UPC NEWS

MARCH 2021

United Presbyterian Church Communicator

Message from Pastor Michelle In this issue:

From Pastor

Michelle

Coffee Hour

Lenten Study

Community

Discussion

March Sermons

CE

Family Promise

Mission

FOC/Stewardship

Per Capita

Women’s & Men’s

groups

Cabin Fever

Elders/Deacons

Reports/Calendar

LENT Lent is a time to take the time to let the power of our faith story take hold of us, a time to let the events get up and walk around in us, a time to intensify our living unto Christ, a time to hover over the thoughts of our hearts, a tie to place our feet in the streets of Jerusalem or to walk along the sea and listen to his word, a time to touch his robe and feel the healing surge through us, a time to ponder and a time to wonder… Lent is a time to allow a fresh new taste of God! Weems, A. (1992). Kneeling in Jerusalem. Louis-ville: Westminster/John Knox Press.

LENTEN STUDY

Pastor Michelle will lead a time for sharing and practice from

the Lenten Devotional "Lenten Micro Practices" at 7:00pm

each Monday during Lent. You do not need to be using the

booklet to join the conversation. Each week stands alone.

COMMUNITY

DISCUSSION LINK

Click on the link below for the re-

cording of the Community discus-

sion that was held on February

24th.

https://youtu.be/bcBQ02b-GBU

Now that we have returned to in person worship on Sunday morning, we will no longer have Coffee Hour Fellowship over Zoom. Thank you to everyone who participated

COFFEE HOUR

FAMILY PROMISE

UPC will once again be hosting for Family Promise the week of March

21st, which means only meal preparation as families continue to stay in

hotels. Please watch your email as we come closer to the date for need-

ed items and sign up.

Family promise had a very busy February. They hosted the 4th annual

Taverna Promessa on February 20th, the final dollar amount raised is ap-

proximately $11,700. The funds raised will be used to continue helping families in Albany County facing housing and other financial insecurities.

Please use the following link to take a look at Family Promises latest newsletter and upcoming fundraising opportunities: https://fpalbanycounty.org/2021/01/07/january-newsletter-21/

MARCH SERMON SERIES

Sunday worship live stream service can be found at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyLkd7kE_lt0acTnxJQ__Eg and through the UPC website.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Parents, please watch your email for instructions and a link for a “This Lit-

tle Light of Mine” kid sing along. Ben Markley will be editing videos

of your kiddos singing, similar to what he put together for Silent Night on

Christmas Eve.

When LOGOS started last fall, we were not sure what to expect. But

thanks to all your prayers and compliance of volunteers and children we

will wrap up the LOGOS year this month with no Covid incidents. LOG-

OS last meeting will be on March 10. Although things looked different

this year it was a great year. We hope and pray that LOGOS will return

to normal in the fall. A BIG thank you goes out to all volunteers who

made the LOGOS year possible! Chris Curran, Holly Barker, Carol Hoff,

Michelle & Todd Bacon, Elizabeth Williams, Hillary Utton, Athena Dixon,

Kim Buchanan, Jenn Beamer and Jennifer Curran.

We will hold a combined Youth Group meeting again on March 21. Eve-

lyn Edson from United Way of Albany County will be joining us as the

youth sort through local mission options for this summer’s mission pro-

ject. The Laramie Foster closet and UPC’s youth groups are asking

you to donate NEW socks and underwear for the Easter donation drive

for LFC. We need all sizes from infant to adult. Donations will be accept-

ed until Easter Sunday April 4th. Donations can be placed in the dona-

tion box in the overflow room or during the week in the church office.

Thank you for your generous support!

Vacation Bible School will be held al UPC the week of June 14th.

Please watch for sign up and donation information coming soon. Please

contact Michelle Harris at upckidmin@gmail.com if you or your youth are

able to help.

It’s time to start thinking about Summer Camps. Here are a couple great

options for parents to look into:

Camp Story - https://www.campstory.org/

Table in the Wilderness - https://www.twmcamp.net/

MISSION MINUTES

Mission thanks everyone for the response to UPC’s COVID-19 Isola-tion Bag drive for UW’s Office of the Dean of Students. Nancy Lick re-ports that she had to put aisle signs in her living room as she sorted the donations. C4 members worked long and hard to put the Isolation Bags together resulting in Pastor Michelle and Nikki Rogers delivering nearly 50 bags to the Office of the Dean of Students and 4 cartons of spares to UW’s Food Share Pantry. Mission has learned that during the fall semes-ter that 25+ bags were needed weekly but currently they are distributing up to 15 bags weekly. This is good news. Any unused bags will be taken to the Food Share Pantry that is open throughout the year. Great work by all on this church-wide project

