Doris Brown

1. What's your name and are you named after anyone? Do you know how you got your name?  Doris Miriam. My mom just liked the name Doris and my dad gave me the middle name Miriam from the Bible.
2. Tell us who makes up your family (people and pets).  Myself, my husband, John, my son, Steven, my mom, Ann Fidler, and the family dog, Noelle (a greyhound).
3. Have you always lived in PA? If not, where else have you lived and when did you live there?Yes, always lived in PA.
4. Do you speak any languages other than English?  No. Studied Spanish in high school, but that's about it.
5. What are you most proud of?  Right now I'm most proud of our son, Steven, and his struggles to live a good life with high-functioning autism and Type I Diabetes. He is just starting his first paid job at the age of 24.
6. How do you spend your days?   I'm a legal assistant at an intellectual property law firm and also proofread deposition transcripts as a second job, aside from church activities.
7. What's your dream job and are you doing it now?  It would be a job where I'm helping people every day, and, no, I'm not doing it now.
8. What's the best gift you've ever given?  Surprising my husband on his 50th birthday with a party at a Phillies game and a visit from his niece.
9. What's the best gift you've ever received?  That would have to be our son, Steven
10. What is/was your favorite subject or activity in school?  That's easy — choir!
11. What ability or skill do you most wish you had (that you don't have already)?  Being comfortable expressing myself in public (speaking, singing, etc.).
12. If you had to pick one hero, who would it be?  My dad.
13. What does it mean to have courage?  To do the right thing, no matter what others think.
14. What is your biggest fear or worry?  That my son will able to look after himself and have a good life when we are not here.
15. What's the biggest problem facing the world right now? Lack of compassion/acceptance for those who are different from us.
16. What are some of your hobbies?  Choristers, reading, crocheting/knitting.
17. What's the best meal you've ever had?  Can't say — it's more about the people you're with, I think.
18. Describe your favorite vacation.  The years my husband, son and I would go to the Poconos for a week in the summer.
19. What bad habit would you be willing to give up if it guaranteed you would live to be is? Procrastinating...
20. What would your obituary say? Hopefully, that I was a blessing to my family, friends and faith community.
21. If you lived in the pioneer days, would you have traveled west or stayed put in the east? Probably stayed put, not a big adventure person (except for when I went to Africa with Pastor Lawlor).
22. What do you like most about UDLC?  People coming together to serve local, national and international communities; sharing cares and celebrations and supporting one another in prayer.
23. When did you join UDLC and what is the biggest change you have seen? My family and I joined in 2010. I guess it would be the pastoral change and the building expansion.

Diane Joyce

      1.    What's your name and are you named after anyone? 
             Do you know how you got your name?  Diane (My Mother’s favorite name was Ann,              so it had to contain ‘Ann’).

2.    Tell us who makes up your family (people and pets).  My husband, Tim, and five children:  Rob, TJ and Thomas – my ‘big’/stepsons, and my daughter Emily and son John.  Three daughter-in-laws and six grandchildren with one more on the wayJ  No pets, not even a goldfish. 

3.    Have you always lived in PA?  If not, where else have you lived and when did you live there?  I grew up in Lebanon County and then moved to Phila to attend Drexel University.  Tim and I lived in Naples, Florida for 15 years and moved ‘home’ to the Philadelphia area three years ago.  Good to be home!

4.    Do you speak any languages other than English? Teeny little bit of German and Spanish.

5.    What are you most proud of? My children

6.    How do you spend your days? Go, go, go

7.    What's your dream job and are you doing it now?  I am the Merchandise Manager at Neiman Marcus…pretty close to dream job!

8.    What's the best gift you've ever given  My children

9.    What's the best gift you've ever received?  Earrings from my son TJ from his first job.

10. What is/was your favorite subject or activity in school? High School – Marching Bank (yes, a band geek); College -- Photography

11. What ability or skill do you most wish you had (that you don't have already)? To sing,      like belt it out Whitney Houston style

12. If you had to pick one hero, who would it be? My mom

13.    What does it mean to have courage? To stand up for your beliefs and what’s right even when it isn’t popular or easy

14. What is the one thing that makes you laugh the hardest? Crazy humor

15. What's the biggest problem facing the world right now?  inability to respect differences

16. What are some of your hobbies? Not much time for hobbies, but I enjoy crafty stuff, gardening, entertaining and I actually really do love cleaning

16. Describe your favorite vacation. Beach, sleep, eat, beach, sleep, eat

17.  What is your favorite type of art? Early Impressionism

18. If you lived in the pioneer days, would you have traveled west or stayed put in the east?  I would have stayed East because I’m the cautious one, but Tim would have dragged us West because he’s the adventurous one.

