SCENES and SIGNALS

Community wellness is a divine concern. God enters and exits the moving scenes of scripture in unsuspecting places and in the acts of unlikely people to signal God’s presence. In our scriptures for July 7 we see in 2 Kings, unnamed servants act as divine emissaries who lead the powerful and mighty commander Naaman to shed his cultural arrogance, heed the wise counsel of the prophet Elisha, and confess faith in YHWH. Unnamed actors play pivotal roles in God’s liberative work. We see the divine at work in the voice of the captured Israelite servant girl of Naaman’s wife (2 Kings 5:2), in the desperate appeal of Naaman’s servants (5:13) and in the emboldened testimony of the 70 commissioned evangelists  (Luke 10:1) who put demons to fight (vs. 17).  An all-star cast of anonymous diplomats is put into the service of God to ensure that God’s agenda for communal restoration is accomplished. For this reason, it would be unbiblical for anyone to claim that one’s scriptural anonymity would necessarily equal absence of action.

Each year CNN recognizes culturally anonymous heroes who do life-giving work around the globe. They build wells in drought-stricken areas; they forgo vacations to repair cleft palates; they join Teach for America to aid educationally under-served communities; they work in hospitals, downtown clinics, and agencies that help the homeless and marginalized. It’s easy to focus our attention on the singular charismatic leader who rallies the troops into action when harm is done to communities of struggle. But we cannot underestimate the generosity of soup-kitchen chefs and environmental engineers who elect to do the work of community repair and maintenance behind the scenes, without fanfare and fuss to name a few. 

In a time rife with political chaos, it’s difficult to remember that at the signal of a beneficent Creator, unrecognized angels have been dispatched to perform their holy work in the world. Unnamed lives matter. Through scripture’s unnamed actors, communal restoration comes in the form of healing leprosy, soul rescue from formidable foes (Psalm 30), gentleness and burden-bearing after transgression (Galatians 6:1-2), and victory over Satan and other principalities that block God’s mission to save not only Israel but the entire world. (Luke 10:16).  In these Pentecost season readings, we are given tools to see how examination of the past informs the present and ushers us into the wide embrace of a loving God who sends believers out to do BIG things. God uses us all and invites us into wholeness, joy, and reassures followers sent out as “lambs before wolves” that the promises of the sender are trustworthy.

Peace, Rev. Sheri Fry
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY        
July 13, 2019

Putting God’s love into action…  
Come join us and have a Brush with Kindness as UPC continues the partnership with Habitat For Humanity on Saturday, July 13.  We will depart the church at 12:00 p.m.

We need to be in Cheyenne by 1:00 a.m. and our shift ends at 5:00 p.m.  We have spaces for 10 workers to join this effort. We will be continuing work at the same housing units we were at in May only this time we will be dry walling and/or painting. I plan to drive and can take 5 people complete with coffee & donut deliciousness!   Please RSVP to Sheri at UPCLaramiePastor@gmail.com with your interest.
 
" Habitat for Humanity is a perpetual miracle; everyone who receives, gives; and everyone who gives receives. If you want to live complacent and uninspired, stay away from Habitat; come close to Habitat and it will change you, and make you part of something that changes the worl d."-- Randall Wallace
 
Helping other is always a great way to give back to your community. Try thinking of others who can use a little help to make a lot of change. Habitat for Humanity has been making that change every year.  Since its inception, Habitat for Humanity has helped to build more than 800,000 houses around the world providing safe, affordable shelter to so many people. The houses are built with donated materials by volunteers then are sold to qualified families with no profit. Each home is financed with affordable, no interest loans that can extend out over 30 years.
 
Habitat for Humanity is not a government agency and they accept no government funds for the construction of their houses. Their mission is to eradicate "Poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action." In order to get a Habitat home, the future homeowner must agree to pay a down payment and make monthly mortgage payments. In addition, they must invest hundred of hours of their own time into building their Habitat house and the houses of others. Families in the program are chosen based on "their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the program and their ability to repay the no-interest loan." There is no discrimination based on religion or race.  I hope you can join us! Rev. Sheri Fry
WORSHIP IN THE PARK
SUNDAY, July 14 9:30 a.m.

We hope you can join us for music, worship, delicious food & fellowship at LaBonte Park #1 Covered Shelter rain or shine!

“I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.”

Following the service let’s enjoy a potluck picnic lunch! For the letter of your last name please bring:
A-H = Dessert
I-O = Main Dish
P-Z = Side Dish + Drinks

Please contact Rev. Sheri Fry with your questions. UPCLaramiePastor@gmail.com
SUMMER BOOK READING

How about trying something new this summer and make it a "Year of Reading X" - a year of reading only, or mostly, books by Black, Latinx, Asian, Indigenous, and other authors of color. The X in my name for this year of reading with friends does double work. It represents our individual determinations of effort and ethnicity. I also want to explore the idea of rejecting just a white-centered way of naming and seeing that persists in internalized ways. Intentionally establishing boundaries to read solely authors of color uncovers a deeper boundlessness, one that resists the limitations of imagination set by society, economy, or ourselves.  Perhaps we can move into a freedom of a different sort?

