May 1,  2017  
Fourth Sunday of Easter
May 7, 2017

Worship 11:00 a.m.
John Leedy preaching
Sermon text: Psalm 23

The Chancel Choir sings the F. Melius Christiansen arrangement for the St. Olaf Choir of the early German Chorale, “Lamb of God.”   Austin Bradley sings Mack Wilberg’s setting of Psalm 23.  
Sunday School for all 9:30 a.m.

A Conversation on Immigration noon
Great Hall

Gaventa Installation Service 
UPC Sanctuary 3:00 p.m.
Reception follows, Great Hall

Evening Worship 7:00 p.m. 
UPC Fellowship Hall

A Note from Pastor Matt
As you all know from reading this newsletter, this coming Sunday is a lively one in the life of UPC. Nonetheless, even after you have come to Sunday School and morning worship and the important conversation on immigration, I hope you will have the energy to stay for the Installation Service at 3:00 p.m. (Yes, we may all need an extra granola bar for the day). But just in case you find yourself wondering — as I have occasionally over the past few weeks — “What in the world is an Installation Service?,” here’s my best answer.

An installation service is a beginning. It’s a service that marks a new season in the life of both a congregation and a pastor. It’s not an ordination service, which is about recognizing and affirming that someone has been called into ministry in a particular way — I’ve already been ordained, and it only happens once. An installation service, on the other hand, isn’t about celebrating my gifts or my journey; it’s about thanking God for this new season that we all enter into together, and it’s about dedicating ourselves to entering this season with courage and conviction.

Admittedly, there are some great perks. Our worship will be joined by some friends and colleagues that have been closest to my heart along the way — including a preacher who has known me since I was in the womb.
 Our choir has been busy at work learning some of my favorite music. And we’ll also get to debut the Hal Hopson hymn commissioned for the 125th anniversary of UPC “Not the Building, But the People,” and we’ll have a little reception in the Great Hall afterwards thrown by the Congregational Connections Committee.

It’s such an honor to have all of these voices celebrating this new season together! Many thanks to each of you who have worked to make it possible — and, more importantly, know how excited I am to continue serving alongside you on all of the good work yet to come. This, as they say, is just the beginning. 
Graduate Recognition Sunday May 7
Attention parents (& grandparents): 
If your youth or young adult will be graduating from high school, college, or university at any degree level this year, please send the following information to the church office at upc@upcaustin.org
today!!!

Name of Graduate

  • Name of school / degree
  • Any special graduate honors
  • Post-graduation plans (college name, work, etc.)
  • A headshot or casual photo at least 500 x 500 pixels
Graduates will be featured in upcoming UPdate e-newsletters.

Be sure to join us in worship at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 7, as we celebrate our UPC graduates!
Graduating This Spring

James Xu Feng
Anderson High School

Hannah Grace Jensen
Liberal Arts & Science Academy
Plans: Vanderbilt, Engineering

Meg Vail
Master of Divinity
APTS


A Conversation on Immigration
Sunday, May 7, 2017 
12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
UPC Great Hall

Light lunch provided

We want to know what you think about this topic. Are there actions we could or should take as individuals or as a church community? Your conclusions will be incorporated into the Social Witness Committee’s immigration report to Session.

Discussion topics:

Refugees
come to our country from places like Burma, Iraq, Somalia and Syria seeking refuge from war, famine and political oppression. They usually come here from a refugee camp and are assigned to a US community by the State Department after careful and extensive vetting.
Asylum seekers
are also fleeing war, violence and oppression but usually come to our country on their own from El Salvador, Guatemala or Honduras. They cross our border, present themselves to a US agent or officer and request asylum. Most are detained in centers until their case can be heard by a US judge. If granted asylum, they are welcomed as refugees, if not, they are deported.
Undocumented residents
represent the largest group of immigrants in our community. The majority came here to work and find opportunity. Many have lived and worked in our community for years or even decades, and they may have children and other family members who are US citizens.

Please let us know that you plan to attend so that we have enough food. Register at


- Sponsored by the Social Witness Committee
Chairs Mary Dodd, Marvin Wofford
Shannon Middleton
VBS Registration Now Open

It's time to register for VBS 2017, June 20-23, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Click here to add your child, child's friend, or grandchild to the roster. You can also make secure payments and sponsor another child's participation.

Please also complete and turn in the two page registration form for each child attending.

VBS 2017 Registration Form

Questions?
Contact Pastor John Leedy associate@upcaustin.org or
512-476-5321 ext 204
.


Check out Hero Central Video. Lots of fun in store (although maybe bag pipes instead of a praise band ;-)
Parenting & Faith Social Opportunities
Our next exciting fellowship event!

