Reaching UP

September 2017 Reaching U.P.

Inside this Edition

2 Letter from the

Pastor

2 How to Get Involved

3 Youth in Action

3 Birthdays and Anniversaries

3 Help Wanted

3 Financial Report

4 We Get Letters!

4 Each One, Feed One

4 UPC Boosts His Eyes

Mission

5 Deacons’ Corner

5 Margaret’s First!

5 UPC Chancel Choir

Returns

6 Calendar of Events

United Presbyterian

Church

1701 E. Second Street

Bloomington, IN 47401

812 -332-1850

http://upcbloomington.org

Fellowship and Fun at UPC!

We were so happy to have Lamis & Nabil Turk visit us on Sunday, July 30. To

give them a hearty welcome The Fellowship Team of the UPC Deacons hosted a

pitch-in lunch after the worship service. The Fellowship Team provided fried

chicken and a ton of delicious food, most of it home-made, was provided by UPC

folks and Linda Brown home made a cake to celebrate all the UPC July birthdays!

Also visiting us that day was Carissa Tucker who shared her gift of piano with us

as Guest Artist during the worship service. It was an exciting and fun day as you

can see in the photo gallery below thanks to Fadi, Alejandra and Souheil Haddad.

In the first photo is Rev. Napoli, Mary Lou and Nabil with Billy, Lamis and Allen

behind them. Friends Tom Brown, Nabil Turk and Allen Pease surround Carissa

with Michelle Heitink and Lamis Turk next to her. In the photo at far right we see

Nabil, Sue Lorimer, Lamis and Rev. Bob Lorimer.

Billy & Mary Lou pause for a moment with Lamis & Nabil. All smiles in the cen-

ter photo are Julie Hammel, Lamis, Rev. Sarah Cochran and Linda Brown. Nabil,

Gerrit Heitink, Lamis and Vera Heitink.

In addition to Linda Brown’s beautiful

home- made cake celebrating all the

UPC July birthday’s was a cute ‘little’

cake for Nabil’s birthday which was the

very next day, August 1.

Nabil presented a most heartfelt and

touching ‘thank you’ to the people of

UPC and how much we mean to him &

Lamis. All agreed that the feeling is mutual.

Page 2 Reaching UP

From the Pastor’s Pen ... Peace and Grace,

Autumn is on its way! It might sound a bit funny to think about autumn as it is still

warm, but the air to me doesn’t seem that oppressive any more. The shadows are

changing, the evenings are a bit cooler, and some leaves have already dropped from the

trees. Autumn is a wonderful time of year, it just happens to be my favorite season. It

is the time of year where we get a break from the heat, humidity, and insects. For me it

has always been a refreshing time, a time when it is pleasant to take a walk, to sit out-

side, to feel the cool air on one’s face...to enjoy the outdoors. This autumn I hope you

all will get a chance to spend lots of time outdoors to enjoy God’s creation. Perhaps,

begin a regiment where you take some time each day to pray and meditate on God’s word sitting under a tree or walking in

a park. Allow yourselves to be refreshed physically, emotionally, and spiritually by the beauty of creation. May you have a

wonderful Christ filled autumn.

Pastor John Napoli

How to Get Involved

Volunteering with Sunday School We are always looking for loving people willing to

teach once a month in Sunday School or help in the

nursery. Please contact Karen Like at

klike@earthlink.net for more information.

Fellowship Hour Fellowship Hour is a time to share with one another

over coffee and snacks. Everyone is invited to attend.

It is held immediately following the Sunday worship

service. Fellowship hours can be hosted by groups,

families, or individuals. If you feel led to serve in this

way, a signup sheet is in the fellowship hall.

Utilize Scrip UPC receives a percentage from the merchant for each

gift card purchased. Place and purchase your order the

last Sunday of the month & pick up the following Sun-

day.

Little Red Wagon The little red wagon is waiting to be filled with canned

goods and hygiene products for Monroe County Unit-

ed Ministries. For more information ask one of our

Deacons.

Video and Sound Systems If you are interested in learning how to operate the

sound system or help in taping Sunday worship service

please contact Don Root at rootd@msn.com.

Offering If you are interested in helping collect the offering

during the service or count it after the service please

contact Andy Hill at andy@andyhill.us

Nursery Attendant

We are needing volunteers to staff the nursery

from 9a-11a immediately. Please let Karen

know if you are interested at

klike@earthlink.net.

Reaching UP If you are interested in contributing articles or helping

to put together the Reaching UP newsletter, please

contact Andy Hill at andy@andyhill.us

Page 3 United Presbyterian Church

Youth in Action (and everyone is invited to join)

WE NEED YOUR HELP

We need a couple more teachers for the Teen Sunday School class. A volunteer would commit to teaching once a

month. The curriculum will be provided but can be reinforced with your personal touch. Please talk

to Karen as soon as possible.

