University Place Presbyterian Church

Someone May Be Watching You

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:53:00 +0000

What a blur the last two weeks have been for me. It seems 2012 has become the Year of the Meeting for my ministry at the moment. My attendance at some of these meetings has caused some of you to scratch your head and get a little confused, too!

A week and a half ago I was on a panel of four people who spoke to the Presbytery of Olympia on the topic of "Why I am choosing to stay in the PCUSA." Those of you who are concerned about recent GA actions with regards to ordination standards wonder, "What's the Preacher doing? He's planning to stay!?" This last week I attended the Fellowship of Presbyterians at the launch of a new Reformed entity entitled the Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians which is a group trying to look at ways of staying both in the PCUSA as well as provide a mechanism for those who wish to join a new post-denominational Reformed group. My presence in Orlando at this conference has jostled the nerves of those who were delighted I spoke to the Presbytery on staying. My intention is not to confuse anyone, but to take my calling as your pastor

seriously as shepherd of this congregation.

Throughout all these meetings, I have come to the conclusion that our making our way slowly through all this denominational kerfuffle is the right decision. Proactive leadership trumps reactivate leadership on any given day. Strategic leadership is better than hasty decisions. I for one am grateful UPPC has a Session that understands this and is acting in measured proactive, strategic ways. The reality is, the Presbyterian Church as we know it will be an entirely different animal in five years; for some, that's a positive thing. For others in the church, this is not a great thing. For all of us, that is the reality in front of us. Personally, I do not think that is a bad thing, per se. We are a Church that believes in being reformed. Polity and confessions get changed but one thing does not: Jesus Christ is Lord and Head of the Church and is the Source of our salvation!

Along these lines, I have spoken with members of our Nominating Committee who tell me that some of you are telling them you are reluctant to serve as Elder because you "do not know where the church will be in three years." Brothers and sisters, the fact is all churches are dynamic and evolving! Your church needs you to be a part of the discernment of where we are headed and it's your responsibility to prayerfully contemplate stepping up and leading if you are asked to consider it. Leadership in the church is not for the faint of heart; it is for those who are called during 'such a time as this.' Please pray for the Nominating Committee and your place of leadership in the church.

Beloved, remember who you are (You are a child of God!). Pray hard. Read the Scriptures daily. Be the hands and feet of Christ in a broken and hurting world. I am...

Your pastor and friend,

Patrick

A Costly Calling

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:53:00 +0000

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Have you ever thought about what Jesus left behind in order to come and be with us? He “exchanged heaven for earth, power for weakness, glory for obedience and suffering, success in human eyes for faithfulness in the eyes of God, and life for death.” And why did he make this exchange? So that he could call us to follow him, that we might receive life instead of death, faithfulness ahead of success, glory in the wake of suffering, power in the midst of weakness, and a new heaven and new earth.

Still, it is undeniably difficult to drop our plans, our ambition, our desire, to
respond to Jesus’ call – especially when we are uncertain of what he is calling us to. But that is just what the disciples did – they left behind jobs, family, and homes, in order to be with him. Jesus might not require that same exact sacrifice from each of us, but he does ask for the same willing spirit.

This week, let’s think about what we are most attached to: professions, houses, cars, money, clothing, even children or a spouse. All of these are ultimately not really ours – they belong to God. Join with me this week in exploring how our
attachments affect our calling. You may find this prayer, from St. Ignatius of Loyola, helpful as a tool for dedicating everything to God:

Lord, take as your right, and receive as my gift, all my freedom, my memory, my understanding and my will. Whatever I am and whatever I possess, you have given it to me; I restore it all to you again, to be at your disposal, according to your will. Give me only a love for you, and the gift of your grace; then I am rich enough, and ask for nothing more.

Blessings on the Journey,
Pastor Taeler

You Are Not YOur Own

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:30:00 +0000

Sunday January 15, 2012

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This Sunday we will be talking about 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, where Paul teaches about sexual morality. Paul writes both generally about sexuality and also specifically about the issues of temple prostitution that plagued the Corinthian Church. I want to mention this up front for the benefit of parents who bring their younger children to the service because our Biblical text uses words like “fornication” and “prostitute,” so you might think about taking your kids to Sunday school if that is going to create any hardship for your family.

With that said, I am always surprised when I return to the texts of 1 & 2 Corinthians because it sounds so familiar. Christians in Corinth struggled to understand what it looked like to be “in the world but not of the world” because they lived in a highly secularized environment. Corinth operated under the premise that “if it makes you happy, it can’t be that bad,” but they were wrong. As we work through this passage we will also consider the ways in which our society feeds us lies, why we buy into them, what impact that has not just for us but also for our neighbors, and ultimately come to understand the truth that We Are Not Our Own – we belong to God.

It is my hope and prayer that together we can think seriously about the choices we make so that we can glorify God in body and spirit every day, certain that He is with us and in us in all things.

In the love of Christ,
Pastor Taeler

EMBRACED | Sunday January 8, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 02:11:00 +0000

Grace, Peace, and New Year’s Blessings to you!

I want to first highlight something very special for our young people and then lift up an issue that impacts all of us.

One of the moments of great spiritual significance for me was when I completed my Confirmation class at age 13. It was a time when all those years of Sunday school, small group discussions and my personal wonderings about God came into focus because the church provided me an integrative way to tie all those pieces together. I am grateful my church growing up took my spiritual growth seriously. I am also grateful UPPC does, too!

Parents and their students in ninth grade, our Confirmation classes begins with an
orientation this Sunday at 12:30 PM in the Youth Café downstairs. It will be a time for our young people to begin tying together all those spiritual pieces into a
coherent whole! The topics covered will include such things like who is God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, what is baptism, and how do I read the Bible along with other practices
important for our faith walk. Each student will join a small group and will be mentored by a volunteer adult. The young people will be encouraged to join the church and be baptized (if not baptized already) on Confirmation Sunday, May 20th.

I invite you to come today and we will have a quick lunch and tell you all you need to know! Find out more online: www.UPPC.org, youth/confirmation or call Taylor Conrad 253.564.2522 ext.151.

The other important item is next year’s budget. Finance Team has numbers from
2011-2012 Trusteeship campaign: Investing in God's Legacy. This is where we are
currently. After eight weeks:

For Pledge Year 2011, we received 415 pledges for $1,547,583.

