UPC Communicator
October 17, 2017


Annual Ten Thousand Villages 
fair trade sale
Laramie's annual Ten Thousand Villages fair trade sale will be held Friday, Nov. 104-8 pm, and Saturday, Nov. 11, 9 am to 4 pm at the First United Methodist Church, 12th & Gibbon. Since 2006, the Laramie sale has raised over $100,000 for Third World artisans, working with
them to create safe and productive workplaces and to promote stewardship of natural resources (many items are crafted with recycled materials). This year's sale will include holiday decorations as well as clothing, baskets, housewares, jewelry, chocolate, coffee, and much more! Consider purchasing a gift that does good in the world!
Music, Donuts, & Window Cleaning -- It's a BIG Event
UPC is participating in UW's Big Event on Saturday, Oct. 21st starting at 10am. UW students, C4 members, and UPC members will be cleaning the church's windows. Everyone is invited (even cleaning 1 window is a big help!) to come help clean windows while enjoying a fresh donut, music, and fellowship! See you then!
MARY MARTHA CIRCLE
Mary Martha Circle will continue it's fall study on  Wednesday, October 18th at the home of Janice Shuster.  Janice Shuster will lead us in lesson two of our study.  Janice Bierman is our co-hostess.  All women of the church are invited to join our circle to study the book of Hebrews entitled "Cloud of Witnesses" by Melissa Bane Seiver.  If you would like to join us please let Janice Shuster, 745-3132 or Freda, 760-9728 know you are planning to be with us.  This is a great opportunity for fellowship and study.
Help Needed From 
Post- and Pre-Worshipers! 
The Mission Committee is asking for some help from worshipers leaving the early service and worshipers could come to worship a few minutes earlier than usual.  In getting ready for the October 28th Hospitality Table at the Homecoming Parade, we need to put labels on hundreds of hot and cold cups.  The labels have the times of UPC worship, the LOGOS meetings, and the C-4 dinners/worship. There will be tables set up near the coffee urn.  Please stop by and take a few minutes to put labels on the cups.
Church Office Closed
The church office will be closed Monday, October 23rd due to the carpets being cleaned that day.
Rev. Rodger McDaniel & Bible Study
The time for the weekly Bible study of the Paul's letter to the Ephesians changes this coming  Tuesday October 17 to  6 pm because the Session meets at  7 pm. On  October 24 and 31, the study will begin at  6:30 pm

Rev. McDaniel is available if anyone would like to visit with him at the church office each Friday from  10 till noon or at other times if more convenient for you. If you'd like to visit with him, please call the office for an appointment or call Rev. McDaniel at 460-2598 or  rmc81448@gmail.com
The Unexpected Company
The Unexpected Company invites the Laramie audiences to accompany  them to Washington D.C. for an unusual look at our capitol through song and dance.  "Sometimes a Rainbow" does not delve into politics or governmental issues but into the everyday lives and life journeys of some very interesting characters.  It is a musical comedy with a different point of view and features Susan Shumway, also directing, and Vera Reid, one of the founding members of the company.   The show takes place at the Alice Hardie Stevens Center on Thurs., Oct. 26 and Fri. Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. and Sun. Oct. 29 at 2.  The following weekend shows are Thurs. Nov. 2 at 7 and Sat. & Sun. Nov. 4 and 5 at 2.  Tickets are $20 and available at the Eppson Center, First Interstate Bank, and the Carriage House Gift Shop at the Laramie Plains Museum.  Presbyterians involved are Nancy Chase, Rod Chisholm, Wayne Karberg and Jan Webster.
The proceeds of the play go to the Alice Hardie Stevens Expansion Project. 
Family Promise: Upcoming Meeting
Anyone interested in helping plan for a Family Promise fundraising dinner in February is invited to attend a planning meeting this coming  Wednesday, October 18 , at  7pm . We will meet at LCCC (across from the Rec Center) - room TBD (will post the exact location on the main doors). Feel free to contact Jennifer Painter at  jspainterdc@gmail.com  or  307-343-0603  if you are interested!
-December 9 : Holiday Cookie Sale hosted by UPC to benefit Family Promise. We plan to sell our usual array of cookies as well as free trade gifts and any homemade crafts we receive from our many talented supporters. More details coming soon, but we hope to have lots of participation from our congregation and others!
Birthday News from the Reformation
As Protestants everywhere celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, we're hearing a lot about Martin Luther who lit the fuse to the explosion of the established church.  However, as Presbyterians, a few words from John Calvin, who was 25 years younger than Luther, are in order: ...it is clear that we all are created in order that we may know the majesty of our Creator, that having known it, we may esteem it about all and honor it with all awe, love, and reverence...faith is a light of the Holy Spirit through which our understandings are enlightened and our hearts confirmed in a sure persuasion which is assure that the truth of God is so certain that he can but accomplish that which he has promised through his holy word to do.Instruction in Faith by John Calvin.
Christ's Love in Action!
UPC celebrates and thanks

-Nancy Fillion and Vi Baker for cooking for C4

- - Thank you for the ways that you are putting Christ's Love in Action!  
OCTOBER CARE CART
For the first time, UPC's Care Cart will be collecting items for the Laramie Animal Shelter.  This Shelter provides a haven for lost, abandoned, and surrendered pets from dogs and cats to bunnies and hamsters.  It provides necessary medical care, takes in animals when their owners are hospitalized, arrested, or are experiencing other types of family crisis, evaluates an animal for adoptability,   arranges for hundreds of adoptions every year, tracks down owners of stray animals, helps an owner track down their lost Fido or Fluffy,  gives special warm fuzzies to pets suddenly  "surrendered" (rejected) by their owners, and receives animals from other shelters to place for adoption.   Volunteers help out with exercising the dogs and other chores.  The Shelter says that they currently have plenty of donated towels, toys, and blankets; however, they can really use the following: canned Pedigree dog food of any type; canned Friskies cat food (no slices or shreds in gravy-the cats eat the gravy and leave the rest); Pupperoni treats; and peanut butter.
How to Give On-line
Donation information:
 
