University Park United Methodist Church

As everyone prepares for a new school year, we want you all to know that UPUMC loves, appreciates, and is praying for all the students and education professionals in our community! We hope you all have a great school year!

Join us for the Chancel Choir Workshop this Saturday, August 10, in the UPUMC Sanctuary! Singing in a choir builds community, enhances musical skills, and brings joy through collective harmony! It offers a spiritual connection and a sense of accomplishment as you lift your voice in song and lead others in worship. Our Fall Workshop is great for those interested in joining us for the first time to give us a try, as well as perfect for our returning singers to refresh their choral singing techniques. If you have any questions about the workshop or music and worship ministries at UPUMC, please contact Mark Pope ([email protected]).

Don't miss a chance to cool down with pool and popsicles this Thursday at 4 PM!

Next week is H-O-T-T hot! Cool off and dive into the new school year with a splash at our Back to School Bash! Join us for an afternoon of fun in the sun at the Hanna's house (contact Ellie Ford for the address) with swimming, games, and laughter. We’ll have delicious pizza plus refreshing popsicles to keep everyone cool! Don't miss out on the perfect way to celebrate the end of summer and kick off the new school year with your friends!

Look at this neat find by UPUMC member Marilyn Hamilton in our church archives! Marilyn and other volunteers have been working to move our archives from their current location to a room adjacent to the Fiske Miles Library, and she brought out this 1841 printed edition of "The Methodist Magazine for the Year 1798."

The original "Arminian Magazine" was founded by John Wesley in 1778 and was published under that title until 1798. Its title was changed in 1798 and again in 1822. It ceased publication in 1969; the present-day magazine began publication in 1980.

UPUMC volunteers had a blast at the La Fundicion de Cristo/Christ's Foundry Back to School Bash! We love having such a vital Dallas ministry as one of our core mission partners!

Next week is H-O-T-T hot! Cool off and dive into the new school year with a splash at our Back to School Bash! Join us for an afternoon of fun in the sun at the Hanna's house (contact Ellie Ford for the address) with swimming, games, and laughter. We’ll have delicious pizza plus refreshing popsicles to keep everyone cool! Don't miss out on the perfect way to celebrate the end of summer and kick off the new school year with your friends!

"According to the fun app we use, as of this week, he’s the size of a pomelo (I’ll admit I had to look up exactly what a pomelo was) and is stretching – my wife says he is stretching 'a lot.'"

Specks and Pomelos - a guest column by Trey West - https://mailchi.mp/275005843603/a-word-from-pastor-joe-on-2625957

Don't miss the Summer's final School of Essential Wisdom lecture with Charles Hosch on Thursday, August 1!

It is not too late to register for the School of Essential Wisdom Summer Series, "A Study on Enough," with speaker Charles Hosch! "Enough" is an invitation to rediscover the Bible’s wisdom and the keys to experiencing contentment, overcoming fear, and discovering joy. Lectures will occur at 11 AM on June 27, July 11, and August 1. Registration is $20 per household and includes access to recordings after the lectures!

Beat the heat...or the rain...or something else. It's July in Texas, so no matter the weather, tomorrow will be a great day for UPUMC kids and their friends to hang out indoors for a movie day with "Inside Out" and popcorn! See you Wednesday at 10 AM!

"While the language of violence has always been a part of our system, we cannot allow it to become our default mode of communication with one another if we want to build a healthy nation to hand down to the generations that will follow us."

Conflict - https://mailchi.mp/0585e1656bc6/a-word-from-pastor-joe-on-2625941

Wesley-Rankin needs your help July 22-24, beat the heat with Summer Kids' Fellowship, and check out all the ways to 📱Stay Connected📱 to UPUMC on 07.16.24! - https://mailchi.mp/upumc/share-the-light-of-love-this-sunday-2625933

"What memories of yours might God want to use to bless you? Surely, there is a blessing in your memory, that place where 'our vanished days secretly gather.'"

