Welcome
to Montpelier Presbyterian Church

Join us for worship Sundays 11:00

Prayer

Dear God, help us to know that in You our hope for grace, for forgiveness beyond all our hopes and dreams, becomes reality and we can find new life - a new beginning - in you.

About Us

Mission Statement: Montpelier Presbyterian Church is a loving family of God who welcomes everyone to join us as we worship our Lord Jesus Christ and celebrate his grace given to us all. We are learning together how to live out our faith by working to meet the needs of our community and our world.

We are a part of the Presbyterian Church (USA). We believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and God’s only begotten Son who died on the cross to save us by HIs grace and was raised from the dead to prove to us God’s power over sin and death. We believe the Bible to be the sacred Word of God inspired by the Holy Spirit. We believe in the Trinity of God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and the Holy Spirit, one God in three persons. To find more about our beliefs please go to pcusa.org.

What you can expect on Sunday morning: You will be greeted at the front door and receive a warm welcome and a service bulletin. Coffee hour is before church at 10:30 in the church library right off the sanctuary.

Our worship service is traditional with

prayers,
both traditional and modern hymns,
scripture readings
a children’s sermon complete with coloring and puzzle pages
a sermon based on that day’s readings with an emphasis on living out our faith in our every day lives.

We do not take up an offering although there are plates available on our communion table in the front of the sanctuary..

Dress is casual and there’s even a rocking chair in the back of the sanctuary if one is needed.

You’ll find information on our Bible study and children’s Sunday School under Faith Development.

What our members say: “A great group of sweet folks who care and reach out whenever there’s a need…” Will M.

“I’ve been a member for 53 years. It’s home to me. Pastor Pat always finds ways to keep us engrossed in the Bible to strengthen our faith.” Debbie N.

“I’ve been a member for less than a year, but one of the things I like about it is the sense of intimacy.” Leigh-Ann M.

Our Pastor: The Rev. Dr. Patricia Ramsden is known to us all as Pastor Pat. She is in her fourth year as our part-time pastor and lives in Scotia Village in Laurinburg. She has been ordained for over 36 years and has always served small churches rediscovering who God was calling them to be. Among all her other duties at the church she also teaches our adult Bible study on Sunday mornings. She is single and loves her garden and HGTV as well as storytelling and acting. Before entering the ministry she was an Associate Professor of English and Drama and an academic dean in the University of Kentucky Community College system. She is the author of two books: The Power Of Their Voices and For Such A One As I.

Faith Development

Sunday Morning Bible Studies 9:30 You do not need to be a member of the church or attend worship to attend any of our classes. We welcome everyone to come and discover more about the faith The adult class meets in the church library and is a lively discussion mixed with a traditional Bible study, questions and answers. The teen/pre-teen class meets in the church meeting room across from the library for discussion and activities. The children's class meets in their room across from the kitchen by fellowship hall.

Women's Circle meets the second Wednesday at 2:00. We are studying Rachel Held Evan's book In Search of Sunday. It too is a lively discussion.

Sweet Talk meets the first Thursday of the month at 2:00 at the local ice cream parlor Kountry Cream. The entire community participates in this safe, non-judgmental conversation around life, love and faith.

Messy Un-Church is just that. It meets the second Sunday of the month at 2:00 and is designed for families of all types and sizes. We build a project to take home which can be anything from castles to barns to bracelets. Then we listen to a story and have snacks.

Just For Fun!

Men's Breakfast: Usually meets the first Saturday of the month at 8:00 in the church fellowship hall for a full breakfast and good conversation. While there is no charge a blessing basket is available to help cover the cost of food. Men from all over the community are invited to attend.

Golf MeetUp: Meets the second and fourth Monday's of the month depending on the weather at the Deercroft Pro Shop in Deercroft. The cost is $20 for nine holes and you do not need to be a member of the church or the golf course to attend. We normally tee off at 5:30 until daylight savings time when we move to 4:30. After the game we join together for the 19th hole for fellowship and fun.

Community Ministries

Blessing Pantry: Our blessing pantry box is located near the rear of the church building. It is open 24/7 and there are no forms to fill out, no questions asked. It operates on the principle of take what you need; leave what you can and is based on Jesus' teaching in MT 25.

Scholarship Fund: Founded in 2007, the estate of Johnsie Patterson McFadden from Wagram, NC set up a scholarship fund through Montpelier Presbyterian Church to be given to any Scotland County High School Graduate to further their education with preference given to those associated with the congregation. This year we gave 11 scholarships to deserving students. Contact the church for more information on this program and how to apply.

