As crowds thin during the summer, join your UPC family for a variety of field trips to celebrate local attractions. From museums to botanical parks to baseball, there are so many fun things to do close to home. Admission cost will be paid in advance by those attending, and transportation will be arranged through carpooling of the participants. Look for more information, sign-up sheets, and deadlines in the Narthex and here on the church website. Friends and family are welcome – hope to see you there!

Saturday, June 1st 10 am
Selby Botanical Gardens Sarasota 
Admission:  Adults $26; children ages 5-17 $11

Saturday, June 29th 10 am
Salvadore Dali Museum St. Pete
Admission:  Adults 18-64 $29; Seniors $27; children ages 13-17 $20 and 6-12 $12

Saturday, July 20th 11 am
Florida Railroad Museum and train ride in Parrish
Admission:  Ages 12+ $18; children ages 3-11 $14

Saturday, August 17th 4:10 pm
Faith Day at the Tampa Bay Rays vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks
Tickets $39 – includes lower-level seat and Rays hat

Our DOES It (Done On Every Sunday) project for June, July, and August will be collecting non-perishable food for The Food Bank of Manatee. The Food Bank is the leading local source of nutrition for food-insecure babies, children, families, and the elderly in Manatee County. The need in our community is great, especially now that school is out for the summer and fewer children will be receiving food at school. Canned fruits, vegetables, soups, and meats as well as boxed and bagged pasta, rice, beans, and healthy cereal and breakfast bars are always in demand. Drop your items in the yellow barrel in the Narthex or bring them to the church office all summer long!

We also have a summer bonus DOES It to benefit children and education. In June and July, we are collecting school supplies for the Beth-El Farmworker Ministry in Wimauma and for our neighborhood school Palma Sola Elementary. Please see the list of needed items below, and drop your donations in the bins in the Narthex or bring them to the church office by July 28th. Thank you for helping students prepare for a great school year!

2024 School Supply Wish List
1, 3, and 5 subject notebooks    
Composition notebooks
Loose leaf paper – wide & college ruled
Reams of white copy paper
Calculators – regular & scientific
Glue and glue sticks
Pencil pouches or boxes
Pens – blue/black/red
Colored pencils and crayons – 24 count
#2 pencils
Expo markers
Colored markers – regular and washable
White card stock
Scissors – regular & blunt
Clorox wipes

 

The 3-year partnership between Palma Sola and Westminster Presbyterian Churches culminated on Sunday, December 17, as we officially became one church, United Presbyterian Church! Palma Sola and Westminster Presbyterian Churches began their partnership in June 2020, sharing facilities at Palma Sola and joining together in worship, service, fellowship and Christian education. Our histories have intertwined, and we are excited about the future--as we experience God's grace, learn what God asks of us, share our lives, and work towards the common good in our community.

The Holy Strollers are taking a break during the heat of the summer but will meet up again in the Fall. Stay tuned for a date when we'll resume our walks, with short devotionals, on Friday mornings in beautiful Robinson Preserve. 

Lane Ruise, Founder and Director of the Creative Arts Academy, a United Presbyterian campus partner, tells us that students and mentors have been preparing diligently to give us their best performance ever. Students will bring dancing, singing, rapping, and instrument playing to their native folk songs. In addition, they will share information about folk songs from Native Americans, India, Colombia, Singapore, Cameroon, Mexico, Haiti, Honduras, Samoa and the Philippines.

Come enjoy a concert, and celebrate the accomplishments of these talented and dedicated young people!

Join with other volunteers to assemble seed packets at our Hope Seeds event, Wednesday, April 17th from 10am-noon in Fellowship Hall. Friends and family are welcome. 

Hope Seeds is a Christian, charitable organization that seeks to improve the nutrition of the poorest in the world by providing quality garden seed and agricultural education through Christian missionaries and organizations worldwide. All supplies are provided, and work is done seated at tables. Suitable for ages 8+. Come for an hour or stay the whole time. 

