Month: December 2020

All extra-curricular activities in the church are cancelled. Let us all cooperate in the shared goal of curbing the suffering and pain of this pandemic.

Thank you to Dale G. for repairing and improving the men's bathroom!

Thanks to Scott N. and Jim L. for taking care of issues with the heating system.

Friday, January 1: Happy New Year!

Sunday, January 3: Worship at 10:30 am, with communion. People are encouraged to stay home as much as possible. We are recording worship and posting it to Facebook, as well as sending a link to the video, along with a copy of the bulletin and sermon to our email list. If you would like a copy mailed to you, contact the church office at 218-626-2570 or office@unitedprotestantchurch.org.

On-Line Giving: We have the option through Tithe.ly to make weekly or monthly donations on-line. THis option may be accessed on the home page of our website:unitedprotestantchurch.org. We thank all who have used this option to make offering or donations.

Sweatshirts: Screen printed with church logo. There is a supply of light pink and light gray hoodies and crew necks in various sizes in the office. Prices are $35 for Med-XL and $40 for XXL & XXXL. Crew necks are $30.

Community: City Councilor Janet Kennedy sent along the following:

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR UTILITIES: Resources are available to help Duluth residents that are having difficulties paying their utility bills. Most agencies prefer inquiries go through United Way 211. THey are the one-stop shop for local resources. Many people calling for assistance have more than one issue. 211 can get them connected with each agency that can help them. A person simply dials 2-1-1 and they will reach intake personnel. If a person is having difficulty getting through to United Way, here are some direct numbers: Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MAC-V): 218-722-8763; St. Louis County: 218-726-2020; Salvation Army: 218-722-7934; Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA): 218-623-3011.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IN JANUARY FOR CNAs, TRUCK DRIVERS, AND IT SUPPORT: We are actively recruiting individuals who are interested in training for a new career. In partnership with SOAR Career Solutions, Lake Superior College, and Duluth Public Schools Adult Education, we are able to offer full funding for eligible applicants in three very in-demand skill sets. 

IT Support Specialist training starts January 5. Graduates from this program will be able to move into roles utilizing basic user support and help desk information technology skills. Class offered in virtual/distance learning format. Contact SOAR for more information and to 

schedule an application meeting: 218-722-3126 or soarcareers.org.

Certified Nursing Assistant classes start January 19. Graduates are eligible to continue on at LSC to gain their Trained Medication Aid certification to increase wages and job options. Class offered as a hybrid class with limited in-person lab classes at LSC. Contact Betsy Hill at Duluth Workforce Development at 218-730-5228 or bhill@duluthmn.gov or SOAR for more information.

Commercial Truck Driving classes offered in January and April at LSC. Drivers are very in-demand and there are many local driving opportunities available in addition to very lucrative over the road driving options. Contact Jose Cabrera at 218-730-5246 or jcabrera@duluthmn.gov for more information and an application appointment.

In addition to these training opportunities, Duluth CareerForce has a wide variety of virtual services available to help with a job search. Go to CareerForceMN.com/Duluth to register for a free meeting with a local job counselor to go over your resume or discuss your job search.

“And having been warned in a dream…they left for their own country by another road.”  ~ Matthew 2:12

    We're not the first congregation, in the history of our faith, to have to get creative and make adjustments on the ways we spread the message and engage our ministry. It's pretty much been a constant theme of Christianity since it began. I think of the Apostle Paul, sending letters to the churches in places like Galatia, Corinth, and Thessalonica – engaging the issues and tensions respective to each city and setting, but retaining a steady spirit of hope and joy in the lives in Christ they shared.

    One thing Christians are good at is adapting, adjusting, and persevering. Again, we've been doing this since from the beginning (Resurrection? What?). I've worshiped in places like Nicaraugua and East Timor, let alone in different parts of our country like rural Louisiana and urban Chicago, and I can tell you with certainty that no matter the difference in language or liturgy or music, a faithful bunch can muster up the spirit no matter the circumstances. So…we get creative – the lanterns for Christmas were gorgeous and the collective greetings and candles in our Christmas Eve video filled me with love when I first watched it – and we muster up the spirit.

    So that's my question for you today: how are you feeling the spirit in this time? How are you getting creative with your faith and feeling God's presence in new and different ways? I ask in the spirit of what the online generations call “hive mind”…if you can share your tips and tricks and ideas, there's a good chance somebody else would greatly value them! Likewise, you or I may learn a thing or two from others that share.

