Welcome
to Montpelier Presbyterian Church

Join us for worship Sundays 11:00

Prayer

Lord, it is fall today as I sit in my garden with grey skies threatening rain and wind blown leaves promising hours of raking. The cold steams my coffee and I am content in the reminder that seasons of life come and go and this is my season to rest in your wisdom.

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

Church Dates

Sept.28-Oct. 4 Mission Trip

Oct. 5 World Wide Communion

Oct. 6 4:30 Golf meet up

Oct. 8 2:00 Women's Circle of Friends

Oct. 9 10:00 Session

Oct. 9 1:00 Sweet Talk

Oct. 11 8:00 Men's Breakfast

Oct. 12 2:00 Blessing of the Animals

Oct. 18 10:00 - noon Community Family Scavenger Hunt

Oct. 19 2:00 Messy Unchurch

Oct. 20 4:30 Golf Meet Up

Oct. 25 9:00 - 2:00 Fall Harvest Festival

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. 10 Vol. 55 October 2025

Pastor’s Pen: It’s the beginning of October and all I can think about are pumpkins. They are every where. And if it’s not a pumpkin, it’s pumpkin spice everything!

One of my favorite children sermons is when I take a pumpkin, cut open the top, and show the children all of the yucky stuff inside. You know what it’s like - all of that goopy, slimy orange mess with seeds entangled all through it.

Then I explain how that’s like us when we look inside of ourselves and are very honest about how goopy we can be. But God scoops out the goopy part and separates out all the good seeds for a treat later on - because no matter how goopy we may feel there are always the good parts too.

Then, when everything is cleaned out, God carves us into something beautiful. Sometimes that may hurt and it almost always means losing a part of ourselves, but in the end something good comes of it all. Because then, God puts a light inside that shines through us and tells all the world that they are safe in the dark because the light of God’s love always shines bright.

Now, it’s not a perfect analogy (analogies never are.). But it works for me and it usually works for the children too, and my prayer is that it will somehow remind you that no matter how goopy you may feel on some days, there are always good parts inside of you too, and that God will help you clean yourself out.

God created you so the light of love would shine brightly within you and remind other people that they are safe and beloved too. That’s the good news.

See you in church Pastor Pat

Please be praying for those of us who are on our mission trip to Canton, NC as we help ensure that people have safe, warm, weatherproof housing before winter following HUrricane Helene. We will return October 4.

There will not be adult Bible study October 5.

Oct. 5 we will be celebrating World Wide Communion. World Communion Sunday, is a Christian observance that celebrates the unity of all believers in Christ and encourages a global Christian perspective. It originated in the Presbyterian Church in 1933 and was adopted by the Federal Council of Churches in 1940, making it a significant annual event for many denominations. The day emphasizes that all Christians are one body, regardless of culture or background.

As a part of World Wide Communion we will be taking up the Global Witness and Peace offering. 25% of that offering stays with our congregation and will be used for our work with Wagram Elementary School.

Join us for our golf meetups at the Deercroft pro shop Oct. 6 & 20. There is a TIME CHANGE! It’s now at 4:30. It’s $20 for 9 holes. Don’t play golf? Then join us for the 19th hole around 6:30 at Beth & Roger Ammon’s house.

The women’s circle has changed it’s name to Circle of Friends to emphasize the fact that it’s not just for the women of the church but that everyone is invited. We will meet Wed. Oct. 8 at 2:00 in the church library. We will begin our study on Searching For Sunday. This month’s section will be on Baptism. If you haven’t gotten your book yet see Pastor Pat. Invite a friend to come join us!

Sweet Talk will be October. 9 at 1:00 (Time Change!!) at Kountry Cream, the ice cream shop on Main Street. This is not a Bible study but conversation around life, love, and faith. Invite a friend to come join us. Ice cream is on your own! This month we will be discussing how to show love to those you disagree with as election season approaches.

Men’s breakfast will be October. 11 at 8:00 in fellowship hall. Please invite someone else to come join us! There’s no charge but a blessing basket is available to help cover the cost of the meal. It’s the best breakfast in Wagram! We will be talking about having a Vet’s breakfast honoring our men and women who have served our country on Nov. 8

Our Blessing of the Animals will be Sunday afternoon, October. 12 at 2:00. All animals are welcome, not just cats and dogs. Last year we even had a bearded dragon! Can’t bring your pet? Then bring a picture of one you love or who has crossed over the rainbow bridge. This is a brief service so it will not be a strain on the pets and it is held in the courtyard at the side of the church.