This program led, by Pastor Edward, will help you plan the details of your memorial service or Celebration of Life and have a written record to keep on file for when the time comes. The program is free, open to the community, and refreshments will be served. Please sign up in the Narthex or call the church office (941-792-3141) if you would like to attend to ensure we have materials for everyone.

Join Pastor Edward in Palma Sola Botanical Park for our annual Easter Sunrise Service. The service begins at 7:00; sunrise is at 7:21 am. 

Mayberry Bible Study begins this Sunday for 4 consecutive days. We watch an episode of the Andy Griffith Show, and then spend time discussing its meaning as connected by scripture. Each day has a different theme: service, peace, mercy and commitment. Included is a ‘dee-licious’ treat like the kind Aunt Bee would make.

Sunday, Feb 25, 11am:         Service - ‘Andy’s English Valet’ - Ephesians 6:7

Monday, Feb 26, 6pm:          Peace - ‘Class Reunion’ - Psalm 85:8

Tuesday, Feb 27, 6pm:         Mercy - ‘Dogs, Dogs, Dogs’ - Matthew 5:7

Wednesday, Feb 28, 6pm:    Commitment - ‘The Darlings Are Coming’ - Proverbs 16:3
 

Saturday, February 17, we are hosting a Rise Against Hunger meal packing event from 10:30am-12:30pm in the Fellowship Hall, and we want as many people as possible to participate. 

We have once again partnered with Rise Against Hunger to sponsor and pack over 10,000 rice and soy-based meals to help fight hunger all around the world. These nourishing meals go to locations such as schools, care homes, and areas that have experienced environmental disaster or devastating human-conflict.

Everyone is invited. The event is free, and there are a variety of jobs--sitting, standing, and walking--with something suitable for everyone from age 5 and up. The packing is done in an educational assembly-line process, guided by an event leader from Rise Against Hunger. It’s a great event for friends, family, and our campus partners.

To reserve your space, please call the church office (941-792-3141), or sign up before or after the Sunday Service at the Outreach table.

What's in a Rise Against Hunger meal, and where are they served? The meals provide caloric intake and 20 essential vitamins and minerals. They are served in medical clinics, vocational training programs, elder care facilities and schools. Research has shown that one in three people in developing countries is adversely affected by vitamin and mineral deficiencies. The meals address the top micronutrient deficiency concerns (iodine, iron and vitamin A), and work to prevent other common deficiencies that lead to blindness, poor immune function, and other disorders. 

What is Rise Against Hunger? Rise Against Hunger is an international humanitarian organization dedicated to ending hunger by providing nourishing meals, responding to emergencies, and empowering communities. Through a global network based in the U.S. and with six international offices, the organization provides immediate nourishment for those facing hunger, and implements sustainable solutions to lift entire communities. In 2022, Rise Against Hunger has facilitated volunteer meal packaging of more than 600 million meals to be distributed to countries around the world. 

To learn more about Rise Against Hunger, visit their website and read stories from the field.

Work on the 2023-2024 Habitat for Humanity Faith Build is well under way! We have scheduled a workday for United Presbyterian Church members and friends on Saturday, January 13th from 7:30 am to noon. The home for Theresa and her son Brandon is located in the Poling Gardens site in Samoset. We need 8-10 volunteers, and all the equipment needed is provided. No experience is necessary and there will be competent leaders to guide you in any task. Please sign up in the Narthex or by calling the office (941-792-3141) and fill out the waiver form to reserve your spot.  

United Presbyterian Church invites all those suffering from loss during this holiday season to a service of hope at Palma Sola Botanical Park. The service is held outdoors on the back deck of the Galleria, the building with the front porch visible from the parking area (see photo). The service begins at 5pm on the day of the year with the longest night, the Winter Solstice.

Christmas is a holiday associated with excitement and joy, but it can also be a season of sadness. The loss of a loved one, unemployment, or loneliness can be overwhelming in the midst of seasonal celebrations. This service supports those who need the space and time to acknowledge sadness and loss and to know that they are not alone. 

