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 20: Worship at 10:30 am. Doors will be open; however, we are not encouraging people to attend. Please stay home as much as possible. We are recording worship and posting it on Facebook and YouTube, 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.
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.
Friday, December 25: Merry Christmas
From Pastor Paul: Toward Sunday
“…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