January 2015

UP on the Hill

Newsletter of The Hill United Presbyterian Church Butler, PA

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away;
see, everything has become new! 2 Corinthians 5: 19

Worship, Study and Fellowship With Us!

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP, STUDY AND FELLOWSHIP
9:15 A.M.J.A.M. Session and Adult Study
9:30 A.M.30 Minutes (!) For Youth
10:30 A.M.Worship Service
11:30 A.M.Coffee / Fellowship Time in the Fellowship Hall

PASTORAL MINISTRY
Rev. Clark T. Sawyer

PROGRAM MINISTRY
Kathy O. Sawyer

MUSIC MINISTRY
Kathy O. Sawyer, Director of Music
Margaret E. McGuirk, Organist
Nancy Slezak, Memorial Handbell
Director and Assistant Organist

CHURCH OFFICE
Elean Heist, Administrative Assistant
Jennifer Gilliland, Financial Secretary
Lyn Goehring, Treasurer

CUSTODIANS

The Christmas Shoe Tree,

Our Christmas Musical 2014

Happy New Year!

John D. Whittington
Bobby Jo Sullins

The Hill United

Presbyterian Church
501 Second Street
Butler, Pennsylvania 16001
724-287-5427
E-mail: hillup@zoominternet.net
www.hillup.org

WORSHIP SCHEDULE
SUNDAY MORNING
WORSHIP SERVICES
10:30 - 11:30 A.M.

SUNDAY
JANUARY 4, 2015
2nd Sunday in Christmastide
Lords Supper - Traditional
The Sacrament of Baptism
Sermon: A New Covenant
Rev. Clark Sawyer
Scripture: Jeremiah 31: 31-34; John 1: 9-18
JANUARY 11, 2015
Baptism of the Lord
Sermon: A Fatherly Approval
Rev. Clark Sawyer
Scripture: Isaiah 42: 1-10; Mark 1: 4-11
JANUARY 18, 2015
2nd Sunday After Epiphany
Sermon: Come And See
Rev. Clark Sawyer
Scripture: 1 Samuel 3: 1-18; John 1: 43-51
JANUARY 25, 2015
3rd Sunday After Epiphany
The Presentation of Godspell, Jr.
Presented by the Hill Youth Chorale
As A Part Of Its Musical Ministry
Followed By Lunch In The Fellowship Hall

JANUARY 2015
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Members and Friends of
the Hill United
Presbyterian Church:
Paul, in Romans 12: 1-8, speaks
about living the consecrated life, a life
devoted and dedicated on a daily
basis to A WHOLE NEW WAY OF
LIFE!
How about that for the New Year of
2015?
Paul wrote this to the Roman
Christians: I appeal to you therefore,
brothers and sisters, by the mercies of
God, to present yourselves as a living
sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God,
which is your spiritual worship. Do not
be conformed to this world but be
TRANSFORMED by the renewal of
your mind, that you may show what is
the will of God, what is good and
acceptable and perfect.
The question comes to be are you
and I living a life of conformity to this
world or are you and I living lives
transformed through the love, faith
and hope in Jesus the Messiah and
Lord?
Jesus can bring an entirely new
vision of transformative living through
the Kingdom of God to and through
you and me!
Yours in the New Life altogether in
Jesus Christ,
Pastor Clark
Rev. Clark Sawyer

WORSHIP ATTENDANCE
IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2014

Sunday
11/2

132

11/9

126

11/16

156

11/23

131

11/30

85

12/7

129

12/14

117

12/14 (Christmas Musical)

245

12/21 (Cantata)

392

Please remember, when Jesus was young he regularly

went to the Synagogue for prayer and worship in Nazareth
and also attended the festivals with his parents at the
Temple in Jerusalem. As a young man and during his days
of preaching and teaching, Jesus, as his custom was, went
regularly to the Synagogue, went to the Temple and taught
in the Temple precincts.
Jesus thought gathering for worship, prayer, teaching
and preaching is time well spent.
How about you?
See you at our gatherings for worship, teaching,
fellowship, service and outreach!

