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Click on any of the topics below to go directly to selected article
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Gerry and Carole Rose
Dan Penczak's Aunt, recently diagnosed with lung cancer
Kathy Banfe's parents
Mary Jane Stake, Mary Lee Plate's mom
UPC collegians returning to school
Church families facing particular situations or decisions as another busy fall begins
Victims of ongoing wildfires in CA and elsewhere
Tom Gilfillan, now living at the Menlo Park Home for Veterans in Edison.
Note: If you have a prayer request you would like added to next month's Messenger, please let Danielle know!
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Sept. 9
"10 Year Anniversary of their Engagement"
Rick & Sandra Couillou
Sept. 12
Robin Thompson
Sept. 12
Jackie Thompson
Sept. 13
Danny Christensen (13)
Sept. 19
Kyle Ropp
Sept. 20
Taylor Jordan
Sept. 21
Rev. Rick
Sept. 23
Ashley Thompson
Sept. 23
Millicent Mclaughlin
Sept. 27
April Ciccia (20)
Sept. 28
Ali Christensen (11)
Sept. 30
Lily Werner (4)
Sept. 30
Dan Penczak
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Submit your article for the October edition of the Messenger no later than September 26
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On most summers we try to spend a few days along the south coast of MA, where my wife's family hails from. Not on the Cape, but close to it. We usually stay at an old-fashioned motel on a river inlet where we have been going for over 25 years in Wareham, often known as the "Gateway to the Cape" (less crowded and much cheaper!).
This particular year while out for a morning drive I ended up at a place called Onset Beach, a subsection of Wareham. While sitting on a bench drinking my morning joe and watching the waves lazily lapping up on shore, I noticed a funny looking machine in the distance coming towards me down the beach. Not having spent a whole lot of time on beaches, I watched in fascination as it growled down the beach, with large metal rakes attached scooping up moss , driftwood and other debris that had washed up on the shore the night before and depositing it in a large connected cage. As it drew closer, I could see lettering on the side that said, "Surf Rake". And that's exactly what it was! What a cool invention!
I thought immediately of those large machines known as Zambonis that smooth out the ice on ice rinks. Only the effect was much more dramatic, as an ugly and untidy beach became smooth sand, reader for bathers to enjoy later in the morning.
A sand Zamboni! Who knew? So, that's how they keep beaches neat and clean (at least in New England!).
The picture of that Sand Rake/Zamboni crawling down Onset Beach has stuck with me. And for me it has become a metaphor of what summer is or can be or should be - a period of respite to smooth out some of the rough edges this past year has left on us, to freshen us up after the wear and tear of this past year of work and school and family life and everything else! Summer has that potential to make us presentable for the new beginning into which Labor Day launches us every year. Ready and able to do it all over again, just like Onset Beach welcoming new beachcombers every day of the summer!
I'm happy to say the Summer of 2018 made some progress in smoothing out some of my rough surfaces from this past year. Catching up with family in Memphis (especially cute little Zoey), on the return trip making a swing through Kentucky to see "my old Kentucky home" where I grew up; picking up and beginning to learn a new instrument purchased in W. VA; enjoying a great Mexican dinner with oldest daughter Sarah in Boston, several relaxing days at our Briarwood Beach Motel (a total of seven rooms!); an all too brief family reunion with my brother and sister around the one year mark of losing mom last August; lots of good time at our community pool, discovering the Lee Child series of Jack Reacher mysteries, at least a few outdoor worship services in the Pavilion, another fabulous week of VBS and of course devouring many ears of delicious corn from Ashley Farms (and I confess a few of their apple cider donuts as well!). All the political turmoil being generated in DC continues to toss up its share of moss and debris onto my psyche, but I'm managing that better too!
All in all, I will remember the Summer of 2018 as one of the good ones!
And I hope its been a good summer for you as well. I hope that some aspects of your summer have been like that Sand Rake/Zamboni, softening and relaxing and cleansing and healing from whatever bumps and bruises you may have experienced this past year. And that you feel ready for new beginnings this fall... until we'll need some smoothing out all over again next summer!
July marked the completion of 11 years as UPC's pastor - twelfth year together here we come...
I wouldn't want to be anywhere else!
Grace and peace,
Rev. Rick
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What did YOU do on Your Summer Vacation?