For Pledge Year 2012, we have received 366 pledges for $1,464,049.

At the moment we are behind 49 pledges for the new year for a total of $83,583.

If you have not had the chance to turn in your estimate of giving for this year, you can find cards in the pew backs or call Bob Lucas at 564.2522.

The Holy Spirit enfold you this New Year!

Your pastor and friend,
Patrick

YOU CAN JOIN US! PC(USA) PANEL DISCUSSION THIS WEEK
January 12 | 6 – 8 PM | Westminster Presbyterian Church
1925 Boulevard Rd, SE | Olympia, WA
"Why I'm Staying in the PC(USA) Join discussions about strengths and
challenges of the PC(USA). Hear from pastors and elders from Olympia
Presbytery who wish to remain members of the PC(USA). Mark your
calendars! Contact Rose Erickson at decemberrosee@tds.net.

Happy New Year! January 1, 2012 | WHAT'S IN A NAME?

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:46:00 +0000

Happy New Year! January 1, 2012 | WHAT'S IN A NAME?

I can't think of a better place to be to welcome in the New Year than with you in the worship of our Lord God! It’s a special weekend to come and receive the Lord’s Supper on this first day of the New Year, as it's a visible reminder that, indeed - our time begins with Jesus! We don’t step out alone but we step out with Jesus and with each other as we seek the will of God in our community, our church, and in our homes.

This New Year, we will elect new leaders in our church and in our local and national governments. We will tolerate all those concerned about the Mayan Prophecies and the “end of the world.” We will celebrate our fifth Easter together! There will be graduations, weddings, and sadly, some funerals, too. The new year provides us an opportunity to start afresh with new calendars, new priorities, new commitments to old spiritual
practices or attempts at some new ones.

Catholic theologian and mystic, St. Ignatius of Loyola once heard in a dream that Jesus shows us how to be an instrumentum conjunctum cum Deo, i.e. “an instrument shaped to the contours of the hand of God.” This is what I want us to think about as we come to the table. Let’s ponder about how we can be an instrument – as a church and as
individuals – shaped to the contours of the Lord’s hand.

Beloved, remember who you are (You are a child of God!). Pray hard. Read the Scriptures daily. Be the hands and feet of Christ in a broken and hurting world. I am...

Your pastor and friend,

Rev. Dr. Patrick H. Wrisley

SPECIAL EVENT:

January 12 | 6 – 8 PM | Westminster Presbyterian Church
1925 Boulevard Rd, SE | Olympia
Olympia Presbytery invites you to a Panel Discussion entitled, "Why I'm
Staying in the PC(USA) and Hope You Do Too!" The evening begins at 6:00 PM with snacks and fellowship. The panel discussion begins at 6:30 PM. You are invited to come listen, ask questions, and enter into a discussion about the strengths and challenges of the PC(USA). The gathering will be an opportunity to really examine understandings and perceptions about our denomination and what the future may hold.  The panel will be comprised of pastors and elders from Olympia Presbytery who may not agree with all the recent decisions of the General Assembly, but who are clear about the advantages of the denomination and wish to remain members of the PC(USA). Mark your calendars and save the date! Questions? Contact Rose Erickson at decemberrosee@tds.net.

Merry Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 01:10:00 +0000

My Beloved,

We are all so glad you will be joining us in worship this most wondrous and glorious weekend! The very crispness of the air outside helps to silence all the noise in our lives so that we can come and celebrate the Good News that today in the City of David, Christ Immanuel – is born!

If you are a guest this Christmas weekend, we feel blessed and privileged to have you join us in worship. Some of you may be visiting family who are members here. Others of you might join us because you do not have a regular church family. Please know that our home is your home! If there is anything we can do for you or if you have any questions about our ministries for any age, let us know. Our desire is to get as many people involved in community and worship as possible to serve our Lord with grace and passion.

University Place Presbyterian Church is guided by our desire to be a community that Learns, Lives, and Shares the Story of God in Jesus Christ. We are committed to

Ad Fontis, Return to the Source – which is Christ. If you are looking for a church home in the Tacoma metropolitan area, we invite you to join hands with us in ministry, worship and service. If you desire to learn more about UPPC and discover how you can get involved here, contact Jill McMullen: 253.564.2522 ext. 139, jmcmullen@uppc.org or Susan Clarke, 253.564.2522 ext. 147, sclarke@uppc.org.

As a reminder, we are having a casual "come as you are" Christmas Day service at

10 AM Christmas morning. The kids can come in their jammies and we will have a

service of carols, children’s time and Christmas Day meditation. You’ll be home before Christmas brunch!

From my home and heart to yours, I wish you a blessed and joyous Christmas and

New Year. I am...

Your pastor and friend,

Rev. Dr. Patrick H. Wrisley

Join us on January 1st for a Family Worship Sunday!

SPECIAL EVENT
January 12 | 6 – 8 PM | Westminster Presbyterian Church
1925 Boulevard Rd, SE | Olympia
Olympia Presbytery invites you to a Panel Discussion entitled, "Why I'm
Staying in the PC(USA) and Hope You Do Too!" The evening begins at 6:00 PM with snacks and fellowship. The panel discussion begins at 6:30 PM. You are invited to come listen, ask questions, and enter into a discussion about the strengths and challenges of the PC(USA). The gathering will be an opportunity to really examine understandings and perceptions about our denomination and what the future may hold.  The panel will be comprised of pastors and elders from Olympia Presbytery who may not agree with all the recent decisions of the General Assembly, but who are clear about the advantages of the denomination and wish to remain members of the PC(USA). Mark your calendars and save the date! Questions? Contact Rose Erickson at decemberrosee@tds.net.

NEW MEMBERS - December 2012

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 01:23:00 +0000

On Sunday December 18, 2011, we received the following wonderful people into membership at UPPC. Again, our church family has been blessed.

Bill and Nancy Foley were introduced to UPPC by good friends Bob and Marie Robinson who are also members here. The Foley’s have been travelling from Olympia to attend for over a year and decided they wanted to have UPPC as their home church. Bill and Nancy are both retired.

Dave and Kris Harkness have found a good compromise between separate backgrounds in the Lutheran and Baptist traditions. They love the music, the messages and the people. Dave is a lawyer and Kris is a Community Nurse Specialist employed at Western State.

