Kent

This week we joined thousands of other churches, synagogues, mosques and temples in celebrating International Children’s Sabbath: giving thanks for children and youth, and pledging ourselves to their wellbeing and fair treatment. In Church the children helped Rev. Kent tell the story of the widow who knocked and knocked and knocked on the unjust judge’s… Read more.

Union Church cares about children, their gifts and graces, their welfare and the future they are helping us build. On Sunday, October 16 as part of our “Faithfulness Growing by Leaps and Bounds” gratitude emphasis, we will celebrate International Children’s Sabbath. This is the “Bring Your Young Person” to church Sunday you don’t want to… Read more.

Recently returned from a trip to the Holy Land, Jordan, Egypt and Morocco meeting with refugee and displaced migrant families,  Rev. Kent meditated in his sermon on the nature of “Home” when no permanent place can be claimed in that way. The experience of those fleeing persecution and war may be far from our insulated… Read more.

Congratulations to Rev. Rachel and Leslie Small Stokes on the birth of their son, John Stephen “Jack” Small Stokes, at 12:10am, October 9, 2016. Jack is a healthy 7lbs 6 oz. Blessings on the whole family, and welcome Jack to this wild and wooly, wonderful world! They have asked for some car seat tips and… Read more.

We arrived in Jordan last night and today went with the Orthodox Initiative, a ministry of the Middle East Council of Churches, to a refugee camp of about 300 persons, just a kilometer or two from the Syrian border. Supported by One Great Hour of Sharing giving, the OI is trying to help people here… Read more.

Parker J. Palmer, teacher, author, activist, and an outspoken advocate on faith and democracy issues, will teach an online course that is open to all from September 5-19, 2016. After that time the course will be accessible via the ChurchNext library, though it will no longer be free. We are in the midst of what… Read more.

Who’s on first? Who is the fastest? Who does dad like best? All of the energy and worry we place into getting noticed and gaining prestige is called into question by the gospel passage from Luke read during Sunday’s worship service. In Luke 14, Jesus says to those gathered to stop trying to sit at… Read more.

When asked to decide an inheritance case in the Luke reading this week, Jesus refuses with the admonition to “be on guard against all kinds of greed.” Rev. Kent reminded us that greed for money was only one of the divisive forces. Greed for control and power that drives patriarchy and racial privilege is another…. Read more.