19. What do you like most about UDLC?  Friendly, welcoming, open

20. When did you join UDLC and what is the biggest change you have seen? Two years ago.  Growth of children/youth programs 

Gail Garvin

Get to know Gail Garvin, who many of you may recognize if you worship at the 7:45 worship service.

1. What's your name and are you named after anyone? Gail Garvin and I was not named for anyone.

2. Tell us who makes up your family (people and pets).  Husband Ray, Niki (Siberian Husky), and 2 grown children

3. Have you always lived in PA?  Yes

4. Do you speak any languages other than English? Yes, Spanish but not fluently.

5. What are you most proud of? My children and my 20 years of teaching

6. How do you spend your days? Work, exercise (swim, walk, dancing, bike), devotions, serving where others need me

7. What's your dream job and are you doing it now? No I am ready to retire and would love to volunteer 100% of my time.  That’s a dream!

8. What's the best gift you've ever given?  A song about my grandson Mason, who was born 4 days before Christmas 2004.  Ken Medema wrote up a song for that when I was chosen to speak when I spoke at his concert.

9. What's the best gift you've ever received?  2 tickets to see “Lion King” in NY and a weekend at my brother’s NY Apartment

10. What is/was your favorite subject or activity in school?  English, I love to read.

11. What ability or skill do you most wish you had (that you don't have already)?  I wish I had the ability to dance professionally.

12. If you had to pick one hero, who would it be?  My grandson Mason.  He was born on the autism spectrum and fought his way out.  He is my hero.

13. What does it mean to have courage?  To face a challenge head on, keep the faith, and go on with hope in your heart.

14. What is your biggest fear or worry?  Developing dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

15. What is the one thing that makes you laugh the hardest?  My husband! (ALL THE TIME) and I Love Lucy Shows

16. What's the biggest problem facing the world right now?  Lack of empathy to others.

17. What are some of your hobbies? Biking, dancing, and reading

18. What's the best meal you've ever had?  Almond Crusted Salmon with Béarnaise Sauce, and Asparagus that my son made it for my last birthday.

19. Describe your favorite vacation.  Hopefully the one Ray and I take this fall to Florida to visit friends and family.  We hope to bike a trail in every state we pass.

20. What bad habit would you be willing to give up if it guaranteed you would live to

be 100? I really don’t have any bad habits.

21. What would your obituary say? Hopefully people saw Jesus in me.

22. What do you like most about UDLC?  It is definitely the people and the acceptance of all kinds of people, gay, non ‘traditional” people, the music, the Christian Ed Program for the young, the youth groups.

26. When did you join UDLC and what is the biggest change you have seen?  We came to UDLC shortly after the Douglass’ and the biggest changes we have seen have been the two building expansion programs.

Tadashi Matsuura

This week, we get to know Tadashi Matsuura, who also happens to be part of our Tech Team  
He gets the honor of being the very first profile.

• What's your name and are you named after anyone? Do you know how you got your name?   Tadashi Matsuura, My Chinese character is my mom’s favorite author’s character.
  
  
• Tell us who makes up your family (people and pets). Jen, Lily, Daisy (cat), Haru (cat) and baby to be.
  
• Have you always lived in PA?  If not, where else have you lived and when did you live there? Tokyo, Japan; Osaka, Japan, Westfeild, NJ, Marrietta, GA; Syracuse, NY, Metro West (Orlando) FL.
  
  
• Do you speak any languages other than English?  Japanese
• What are you most proud of?  My O’hana
• How do you spend your days?  At work, At home, Spending time with family.
• What's your dream job and are you doing it now? Sound Engineer.  I suppose so.
• What's the best gift you've ever given?  iPad?
• What's the best gift you've ever received? Lily and the baby to be.
• What is/was your favorite subject or activity in school? Math, Science.
• What ability or skill do you most wish you had (that you don't have already)?  Master Degree.
• If you had to pick one hero, who would it be? Tetsuwan Atom
• What does it mean to have courage?  Ability to do what is asked of you.
• What is your biggest fear or worry?   My family without me.
• What is the one thing that makes you laugh the hardest? Seeing Lily giggle
• What's the biggest problem facing the world right now?  Everything.
• What are some of your hobbies?  Music, building models, working on the house
• What's the best meal you've ever had?  Really good Sushi

• Describe your favorite vacation?  Japan trip with Jen, Hawaii trip with all.
• What bad habit would you be willing to give up if it guaranteed you would live to be 100? Biting my nails.
  
