Shirley Carlberg has had to step back from Wednesday Night Live — it is in the middle of a re-creation process. For now, please plan on attending a monthly First Wednesday of the Month Potluck, beginning on September 4.
Next Week: We are inviting you to bring fruits and vegetables for the sharing table, which can be cans from the store, or can be fresh produce from your own garden.
10th Annual Celtic Festival next week! Events around Berea August 16 – 18. At Union Church we’ll have 2 mini-concerts Saturday in Cowan Chapel at 3 4 pm (see calendar) and the Celtic Gala Concert Saturday night, 7:30 pm. $20. Harpist Jeni Balcom will join us at the worship service on Aug. 18.
God on the Quad: Sunday August 18th. This is our opportunity to welcome Berea College freshmen and let them know that their neighbors at Union Church are glad they’re here. There are two ways you can help:
1) COOKIES!! Bring cookies or other portable treats to worship on 8/18. We will make sure they get to the students.
2) VOLUNTEER!! We will meet at the church at 2 and walk over to set up on the quad on campus. The event lasts from 3-4:30. You could help set up, pack up, or be there in the middle to meet the students. Questions? Ask Laura: 859.359.0106 (text or call) or joyfulsunflower@gmail.com.
Update- Thanks to those who ordered books for those inmates at MCDC who had requested them! The books were received this week, and the inmates were surprised and overwhelmed that anyone would do anything for them. As with anything successful, we now have a few more requests! Please contact Pearl (bellteacherpem@yahoo.com) for information if you’d like to lift an inmate up in this way.
Bamboo Painting Retreat—Saturday, September 7, 9-12, in the Classroom on the office level. Led by Donna Eder, this retreat will be an introduction to bamboo painting. Since many people have their own materials there will be no fee for this retreat—bring what you have and let me know what you might need in the way of brushes, ink, or paper. Chinese brush work is an ancient tradition which strengthens “chi”, while promoting sensitivity and an appreciation for simplicity. Advanced registration requested by contacting Donna at eder@indiana.edu or 859-868-1142.
Hospitality & Cookies – can you help?! One of the things that we do best is making each other feel welcome and loved and included every single week. The Hospitality Team is committed to creating a space — with lemonade and cookies! — for this to happen after service. Can you commit to helping your church family by volunteering to prepare after-church snacks once every three months? (If we have 12 volunteers, everyone only has to do it about four times per year!) We provide the food and drinks. You get them ready (10 minutes, usually before service begins), carry them upstairs (10 minutes near the end of service), and then carry the empty plates back down to wash them (10 minutes). It’s a great opportunity for families to volunteer together. We will show you everything you need to know. Please contact Laura at 859-358-0106 (text or call) or joyfulsunflower @gmail.com or find her after service. Thank you SO much for your willingness to be the church for each other.
Children’s Church Team Seeks One More Teacher for the 2019/20 Year: Come join the most fun ministry of all! You don’t need to be a trained educator, you just need to be willing to sit on the floor and explore our faith with small humans. You would be paired with another teacher, and scheduled to teach approximately once every three weeks. (Don’t worry, we all know that things come up and schedules change. We work well together to adjust accordingly.) Spending time in the chapel with Union’s bright and beautiful kids during Children’s Church is truly a joyful experience. Contact Laura with questions or interest: 859-358-0106 (text or call) or joyfulsunflower@gmail.com
Choirs beginning soon! Music Ministries Potluck in the Community Room August 22! Open to all, this will be a time of fun and fellowship. You will have an opportunity to meet current Union Church choir members, handbell ringers, and your music staff! Would you like to join one of the choirs? Come talk about it & share some fellowship – no pressure!
Time to make a Joyful Noise! Handbell Choir begins August 28, 7 pm. Vocal Choir begins August 29, 6:15 pm. Both in the 3rd floor Choir Room and YOU are very welcome to join them!
Music Quilt Raffle! Check out the two beautiful children’s quilts in the back of sanctuary hand stitched by Jo Wernegreen. Raffle proceeds will benefit Samuel’s Kids. Buy tickets after worship – $2 each or 6 for $10 – in the vestibule!
Several in the church have asked if it is possible to write to Jack Marshall at the Madison County Detention Center. The best way is a new electronic email system available to prisoners. Cost of a message is $0.50 and requires that you register at https://www.smartjailmail.com. Select the Madison County Detention Center from the list, then search for “John Marshall” and a request to open messaging will be sent. You must buy a minimum $5 of message credits, but you can transfer a credit so he can write back without incurring additional fees.
Letters to Jack need to have his proper name: “John Marshall” followed by his jacket number: #206801. Send to 2901 Richmond Rd., Suite 140-322, Lexington, KY 40509.
Mission Trip Opportunity The Arizona trip mentioned in previous weeks has filled. The Mission & Service Board is interested in working with former Union Church member Dorothy Chao in Tucson, who is active in border work and would be willing to coordinate a similar delegation. Please let Betty Hibler, Chair, know of your interest: betty_hibler@berea.edu — or speak to her at church.
Recycling info: paper recycling isn’t picked up curbside in Berea anymore, but you don’t have to send it to the landfill. You can bring it – and other recyclables – to Richmond. The Richmond/Madison Recycling Center is located just behind Lowe’s (The road is actually called Recycling Road).
They accept:
- Corrugated cardboard
- Paper board, such as cereal boxes, gift boxes
- Newsprint
- Mixed paper such as office paper, wrapping paper, magazines, and ads such as fliers
- Plastics (all numbers)
- Plastic bags
- Steel & aluminum cans
- NO styrofoam
- NO glass
Please separate into categories.
The Call
Awaken to the mystery of being here
and enter the quiet immensity of your own presence.
Have joy and peace in the temple of your senses.
Receive encouragement when new frontiers beckon.
Respond to the call of your gift and the courage to
follow its path.
Let the flame of anger free you of all falsity.
May warmth of heart keep your presence aflame.
May anxiety never linger about you.
May your outer dignity mirror an inner dignity of
soul.
Take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek
no attention.
Be consoled in the secret symmetry of your soul.
May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven
around the heart of wonder.
– John O’Donohue, For Presence
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