Programs & Events

Binghamton Toy Drive accepting donations

The Toy Drive benefits families impacted by the housing crisis and mass incarceration.

Donate toys or cash via linktr.ee/bingtoydrive

Giveaway is on December 21. Toys must be received by Thursday, December 18.

Christmas in Palestine

Saturday, December 20, 5:30–8:30pm at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 1049 Chenango St., Binghamton

Binghamton Solidarity for Palestine invites you to celebrate a Christmas in Palestine. This will be a fun and educational family-friendly event that will offer free Christmas activities for the kids.

Christmas Tree Decorations
Gingerbread Houses
Christmas Cards
Arts & Crafts
Cookie Decorating
Story time

Join us as we gather to honor the true meaning of Christmas and reconnect with its roots in the land where the story began — Palestine. We’ll reflect on Bethlehem’s traditions and the enduring hope that unites Christians worldwide, bringing that spirit into our own community.

Handel’s “Messiah” presented by the Binghamton Downtown Singers and orchestra

Saturday, December 20, 7pm at United Presbyterian Church of Binghamton

The Downtown Singers invite us to their annual Messiah performance in their new venue — our sanctuary!

Tickets: $20
Online: downtownsingers.org/tickets
Email: tickets@downtownsingers.org
Call: 607-205-8741

Christmas with BRIO! vocal ensemble and Friends

Sunday, December 21, 3pm at Endwell United Methodist Church, 3301 Watson Blvd., Endwell

“Joy has come to us!” Celebrate the birth of our Savior in music.

Along with our choral music, you will hear solos on instruments like violin, flute, and harp, vocal solos, a duet, a trio, a piano duet and selections from “Amahl and the Night Visitors”. More congregational carols have been added for all to enjoy.

The concert is directed by Craig Johnson with Carolyn Corse as accompanist.

Guest musicians are: Wendy Stafford, flutist; Meredith Kohn Bocek, harpist; Jean Herman Henssler, organist; and the Vivace Recorder Ensemble.

There is no admission charge, but a love gift offering is greatly appreciated so we can continue to build our music library.

We give our concerts to say “thank you” to our great God for what God has done for us. Come and share the joy of this blessed season.

Board Game Fun!

Saturday, January 10 at 3:00pm at United Presbyterian Church of Binghamton

Join the fun Saturday afternoon January 10 from 3pm to 5pm when we will gather to play board games, eat snacks, and enjoy hanging out together. Bring your favorite board games you would like to play with others and we will divide into groups to play different games. All ages are welcome!

UPC’s “Zoom room”

Modern technology is marvelous! Thanks to the Zoom meetings system, we can gather virtually even when it’s difficult to be together in person. We’ve used our “Zoom room” for worship but also for prayer groups, book studies, hymn sings, and social times.

You can join our meetings and worship services online via your computer, tablet, or mobile device by going to https://upcbgm.org/zoom. If you’ve never used Zoom before, you’ll be prompted to download the Zoom meetings app, which will ask for permission to use your microphone and your camera. We use our “Personal Meeting ID” for worship and most of our programs, so they’re always in the same familiar place.

You can also call in over the phone, if you don’t have a microphone on your device or you can’t join online. To join as a phone call, dial 1-646-558-8656, then enter our Meeting ID: 865 274 8433 #

If you have questions or need help using Zoom, feel free to call the church office for assistance.

Bible Study

Mondays, 1–2pm in the Zoom room

We’ve been reading from Marcus Borg’s Evolution of the Word: The New Testament in the Order the Books Were Written. Everyone is welcome to join us on Zoom.

The general format is to read the introductory material for each section, then to read through the Biblical texts and talk about what it meant for early Christians and what it might mean for us today. We try to discipline ourselves to keeping the conversation to an hour every week.

UPC Sewing Group

Wednesdays, 10am–1pm in the Upper Lounge, with Zoom lunch hour at 12pm

As many of you know, the Wednesday Sewing Group works throughout the year to create quilts, carry bags for walkers, hats, mittens, and scarves for organizations in our community.

Every Wednesday in the Upper Lounge, the UPC Sewing Group meets to design, cut, sew, tie, and hem quilts, and create carry bags that can be used on walkers. If Wednesdays don’t fit your schedule, projects can also be worked on at home. The group continues to bring much to the mission of UPC by enhancing our internal and external church spirit and providing functional gifts to help others and spread kindness.

Thank you to those who have donated cotton fabric for use in making quilts, worked on items at home for the greater good, or participated on Wednesdays. We welcome new members at any time. Join us on Wednesdays, 10 am to 1 pm. At noon we enjoy lunch together (chips, tea, and cookies are provided); if you can’t be there in person, we have a Zoom option to join us at lunch.

Blessings Abound

On November 16, the sanctuary was filled with vibrant colors, thanks to an array of quilts, carry bags for walkers, hats, mittens, blankets, and scarves that were designed and crafted throughout the year by the Wednesday Sewing Group. During our church service, our pastors blessed all of these items in advance of distribution to the community. As of this writing, the fruits of the group’s labor are being prepared with bows and tags for delivery to area organizations during the Christmas holiday. Dozens of handmade items will go to those in need.

This year, despite supply chain issues for some of our supplies, travel schedules, and changing membership, the group created 36 comfy quilts, 13 stylish and functional walker bags, 2 crocheted blankets, and two dozen warm wearables.

Ellen Hancock-Berti is our expert creator of bags for walkers, which conveniently help recipients carry necessary items on their walkers hands-free. Over the years, hundreds of quilts and other items have been provided to those in need in the community and beyond, to new babies in our church family, and to those needing a little extra comfort.

The group continues to bring much to the mission of UPC by enhancing our internal and external church spirit and providing functional gifts to help others and spread kindness. Stayed tuned for more information in the next newsletter, where we’ll let you know where our donations were given.

Zoom Happy hour

Friday evenings, 5–6pm

After more than five years of “Zooming” together, our weekly social-distance gathering is still going strong. Bring your own beverage, Zoom in, and join the fun as we catch up on the events of the week and share how we’re doing. It’s a great way to keep in touch with friends near and far.

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