We will be taking up food and supplies for the Scotland County Humane Society. If you would like to make a monetary donation, please make your check out to the Humane Society or bring your donation to the Blessing and we will be certain it is delivered.

Our community fall scavenger hunt will be inside the church on Saturday October 18. Families can drop in anytime between 10 & 12. It’s a free event but does require a camera. There will be prizes, crafts, and games as well as snacks. The event is free and we want it to be something the community enjoys so bring your grandkids and invite your neighbors and friends!

Messy Unchurch will be Sunday October 19 at 2:00. This is not a church service but a time for families to make a take home craft together, listen to a storyteller, and enjoy snacks. It’s not just for church members but is for the community. It too is a free event so bring your grandkids and and invite your friends.

Our fall harvest festival is back! We will have our famous vegetable soup for sale as well as crafts and other items available, including a bake sale. Vegetable soup will be $10 a quart, a pint for $5. Lunch will also be available for $10 with soup, sandwich, dessert, and drink. Come and bring your friends! The proceeds will go toward special building projects. See Sissy Cooley if you can help with the litchen or bring soup or baked goods. See Betsy Brown if you can bring crafts.

Raffle! We are raffling off a Tree of Life quilt as a part of the Fall Festival Bazaar. It’s queen size and hand quilted. Tickets are $1 and you can get yours to buy or sell from Ben Ammons, Roger Ammons, Betsy Brown, Sissy Cooley, Jeff McKay, or Debbie Neverve. You can see the quilt in fellowship hall.

Carpooling To An Interfaith Panel Discussion: We will be carpooling after church on Sunday October. 26 to attend an interfaith panel discussion representing the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths. The panel discussion will be at Sandhills Community College at 2:00 in Foundation Hall room 1003A. Through conversation, shared values, and personal stories, the panel aims to build bridges across our faith traditions and celebrate the rich diversity within our local communities. Please let Pastor Pat if you plan to car pool with us. While the event is free, you must preregister on line at Sandhills Community College’s website.

Please like us one Facebook at Montpelier presbyterian church to keep up with our activities. Pastor Pat also posts a daily prayer on our group page. Then share what we post! It’s a one button click that lets others know what we are doing in our church and our community and is an easy way to invite others to join us. Did you know we even have a woman in Arizona who periodically contributes to our mission work because she reads our posts and wants to be a part of our church and our mission in some small way? There are so many ways to share the good news of God’s love! This is just one.

Are you willing to volunteer as a reader or to listen to children read at Wagram Elementary School? The volunteer forms are attached in the newsletter. We would love to have a crew of volunteers willing to help on a schedule that fits their time availability. If possible wear your church shirt when you volunteer so they will know who we are as we show God’s love.

Need a church shirt? Let Pastor Pat know your size and whether you’d like blue or white and she’ll put in an order for you. She’ll place another order on October 19 and the cost of the shirt is $24.

We want to thank Material Sales Company for their $2,500 donation toward our new church sign.

Church Housekeeper: Session has hired Brandy Hunt to be our new church housekeeper. The job description for her was posted in the Sept. newsletter or is available from any session member. She will be cleaning the church every two weeks instead of once a week. We want to thank Betty Ammons who has been volunteering to clean the church every week for the past two years!

Let Betsy Brown, Roger Ammons or Pastor Pat know of any ideas or suggestions you might have to help us in our outreach to our community! Please pray for our growth in the faith and our growth as a congregation. We want to share God’s love in as many ways as we can with our actions as well as our words. After all, they will know we are Christians by our love!

We have a new book in the library. It is written with grace, humor, and a call to growing in faith. It’s by John Ortberg and its title is If You Want To Walk On Water You Have To Get Out Of The Boat. Check it out!

Nov. 2 we will celebrating the lives of those who have died since last October during worship. If you have someone you’d like to have remembered, please give their name(s) to Pastor Pat.

Send A Blessing! We have added a Send A Blessing card to the pew holders for you to fill out at any time and place in the offering plates. These will let us know those who might need a note, a card, or a call or invitation to a special event. All of us need a reminder at different times that we are cared for and remembered.

Our session has approved our becoming an official Matthew 25 congregation. This is a special emphasis through the denomination that commits us to church revitalization and outreach and working to eliminate poverty and racism in our community and our world. Our congregation is actively involved in an outreach program and with our outreach to the elementary school, our blessing box for food, and our other activities, this is an affirmation of what we are already doing.

