MESSAGE FROM PASTOR MICHELLE
When I asked to borrow the canvas labyrinth from St. Matthew’s Episcopal Cathedral I never would have guessed what an appropriate metaphor and practice it would turn out to be for this Lent that has been like no other. Never have I been on a journey on such an unknown path. Even so, God is our beginning and our ending, and accompanies us through every twist and turn along the way. I hope you will take some time during this last week of Lent to use this Finger Labyrinth
or take a thoughtful walk to let go of whatever burdens you and trust God’s loving presence and guidance.
On Sunday, we begin our journey through Holy Week; from Palm Sunday to Maundy Thursday to Good Friday, and finally to Easter. While our observances of these days will be virtual or in print and not face to face, I trust that the Spirit of God’s steadfast loving-kindness will accompany us on our way; that we would see in a new way the journey of Holy Week as the journey of our lives.
A prayer for Holy Week:
Lord, we thank you for the hope you give us as we begin new ventures. Sustain us in that hope in the face of life’s trials, and give us an enduring, joyful, and reverent faith in your promise of salvation. May we always be willing to welcome you into our lives, finding in you both the king of glory and the faithful servant who suffers on our behalf. It is because of Jesus that we know we can look to you in our times of gladness and our times of grief. As we begin our Holy Week journey with Jesus and his disciples may we better understand your sacrificial love for us, and more willingly embrace all the sacrifices that your love calls us to bear. Hear us, Lord, as we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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HOLY WEEK SERVICES
Links to recorded video reflections for Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter will be sent via email and also available on the UPC website, Facebook page, and YouTube channel (UPC Pastor Michelle Bacon). A printed resource will be mailed to our members who do not use email or internet. Recordings of previous weeks can be found on our website at
www.upclaramie.org
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ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING
Restoring Hope, Feeding the Hungry, Empowering the Oppressed
For over 70 years, One Great Hour of Sharing has provided Presbyterians a way to share God’s love with our neighbors in need around the world. Typically received during the season of Lent, each gift to One Great Hour of Sharing supports efforts to relieve hunger through the Presbyterian Hunger Program, promote development through the Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People, and assist in areas of disaster through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.
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PLEASE PRAY
This went out to our members who are on our prayer chain. If you would like to be on the email list to receive prayer requests so you can pray for those that are in need of prayers please contact the church office to be added to the list. Thank you!
Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” ESV
We may not physically be able to join together, but we may gather in prayer during this time of pandemic. Instead of being overwhelmed at the needs in our home or those around the world, will you join each day in praying for one concern?
Sunday
: Pray for the sick and lonely who are struggling to connect
Monday
: Pray for politicians both locally and throughout the world as they make decisions to try to keep people safe.
Tuesday
: Pray for the anxious; those who are living with fear during these uncertain times.
Wednesday
: Pray for kids of all ages (preschool through college age) who aren’t in school and whose everyday life is different.
Thursday
: Pray for those who are struggling to provide for their needs or the needs of their family through working less, finding needed food or paying for medical bills
Friday
: Pray for those who do not know God or those who feel apart from Him as they may be apart from their regular worship and learning opportunities.
Saturday
: Pray in gratitude for those treating our brothers and sisters with COVID-19 as well as those working to keep COVID-19 from spreading further; for those in hospitals at the front desk, medical personnel, dietitians, janitors, administrators, pharmacists, etc.
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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Sunday activities
Families with children should keep an eye out for emails coming from Michelle Harris on Saturdays during the weeks the church is closed. These emails will include a lesson and activities for your family to go along with Pastor Michelle’s weekly message. If you have not received these emails please contact Michelle Harris at
upckidmin@gmail.com
to be included.
Vacation Bible School
As of now, Vacation Bible School at UPC is still on for the week of June 8th.
This date may change as Albany County School District continues to make decisions regarding the remainder of the school year.
But if we are going to be ready, it’s time to start planning.
Please watch UPC’s website for registration information. And contact Michelle Harris at
upckidmin@gmail.com
if you would like to volunteer to help.
Sr High Youth Group
After looking at the current situation in Philadelphia and learning the local officials believe that the COVID-19 outbreak in the area will not peak until sometime in May. We have made the sad decision to cancel the Sr. High youth group trip to Philadelphia in June. We will work to come up with a local plan to bring the youth together sometime in June. We will definitely plan a great trip away from Laramie for next summer.
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FAMILY PROMISE
During this time of social distancing, Family Promise has made some changes to how they operate.