1.   On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong  - a novel about class, masculinity, queerness, violence, race, and the refugee experience. 
2.  Unsettling the Word: Biblical Experiments in Decolonization   - for centuries, the Bible has been used to assault the humanity of people of color. This is a collection of 70 writings of scripture by justice-minded authors, reclaiming power and significance taken from Indigenous communities and other marginalized groups.
3. Modern Kinship: A Queer Guide to Christian Marriage   by David & Constantino Khalaf  - The Khalaf's have written a book about their mistakes and lessons often conveyed with humor providing LGBTQ Christians support and validation that many churches have denied for years.
4.  Grace Will Lead Us Home: The Charleston Church Massacre and the Hard, Inspiring Journey to Forgiveness by Jennifer Berry Hawes This book rounds out the forgiveness and grace that have become synonymous with the massacre at Emanuel Church in Charleston by exposing the outrage, isolation, and bumpy road of grief that followed the deaths of 9 church members.
5.  Reaching Forever by Philip C. Kolin . This is a book of spiritual poetry anchored in Scripture. 
5.  Holy Envy by Barbara Brown Taylor  is a   book that talks about religious diversity and that all religions are not alike. Can your faith be improved by the faith of others...seeing the divine mystery though other people's eyes? 
6.  Shameless: A Sexual Reformation by Nadia Bolz-Webe r  a book about suggesting an overhaul of our "harmful and antiquated ideas about sex, gender and our own bodies." Bolz-Weber writes that Christians are obsessed with sex. But not in a good way. For generations countless people have suffered pain, guilt, and judgment as a result of this toxic fixation on sex. Nadia unleashes her critical eye, sharp pen and her vulnerable but hopeful soul on the religiously inspired messages about sex that have fed our shame.
7.  Said I wasn't Gonna Tell Nobody: The Making of a Black Theologian by James Cone .  James Cone is widely recognized as the founder of Black Liberation Theology - a synthesis of the Gospel message embodied by Martin Luther King, Jr., and the spirit of Black pride embodied by Malcolm X. This is a powerful and passionate memoir describing the obstacles he overcame to find his voice, to respond to the signs of the times, and to offer a voice for those raised in the era of lynching and Jim Crow - who had no voice.
8.  Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward.   Ward has written a novel about a family's dynamic in the fictional town of Bois Sauvage, Mississippi. This novel won the 2017 National Book Award for Fiction.

Enjoy these Summer Sabbath Days!
Rev. Sheri Fry
FAMILY PROMISE UPDATE

We are currently enrolling a new family, mom and 3-year-old daughter. The only allergy is to wild rice and no other preferences are listed. They may have access to car but will use Family Promise transportation. Crystal is sitting down with the family today to complete the paperwork.  Interfaith is paying for hotel nights through Sunday morning, they will move into FPAC Sunday. Crystal is planning on meeting the family on Sunday at Calvary for their first move in.There is a second family of 5 staying with us but they should be able to get into Cheyenne housing on Monday. Crystal is helping the family understand/ navigate the public housing process. She is working with this family to get Wyoming IDs, medical assistance and find employment. We are providing services to families not seeking shelter. This is a part of our new marketing plan. Providing hygiene, diapers, showers, laundry services. The reason for this is for us to create a relationship with families that might need our services. Tracking of these services is in the developmental stage. 

Upcoming Events
Jubilee Days
We will have a table at Jubilee days to promote club 307, the quilt raffle, and encourage people to sign up for our email list with a handmade mug give-away! You can earn a chance to win the mug by liking us on Facebook, joining our email list, or visiting the booth. 
Arts Fest
July 14th we will be at the Arts Fest to show off our quilt! The Arts Fest is at the Alice Hardie Stevens Center and will be from 10AM-3PM.
Rotary Duck Race
We are selling tickets for the Rotary Duck Race on July 20th. We get half the proceeds for however many tickets we sell! Tickets are $10 for one duck, $25 for 3 ducks
 WORSHIP and FAITH DAY
AT THE ROCKIES
Sunday, August 18th
9:30 a.m.

We have 20 tickets to see the Colorado Rockies vs. Miami Marlins game on Sunday, August 18 at 1:10 p.m. which includes a post-game concert featuring Kari Jobe. Please contact Nikki Rogers at  upclaramie@gmail.com  if you would like a ticket. We will be traveling by the Eppson Center bus and will be leaving UPC by 10:30 am and returning to Laramie in the early evening. Worship will be held at the normal time 9:30-10:30 a.m .
CE & LOGOS NEWS

Vacation Bible School was a GREAT success!!
We had 25 children in attendance – a smaller number then recent years, but they were a very young group so that’s ok.
14 youth helpers – the most ever! And 11 adult leaders.
We had a great time learning that No matter what God is Good!
A great big thanks to all who volunteered as well as those who donated supplies and snack items.