Arthur and Jean Henry are very attracted by UPPC’s youth programs. Their two daughters are actively involved here. They both see the positive influence that these programs have on many youth. They enjoy the Praise Band and the fellowship at the 11:00 AM service. Arthur is an IT specialist and Jean is a teacher.

Jack Ecklund and Jennifer Smith are attracted to our youth programs. Jack is actually a former member who is having his membership reactivated. Jack is an Engineer. Jack’s wife, Jennifer Smith, is a new member. Jennifer is an MD in Family Practice in Gig Harbor. Their daughter Lillian is in Kindergarten at Chambers. Younger daughter Sophia is in Sunset Christian Preschool here at UPPC.

Please take a moment to greet them and help welcome them into membership here at UPPC.

Attention: News Flash

Our Essentials Class and material that we use today is different from those who joined before. Starting on Wednesday evening January 11, the Essentials Membership Class is going to be taught as an Adult Discipleship class offering. It will be open to established members, and those who are thinking about whether to become a member. The curriculum is terrific and sign-ups have begun online and at the Connect Center. Look for the name “Pillars” and know that childcare will be available for 4 months to 4 years. Youth activities are on Wednesday nights also.

Sunday, December 18th, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:48:00 +0000

Advent blessings to you and yours! December 18th, 2011

This is such an exciting week coming up! Christmas Eve and Christmas are almost here! God’s cosmic inbreaking into our lives and our world is about to be celebrated! I wanted to give you a heads-up on next week’s festivities.

Saturday is Christmas Eve and once again we will celebrate with four services. Here they are with a description –

Noon – Classical Worship with Communion. This is a great service for those who do not like to drive. At night or for young families; there will also be a children’s message.

7:00 – Classical Candle Lighting Service. This is another one that has proven very popular for people of all ages.

9:00 – Classical Candle Lighting Service. By this time, most of our young children have been put to bed so there is no children’s message at this service.

11:00 – Acoustic mixed with Classical Worship elements with Candle Lighting.

But wait! There’s more! Sunday is Christmas Day! We will have one worship service at 10:00 AM that will have a brief homily and lots of hymn and carol singing. This is a
service we are asking you to come as you are - or in your favorite jammies (kids!). We want to celebrate Christmas with a very informal but family room feel. If you are looking for a way to keep Christ in Christmas and make sure your children understand that, this is a great service for you to come to and celebrate.

These services are wonderful opportunities to invite pre-churched friends and neighbors. We have cards printed for you to distribute to them with all the service times. Who do you know that needs to hear the Gospel Message of Jesus? My dream is that everyone of us would invite someone to come along with them to experience UPPC on the hol(y)day. Give the invitation card (provided in your bulletin) to a loved one.

Please know I will be spending time with all my family the week following Christmas. My daughters and son are coming home to mom and dad and I for one can’t wait to see them! Remember who you are (You are a blessed child of God!). Pray hard. Study the Scriptures daily. Be the hands and feet of Christ in a broken and hurting world.
I am...

Your pastor and friend,

Patrick

What Does Salvation Look Like from God's Point of View?

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:31:00 +0000

One of my favorite things about the Christmas season is all of the celebrating that we get to do. It is just so much fun to enjoy each other's company at parties, to receive cards with updates on the years activities from friends and family, to make or shop for presents for those close to us, and to do all this in anticipation of the most joyful celebration of all – the day Christ was born!

When we really stop and consider the incarnation, when “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14), we realize that we aren’t just celebrating the birth of Jesus, we are celebrating the LIFE of Jesus. A life lived teaching us how to love God and love others, a life lived caring for the sick and poor, a life lived SERVING others.

Today we are celebrating the life of Christ in us – and what a joyous celebration it is!
We will have a special video this Sunday morning to help us celebrate and remember the ways in which over 140 of us were able to SERVE our community on November 5th, our first Community Serve Day. We will have our next Serve Day on Saturday, January 14th, so mark your calendars now and keep your eyes and ears open for more information in the weeks ahead!

We are also celebrating our Community Christmas event this Sunday. Though I’m writing this letter in advance, by the end of Saturday over 110 of you will have volunteered your time at Community Christmas so that over 231 children and their parents are able to exchange gifts and have a Christmas dinner together on December 25th. Wow! You all continue to amaze and inspire me as you give of yourselves the way our Lord Jesus taught us to. The LIFE of Christ is evident in who you are, and God is truly in this place . . . in you.

My prayer is that the fire of the Holy Spirit would be unquenchable in each of you. That, indeed, the flame would be fanned daily, as you read the Word of God and do what it says. I am already excited for the year ahead and anticipating the ways in which we will get to celebrate the life of Christ together, not just in December, but all year long!

Blessings on the Journey,
Pastor Taeler

Second Sunday of Advent :: (PEACE) A Recipe for Repentance

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 04:28:00 +0000

Advent Greetings, Beloved!

I wanted to share with you from the late Father Henri Nouwen as he reflected upon the Season of Advent as we wait for the birth of Messiah. He wrote in his book, Finding My Way Home,

Our waiting is always shaped by alertness to the Word. It is waiting in the knowledge that someone wants to address us. The question is, are we home? Are we at our address, ready to respond to the doorbell? We need to wait together, to keep each other at home spiritually, so that when the Word comes it can become flesh in us. That is why the Book of God is always in the midst of those who gather. We read the Word so that the Word can become flesh and have a whole new life in us.

Our GODaily readings really are wonderful ways to enrich your preparation during this season of Waiting and preparing. I know it’s sometimes hard to do all the readings each day and I want to encourage you not to get discouraged if you can’t do it every day. Just pick up on the current day’s reading and do the best you can. Remember, we are Jesus’ people of grace and not of works.

On another note, many have asked about what is going on in the library across from the office area. The Adult Discipleship Team has been hard at work making the room and resources as user-friendly as possibly. In addition to culling old materials and books, we were blessed to have a small group volunteer to paint the space so it feels warmer. The desire is to make it a welcoming space for biblical, spiritual, and theological resources of both classic and contemporary scholarship. Small Group resources as well as children’s material will continue to be available when this project is complete. Two prominent questions I am hearing the most are: What happened to the books and how was it determined that certain items were removed? First, all the former books were donated to a variety of places from other churches to overseas missionaries. The criteria used for culling the books were: Can you check this out in the public library/is it a secular resource? Does it support the theological mission of UPPC and our understanding of faith and life? And finally, is it among the best resources available right now?