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Want to share a few pictures of something fun you and your family did this summer? We have the perfect opportunity! We are now soliciting pictures from UPC families summer activities to put together in a slide show sometime later in September. If you have a handful of pictures to share (up to six, let's say), please email them to Kayla Bouvier at
[email protected]
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Do you recognize this room? That's right, its our CE wing, without anything in it. You don't realize how big that room is until we clear it out at the end of each August so it can be stripped and waxed for the new school year. Many thanks to the UPC men and women who helped with the major job of removing everything and then putting it back in place after the waxing was complete. Now, it looks brand new and its ready for another busy year of use by Fun 'n Friends Nursery School, by Sunday School kids and UPC church.
Also, many thanks to our great Building and Grounds crew for their continued efforts to keep our church building attractive inside and out!
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"Hard Sayings: The Tough Love of Jesus"
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"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God...anyone who does not hate their mother and father, cannot be my disciple...take up your cross daily and follow me...it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven...woman, it is not fair to give the children's food to the dogs...get behind me, Satan (to the disciple Peter!)...woman, I do not condemn you, go and sin no more...you cannot serve God and Wealth...love your enemies..."
Did Jesus really say all these things?
This fall Rev. Rick will be doing a sermon series on "Hard Sayings: The Tough Love of Jesus", tackling some of the more difficult things the gospel writers put into his mouth. Some of these sayings are hard because they are difficult to understand or interpret; others are hard because they are so challenging, and frankly, sometimes ask more of us than most of us are willing to give.
Jesus could be tender, and often was. People felt his warmth, his welcome and his acceptance. And we love him for it! But he could be tough as well - tough with his critics and with his followers. Getting a bigger picture of who Jesus was and what he taught invites us to explore some territory that is not as easy to navigate and hear some words we don't often hear in church. But that Jesus is part of our tradition as well. That's our Jesus too! As someone has said, the real Jesus came to comfort the challenged and to challenge the comfortable.
This fall in worship we'll be giving the "real" Jesus permission to join us, realizing that even when he's tough, its always a "tough love".
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Its
not too late to get in on the fun of having fun learning the ukulele with other UPC friends. All you need is an inexpensive ukulele and a willingness to learn a few chords and strum patterns. The group meets before church at 9 am on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month. As the group learns some easy hymns, we will occasionally accompany in worship - and when we're ready, even play an offertory. For more information, see the Big Kahuna himself, Rev. Rick.
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"Grassroots Ministry Opportunity Grants"
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Mahatma Ghandi once advised, "Be the change you wish to see in the world". In that spirit UPC's Session is setting aside some money to be available to church members interested in taking on a new project, initiative or ministry that we are currently not doing? Examples: participating in a local community event or project, pulling a group together to study an important issue, attending a workshop or lecture, securing funds for a needy cause in our community. At its August meeting the Session agreed to make funds available for church members or groups who would like 'seed money' to undertake a new endeavor on behalf of the church. If you have an idea or interest, please see Rev. Rick. Grassroots ministry grant applications will soon be available. The purpose of making these funds available is to encourage church members to take the initiative in exploring new opportunities for ministry and mission on behalf of UPC.
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"God's Got Your Back"
Blessing of the Backpacks Sunday Sept 16
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A new movement has been appearing in churches across the land. It's called the 'Blessing of the Backpacks". It's a way of recognizing and dedicating our children and youth as they return to school in the fall. So, this year we're jumping on the bandwagon! Here's what we'll be doing. UPC Sunday School resumes on Sunday September 16. On the day we ask Sunday School kids (and teens as well) to bring their empty backpacks to church for a brief blessing ceremony during the service. At the time each student will receive a 'God's Got Your Back" tag to attach to the backpack or to keep at home as a reminder that God is always with us and part of our lives, even in the school halls, classrooms and playgrounds. Parents- make sure your kids are in church on Sunday September 16 to get their backpacks blessed!
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Sunday School Resumes September 16th
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We are also in need of Teachers and Assistants for this 5 week rotation of "Joseph's Coat". Please consider helping out.
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INVITE YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN US FOR A FUN FILLED DAY!
All members who bring a friend or neighbor, we have a surprise!
This is a great event to introduce our church family
to potential new members!
BAKERS WANTED
Bakers are needed for the Apple Festival's Bake Sale. See Lisa Ciccia or sign up in the church hallway
FRED SWINSON MEMORIAL BLOOD DRIVE
There will be a table set up at the Apple Festival to sign up to give blood at our Annual Fred Swinson Memorial Blood Drive to be held on Wednesday Sept. 26th here at the church from 4-8pm.