Partnership With Wagram Public Schools We reach out to students in need through an annual collection of gloves, scarves, hats, and socks as well as providing backpacks stuffed with needed school supplies. We serve as classroom readers as well. We show our support for teachers and staff throughout the year in a variety of ways.

Special Offerings Throughout the year we collect special denominational offerings such as the One Great Hour of Sharing, the Pentecost Offering and the Joy Gift Offering.

Spring Hill Cemetery Memorial Fund. “Blessed are thy who mourn for they shall be comforted. “. Mt 5:4 Our church, in partnership with the Spring Hill Baptist Church, owns and maintains the local cemetery. The Memorial Fund goes to support the upkeep. For more information on making a donation or buying a plot, please contact the church office.

Donations to the church may be mailed to P.O. Box 407 Wagram, NC 28396. If you’d like the donation to go to a particular cause, please note that on the memo line of your check.

News & Events

Monthly Events

Dec. 6 8:00 Men's breakfast - ladies invited

Dec. 7 6:00 pm Community Carol Sing

Dec. 10 noon Women's Circle of Friends potluck lunch

Dec. 17 6:00 pm Potluck Dinner with Santa

Dec. 21 !1:00 am Children's Christmas Pageant

Christmas Eve

Dec. 24 2:00pm Birthday Party for Jesus

Dec. 24 5:00pm Carols & Candlelight Service

Montpelier Messenger

Montpelier Presbyterian Church P.O. Box 407, Wagram, NC 28396 910-369-2259

Pastor: Rev. Dr. Patricia Ramsden 269-362-1332

Editor: Barbara Holloway 910-318-3757

(email) hollowaybarbara064@gmail.com

No. 12 Vol. 55 December 2025

Pastor’s Pen: I have a special request of you this year as our blessing box of food is used more and more by hungry people here in Wagram.

I’d ask you to do a different kind of advent calendar where each day you put aside a can of food: canned vegetables, beenie weenies, canned fruit, you get the idea. When you go to get your groceries you pick up 7 cans of food, enough for one can each day until you shop again.

Then each week you bring your gifts of food and put them under our Chrismon tree at the front of the sanctuary to be used for our blessing box of food.

There has never been a more critical time than now as the need has never been greater and we find ourselves filling the box nearly everyday. But one of the things that amazes me about our box is that people are very obviously not taking more than they need or will use. There are always a few items left for the next person to take.

So when you set aside your gift of food, say a prayer of thanks for the fact that you are so blessed that you can afford food for your stomach and still buy this one can of food for the hungry.

I like to think of it as taking a hot meal over to Mary and Joseph as they lived in someone’s stable. I imagine myself holding the holy babe in my arms as Mary eats. What a wonderful gift of love to this holy, homeless, hungry family!

See you in church! Pastor Pat

Here are some tips from people who frequent food banks:

1. Boxed milk is a treasure. You can get it by the evaporated and dry milk area. Dry milk is also good.

2, Buy things with pop tops if you can instead of needing can openers

3. Salt and pepper are great along with mustard and catsup

4. Tuna and crackers make a good lunch.

5. Beenie weenies and Vienna sausages and spam go fast.

6. Hamburger Helper goes nowhere without ground beef (which we cannot provide)

7. Cake mix and frosting makes it possible to make a child’s birthday cake, but don’t forget a small bottle of oil

8. Feminine hygiene products are a luxury and women will cry over that.

9. Toothpaste and toothbrushes and toilet ppaper are always taken from our pantry

10. A small bag of cookies is a delight.

Poinsettias: We want to thank Elizabeth Cooley who is once more taking the orders for the poinsettias that decorate our sanctuary for Christmas. If you wish to purchase a poinsettia, please place your order by Dec. 4 and make checks out to MPC for $20. Also, note who the flowers are in memory of or in honor of and your name. Elizabeth’s address is: P.O. Box 676 Wagram, NC 28396.

Sweet Talk will meet Thursday Dec. 4 at 1:00 at Kountry Cream ice cream parlor. This is not a Bible study but conversation about life, love, and faith. Invite a friend! (Ice cream is on your own.)

Dec. 6 at 8:00am the men’s breakfast will host the women for their special Christmas gathering. There is no charge but a blessing basket will be available. Come out and join the group. It’s the best breakfast in Wagram!

