UPB Update week of 4-10-11

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 things are going well for you this week.   

The cantata last week was incredible!  Thanks so much to all of the Choir folks who worked so hard to prepare and make it happen!  There are more special Lenten Services coming up.  Palm Sunday is just over a week away.  This year we'll have both a Maundy Thursday and a Good Friday service during Holy Week (7:30pm).  And then of course Easter Sunday is the reason for the celebration in the first place!  So mark your calendar and plan to come remember the last days of Jesus and celebrate the Resurrection!

Last night, Josi Hillary (a long time United Parish member) came to the Lenten Dinner to tell us about what is going on at SOTI, a non-profit organization he founded to assist impoverished people in India and Indonesia receive higher education and help their communities.  The work of SOTI makes a tangible, transformative difference in the lives of the people who receive the education and the communities they go on to serve.  This Sunday at the service we'll have an opportunity to help out through a special offering that will go directly to support the work of SOTI.  If you are interested in learning more, the above link will take you to the SOTI website and this link will take you to captioned pictures from Josi.

Next week is the final Lenten Dinner of the year.  We will hear from Susan Sanders who is the Team Leader for the UCC Global Sharing of Resources Wider Church Ministries.  She'll be joining us to talk about the One Great Hour of Sharing offering that we take on a monthly basis at UPB… to help us understand where and how that money is used and what difference it's making in the world.  I hope you can make it.  Sign-ups will be passed at the service on Sunday or you can reply to this email and I'll get you on the list!

We also have a couple of other upcoming local mission opportunities.  This Saturday we're preparing a meal for the Warm Nights rotating homeless shelter.  If you've signed up to bring food, please drop it by Village Baptist (the current host site) by 5:30pm and if you've signed up to serve the meal please show up no later than 6:30.

And Christmas in April is right around the corner.  We know the house where we'll be working and there is much to be done… from plumbing and electrical work to installing new cabinets, and from cleaning to taking care of plants, there is something for everyone!  Mark your calendars for April 30^th and come help out a local neighbor in need.  Sign-ups will be at the church for the next couple of weeks or you can talk to Herb S. for more information.

This Sunday is a Chat-n-Chew so if your last name begins with the letters A-G please plan to bring a little something to share. This week is the 5^th Sunday of Lent.  The scripture readings can be found here.  Take a moment to pray with them to prepare yourself.  We'll be focusing on the story of Lazarus being raised from the tomb and looking at what it may mean for our understanding of New Life! 

As always, if you want to look further out on the calendar, the website is a great resource.  And feel free to get in touch with me regarding 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.

May God's peace be with you,

Pastor Dan

Office phone: 301-249-6411

Email: pastordan@unitedparishbowie.org

On the web:  www.unitedparishbowie.org

 

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