Author: Cari Elliot

Sunday, August 11: Church picnic & potluck following worship. Hot dogs, brats, buns and drinks provided. Bring a side or dessert to share. Family and friends invited to join the fellowship.

Bible Study Returns! (Beginning on Monday, August 12, 6 pm)Pastor Paul welcomes you to join him at 6 pm on Mondays for the first look at the Lectionary texts for the following Sunday. This is a time for questions and conversation in our lives of faith – and your participation greatly assists in creating a meaningful sermon on Sunday. Join us!

Grill’s On! Thursday Evenings 5:30 – ? at the ChurchGreat fun and great food! Last week was the first time we had more community members than church members! Join us for a time of feast and fellowship. Bring something to put on the grill, and a side to share – but if you don’t have anything, don’t worry, there is always more than enough!

History Team We’ve made great progress in going through our archives! For all the effort of sorting and labeling, there is also a lot of laughter and storytelling. Join us on Wednesday, August 14, at 10 am as we lift up our past and make sure our memories are well preserved. (Note: We’ve also received a donation to our History Team from the Morgan Park History Tours. Thanks to Bob Berg for offering your tours!)

Christian Education Children’s programming will be returning in September! Are you interested in being a part? (Or know of children and families that are interested?) Contact Pastor Paul 218-349-0143.

From Pastor Paul: Toward Sunday   Well, as if you haven’t noticed, I love to share words with you, and I figure it was only a matter of time before I write or speak something that does not adequately reflect my intention and meaning. After re-reading my commentary for the August newsletter, I think that time has arrived…so let me offer a bit of editing here:    Context: In our newsletter, I offered a quote in my commentary from a letter I wrote to a pastor in a congregation that finds itself in a time of conflict and divisiveness (this is nothing new in the history of Christianity – we have the gift of Paul’s letters to the churches he founded for perspective there – “circumcision? individualism? women prophets?” Oh my!). Here’s the quote that I think I messed up in writing:    “I understand well what it feels like to share ministry and fellowship with people that do not espouse a uniform theology or morality, so while I cannot speak for the entire congregation, let me assure you that you have kinship, fellowship, and support with this pastor.”Yikes! Hello editors, we need some clarification here!    So here’s what I should have written:    “I come from a church with a long history of diversity in cultural opinions and differences in how we live into God’s presence in our lives. It is the tradition of the United Church of Christ to accept all people in love as Jesus taught us, and I am deeply proud of that tradition. When it comes to divisive issues of the day, we share our opinions, tell our stories, and accept our differences, centered in our love of God and each other – and I think that makes us a better community. Unlike some churches, we don’t simply obey a declaration from human beings of a higher rank or status than us. We question and challenge and (most importantly) listen to one another. So as a pastor, I do not claim to know how God is working in the hearts of my congregation any more than the humble bit of information God has given me to share from my studies and prayers…but from all I have learned in prayer and study, you have my kinship, fellowship, and support.”Or maybe I should’ve put it this way:    “Look, I’m not in charge, and as a pastor yourself, neither are you! God is in charge, and I won’t pretend to believe I have a direct line to God or know what God wants from each person, and frankly, I’ve found that pastors that make such claims tend to have personal motives that extend beyond their service to God. All I have is what God gives me, week by week., So just keep loving God and loving your people, keep your disciplines, and know that I think you are doing the right thing.”With respect to our world views and values, we are a diverse group of people. And if growth is to happen, we will only increase in our diversity. I think this is a good thing. Will the opinions of other church members rub you the wrong way? Sure. Will acceptance of a different kind of Christian feel uncomfortable? You betcha. But listen for God in your conversations. I promise you, love is there.

Let’s Talk!

Pastor Paul

Sunday, August 4:

Pastor Paul has day off. We will have a hymn sing; Linda Bray & Ashley Lund will join us. Karen Robnik & Dale Williamson are leading worship service. Communion has been moved to August 11.

Thursday, August 8:

Grill’s On, 5:30 – ? Grill and tables will be ready to go. Bring something for the grill or a side to share, your lawn chair, a friend, and enjoy the fellowship.

Coming up Sunday, August 11:

Church picnic & potluck following worship service. Hot dogs, brats, buns and drinks will be provided. Bring a side dish or dessert to share. Family and friends invited to join in.

NOTE:

• Choir is taking August off. Practices will move to 1st & 3rd Wednesdays beginning with September 4.
• August council meeting is cancelled. Next scheduled meeting is September 10.

History Work Day, Wednesday, July 24, at 10:00 am

You’ve probably seen historical items all around the church, plaques and papers and pictures scattered in every corner. We’d like to try to get these things organized, so we’re planning the first “history day” on Wednesday, July 24, at 10 am. The first step is inventory: we’ll gather things together, lay them out on the tables, and figure out what’s what. From there we will determine how to properly archive our church history. If you are interested in participating in this (or know of somebody who should be involved), please contact the office or Pastor Paul.

Wednesday, July 24, 6:00 pm

Choir Practice – all who like to sing are welcome. Let Karen or Paul know if you have a favorite song you would like to hear.

Thursday, July 25, 5:30 pm – ?

Grill’s On: Grill and tables will be ready to go. Bring a lawn chair, a friend, something for the grill and/or a side to share, and join in conversation, fellowship, and fun. If the weather isn’t cooperative, we’ll move inside.

Sunday, July 14:  Candles lit in memory of Debbie Leal. Her funeral was held at UPC on July 9.