Diana Denison, Nancy Fillion, and Nancy Weidel did a terrific job plan-ning the 2/24 virtual workshop on UPC’s collaboration with the gardening project at Wind River. It was exciting to hear how much has been achieved during their first year of operation as well as their current status. It was a terrific opportunity for UPC members to ask our questions. It was evident that the co-directors, Darrah and Daneica, consider UPC as a very supportive partner and they are hoping that church members can visit (and help with?) the project this summer when we can travel safely. It was great to have Michelle Harris and some of the church’s youth join the presenta-tion. Members of the Wyoming Interfaith Network (WIN) and a Cheyenne Church also participated. Having heard the future plans for this project, it is evident that UPC’s investment ($6500 since June of 2020) is paying off wonderfully not in small part to UPC’s liaison with the project, Nancy Wei-del. Additionally, our clothing donations (two truckloads) have all been dis-tributed to those who were in need and were much appreciated. The other UPC action with Wind River was a $1000 donation to WIN during the food crisis at the Reservation last April (WIN’s efforts generated a total of $30,000). UPC has been receiving the 2020 reports from many of the organi-zation that the church supported during 2020: -UPC’s Hygiene and School emergency kits (Gifts from the Heart Dis-aster Kits) were part of the 13,020 school kits and 27,760 hygiene kits dis-tributed in the United States or they could have been part of the kits sent to Romania (15,000) or other parts of the world. The four areas being ad-dressed by this mission are communities where families are fleeing vio-lence and harsh climates; communities trying to rebuild after a disaster; communities where the homeless lack basic needs, such as soap, a wash-cloth, and a toothbrush; and communities where children do not have the supplies needed to attend school. The 2021 Gift from the Heart Drive has been rescheduled for September due to the need to collect donations for the UW food project. -The Laramie Soup Kitchen again sent their appreciation to UPC for our support since early April 2020. We have been providing the supplies needed for that program to change its method of operation to take-out meals in response to COVID-19. The soup containers, lids, and clam-shells that UPC provides are eco-friendly and Mission checks with them monthly to determine the immediate needs of the program. -The Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) again sent acknowledgements on receiving their monthly $20 from a church member. Again, Mission thanks this mystery donor for your continued support of our denomination’s vital work both here and abroad. -The Community Holiday Program sent its appreciation for UPC’s cash do-nation of $600. Additionally, UPC’s response to this program provided gifts for nearly 20% of the recipients. God bless us, everyone. -The Downtown Clinic sent its appreciation for UPC’s contribution of $500 from our Christmas Eve Offering. The clinic’s director, Pete Gosar, wrote “Your generosity sends a message to our clients that, as a community, se are in this together, and that their lives and health matter.” -The Annual Review from SAFE lists UPC as a “Purple Level” donor and lists local churches as providing 16% of their annual budget. Their Hotline Calls went from 885 in 2019 to 1001 in 2020.

FOC & STEWARDSHIP

How UPC stands financially at the end of December 2020:

Total Income $50,026.80; 22.73% of 2021 operating budget

Total Expenses $23,886.98; 9.77% of 2021 operating budget

While we continue to worship virtually, the ministry of UPC continues and

relies on your generosity. Please consider sending your tithes and offer-

ings through the on-line giving on the UPC website or mail through the US

postal service. On-line is very easy and categories that you can choose

from have been created to direct your donation to the correct place. There

is a “Notes” box at the end of the form which will allow you to be more spe-

cific if you so desire.

WOMEN’S CIRCLES & MEN’S GROUP

Mary Martha Circle will meet Wednesday, March 10th

in the North Lounge at UPC at 1 pm. Please note change in date for March. We will continue our study “Into the Light” Finding Hope through Prayers of La-ment. Freda Dixon will lead us in Lesson seven of our journey. Janice Shuster is our Co-Hostess. All women are invited to join us for prayer, study and fellowship.

Rebecca Circle will meet March 18th at 10:00. Hopefully we will be able to have a meeting at church with Zoom available. Cheri Bellamy is our program leader. We will review scriptures that lead to Hopes and Promises--especially relating to Springs coming!

Evening Circle will meet on March 25th at 7:00pm in the North Lounge. Our three month study will be Emotions and the Heart. If you would like to join in the study for the months of March-May please contact Nikki in the church office. We would love for you to join us.

UPC Men! Please join us via Zoom every Friday morning at 7:00 for

great conversation! All are welcome. Click here for Zoom link

2021 PER CAPITA

PER CAPITA is “the tie that binds” — annual support that unites the entire church in the ongoing and essential work that guides the Office of the General Assembly, the life of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and bene-fits every congregation and every mid council ministry. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the Office of the General Assembly encourages the Presbyteri-an Church (U.S.A.) to be a people of hope ~ Seeking together the mind of Christ; Working for justice and mercy in the world; and Participating in God’s continual reformation of the church. Per capita provides the Office of the General Assembly with the means to strengthen the connections of our work, and build lasting relationships to help all Presbyterians share God’s love through mission and ministry. For 2021, in the Presbytery of Wyoming, Per Capita is $44.98 per member. Kindly submit your check to UPC with "Per Capita" noted in the memo line, or through the UPC web-site by selecting "Per Capita." Thank you for your continued support of our congregation, presbytery, and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

United Presbyterian Church / 215 S. 11th Street /

307-742-2061 / www.upclaramie.org / upclaramie@gmail.com

REPORTS AND SESSION MINUTES

Session and committees continue to meet via Zoom. The UPC Session

Minutes and reports can be read at our website at

upclaramie.org/minutes/

CALENDAR OF EVENTS AT UPC

For a full calendar of events click on the calendar link. If you or your group

wants to add something to the UPC calendar please bring it or send to the

church office for it to go for approval at the following Wednesday staff

meeting. CLICK HERE for calendar.

UPC's ELDERS AND DEACONS

Elders: Bryce Barker, Elizabeth Williams, Dona Coffey,

Gearld Van Campen, Kim Buchanan, Nancy Lick, Hillary Utton

Deacons: Codi Broten, Linda Haynes, Rita Ver Ploeg, Marla Smith,

Linda Sheets, DJ Yocom, Donna Mecham

United Presbyterian Church / 215 S. 11th Street /

307-742-2061 / www.upclaramie.org / upclaramie@gmail.com

CONGREGATIONAL LIFE EVENT “CABIN FEVER”

Six families joined in a fun filled weekend at Snowy Mountain Lodge.

Each group had their own cabin. Some snow shoed, skied, sledded, built

snow forts, ate dinner “out” in Centennial, played board games and

watched movies by the fire. A truly fun (and unplugged) weekend.