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 epidemic.
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.
From Pastor Paul: Toward Sunday
“…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