Shelter:
From now until April 19, 2020 families are sheltering in hotels only.
Day Center:
The Day Center will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. During this window, community members can pick up items from the hygiene pantry. They are limiting access to the Day Center (church) and, as a result, there will be minimal staffing. Crystal, Susie, and Evelyn are the only staff / volunteers who will be in the Day Center.
Phones:
The number 307-742-6480 is forwarded to Crystal and Evelyn when the Day Center is not open. Please call if you need us!
Families:
We currently do not have a family in the program.
Requests for shelter have slowed. However, they anticipate an increase in requests for shelter in the coming weeks as families experience job loss and financial hardship as a result of virus-related closures.
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MARY MARTHA, REBEKAH, EVENING CIRCLES
The Circles will not meet in April due to the pandemic. We will make a decision about the May meeting sometime in the future. We pray all are healthy and that all will stay healthy. Please let any one of us know if we are able to help in any way.
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MISSION MINUTES
Gift from the Heart Disaster Kits: 52 hygiene kits and 50 education kits
have been assembled from 52 towels, 52 washcloths, 52 toothbrushes, 520 band aids, 52 combs, 52 bars of soap, and 52 nail clippers joined 150 notebooks, 300 pencils, 50 boxes of crayons, 50 erasers, 50 rulers, 50 pencil sharpeners, and 50 pairs of scissors. Nancy Lick had hoped that by 2021 UPC could donate 100 kits after 2019’s record of 61. Thanks to the support of all of the church members, we exceeded that goal by 2 kits this year. We’ll get these kits boxed up and shipped to the storage site in Arkansas. The current reality is that regardless of the virus, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance have to be able to respond to floods, wild fires, mass shootings, hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes and they can’t do their immediate response phase with empty warehouses. Meanwhile, Mission thanks everyone for this year’s terrific response.
Attention UPC Seamstresses!
For 2021, Mission will need more cloth bags for the Gift from the Heart Education Kits for 2021. This year’s response put a big hole in the available supply. If you have pieces of material available and some time while we are “hunkering in place,” additional bags will be much appreciated. The instructions for the bags can be found at the Presbyterian Church USA Disaster Relief website. Click on the Gifts from the Heart then Education Kits and then bag directions. These instructions call for straps rather than drawstring closures. Either will work. Let Nancy Lick know if you can’t find the site. Despite the best efforts of Singer Sewing Centers, her Home Ec teachers, and her mother, Nancy is a non-seamstresses and really appreciates the talents displayed in the colorful bags that were made several years ago.
Mission is putting its
2020 Plan
on hold and is determining where help is most needed locally during the pandemic. Their monthly meeting will take place via Zoom on Tuesday, April 7 at 5:30 p.m. Future strategies for the church will be on top of its agenda. If anyone has suggestions, needs, and ideas about where help is needed or the best use of our available resources, please e-mail them to
sadielady2@charter.net
before the meeting. We need to add your thoughts to the information that we have already gleaned and discussed.
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FOC & STEWARDSHIP
How UPC stands financially at the end of February 2020
Total Income $73,892.93; 29.95% of 2020 operating budget
Total Expenses $43,536.34; 17.82% of 2020 operating budget
Thank you for continued generosity!
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STEWARDSHIP
While the church building is closed, the ministry of UPC continues and relies on your generosity. Please consider sending your tithes and offerings through the online giving on the UPC website or the US postal service. Mail at the church is being checked on a regular basis.
UPC is please to offer online giving opportunities. For more information click on-line giving
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SUPPORT C4 THROUGH
AMAZON SMILE
C4 has an Amazon Smile account set up. When you are shopping on Amazon, go to Amazon Smile and select United Presbyterian Church Laramie as the recipient of your donation.
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EQUAL EXCHANGE
If you are in need of product from Equal Exchange, Lorinda O'Hashi will be ordering in the future. Please E-mail,
LorindaO@aol.com
or leave a message in the Church Office of your needs.
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CHURCH OFFICE
In response to current recommendations, the staff are working from home. We will all still be easily available through our cell phones and email listed below:
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REPORTS AND SESSION MINUTES
Session and committees continue to meet via Zoom.
T
he UPC Session Minutes and reports can be read at our website at
upclaramie.org/minutes/
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS AT UPC
For a full calendar of events click on the calendar link. If you or your group wants to add something to the UPC calendar please bring it or send to the church office for it to go f
or approval at the following Wednesday staff meeting.
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