Stocking the pantry at NDSM 

UPUMC is collecting food in support of North Dallas Shared Ministries throughout February. NDSM has no source to purchase certain items at a reduced cost and therefore depends entirely on your donations to enhance the pantry selection. Canned items especially needed are: black-eyed peas, carrots, mixed fruit, pears, pineapple, potatoes, salmon, spinach, sweet potatoes and tuna. Other items greatly needed are: coffee, Jell-O mix, peanut butter, ramen noodles, saltine crackers and tea. Bring donations to either the Welcome Center or the Children's Welcome Center.

This Sunday, Feb. 7, is Youth Sunday, in which youth members take on leadership roles during our traditional worship services. Julia Hosch will deliver the message in the 8:45 a.m. service, and John Jenkins will do so during the 11 a.m. service. Please support our youth with your presence during this special Sunday.

Confirmation class joining in NTC event

Also this Sunday, the UPUMC confirmation class will meet with other confirmation students from the North Texas Conference at First UMC in Denton to participate in worship, crafts and mission projects. Special guest Bishop Earl Bledsoe will be present during worship. Our students will head to Denton at 1 p.m. on Sunday, and will return to the UPUMC back parking lot at 5:45 p.m. Contact Jeff McCormick with any questions.

Blair Thompson recently traveled to the Holy Land with 14 other students and a professor as part of an immersion class at Perkins School of Theology. Below, an entry from the journal she kept during the two-week journey.

As I was riding the camel up Mt. Sinai, I looked up and around at all of the stars-I have never seen so many. I saw shooting stars and where the sky meets the earth beyond the mountains and I felt small, and I felt overwhelmed with the notion that the God who made all of this made me too, and calls me by name, and loves me.

When after climbing the remaining steps in the cold wind just before sunrise we finally reached the peak and looked out over the mountains as far as the eye could see, the sun made its way up, peeking through the low clouds and shining so brightly, providing such warmth-it was in that moment that I felt small again.

"God," I said, "You made all of this-you can make my life too!" There is an important perspective understood at the top of this mountain. It's what I think Moses understood when he met God here. It is the realization that God is in charge. No ruler, no circumstance, nothing is as big and as bright and warm and as powerful as God.

As the colors of the sun began to appear over the horizon, a Korean group on a platform above us began to sing "How Great Thou Art," in Korean. We immediately recognized the tune and began to sing with them. When their leader realized that we were singing with them, he and the entire group got so excited-they threw their hands up in the air and said, "Praise God! Alleluia!" He came down and over to us as fast as he could and hugged us, saying, "Alleluia! I love you!"

What a moment to share with fellow Christians from around the world and a powerful reminder of the power of faith to bring people together. We who can't speak the same language, who are from two very different cultures-we worship the same God, the God who makes the sun to rise, who we sing out to in praise and thanksgiving together.

Blair Thompson is director of Young Adult Ministries. UPUMC Life is an electronic newsletter published weekly and distributed to those who have opted to receive it. If you wish to be removed from this distribution, please contact Carolyn Washburn at 469.916.9611.