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.
Friday, December 25: Merry Christmas!
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.
From Pastor Paul: Toward Sunday
“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