Session Highlights
December 8, 2014
It was with joy that the Hill Church received
Karen Bryson as a new member of Hill Church based
upon her Reaffirmation of Faith in Jesus Christ. We
welcome Karen and pray Gods Blessings as she
unites with us!
Session passed a motion from the Worship and
Discipleship Committee to authorize the Baptism of
Kendall Elizabeth Nace, born November 9, 2012. She
is the daughter of Lauren Nace with Baptism to be
scheduled at a later date.
The Session approved a motion from
Stewardship and Mission Support to create a Special
Committee to define a mission and prioritize
ministry goals as a long term plan as shared in the
Stewardship article on page 5 of the newsletter.
Clark Sawyer,
Moderator

Financial
Summary

BIBLE READING S FOR JANUARY

FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Receipts and Disbursements
FOR MONTH ENDING NOVEMBER 30, 2014

Actual

Variance Favorable
(Unfavorable)

Budget

Receipts
Envelope **
Offerings
Other Offerings
& Receipts
Total Receipts

$189,977

$202,576

($12,599)

139,409
329,386

107,910
310,486

31,499
18,900

Disbursements
Personnel
Buildings &
Grounds
Capital
Improvements
Office
Operations
Stewardship
Mission Support
Christian
Education
Nurture
Worship
Discipleship
Total
Disbursements
Net of Receipts
over
Disbursements

183,145

186,742

3,597

37,043

36,392

(651)

4,165

(4,165)

7,810
7,377
23,497

8,713
11,924
20,680

903
4,547
(2,817)

11,717
2,651
13,718
32,585

15,587
5,324
10,274
14,850

3,870
2,673
(3,444)
(17,735)

323,708

310,486

(13,222)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31

Morning

Evening

Gen. 1, 2, 3
Gen. 4, 5, 6
Gen. 7, 8, 9
Gen. 10, 11, 12
Gen. 13, 14, 15
Gen. 16, 17
Gen. 18, 19
Gen. 20, 21, 22
Gen. 23, 24
Gen. 25, 26
Gen. 27, 28
Gen. 29, 30
Gen. 31, 32
Gen. 33, 34, 35
Gen. 36, 37, 38
Gen. 39, 40
Gen. 41, 42
Gen. 43, 44, 45
Gen. 46, 47, 48
Gen. 49, 50
Ex. 1, 2, 3
Ex. 4, 5, 6
Ex. 7, 8
Ex. 9, 10, 11
Ex. 12, 13
Ex. 14, 15
Ex. 16, 17, 18
Ex. 19, 20
Ex. 21, 22
Ex. 23, 24
Ex. 25, 26

Matt. 1
Matt. 2
Matt. 3
Matt. 4
Matt. 5: 1 - 26
Matt. 5: 27 48
Matt. 6: 1 - 18
Matt. 6: 19 - 34
Matt. 7
Matt. 8: 1 - 17
Matt. 8: 18 - 34
Matt. 9: 1 - 17
Matt. 9: 18 - 38
Matt. 10: 1 - 20
Matt. 10: 21 - 42
Matt. 11
Matt. 12: 1 - 23
Matt. 12: 24 - 50
Matt. 13: 1 - 30
Matt. 13: 31 - 58
Matt. 14: 1 21
Matt. 14: 22 - 36
Matt. 15: 1 - 20
Matt. 15: 21 - 39
Matt. 16
Matt. 17
Matt. 18: 1 - 20
Matt. 18: 21 35
Matt. 19
Matt. 20: 1 - 16
Matt. 20: 17 - 34

Hill U.P. Prayer List

Would you like to receive our weekly

prayer list by email? If this is something you are
interested in receiving, please send an email to
5,678
0
5,678
Elean Heist at our church office email
hillup@zoominternet.net asking to be added to
Fund Balance
the weekly prayer email list.
Unrestricted (Deficit)
($16,660)
Do you have a person or persons that you
Designated
27,791
would like added to our weekly prayer list? You
11,131
Total General Fund
can also email the information to Elean Heist at
The above amounts represent the 2014 financial our church office email hillup@zoominternet.net
transactions in the general operating fund. This summary to have them added.
does not include any of the special and endowment funds.
Please be sure to have your emails sent in
by 2:00 p.m. on Thursdays each week to be
You may help the work of the Lord and your Hill family
of faith by staying current on the payment of your tithes
and offerings. Our ministries, programs and mission
commitments go on throughout the year regardless of the
season.

The next newsletter deadline is JANUARY 15, 2015!

