Congregational Conversations: What Will it Take for What’s Next? The next all-church conversation about “What Next” for our vision of mission and service will take place on Wed, Feb 20, at 6:30pm after Wednesday Night Live supper (all invited, supper provided, $5 suggested donation). Results of last month’s conversation have been reviewed and have begun to be shaped into some concrete plans. Come share you insight and reflection as we think about staffing, money, and whom we might serve! Program will be repeated on Sunday, February 24th at 1:30pm.
Learn more about the church next week! Come One, Come All! Each fourth Sunday of the month anyone wanting to know more about Union Church or wanting to explore church membership, are invited to come to the Classroom and join in conversation with the Community Life and Growth Board after worship.
Rev. Kent Awarded Grant. Rev. Kent has been awarded a grant to attend Ecumenical Advocacy Days, April 5-8, in Washington, DC. Ecumenical Advocacy Days is a movement of the ecumenical Christian community, and its recognized partners and allies, grounded in biblical witness and shared traditions of justice, peace and the integrity of creation. The goal, through worship, theological reflection and opportunities for learning and witness, is to strengthen our Christian voice and to mobilize for advocacy on a wide variety of U.S. domestic and international policy issues. He will join 5 other pastors from around the state as representative of Kentucky clergy.
Check the Lost & Found shelves across from the office if you might’ve left something at church. There are also items from the kitchen on them, which have been around for a while. If unclaimed, they are Goodwill-bound in a week or so. Thanks.
Union Church’s Annual Meeting will be March 10, after worship and lunch. We will vote upon acceptance of the Annual Report and conduct other business of the church. Board & Officer reports are due in the office February 24.
Our Nominating Board is hard at work! We are completing the leadership slate for Union Church with a variety of terms open just waiting for your interest and possibility. Election of Board Members & Officers will happen at our Annual Meeting on March 10, after worship and Lenten Lunch. If you would like to serve on ANY of the Boards, you are welcome to do so! Please prayerfully consider where your passion lies and where it might meet the needs of Union Church. Especially needed are members of Community Life & Growth, Mission & Service, Worship and Properties Boards. And, of course, other possibilities for service are Nurture and Care, Administration, Finance and Pastoral Relations. If you are unable to serve a specified term, but are interested in helping with tasks, please also consider that possibility as well and let that be known. To see Job Descriptions and indicate interest , please contact Carla Gilbert at carla_gilbert@windstream.net or 985-1144.
Music Events at Union Church!
Feb. 23 – The African American Traditional Music Workshop and Symposium (hosted by the Berea College Black Music Ensemble) will be held beginning at Union Church at 12 pm in the Community Room, then moving into the Sanctuary. The half day events will include a community choral (spirituals and gospel song) music workshop—inviting all to sing and to learn African American traditional sacred music. We will engage with the song history, and the role of African American traditional music our world today.
The day will conclude with a 7:00 pm symposium talk (also free and open to the public) by our guest clinician, Dr. Raynetta Wiggins, ’08 alum of Berea College, and a gospel choir performance, at Presser Hall.
March 3 – This & That: A Concert of Anything but “Church Music” The ringers of Union Church Handbell Ensemble will present a mini-concert comprised of pieces that would not likely find a place in a typical worship service. Please join us Sunday, March 3 at 2 pm in the sanctuary for a variety of fun and funny handbell music.
Around Town and Notes & Notices
Feb. 23 – Stepping Out for Art, fundraiser for the Berea Arts Council. Come to an elegant evening when local artists, Arts Council members, and guests will gather to raise funds to support Berea Arts Council operations and programs. This year the theme will honor spring in Japan with “Cherry Blossom Time.” Food, music, and cash bar, at Churchill’s. Rev. Kent will be the auctioneer.
For dinner tickets, contact the Arts Council at 859-985-9317.
How to Choose & Use the Right Assistance Equipment. Feb. 26, 6 pm at First Christian Church. Berea Home Village invites you to learn how to choose the right device for your situation (wheelchairs, walkers, braces, etc.) Presented by Ernestine Brashear, Physical Therapist. Open to all, no charge.
Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) is seeking volunteers to serve during its alternative spring break programs: WorkFest and YouthFest. Kitchen volunteers are needed to prepare and serve meals to student volunteers in Jackson and Floyd Counties during March and April. CAP provides all recipes, ingredients, and supplies. Opportunities include making sandwiches on a Sunday afternoon, cooking and serving breakfast on an early weekday morning, or getting supper ready and greeting students returning from their construction sites in the evening. Volunteers with construction skills are also needed to provide guidance and direction to student volunteers. Project leadership by industry-trained CAP staff will be provided. You can make a difference in our communities and in the lives of our student volunteers!
CAP also has an urgent need at Grateful Bread Food Pantry and Grateful Threadz Thrift Store (Mount Vernon), helping to sort and stock donated items and serving members of the Rockcastle County community. Join CAP in its mission of building hope, transforming lives, and sharing Christ’s love through service in Appalachia. To learn more, visit www.christianapp.org/volunteer, or contact Amy Schill at aschill@chrisapp.org or 859.230.4027.
The Census Bureau is hiring now and up to the 2020 Census. You must be 18 years old or older, a US citizen, have transportation, an email address, internet access to apply (you can use a computer here). Pay is $14 an hour + 58 cents a mile driven for the job. Part time, flexible hours. Paid training for 3-5 days. 2020census.gov/jobs
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