Author: Clarice Erickson

THANKS to so many who helped us bring the new organ into the church. Our new Rodger's organ (donated for free from Servant of the Shepherd Church in River Falls) has a great sound! Special thanks to Linda & Albert for their hard work and planning.

And, thanks to the Morgan Park “Free Lunch” crew for a great turkey dinner on Wednesday evening. Special thanks to John, Kelly and Patience.

Sunday, Nov. 29: Worship at 10:30 am. 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. There will also be a list of memorials provided for church services. The cost of candles will be $5 for a small candle, $10 for a large candle. There will also be two poinsettias placed near the altar. Please contact Marna Fasteland if you would like a Candle Memorial this year. You can also contact the church office to sign up for a memorial. Checks may be made out to UP Church. If you sign up for a memorial, you may take candles home after Christmas Eve service. Please sign up for candle memorials by December 6.

Sweatshirts: Screen printed with church logo. This event has been a great success. Thanks to Linda and Kathy and all the salespeople involved! 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. There are a few light gray and light pink sweatshirts, various sizes, in the office. 

On-Line Giving: We have an 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.

     I'm all out of sorts. Our house is torn apart. We're getting new floors in the living room and opening one side of the staircase for space and air flow, but that means everything in the living room has found other temporary homes. The couch and secretary are in the kitchen, along with an awkwardly placed television. The end tables are in the basement. The recliner is in the sunroom. When we want to move when, say, cooking a Thanksgiving dinner, we have to plan our trajectory carefully so as not to bump into one another. (Though, how often do I really get to shout “hot stuff coming through!” when I move around?)

     But I need to remember: I chose this. I wanted to embellish the space I live in. I wanted things to be better.

     And sometimes, for things to get better, we have to make a few sacrifices.

     So it is in our lives right now. Our solitary Thanksgiving meals. Our telephone calls to loved ones. The sentimental ways we miss one another. Small sacrifices, because we want things to be better.

     As I write this, I'm trying to imagine new tips and tricks to bring the Spirit of Advent into your homes in this time when we are staying away from Sunday worship. I have all sorts of ideas (and am welcoming your suggestions!), but sometimes the best thing I can do is to sit back and exhale, knowing that this small sacrifice has a greater goal.

     We are a people that know well about sacrifices and greater goals. That is our story.

     So, friends, I know we'll get through this. And it helps to know that when all is said and done, things will, indeed, be better.

Keep in touch,

Pastor Paul

SEEKING VOLUNTEERS WITH STRONG BACKS: Looking for a hand this Monday, round about 5 pm, to help move an organ. If you can make it (or know of somebody that can lend a hand), give Pastor Paul a call (218-349-0143).

Sunday, November 22: Worship at 10:30 am. Church doors are open and we welcome members to worship with us. Masks are required and social distancing and hygiene protocols are strictly observed. Weekly sermons are posted on YouTube. Sermons are also available by email and posted on Facebook. If you would like a copy mailed to you, contact the church office at 218-626-2570 or office@unitedprotestantchurch.org.

Thursday, November 26: Happy Thanksgiving!

Saturday, November 28: Ruby's Pantry: 11 am-12:30 pm, Mission Creek Church, 521 131st Avenue W.

Christmas Memorials, 2020: We will have Candles for Christmas Memorials this year. The 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. There will also be a list of memorials provided for church services. The cost of the candles will be: Small candles $5, Large candles $10. There will also be two poinsettias put near the altar. Please contact Marna Fasteland if you would like a Candle Memorial this year. You can also contact the church office to sign up for a memorial. Checks can be made out to UP Church. If you sign up for a memorial you may take the candle home after Christmas Eve service. Please sign up for candle memorials by December 6.

Sweatshirts: Screen printed with church logo. Price is $35 for Med to XL and $40 for XXL & XXXL hoodies. (Crew necks are $30.) There are a few light gray & light pink sweatshirts in the office. Contact Linda Rominger or Kathy Lee with questions or to place an order. (These would make great Christmas gifts.)

On-Line Giving: We have an option through Tithe.ly to make weekly or monthly donations on-line. This is a wonderful way for folks who aren't able to donate in person or would rather use on-line giving. This 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.

Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?”  ~ Matthew 25:44

    Well, friends, not sure if you're the same as me, but when I get all crabby and uptight (me? never!) I find myself stuck in a deep pit of self-involved whining. The deep pit is uncomfortable enough, what with its darkness and negativity, but it also has an impact on my Christian faith. See, when I'm in one of those grumbly and whiny modes, the last thing I want to do is reach out and lend a hand to those strangers that are hungry or thirsty or sick or what-have-you.  …And that's a problem.

    It's a problem because Jesus tells us in the Gospel for Sunday that he's there, in each of those people…y'know, those people I'd choose to avoid in times like that.

    Thanksgiving is a good reminder. No matter how crabby or grumbly we get, we really do have a lot to be thankful for. I know…I know…that last line is quite the cliche, but have you ever considered gratitude as a challenging discipline? See, searching one's self for gratitude in a time like that is akin to lifting weights: it ain't easy, it's the last thing you want to be doing, but when all is said and done, it will make you stronger. Seriously, try it. Next time you have a case of the craboodles, sit yourself down, shut yourself up, and make a list of things in your life that you are thankful for.