Thursday, July 18: Grill’s On, 5:30 pm.  Grill and tables will be ready to go. Bring a lawn chair, a friend, something for the grill and/or a side to share, and join in conversation, fellowship, and fun. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we’ll move inside.

Embracing (and Learning From) Our HistoryYou’ve probably seen historical items all around the church, plaques and papers and pictures scattered in every corner. We’d like to get these things organized, so in August (date to be determined) we’re planning the first “history day.” The first step is inventory: we’ll gather things together, lay them out on tables, and figure out what’s what. From there we will determine how to properly archive our church history. If you are interested in participating in this (or know of somebody who should be involved) please contact the office or Pastor Paul.

From Pastor Paul: “Toward Sunday”    It has always struck me how much of Morgan Park has its head turned back chronologically, illuminating the past. It is fair, given the arch of our town’s history, but this is certainly new for me. I grew up in suburbia outside of Chicago, in a house that was younger than I was. I worshiped in a church that was no older than my parents. I played with friends that, like me, had moved to a “new” place, away from their family history. New roots….if roots were planted at all. Honestly, when my parents move away from suburbia, no matter the good memories, I won’t miss it much. I guess I am used to things changing.    But I am unique in this situation, I know. For many residents of Morgan Park, and likewise many members of our Church, history deeply matters. All around me are vestiges of the way things used to be. Old pictures with faces I don’t recognize. Brass plaques with names unfamiliar. Stories, in each and every one.    I want to hear those stories, and politely ask for you to share them with me. I want to know their names and hear about their lives….but to be honest, I don’t want to live there. I want to see new faces and hear new stories. I want to MAKE new stories! I think of how Jesus honored his history, pausing there, to honor the wisdom of the prophets and the history of the peoples, but certainly not ceasing to create the new thing he came here to create.    Perhaps the neighbors you knew in town have moved away, but even if you can name the families that lived in that house for the past thirty or more years, do you know who lives there now? Their names? What they do for work? The things they love and the struggles they face?   

Our Sunday Gospel finds Jesus being challenged with the question: “What is the greatest commandment?”, which can be summed up simply: “Love God, Love each other.” Our church, and community, have changed, but our desire to fulfill God’s commandment through Jesus has not.    How can we be good neighbors? How can we honor the unchanging call of God?

Let’s talk,

Pastor Paul

Sunday, July 7:  Communion Sunday  Cathy Dale & Linda Bray are sharing their musical talents and special music during worship.
Tuesday, July 9:  Funeral for Debbie Leal at UPC, Pastor Paul officiating. Visitation at 10 am, funeral at 11 am, with fellowship meal to follow. UPC is providing coffee and bars for the meal.
Tuesday, July 9:  Church Council is taking July and August off. If there is a need, a special meeting may be called.
Wednesday, July 10:  Choir practice at 6 pm. All who like to sing are welcome.
Thursday, July 11:  Grill’s On, 5:30 pm.  Grill and tables will be ready to go. Bring your lawn chair, a friend, something for the grill and/or a side to share, and join in the fun. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, it will be moved inside.
Note from Pastor Paul:Pastor Paul has been in the Boundary Waters, enjoying a few days over the July 4 holiday. He will be back for Sunday worship, with plenty of stories to tell about his adventures. 

Sympathies for the family of Lois Maki (husband Dennis), friend of the church, who passed away this week. We hold her, and her loved ones, in the light and love of God.

United Protestant Church will be hosting a funeral service for Debbie Leal on Tuesday, July 9, at 10:00 am (visitation at 9, with fellowship meal to follow). Debbie’s son Andrew and Crystal (Merila) Leal were married in this church a few years ago.

Grill’s On!  NOTE: No Thursday picnic this week. Go and grill with your loved ones this holiday…and take care with fireworks, lest you have another excuse for letting your pastor beat you in Bocce Ball!

Pastor Paul will be out of the office from Tuesday, July 2 to Friday, July 5. He’ll be lost somewhere in the Boundary Waters and therefore unreachable by phone. You can try prayer, though. He’ll be listening well.

Note from Pastor Paul    When July rolls around, I give a tip o’ the sweaty and sunbleached hat to Edgewood. It is my paddling hat, old and ragged, patched through the years and purposefully worn only in times of floating and deep woods wanders. Edgewood was my traveling partner for many years – out and about the northern woods, in and out of the lakes and streams, cedar thickets and ash swamps, knee deep in muck and eye-to-eye with moose. He passed away a few years ago. I miss him.    Unlike me, he was a quiet man. A calm and thoughtful man. Careful, but curious – and oh so creative. With self-effacing reflection I’ll share now that he’d carefully think while I was more prone to action. He’d question the situation, as I’d be quick with reaction. But oh for happy balance, we complimented one another.    It reminds me that “it takes many types”….(I mean cliche’s are cliche’s for a reason). Some of us are vocal, some of us are quiet. Some active, some calm. Some authoritative, some passive. As you find yourself in those binaries, reflect for a moment on how proud or critical you are of yourself for such behaviors. But the thing is: we need you. Here in the church we need both the calm and cautious, and the active and reactive. We compliment one another as we share this special time and space.   

T.S. Eliot wrote “April is the cruelest month” (though here in our land, I think he’d have changed it to May), but I call July my “Feral Month”, as I prefer to spend as many hours as I can in the hum of the bugs and the wind in the trees and the waves lapping rocks on the shore. Wherever I go, I carry his memory, and his calm but persistent nudge to get out and explore.    So I offer this pic of ol’ Edge on one of our travels, to honor the spirit of the season.

Enjoy.

In Joy,

Pastor Paul