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Continuing:
Thursday, October 29: AA meets in Fellowship Hall, 7 pm. Masks and hygiene protocols required.
Sunday, November 1:
**Worship at 10:30 am. All Saints Day – we will light candles in memory of family and friends who have passed away in the last year.
**Daylight Savings Time ends at 2:00 am on November 1. Turn your clocks BACK one hour.
Free Sack Lunch, Weekdays, 12-2, in front of church: Volunteers and donations appreciated.
VOLUNTEERS: Please consider a weekly commitment to one of the following time slots: Set up: 10:30-12:00 Serving: 12-2:00 Clean up: 2:00-3:00.
DONATIONS: Juice boxes, small bags of chips (any variety), small bags of snacks (cookies, crackers, etc.), sliced turkey lunch meat, beef hot dogs, Sara Lee Classic white bread, lunch bags, plastic sandwich bags. (Financial donations always appreciated!)
ON-LINE GIVING: We have the option through TIthe.ly to make weekly or monthly donations on-line. This is a wonderful way for folks who aren't able to donate in person or would rather use on-line giving. This option may be accessed on the home page of our website: unitedprotestantchurch.org.
SWEATSHIRTS: Screen printed with church logo. Price is $35 for Med to XL, $40 for XXL and XXXL. Hoodies and crew necks in various colors are available for ordering. Contact Linda Rominger or Kathy Lee with questions or to place an order. (The sweatshirts would make great gifts!)
From Pastor Paul: Toward Sunday
“This is the greatest and first commandment.” ~ Matthew 22:38
I think of all the things I have lost in recent years, mostly as a product of divorce. The loss of a what I thought was a life-long covenant, the loss of daily contact with my children, the loss of financial security and home, the loss of any semblance of known stability – years later, it still feels as if the rug has been pulled out from under me. Most days, I get by. I adjust and find nurture and care and stability in new and different ways, but this week I realized one thing that I lost that I hadn't realized I had even lost: deep, intense and heartfelt love.
Don't get me wrong. I love many people in this new life, love many things, and still feel wonder and excitement, the joy of creativity and curiosity and playfulness, but what I'm referring to goes a bit deeper. I'm talking about the love I felt when I was called by God. The love I felt when I held my newborn child. The love that – without sounding too cheesy or idealistic – filled me and changed me in ways I never knew imaginable. The kind of love that, after feeling, I was never the same person again…never.
At least I thought that was the case. We were talking about deep, intense love at Bible Study on Monday, and sharing our testimonies on the subject, and to me, hearing others share, it felt as if I was looking at an old photograph, trying to remember the vague details of a bygone time.
Well, that's downright sad. Yuck. Phooey. And as I write this, I guess I can't imagine anything more important than finding and rekindling that love. And I'm thankful to be in a community of faith that permits me to walk this path and share this path, together.
I think it is worth sharing.
That's enough, for this week. I wanted to share with you that I'm making it my goal and mission to rekindle that love within, and then, with any luck, be ready to share it with the rest of you.
Keep in touch,
Pastor Paul