UPB Update week of 1/2/11-- Happy New Year!

United Parish of Bowie

United in Christ – Our Mission: To Serve

Presbyterian Church (USA) and United Church of Christ

The Journey Toward Sunday

Hi everyone!  I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas celebration… what's that you say… are having?  Isn't Christmas done, almost a week ago now?  In this year's advertising blitz leading up to Christmas I noticed that lots of stores seemed to talk about the 25 days of Christmas and now that December 25^th is over the cultural Christmas celebration is too.  At face value, the 25 days would seem like a pretty big upgrade from the 12 days in the song, but of course what the advertisers meant was the 25 shopping days of December leading up to Christmas.  The twelve days are something else entirely… they're the days set aside between Christmas and Epiphany (Jan. 6) to celebrate Christ's birth.  So yes, Dec. 25, 2010 may be long gone… but the Christmas season doesn't have to be.  Even if the stores and advertisers don't believe it, Christmas lives on in us!  So don't be afraid to greet people with a resounding Merry Christmas!  And remember to spend a few moments to continue your reflection on what Christ's coming means for all of us, and also for you.

It was good to see many of you for the Christmas Eve service and those who braved the snow (forecast) for the service of Lessons and Carols on the 26^th.  And I hope everyone has an enjoyable (and safe) New Year's celebration this weekend too! 

Since we won't be together on the 6^th, we're celebrating Epiphany this Sunday and the scripture readings can be found here.  In the service, we'll be reading Matthew's story of the wise men and Isaiah's prophecy about "the Light."  So take a few moments to read and pray with the scriptures when you get a chance.

Next week (and next year) men's breakfast and book club are planned for their regularly scheduled times and the following week the winter session of Seeds begins!  If you want to look a little further out, the calendar on the website is a wonderful resource…  quite a few people also asked if there was a way to centralize a list of who was doing what on which Sunday mornings… so we've also posted a Sunday morning volunteer schedule on the web.  (It's not entirely up to date yet but I wanted you to know it's there.)  If you see an open opportunity that you would like to volunteer for, feel free to send me an email anytime and I'll get you in touch with the right person to make it happen.  (And when you see Mike, tell him thanks for all his work on the website!)

As always, feel free to get in touch with hopes, dreams, and ideas for the future of UPB, or to let me know about other things that are going on in your life.

Many Blessings in this season of Christmas!

Pastor Dan

Office phone: 301-249-6411

Email: pastordan@unitedparishbowie.org

On the web:  www.unitedparishbowie.org

 

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UPB Christmas Update

United Parish of Bowie

United in Christ – Our Mission: To Serve

Presbyterian Church (USA) and United Church of Christ

The Journey Toward Sunday

We have been waiting and preparing through the long season of Advent and now the time is almost here! 

Come celebrate Christ's birth at the 7:00 Christmas Eve service at UPB.  The time was moved up half an hour to be a little more family friendly for those with children.  Sunday's service will also be a a fun and festive service of scripture and song to celebrate the good news of Christmas.  Pass the word to family, friends and neighbors who may like to join us in worship and celebration!  I look forward to seeing you there! 

This evening we're having the regularly scheduled prayer group at 7:00 at our house.  The Christmas season means lots of different things for different people and I'm hoping that tonight can be a break for those who feel like they're still running around trying to get ready, a place of comfort and community for those who are missing family and friends, and a time of refocusing for those who feel like they haven't yet found meaning in this Christmas season.  Wherever you come from and whatever is going on in your life, you would be welcome!  (feel free to call or email me for directions.)

The scripture passages for Christmas Eve can be found here.  It's a story many of us know well (and a story some of us got to see presented by our children at worship last Sunday -- a fun gift indeed.)  I pray that the hope of Christ's coming has found root in you this season and that living that hope will carry you throughout this and the coming years!

As always, feel free to get in touch with your hopes, dreams, and ideas for the future of UPB, or to let me know about other things that are going on in your life.