    So: send me a note. Let me know how things are going and how you're finding faith. I'll share them. Together, we'll continue to adjust our faith as we need to, and keep our faith vibrant. Historically, we are in very good company.

Keep in touch,

Pastor Paul

pastorpaulvanantwerp@gmail.com / 218-349-0143

All extra-curricular activities in the church are cancelled. Let us all cooperate in the shared goal of curbing the suffering and pain of this pandemic.

LAST CHANCE TO SHARE YOUR VIDEO GREETINGS FOR CHRISTMAS EVE! We are making a montage of video greetings for the Christmas Eve service. We are also recording videos of people holding candles to put at the end of the service in lieu of our traditional Silent Night closing song. HERE'S WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU: Send Pastor Paul a video recording of a greeting to your church family (20 seconds or so), AND please send a 5 second video of your family holding candles in the spirit of Silent Night (separate videos please) OR contact Pastor Paul and he can run out and record these for you (he'd like to see you anyway!) – pastorpaulvanantwerp@gmail.com.

Thursday, December 24: We will be recording our Christmas Eve Service at 3:00 pm in the church, involving a liturgy of readings and music, and our recordings of congregation member greetings, and closing “Silent Night” (see details above). As soon as the recording is completed we will post it on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/UnitedProtestantChurch, our YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJv3N5hcIL8j6GpPGgT3R9w?view_as=subscriber, as well as sending it to this email list.

If you are able to do so, please remember your offerings…For a church that relies heavily on Sunday giving, Christmas Eve is usually a source of significant revenue. You can mail your offering to the church at 830 88th Avenue W, Duluth, MN  55808, or drop it off in the protected slot in our mailbox. You can also give online through Tithe.ly. You may access Tithe.ly on the home page of our website: unitedprotestantchurch.org. This is a great way for folks who aren't able to donate in person or would rather use on-line giving. Thank you to all who do use this option.

MITTEN TREE: The Mitten Tree is still up in the Narthex. Mittens, gloves, hats, scarves, socks may be dropped off to decorate the tree. Thank you for the many items we have received. They will be taken to a charity after Christmas.

BLANKET DRIVE: New or gently used blankets may be dropped off at the church. Items will be taken to the Carlton County Crisis Shelter.

“And the Word became flesh and lived among us…”  ~ John 1:14

   I was just writing a “thank you” to add to the weekly reminders, then realized it was what I wanted to share in my commentary…so here goes:

   Thank you to all who contributed to the beautiful lanterns on the altar!

   …And thanks again to our wonderful decorating crew!

   …Also thanks to those that clear snow,

   …and to those that clean,

   …and to those that fix bathrooms,

   …and those that read during worship,

   …and play gorgeous music,

   …and for the myriad others in the myriad ways that you love and care for the church and each other.

   We talk about the arrival of Jesus. We talk about the life and ministry of Jesus. We talk about the resurrection of Jesus the Christ. So too, do we talk about how we live as the people, once in darkness, that have seen a great light.

   That light is in all of us, friends. And lest that sound overly pithy, abstract, or pie-in-the-sky, I refer you back to that woefully incomplete litany of gratitude that I began this commentary with.

   It's pretty cool to be a Pastor. I get to see that light everywhere. Thanks for that.

Shining,

Pastor Paul

Looking forward to a wonderful time of worship. We'll get the recording out to you as soon as we can that evening!

In God's Love,

Pastor Paul

ALL EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN THE CHURCH ARE CANCELLED. Let us all cooperate in the shared goal of curbing the suffering and pain of this pandemic.

Thursday, December 24: Christmas Eve: We will be recording our Christmas Eve Service at 3:00 pm in the church, involving a liturgy of readings and music, and our opening recordings of congregation member welcomes, and closing “Silent Night.” (Your participation is requested – see below for details.) As soon as the recording is completed we will post it on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/UnitedProtestantChurch, our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJv3N5hcIL8j6GpPGgT3R9w?view_as=subscriber, as well as sending it to this email list.

WANTED: YOUR VIDEO GREETINGS FOR CHRISTMAS EVE! We are making a montage of video greetings for the Christmas Eve service. We are also recording videos of people holding candles to put at the end of the service in lieu of our traditional Silent Night closing song. HERE'S WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU: Send Pastor Paul a video recording of a greeting to your church family (20 seconds or so), AND please send a 5 second video of your family holding candles in the spirit of SIlent Night (separate videos please), OR Contact Pastor Paul and he can run out and record these for you (he'd like to see you anyway!). 218-349-0143, paulvanantwerp@gmail.com.

