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The Union Church
Newsletter
January 2016
Sunday Worship 10:30
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Mailing address CPO 2105; Berea, KY; 40404 Physical address 200 Prospect St.; Berea, KY; 40403 Phone 859-986-3725
Office office@union-church.org Rev. Kent kgilbert@union-church.org Rev. Rachel rsmallstokes@union-church.org
Inside this issue:
Two Special Church Family
Fellowship Opportunities!
Two Special Fellowship Events in January!
1
January 6 Epiphany Potluck & Old Christmas Party
Bearing the Light in 2016
Birthdays, Anniversaries,
News of the Family, Fiddle
Master Class & CONCERT!
2
From Rev. Kent
3
Christmas Photos
4
Wednesday Nite Live comes back after a 2-week break with a potluck &
party! Supper at 5:45 pm!! Bring food to share, songs to sing, stories to tell!
WNL Schedule 5:15 pm Joyful Noise Choir, Rm. 104
5:45 pm Potluck Supper
6:30 pm Youth Group, 3rd floorYouth Jubilee Choir, Rm 104
7:00 pm Handbell Choir
January 17 All Y’all Faith Day
Regular Events, Board
Meetings, Staff, Mission
Statement
5
Everyone is invited to join in the fun
and reflection at the next All Y’All Faith
Day, January 17th right after church!
We will begin with a snack lunch in
the Community Room. Then our guest
facilitators will lead us in interactive and
thought-provoking games and activities
about race and diversity. We hope to
begin a discussion by listening to other’s
stories, getting a sense of where we each
are on a privilege spectrum, and
contemplating where Union Church is in
all this.
Our discussion will be better if people
of all ages and perspectives join in. For
more information talk to Rev. Rachel or
Kim Kobersmith. Sponsored by the Faith
Development Board.
Bearing the Light into 2016, with our money and our service
At the December 13, 2015,
Congregational Budget
Meeting, Merlin (posthumously) &
Dot Kindel and John & Marlene
Payne were voted Honorary Lifetime
Deacons and the 2016 budget was
approved, with 2 no votes. Special
thanks to Treasurer Shirley Carlberg
and the Finance and Administration
Boards for their loving stewardship
of the church’s finances.
Thanks to you, the members
and friends of Union Church, we are
able to Bear Christ’s Light into the
world!
If you plan to fulfill your
financial pledge electronically, these
instructions may be helpful.
Donate ONLINE or by
TEXT, Now or Anytime! For online
giving, Union Church uses EasyTithe,
a completely secure contribution
sy st em. Y ou c an u se V i s a,
MasterCard, Discover and American
Express Credit and Debit Cards, or
an E-Check from your checking
account. Visit union-church.org and
click on the Donate button for
instructions.
You do not need to register
to make a donation (just choose
“Quick Give”). If you do
register, your information will be
securely stored making future visits
faster and giving you full control
of your giving reports. Credit card
processing does cost the church
about 3.1% of your transaction. ACH
(E-Checks) only incur a 1%
fee. Please use whichever is best for
you, but if you can, consider adding a
little additional to help cover the
bank fee!
Give By Texting 859-4483403: Yes! You can give using your
web-enabled phone. Text any
amount to 859-448-3403. The first
time you do–and just the first time–
you’ll get a link to associate your
phone and enter your securely
stored credit or debit card. It
doesn’t go on your phone bill, but
only to a card you specify. After that,
all you need to do is text the
(Continued on page 4)
Consider...page 2
January Birthdays & Anniversaries
Birthdays
1 Jerry Cooper
3 Rebekah Easton-Hogg
5 Loyal Jones
6 Harrison Brownrobie
7 Luther Center
7 Eliana Saderholm
7 Bob Shaffer
7
8
10
11
13
13
14
15
16
Christine Ward
Evelyn Myers
MacGregor Lakes
Kiersten Shaffer
Peggy Pollard
Darlene Lytle
Gaige Biggs
Hattie Parks
Kent Gilbert
16
18
21
21
21
22
23
24
31
Rob Hayden
Kevin Burke
Iris Brandenburg
Sally Hindman
Rory Spencer
Gloria VanWinkle
Bob Boyce
Gail Wolford
Steve Bolster
Anniversaries
11 Kelly & Teri Mehler
If we don’t know your
birthday or anniversary, we
want to! Or if we’ve made a
mistake please call or email
the office.
News of the Family
Abby Embry, Della Walters
and Abi Woodie will preach at the
National Festival of Young Preachers
January 2-5 in Lexington, thanks to
our Faith Development Board! Rev.
Kent will participate as an evaluator
and Wyndee Holbrook is the
Academy of Preachers’ Lead Gospel
Catalyst and Executive Director.
Want to know more?
Visit
http://academyofpreachers.net/
Rev. Rachel will be away in
Arizona the first week of January as
part of her Next Generation
Leadership Initiative fellowship. This
week's topic is Adaptive Leadership.
Not sure what that means? Feel free
to ask her when she returns!
At its yearly awards banquet,
Muse Watson received Special
Recognition from the Berea Chamber
of Commerce, and Carla Gilbert
was nominated for Health Care
Professional of the Year!
Next chance—January 10!
Welcome to these new members!
Alva Peloquin thanks all who
sent birthday cards for their thoughts
and for the care of her church family.
Prayers for Jimmie Lewis, at the
death of her sister.
Our Fellowship Principles
“Union Church welcomes all
followers of Christ and works with
all who work with Him; respecting
each person’s conscience; working
by love, endeavoring to keep the
unity of the spirit in the bond of
peace.”
You can join this movement!
New members are received the
second Sunday of every month, and
you are very welcome here! Come,
be part of this family working for
Christ’s justice and joy!
Special Musical Weekend with fiddler
Aidan Broadbridge January 16 & 17
Aidan grew up in Scotland surrounded by both folk
and classical music. He began playing violin and piano at the
age of seven. After studying music in a Swedish high school,
Aidan moved to London to attend Trinity College of
Music.
He has played for numerous
musicals and orchestras in and
around London and Scotland
and frequently travelled
throughout the UK and abroad
playing, teaching and directing.
Kelly Madden with her sons Brian
and William
Jillean McCommons
Aidan has been featured on numerous recordings with
The Assembly Players, Halsway Millennium Players and
Rest Assured.
He is also the featured solo violinist on the motion
picture soundtracks for ‘Pride & Prejudice’ and ‘Becoming
Jane’ as well as the BBC dramas ‘Cranford’ and ‘Tess of the
D’urbervilles’.
Aidan now lives in Sweden with his wife, Annette, and