For years the library has been taken care of by a dedicated team of volunteers and we are so thankful for their passion and service to the church. More than anything, this is a continuation of their ministry legacy as we seek to grow in relevancy and focus so that together we can easily access the best material available. I am excited to see what the results will be!

Blessings this Advent Season! Remember who you are (you are a child of God). Pray hard. Study the Scriptures daily. Be the hands and feet of Jesus to a broken and hurting world.

Patrick

Sunset Christian Preschool Manger Offering

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:53:00 +0000

Sunset Christian Preschool Christmas Manger Offering

We have a special tradition here at Sunset Christian Preschool with our children at Christmas. Each year we set up an empty wooden manger in the sanctuary. Each class visits the manger and the teacher either reads or tells the story of Jesus’ birth and explains that we are celebrating Jesus’ birthday. What do you do when you are invited to a birthday party? Why you bring a gift of course! We encouraged our children today to bring an UNWRAPPED baby gift so each child had an opportunity to place their gift in the manger to celebrate Baby Jesus’ birthday. What a great way to teach your children about giving! Our goal is to have every child participate by giving something.

After Christmas these gifts are collected and added to the gifts the UPPC children bring during the Christmas Eve Worship Services (Family Services with Gift Offerings are at Noon and 7 PM). Then these gifts are donated to a local charity. In the past we have given them to Crisis Pregnancy Center, Chehalis flood victims, Salvation Army and others.
It is always heartwarming to see the children so generously giving their gifts to Baby Jesus. We sometimes get questions about where is he? Why isn’t he in the manger? This experience is one of my personal favorite times of the year.
Be blessed this Christmas by remembering the coming of the baby Jesus.

Rosemary Cooper
Director of Sunset Christian Preschool at University Place Presbyterian Church

Christmas Eve Family Services

Gifts for Baby Jesus
Noon, 7 PM at UPPC
December 24, 2011

www.UPPC.org

First Sunday of Advent: HOPE | Outside In

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:47:00 +0000

Rev. Andrea Haughton Kladder grew up at UPPC and was mentored and led by members of our community as a young person.Because members of our church took the responsibility of nurturing our younger members seriously, a seed was planted in Andrea’s heart and that seed soon blossomed into a full-fledged call into ordained pastoral ministry. Andrea studied at Princeton Theological Seminary and took her first call as Associate Pastor for Family Ministries at Second Presbyterian Church, Bloomington, Illinois. She serves there along with her husband, Dean, who is Associate Pastor for Outreach. Andrea wanted to take this time to ‘come home’ and say thanks for all the support UPPC has provided her over the years! Please take time to extend warm blessings to Andrea and Dean this Sunday.

We will be celebrating the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper next Sunday at both services. You may remember that over a year ago, we made an agreement that on communion Sundays when the hands and gifts of Jesus Christ freely feed us, each of us would bring a can or two of food for our food bank, Families Unlimited Network. There will be decorated bins by the doors for you to drop off.

This Sunday, you will also note the beautiful Advent decorations in the Sanctuary. Thank you to all of you who helped prepare our worship space for Advent as we prepare for the birth of our Lord during these four weeks leading up to Christmas. Let’s make the most of this time of waiting during the Advent season. Our prayer is that over the next month, you will be changed from the outside in!

Finally, if you have not already done so, please complete and turn in your 2012 Estimate of Giving cards so we can plan what each ministry will be able to accomplish next year. Everyone’s gift is needed and Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to say ‘thank you’ to God by making an investment into His ministries. There are extra Estimate of Giving cards in the pews if you have misplaced yours.

Advent blessings, Beloved! Remember who you are! Pray hard. Study the Scriptures daily. Be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ in a broken and hurting world.
I am...Your pastor and friend,
Patrick

A Change in Worship

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:44:00 +0000

Over the last several weeks, many on the Worship Team, including both staff and elders, have been discussing the possible need for a slight adjustment in worship.

What’s the adjustment and why are we doing it? We are going to experiment for a few months by using the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible on the screens during worship. We are finding that the current New International Version is causing some confusion. Though the NIV is a good readable translation, it has gone through several revisions since it first came out in 1984. There are four or five of the revisions that are floating in the digital world as well as in our people's personal Bibles. The latest change made to the NIV was this year. The problem this has raised is that what is being read by our readers and pastors is not the same as what people are trying to follow along with on the screen.

Patrick and our screen projections use the 1984 version, for example, Taeler uses the TNIV, and our readers are using the online 2011 version. This causes the worshipper to experience a 'liturgical bump' or ‘burp’ that distracts from the flow of worship by causing many to wonder, “Why aren’t the words being read the same as the words on the screen?”

We are going to experiment for a few months with this revision to the NRSV and I am including a digital link on where you can find it. You may find it at http://bible.oremus.org/. The New Revised Standard Version is an excellent version whose translation is very accurate to the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. It is also sensitive in its inclusivity as to how the writers were communicating.

SMALL GROUP NEWS

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:43:00 +0000

www.UPPC.org

RESOURCES

For Individual and Small Group Bible Study

A Study Bible :: If you are thinking about purchasing a new Bible, consider Today’s New International Version Study Bible, outstanding for its extra features: study notes on each page of text that are both scholarly and devotional; a unique time-line comparing world history with Biblical history, dozens of maps, enlightening and thorough introductions to each book, charts on ancient texts, archaeological sites, the lives of Jesus and Paul; and a 143-page Concordance (index) of words.

A Bible Dictionary :: Our church library contains several Bible Dictionaries which Small Group Facilitators or Discussion Leaders may find helpful. They are filled with scholarly research on people, places, concepts and events in the Bible, e.g. Abram, Babel, covenants, circumcision and manna. If you are thinking of buying one, look over several first and ask for a recommendation from our staff. Eerdman’s Dictionary of the Bible is excellent. It has 3-1/2 pages of information on covenants while Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary has half an inch.