Messy Unchurch will not meet in December.

This year we have an angel tree for a family from the Wagram Elementary School. You can pick up an angel with a gift suggestion from the angel tree by the piano in the sanctuary. Your wrapped gift with the angel attached should be returned by the Family Night supper on Dec. 17. A child in this family has been diagnosed with cancer and his mother has had to quit her job to care for him during his cancer treatments. If you wish to purchase a gift card in lieu of an actual gift, please give your cards to Debbie Neverve or Pastor Pat.

Sunday Dec. 7 at 6:00 we will host a community carol sing featuring solos, storytelling, and the Christmas story with a southern twang as well as singing the Christmas carols we all know and love! Invite your friends and neighbors to come join us as we celebrate the season. There will be a reception afterward and if you’d like to donate cookies or other goodies for it, please let Sissy Cooley know.

The Women’s Circle of Friends will meet Wednesday Dec. 10 at 12:00 for a pot luck lunch. Please invite a friend to come with you. She doesn’t need to be a member of the church.

Session will meet Thursday Dec. 11 at 10:00. Our thanks to Sissy Cooley and Jeff McKay for their faithful service to our Lord and this congregation. This will be their last meeting as active elders. John Lewis and LeighAnn McKay have been elected as elders for the class of 2008. They will be installed during morning worship on Dec. 14.

Pastor Pat invites the church family to a Christmas open house

Sunday, Dec. 14 from 2:00 - 4:00.

She lives at Skye 7, a garden apartment at Scotia Village 2200 Elm Ave.

in Laurinburg. Please see her for directions.

Santa’s coming to our Family Night Supper Wednesday evening Dec. 17 at 6:00. Please come and bring your family and friends to this potluck dinner full of love and laughter. Who knows? Maybe you’ve been good this year!

Dec.21 will be our annual no fuss, no rehearsal Christmas pageant during worship! This play is open to all children from 2 - 16. Costumes will be provided. There are no lines to memorize! We do ask that children arrive between 9:30 and 10:30 so we can get them dressed and go over what part they will play. This is always a lot of fun and makes a lifetime of memories. Invite any children and grandchildren to come be a part of this off-off Broadway production!

Christmas Eve

2:00 A Children’s Birthday Party For Jesus

all children are invited to this special service just for them -

complete with a birthday cake and special take home craft

5:00 Christmas Eve Candlelight and Carols

Please invite your friends and neighbors to celebrate the birth of Christ in this special way. If you know someone who might like to attend but do not want to drive after dark, please let an elder know and we will arrange for them to be picked up.

And unto to you is born this day in the city of Davd a Savior

who is Christ the Lord and this shall be a sign to you, you will find the babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger. Luke 2:11-12

Pastor Pat will be on vacation Dec. 26 - Jan. 2. Bucky Holmes will be filling our pulpit. The adult Sunday School class will not meet Dec. 28.

We will collect our Christmas Joy Gift Offering on Sunday Dec. 28. This offering supports retired pastors, church workers, and their families who have special financial needs. It also supports our minority students in need who are attending Presbyterian colleges, universities and seminaries.

Copies of the annual report for 2025 are available from the church office if you were unable to get one.

The Fall Harvest Festival was a huge success and we made $3,148.75 for special building projects in 2026 including moving the pews in the sanctuary to make it more handicap friendly. This will also require us to replace the carpet. We plan on having more fundraiser events like this one in 2026 for other major building projects that need to be done.

Please share our Facebook posts! It’s as easy as hitting the share button and its a quick and easy way to get the word out about our church.

The traditional Advent season invites participants into four weeks of deep reflection on the advent, or arrival, of God in Jesus of Nazareth, as well as on his promised return. From focused prayer and Scripture reading, to candled wreaths and embellished calendars, Advent celebrations vary widely. But all Advent practices share a heightened anticipation for God’s arrival. More than a countdown to Christmas, Advent embraces the way of Jesus and encourages hopeful waiting, courageous peace-making, resilient joy, and self-giving love in our still-suffering world. - The Bible Project

"Heavenly Father, as Christmas approaches, quiet our souls and help us to remember the hope, peace, joy, and love that You sent through Your Son, Jesus. Please don't let us get swept up in the busyness of the season. Instead, help us to focus on the beauty of Your love and grace. May we feel Your peace in our hearts and share it with those around us. In Jesus' Name, Amen".

Merry Christmas!