their son Levi. They are frequent visitors to Berea, and
Aidan was on the 2015 staff of Christmas Country Dance
School at Berea college.
Aidan will offer a Master Class and perform a concert
— watch for times and details!
Consider...page 3
From the Pastor
Ring it in! Ring in the New
Year!
Themes weave themselves
through our lives. Some are the
threads of long tradition, and some
are the weft of new challenges and
needs. As we ring in the new year
as a church family, I can see some
important patterns beginning to
emerge from the strands in our
community.
Our work of justice and joy has
taken on both focus and urgency in
four important areas. While I’m not
much one for making resolutions
for their own sake, I believe that as
a body we are becoming more and
more resolved to lend our hearts
to them. They are inspired by what
we know of God’s hope; they are
challenges worthy of people who
care for God’s world and people.
First, moved by our belief in the
ministry of Jesus, I can see the
passion for helping refugees.
Families fleeing war have been too
much with us, and the church must
lead the way in showing
compassion.
Second, Union Church’s long
standing commitment to the care of
creation is gaining momentum.
Global climate change, clean and
clear water, air, and safe food is a
justice issue for us all.
Sadly, violence and our culture
of polarized inhumanity has left our
country with death after death.
Transforming that violent impulse
will not be accomplished by good
wishes, or even by the passive
practice of Christ-like compassion.
It must be taught, and we must turn
our best resources to changing the
way we raise our children, the way
we treat our peers, and the way we
govern a nation that is awash in
guns, and images of conflict.
What projects and
endeavors can we weave
into holy and healing
work?
Finally, and similarly, God is
both calling us and enabling us to
lead a way through the wilderness
of the corrosive effects of white
privilege and patriarchy. Union
Church has both the historical
experience and a unique community
of resources to be significant
partner in the conversation, and we
must take that conversation to
more persons of power to
dismantle the racism that makes a
mockery of Jesus’ message.
I propose that we make these
four areas our locus of intention in
the 2016. In January, Rachel and I
will begin by convening listening
circles
and
brainstorming
sessions for each.
What can we
do
with
our
words? with art?
How can we give tools to all
comers to make a thousand small
differences?
What projects and endeavors
can we weave into holy and healing
work? I believe God has placed in
our midst what we need to get
started.
Unlike “resolutions” that we
invent for ourselves out of good
intentions, I report that each of
these four “calls” have risen from
the church community: they are the
intersection and weaving together of
current cares and ancient practices; of
loving hearts and a hurting world in
need of healing.
Christ wove justice and joy
together and is teaching me to do
the same. With the new year, let us
be loving, skilled, joyful, and
resolved to dismantle the pain of
past and present. Let us seek the
star of hope together.
Love,
Bible Reading for January
Jan. 3
Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-7,10-14
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12
Jan. 10
Isaiah 43:1-7
Psalm 29
Acts 8:14-17
Luke 3:15-17,21-22
Jan. 17
Isaiah 62:1-5
Psalm 36:5-10
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
John 2:1-11
Jan. 24
Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6, 8-10
Psalm 19
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Luke 4:14-21
Jan. 31
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Psalm 71:1-6
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Luke 4:21-30
Consider...page 4
(Continued from page 1)
number with an amount and any
designation. It’s fast and easy! Of
course, like every credit card
transaction the church pays a 3.1%
fee. If you can include that little extra
bit, it will make a big difference!
Examples: Text “$50.00” to
contribute to today’s offering. Text
“$200.00 Capital Campaign” to
contribute to a building pledge, or
substitute the designation of your choice
(youth, missions, BFCO, etc. Amounts
texted without a designation
will automatically go to the General
Church Budget and all giving will be
included in your annual giving records.
Do you already have a
giving schedule set up? If so, did
you pledge more to the church in
2016? If you did, don’t forget to login
through the church’s website to your
online giving account, click on
scheduled giving and follow the
prompts. To change the amount you
pledge you may need to delete your
current schedule and create a new
one, so have your account
information handy before starting.
If you have any questions
don’t hesitate to ask any of the staff
or our Financial Secretary, Patti
Smithson. If they don’t know the
answer they will get you to someone
who does! Thank you for using
online or text giving.
Bearing the Light through
Service with Time & Talents!
The Nominating Board invites you to
follow the link on the Union Church
website http://union-church.org/
bearing-the-light-through-service-sign
-up-now/ and take the survey to let
us know what talents and skills you
may like to contribute to the ongoing
work of the church. Please respond
by January 15, 2016.
Union Church at Christmastime
A meditative coloring project for Advent
Christmas Pageant 2015
Consider...page 8
WE,
UNION
THE PEOPLE OF
CHURCH,
DISCIPLESHIP
SEEK
TO
TO
GOD
LIVE
AS
A
Watch the Sunday
service at unionchurch.org/live-broadcast/
OUT
OUR
COMMUNITY
INSPIRED BY JESUS’ TRANSFORMING LOVE.
AS
A GATHERING OF THOSE SEEKING TO
BOLDLY AND CREATIVELY EMBODY
CHRIST’S
LIFE AND MINISTRY, WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO
WORK AND FELLOWSHIP THAT MAKES THE
RADICAL AND INCLUSIVE LOVE OF
BELOVED COMMUNITY PROCLAIMED
GOD, THE
BY JESUS,
Regular Weekly Happenings
Sundays
9:30 am....... Adult Book Study, Conference Room
10:30 am...... Morning Worship
Weekdays 8:00 am....... Zen Meditation, Cowan Chapel
Mondays
AND THE CONTINUING INSPIRATION OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT VISIBLE AND REAL TO ALL.
5:30 pm ...... QiGong, Cowan Chapel
6:00 pm ...... AlAnon meets, Wayside Room
7:00 pm ...... AA, Comm. Room
7:00 pm ...... Classic Chorale
Tuesdays
AS ONE IN BODY WITH CHRIST, WE COMMIT
OURSELVES TO ACTS OF:

UNBOUNDED HOSPITALITY TO BUILD A
BELOVED COMMUNITY OF CHRIST

THOUGHTFUL, INSPIRATIONAL AND
INTENTIONAL FAITH DEVELOPMENT

PASSIONATE WORSHIP

RISK-TAKING MISSION AND SERVICE

EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY AND CARE
IN OUR STEWARDSHIP
About Us...
 All who seek & serve the love of God are ministers
of Union Church
 Gail Wolford, Moderator
9:00 am....... GED Class, Classroom
6:00 pm ...... AlAnon Step Study, Classroom
7:30 pm ...... Berea Community Drumming Circle, Cowan
Weds
5:15 pm ...... Joyful Noise Choir, Rm. 104
5:45 pm ...... WNL supper—POTLUCK Jan. 6
6:30 pm ...... Youth Group, 3rd floor; Jubilee Choir, Rm. 104
7:00 pm ...... Handbell Choir
Thursdays 9:00 am ..... GED Class, Classroom
12:00 pm .... Bible Study
1:00 pm ..... Quilters, Classroom
6:15 pm ..... Union Church Choir
Saturdays 10:00 am……...Depression & Bipolar disorder support group,
Wayside Room
11:00 am...... ACA (Adult Children of Alcoholics), Classroom
Other Regular Events
1st & 3rd Sundays 1:30 pm…….ShapeNote Singers, Parlor
2nd Sundays New Members welcomed at Morning Worship
4th Sundays
Noon………..Newcomers’ Gatherings
2nd & 4th Mons 9:30 am…….Berea Knitters, Classroom
2nd Tuesdays
6:30 pm……..Bereans for Fairness, Classroom
3rd Tuesdays
1:00 pm……..Widows’ Group, Wayside Room
4th Tuesdays
5:30 pm……ABLE, Room 101
 Rev. Kent Gilbert, Pastor
Board Meetings
 Rev. Rachel Small Stokes, Associate Pastor
 Dave Kobersmith, Church Administrator
 Gabriel Evans, Director of Music Ministries
 Pearl Marshall, Handbell Director
 Carrie Jadud, Jubilee & Joyful Noise Choir Director
Jan. 5
Jan. 11
Jan. 12
 Chris McKenzie, Youth Director
 Joan English, Office Administrator
Jan. 18
5:30 pm ........... Community Life & Growth Board
3:00 pm ........... Properties Board
6:00 pm ........... Administration Board
6:00 pm ........... Faith Development
6:30 pm ........... Finance Board
7:00 pm ........... Mission & Service Board
7:00 pm ........... Church Council meets