Fall Prayer: God our Creator, You do all things well, and the beautiful colors of fall are one small reflection of Your marvelous glory. You imagined this season and spoke it into existence. By Your word and power, all this came to be. Let us then pause and take a moment to praise you for the beauty of the earth that surrounds us.

Sermons

The Shrewd Manager The Rev. Dr. Patricia Ramsden

He was never going to be a candidate for employee of the year. He was conniving and self-centered. He mismanaged his boss’s money to the point that he was going to be fired in the very near future. He had just enough time to make sure he had a plan that didn’t require him to dig ditches or stand on street corners begging for money. All he could think of was saving his own skin.

So he stole from his boss by forgiving portions of the debts owed to him. You owe nine hundred? Make it eight hundred and fifty. You owe a thousand? Make it eight hundred. He hoped these businessmen he conspired with would be so grateful that they would support him after he lost his job - perhaps even hire him or at least recommend him for a new position.

He was everything a follower of Jesus should never be, so we are shocked when his master commends him for his “wise” actions.

Now let me make it clear. He wasn’t being praised for his dishonesty, but for his shrewdness. He was, in the eyes of the world, just being a smart businessman.

What kind of parable is this? And what could its lesson possibly be for us today?

Well, I think one lesson for us is that the manager understood something, we have difficulty with as a church. He knew how to use what was available to him to achieve his goal. I think Jesus is clear. We need to be as wise in dealing with and handling the gifts of God as people of the world are in dealing with the money and gifts they have. We can’t be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good.

The manager in our story knew that in order to be where he wanted to be in the future he needed to act in the now. He had a plan and he put it into action. We need to do the same as a church and as a congregation. The book of Proverbs reminds us of that when it says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

So we have developed a plan, a vision, to get to know our community and to invite them in. You see that in all our activities. The concerts we give are a case in point. They bring people into the church and what they hear and what they see is God’s love in action. We give school supplies and shoes and underwear to the students at Wagram Elementary and what they see is God’s love in action. We put food in our blessing box and what people receive is God’s love in action.

We want to attract young families? We provide programs like the community scavenger hunt and the messy unchurch to welcome them in in a way that is non-threatening but lets them know we are a family friendly church. We plant the seeds for future growth, but if we do nothing we reap nothing. We have developed a vision and we are investing in it.

The same is true with our building. It is our greatest investment, our greatest trust. It is literally God’s house and we must be good stewards of it. We cannot afford deferred maintenance. We must have a vision for it too. How do we use this building to bring people in to hear God’s love? How are we wise about this gift we have been given?

We need to be as wise about our building as any business owner is of theirs - and any business owner will tell you that a building’s appearance makes a huge difference in how people feel about entering in and staying once they are on the inside. It also says a great deal about who is welcome and who is not.

The reality is our sanctuary is not welcoming to persons who have physical disabilities and must use wheelchairs or walkers. We all watch in dismay whenever Daniel struggles to maneuver around to sit with his family in worship. It’s an almost impossible feat.

So session came up with a vision. Why not take three of the shorter pews in the back and move them into the main sanctuary? We asked Daniel for his advice and he showed us how to do this so he and others could move around the sanctuary much more easily and feel like a part of the family of God.

We want to make this vision a reality - as much of a reality as a new sign that can be seen and read from the road proclaiming who we are and what happens inside this building. We want to be good stewards of this gift that God has given us and we cannot separate practical upkeep and improvements from our spiritual life in God. Both must be done. We must be as wise with the gift of this building as a wise business owner is with his or her own.

But this passage also applies to more than the church, more than this congregation. It also applies to our own individual lives. How are we using the resources we have been given in our every day lives ? How do we use our blessings, our gifts from God?

What are we doing with our time, our energy, even our money? Who do we serve with what we have? What is our vision for the future? For now?

Are we being good stewards of the life God has given us? Are we taking care of our health? Are we eating the way we ought to? Are we getting enough exercise? Are we spending time just having fun with people we love or are we more concerned with work and doing?

Are we showing ourselves love? And are we showing love and care for others? Are we doing acts of simple kindness that makes our world a better place?

All of us are busy, but we do have enough time to say a kind word to a tired checkout clerk or to spend an hour a month listening to a child read at the school. Or to sit and listen to a discouraged woman’s story of despair. Or even to fill out a blessing card so the church can send a blessing to someone who needs to just be reminded they are cared for.

We may not have riches untold. None of us are billionaires. Heck, we aren’t even millionaires. But we do have resources to give to the mission of the church so that we can keep the building up and running and reaching out to those in need.

We have the ability to be as wise and as determined as an unscrupulous manager looking out only for number one if only we want to.

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