Many Blessings to you this final week of Advent!

Pastor Dan

Office phone: 301-249-6411

Email: pastordan@unitedparishbowie.org

On the web:  www.unitedparishbowie.org

 

Please help keep this email list up-to-date.  If we don't have the best email to reach you let us know. 

Likewise, if you don't want to receive the weekly announcements, let us know.
Either way, you can reply to this email and we'll respect your preferences.

UPB Update week of 12/19/10

United Parish of Bowie

United in Christ – Our Mission: To Serve

Presbyterian Church (USA) and United Church of Christ

The Journey Toward Sunday

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!...It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas… let's see, what else comes to mind when I look out the window…

We had a wonderful time at the Ladies night out Christmas celebration complete with carols and games…  And the sanctuary looks very festive after the decorators came last weekend!  Thanks to all who helped out.

This Saturday from 1-4pm you are all invited to the cookie exchange open house at our home that was rescheduled from earlier in the month.  I hope you all can stop by to enjoy each other's company for a little while (and to try out other people's favorite Christmas cookie recipes).  If you need directions feel free to reply to this email.

Then on Sunday, the Children, Youth and Family ministry is presenting "The Christmas Present" a telling of the Christmas story in poetry and song at the regularly scheduled worship service.   And to celebrate their performance, we're going to have a special chat-n-chew, so plan to pitch in and bring something for after church.

I've had a few people ask for more information about Heifer after last week's sermon, so here's the link.  www.heifer.org.  Feel free to explore and see if there might be the perfect gift for someone out there.

Christmas is coming soon… and then the end of the year and every year it seems we move quickly on to other things… so I do hope that along with the preparations for the cultural celebration of Christmas, you're also remembering to take time to ponder what it means that Christ came into the world… and not only that but that Christ came into the world as one of us!  Emmanuel!  The scripture passages for this week can be found here (I'll be focusing on Matthew's text).

And, as always, feel free to get in touch with hopes, dreams, and ideas for the future of UPB, or to let me know about other things that are going on in your life.

Peace to you this third week of Advent!

Pastor Dan

Office phone: 301-249-6411

Email: pastordan@unitedparishbowie.org

On the web:  www.unitedparishbowie.org

 

Please help keep this email list up-to-date.  If we don't have the best email to reach you let us know. 

Likewise, if you don't want to receive the weekly announcements, let us know.
Either way, you can reply to this email and we'll respect your preferences.

UPB Update week of 12/12/10

United Parish of Bowie

United in Christ – Our Mission: To Serve

Presbyterian Church (USA) and United Church of Christ

The Journey Toward Sunday

Hi everyone, I hope you're having a good Second week of Advent as you prepare to celebrate Christ's coming!

It seems we are gearing up for all things Christmas around here this week!  The children sounded great at practice last night, so if you haven't done it yet, mark your calendar to be there to hear them present "The Christmas Present" on December 19^th at the normal worship time.

The ladies night out Christmas Party (to which all the men are invited) is this Friday at the Eades home.  Please drop Diane an email to let her know that you are coming.  (or you can reply to this and I'll make sure she gets the message.)

Saturday morning, starting at 8:30, we'll be decorating the church for Christmas!  If you have greens to be used, bring them!

And then next Saturday, the 18th will be the rescheduled cookie exchange open house at our house from 1-4pm.  (Kaela's feeling fine now.  Thank you everyone for the prayers.)

With all of the activity that comes along with the Christmas season; the parties, the presents and the preparations,  I do hope that you're remembering to take some time to reflect on the ways Christ has already come into the history of the world and the ways Christ is coming into your own life as well.  The scripture passages for this week can be found here (Matthew, Isaiah and I may toss a bit of Luke into the sermon as well…).  Take a few moments to read them and prepare yourselves for Sunday's worship.

And, as always, feel free to get in touch with hopes, dreams, and ideas for the future of UPB, or to let me know about other things that are going on in your life.

Advent blessings and remember Christmas is Coming!