“…Nothing is impossible for God.”  ~ Luke 1:37

    It is the week of the year when I find myself putting together three separate services: this Sunday, Christmas Eve, and the First Sunday after Christmas. Don't think for a moment that I'm organized and prepared – this is mostly to keep the others involved sane and happy…I mean, who wants to work on the day after Christmas?

    The scripture and music and messages differ in each service of worship, but the verse mentioned above, spoken by the angel Gabriel in Luke, seems to summarize it all: “Nothing is impossible for God.”

    Worship is different now…with such small numbers present, the spirit and energy of the faithful together is harder to feel, and of course the overall love and fellowship are muted in this time of social distance, but here I repeat it: “Nothing! Nothing is impossible for God!”

    If any of us want to feel that spirit of worship, know and trust that God, as well, wants us to do the same. We may not feel the presence of the angel Gabriel as Mary did, but I promise you, if you turn your heart and mind toward feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit, and put yourself into a way of living that seeks to receive and reflect God's presence within and all around you, you are certainly (as was preached in the letter to the Hebrews) “entertaining angels unaware.”

    …And amazing things can happen. Any week. Any time. Any way that we worship.

    So tune in, however you like to do so…in glory, or in humility. Let God know that you're seeking a time of closeness. Then be ready to welcome angels.

Keep in touch, friends

Pastor Paul

ALL EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN THE CHURCH ARE CANCELLED. Let us all cooperate in the shared goal of curbing the suffering and pain of this pandemic.

Sunday, December 13: Worship at 10:30 am. Doors will be open; however, we are not encouraging people to attend, but to stay home as much as possible. We are recording worship and posting it on Facebook, as well as sending a link to the video, along with a copy of the bulletin and sermon to our email list. If you would like a copy mailed to you, contact the church office at 218-626-2570 or office@unitedprotestantchurch.org.

We are making a montage of video greetings for the Christmas Eve Service. We are also recording videos of people holding candles to put at the end of the service in lieu of our traditional Silent Night closing song. HERE'S WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU: Send Pastor Paul a video recording of a greeting to your church family (20 seconds or so), AND, please send a 5 second video of your family holding candles in the spirit of Silent Night (separate videos please), OR, contact Pastor Paul and he can run out and record these for you (he'd like to see you anyway!). 218-349-0143 or paulvanantwerp@gmail.com.

Special thanks to Mike, Marna, Kathy and Kevin for the beautiful decorations in the Sanctuary (thank you to Kari & Jason for donating the lovely pre-lit tree for the altar). Mike & Marna coordinated making the crafty Christmas Candle Memorials on the altar.

On-Line Giving through Tithe.ly: Thank you to those who have used on-line giving for offerings and donations. This option may be accessed on the home page of our website: unitedprotestantchurch.org. 

Sweatshirts screen printed with the church logo. We have a number of light pink and light gray hoodies and crewnecks, various sizes, in the office. Prices are $35 for Med-XL and $40 for XXL & XXXL hoodies. Crews are $30. 

        ~ Isaiah 61:2-3

   Here's a memory: I'm in a church in Michoacan, Mexico. I'm visiting my college roommate that has been living there for some time. He and his family are doing well, and the church we are visiting is beautiful. We stand in a pew, three or four rows in from the front, looking forward at a beautifully adorned golden altar. All of us stand in reverence, and just like everyone around us, tourists and faithful alike, we are silent.

    But it is not quiet in the room. We can hear, through the open door, the rattling of change in a steel can. There is a beggar just outside the doorway, an elderly man in a broad-brimmed hat and two crippled legs. He is rattling the few coins in his old soup can as a way of letting us know he is there.

    We all know he is there. The sound of his coins reverberates off the walls all around us. It bounces off the golden altar we are all staring at. Yes, to be certain, we know he is there. My question is: where is Jesus?

    Or put another way: where shall I look for Jesus in that moment? Is he standing at the altar asking for glory? Or is he sitting just outside the church, asking for a little change?

    Advent is what we make of it, friends. The presence of Jesus will be all around us, that much is certain, but where we look for him…and where we find him, will make all the difference in the lives we live after Christmas.

Keep in touch,

Pastor Paul 

Sunday, December 6: Worship at 10:30 am, with communion. Doors will be open, but we are not encouraging people to attend, and to stay home as much as possible. We are recording worship and posting it on Facebook, as well as sending a link to the video, along with a copy of the bulletin and sermon to our email list. If you would like a copy mailed to you, contact the church office at 218-626-2570 or office@unitedprotestantchurch.org.

