Coming up
March 5, 6:30 pm – after Open Table supper, Ash Wednesday Service in Cowan Chapel (also livestreamed) Theology in the Round moves to March 12
March 8, 10-12 & March 12, 6:30-8:30, Open Space Gatherings to build upon work done at previous Discernment Session. See announcement p. 13
March 12, 6:30 pm ,Theology in the Round rescheduled from March 5
March 14, 7 pm, Amadeus Lex Chamber Concert, sanctuary. FREE! Donations welcome
March 16 Annual Meeting, after Worship and Lunch – 12:30 pm
March 19 The RETURN of the Missing Goats (Irish band from Oak Ridge, TN, of which Chip Bailey is a member) to play at Open Table!
Rev. Christina Ryan Perkins, our Sabbatical Pastor. plans to be in the office Monday -Thursday. Meetings available by appointment. Call the office, 859-986-3725, her cell, 859-544-7277 or email revcmrp@union-church.org
About Sunday Compline Service: The Sabbath Compline at 6:30 pm in Cowan Chapel is a night prayer of psalm, silence, and song — a creative hush with God at the end of the day at the beginning of the week.
Cowan Chapel is adjacent to Union Church on the Scaffold Cane Rd. side.
If ever you have the chance to attend the compline service at the Abbey of Gethsemani, you will sing Psalm 91. Is the poem an unwavering expression of faith? Is there some underlying disquiet? We shall sing this song Sunday evening and begin our month with the Taizé chant In God Alone.
Cantor: David Duffee
Instrumentalists: Susie Ritchie, Charles Hoffman
Community Meals Every Wednesday 5:30pm-6:30pm: “Open Table” is a “pay what you can” ($0-$$) catered meal open to anyone. Chef Deb Beishline and a wonderful crew of volunteers prepare the menu each week always with GF and Vegetarian-friendly options (other needs can be accommodated on request!). Our hope is to remember the gifts of connection with great food the chance to “rub elbows” with neighbors. The food is great, the company is better, the hungry are fed, and we pray the love Jesus will be shown!
March 5 Menu: Ash Wednesday Dinner
· Sweet Potato Chili – Vegan
· Various Toppings- Spring Onions, Avocado, Sour Cream
· Pita & Naan
· Orange Bundt Cake
Ash Wednesday Service after Open Table on March 5, 6:30 pm, Cowan Chapel
Originating in the fourth century of the church, the season of Lent spans 40 weekdays before Easter.
Originally, Lent was the time of preparation for those who were to be baptized, a time of concentrated study and prayer before their baptism at the Easter Vigil. But since these new members were to be received into a living community of Faith, the entire community was called to preparation. Also, this was the time when those who had been separated from the Church would prepare to rejoin the community.
From Rev. Christina … We often think of Lent as a season of sacrifice and work, a time in the wilderness that will teach us how to endure through tough times. Yes, this season is going to be challenging for us Jesus Followers, not because Jesus is asking us to suffer, but because he asks, no, demands, that we love – and love hurts. Loving others hurts, it’s sacred and holy and difficult.
This season I’m not encouraging you find a way to sacrifice, but to choose love. If you give something up this Lent, give up something that drains you. Maybe subtract something that keeps you from time with friends, loved ones, or a new neighbor. Give up sacrifice and take up love. This year for your Lenten Practice, choose a place, a person, a cause where God is found.
The theme for this season of Lent is inspired by a poem Sarah Are Speed wrote in 2019, Draw Near to One Another. The poem concludes: “I have come to see the space between you and me as nothing short of holy ground. So take off your shoes and draw near. Together is where God is found.”
Watch for a special Lenten Devotinal booklet in the mail early in the week (or pick one up at church).
March 8 or 12 – Collaborate in Creating the Future for Union Church! There are two opportunities upcoming to continue the discussion we started last fall about creating the future we want to see for our congregation. Join us on either Saturday, March 8 from 10am to noon or on Wednesday, March 12, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. We will review the outputs of the last meeting and dig deeper as we think and create together. All are welcome!
Amadeus Lex March 14: Spring is just around the corner! Amadeus Lex is bringing cheery spring music, including piano quartets in E-flat by Mozart and Schumann. The quartets will be performed by Sila Darville, Jonathan Crosmer, Luke Darville, and Madeline Rogers. The concert is Friday, March 14 at 7:00 pm. Free admission–donations welcome!
Union Church’s Annual Meeting March 16, after worship & lunch (12:30 if you’re Zooming).
Are you interested in playing handbells? Robert Rorrer is looking to revitalize that ministry! See him for more info—they meet Wednesday evenings.
We’ve still got plenty of shirts and hats available. If you’d like one, contact the office to talk about sizes. If you’d like to help sell what we have left at Coffee Hour and/or Open Table, we’d be most grateful!
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