The 2015 Hill Church Stewardship Campaign has ended and it is now time to use the results of the campaign along with other historical
giving information to develop the 2015 Hill Church budget. It is this budget that drives how Hill Church will provide opportunities for
Worship, ministry and service for the coming year.
Here is some of the information the Session will use when developing the 2015 Hill Church budget:
The Stewardship and Mission Support Committee estimates that the church will have $145,000 in pledged offerings (adjusted to
include uncollected pledges) to use towards the 2015 budget. The amount of pledged offerings adjusted for uncollected pledges
for 2014 was $181,000.
Based on historical information the committee estimates that the church will have $45,000 in unpledged offerings and $14,000 in
miscellaneous revenue in 2015.
These amounts when added to the 2015 pledged offerings will give the church $204,000 to cover church expenses including staff
salaries; building upkeep, utilities and maintenance; mission support; and supplies and materials needed to support ministries and
programs.
The budgeted costs for church operations in 2014 was $338,704. The Session authorized the use of approximately $67,000 from
the churchs endowment funds to close the gap between pledged, unpledged and miscellaneous revenue and church expenses.
Increases in church operational costs have been minimal over the past five to seven years. During the same period the church has
used money from its endowment funds to cover operational shortfalls, balance its budget and pay its bills.
If 2015 church expenses remain the same as those of 2014 the stewardship and mission support committee projects the church
would need to use approximately $100,000 of its endowment funds to pay for general operational costs including staff, building,
ministry supplies and mission support.
Continued use of the endowment funds to cover general operating expenses will cause some of these funds to be completely
depleted in the next two to four years. Only those endowment funds that have restrictions on how they can be used will remain.
In order to deal with the many issues that must be addressed for 2015 and beyond the Session has agreed to form a special committee to
complete the following tasks:
Review the current ministries and programs offered by each committee and prioritize them as to their importance to the church.
This review will include but not be limited to assessing how much staff time and volunteer time is needed to successfully run that
ministry or program and how many people benefit directly and indirectly from that ministry or program. Adjustments to the
current budget as well as future church budgets may be one of the results of this process.
Determine, what if, any critical ministries and programs the church should be offering but currently is not, and estimate what
resources including staff time, volunteer time and supply costs would be needed to run those ministries and programs.
Define and implement measures to increase membership growth within the congregation and encourage active participation in
Worship, ministries and programs by church members and others interested in finding a church home.
Return to a more personalized approach to encourage financial support of the church through pledging. The stewardship emphasis
time will run for an extended period of time rather than four weeks each Fall, allowing Session members and other church leaders
to personally speak with members of the Hill Church family of faith about the importance their pledge to the continued operation
and growth of church ministries and programs.
Develop a policy for the utilization of the churchs endowment funds. This policy should determine how and when the endowment
funds may be used to cover select general operational costs; to serve as seed money for the start of new ministries or outreach
activities; and to cover unexpected, but necessary capital repairs and improvements or handle other unexpected emergencies.
By engaging in these and other activities the special committee will in essence be developing a strategic plan for Hill Church. The special
committee will need input from every member of the Hill Church family of faith if this process is to be successful. The committee will be
reaching out frequently and in a variety of ways to ask for your ideas. Please take the time to respond as your suggestion may be the one
that improves a ministry or program. Details about this special committee will be made available during the next two months.
Hill Church is an active church made up of generous and hardworking members. The church is debt free and has successfully completed
important repairs and upgrades to its building. It has been blessed by gifts to its endowment fund by members who cared about this church
and its work. As we embark on our second hundred years of Worship to God and service to His community it is time for us to get Hill
Churchs financial affairs in order and develop a plan that will carry our ministries and mission out into the community for years to come.

Kids Club will resume on

Wednesday, February 4th at
5:30 p.m. Invite kids you
know to be part of a fun way
to learn about the love of
Christ in their lives! If youd
like to help in
any way, contact
Kathy Sawyer.
DATES THAT POPULAR PROGRAMS
RESUME AT HILL CHURCH IN 2015!
January 2: Hill Quilters at 9:00 a.m.
January 6:
7:00 p.m.

