This year, we will be having a Trunk or Treat event instead of an indoor carnival, in order to minimize risk of covid transmission. We’ll be lining up on Arbor Street, behind the church. If you would like to participate by handing out candy, please arrive early. No handmade treats, please. We’ll be handing out candy from 3:00-4:30 on Halloween day. 🎃🎃🎃
Our Building is 100!
That’s right! The church building is one hundred years old. Join us this Sunday the twelfth to celebrate. We’ll have our normal service at 10:30, tours and a picnic at 2:00, and live music with Todd Eckart from 3:00-5:00. Everything is free. The music will be outdoors, so bring your own chair or blanket. We do ask that you keep covid in mind and take appropriate CDC-recommended precautions. We can’t wait to see you there!
Welcome Pastor Mitch Nelson!
After many months, the Search and Call Committee for United Protestant recommended Mitch Nelson for the role of pastor. The congregation voted unanimously on August 29th. We will be working with the MN UCC to schedule an installation ceremony in the next few weeks. In the meantime, feel free to join us any Sunday to meet and welcome Pastor Mitch!
Church Activities Update
UP Church is following CDC guidelines for CoVid-19.
Coming up:
Saturday, May 22: Ruby's Pop-Up Pantry, Mission Creek Church, 521 131st Avenue W., 10:30-12:30 pm. THere is $20 donation per grocery bundle. Ruby's Pantry welcomes everyone; there are no income or residency requirements. For more information, call 218-626-3309 or visit www.missioncreekchurch.com/ministries/rubys-pantry. Ruby's Pantry is in need of some new volunteers to help out with their monthly food distribution. Email Mardy at missioncreekchurch@gmail.com and let her know if you are able to volunteer.
Sunday, May 23: Worship at 10:30 am. Rev. Sara Lund will lead worship.
Tuesday, May 25: Church Memorial Gardens will be planted, beginning at 9:30 am, with coffee & treats. Anyone who likes to get their hands in the soil is invited to participate. Call or text Marna if you have questions. Thank you to everyone who donated for flowers and plants. A list of of people being remembered will be printed in the bulletin and newsletter.
Sunday, May 30: Worship at 10:30 am. Rev. Charlotte Frantz will lead worship.
Monday, May 31: Memorial Day
SPRING FLING YARD & BAKE SALE
Friday, June 4 (8am-4pm) and
Saturday, June 5 (8am-2pm)
The Fellowship Hall is full to capacity with donations for the sale! Please contact Kathy Lee before bringing in any more donations. Tables will be set up outside (weather permitting) and also in Fellowship Hall. Thank you to all who have donated sale items, and thank you to those helping to sort and organize to prepare for the sale.
Bake sale items must be pre-packaged and labeled with ingredients.
A few updates
Just a few quick updates.
Last month, we wished Pastor Paul well as he set off on a new call with a new new congregation in another state. Rev Sara Lund is once again joining us to lead services and offer some pastoral care during this time of transition. Meanwhile, our Search and Call Committee has started the process of searching for a new pastor and will be keeping us posted as that develops.
We continue to film and post sermons online, which can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Xc1n-MOitpORgPnglQw5A/videos at your leisure.
Some sweatshirts are still available for purchase, in limited sizes and colors. Reach out to the church directly, to Linda Rominger, or to Kathy Lee to purchase.
All activities other than Sunday services and a good Friday service (2pm) remain suspended due to Covid-19 at this time. All are welcome to attend on Sunday mornings with proper social distancing and use of masks.
Have a lovely week!
Weekly Reminders (January 1-8, 2021)
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.
Thank you to Dale G. for repairing and improving the men's bathroom!
Thanks to Scott N. and Jim L. for taking care of issues with the heating system.
Friday, January 1: Happy New Year!
Sunday, January 3: Worship at 10:30 am, with communion. People are encouraged to stay home as much as possible. We are recording worship and posting it to 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.
On-Line Giving: We have the option through Tithe.ly to make weekly or monthly donations on-line. THis option may be accessed on the home page of our website:unitedprotestantchurch.org. We thank all who have used this option to make offering or donations.
Sweatshirts: Screen printed with church logo. There is a supply of light pink and light gray hoodies and crew necks in various sizes in the office. Prices are $35 for Med-XL and $40 for XXL & XXXL. Crew necks are $30.
Community: City Councilor Janet Kennedy sent along the following:
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR UTILITIES: Resources are available to help Duluth residents that are having difficulties paying their utility bills. Most agencies prefer inquiries go through United Way 211. THey are the one-stop shop for local resources. Many people calling for assistance have more than one issue. 211 can get them connected with each agency that can help them. A person simply dials 2-1-1 and they will reach intake personnel. If a person is having difficulty getting through to United Way, here are some direct numbers: Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MAC-V): 218-722-8763; St. Louis County: 218-726-2020; Salvation Army: 218-722-7934; Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA): 218-623-3011.
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IN JANUARY FOR CNAs, TRUCK DRIVERS, AND IT SUPPORT: We are actively recruiting individuals who are interested in training for a new career. In partnership with SOAR Career Solutions, Lake Superior College, and Duluth Public Schools Adult Education, we are able to offer full funding for eligible applicants in three very in-demand skill sets.
IT Support Specialist training starts January 5. Graduates from this program will be able to move into roles utilizing basic user support and help desk information technology skills. Class offered in virtual/distance learning format. Contact SOAR for more information and to
schedule an application meeting: 218-722-3126 or soarcareers.org.
Certified Nursing Assistant classes start January 19. Graduates are eligible to continue on at LSC to gain their Trained Medication Aid certification to increase wages and job options. Class offered as a hybrid class with limited in-person lab classes at LSC. Contact Betsy Hill at Duluth Workforce Development at 218-730-5228 or bhill@duluthmn.gov or SOAR for more information.
Commercial Truck Driving classes offered in January and April at LSC. Drivers are very in-demand and there are many local driving opportunities available in addition to very lucrative over the road driving options. Contact Jose Cabrera at 218-730-5246 or jcabrera@duluthmn.gov for more information and an application appointment.
In addition to these training opportunities, Duluth CareerForce has a wide variety of virtual services available to help with a job search. Go to CareerForceMN.com/Duluth to register for a free meeting with a local job counselor to go over your resume or discuss your job search.
From Pastor Paul: Toward Sunday
“And having been warned in a dream…they left for their own country by another road.” ~ Matthew 2:12
We're not the first congregation, in the history of our faith, to have to get creative and make adjustments on the ways we spread the message and engage our ministry. It's pretty much been a constant theme of Christianity since it began. I think of the Apostle Paul, sending letters to the churches in places like Galatia, Corinth, and Thessalonica – engaging the issues and tensions respective to each city and setting, but retaining a steady spirit of hope and joy in the lives in Christ they shared.
One thing Christians are good at is adapting, adjusting, and persevering. Again, we've been doing this since from the beginning (Resurrection? What?). I've worshiped in places like Nicaraugua and East Timor, let alone in different parts of our country like rural Louisiana and urban Chicago, and I can tell you with certainty that no matter the difference in language or liturgy or music, a faithful bunch can muster up the spirit no matter the circumstances. So…we get creative – the lanterns for Christmas were gorgeous and the collective greetings and candles in our Christmas Eve video filled me with love when I first watched it – and we muster up the spirit.
So that's my question for you today: how are you feeling the spirit in this time? How are you getting creative with your faith and feeling God's presence in new and different ways? I ask in the spirit of what the online generations call “hive mind”…if you can share your tips and tricks and ideas, there's a good chance somebody else would greatly value them! Likewise, you or I may learn a thing or two from others that share.
So: send me a note. Let me know how things are going and how you're finding faith. I'll share them. Together, we'll continue to adjust our faith as we need to, and keep our faith vibrant. Historically, we are in very good company.
Keep in touch,
Pastor Paul
pastorpaulvanantwerp@gmail.com / 218-349-0143