UPCOMING EVENTS

UPPC COMMUNITY SERVE DAY
November 5th | For people of all ages
Build, clean, create. Show Pierce County what the people of UPPC believe! Be the hands and feet of Jesus! HOW? Sign up online or at the CONNECT CENTER as individuals, families, or small groups. We are the light of the world - let’s shine brightly together!

Register online! www.UPPC.org

WORDS OF HOPE PROJECT
Saturday November 5th • 9 AM-12 PM at UPPC. Help make cards (words of hope) for the children of Meru, Kenya. Bring items to be used to make greeting cards, include stickers, ribbons, paper doilies, decorative papers, stamps and ink, etc. Bring photos of the Pacific Northwest or Tacoma; anything you can think of that we might use to create pretty greeting cards. Bring your favorite pens and markers, watercolors or other media.

HarvestFest | Tomorrow | 3 - 5:30 PM at UPPC | Fun for the whole family! Children must be accompanied by a parent. No scary costumes please. Bring a canned food donation for the Food Bank! Come in costume and enjoy games, treats, 2 bouncy houses, and more! Rosemary Cooper, ext. 137, or Margie Bicker ext.150.

THEY WILL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS

The hymn "They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love", written by Peter Scholtes over 30 years ago, brings to mind the unique opportunity possible in our Small Groups to experience and participate in Christian love. We hear the word Christian love used many ways today. What comes to mind likely differs broadly from person to person ranging from "huddle and cuddle" to strength, support, boldness, and confidence.

In Chapter 13 of 1st Corinthians, the apostle Paul describes love in this way: Love is patient and kind. It does not envy or boast. Love is not proud, rude, self-seeking, easily angered, and keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres.

He describes a love of strength and support that provides power and confidence to face and overcome the challenges we face in our day-to-day lives.

This love that Paul describes cannot be achieved by the natural man, but only as the Holy Spirit works in and through us as we draw near to God and abide in Christ. That is why Christ's statement as recorded in John 13:35 is so profound: "All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another." We will be true witnesses of Christ.

We can go it alone in facing the challenges of life or we can join together with believers who share a mutual commitment and faith in Christ. Our Small Groups are the safe place where we can give and receive true Christian love, and from which we can build the confidence to share that love to our broader Christian friends and to the world.

Sunday, October 30, 2011 :: Investing in God's Legacy

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 23:47:00 +0000

We are now beginning our celebrations for this year’s Trusteeship Campaign, entitled Investing in God’s Legacy. Sunday’s scripture from Joshua is about a new generation of Hebrews who are about to build on the legacy their forefather and foremothers worked hard at providing. We will see how they enter the river as Hebrews and they emerge on the other side as Israelites. That’s what a legacy will do - it will change those who faithfully carry it forward!

I want to celebrate “living stones” of our congregation who have faithfully heard God’s call over fifty years ago and have been about the work of advancing the Kingdom of God in and through this church. Here is a list of our people who have been members of UPPC for fifty years or more:

Amelia Tabot (passed away this week); Clarence Mork; Helen Copeland; Robert and Mary Hammar; Harry and Phyllis Jorgensen; Dick Adamson; Ken Orthund; Ray and Marlys Mitzner; Pat Black; Joan Hays; Bert Kelley; and Jane Brewer.

These women and men saw God at work in the midst of a congregation that was trying to make a difference in western Tacoma. I wonder if they had any idea that the legacy they helped build would have impact and reach all over the Metro Tacoma area, Olympia and across to the Kitsap Peninsula? I wonder if they had any idea that the lives of people all over the world would be changed and touched by Jesus because of the faithfulness they demonstrated?

Over the next few weeks, your Session is asking you to prayerfully consider standing on these members’ shoulders and make a commitment to continue the legacy that has been gifted to us. There are Estimate of Giving cards for the next year’s budget in the pews as well as at the Welcome Center if you did not receive one in the mail. Commitment Sunday is November 13th. Won’t you be a part of the ongoing legacy of ministry through our congregation?

Beloved, remember who you are (You are a child of God!). Pray hard. Read the
Scriptures daily. Be the hands and feet of Christ in a broken and hurting world.
I am...

Your pastor and friend,

Patrick Wrisley

Sunday, October 23

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 03:53:00 +0000

One of the reasons I came to UPPC was because of its vibrant activity in the
community. Our church is a church that puts flesh to faith; we not only talk about
helping those in our community but you as members and friends step up and out
exerting time, effort, and energy to help others.
On Saturday morning, November 5, we are hosting our first Community
Serve Day from roughly 9:00 AM to lunchtime. We have ten ministry partners in the
larger Tacoma area we work with and support. We want to not only support them
with our finances but we also want to serve them personally, in the flesh, so that we
may be Christ to them. I’ve signed up to help out at Trinity Health Clinic cleaning the
grounds. Where would you like to serve? Go to SIGN UP FOR COMMUNITY SERVE
DAY on our website, locate the area you would like to serve and sign up online. It
takes all but thirty seconds to do it! There are service opportunities for all skill and
physical levels, too. Why not sign up today and be the hands and feet of Jesus to our
Local Mission Partners?
Occurring the same weekend on Sunday evening, November 6, the Session
(Ruling and Teaching Elders of the church) invite you to attend a Dessert and Dialogue
for the purpose of allowing members of the church to dialogue with elders around
tables and to generate questions you would like to ask of the church’s leadership
with regard to passing of Amendment 10-A, what has transpired in the larger church
since then, and understand where the Session sees UPPC’s response to the issue of
removal of sexual standards for ordination to church office.
Finally, this coming weekend, October 29th, we have HarvestFest on Saturday
from 3 - 5:30 PM for kids to come to a Fall Fair, play games, dress up, and get
some candy and other treats. This is a wonderful opportunity to bring some of your
pre-churched neighbors and friends to the church! Then, on that same Saturday evening,
we are hosting a Sacred Music Concert featuring the music of JS Bach and FJ
Haydn. Last year our choir and orchestra did a beautiful job with Beethoven and I
know this year it will just as powerful. The concert starts at 7:00 PM!
On a different note, Jessica Jorgensen, our Early Childhood Director,
is beginning a new career as a school counselor in the Clover Park
School District on Monday, October 24th. We will miss her and wish her
every blessing in her new challenge!
Beloved, remember who you are (You are a child of God!). Pray
hard. Read the Scriptures daily. Be the hands and feet of Christ in a broken
and hurting world. I am...