Memories - https://mailchi.mp/ec2a0585cb88/a-word-from-pastor-joe-on-2625929

UPUMC volunteers enjoyed reading with campers at the Project Transformation North Texas Summer Day Camp this week! You have another opportunity to serve kids in DFW with the Wesley-Rankin B3X Summer Camp, July 22-24! B3X is a STEAM-based (Science, Tech, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) camp that aims to provide 180 students with individualized and hands-on learning experiences. To learn more about B3X or to apply to volunteer, visit www.wesleyrankin.org/2024-b3x-summer-camp/.

Connecting Point of Park Cities celebrated two years at UPUMC’s campus this week with a root beer float social! UPUMC is proud to partner with CPPC as they seek to provide an inclusive day program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) by fostering independence through impactful educational, social, recreational, and vocational initiatives. To learn more about the work they do, visit www.mycppc.org.

We loved having Rev. David Grant with us at UPUMC this past Sunday as he shared on "The Universal Saving Grace of God." Over the next three weeks, you have two opportunities for all-church Sunday schools during the 9:45-10:45 AM hour! Join Talmage Boston and Greg Barnes in the Fellowship Hall as they speak on "Aging with Purpose" or head to the Youth Center to sing songs with our Upper Room Worship Team and be led in discussion and devotion by our own Rev. Colin Craft! We'll see you there!

It isn't too late to sign up to help with Project Transformation's Summer Day Camp serving at-risk children from around North Texas, July 8-11! Youth and adult volunteers (age 13+) are needed to read one-on-one with children to maintain and increase their reading levels or lead Bible studies using a curriculum created by PT. Additionally, volunteers can provide a community dinner on July 7 to the 100 college students who help facilitate the summer day camp! If you can help, visit upumc.org/missions and click "Upcoming Mission Opportunities" to sign up!

"God of our fathers and mothers, and our God, we thank you for this land we love to call home and for those whose vision and wisdom have made freedom a cherished blessing for our time." -Tom Graves

Independence Day - https://mailchi.mp/4dbfe7a6f1b9/a-word-from-pastor-joe-on-2625905

UPUMC's own Alex Bell has been named the City of University Park, 2024 Citizen of the Year! The Citizen of the Year award was created by the City Council in 2005 to boost public awareness and appreciation for the many residents who work, often behind the scenes, to better the City’s quality of life. After riding in the Park Cities 4th of July Parade, Alex will be presented with a plaque during a brief ceremony at the Centennial Park Gazebo. Learn more at the link below, and make sure to congratulate Alex the next time you see him!
https://myemail-api.constantcontact.com/The-Arbor---July-2024.html?soid=1125427900427&aid=4aw1fGgqfck

It is not too late to bring your donation of school supplies, games, craft materials, and snacks for Christ’s Foundry, Wesley-Rankin, and Project Transformation throughout June. The detailed needs of each partner can be found by scanning the QR code in the graphic or visiting upumc.org/mission and clicking "Missions Opportunities." You can drop off donations at UPUMC in the colorful collection stations across from the Welcome Desk or order from the Amazon Wish Lists on the website to be sent directly to our mission partners!

It's time for G2G Summer Edition! Join your UPUMC family for a multi-generational, all-church Sunday school in the Fellowship Hall this Sunday, June 30. Generation 2 Generation in June will be camp-themed as we send our youth off to Bridgeport Camp next week, and all are encouraged to wear a camp shirt and bring their favorite summertime snack to share. We'll have music, hear camp stories from four church members of differing generations, and work together to package donations for our mission partners and decorate and sign posters for our mission partners. We can't wait to be together this Sunday!

Each Sunday in July, all adults are invited to gather in the Fellowship Hall during the Sunday School hour (9:45-10:45 AM) to hear inspiring, thought-provoking messages during our Summer Sunday Speaker Series! Rev. David Grant will join us on July 7, and Talmage Boston and Hal Habecker will join us on July 14, 21, & 28. We hope to see you there!

UPUMC is partnering with Carter Blood Care for an emergency blood drive this Sunday, June 23! Your donation can make a significant impact in emergencies, surgeries, and for patients with chronic illnesses. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are preferred to help alleviate possible wait times. Be a local hero – schedule your appointment to donate blood and make a difference in your community at upumc.org/blooddrive!

Meet Ellie Ford! - https://mailchi.mp/72e88bf9f4b2/a-word-from-pastor-joe-on-2625865