ITEMS FOR AUCTION NEEDED
If you have a talent, skill or are just willing to donate a new item for auction, please see Diane Halper.
We need items for the auction!
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Bring a Casserole and a Friend
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Blessing of the Animals Sunday October 7
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The Book of Proverbs says, "The righteous know the needs of their animals..." There is a time-honored practice in the church of inviting church members to bring their beloved pets to church for a blessing. It is usually held the Sunday nearest the Feast of St. Francis, often considered the patron saint of all God's creatures great and small. This year Rev. Rick and Denise Bouvier are enlisting the help of some of our youth to reinstate our own Blessing of the Animals here at UPC on Sunday October 7. Church members will be invited to go home after worship (and fellowship lunch afterwards) to retrieve their beloved animal friends and bring them to church for a brief service celebrating our family pets out in the Pavilion. Treats will be available for all pets - and for their owners too!
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Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
Chancel Choir Rehearsals (Singers from 18 yrs. - ??? yrs.) resume on Thursdays, 6:15p.m. - 7:30 p.m. in UPC Sanctuary.
Rehearsals will begin on Thursday, September 13, 2018 6:15 p.m. Choir will present on Sunday September 16th
at 10 a.m. Worship. Thereafter, our Chancel Choir will present special anthems on 1st and 3rd Sundays of each Month.
If you would like to sing with our Chancel Choir, please come join us Thursday September 13th and Thursdays thereafter 6:15 - 7:30 p.m. to make a joyful noise.
Contact Argaille A. Di Matteo, Music Director at 1-862-242-9304 or [email protected] if you'd like to have fun in preparing choral music from various backgrounds to add to our Worship celebrations on Sundays 10 a.m.
Also contact Argaille if perhaps you'd like to join an occasional "adhoc" singing group, rehearsing sacred songs on a Sunday before Worship for that Worship service. We've had great results with singers and ringers in this "adhoc" setting during Summer Worship.
Little Ringers Bell Rehearsals Children 5 yrs. - 12 yrs. old, will begin Sunday, September 30th 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. in
Choir Room.
Get Your Voice out of Just Singing in the Shower and join with us for musical/choral experiences that will enhance your experience of Worship, not only in the Sanctuary, but in the Choir Room as well!
The Singing Person Prays Twice!
Welcome to a Wondrous Fall Season, enriched with the Joyful Noise of our Choirs and Music Groups!
Argaille A. Di Matteo, Music Director
Fill it out and hand it in
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For t
he past six
years, the Foundation for Peace has been working to build a new Living Word Church and Community Center in Mathare North, Nairobi, Kenya. The project is nearing completion and there is a need for additional resources to help finish the job.
Johnstone Ndunde, an officer of the Living Word Church who works for SIL, a faith-based non-profit working with
language communities worldwide.
Come hear Johnstone tell us the amazing story of how this large Nairobi slum area is being transformed with the love and commitment of local people working hand in hand with mission groups and organizations such as our own.
Saturday, September 15th
6:30pm
Presbyterian Church of Morristown Parish House
65 South St, Morristown, NJ 07960
Free will donations to support the project should be made out to Foundation for Peace, with Mathare North project in the memo line.
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Coming this Fall...Fellowship Hour
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Beginning on October 14
Each Sunday after worship
Coffee, Light Refreshments and Fellowship
Stay Tuned...
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CHOOSE A SUNDAY TO CELEBRATE A SPECIAL OCCASION
OR
IN MEMORY OF A LOVED ONE
 gn up on the bulletin board in church hallway
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Hot off the "Poetry Press"
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What Now?
(Argaille A. Di Matteo)
September 1, 2018
What Now, O Wondrous World?
The Summer's all unfurled
Like one great flag of Fun and Sun.
Vacation Time is almost done.
We're trading sunscreen, Summer Skies
For Fall clothes and some school supplies!
What Now, "Gift of Today"?
We travel a New Way.
Each day's a chance to start again;
Let go of angst, let Wonder in.
We give thanks, Lord, no fret, no fuss
For special Blessings that are Us!
What Now, O Universe?
We're open to New "Firsts"!
We're open with "Beginners' Minds",
Then mine for Treasure that we find
Within each Thought and Feeling too.
The Treasure we find, Lord, is You!
September's come to bless
New times of Thankfulness.
Her special quiet transitioning
Calls us to Autumn's heralding
Each day, an Open Door
To New "What Nows" galore!
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