Your pastor and friend,
Patrick Wrisley

NEW MEMBERS

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 03:46:00 +0000

On Sunday October 23^rd you had the chance to welcome our newest members into our congregation.

Let us all let them know how blessed we are to be able to welcome them into our church family.

Kylie Furber is a high school student who started attending UPPC with her family. She was baptized at UPPC recently and continues to learn more about her faith and the love of Jesus for her.

Megan Jones is serving as a youth intern here at UPPC and has been attending regularly. Megan went to Western Washington and majored in music. You will hopefully catch her singing with the Praise Band and perhaps with some solos. She has a beautiful voice.

Lynne Vance has been very active in Presbyterian church work most of her life. She recently moved here and is enjoying being with her children and grandchildren. Lynn is a retired educator and has been enjoying the women’s Thursday morning bible study.

John and Libby Voigt have a precious son, Jayden , who is being baptized this Sunday. They decided to attend UPPC because Irv Martin was Libby’s choir director at First Presbyterian. They find UPPC very family friendly and like seeing so many people involved. They love the Sunday School staff.

Jordyn Whitcher has been involved in Cornerstone Youth Group and has gone on youth missions here. She is a student at Curtis High School and enjoys being one of their cheerleaders.

Sunday, October 16, 2011 :: Exodus 33: 12-23

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 00:27:00 +0000

This is a time of year when there are so many ministries and activities going on within our faith community! I encourage you to take the time to read the bulletin wrap this week and discover where you can find your way into the life of the community and ministry.

If you see a ministry or a study that interests you, stop by the Connect Center, then grab a latte at Sunday’s Cup. If you are new to our church, visit the Welcome Center in the Narthex for general questions and guidance. One of the ministries UPPC does well is Small Group Life.

My dream is that we become a church full of small groups versus a church with a few small groups. Small Group Life is the intentional formation of a smaller community that reflects the larger church’s vision of Learning, Living, and Sharing the Story of our Lord in microcosm. It’s in your small group where spiritually intimate communities form, then learn the Story of Jesus together, pray together, laugh together, cry together, support each other and serve others in our community as ambassadors of the Body of UPPC. Small Group Life is a way to make a larger church your church.

If you are looking for a Small Group to become a part of, stop by the Connect Center and we will get you hooked up with one! For those of you who are in Small Groups, there are a few good opportunities coming up for you to step out and be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world.

The first is HarvestFest, Saturday, October 29th from 3-5:30 PM. The Children’s Ministry is looking for Small Groups who might like to sponsor a “station” for arts and crafts or a game. They provide all you need but need you to be there to love on the kids. Last year my Small Group hosted the tattoo booth and it was a hoot! Call Rosemary Cooper at ext. 137 if you’re interested!

A second is Community Serve Day! This will occur once a month on the first Saturday of the month.

Our first Community Serve Day is on November 5th. If your Small Group is looking for a way to serve others in the larger community, the Spiritual Formation and Mission Team has the contacts and placements for you to get involved. Visit www.UPPC.org for more information.

Church is not about consumption. It’s all about serving in love through Jesus’ precious name, the One who came not to be served but to serve himself. Can we do no less?

Beloved, remember who you are (You are a child of God!). Pray hard. Read the Scriptures daily. Be the hands and feet of Christ in a broken and hurting world.

I am...

Your pastor and friend,

Rev. Dr. Patrick H. Wrisley

Sunday, October 2, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 01:00:00 +0000

This past week, your Session met at Dumas Bay Retreat Center to pray, discuss, and read Scripture together in order to address the General Assembly’s recently passed change in the Presbyterian Constitution. This change redefines ordination requirements for those considering to be Deacons, Ruling Elders (The Session) and Teaching Elders (Pastors). Members of the Session, in addressing the passing of 10-A, believed that instead of making a rash, knee-jerk statement, they would intentionally spend the summer as a time for prayer, reading and scriptural study.

We met this past weekend and brought former pastor (and newly retired!) Rev. Dr. Jim Mead to be our consultant/facilitator. Why Jim? First, he knows our church and the presbytery. Secondly, Jim was formerly Executive Presbyter of Pittsburgh Presbytery and is very conversant in matters of polity and church order. Thirdly, Jim is a respected pastoral theologian who has a proven history of working with both congregations and presbyteries in difficult issues. He provided a thoughtful, biblical, non-anxious presence as we addressed the work at hand. So, what did the Session decide?

During our final hour of meeting, the Session indicated it was ready to make a decision. The Session voted the following: "The Session of University Place Presbyterian Church, out of concern for the peace, purity and unity of the church, will affirm and abide by the former ordination standard G-6.106b which reads as follows: “Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church. Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (W-4.9001), or chastity in singleness. Persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, or minister of the Word and Sacrament." Let me share what this means and does not mean. What our resolution means for University Place Presbyterian Church is that we are and will continue to be a church with our arms wide open to all God’s believers who are broken and in the need of God. The resolution addresses the issues of ordination standards for heterosexual and homosexual individuals; it has absolutely nothing to do with church membership.

What this resolution means for UPPC is that we as a church body welcome all who are broken and in need of God. It does not mean we don’t love our gay brothers and sisters. This is not a statement about gay orientation, but about sexual practice(s) by all of God’s people. What it does mean is that we do not ordain anyone, homosexual or heterosexual, who does not live in fidelity in a marriage or in chastity in singleness. Anyone who is ordained puts aside his or her rights in certain matters and come under the stringent requirements for ordination.

Beloved, this is the first time the Session has had to dig into this issue and it has, and is, doing so prayerfully, thoughtfully, and biblically. As your pastor, I am deeply aware that there are gay and lesbian members of the church, some of whom have chosen to renounce those behaviors through heterosexual marriage or celibacy. The real question we must grapple with as a church is a missional one, i.e., how do we minister to, with, and alongside any people who are struggling with their sexual identity and/or practices.

I realize the Session’s actions will not appease everyone, but it is a decision the Session did not take lightly or hurriedly. We are planning to host a town hall meeting in the weeks to come to discuss the decision as well as to fill you in on the recent Fellowship of Presbyterians meeting that Pastor Taeler and I attended in Minneapolis in August. We did not talk about whether to stay or leave the denomination at this meeting but rather devoted our time to our common response to Amendment 10-A.

