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.
CHRISTMAS EVE GREETINGS – WE NEED YOUR GREETING!
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.
From Pastor Paul: Toward Sunday
…to comfort all who mourn;
to provide for those who mourn in Zion –
to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.
~ 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