Worship at UPC
This Week
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December 20, 2017
The Longest Night Service, 7:00 p.m.
December 24, 2017
Worship 11:00 a.m.
Advent IV, Krystal Leedy preaching
"Verse 3"
Baptism of Georgia Rio Morales Blalock
infant daughter of
Abigail Martin and Jason Blalock,
granddaughter of
Remie and Bill Martin
Christmas Eve Service 5:30 p.m.
"Instant Pageant", family friendly
Christmas Eve Service 8:00 p.m.
Communion, candlelight procession
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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.
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Music This Sunday
Mary Ann Parker and Robin Birdwell sing as our prelude “He shall feed His flock like a shepherd” from “Messiah” by Handel. The Chancel Choir sings the traditional English “Sussex Carol” in an arrangement by Sir David Willcocks.
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Robin Birdwell is the daughter of Mary Ann and Luther Parker, and grew up at UPC. The choir soloist at Providence Presbyterian Church, Virginia Beach, VA, Robin has sung at the baptisms of all five Parker grandchildren, and their great-granddaughter Harper, all baptized at UPC!
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The Longest Night
A Service of Remembrance, Mourning, and Hope
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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.
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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.
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Celebrating God's Indescribable Gift
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Every year during this time, we turn our eyes toward Bethlehem and anticipate the birth of Jesus Christ. Through him we receive the indescribable gift of God’s grace. This year, we take time during the Advent and Christmas season to consider the gratitude we feel. It’s out of this gratitude that we turn to support church leaders who dedicate their lives in service to Christ and the church. It’s out of youthful wonder that students at Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges look forward to a life of faith, worship, and Christian leadership.
Through the Christmas Joy Offering, we are able to support those in our community and give them the gift of hope.
Funds from the Christmas Joy Offering help the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions provide critical financial assistance to eligible workers in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and their families, and to qualifying retired church workers and their families.
The Christmas Joy Offering also supports the education and development of our future leaders at Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges. These schools are dedicated to creating opportunities and environments for racial ethnic students built on a foundation of Christian values. The Offering benefits Menaul School and Presbyterian Pan American School, two secondary schools that ready students for a path of higher learning, as well as Stillman College, where graduates are prepared for lives of leadership and service.
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Christmas Joy Offering
December 24, 11:00 a.m.
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Please give generously:
Be sure to indicate University Presbyterian Church Austin when you give online.
To
learn more about the Christmas Joy Offering, please visit
:
Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions:
www.pensions.org, click on Plans & Programs
From this page, you can also link to the institutions supported.
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Session Meeting
December 13, 2017
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Highlights
- Approved Linda Templin’s request that she be removed from the membership roll since they have moved to Florida
- Approved authorizing the staff and officers of the church to encourage the congregation to place small amounts of cash in the offering plate, in addition to their regular pledge, so that we might visibly encourage one another as well as our younger members in the act of worshipful giving
- Approved the baptism of Georgia Rio Morales Blalock, daughter of Abigail Martin, to be performed on Sunday, December 24, at the morning service, with Melinda Wofford as sponsoring UPC elder
- Approved the transfer of $10,000, from the Schwab Building Reserve Fund to the Wells Fargo operating account, to partially cover the extraordinary, unbudgeted repairs to the HVAC system during 2017
- Approved minutes of the November 15, 2017 stated meeting and the December 3, 2017 called meeting
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Commendations
- Liz Wright for designing and regular hostess of the Welcome Wagon
- Bob Bridge and Carl Floto for their part in organizing and working on the finances
- Bob Bridge and Max Werkenthin for their work on the Stewardship campaign
- Remie Martin, Richard Faidley, Randall Whittington, and Jennie Chao for organizing the caroling
- UPC Team Members who participated in the Hurricane Harvey cleanup trip to Taft: John and Suzanna Caballero, David Chao, Wake Bowser, Lydia and Craig Deats
- Kathleen Turpin for her ongoing dedication and time spent making the Alternative Gift Market a success
- Allison Harris for her commitment to service work and for transitioning into the role of UPC Service Committee chair
-Helen Ingram, Clerk of Session
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Thank you, thank you, Everyone!
This was a fabulous Alternative Gift Market! The totals are in and $9,087.35 was raised for those in need!! I appreciate all of you so much. This large event doesn't just happen by itself. There are so many helpers with so many different contributions. Thank you to everyone and for your commitment to making the world a better place!
-Kathleen Turpin
Alternative Gift Market Coordinator
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Service Committee Program Highlight
Street Youth Ministry
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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.
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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!
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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!!
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For this week's grocery cart
- 10 lb box of oatmeal (not instant)
- large bag of raisins
- younger and older women’s feminine products
- breakfast/snack bars
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Please pray for
Dorothy Adkins
, who will have a heart ablation procedure on the 20th. She will be 98 on Friday. If all goes well she will celebrate having a healthy heart rate so she can get back to the activities she enjoys at Good Samaritan and Trinity Presbyterian Church in Denton. Dorthy is the mother of Rosa Toulouse grandmother of Amy Toulouse, and great-grandmother of Caleb Jackson.
Kathy Joy
, who is receiving treatment for cancer. Kathy is the wife of former UPC member Glenn Joy. Glenn can be contacted at
glennjoy@gmail.com
, or 21010 E. Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz, CA 95062.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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To pray for those on our prayer list, download the
Celebrations and Concerns folder for December 17, 2017, or pick up a copy in the narthex or outside the church office.
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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
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