Potpourri Ringers at

January 7: Breakfast at Macs Caf at

8:00 a.m.
January 8: Willing Workers at 9:30
a.m., Memorial Ringers at 6:30 p.m.
January 11: HYC rehearsal, Womens
Book Club
January 13: Womens Bible Study at
9:30 a.m.
January 15: Chancel Choir at 7:30
P.M.
January 18: Adult Sunday School,
J.A.M. Sessions, 30 Minutes! For
Youth at 9:30 a.m., Yarn Group

2nd - Carol McKinney

4th - Amy Muisiner
5th - Martha Mager, Kaitlyn Nevel and Kyle
Nevel
9th - Paige Williams
10th - Jane Weichey
11th - Thomas Bayne
12th - Shirley Winship
13th - Jay Barkley
14th - A.J. Pagano
16th - John Mager
17th - John Sandora, Tim Porter, and Ben Huba
18th - John Minich
19th - Doug Hall and Nikki Karwoski
21st - Elma Hall
22nd - Barb Graham
23rd - Danielle Hull and Seth Heist
24th - Betty Graham
25th - Clinton Evans and Karsten Lenyk
26th - Lori Williams
27th - Piper Wentling
29th - John Gilliland, Jr.
30th - Pam Lentz
OFFERING ENVELOPES
Offering envelopes will be mailed to those people
who were unable to pick them up in the sanctuary
after Dec 28, 2014. Please start using these new
envelopes the first weekend in 2015.
Please
contact Jennifer in the church office if you have not
received a box of offering envelopes, either in the
church or by mail, by January 15, 2015. If you
have already picked up your box,
thank you for helping the Church
save postage money. Postal rates to
mail the boxes are high and
increased again this year.

GHANA MISSION TASK FORCE REPORT

The new year is upon us. What will be different? What will be the same? The Task Force
hopes to embark upon some new thinking and planning later this month. Do you have any
suggestions for us? Let me know.
Have you received any Christmas correspondence from someone in Ghana? We would like to know so that it
could be communicated to the rest of the church.
McWilson Atakro sent a brief note on December 16th. He said, I have had some challenges with my
computer, until this morning. How is the church and the entire membership? The Seminary is fine. I have been
receiving the newsletter; thank you for it.
McWilson also noted a changed e-mail address: mkatakro@yahoo.com
Please continue to keep the Bubiashie District churches, Bernard Daddy, chairperson of the Bubiashie
Scholarship Committee, as well as the 40 students, and Joshua Heikkila, the West Africa Liaison for the PC
(USA), in your prayers. Also continue to pray for resolution to the Ebola health crisis in West Africa.
Happy New Year to each one of you.
James Ihlenfeld for the Ghana Mission Task Force

Hill Youth Chorale Cabarets present Godspell, Jr.. Tickets are now
available in the church office or from any HYC member for our three
presentations of this classic musical story of the GOOD NEWS! What
better way to spend a couple of hours during the coldest part of the year, than
to come into the warmth for great food, fun, fellowship, and entertainment!
Please invite your neighbors, friends, and families to attend our Cabarets:
Friday, January 23, 2015

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. (downstairs) for DESSERT BUFFET

Show begins at 7:30 p.m. (upstairs)

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Doors open at 12:30 p.m. (downstairs) for HOMEMADE

PIZZA/SALADS
Show begins at 1:30 p.m. (upstairs)

Sunday, January 25, 2015

10:30 a.m. worship service (upstairs) includes GODSPELL, JR.

Tickets needed for lunch only (downstairs) at NOON.

Friday and Saturday tickets - for DESSERTS/COFFEES or PIZZA/SALADS and show - $12
Adults/$10 Children under 12
Sunday tickets - lunch only $6 Adults/$5 Children under 12.
All proceeds benefit HYC Music Ministry.
Tickets are limited for each performance, so please purchase early.

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Happy New Year

Word Search

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CONVICTIONS
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DECIDE
DIFFICULT
GOAL
HOPE
IMPROVE
MEANING
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POSITIVE
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PURSUIT
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RESIST
SPIRIT
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YEAR

VOLUNTEERS for JANUARY 2015 SUNDAY

USHER
TEAM

GREETERS
BEFORE

JANUARY
4

Ladies
Team

Volunteer
Needed

JANUARY
11

Bob Scotts
Team

Bea Welch

JANUARY
18

Junior
Team

Anne
McCaw

JANUARY
25

Jack
Montags
Team

Audrey Nossokoff

GREETERS
AFTER
(DEACONS)