    Like exercise, you may not see the results immediately, but I guarantee that with practice and perseverance (that's why I call it a faith discipline) you'll find yourself more adept at weathering the storm of negativity, and turning toward the love and kindness of the person you want to be.

    The person Jesus wants you to be.

    Because He's there, that amazing and powerful Messiah, in those small (and sometimes irksome) people reaching out a hand in need.

Keep in touch,

Pastor Paul 

**Worship at 10:30 am. We're bringing back the opening hymn sing – so think about your favorite songs!  Masks are required and social distancing and hygiene protocols are in place. Weekly sermons are posted on YouTube. Sermons are also available by email and posted on Facebook. If you would like a copy mailed to you, contact the church office at 218-626-2570 or office@unitedprotestantchurch.org.

Monday, November 9: Bible Study/Faith Conversation: 5:30 pm in Fellowship Hall. Join us as we explore this week's Gospel and share stories and questions of our faith. Masks are required, along with hygiene protocols.

Wednesday, November 11: 

**Veterans Day

**Wednesday Evening Time of Prayer & Sharing, 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary. You are welcome to gather for a mid-week calming time of prayer, music, and conversation led by Pastor Paul, with music by Maria Gross and/or Jim Larson.

Thursday, November 12: AA meets in Fellowship Hall, 7 pm. Masks and hygiene protocols required.

Free Sack Lunch, Weekdays, 12-2, in front of church: Volunteers and donations appreciated. VOLUNTEERS: Every weekday – please consider a weekly commitment to one of the following time slots: -Set up: 10:30-12:00  -Clean up: 2:00-3:00. Contact Pastor Paul or the office if interested. DONATIONS: Juice boxes, small bags of chips (any variety), small bags of snacks (cookies, crackers, etc.), sliced turkey lunchmeat, beef hot dogs, Sara Lee Classic white bread, lunch bags, plastic sandwich bags. (Financial donations always appreciated!)

On-Line Giving: We have the option through Tithe.ly to make weekly or monthly donations on-line. This is a wonderful way for folks who aren't able to donate in person or would rather use on-line giving. This option may be accessed on the home page of our website: unitedprotestantchurch.org. Many thanks go to people who have used this option for offering and donations!

Sweatshirts: Screen printed with church logo. Price is $35 for Med to XL, $40 for XXL and XXXL. Hoodies and crewnecks in various colors are available for ordering. Contact Linda Rominger or Kathy Lee with questions or to place an order. (The sweatshirts would make great gifts!) There are a few light pink and light grey, various sizes, available in the office.

Joys and Concerns/Prayer Chain: A number of family and friends are facing medical and other issues. We do not share names on our reminders, but please know that you and your loved ones are in our prayers and we are here to support you. If you would like to be included on the Prayer Chain, contact the office.

Community Information: Mental Health Resources for Seniors: OnLine Therapy is reaching out to the community to connect with aging adults who might need help with mental health, whether it be for themselves or someone they care about. Right now, people are more isolated than normal, which adds another layer of complexity for those struggling with anxiety and depression. Social frameworks that usually exist to provide a support presence are greatly impacted, and COVID-19 related life changes and stresses are compounding, likely leading to or furthering mental health issues. In order to provide support during these challenging times, OnLine Therapy has put together a resource so that Americans who are isolated can access professional care. Learn more about it at: https://www.onlinetherapy.com/online-therapy-services/ . Grace, Mental Health Advocate with OnLine Therapy, may be contacted at grace@onlinetherapy.com with any questions. OnLine Therapy is an international directory that provides a platform that connects people with therapists all over the world.

A WORD ON FLOODING IN THE CHURCH: Well, that pesky handle on the urinal in the men's bathroom finally got the best of us. Sometime between Sunday worship and Monday afternoon, it became stuck after flushing, and our church's rate of drainage wasn't sufficient for the flow, so we wound up with two inches of water across the entire Fellowship Hall. We discovered it Monday evening before Bible Study. The good news is that insurance gave us the okay to have the whole space professionally cleaned and dried, which we did throughout the week. The insurance adjustor was here, and we feel confident that we'll be adequately compensated for the damage. At present, only the women's bathroom is available, as the carpet in the men's room needed to be removed. We'll also have a few plumbing repairs to do that are not covered by insurance. We'll keep you updated. (And, special thanks to the Lindes, who spent many hours lending a hand and having to put up with Pastor Paul the whole time!)

“Lord, Lord, open to us.”  ~Matthew 25:11

    When I think of dark and difficult times in my life, I often reflect upon things I could have done that might have made things turn out differently. What I've learned is that usually it is a series of things, each unique, that collectively make me realize that I wasn't all that different from the foolish bridesmaids in the parable. Plenty of ways that I did my own version of “not bringing enough oil.”

