There was once a young girl who survived a tornado.  Her name is a pun: Dorothy GALE.  After the storm ended, she emerged from her house in a new and fantastic land called Oz.  Her words have become t...  Read More

"Familiarity breeds unfamiliarity."Many people who grew up hearing the Christmas story might be at risk of letting the story grow stale in their hearts and minds.  We might think we "know" the Child i...  Read More

The Christian faith is multifaceted and beautiful, spanning 20 centuries of history in addition to the history of Israel for centuries before Christ.  And in all that time, it might be summed up in on...  Read More

This week's scripture is Ephesians 3:16-17a:"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts thr...  Read More

This week we conclude our series on Philippians, and this text has challenging implications.  What is the secret that Paul is revealing in the last portion of this letter, in this final "thanksgiving"...  Read More

Rev. Shari Jackson Monson is the Transitional Executive Presbyter of Olympia Presbytery.  Among her many duties is the oversight of the well-being of the pastors in the presbytery (i.e. region of Pres...  Read More

Pastor Aaron's message on Nov. 7 gives an excellent review of the concepts we've covered this Fall.  Please visit his message at UPPC.org/media to hear that summary!There is an end to the two contrast...  Read More

What have you accumulated in your life?  Belongings?  Skills?  Experiences?  All of the above?If you’ve ever moved from one home to another, you know that there are some belongings that must be discar...  Read More

In Christ, we are not only "saved."  We are also "formed."  As you live your life, ask yourself, "What is forming you?"  You will be formed by default or design.  You cannot escape powers that form yo...  Read More

Last week we learned about two contrasting paradigms for SALVATION.  The secular humanist paradigm focuses on the human self with no need for God.  The biblical paradigm focuses on God, with the self ...  Read More

Let today's blog summary be a mere augmentation to Pastor Aaron's entire message, which you can hear at UPPC.org/media and the UPPC app.Read Philippians 2:1-11. What does salvation look like in the se...  Read More

At the end of Philippians 1, Paul emphasizes that the Church must: 1) Stand firm2) Strive together3) Avoid being afraid of opposition.Why is it that in our general context, we have what we need (food,...  Read More