Christmas Memorials 2020: we will have Candles for Christmas Memorials this year. Candles will be set out along the balcony ledge in the front of the church. Each candle will have a tag with the name of the person (or people) that it is in memory of. A list of memorials will be printed for church services. Cost of candles is $10 for large and $5 for small. There will also be two poinsettias placed near the altar. Contact Marna Fasteland if you would like a Candle Memorial. You may also contact the church office with your information. Checks may be made out to UP Church. Please sign up for candle memorials by December 6.

On-Line Giving: We have the option through Tithe.ly to make weekly or monthly donations on- line. THe option may be accessed on the home page of our website: unitedprotestantchurch.org. Thank you to those who have used this option for offerings and donations.

Sweatshirts: Screen printed with church logo. If you would like to place an order, contact Linda Rominger or Kathy Lee. Prices are $35 for Med-XL and $40 for XXL & XXXL hoodies. Crew necks are $30. 

The following was received from CIty Councilor Janet Kennedy: Deadline to apply for CoVid-19 Housing Assistance Program is December 7.  This program provides housing assistance payments to help prevent eviction or homelessness and maintain housing stability for eligible renters and homeowners. Program is designed to cover expenses, such as rent, mortgage, utilities or other housing-related expenses that were incurred after MARCH 1, 2020 and are past due. Even if DECEMBER 1 was the first time you were unable to pay your rent or mortgage, you are eligible to receive assistance from this program. To apply for assistance, you can: 1) Call 211 (toll free: 1-800-543-7709; local 651-291-0211); 2) Visit 211unitedway.org, or: 3) Text “MNRENT” or “MNHOME” to 898-211. The 211 helpline has dedicated staff available to answer questions about the program, 8am-8pm, Monday-Friday. Visit Minnesota Housing Finance Agency's website to learn more about the program and eligibility requirements.

“…in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord…”  ~ Isaiah 40:3

    There are a lot of unknowns in my life…a lot of questions and concerns and uncertainties and preoccupations and nudges and…whew! I exhale. I sit back. Usually at this point I put some healthy food in my belly and move my body to get my heart rate up, then return to the desk…to all of the unknowns that populate that list of things to do…

    And, in this process, I've learned a little trick: I make my to-do list as specific as possible. See, to return to the list and see something like “figure out your finances” written down – well now, that's just overwhelming. But if I make things more specific, with items such as “make a list of direct deposits” and “balance the checkbook” – well, each of those become more manageable tasks. Little by little I accomplish the goal. Plus, it feels kinda nice to cross things off a checklist. The same goes for church. I could have an item on the list such as “figure out Christmas  worship” and it would make me feel a bit overwhelmed. But if I can break it down to manageable tasks such as “verify musicians schedules” and “research three editing and streaming resources”…well, hey, I can get those done!

     In this time when we're wary and guarded, when the big picture feels worrisome and the concerns tend to pile up, it is easy to feel inundated and overwhelmed. But here, like that healthy food and exercise that I tend to lean on in tense times, prayer can help us. Bring it to God. Remember: God wants you to thrive. I mean, God's way of guiding you may not be the same as the path you had planned, but God can help you see the little things…the little moments of grace (the “little Amens” as I like to call them).

     People I know that practice gratitude as a faith discipline tell me that the more they practice, the more specific their lists become. What began as a list of five or six things referred to in generic terms becomes a whole page of Amen's that put a smile on the face. For example, a person new to the practice might write “I'm thankful for my family” but a person seasoned in the faith discipline might write “I'm thankful for the giggle of my grandson when I talk to him on the phone” or “I'm thankful that my daughter still has the same smile she had when she was young.” You get the idea.

     When we get right down to the nitty gritty details of it all, this world is gorgeous. There are many more ways that our hearts leap with joy than we ever imagined. Those little Amen's are everywhere! 

     And then…take that sensibility – that way of seeing – and bring it to the things that knit your brow and overwhelm you. I'm willing to bet that if you can learn to see the beauty, you can also learn to manage the hardship. Friends, I'll figure out a wonderful worship service for Christmas Eve. I'll figure out my finances. And I'll do it best by approaching it in the same way I welcome God's love.

     We share every Sunday that God has the last word and God's last word is love. May this be a contribution toward living into that. May this be one of many, many ways.

Keep in touch, friends

Pastor Paul