Category: Church Happenings

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

Wednesday, June 26: Choir Practice, 6 pm – all who like to sing are welcome.

Thursday, June 27:  “Grill’s On,” 5:30-?  We’ll set out tables and get the grill going. Bring a lawn chair, a friend, something to put on the grill or something to share. And a lawn game if you have one.Looking ahead: “Grill’s On” will not be held the following Thursday, July 4.

Note from Pastor Paul

“As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ.” ~ Paul (to the church in Galatia, chapter 3)    When I first moved up here from Illinois, my new neighbor shared this wisdom: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.” I was struck at the blunt simplicity of his words, but more so at their validity. To this day, when I go on my prayer wanders, I always tuck my rain gear in the pack. I add a sweater as well, and shorts. I bring boots as well as sandals. Never know.    Have you complained about the weather this summer? I sure have. These pesky northeast winds off the lake have made summer’s triumphant stand arrive with creaky bones and moans and groans. But then I remember: follow the Mississippi south and the land is inundated with flooding (something we remember all too well here) – storm after storm – the rain doesn’t seem to stop. Farmers have given up any hope to plant. Families have walked away from homesteads, wondering if they should ever bother to rebuild.    So I’ve learned to practice gratitude. If not for this cold, gray nor’easter, then for the chance to see clouds in their tumbling motions at all, and for this breath of air, this pulse of my heart. I can live with long sleeves. I can live with gray days. But when I’m just sitting around griping about the weather and pining for something that I don’t have…well, I wonder how much I’m really living then?    To live in harmony with the weather we’re given is like sharing our faith with the world around us, just as it is. It may not be like it “used to be,” but souls still live and breathe and love and hurt and grow in anger and find the courage to forgive. They need our faith, and our support – because we’ve learned to be ready for whatever weather comes our way. A kind word can be an extra blanket. An act of love can be a shelter from the howling wind.

Let’s talk.

Pastor Paul

UP Church is hosting the funeral for Helen Hendricks on Saturday, June 15, visitation at 10 am, funeral at 11 am, and lunch fellowship to follow.

Thursdays in June: “Grill’s On” Community Picnic (5:30 pm – ?)We’ll set out tables and fire up the grill. You bring a lawn chair, a friend, something to put on the grill, and something to share (nothing fancy, just share what you have – and if you don’t bring anything, we’ll have plenty to share!)

NOTE: Any extra lawn games tucked away in your garage? Bring those too.

Note from Pastor Paul:   Well, between Pentecost and Father’s Day, I’ve found myself reflecting a lot this week. See, in my prayer and studies, Pentecost tends to shift me from contemplating resurrection and the presence of Jesus in my life, to an exploration and celebration of the Holy Spirit in my life…and how I’m called, how I listen, how I respond.   Hate to say it, but I’m not always the greatest Christian. I get crabby and angry and selfish and sharp. But here’s where my reflection on Father’s Day comes in. As a father, there is no perfect way. Being a father (any parent or caregiver for that matter) is an endless inventory of successes and failures. For as many pats on the back I give myself for being Super Dad, there are just as many dope-slap moments, thinking: “hope they don’t hate me for that as they grow up!” I am proud to say that I’ve learned a lot, but I’m also proud to say I am still clueless and trying to figure it all out.   

Same for being a Christian. In Bible studies or sermons or ramblings like this one, I like to prefix any theological insight with the phrase: “this is where I am at right now”, because there’s always room to change.   Repeat: Always room to change.   So, how do I know if I am heading in the right direction as a father? I see the faces of my children. I see their behavior and their emotions and demeanor. I feel their love, expressed in so many ways. I learn to see it.   

Same with being a Christian.

Let’s talk!

Pastor Paul 

Hey Friends! Exciting summer things on their way:

Beginning in June, on Thursdays: “Grill’s on!” Community Picnic (5:30-?)

We’ll set out the tables, break out the lawn games, and fire up the grill. You bring a lawn chair, a friend, something to put on the grill, and something to share as a side (nothing fancy, just share what you have!) (and thanks to Scotty for finding the great grill! Though this doesn’t mean I’ll let you win in Bocce Ball!)

Also, for you creative souls, we’re planning a gathering to explore visual arts in our sanctuary and worship – and dream up creative new ideas we can create together! Date TBA, but contact us if you’re interested!

And for those that like to play in the dirt, we’re planning to gather for Garden Days. Again, date TBA, but let us know if that interests you!

OK, that’s enough for now. See you Sunday with our choir singing and – hey – I’m pretty happy with the sermon I planned.

In God’s Love,

Pastor Paul