Children’s Church Update — The Blessing of Finding Stillness!
Ever wonder what happens after the pack of children race each other out of the Sanctuary each Sunday? This year, Children’s Church is using “A Joyful Path”, a curriculum that celebrates a joy-filled life, compassion for all, and the wisdom within. Each week, we gather in the chapel on a rug that contains a map of the world in the center. Together we share a lesson that includes scripture and other wisdom teachings, storytelling, activities, and conversations that move the issues into the Real World. Recently, during a lesson on Stillness, the kids achieved ten consecutive seconds of stillness – and asked for a bigger challenge. Are you ready for this? They found their own still places for an entire minute!
Practicing stillness and listening for God’s voice inside of us is going to become a regular part of Children’s Church. The kids and teachers are all loving the new curriculum, and we are excited to see what experiences are coming next.
New Members
[ngg_images source=”galleries” display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_basic_thumbnails” override_thumbnail_settings=”0″ thumbnail_width=”240″ thumbnail_height=”160″ thumbnail_crop=”1″ images_per_page=”20″ number_of_columns=”0″ ajax_pagination=”0″ show_all_in_lightbox=”0″ use_imagebrowser_effect=”0″ show_slideshow_link=”1″ slideshow_link_text=”[Show slideshow]” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]Welcome to new members Chloe & Ben Groth (chloehelene@gmail.com, grothb@gmail.com) with their adorable kids, Katie Litteral, top right (dulcimermaid@gmail.com) and LaRee Jacobs, bottom left (lareejacobs@gmail.com)!
Friends across the miles – new addresses:
Mitch, Wyndee, Lane and Heather Holbrook: 815 Magnolia Mist. San Antonio, TX, 78216
Glenna Rice, Bellingham, 1615 E. Boot Road Apt B223,West Chester, PA 19380
Noodling Around with Theology…at Noodle Nirvana Feb. 2! Topic: Theodicy – how does a good God let bad things happen?
Interested in deepening your “TQ,” theology quotient? First Thursdays are for you — and you can enjoy some neat noodles at the same time! We will meet at Noodle Nirvana (315 Chestnut St), 8pm, Feb. 2. You can purchase food, or just come for the discussion.
Everyone has a theological perspective, regardless of academic training. Thinking about God, and our relationship to spiritual matters, is for everyone. While “theology” is an important academic discipline and a systematic way to think about God and the human relation to the divine, is isn’t limited to dead German white-guy professors. We’ll explore our own theological thinking and look at the thought of some of the great theological thinkers, and try to do some of our own, too!
Psalm Study Feb. 7
Explore the Psalms, 1st Tuesdays, 4 pm, Classroom: The Psalms have guided the work and prayer of people in all manner of situations, from desperation to exaltation, from religious ritual to personal searching for life’s meaning. So we will come to these as a way of prayer, and to that end we will read and consider and listen to them speak to us individually and collectively.
Cooking for One or Two? Join the Lunch Bunch Feb. 9
February 9 & 23. Several members cooking for just themselves or one other decided to create a fellowship lunch with the opportunity to share new recipes and swap techniques for good eating. Everyone, young and old, cooking for just a few are invited to lunch at 12pm in the Community Room every 2nd and 4th Thursday. come to eat and share fellowship, bring recipes to share OR you can cook one of your favorites – just let us know!
RSVP is needed so we can cook the right amount! Please call the church office (986-3725) the Tuesday before to let us know how many are coming. Bring friends and recipes!
CPR/First Aid/AED Training Opportunity: Sat, Feb 11!
Do you need to brush up on your first aid skills? Do you care for children or elderly adults frequently? Would you just like to be more informed? Get your CPR/First Aid/AED training for adults, infants and children on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 9am to 3pm. Cost is $50 per person, and the trainer is Mike Morris, a Berea College staff member and volunteer firefighter. Snacks will be provided, but please bring your own lunch. To register, email Rev. Rachel at rsmallstokes@union-church.org by Wednesday, Feb. 1.
Valentine party Feb. 12
Could you use a little sweetness and beauty in your life? Faith Development is hosting an All Y’all Faith Day Valentine party on Sunday, Feb. 12th after church. We’ll have chocolate, poetry, and art making. All ages are invited!
Peace Camp save-the-date
We have a steering committee and a camp director, so get ready to hear more about Peace Village Camp, coming to you July 24th-28th. It will be for children and we’ll need lots of adults and youth helping, so save the date and help us create skills for peace!
BFCO needs 2 board members
Do you care about access to food and financial assistance for people in poverty, and assistance in housing and transportation for those who need it? Berea Faith Community Outreach is seeking new members of its board of directors. If you are interested, please contact Laura Robie at weaver40403@yahoo.com.
Mark your calendars
February 1st – Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center program at WNL
February 5—New Board Member Interest Meeting
February 8 – Meeting with Sue Peterson Blyth before WNL to plan Rev. Kent’s 20th anniversary at Union celebration
February 12—Valentine Party after church
February 21 – Sustainable Berea Annual Gathering, 6:30, First Christian Church
March 1st – Habitat for Humanity program at WNL
March 1 – Annual Reports due in the office
March 14 – Kentuckians for the Commonwealth Pi Day Pie Auction, Community Room 6-8
March 19 – Union Church’s Annual Meeting
March 25—Board Members’ Retreat
March31—April 1—Healing Arts Retreat
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