Pastor Dan

Office phone: 301-249-6411

Email: pastordan@unitedparishbowie.org

On the web:  www.unitedparishbowie.org

 

UPB ANNOUNCEMENTS: December 12

 

Upcoming Special Events:

 

 

 

Adult Education:  An Advent Bible Study on the Christmas Story:  This is the last Sunday the in-depth look at the birth narratives according to Matthew and Luke.

 

The Christmas Present! Calling all Children and Youth!  Participate in this year's Christmas play The Christmas Present!  There's a role for everyone.  We ask that those participating commit to arriving at 9:30 am on Sunday December 19th (the day of the play) and also to attending the following Wednesday "Present Practices" with dinner at 6 pm (Seeds family-style) and practice from 6:20 to 7 pm on Dec. 8th and Dec. 15th.  If interested, please sign up with Rebecca Holland!

 

Ladies Night Out: You don't want to miss this one! The men of the church are invited for a Christmas Celebration on December 10th at Diane Eades' house.  Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share.

 

Church Decorating: We will be decorating the church for Christmas on Saturday,

December 11, at 8:30 am (this is a little earlier than previously announced)  If you have greens that you could donate and you can't make it to church Saturday morning, they can be dropped off outside the church Friday evening or at Diane Eades' house Friday evening at Ladies Night Out.

 

Membership/Fellowship Committee: There will be a meeting of the Membership/Fellowship Committee after church on December 12th.  If you would like to help plan upcoming Fellowship events, please plan to come to the meeting.

 

Men's Night Out: There will be NO outing Dec. 28th. The next Men's Night Out will be Jan. 25th at 6:30 pm at Glory Days in Bowie.   Please note the change in time of this outing and future ones.

 

Living Waters for the World:  The Christian education program for children has selected "Living Waters for the World (LWW)" for this year's service project (September 2010-June 2011).  Our mission is to support the efforts of the LWW to bring clean drinking water to all God's children in poor and developing countries all around the world.  We invite the congregation to join the children in this worthwhile endeavor.  Please look for the large water bottle in the area outside the sanctuary and deposit whatever amount (pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, or currency) you want to donate.  Last year, the children with your support collected and sent $240.00 to LWW.  For more information, please visit their website, www.livingwatersfortheworld.org.

Family Crisis Center:  Please support the Family Crisis Center by donating your used or broken cell phones and chargers (box on table in Narthex). Through its partnership with the Verizon HopeLine, the Family Crisis Center can turn these items into cash to support their program.

 

Book Club: Save the date! Jan 7th Home: a novel  Marilynne Robinson

Glory Boughton, aged thirty-eight, has returned to Gilead to care for her dying father. Soon her brother, Jack, the prodigal son of the family, gone for twenty years, comes home too, looking for refuge and to try to make peace with a past littered with tormenting trouble and pain. Jack is a bad boy from childhood, an alcoholic who cannot hold a job, perpetually at odds with his surroundings and with his traditionalist father. Yet he remains Reverend Boughton's most beloved child. Brilliant, beguiling, lovable, and wayward, Jack forges an intense bond with Glory and engages painfully with John Ames, his godfather and namesake.

For more details Visit us on the web at www.unitedparishbowie.org or give me a call!

 

Please help keep this email list up-to-date.  If we don't have the best email to reach you let us know. 

Likewise, if you don't want to receive the weekly announcements, let us know.
Either way, you can reply to this email and we'll respect your preferences.

UPB Update week of 12-5-10

United Parish of Bowie

United in Christ – Our Mission: To Serve

Presbyterian Church (USA) and United Church of Christ

The Journey Toward Sunday

Hi everyone, I hope you're having a good first week of Advent as you prepare to celebrate Christ's coming!

First thing, I wanted to make sure everyone gets word: We are rescheduling the cookie exchange open house that was going to be at our home tomorrow… Kaela woke up with pink-eye and we don't want to risk spreading it to everyone we know.  Sorry for throwing a wrench in your plans for those of you who were planning to make it.  The new date will be December 18^th from 1-4pm and we hope to see you there!