The Christian Education committee is looking for volunteers to help in the nursery during the summer. If you would like to volunteer for one or more weeks please call Michelle Harris at 307-740-0275.

UPC will be hosting a LOGOS Boost training on August 17 th from 8:00 to noon. Please plan on attending to learn more about LOGOS or if you are already a LOGOS pro, to get energized for another year of inter-generational fun. We hope to see you there!!
Stewardship and Generosity Team THANK YOU

Many of you support UPC through volunteer work within the walls (Logos, C4, Deacons, visiting members, committee work, and prayer to name a few). Many of you support through volunteer work outside of these walls (Family Promise, Downtown Clinic, volunteering at schools, Puerto Rico mission trip). Thank you so much to those of you who put Christ’s Love in Action while giving your talent and time. If you are looking for other ways to engage this summer or next fall, please contact Nancy Lick through the Mission Committee.

FOC & STEWARDSHIP UPDATE: UPC stands financially at the end of May 2019: Total Income $92,982.75 Total Expenses $97,283.93.
CONGREGATIONS &
COMMITTEE WORK

The PCUSA Church organizes its life and work through committees and councils. So before anyone roles their eyes a me thinking committees could never be fun or interesting think about this… It’s a good and joyful thing to have a variety of voices sitting around the table or sitting in a home or sitting in a coffee shop (you get the idea) getting to know one another better, working togther to create new possibiities and opportunities for fellowship events, projects, programs, creative worship, etc. for United Presbyterian Church. 
 
Committees are an integral part of the church, made up of attenders, members, Elders, Deacons & Pastor of the faith community who together contribute to the success of the church's ministry and mission.
 
I would invite you to envision UPC’s life together with imagaination, creativity, and joy and think about ways that give life and enrich this faith community…especially as you get ready to welcome a new Pastor who will need all your voices and your spirit working together to keep a vibrant community of faith moving forward.
 
Following is a list of our current committees. We would like one Elder to serve on each committee, and again you can be a member or an attender of UPC to come to a meeting or to offer good ideas to the committee.  I would be happy to answer any of your questions about the responsibiliites that fall to each committee.

Worship
Christian Education (Adult Education is part of this committee & we would like to
Mission
Personnel
Congregational Life
Property
Fincancial Oversite/Stewardship

Please contact Rev. Sheri Fry with your questions.
UPCLaramiepastor@gmail.com
Summer is here! We will be having one service at 9:30 AM through Labor Day weekend. The church office will be open Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
EQUAL EXCHANGE

If you are in need of product from Equal Exchange, Lorinda O'Hashi will be ordering in the future. The future orders will benefit the New York choir trip. Please E-mail,  LorindaO@aol.com  or leave a message in the Church Office of your needs.
CARNEGIE HALL, NEW YORK CITY
NOVEMBER 14-18, 2019
 
THE UPC CHOIR HAS BEEN INVITED TO SING IN THE NEW YORK PREMIER PERFORMANCE OF JOSEPH MARTIN’S AND HEATHER SORENSON’S CHRISTMAS DREAMS AT CARNEGIE HALL ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2019. YOU WILL JOIN OTHER CHORISTERS TO FORM THE DISTINGUISHD CINCERT SINGERS INTERNATIONAL AND CONDUCTOR AND COMPOSER JOSEPH MARTIN WILL LEAD THE PERFORMANCE. THERE ARE A FEW SPOTS STILL OPEN. CONSIDER COMING TO NYC TO HEAR THE PERFORMANCE EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT A CHORISTER.  PLEASE SEE LORINDA O’HASHI FOR THE DETAILS OF THE TRIP.
Church Contact Info

To contact the church staff click on a name below.

Rev. Sheri Fry     Rev. Sheri Fry

Clerk of Session    Carole Hertz

Church Office or 
Nikki Rogers      Nikki Rogers

Children's 
Ministry          Michelle Harris

Music 
Ministry           Lorinda O'Hashi
OFFICE HOURS
Th e church office will be open Monday-Friday 8:00-3:00. Pastor Sheri will be in the church Monday-Thursday 9:30-4:30 on a regular basis.
Reports & Session Minutes
T he UPC Session Minutes and reports can be read at our website at  upclaramie.org/minutes/
Calendar of Events at UPC

For a full calendar of events click on the calendar link.
Make a Donation

UPC is please to offer online giving opportunities. For more information click on-line giving

Give Now through Presbyterian Mission Exchange

Give Now through Facebook