Sermons

Which King?

The Rev. Dr. Patricia Ramsden

Jesus entered Jerusalem to the glad shouts of the people:

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Five days later they crucified him under a plaque that read “ This is the king of the Jews.”

So what happened between the people’s shouts of hosanna and a crucifixion?

What happened lay in the choice the people made between their expectations - expectations of what the Messiah would be and the heavenly reality of the King of kings.

You see, the people wanted a Messiah who was a military leader who would restore Israel to her proper place as a rich and powerful nation conquering all the other nations of the world and ruling over them.

They wanted a king that all people would bow down to and serve. They wanted, in the end, to conquer the world. In a word, they wanted to be Rome - the very Rome they despised and hated - the Rome they secretly admired and longed to become.

They believed such a leader, such a king, would be the answer to all their problems and at long last there would be a ruler on the throne who served the people with God’s justice and righteousness.

They wanted a fantasy - a fantasy they had always longed for from the very beginning. It was what they had wanted when they first went to Samuel and begged him for a king. But Samuel knew what the reality of such a king would be - and so did God.

A king would rule over, not just other nations, but over them as well. He would rob them of their freedom and rights as citizens of Israel and turn them into his servants bound to do his will. He would seek, not God’s justice, but his own version of justice designed to keep him in power.

He would rule over other nations, but there would be battle after bloody battle, war after bloody war, where their children would fight and die while the king stayed back safe and secure in his luxurious palace built with their sweat and tears and the heavy burden of taxes owed and paid.

But still they insisted, until finally Samuel gave in, and the people got the king they had chosen over God.

And now, now the people were to choose again. Would it be the King of kings, the true Messiah of God, or their own version of a rich and powerful conquerer come to set them free from the oppression of Rome?

And they chose. Their cries of Hosanna became shouts of crucify.

For in the end, this Jesus of Nazareth did not live up to their expectations.

From the very beginning, Jesus was clear as to who He was and what kind of Messiah he would be - and it was not a conquering hero. Instead, he sat in a synagogue in Nazareth and read this from the scripture:

““The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

This was not the Messiah they had bargained for, this man who commanded them to love even their enemies and to give what they owned to meet the needs of the poorest among them.

Instead he was the Messiah to come that Isaiah had told them about so long ago - this KIng of kings God had chosen.

He had no beauty or majesty to attract them to him, nothing in his appearance that they should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by all humankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces, he was despised, and they held him in low esteem.

Surely he took up their pain and bore their suffering,
yet they considered him punished by God, stricken by the Lord, and afflicted.

He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us all peace was on him, and by his wounds we are all healed. (Isaiah 53: 2b-5)

In their eyes, in the eyes of the world, this Jesus was no Messiah, no conquering hero deserving to be their king. Instead he was a failure.

So they chose to crucify him, and Rome mocked him and the lowly nation of Israel, by placing a sign above his head: “This, this, is the king of the Jews.” this broken man, hanging from a cross.

But that sign was more true than they ever knew.

Indeed he was and is the king of not just the Jews but the king of all heaven and earth to those who would only recognize him as such- who would choose to follow a king of love and forgiveness who rules his subjects with mercy and grace, calling for justice, a justice not just for the rich and powerful but a justice that includes both the rich and the poor, the ones in power and the ones with no power at all, the ones who believe in their own righteousness and the ones who know they are among the greatest of sinners.

This king of ours is no king of the world with all its worldly values worshipping power and wealth. He is the king of heaven and he is a king who would strip himself of his royal robes to be born as one of us as a lowly babe living not in a palace but a manger stall.

He is a king who would walk among his subjects, eating with them, laughing with them, weeping with them, healing them, teaching them, dying for them, conquering even death for them. And still he walks with us today, and still he lays the choice before us.

You see, we have to make the same choice today as the children of Israel made so long ago. We must choose between the world and heaven - between shouts of crucify or hosanna to our king. There is no middle ground. Because like Bob Dylan once sang: “You're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed You're gonna have to serve somebody Well, it may be the Devil or it may be the Lord, But you're gonna have to serve somebody.”

So who will it be. Who will you choose? The devil or the Lord? The power of the world? Or the King of Heaven? Because you will have to choose.

Choose well.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but so the world would be saved through Him. John 3: 16-17

See You In Worship as we celebrate God's love together
Sundays 11:00

San Pedro

Never forget how much God loves you!

Welcome to Montpelier Presbyterian Church