 Pastor's MessageHappy Thursday WPUMC Friends and Family! May is almost here! I hope you have been enjoying the sunshine, warmth, blue skies, birds, and budding flowers as much as I have. I've been looking for blessings these days -and one blessing of working from home is taking my computer to the back deck or listening in to Zoom calls from the porch swing. As we enter into another month of social-distanced living, I invite you to ponder with me the quote that Nancy Leonard wrote on a chalkboard easel placed at the top of the stairs from the main entrance to the church building. I love our building. I love the stained glass windows and our dignified-yet-comfortable sanctuary; I love the bright and open South Parlor; I love my office that is packed with all of my favorite books and pictures, with windows that open to the preschool playground which should be full of children's laughter and play. But right now, we're away from the building. And WE. ARE. STILL. THE. CHURCH. The church doors opened, and didn't empty out- the church- spilled out into our community and neighborhoods with love and grace and care. How have you been the church this week? Where have you seen the church at work? Send me or Rev. Jamielee an email and let us know! We care about you, would love to hear from you, and keep you in our prayers every day. Peace and love, Rev. Sandi MOTHER'S DAY SLIDESHOW
Mother's Day Sunday is quickly approaching! To celebrate, you're invited to email Rev. Sandi pictures of your mothers, maternal figures, and/or powerful women that have enriched your life for a special slide show on Sunday May 10th. GIVING Thank you for continuing to give generously to our ministry at WPUMC in this time. Click HERE to find a variety of ways you can give, including online donations, text-to-give, and Venmo. If you choose to send a check, you can make it out to "WPUMC" and mail to: WPUMC 1955 E Arizona Ave. Denver, CO 80210. THANK YOU! BIRTHDAY BRIGADE? There's been some interest to organize "drive-by birthday greetings" to our members and friends on their special day. Are you interested in participating? Email Rev. Sandi at pastor@washparkumc.org.  Pastor's MessageHappy Monday WPUMC Friends and Family! Last Thursday, when I was taking the dogs out for their daily walk, I saw that someone had taped some bright watercolor artwork to my door. I have a couple of guesses for who might have done it, but I'm not sure. What I do know is that it made my family's day, and I plan to leave it up as a statement of hope and joy for a good long while. What can you do today to bring a smile to someone's day? A call, a text, a card, a piece of art . . . a simple gesture can reap a great harvest. If you want to take it further, consider joining our new "Birthday Brigade" (email pastor@washparkumc.org), or creating artwork for the Brookdale Retirement Community (email childrensministry@washparkumc.org). Reaching out to others does just as much for the one reaching as the recipient. Today, be an agent of love and hope to someone! If you were unable to join us live for worship yesterday, you can still worship with us by watching the Facebook video. During this sermon series, I'm having different church members video themselves reading the scripture - Thanks Ryan and Emily Hoskins! - click HERE for our scripture from yesterday's worship. If you want to listen to the scripture above and then hear a musical prayer to complete a meditative practice today, listen to "In God Alone" by clicking HERE. We care about you and miss you with each passing day and week. Let us know how you're doing and how we can support you! To access our online prayer card, click HERE. Lots of peace and love today - Rev. Sandi & WPUMC Staff BIRTHDAY BRIGADE? There's been some interest to organize "drive-by birthday greetings" to our members and friends on their special day. Are you interested in participating? Email Rev. Sandi at pastor@washparkumc.org. GIVING Thank you for continuing to give generously to our ministry at WPUMC in this time. Click HERE to find a variety of ways you can give, including online donations, text-to-give, and Venmo. If you choose to send a check, you can make it out to "WPUMC" and mail to: WPUMC 1955 E Arizona Ave. Denver, CO 80210. THANK YOU! SUNDAY SCHOOL Miss Sheri has been offering Sunday School each week following worship through the "Park Kids" Facebook page. Contact Sheri at childrensministry@washparkumc.org for more information. YOUTH GROUP Rev. Jamielee is offering regular Sunday school and youth group check-ins. Contact Rev. Jamielee at assocpastor@washparkumc.org for more information.  HANDS-ON SERVICE
2020 Vision Here are the opportunities we are supporting right now: FISH OF EAST DENVER - This is the food bank we support with our monthly food drives. At this time, they are in need of supplies, and we also encourage you to make a financial donation directly to them HERE. **FISH of East Denver is also looking for people willing to drive to deliver donations to individuals. To find out more about volunteering, click HERE. DONATIONS- SOCKS & SANDWICHES - We are still engaging in our Socks and Sandwiches ministry in Civic Center Park. Our need for donations is critical at this time. You can purchase donations (peanut butter, jelly, granola bars, chips, applesauce, socks, and 8 oz water bottles) and drop them off in the identified donation bin currently located right inside the double glass doors of the main church entrance (accessible Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm). Additionally, you can order supplies online through our Amazon Wish List and have them shipped directly to the church! When ordering, please indicate in the delivery instructions that deliveries can only be received M-F, 9-5. Click HERE for an easy way to order! MASKS - Are you looking for a way to help out during this time of quarantine? Do you have a sewing machine? If so, you're in luck because we need your help! We have reached out to AfterHours Denver and it turns out they are in need of some basic cloth masks for their homeless friends and neighbors that we serve every month. They are looking for anywhere between 150-300 masks to help folks stay safe during this difficult time of isolation. We're hoping to have these masks done within the week. To download the easy to follow instructions and pattern, click HERE. Donation bins are located inside the double glass doors of the church main entrance (M-F, 9-5). If you're interested in contributing as a mask maker, offering supplies to our makers, or have any questions please email Rev. Jamielee. Thank you! **Make sure you report your acts of service (hours spent, dollars given, items donated) by using this simple form HERE. Our Goal - 2,020 Acts of Service in 2020! We'll continue to offer options for safe and needed service opportunities throughout this time!  Thank you Steve Bondy (Music Director and Technology Guru)! Happy Monday WPUMC Friends and Family,
If you were unable to join us live for worship yesterday, you can still worship with us via THIS LINK. During this sermon series, I'm asking different church members to video themselves reading the scripture. Thanks, Tony Acuna! Click HERE for our scripture from yesterday's worship. If you want to listen to the scripture above and then hear a musical prayer to complete a meditative practice today, listen to "O Lord, Hear Our Prayer" by clicking HERE. I want to thank our music director, Steve Bondy. Not only has he continued to offer beautiful and wonderful music for our worship each Sunday-he has single-handedly figured out our tech needs for virtual streaming, and continues to improve on what we do each week. He's even trying to figure out a virtual choir. Yay for Steve! Additionally, Rev. Jamielee, Sonya Clark (accompanist) and Jordan Zitterkopf (aka Mr. Rev. Jamielee and "cameraman") have been wonderful worship partners over these weeks. If you're appreciating worship these days, it's because of these amazing people. Today, we learned from our Bishop, Karen Oliveto, the following: "As we continue to monitor rates of COVID-19 infection throughout the Mountain Sky Conference, as well as look at models for removing Shelter in Place Restrictions, I am updating my request to keep our churches closed at least through May 2020." This confirms our current plans to only offer virtual worship through May. We will keep you updated on any further changes. We care about you, and miss you with each passing day and week. Let us know how you're doing and how we can support you. Lots of peace and love today - Rev. Sandi We'd love to hear from you! Contact Rev. Sandi (pastor@washparkumc.org) or Rev. Jamielee (assocpastor@washparkumc.org) at any time, or fill out our online prayer card below. |