Thanks to everyone who helped out with Warm Nights on Monday, I heard it was good food and a good experience for those who served.  The first practice for The Christmas Present went well.  Plan to come on the 19^th during normal church time to see the performance incorporated into the worship service.  And tonight is book club at the Barbato home- they're discussing The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

Coming next week, Friday evening is the Ladies Night out Christmas Celebration at the Eades Home and Men, you're invited to this one too!  And Saturday is the traditional decorating of the Sanctuary at the United Parish.  It promises to be a fun morning!

The scripture passages for this week can be found here (Matthew and Isaiah). Take a few minutes to read them and pray with them to prepare yourself for worship on Sunday

And, as always, feel free to get in touch with hopes, dreams, and ideas for the future of UPB, or to let me know about other things that are going on in your life.

God's blessing to you this and every day!

Pastor Dan

Office phone: 301-249-6411

Email: pastordan@unitedparishbowie.org

On the web:  www.unitedparishbowie.org

 

UPB ANNOUNCEMENTS: December 5

 

Upcoming Special Events:

 

 

 

Adult Education:  An Advent Bible Study on the Christmas Story:  We'll take an in-depth look at the birth narratives according to Matthew and Luke.  Where are they the same, where do they differ, how does that affect our faith and understanding of the coming of the Lord at Christmas: to meet the first three Sundays in Advent (Dec. 5, and 12).

 

The Christmas Present! Calling all Children and Youth!  Participate in this year's Christmas play The Christmas Present!  There's a role for everyone.  We ask that those participating commit to arriving at 9:30 am on Sunday December 19th (the day of the play) and also to attending the following Wednesday "Present Practices" with dinner at 6 pm (Seeds family-style) and practice from 6:20 to 7 pm on Dec. 1st, Dec. 8th and Dec. 15th.  If interested, please sign up with Rebecca Holland!

 

Ladies Night Out: You don't want to miss this one! The men of the church are invited for a Christmas Celebration on December 10th at Diane Eades' house.  Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share.

 

Church Decorating: We will be decorating the church for Christmas on Saturday,

December 11, at 8:30 am (this is a little earlier than previously announced)  If you have greens that you could donate and you can't make it to church Saturday morning, they can be dropped off outside the church Friday evening or at Diane Eades' house Friday evening at Ladies Night Out.

 

Membership/Fellowship Committee: There will be a meeting of the Membership/Fellowship Committee after church on December 12th.  If you would like to help plan upcoming Fellowship events, please plan to come to the meeting.

 

Men's Night Out: There will be NO outing Dec. 28th. The next Men's Night Out will be Jan. 25th at 6:30 pm at Glory Days in Bowie.   Please note the change in time of this outing and future ones.

 

Living Waters for the World:  The Christian education program for children has selected "Living Waters for the World (LWW)" for this year's service project (September 2010-June 2011).  Our mission is to support the efforts of the LWW to bring clean drinking water to all God's children in poor and developing countries all around the world.  We invite the congregation to join the children in this worthwhile endeavor.  Please look for the large water bottle in the area outside the sanctuary and deposit whatever amount (pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, or currency) you want to donate.  Last year, the children with your support collected and sent $240.00 to LWW.  For more information, please visit their website, www.livingwatersfortheworld.org.

Family Crisis Center:  Please support the Family Crisis Center by donating your used or broken cell phones and chargers (box on table in Narthex). Through its partnership with the Verizon HopeLine, the Family Crisis Center can turn these items into cash to support their program.

 

Book Club: Save the date! Jan 7th Home: a novel  Marilynne Robinson

 

For more details Visit us on the web at www.unitedparishbowie.org or give me a call!

 

Please help keep this email list up-to-date.  If we don't have the best email to reach you let us know. 

Likewise, if you don't want to receive the weekly announcements, let us know.
Either way, you can reply to this email and we'll respect your preferences.