We are still in desperate need for a paid nursery attendant. If you know of anyone that would be inter-

ested and qualified please talk to Karen Like or Elaine Weller. General needs are someone that is available year

round every Sunday 9:15a-11:15a and for special events. They need to have experience and be certified in first aid

and CPR.

ACTIVITY

The youth were busy before school started. We met at Urban Air for a mid-day

jump on the trampolines. We tried our hand at the ninja courses, pillow jump,

basketball, and dodgeball.

A few days later we met at church to make our

own pizza and then headed out for a few games of bowling. Let’s just say we may

need a few more trips to the bowling alley to master the game. Luckily the goal of

the trips were to have fun and the was definitely met.

September 24 plan to spend the afternoon out at Mathis Farm. The youth enjoy running around, fishing, climbing,

and the adults enjoying watching them

Financial Report

Our cash flow was negative again in July. We took in $11,008.73 and our expenditures were $14,681.18 giving us a net cash flow

of negative $3,672.45. Our year to date total is negative $6,250.66. Let’s hope that this is just a temporary lull in donations due to

summer vacations.

You will be happy to learn that, as a result of the Colby Family’s recent visit, we collected an additional $1990 to support this im-

portant ministry that touches so many lives in the impoverished country of Honduras.

Don Root

September Birthdays and Anniversaries

Sep 2 Lamis & Nabil Turk Anniversary,

Agatha Nyarko

Sep 11 Glenda Nyarko Sep 20 Bud and Lucinda Wyman

Anniversary

Sep 3 Don Root Sep 15 Betty Chipman Sep 21 Fadi Haddad

Sep 7 Judie Iverson Sep 15 Alexander Like Sep 27 Billy Rhoades

Sep 9 Lamis Turk Sep 17 Yasmina Haddad,

Sarah Napoli

Sep 29 Vera and Gerrit Heitink

Anniversary

To the beautiful UPC Congregation, our Heavenly Family,

Thank you more than we can say. We have chosen this brief note because no words can express our gratitude and love to all of you. With all the hardship we have faced in the past and present, you have renewed our faith and feelings that there is always some-one there who extends his love without awaiting a return, but for us it got imprinted like a deep uneraseable tattoo in our hearts. I haven't mentioned anyone by name because all of you are dear to us. May God bless you all and make all your wishes come true. With all our love, Nabil, Lamis and Michael Turk

We Get Letters!

2017 Each One, Feed One Campaign a Success at UPC!

Page 4 Newsletter Title

Send letters to Reaching U.P. c/o UPC, 1701 E. 2nd, Bloomington, IN 47401 or email upcbloomington@gmail.com

We collected an amazing 368 pounds of food at UPC for Monroe County United Ministries'

2017 Each One, Feed One Campaign! The campaign began in mid-July as we had a great

time bringing in canned and boxed food each Sunday through August 13. In keeping with

the campaign, on Sunday, August 6, Rev. Napoli presented a sermon focused on The Feeding

of the Five Thousand. Some UPC members also volunteered to collect food at area supermar-

kets Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 11-13! On Monday, August 14, MCUM Develop-

ment Director Katie Broadfoot (at left in the photo) dropped by UPC with MCUM Devel-

opment Associate and Volunteer Coordinator Steve Thomas (at center in photo) to accept

the food collection and cash donation and transport it to MCUM. By the end of July this

year, MCUM's food pantry had fed as many families as it used to in an entire year. The rea-

son for the increase in part has to do with the new model that’s been implemented: clients receive an access card

to the MCUM pantry good for three shopping trips over three months in between meetings with self-sufficiency

coaches. Another reason for the increase is that only 39% of basic needs costs in Monroe County are covered by

federal poverty level wages. A local, single parent with two children working a full-time, minimum wage job

would have to work 139 hours a week in order to be financially self-sufficient. We’re delighted with the results of

UPC’s Each One, Feed One efforts this year and eagerly await the announcement of the outcome of the county-

wide campaign.

UPC Boosts His Eyes Mission Valerie and Felipe Colby went straight from membership in our congregation to work on the mission fields of

Honduras, and throughout that time their His Eyes Mission has received annual support from our proud church

– usually $1,000. However, due to the current financial situation, the UPC Session was forced to reduce the

2017 donation to $500. Back home in the U.S. on a visit, the Colby’s participated in our Sunday worship ser-

vice on July 2. They followed up with a moving report on the growth and effect of their project after a pitch-in

luncheon held in their honor during Fellowship Hour. We heard of the amazing expansion of His Eyes since

the Colby’s dedicated themselves to the mission in 1999. There is now hope where once there was none. Up-

on hearing of the phenomenal impact His Eyes is making in Honduras, UPC’s Mission Team leader Bob Ham-

mel made a plea for His Eyes Mission. As a result, support from UPC this year will be the best ever. In the

weeks that followed Elder Hammel’s plea, gifts were welcomed from the congregation in support of His Eyes

Mission, and last week, in addition to the $500 already committed by the UPC Mission Team, a check for that

donated amount went out: $1,990! Praise God! Thanks to everyone who responded so generously.