COUNTING
ELDERS

Cathy Zarnick

Pat Brennen

John
Anderson

Tommy
Walters

Patti
Donaldson

Nancy
Daugherty

Carole Hall

Anne Miller

Barb Kamerer

Louise Evans

Pam Lentz

Kathy Ruffel
Mike Fagan

David McCrea

Diane Olenic

NURSERY

ACOLYTE

COFFEE
HOUR

Carol Gadsby

Seth Heist

Volunteer
Needed

Lois Minich

Bethany Sowa

Gary and Dale

Anderson

Jim Kamerer

Bella Heist

Deacons

Kerry
McElhaney

Brianna
Reeger

Hill Youth
Chorale

COMMUNION TEAM Team C

NEWSLETTER TEAM in JANUARY (for February) Team A
(The Hoover Family)
VAN DRIVER for JANUARY - Brandon Wentling (724-282-4941)
PULPIT FLOWERS
JANUARY 4

JANUARY 11

JANUARY 18

JANUARY 25

Donated in loving
memory of Sam Cavalero
by Patti Donaldson and
Cathy Zarnick.

Donated in honor of
Mark, Doug, and
Elmas birthdays by
their children and
grandchildren.

Donated in loving
memory of their son
John P. Mager by Mr.
and Mrs. John Mager
and family.

Donated in loving
memory of Ruth Cupp
by her children and
grandchildren.

PEW GREETERS
Hill Church for many years was known as The Glad Hand Church. The Nurture
Committee wants to continue this tradition. Pew Greeters will now welcome visitors,
encourage them to sign the guest registry, and invite them to Fellowship Hour on Sunday.
MIDDLE SECTIONBRADY STREET SECTION

PEARL ST. SECTIONOVERFLOW AREA

JANUARY 4

Sharon Montag, 724-285-3231

Karen Shultz, 724-283-2413

JANUARY 11

Nancy Daugherty, 724-285-1013

Janet Edinger, 724-282-7782

JANUARY 18

Lois Minich, 724-283-1875

Volunteer Needed

JANUARY 25

Dennis Hawk, 724-285-6355

Peg Dumbaugh, 724-789-7331

Proverbs 23: 16

right.

speak what is

your lips

rejoice when

My soul will

Baptism
of the Lord

9:15am - JAM Session

9:15am - Adult Sunday Sch
9:30am - 30 Mins!
10:00am - HYC Cabaret

3rd Sunday
After Epiphany

25

9:15am - JAM Session

9:15am - Adult Sunday Sch
9:30am - 30 Mins!
10:00am - Choir
10:30am - Worship Rev.
Clark Sawyer Preaching Min for Stewardship
11:30am - Fellowship
12:00-2:00pm - HYC

2nd Sunday
After Epiphany

18

10:30am - Worship Rev.

Clark Sawyer Preaching
11:30am - Fellowship
12:15-2:15pm - HYC
12:15pm - Womens Book
Club

11

10:30am - Worship Rev.

Clark Sawyer Preaching
11:30am - Fellowship

2nd Sunday
In Christmastide
Lords Supper
Traditional

SUN

26

19

12

6:30pm - Worship &

Discipleship Committee
Mtg.

6:45pm - Session
Meeting

MON

27
9:30-11:00am Womens Bible Study

20
9:30-11:00am - Womens
Bible Study
11:30am - Betsy
McCormick Circle @
Macs Caf
7:15pm - Ghana Misison
Task Force Mtg.

13

9:30-11:00am Womens Bible Study

1:00pm - Administration
Meeting
7:00pm - Potpourri
Ringers
7:00pm - Deacons Mtg

TUES

THUR
Office Closed

New Years Day

28
8:00am - Breakfast at
Macs Cafe

21
8:00am - Breakfast at
Macs Cafe

14

8:00am - Breakfast at
Macs Cafe

29
6:30pm - Memorial Ringers
7:30pm - Chancel Choir

22
6:30pm - Memorial Ringers
7:30pm - Chancel Choir

15
6:30pm - Memorial
Ringers
7:30pm - Chancel Choir

9:30am - Willing Workers

7:30am - Stewardship and 6:30pm - Memorial Ringers
Mission Support Clearview Mall Eat N Park
8:00am - Breakfast at
Macs Cafe

WED

30

23
6:30pm - HYC Cabaret

16

9:00am - Hill Quilters

FRI

Office Closed

31
11:00am - AA Meeting

24
11:00am - AA Meeting
12:30pm - HYC Cabaret

17
11:00am - AA Meeting

10

11:00am - AA Meeting

11am - AA Meeting

SAT