December 17, 2017
Worship 11:00 a.m.
A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols
No Evening Worship
|
Advent Devotionals Now Available Pick one up in the narthex or on the table outside the church office. The devotional, from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, is
Finding Christ at the Center of Our Advent Journey.
|
|
The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols tradition we share each year originated in close to its present form on Christmas Eve at King’s College, Cambridge, 99 years ago in 1918. Thanks to its world-wide broadcasts since early mid-20
th
Century, it has become an annual tradition in many English speaking churches. It always begins with the same carol and tells in scripture and song “the tale of the loving purposes of GOD from the first days of our sin unto the glorious Redemption brought us by this Holy Child.” We pray your spirits are lifted and warmed by this year’s retelling of this familiar yet wondrous story.
|
|
The Longest Night
A Service of Remembrance, Mourning, and Hope
|
At 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 20, UPC will host a “Longest Night” Service of remembrance, mourning, and hope. This service is a recognition that, alongside all of its joyful expectation, Advent can also be a painful time for those of us grieving friends and family members, and so we will gather in worship: a simple service of music, scripture, and poetry; and, a chance to mourn together even as we look forward to the coming of the Christ child.
UPC has done this service before, but this year we are doing it with a twist. If you like, you may come and worship in-person with us in the UKirk Chapel in the Fellowship Hall. But, this service is primarily designed as a broadcast over Facebook Live. At 7:00 on the 20th, on the
UPCAustin Facebook page
, you will see a live broadcast of this service from our Chapel.
You’ll have the opportunity to name your prayer requests in the comments and hear them in the service. The service will be archived on our Facebook feed so that you can watch it later on if you can’t make it on the 20th.
|
|
Our hope is that this service offers us a chance to connect as a community in a new and different kind of way. The UPC Deacons are working to connect with our Covenant Care members to watch the service together, on couches and armchairs and at dining room tables.
Of course, you are invited to take this chance to connect with those in your own lives, and those in our congregation, who may be feeling the weight of the season. And together we will have a moment to name the darkness even as we anticipate the light.
|
|
How did the Presbyterian Coffee Project Begin at UPC?
|
Thanks to Craig Deats, UPC began a relationship with the Presbyterian Coffee Project in 2001, shortly after the PCUSA began working with Equal Exchange. Additionally, Craig Deats assisted Cathy Morgan in starting the Project at Hope Presbyterian in 2005! Way to go, Craig!!
|
|
Cathy Morgan teaches our youth
about the Presbyterian Coffee Project
|
|
Look for coffee cart in the central courtyard after worship
Stock up on coffee, tea, and chocolate for the holidays!
|
|
Service Committee Program Highlight
Street Youth Ministry
|
Most of you have heard about the amazing program we are honored to host here at UPC every Monday at 1:00 p.m. -- the Street Youth Ministry. Our building offers youth experiencing homelessness a clean place to shower, a computer lab to work toward finding jobs and resources, and a general gathering place in a safe and comfortable environment. The Street Youth Ministry program supports street-dependent young people in Austin. It builds relationships with the clients and provides crucial resources, such as meals and snacks, socks, toiletries, clothing, and bus passes. It offers access to strengths-based guidance counseling, prayer requests, group activities, worship, Bible study, and safe fun activities.
|
|
This past summer we took up a collection for clean underwear for the youth during the hottest weeks of the year. Just last month, through our Sweaty Sundays program, UPC created 56 cold weather survival kits to provide some extra sense of comfort during the coldest months. Please consider how you might get involved or contribute in your own way to this important program right in our neighborhood!
|
|
The Parenting & Faith class joins the Faith & Life class for the first three Sundays in December. Sunday, December 17, we will meet at 9:30 a.m. Room 201, upper level. See topics under
Faith & Life.
|
Faith & Life Series:
Advent
|
Please join us for the next three Sundays as we welcome members of the Parenting & Faith Class and a wonderful line-up of topics and speakers for this special season of Advent:
December 17 - Beverly Gaventa,
Mary in the Christmas Stories
We look forward to seeing you all throughout the month of December!
Grace and peace,
The Faith & Life Class planning group:
Madelyn Mitchell, Bobbie Sanders, Randal Whittington, Suzanne Wofford, Melinda Wofford, Elaine Wagner, Dave Jensen
|
Welcome to The Way!
The Way is a new Sunday School class that offers an introduction to the Bible and is open to all.
The Way meets at 9:30 a.m. Sundays in Fellowship Hall. For more information,
email Jon Eddison or call
512-988-0333.
|
|
The Present Word
Room 3, Lower Level
Sundays, 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
|
The Present Word Class is a discussion-based class that meets in Room 3 in the lower level from 9:30 to 10:45 every Sunday. Our background material is provided by the curriculum that gives the class its name. By using the provided scripture readings, we ensure that we are engaging with the whole Bible over time. However, this is not a Bible study class. The scriptures and weekly lessons are our starting point for lively discussions that include the week's events, current issues and our own Christian journeys.
During the winter quarter our guiding topic is "Faith in Action." We will be looking at different interpretations of what it means to live out our faith in Jesus Christ. The class is led by Roscoe Overton. We would love to have you come learn, share and pray with us.
|
Ruth-Dorcas Circle meets December 12, 2:20 p.m. at the home of Dottie Penn. For more information, please call the church office at 512-476-5321.
|
Tuesday Evening
Bible Class
|
Tuesday Evening Bible Class
has concluded for the semester, and will resume in January
.
For more information, contact Jon Eddision at
jbeddison@mac.com
or
512-988-0333.
|
On Wednesday, December 20, at 7:30 p.m., University Christian Church will be hosting a benefit concert for Micah 6 of Austin. The concert is free and both monetary and food donations to Micah 6 will be accepted before and after the concert. All are welcome!
|
|
Every Tuesday morning, UPC volunteers provide some food and coffee, hygiene items, and occasional financial assistance for our clients. While all donations are welcome at any time, here are some items to consider bringing to worship this week.
Thank you for your incredible support of this UPC mission!!
|
|
For this week's grocery cart
- 10 lb box of oatmeal
- (not instant)
- large bag of raisins
- brown sugar
- breakfast/snack bars
|
|
Deacons & Friends in the south caroling group. Thanks to everyone who caroled last Sunday, blessing our Convenant Care members!
|
Please pray for
Please register for updates if you'd like to help with meals over the holidays.
"
My young friend
Laura Davidson Fowell
is scheduled for surgery today to remove a tumor from the frontal lobe of her brain. Prayers needed for her family, husband Jason and twins Emma and Colin and Grace and her family and friends. Thank you for your thankfulness in prayer..Karen Miller"
|
|
Loan of a Knee Scooter
A congregation member is having surgery in early January and would like to borrow a knee scooter for a few months. If you have one you could loan, please contact the church office via email:
upc@upcaustin.org.
|
If you'd like to be part of UPC's Prayer Chain, please
email the church office. You will receive emails asking that you pray specifically for people who have requested to be on the prayer list.
|
To have a deacon pray with you, look for the
Deacon of the Day
on the pulpit side front of the sanctuary any Sunday following the postlude.
|
To pray for those on our prayer list, download the
Celebrations and Concerns folder for December 10, 2017, or pick up a copy in the narthex or outside the church office.
|
|
Contact
University Presbyterian Church
2203 San Antonio Street
Austin, Texas 78705
512-476-5321
Rooted in worship
Growing through education & service
Connecting to campus & community
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