Page 5 Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 5 United Presbyterian Church

The Deacon’s met Sunday August 6 for a brief meeting. We reviewed

what we had been doing during 2017 including fellowship, visitation,

cards, and prayers. Some of the great fellowships have been the cook-out

for graduation, the great UPC Snowball Fight, and most recently Eclipse

Sunday. Thanks to all who have volunteered for hosting fellowship in-

cluding the pizza party and bagel Sundays but also for those who donate

funds for getting special treats, bring coffee, or bring chips. Thanks also

to Linda and Tom Brown for the special cakes we’ve had for Birthday

Sunday. We discussed the need for a possible survey on whether mem-

bers wanted visitation in the hospital. Lou will post a list in Fellowship Hall so you can indicate whether you

would prefer no visitation but of course we realize it may depend on the situation.

In September we will have Deacon’s Sunday September 3rd, sign up to host September 10th because nothing is

scheduled, Birthday and Constitution Day on September 17th, and Elaine hosts the 24th. Sign up for October-

December is posted in Fellowship Hall. Remember also to fill up the Little Red Wagon! Jan Berend volunteered

to deliver Red Wagon Donations monthly to MCUM.

The Deacons will be meeting with Session on September 19th.

Deacons’ Corner

Margaret’s First!

Margaret Genevieve Stamey was one year old on July 24. The daughter of UPC’s music

director, Sarah Moon Stamey and Brent Stamey, Margaret’s first birthday celebration

included a Korean tradition. She wore a traditional Korean dress (hanbok) during the

traditional Korean Dol ceremony where several items were placed before her - a chef's

whisk, a pen, a gavel, a small baseball bat, a mini piano, and a medical instrument.

Whichever item the child is drawn to and picks up indicates that child’s future career.

Margaret picked up the medical instrument! “Yea!” said Sarah and Brent!

Sarah and Brent provided this beautiful photo of mom and baby. Margaret is wearing

the very same first birthday hanbok dress that Sarah wore as she carried out the Korean

Dol tradition on her first birthday.

UPC Chancel Choir Returns

UPC’s music director, Dr. Sarah Moon Stamey, has announced the beginning of the Chancel Choir’s 2017-

2018 performance season. The first rehearsal of the season is Sunday, September 3 at

9:15 a.m. in the sanctuary. The choir’s first performance of the season will be during

the Sunday, September 10 worship service. The schedule for the first half of the sea-

son calls for the Chancel Choir to perform during morning worship every Sunday

through and including December 10, except for the Sunday after Thanksgiving, No-

vember 26. It should be noted that changes may occur as the season progresses.

Guest artists will also perform with the choir and in solo performances from time to

time throughout the season. If you’d like to be a part of this ministry of music, all are welcome to participate.

Simply contact Dr. Stamey at sarah.m.moon@gmail.com or come to a Sunday morning rehearsal. Dr. Stamey

would also welcome suggestions and comments regarding the Chancel Choir and the Guest Artist program.

Calendar

~ September 2017 ~

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2

3

Communion/

Deacons Sunday

8:45am Pastor’s Class

9:15 Choir practice

10am Worship, Holy

Communion

11am Fellowship

4 5

12:15pm Bible

Study

6pm Book Study

6

11:45am

Men’s Lunch

7

8

9

10

8:45am Pastor’s Class

9:15 Choir practice

10am Worship

11am Fellowship

1pm Garfield, the Mu-

sical with Cattitude,

JWAC

11

12

12:15pm Bible

Study

6pm Book Study

13

11:45am

Men’s Lunch

14 15

16

17

8:45am Pastor’s Class

9:15 Choir practice

10am Worship

11am Fellowship

18 19

12:15pm Bible

Study

6:30pm Joint

Deacon/Session

Meeting

7pm Session

20

11:45am

Men’s Lunch

21

22

23

24

8:45am Pastor’s Class

9:15 Choir practice

10am Worship

11am Fellowship

25 26

12:15pm Bible

Study

6pm Book Study

27

11:45am

Men’s Lunch

28 29 30

Page 6 United Presbyterian Church

Monthly Newsletter of United Presbyterian Church, 1701 E. Second Street—Bloomington, IN 47401.

Editor: Andy Hill. Submissions are accepted and welcomed. Please email upcbloomington@gmail.com.

Weekly Community Uses of UPC Rooms

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

6pm Overeaters

Anonymous

5:15pm Kiwanis (2nd

Monday)

7pm OA

5:30pm Self

Realization

5:30pm – Women’s

Group

11am Overeaters

Anonymous

8pm Campus

Group

8pm Campus Group

3 pm OA (first Sat-

urdays)

7pm SA (2nd and 4th

Thursdays)