@gmail.com or 512-940-7726.

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Oak Hill United Methodist Church7815 Highway 290 WestAustin, TX 78736www.oakhillumc.org

The Cornerstone (USPS 012-959) is published by Oak Hill United Methodist Church at 7815 Hwy. 290 W., Austin, TX 78736. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Cornerstone, 7815 Hwy. 290 W., Austin, TX 78736. This newsletter issues weekly. Subscription rate: $12/year. OHUMC office hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. M-Th and 9 a.m.-noon Friday. Submit announcements and articles to cornerstone@oakhillumc.org.

Ministers All members of Oak Hill UMCPastors Jim Roberts Katy Fitzgold

Laura Smith AdamDirector of Music Ministries Suzanne PenceAssociate Director of Music Ministries Kati CoxHandbell Choir Director & Accompanist Cathy IngersollOrganist Sheryl StackPathways Worship Leader Nick AndrewsDirector of Preschool Ministries Jennifer BarkisDirector of Children’s Ministries Jenny HolmAss’t Director of Children’s Ministries Nicole RoeslerDirector of Youth Ministries Matt VillegasFinancial Administrator Angie BraggFacilities Administrator Daniel UrrutiaOffice Manager Kathy WilliamsonDirector of Connections and Service Vicki MatustikDirector of Communications Don KerrAudio/Video Technician Evan Ingersoll

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Mark Your Calendars!Dec. 2 — Agape Christmas Market (9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) Dec. 2 — Theology Pub (5-7 p.m. at Waterloo Ice House)Dec. 6 — Crafty Christians (7 p.m.)Dec. 9 — Children’s Christmas Musical (8:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services) Dec. 18 — “Blue Christmas” Service (7 p.m.) Dec. 24 — Christmas Eve Family Service (3 p.m.) Dec. 24 — Christmas Eve Candlelight Cantata (7 p.m.) (childcare available; interpreted for the deaf) Dec. 24 — Christmas Eve Candlelight Cantata (9 p.m.) Dec. 24 — Christmas Eve Candlelight & Communion (11 p.m.)Jan. 11-12 — United Methodist Men Men’s Retreat (Blanco) Jan. 13 — Wedding Shower for Matthew, Our Youth Director, and Val (5-7 p.m.)