Union Presbyterian Church, Brownwood TX

Sage Kimberly Hallum, daughter of Chad and JoLynn Hallum, was baptized during the Worship Service on January 29, 2012. Sage is shown here with her parents JoLynn and Chad, grandparents Chris and Cindy Hallum, and Reverend Mary D. D’Alessio. Present to witness the sacrament of baptism were approximately thirty family members as well as approximately fifty of her church family, the members of Union Presbyterian Church.

U.P.C. Welcomes New Members

On January 29th, U.P.C. welcomed new members Terry and Karen Hancock and their daughter Chandler. Chandler is a senior at Bangs High School. Terry is a construction contractor and Karen is a dental hygienist. The Hancocks have been worshipping with the Union Presbyterian congregation for several months.

Message from Mary D.

Did You Know . . .

. . that the Season of Lent begins on Wednesday, February 22nd? It is a Christian Season of reflection and repentance that originated in the earliest days of the Church, a Season of days set aside as a preparatory time for welcoming Easter. In its earliest days it was a time during which the faithful could rededicate themselves to God. It was a time for those who had been separated from the Christian community through their serious wrongdoing to be restored to the community of faith. It was also a Season during which converts began their instruction in the Faith as they entered a two-year period of preparation for receiving the Sacrament of Baptism. Today you and I can observe these days of this liturgical Season to take stock of ourselves, to commit, with God’s help, to change the course of our lives, to listen more attentively to God, to practice our awareness of being in God’s presence, and to direct our energies towards accomplishing those things we believe God wants us do.

. . that the Lenten Season consists of 40 days, but since Sundays commemorate the Resurrection of our Lord they are not included in the count? That means that the forty days of Lent that begin on February 22nd will end on April 7th, the day before Easter.

. . that UPC will observe the beginning of Lent in a special service of worship on Wednesday, February 22nd at 5:30 p.m.? That particular Wednesday is traditionally known as Ash Wednesday. It is a day of fasting when we turn our full attention to God, remembering with sorrow and in humility all the ways we have gone astray. The service of worship on Ash Wednesday provides us with a time when we can repent—choosing to turn from our sins and turning back toward God. In that worship service we will hear God’s Word, reflect in silence, celebrate Holy Communion, and have the opportunity to receive the imposition of ashes on our foreheads as a sign of our repentance and our acknowledgment that from dust we have come and to dust we shall return. Entering the Season of Lent through the doorway of Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the process of preparation for entering the joy and wonder of Resurrection Day, Easter.

. . that on Tuesday, February 21st the Evangelism Team will host a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper in the Fellowship Hall at 5:30? In recent tradition of the Church on the eve of the beginning of Lent, cupboards were emptied of sugar and oil since during the Lenten season of repentance Christians denied themselves ‘luxury’ foods as a way to demonstrate their attitude of remorse. Instead of keeping ‘temptation’ at hand or throwing their kitchen supplies of sugar and oil into the trash, Christians depleted their larders by preparing rich foods and then feasting on them. In contrast to the practices of flamboyant communities like New Orleans who, for example, celebrate the events of Mardi Gras on the Lenten Eve, we more staid Texan Presbyterians, (among many others), dine on pancakes with syrup and sausages to mark Shrove Tuesday.

. . that far from being a dour, sour, grim, and gloomy time the Season of Lent is a blessed and joyful time as we rediscover how much God loves us and how much we love God? The journey through these Lenten days can provide a meaningful forty-day spiritual adventure whose good effects can impact us the rest of our lives. Lent is not a time to focus on giving up our “goodies,” but the Season of Lent is a time of emptying ourselves so to have space aplenty for the Lord our God whose desire it is to be in an intimate relationship with us. So as we draw close to the Season of Lent let us begin now to formulate our plan for entering into it fully!

. . that my door is always open to you? My joy springs from our journeying together as we seek to grow in our love for God and for one another. So, let’s not waste a moment1 Let’s begin today to prepare ourselves to meet the Risen Christ at the Empty Tomb or along the Way to Emmaus or in the Upper Room on Easter Day. What joy we shall know!

In Christ’s Joy,

I continue on as your pastor,

Mary D.

Union Presbyterian Women's Circle

The Union Presbyterian Women of the church met on January 9, 2012, in Fellowship Hall with 14 members in attendance. Hostesses were Jackie Carnes and Linda Boothe. Devotionals were given by Sandra Camp and Kristi Wilson.

“Greatly Honored Are Those Who Show Mercy!” was presented by Nihla Touchstone and was an interpretation from Matthew 5:7 and Luke 10:25-37. For February, the mini-project is Good Samaritan Ministries. Needed are canned goods and peanut butter.

A letter was read from the Amarillo Presbyterian Children’s Home thanking the Presbyterian Women’s Circle of Brownwood for the caps, mittens, gloves, scarves and socks which were mailed in December to distribute to the children for Christmas. 119 pair of socks, 18 caps, 42 pair of mittens, and 5 scarves were donated.

The group is continuing to send personalized birthday cards to children in Presbyterian children’s homes, many of whom do not receive any other recognition for their birthday

The next meeting will be at 2:00 p.m. on February 13th in Fellowship Hall. The lesson will be “Greatly Honored Are the Pure in Heart!” which will be presented by Jackie Carnes. Judy Brownlee and Virginia Rayburn will serve as hostesses.

ALL WOMEN AND FRIENDS OF UNION PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE.

Church Offers New System for Electronic Giving

Members and friends of Union Presbyterian Church can now make donations to the ministries of the church electronically. Donations can be made through a checking account or credit card transaction. Master Card, Visa, and Discover Cards can be used. To access the new system, go to the following link. Give Online Here.

Union Presbyterian Library

The Union Presbyterian Church Library is open! Self checkout is available as well as computer check outs. To find out what books are available in the library, use the UPC Library Online or stop by the library on Sunday morning before Worship.