Green heart - Give Now (to the right)
Two choices:  One time only - or - Recurring debit from account or charged to credit card
 
At the top, choose:  General pledge payments - contributions 309898 
Per Capita
Our Per Capita to the Presbyterian Church (USA) is based upon church membership, so for UPC our Per Capita bill is $7,279.40,$42.82 per member. We are asking each member to help cover the costs of Per Capita by submitting a check for the appropriate amount with Per Capita noted in the memo line. Thank you for your continued support of both our church and the PC (USA).
Presbyterian Women 
The 2018 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women will be held August 2-5, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. 2018 is also the year that PW celebrates its 30th anniversary! That is why, each month for 30 months leading up to the Gathering, we are sending an email like this one to help you prepare, promote and plan for the Gathering (and PW's anniversary). This 19th update lands in your inbox 11 months from opening plenary (give or take a few days)! That's right-we're less than a year away! #PWGathering #2018ChurchwideGathering
Church Contact Info
To contact the church staff click on a name below.

Clerk of Session      Carole Hertz

Church Office or 
Nikki Rogers           Nikki Rogers

Children's 
Ministry                   Michelle Harris

Music 
Ministry                  Lorinda O'Hashi
WELCOME DINNER FOR PASTOR FRY
Sunday, November 5, at 5:30 p.m.  EntrĂ©es and beverages will be provided. You can sign up for sides, salads or desserts on line.  Please bring a picture of yourself or your family with your name(s) on the back so help Pastor Fry get to know us.  See Carole Hertz, Corrine Seebart, Rita Ver Ploeg, and/or Nancy Lick if you have comments or questions.
UPC Potluck & Fun Oct 29th
Please join us  Sunday October 29th for  UPC's Congregational  potluck and Trunk or Treating.
We will meet for lunch after the  10:30 service in the Fellowship Hall.  The Deacons and Christian Education Committee will provide chili and all the toppings, please bring a side dish, dessert or a bag of candy for the children to collect while trunk or treating. After lunch everyone is invited to join us in the  UW parking lot west of the church for Trunk or Treating. If you would like to have your vehicle included, please park by the trunk or treating signs prior to church.  Costumes are encouraged!  Please plan on joining us for Halloween fun!
LOGOS THIS WEEK
LOGOS theme this week is Scavenger Hunt Night
Prepare to hunt!
Food Pantry Update
UPC made its first delivery of whole and multi-grain foods this week to the Pantry as the first installment of our "pilot" project described in last week's Communicator.  A trunk load of brown rice, whole or multi-grain non-sugared cereals, oatmeal, barley, buckwheat pancake mix, whole wheat pasta, etc. surprised the executive director who was thrilled that we are so willing to help him with his plan for the Pantry.  He had spent the morning writing checks and issuing vouchers to meet the needs of our neighbors - each request more dramatic and heartbreaking than the previous request.  Our delivery "made his day."  The UPC donations were placed on a special shelf and, apparently, everything was gone  within 24 hours .  This donation will be repeated for the next two months and Mission will then decide how to incorporate this support in its 2038 Plan.  Any comments or suggestions to Mission will be greatly appreciated.

Family Promise: FAQs
Volunteers at UPC have received several questions from our members and attendees about the program that we plan to begin in 2018. In response to this, we would like to begin a weekly Q&A section in the Communicator. You may also contact Michelle Harris, Jennifer Painter, Nancy Lick, Carole Hertz, or Elizabeth Williams with any questions or concerns. We are excited about this endeavor and want to be sure everyone has the opportunity to know what is happening!

Q: What is the leadership structure of Family Promise?
A: Family Promise of Albany County is currently building its Board of Directors, which will oversee program operations. There are five individuals already committed to serving on this Board, which  ideally will have 12 members. The Board will soon begin a search for an Executive Director, who will run the program; serve as the point of contact for host and support churches; train volunteers; and coordinate resources for participating families. Each host and support church will identify a volunteer to serve as Family Promise Coordinator, and that individual will fill volunteer slots during his/her particular church's assigned weeks. Family Promise also has the good fortune of being approved for a VISTA volunteer, who will work full-time in a "capacity-building" role to ensure the program is sustainable on a long-term basis. This position is posted, and the leadership team is reviewing applications. Please contact Jennifer Painter if you know of someone who may be interested in learning more about VISTA benefits!
Giving Paul Rechard a Ride to Church
The Deacons are working to coordinate rides to church for Paul Rechard.  Please click the sign up below if you would be willing to help.  Thank you!

Give Paul a Ride
Africa Mission Trip
Anyone still interested in working with Amy Smith's Furaha Sana Nursery School in Malindi on the Kenyan coast, please contact the church office or Lorinda O'Hashi.  We are looking to plan a trip in 2018.  
Reports & Session Minutes
The UPC Session Minutes and reports can be read at our website at  upclaramie.org/minutes/
Fall Church Office Hours
The hours for the church office are as follows for Fall startihng September 6th. Monday and Wednesday 10:00-1:00 and Friday 11:00-2:00.  We want to remind everyone that the church is open.  We check the phone messages and emails on a regular basis. Please, if you feel you need to give the church a call or a visit please do so!
Online Giving
UPC is pleased to offer online giving opportunities.  For more information click here
Calendar of Events at UPC
For a full calendar of events click here         

United Presbyterian
Church

upclaramie@gmail.com
307-742-2061

Christ's Love in Action