Saturday, May 13 -- Parent Social at the home of Sarah & Byron French -- Potluck dinner beginning at 6:00 p.m. Watch for an invitation with more information to come. RSVP / questions, email Sarah: sbradbur@alum.trinity.edu.
Sundays, 9:30 a.m.
Room 1, Lower Level

May 7 – BOUNDARIES WITH KIDS – Beverly Larkam, licensed social worker and family therapist, and Lynn Bridge (both UPC members) will offer words of wisdom based on the books Boundaries  and Boundaries with Kids by Henry Cloud and John Townsend.
 
May 14 – MOTHER’S DAY – Come relax and enjoy some easy conversation and breakfast bites with your fellow parents OR sleep an hour later! No set class itinerary.
 
May 21 – MARIT WEISENBERG’S UPCOMING BOOK RELEASE – Join class member, Marit Weisenberg, as she tells her story of writing her first novel, working with an agent and publisher and what is in store for her future with a second book in the making!
 
May 28 – STEPHANIE HOUGHTON TO TEACH – more to come on her subject.
 
June 4 – DISCUSSION ON RECENT VISITS TO CUBA – Join Shelley Kilday and Margaret Aymer as they discuss their experiences while recently visiting Cuba on separate trips.
 
For more information,
contact Stephanie Morris at stephanietmorris@sbcglobal.net .
May Circle Meetings
The Martha Circle will meet on Saturday, May 13 at 11:30 a.m., UPC Fellowship Hall. Debbie Russ will be the hostess. We will discuss Lesson 9 of the Bible study: Jesus in Contemporary Culture.
The Ruth-Dorcus Circle meets Tuesday, May 9, 2:30 p.m. at the home of Dottie Penn. Contact the church office for details.
Needleworkers Meet May 4
Please join the UPC Needleworkers Thursday, May 4, 7:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Bring handwork if you have it. If you'd like to start a project for the Alternative Gift Market, contact Liz Wright for details.
A Special Invitation:
Church Women United
May Friendship Day May 5

UPC will host the May Friendship Day Celebration for Church Women United on Friday, May 5, 2017, 9:30 a.m. in the Great Hall. You are encouraged to attend and bring friends and family with you.
This is also the day that our Valiant Woman Award will be presented.

Fellowship hour begins at 9:30 a.m. and the program starts at 10:00 a.m. We look forward to seeing you.
                                                             -Johnnie Overton, CWU Austin President

Sundays, 9:30 a.m.
Coffee 9:00 a.m.

Room 201, Upper Level

Dr. Bill Greenway continues leading our discussion of his book, A Reasonable Belief:  Why God and Faith Make Sense.

May 7: Chapter 8, “Justice, Grace, Forgiveness” (Recommended reading: chapter 8), The Parable of the Unforgiving Steward

May 21: Chapter 9, Resurrection, Universal Reality and Creaturely Diversity, and Jesus on the Essence of Saving Faith, the parables of the Sheep and the Goats and of the Good Samaritan

May 28: Overflow material and discussion

An Invitation from the Present Word Class
Sundays, 9:30 a.m.
Room 3, Lower Level
Please join The Present Word class on Sunday, May 7, at 9:30 a.m., when class member Dr. William Martin will make a special presentation on his most recent paper. Entitled "Consuming the Earth so that There Is No Place Left to Live: Illustrating Isaiah's Contribution to the Ethos of Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship," Dr. Martin's paper will be presented at the international meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature in Berlin next October.
Dementia Caregivers Meets Second Saturdays
The newly formed Dementia Caregivers Support Group plans to meet regularly the second Saturday of each month at Bribery Bakery Mueller. The next meeting is Saturday, May 13, at 10:00 a.m. For more information, email Suzanna Cabellero at skycabgm@gmail.com
UPLift Needs Next Week
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:
A variety of needs:

  • peanut butter – large jar
  • oatmeal – 10 lb box (found at big box stores)
  • dried beans (pinto, kidney, black, navy, lentils, …)
  • large jar of jelly or preserves
  • snack bars

Celebrations & Concerns
Please pray for 
 
Alice Meriwether, admitted to Seton Central after a fall. Alice is in good spirits, and will remain a few days for observation.


Click here to download Celebrations & Concerns for April 30, 2017, or pick up a copy outside the church office.

To request prayers, email

If you'd like to be part of UPC's Prayer Chain, please email the church office.
You will receive emails asking you specifically to pray for people who have requested prayer support.

Contact
University Presbyterian Church
2203 San Antonio Street
Austin, Texas  78705
512-476-5321

Rooted in worship. . .

   Growing through education & s
ervice. . .

       Connecting to campus & community. . .

basicImage