Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2:3 Lesson: Sabbath So often we hear that youth (generally teenagers) have no interest in church, worship, or our programs. We hear tell that they are not inspired by worship and that the lessons of our faith aren’t relevant. Clearly they don’t know UPA youth. Last weekend eight of our middle
Scripture: Wisdom of Solomon 6:12-16, Matthew 25:1-13 Lesson: To Know Ms. Wisdom In an age of slippery and false “truths” it is important to ask the question, what is wisdom? From the beginning of human history our ancestors have wondered about wisdom: where it comes from, how it differs from “knowledge,” how
Outreach has designated World Central Kitchen as the Thanksgiving offering this year. Founded in 2010 World Central Kitchen responds to natural disasters, man-made crises, and humanitarian emergencies around the world. We’re a team of food first responders, mobilizing with the urgency of now to get meals to the people who need them most. Deploying
The 2023 Mitten Tree is up!!!! The Mitten Tree is the UPA’s Annual giving program to REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, Inc. REACH empowers individuals, families, and communities to overcome domestic violence – because we all deserve safe, healthy relationships. Last year, REACH provided Target Gift Cards to over 300 families!
We have so much to celebrate this fall as we think about our church, our community and our missions. We have new staff, have started new programs, and have some new members, too, this year. The Pumpkin Patch has been a wonderful community experience (and fundraiser, too). Many of us
Scripture: Matthew 23: 1-12Lesson: Church Failure Blessings and grace to you all this week, the first week of November! November, at UPA, is Stewardship, so starting this Sunday you’ll begin to read and hear “asks” for a “pledge” for our budget year 2024. A pledge is not a donation! It’s a promise of what
Scripture: Matthew 22:34-46Lesson: Love in Theory Whhhhyyyy is it so hard to love our neighbor as we love ourselves? I mean, in theory, we know that this is the right thing to do. And in theory we can say (I say this all the time!) that we love the divine being that one
Scripture: Jeremiah 31:15-22Lesson: Rachel Is Weeping The question in so many of our hearts this week has been, from where do we find hope? We are, after all, a people of hope who don’t believe that death ever has the last word. Problem is that having faith in the victory of life over death
Lesson: Isaiah 11:1-2, 5-6, 9 Message: All God’s Children I hope you all are ready to have some fun in worship! This Sunday we’ll be celebrating God’s impossible, world-flipping love for all of creation by BLESSING OUR ANIMALS! Matt and I fought to the end over who would get to preach this one and
Lesson: Philippians 2:1-13 Message: Saved From What? This week I’ve decided to stray from the Gospel readings for a week in favor of a passage from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippian church. When I read anything from this particular letter I find it helpful to remember that Paul was writing from