Palma Sola Botanical Park is located in the “Old Palma Sola” section of northwest Bradenton, an area rich in history from the Timucuan Indians to the Conquistadors to the present. The park was created in 1990 when interested citizens and community groups rallied support to preserve the 10-acre site, a former nursery, as a valuable green space and park. 

The park showcases collections of rare palms, fruits, and flowering trees and other subtropical plants. It also has lakes, gazebos, abundant bird life, and a butterfly garden. The park is free and open from 8am to sunset and may be visited before the service.  

You are invited to a Christmas gift wrapping party on Saturday, December 16th from 10 am – noon in Fellowship Hall to prepare socks and cards for clients of Our Daily Bread. For many years, member Amy Pedon has been giving out socks and other goodies there on Christmas Eve morning, and the Outreach Team has assisted by purchasing gift items. The party is a fun time of fellowship and fun as we wrap, write, and enjoy beverages and light snacks. Friends and family are welcome.  

Contributions of loose change, soft money, and checks for FELT (Feeding Empty Little Tummies) are always welcome. FELT provides weekend backpacks of food for over 800 children in Manatee County who might otherwise go hungry over the weekend.  To donate, use the envelopes in the pews or mail a check to the church office with FELT in the memo line. 

Trick or Treaters! Join in our family 'Trunk & Treat' event on church grounds. Wear your costumes, enjoy hot dogs and chili in our Fellowship Hall, and visit the decorated trunks of cars in our parking lot to collect yummy treats. All community families, and congregation members and their guests, are invited.

Plant a Seed! Feed a Soul! Join in to pack Hope Seeds on Saturday, October 7, 10 am – noon in Fellowship Hall. Come for an hour or stay the full period.  Friends, family and visitors welcome!

Hope Seeds International is a non-profit based in Bradenton with the mission of sharing the love of Christ and reducing worldwide hunger by empowering people with sustainable food production skills, seeds, and resources.

Since 1999, Hope Seeds has distributed over 10 million packets of quality garden seed in more than 60 countries. All seed packets include Gospel messages, and missionaries and other faith-based organizations provide discipleship and teach gardening methods, seed saving, and nutrition programs.

Giving a person good seed which is suited for their climate and culture allows them to work toward their own nutrition and welfare. When a person is empowered to grow their own food, they will not depend on someone for their daily meal. They will be stronger and more self-reliant, fostering a sense of accomplishment and community development.

Join in the 2023 Ministry Fair! The theme is: United Begins with U ‘N’ I.

Gather in the Sanctuary at 9:30 am for a brief worship service around this theme, followed by a continental breakfast in Fellowship Hall with displays and opportunities to discuss the various ways we can be united in service and fellowship in the coming year.

• Who are our Missionaries?
• Who are our Mission Partners?
• Older Adult Ministries
• Holy Strollers
• Choir and Handbells
• Earth Care
• Prayer Group
• Ushers/Lay Readers
• Fellowship
• Bible Studies
• Property & Grounds Team/Safety Team

The Palms Sola and Westminster congregations are hosting an Earth Day Fair, Saturday, April 22, 10am-12pm in the Palms Sola Fellowship Hall. The Fair will carry out the theme of this year’s international Earth Day, “Invest in the Future.” The public is invited to drop in, browse displays, watch videos, pick up information sheets, sample foods, and consider future actions they might take in caring for the Earth.

There will be stations covering topics, including: 1) why this is the critical decade for addressing climate change; 2) Florida's energy profile now and planned for the future; 3) how to calculate your carbon footprint and the best things you can do to reduce it, including making use of the Inflation Reduction Act; 4) planting Florida native plants and landscapes, and why that is important to sustain wildlife; 5) eating for a healthy planet; and 6) books to sustain and inform you while caring for Earth.

Learn about why rainforests are important, what's being done to save them, and how you can help. Also learn about easy-care native and other Florida-friendly plants for your yard that support birds, butterflies, and bees. This is a special program on Friday, October 21, 7:00-8:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall, presented by church members Amy Pedon and Betty Bashaw. Refreshments will be served and children are most welcome.