Beloved, remember who you are (You are a child of God!). Pray hard. Read the Scriptures daily. Be the hands and feet of Christ in a broken and hurting world. I am…

Your pastor and friend,

Patrick Wrisley

This Week :: September 18, 2011 :: GODaily

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 23:56:00 +0000

Which of Snow White’s
Seven Dwarfs are You?
September 18, 2011

Exodus 16.2-15

The feedback I am receiving from many of you is that you are enjoying the practice of reading the same Scriptures together each day. Some of you have asked how the Scriptures are chosen. The Daily Reading Plan for GODaily is taken from two sources. The weekday readings are taken from what is called the Book of Common Prayer. Sunday readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary. These are daily Scriptures that are being read by not only our church but by Christians of all traditions all over the world. If you have not been to our website yet to see all the resources, I encourage you to do so. Go to www.uppc.org and at the top you will see a GODaily tab. Click on it and there you have what you need. I am trying to post daily musings on the texts for the day to help you 'connect the dots' between them all. You can find these postings at phwrisley.blogspot.com.

I want to say thank you to Elder Nancy Keay, and staff members Keith Loftis and Reid Benson for the addition of the new artwork on the chancel wall behind the praise band set-up. I think it ties the whole front of the Sanctuary together in a colorful and creative way. Some of you have asked the same question the Israelites asked Moses, "What is this?" (literally man hu, or manna in English). Keith refers us to John 14.11, 16-17 for the clues. He suggests we look at these texts and then contemplate on the piece and see how the Scriptures inform this artistic expression. The texts from John read:

"Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves...And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-the Spirit of Truth."

Read article "What Does It Mean?" by Keith Loftis...Click here!

Finally, this Sunday we wish to celebrate the retirement of a staff member who has served us in the nursery for seven years, Margaret Savage. Margaret has been caring for our tiniest saints for many years and she is beloved by all who have come to know her. Her leaving will be truly missed by the children and the parents who have entrusted their kids to her loving care. Margaret, congratulations and know we love you! Please join us for cake in the Gym between services and let her know personally how grateful you are.

Remember who you are (You are a child of God!). Pray hard. Study the Scriptures daily. Be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ in a broken and hurting world.
I am...

Your pastor and friend,
Patrick

“What does it mean?”

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 22:11:00 +0000

“What does it mean?”

By Keith Loftis

As folks have had the chance to see the recently dubbed “Triune Cross” on the wall behind the Praise Band location, I have received the question, “What does it mean?” a few times. On one hand, I am hesitant to say anything that might spoil an opportunity for personal discovery and meaning. On the other hand, this is about something new in our worship space and I believe people should be able to ask about anything that impacts their worship experience.

As you may have already read in the Pastor’s Letter, the central inspiration for the project are the verses 14:11 and 14:16-17 in the Gospel of John. The layout, textures, and shapes selected are combined for this interpretation of our Triune God, as described in the passages. There are other aspects of the Triune Cross deliberately included to compliment existing elements in our Sanctuary. Materials and colors were selected to tie in with the paraments, and the Live, Learn, & Share scrolls. If you look closely at the piece, you will even see a reference to our stained glass windows.

As we enter into the community commitment to being in God’s word daily, I will take this opportunity to suggest we ask the same question, “What does it mean?” of our Scripture readings, as we do of things that don’t immediately make sense to us. The fruit from taking time to “dig in” is almost always a deeper understanding and awareness of our place in God’s kingdom.

I am grateful for the expertise, skill, and support of Reid Benson, Nancy Keay, Emily Shumann, and Peter Keay for the planning, construction, and installation of the Triune Cross. I hope and pray that it will bring God’s people closer to Him through his creative blessings.

GODaily! Kick-Off Sunday Begins this Week!

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 02:04:00 +0000

GODaily Learning the Story...Together

Its purpose and goal is to have members and friends of UPPC reading the Scriptures together in a planned, prayerful, purposeful way.

I was praying this summer about one of my deepest passions – The Scriptures. Specifically, my prayer was that God would pour out the Spirit upon the members and friends of UPPC to hunger, thirst, and prayerfully absorb the Bible. I began to imagine what it would be like if all of us were reading the same texts together on the same day, every day, and wondered how the Holy Spirit would move among us and shape us as a community. I visualized our
congregation using the GODaily reading plan to read and talk about the same Bible stories with their kids around the dinner table, with friends in a Small Group, or to begin and end their day. I began to dream. In that time of prayer, God spoke consistently to me that this next year, we are to highlight and
celebrate the Living Word of God in Scripture.

We are now providing daily scripture readings and other resources on our
website (www.UPPC.org) to guide you and your loved ones as you begin the
GODaily reading plan. We designed this web page to provide helpful links, including; cell phone apps, options for daily email subscriptions and children's Scripture reading tips. At the Connect Center, you will find a GODaily brochure to put into your Bible with printed Scriptures for your convenience. I am so excited to see what God is going to be doing among us as we GODaily into the Word together!

Did you know that this year the King James version of the Bible celebrates its 500th birthday? The King James version was the first mass-produced Protestant Bible to be widely distributed. Historically, when warped church leaders realized people were powerfully inspired by the Holy Spirit, people
died while fighting for the right to have God’s Word printed!
This collection of books we call The Bible has the blood of Christian martyrs
on them, which makes me wonder why we do not spend more time washing ourselves with the warm waves of its comfort, instruction, Truth and praise!

Glad you’re back from an enjoyable summer! Remember, pray hard. Study
the Scriptures daily... GODaily! Be the hands and feet of Jesus in a
broken and hurting world.

I am...
Your pastor and friend,
Patrick

This Week: September 4, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 23:21:00 +0000

From Pastor Patrick's Desk...

