Greetings in Christ,

We at UPC say that we are “Celebrating Diversity, Open to All, Growing in Love.” This statement presents a good image of who we are and what we in God’s grace are striving to be.

On Sunday morning you will see young and old, men and women, pastors and lay persons all having a role in the leading of our worship. You will hear and be invited to sing a great variety of music. We appreciate the diversity of needs, desires, and gifts of our congregation.

We include everyone as a part of our fellowship regardless of age, language, race, class, culture, gender, sexual identity and faith tradition.  Every person is to be valued, because every person is a child of God.

We are not afraid to consider the significant issues of our time, and to reflect on the call we hear from God to "love kindness and to seek justice." We are involved in feeding the hungry, providing shelter for the homeless, and taking water to the migrants making their way through the desert.

We welcome you to join with us as we seek together to discover God's way for our lives. Jesus is our model and our goal. We take the Bible seriously, but not literally. We listen for what the Spirit invites us to be and do, and join together in fulfilling that mission.

May the peace of Christ be with you.

Pastor Al Gephart

al.gephart@upctempe.org