Fall 2024

Volume 15, Issue 5

Our worship services are livestreamed on our YouTube channel: upcbgm.org/youtube

Photo by Lukasz Szmigiel on Unsplash

“Shura” film screening & discussion of Southern border crisis

Thursday, October 17, 6:30–8:30pm at UPC

Join Gail Kocourek from the Tucson Samaritans, who for more than 10 years has been a constant presence along the Arizona–Mexico border welcoming travelers from around the world. We will preview the short film documentary “Shura” (27 minutes), then have a discussion about the ongoing humanitarian crisis along the U.S. Southern border and how volunteers like Gail and Shura are the difference between life and death along the border.

Light snack will be provided.

“Shura” is a 2023 Oscar-qualified and award-winning documentary short film that follows Shura Wallin, an octogenarian woman who provides humanitarian aid to migrants in the Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona crossing the U.S.–Mexico border — the deadliest land crossing in the world.

Winner — The Best in Short Film, Rochester International Film Festival
Winner — Best Documentary, Mexican-American Film & Television Festival

Harvest Happy Hour

Friday, October 18, 5pm at the Chadwicks’ house

It’s that time of year for pumpkins, mums, leaf piles and all things pumpkin-spice. Let’s add an in-person UPC Happy Hour to the harvest festivities!

As you may know, UPC enjoys Happy Hour on Friday evenings via Zoom, initiated during the COVID pandemic. It’s still going strong, and over the last year we’ve expanded our gatherings to include in-person events.

Our next in-person happy hour will be Friday, October 18, beginning at 5pm at Cindy and Andy Chadwick’s house in Apalachin. If you can’t be there right at 5pm, please come whenever you can as UPC Happy Hour is usually Happy Hours. A variety of beverages, as well as savory and sweet snacks (including gluten-free), will be provided. No need to bring a snack to share or a beverage unless there’s something specific you like to eat or drink (or a recipe you’re eager to try). There is plenty of parking and an entrance to the house that has one step if multiple stairs and steps aren’t your thing. For pet lovers, sorry, but we don’t have any; for those with allergies, it’s a pet-free house, so no worries. If you need a ride, please contact the church office or contact Cindy or Andy.

Hope to see you there!

In this issue:

View previous newsletters

Worship Themes for Fall

September 8 through October 13 — Repentance

For six weeks this fall, we studied repentance, guided by a book by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg called “On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World”. We looked at a specific process for repenting, and considered ways in which doing the work of repentance and repair — as individuals, as a community, and as a people — is part of the ongoing work of mending the world and bringing the reign of God close to our world.

October 20 — What’s Happening in the Borderlands with Gail Kocourek and David Ruston

Focus text: Leviticus 19:34–35

Gail Kocourek from the Tucson Samaritans has, for more than 10 years, been a constant presence along the Arizona-Mexico border welcoming travelers from around the world. She and Dave will give us updated information about the ongoing humanitarian crisis along the US southern border, and answer questions about their work with refugees and immigrants. A special offering in support of Salvavision will be taken, and a potluck luncheon will follow.

October 27 — The Path to Forgiveness: What is Forgiveness and Why Forgive?

Focus texts: Proverbs 17:9; Matthew 18:21–22

We all aspire to be forgiving people, and admire stories of people who have shown heroic forgiveness in situations of betrayal, abuse or torment. It is often portrayed as a gift given to a person who has caused harm, or as if withholding forgiveness is an act of harm in itself. But forgiveness is a process, and a part of the ongoing work that Christians are called to, as we strive to mend the world. Forgiveness is not a “one and done” practice, but a way of living and being in relationship, just as repentance is.

November 3 — The Feast of All Saints: The Bouquet of Remembrance

Focus text: Revelation 21:1–4

One of our cherished traditions at United Pres is the Bouquet of Remembrance, which we will build together to remember and honor the cloud of witnesses that surround us in the communion of saints. We will place a flower and read the name of each member of our community who has died during the year, and everyone is invited to bring flowers to place in the bouquet when we gather at the table for communion. To assist us in making this remembrance, please send the names of all of those you would like to remember to the church office by Monday, October 28. Extra flowers will be available if you are unable to bring your own.

November 10 — The Path to Forgiveness: Telling the Story and Naming the Hurt

Focus text: Job 19:23–29

Telling the story is how we begin to understand and make meaning out of our experience when we have been harmed. Harm felt but denied will always find a way to express itself, but when we name the injury, we can begin to heal. Sometimes when we tell the story we can see and name things that we couldn’t before we brought the pain into the light, and having our feelings about the harm validated can be an important step on the road to forgiveness.

November 17 — The Path to Forgiveness: Granting Forgiveness; Renewing or Releasing the Relationship

Focus text: Romans 12:2–5, 17–21

Forgiveness is a choice we make, and a way to tell a new story about what we have experienced. It is not a forgetting of the past, but of integrating it in was that are free from fear, anger, hatred or resentment. It is not a resumption of an old relationship or the acceptance of a harmful pattern for the sake of a relationship. The decision to forgive opens the door to two possibilities: renewing a relationship with the one who has caused harm or releasing the relationship and moving forward without re-engaging in a relationship. In Christian community, the preference is always for reconciliation, but it is not always possible when the harm has been too great or when the perpetrator of harm has not fully repented. The grace of Jesus Christ allows us to move forward in faith whether we are able to be in a renewed relationship, or whether we must release the relationship and trust God’s healing to continue the work of mending the world.

November 24 — The Reign of Christ: A World of Forgiveness

Focus texts: Revelation 1:4b–8; John 15:9–17

As we come to the end of the Christian year, we remember both how far we have to go in our work of building community and mending the world, and the love and grace of God that makes this work possible. We know our limits and our frailties, our hopes and our dreams of a world made new, and we follow a savior who came and lived among us and taught us to love. In the tension between the already and the not-yet in Christian life, we have the assurance that when we live in God’s love and offer it to others, we will never be separated from the One we call Lord. We rejoice that through him, new vision and new life are possible, and we look forward to the coming of the new year and the new possibilities that come with Advent.

Our mission is to follow Jesus Christ by doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God.

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