My friends, I recently attended a meeting with Pastor Taeler and two of our elders in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The meeting was with the Fellowship of Presbyterians, a group that began to coalesce at the “Tall Steeple Church Pastor’s Conference” in Phoenix last January. Our meeting in January was a time when pastors from fifty of the nation’s largest Presbyterian churches met to pray, discern, and discuss the impending consequences of last year’s General Assembly meeting. We realized the issues that emerged from the 219th General Assembly would have a striking impact on the entire church affecting all sizes and likes of congregations. Consequently, we decided to hold a gathering in August to hear the voices of others in the larger church. Some 2,000 plus people from all the states showed up to listen, to pray, and to discern the direction of our beloved Presbyterian Church. The Fellowship of Presbyterians is not a group that is promoting schism; rather, it is looking for creative ways to re/form the church from within where Jesus is the primary focus for our service, mission, and life together.

The event was both interesting and worshipful and I will be sharing my observations and findings with the Session at our next meeting. The Session has been busy this summer reading books and articles on biblical hermeneutics, polity, and human sexuality. We are in prayer. We have been and are working within the Presbytery and in the larger church in working for a solution to the Constitutional Crisis that confronts the church. We are scheduled for our retreat in mid-September. Following our retreat in September, we will hold a ‘town hall’ meeting to share what we have learned and where we see ourselves over the next year. We are moving thoughtfully, prayerfully, and deliberately through a process of discernment on how to best respond to the changes that began at the 219th General Assembly. One reality is clear: Regardless of where “one stands on the issue”, the PCUSA is forever changed and is changing. The question before all of us is, “Changing into what?”

Anxiety is high in many of our churches but I want to breathe a sense of calm in all of us. UPPC is a large and diverse congregation and that is one of our church’s strengths that set us apart from others. It is a church that other, mostly smaller churches in our presbytery, are looking to for leadership during this denominationally swirly time. It is because God has blessed us that we have a responsibility first and foremost to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We also have the responsibility as the largest church in our Presbytery to act thoughtfully, strategically, and prayerfully. This is why the elders and the Session are planning a retreat in mid-September to discuss these issues in depth.

My friends, structural changes are happening to all facets of the denomination. Regardless of how you feel about changes in sexual ethics in our ordination standards, regardless of what ‘side’ you are on, the PCUSA is no longer the same as it was on May 10, 2011. UPPC is a leader and as such we need to proactively be a leader in building fresh models of ministry for our Reformed, Presbyterian heritage. This is an exciting time to be ‘The Church’ in that we have a chance to be a part of a new Reformation in shaping our Presbyterian heritage for a new generation.

Pray hard. Study the Scriptures Daily. Be the hands and feet of Jesus to a broken and hurting world. I am...

Your pastor and friend,
Patrick

This Week

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 01:02:00 +0000

It was so much fun to hear from many of you this past week as you contemplated what gifts God has given you and how best to use them as part of this body of believers. Fortunately for many of us, we have a great number of brothers and sisters who are willing to inspire and encourage us as they employ their gifts for our benefit. So I'd like to tell you all about several new opportunities coming up as we approach Fall Kick-off here at UPPC on September 11!

First, Adult Discipleship is excited to offer 2 Sunday school classes this fall, beginning on September 11. The 1st class, Get In The Word, is a Bible study taught by Greg Pubols and Eric Hogan, in the chapel during the 9:30 AM service. The 2nd class, In Our Midst, shares the real-life stories of members and friends of UPPC who have engaged the local community in inspirational and impactful ways. Come hear personal testimonies and biblical teaching from Cindy Huff, Bobby Arkills, Ross Stewart, Mike Madden, Bill Barrett, and many others in the Chapel during the 11 AM service. We are also excited about the upcoming mid-week study Discipleship on the Edge: A Study of the Book of Revelation, taught by Mike Moffitt on Wednesday nights beginning September 14.

The Mission Team has also been hard at work creating learning and doing
opportunities that anyone can participate in! We are especially looking forward to hosting a Local/Global Mission Fair in the Gym on October 2nd. This is a great chance to get to know our mission partners better and to explore some ways that God may be calling you to exercise your gifts! We are also looking forward to our first Community Serve Day on November 5th. It will be
awesome to work side-by-side with our sisters and brothers for the good of
our city as witnesses of Jesus Christ.

I know that these opportunities for learning and service will help each of us to either discover for the first time, or increase our understanding of, the gifts that God has given each of us. I am certain that God will use these experiences to help us grow in unity as brothers and sisters here at UPPC and in the greater UP/Tacoma area!

In the joy of His service,
Pastor Taeler

NEW MEMBERS

noreply@blogger.com (University Place Presbyterian Church) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 01:00:00 +0000

Last Sunday August 28, 2011 you had the chance to meet and welcome in our summer session new members. As usual, the class was alive with discussion and was taught for the first time by Invitation and Evangelism Elders Steve Franzke and assisted by Elder Joan Whitehead.

Lindsay Hixenbaugh moved here with her 2 year old daughter Charleigh from California. Lindsay feels very welcome, supported, and comfortable with UPPC and looks forward to being a part of the life at UPPC.

Stefanie Jackson is currently a college student and was introduced to UPPC by her parents Tom and Toby who are members. Stefanie appreciates the atmosphere, welcoming environment and the service choices here.

Megan Kemp enjoys the people she has met here and the bible based teaching. Megan learned about UPPC in high school when she attended a memorial here and has come with good friends Mike and Katie Moffitt.

Marjorie Lovrak says that UPPC is the largest church she has ever attend but has felt welcomed by ushers, her husband Glen’s Stephen Ministers, prayers from staff, and others who helped her during a very difficult period. Glen has recently passed away and Marjorie continues to be loved and supported by our church family. Marjorie is a music major and was invited to be a part of the choir during Glen’s illness and hopefully will get back to giving back musically.

Chad McMullen was introduced to UPPC by his wife Jill Nyegaard McMullen who is on staff. He likes the outreach ministries, preaching, and the church community. He currently works in counseling which helps him relate to those with challenges.

Jim Nevins came to UPPC through a friend’s suggestion. Jim knows that UPPC has good foundational beliefs and has been impressed with the extensive outreach by our members.

Lizanne Perry was first introduced to UPPC by Tom Wilson. She likes the smaller atmosphere made so by a welcoming atmosphere. Lizanne finds the pastors and congregation very friendly. Lizanne is a retired teacher and hopes to help the youth in missions.

Tom Wilson has been a member of UPPC for over 20 years and wanted to refresh his knowledge and take another membership class. He recommended UPPC to Lizanne Perry and they have enjoyed the class together.