    But I also think of those that were there for me – with an emphasis on the plural. There was no one person that brought grace, rather a collective of friends and loved ones, and plenty of strangers, each shining a unique light when my lamp could not.

    That's what we bring to church together, friends: many different lights from many different lamps. But together our light shines brightly, welcome that bridegroom Jesus.

    In the newsletter for this month, I asked this question:

    “What is your hope for our church?”

    And I continued:

    …I invite you to respond. Wait…let me rephrase that: I encourage you to respond. (In other words…please please please respond!), so that I may work and pray toward your hopes or dreams, or determine that I am unable to do so, and let God guide me to a call more commensurate to my own hopes and dreams for a congregation and a church. Send us an email (office@unitedprotestantchurch.org), or a phone call (218-626-2570), or a letter (830 88th Avenue W., 55808). Tell us what your hope for your church is.

    Call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure that your answer to that question will also define how your light can, or does, contribute to the collective light we shine together.

    So do me a favor, eh? Send a note of response. I'll be guiding my ministry, and my work in the church, based on those. After all, our light should be shining brightly…Jesus deserves that. Is there any more important thing that a pastor should be working toward?

Thanks again, friends,

Pastor Paul

Sorry, accidentally hit a wrong key and sent the email before completed.

Continuing:

Thursday, October 29: AA meets in Fellowship Hall, 7 pm. Masks and hygiene protocols required.

**Worship at 10:30 am. All Saints Day – we will light candles in memory of family and friends who have passed away in the last year.

**Daylight Savings Time ends at 2:00 am on November 1. Turn your clocks BACK one hour.

Free Sack Lunch, Weekdays, 12-2, in front of church: Volunteers and donations appreciated.

VOLUNTEERS: Please consider a weekly commitment to one of the following time slots: Set up: 10:30-12:00  Serving: 12-2:00  Clean up: 2:00-3:00.

DONATIONS: Juice boxes, small bags of chips (any variety), small bags of snacks (cookies, crackers, etc.), sliced turkey lunch meat, beef hot dogs, Sara Lee Classic white bread, lunch  bags, plastic sandwich bags. (Financial donations always appreciated!)

ON-LINE GIVING: We have the option through TIthe.ly to make weekly or monthly donations on-line. This is a wonderful way for folks who aren't able to donate in person or would rather use on-line giving. This option may be accessed on the home page of our website: unitedprotestantchurch.org.

SWEATSHIRTS: Screen printed with church logo. Price is $35 for Med to XL, $40 for XXL and XXXL. Hoodies and crew necks in various colors are available for ordering. Contact Linda Rominger or Kathy Lee with questions or to place an order. (The sweatshirts would make great gifts!)

“This is the greatest and first commandment.”  ~ Matthew 22:38

    I think of all the things I have lost in recent years, mostly as a product of divorce. The loss of a what I thought was a life-long covenant, the loss of daily contact with my children, the loss of financial security and home, the loss of any semblance of known stability – years later, it still feels as if the rug has been pulled out from under me. Most days, I get by. I adjust and find nurture and care and stability in new and different ways, but this week I realized one thing that I lost that I hadn't realized I had even lost: deep, intense and heartfelt love.

    Don't get me wrong. I love many people in this new life, love many things, and still feel wonder and excitement, the joy of creativity and curiosity and playfulness, but what I'm referring to goes a bit deeper. I'm talking about the love I felt when I was called by God. The love I felt when I held my newborn child. The love that – without sounding too cheesy or idealistic – filled me and changed me in ways I never knew imaginable. The kind of love that, after feeling, I was never the same person again…never.

    At least I thought that was the case. We were talking about deep, intense love at Bible Study on Monday, and sharing our testimonies on the subject, and to me, hearing others share, it felt as if I was looking at an old photograph, trying to remember the vague details of a bygone time.

    Well, that's downright sad. Yuck. Phooey. And as I write this, I guess I can't imagine anything more important than finding and rekindling that love. And I'm thankful to be in a community of faith that permits me to walk this path and share this path, together. 

    I think it is worth sharing.

    That's enough, for this week. I wanted to share with you that I'm making it my goal and mission to rekindle that love within, and then, with any luck, be ready to share it with the rest of you.

Keep in touch,

Pastor Paul

Sunday, October 25: Worship at 10:30 am. We are returning to a more traditional mode of worship, with a few changes to minimize contact. Masks are required and social distancing and hygiene protocols in place. Weekly sermons are posted on YouTube. Sermons are also available by email and posted on our Facebook page. If you would like a copy mailed to you, contact the church office at 218-626-2570 or office@unitedprotestantchurch.org.

Monday, October 26: Bible Study/Faith Conversation: 5:30 pm in Fellowship Hall. Join us as we explore this week's Gospel and share the stories and questions of our faith. Masks required, along with hygiene observation.

Wednesday, October  28: Wednesday Evening Time of Prayer and Sharing, 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary. You are welcome to gather for a mid-week calming time of prayer, music, and conversation led by Pastor Paul, with music by Maria Gross on piano and/or Jim Larson on the Appalachian Dulcimer.