  
• What would your obituary say? Never though of it,  I imagine someone will for me.
• What is your favorite type of art?  Music.
• If you lived in the pioneer days, would you have traveled west or stayed put in the east?   West.  It’s nice out there.
• What do you want to know about UDLC?  The people.
• What do you like most about UDLC?  Diversity.
• When did you join UDLC and what is the biggest change you have seen?  Almost 2 years ago.  Not that big but some new families.

Do you know the people in your neighborhood?

The purpose of this “News from the Back Pew” blog is to help pass on information about ministries or events at UDLC that needed more information that “This Week” or “Puff’s Corner” allowed for due to space and how many amazing things we have going on.

One of the amazing things that happens at UDLC naturally is how we become so important in each other’s lives.  For the past 6 months, many people have been commenting about how they are learning things about members they never knew and some of them are relationships developing inside UDLC for years.  Our community is so strong and healthy because our individual members desire to connect with each other at UDLC on a more individual level.  

Over the next 4 months, this blog is going to be working to put out at one member profile a week, to get to know more of our members a little bit deeper.  This is not for just new member or an old member.   This effort is an intergenerational venture and cross as many ministries at UDLC as we can.  We want our long-term members and new members, no matter what their chronological ages may be.  

We are planning to post one member profile a week starting February 16 and hope you will continue to come back and check out the blog each week.

Humbly, but not too humbly.
"News from the Back Pew" bloggers

AND WE'RE BACK!!!!

The Blog has been on a hiatus for a few reason, none of which are worth spending the time to talk about, because honestly who cares.

What is important is that the Pastors' are interested in stopping in now to help update you on loads of amazing things that happen behind the scenes at UDLC all the time.

Plus we are going to start to give you interview people around church and share the life stories of our congregation with you all.

Some things to ponder:
- Did you know that our program with One House at a Time with UDLC has included getting Beds for kids all over our area called BEDS FOR KIDS?
- Theresa Tino and Patty Ritter in the front office have loads of short term projects for some tech savvy people and that these projects can be done after hours and on weekend?  We need electronic filing organized on our servers and with Photos being classified?
- Have you ever wondered how the church decorating gets done and who does it?
- Can you name 5 people in the congregation who are PHD's?
- Why is our Newsletter called "Puff's Corner"?

Stay tuned here for more information and for some upcoming posts.

We better go back to church...

Please note that the following blog post may be depressing and sad to those living in denial that summer is coming to an end.
(DENIAL: It is not just a river in Egypt anymore)
Please be advised.

Well, the summer is wrapping up.  The back to school shopping is all around us and so with some excitement, some concern, some apprehension, and some indifference (and this is just the parents) the school year is starting.  Though students are dealing with these emotions and more, but like it or not it is time to HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL!

Now, this also starts all sorts of school year schedules and calendars.  Different bed times, weeknight activities, homework, sports practice, fitting in family time, and for many it means returning to a more regular Sunday Worship Attendance schedule.  Vacations are over and we all feel like we need to "Go Back to Church" and so the week after school starts everyone comes back and some more sheepish than others.

Now, what if someone said..."Good Morning.  Nice to see you."  do you immediately go into explanation of where you have been and why you haven't been there or do you just embrace the greeting and realize it is just a greeting and this is why you come each week you are able, to see your "family"?

Often people feel like they are coming back and that people expect an explanation for where they have been other than church on Sunday.  Instead why not just greet them and if the conversation arises where people ask about your summer, so be it.  Though there should be no sense of judgement or need to explain where you have been.  While people do miss and care when you are not here, we all have "LIFE STUFF" and it at times means Worship is not able to be at the top each week.

So as we get toward September as the days grow shorter, school and school activities start, and calendars are being made up, don't forget about worship time with us at Upper Dublin.  As a community, we become energized when we all gather together and we want to share in life with each other, so the "LIFE STUFF" can not just take on a negative connotation, but a positive one as well.  We will pray when needed for healing, health, and support.  Though we want to celebrate with you the GREAT THINGS TOO!  The great things, no matter the size, going on in your lives.

Spin the negative sense of "LIFE HAPPENS to a positive: