Kent

WKYT in Lexington had a lot to say about Union Church. Pastors Kent and Rachel were contacted several weeks ago when a news team noticed our front banners while on the way to another story. They returned and said that being a bold and welcoming church was newsworthy, and asked if they could come do… Read more.

This week in the Gospel reading from Luke,  Jesus tells a confounding parable of a corrupt owner, a dishonest steward, and some lucky borrowers. Here is the prayer we offered in response to a complicated world and Jesus’ call to examine our loyalty to money and greed in contrast to our loyalty to a different… Read more.

In the reading for this week, we enter the house of Mary and Martha. One of them is doing the exact right thing in the wrong way, and the other is doing the wrong thing in the right spirit. We find ourselves in both of these situations, seeking to balance competing goods, competing needs. Here… Read more.

Today the United Church of Christ General Synod (the national setting of the church Rev. Rachel and Rev. Kent are ordained to), passed a resolution decrying the use and effects of mountain top removal in Appalachia. A second resolution forcefully committed the denomination to carbon reduction and a call for immediate global action to reduce… Read more.

Naomi Schulz addressed a gathering of Pacific School of Religion alumni (where she is currently a 3rd year seminarian) at the United Church of Christ General Synod in Long Beach, CA. She inspired and challenged those present with her experience of transformative work and vocation, and mentioned how Union Church was among her inspirations and… Read more.

In the midst of doing hard things, hard times can come and come heavy. God often works through surprising communities of care in those circumstances and speaks in, through, and around the sound and fury of other, even demonic, voices. Here is the prayer written by Rev. Kent and offered so graciously by worship leader… Read more.

Today was our first full day in El Salvador, and a busy day, from 7 AM breakfast to 8:30 PM reflection and debriefing. We first visited the National Assembly, where we were addressed by a legislator of the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FLMN), the former guerrillas turned politicians, and the main leftist party. The… Read more.

Work is progressing steadily (when the rain permits!) on our renewed Memorial Garden. New stone paths, benches and special plantings will make the space between the main sanctuary and Cowan Chapel a special place of peace and green, growing reflection. First suggested in 1998, the memorial garden was the inspiration of Mary Nash and Judy… Read more.