The Link: September 2026

Monthly News from Washington Park United Methodist Church

From Reverend Sandi

Friend of WPUMC

We hope you’ll join us for Rally Day on September 13^th! Sometimes people ask me what Rally Day is. Apparently, “Rally Sundays first appeared on the scene about 100 years ago as a way to build momentum for the Sunday school movement.” (I read this in an article from a Lutheran pastor named Craig Pederson, which you can find HERE). For us at Wash Park UMC, it’s been a Sunday to celebrate the opportunity to be together as a community now that the summer travels are done.

I also always start a new sermon series on Rally Day, hopefully one that catches the spirit of gathering together again and celebrates the power of community. This year, our series will be called Gather ‘Round, and with a nod to a county fair vibe, we will look at different round images each week that highlight different aspects of community. For instance, a blue ribbon will help us Gather ‘Round: To Remember. A pie helps us remember to share, the Ferris wheel reminds us to teach the next generation, and a kitchen table invites us to experience grace.

For our Rally Day, we will also host a good old fashioned pot luck! So make sure you sign up to bring your best dish and “gather ‘round” the table for stories, for grace, for community.

September Worship

Sunday services can be viewed live at 9:30am on Facebook AND YouTube, or afterwards with the links found on the website and weekly newsletter.

Click here to view our worship on YouTube.

Click here to view our worship on Facebook.

September 6^th – COMMUNION SUNDAY

Faces of Faith: Philemon

Philemon 1

September 13^th – RALLY DAY

GATHER ‘ROUND: To Remember

Psalm 46; Numbers 15:37–41

September 20^th

GATHER ‘ROUND: To Share

Psalm 139: 7-12; Isaiah 55: 8-9

September 27^th – PRESCHOOL SUNDAY

GATHER ‘ROUND: To Teach

Psalm 78: 1-8; Deuteronomy 6: 6-7

News

Come gather 'round. Around tables, around stories, around grace. This year's Rally Day theme is County Fair and will be on Sunday, September 13, we hope you can join us!

As part of our day, we'll be putting together a County Fair Cookbook! Please submit one or two or ten of your favorite recipes - we will put together a congregational cook book to distribute at Rally Day! We can wait to see what you submit!

Please submit your recipes here, or click on the image below.

We are selling 6 inch poinsettias for the holiday season for $20 each, please sign up here to help us decorate the altar! Your donation will be noted in the bulletin, similar to altar flowers. Deadline is December 1.

YOUTH GROUP – NEW FORMAT AND REGISTRATION

2026-2027 NEW FORMAT:

Over the last few years, we have developed a strong youth program with our now older youth. With the influx of several 6th and 7th graders, I've decided that we will approach the fall a little bit differently. We will have combined activities for youth of all ages, but I'll also be offering some separate activities for two age groups, focusing on age-appropriate activities and discussions for each group.

CLUB 6/7 - While 6th Grade is our year of choice for our children's and youth programs (meaning that 6th graders can still be involved in children's ministries while also participating in youth activities), CLUB 6/7 will offer opportunities for our younger youth in 6th and 7th grades to gather.

THE 8:12 - Eighth graders and up will have the chance to participate in topics and discussions for older middle school and high school students.

ALL YOUTH - Combined activities for all youth will be offered as well.

We really hope that this will offer an opportunity for our younger youth to feel good about their participation in youth group and create a strong age cohort.

Birthdays

Join us for fun, fellowship, and fix its! If you're interested in joining the Crew, please reach out to our Caretaker, Dustin: caretaker@washparkumc.org.

Upcoming dates:

Fall Clean Up - 11/8

Christmas Eve Prep - 12/8

Altar Flowers

Altar Flowers 2026

If you’d like to sponsor Sunday morning altar flowers in honor of an occasion or in memory of someone, please sign up for a date below. The arrangements cost $45 ($35 for seniors) and you can take them home or give them away after service. We just ask that you return the vases to the Tea Kitchen so that we can reuse them. Make checks out to WPUMC and put altar flowers in the memo line or pay via Venmo @Michelle-Hoskins-17.

Please enter the occasion or person to be honored in the My Comment field after you click Sign Up.

Click HERE to sign up.

Ways to Give

Link WPUMC to you King Soopers Card! Sign up here!

www.washparkumc.org

(303) 777-3043