Please note that Union Church services are livestreamed.
Dear Church Family,
On Thursday the Kentucky House of Representatives passed a bill with the extremely misleading title of the “Do No Harm” act, which gravely impacts families in our congregation.
House Bill 470 criminalizes all care for gender affirming services for anyone under 18, regardless of what their parents or legal guardians have determined is best for their child. The law is written so that no minor can receive puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and other medical treatments that the bill deems encouragement for gender non-conformity to the sex assigned at birth.” I urge you to be in active supportive prayer of those who just want live their lives and be strong and happy.
Trans youth suicide rates are outrageously high, in part because of people in power who want them not to exist. But laws like HB 470 won’t make them go away, and their suffering should be no pleasure to anyone.
Please consider phoning or writing Jared Carpenter, the state senator representing this district with your views on the matter, and also “Senate Leadership.” You can leave them all a message at 800-372-7181, from 8am-9pm M-Th, and 8am-6pm Fridays. You can email him at Jared.Carpenter@lrc.ky.gov. Ask Senate leaders not to bring this terrible bill for a vote. Ask your senator to oppose any such legislation that would deny care or respect to trans kids or their families. God, in your mercy, hear our prayer – Rev. Kent
Artist’s Statement about the Communionware cover:
Lent is a season of paradox. It is a time of mourning, introspection, and repentance, but also a time of rejoicing as we look ahead to the redemption that brings our peace.
Like the season, this com-munionware cover portrays both heaviness and beauty. The yarn is handspun from the lamb fleece of Rebekah, one of my first sheep. Suffolk is one of the scratchier wools, knitted lace tends to be heavier than other forms of lace, and the purple came out even darker than I intended. The black glass beads are reminiscent of jet, beloved of Victorian mourners. All these things remind us of sin, loss, and heartache. (Not to mention the mistakes, frustrations, and tears knitted into this difficult pattern!)
Yet the design is that of a daisy, a self-seeding, spreading, nearly unstoppable harbinger of summer and joy. The light airiness of the surrounding lace reminds us that even in the darkest nights, beauty is never far away.
Wool washed, prepared, carded, spun, dyed, and knitted by Debbonnaire Kovacs, January and February, 2008. Beads from Fishwisdom Beads in Old Town.
Church World Service Earthquake Aid: the faithful of every nation are uniting to bring relief to the hundreds of thousands of victims in of the recent earthquakes in Asia Minor. Gift can be made online to Church World Service, https://cwsglobal.org/donate/turkiye-syria-earthquake-2023/, or designated on your check or contribution to Union Church.
The Nominating Board is seeking candidates to serve on the following Union Church Boards, and invites you to consider serving our Church community for a term of one, two, or three years in one of these areas:
· Administration
· Finance
· Worship
· Community Life and Growth
Please contact the Church Office or Rachel Lakes for more information about the boards and to self-nominate or recommend someone.
The Sanctuary/Community Room building turned 100 in 2022!!! Due to Covid, we weren’t’ able to celebrate that milestone but we sure are going to this year – on June 4!! Do you like to plan parties? Do historical research? Give tours of historical spaces? Have you got other ideas for celebrating this grand old building? Email the office if interested.
Interested In a different kind of Lenten devotion? How about singing with the choir for a few weeks? Wednesdays at 6:30 in the 3rd floor Choir Room. No huge commitment necessary AND on Easter Sunday, all who would like to will be welcome to sing the Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah.
Book Study on Wholehearted Faith to begin March 7! Small Group starting March 7, 6pm, Union Church Conference Room. Will meet weekly till March 28. If you prefer to Zoom in, Zoom invite will be sent to those who register. Registration link will be live in Monday Announcements tomorrow or use: bit.ly/Wholehe artedFaithatUnion
Interested in a different kind of Lenten devotion? How about singing with the choir for a few weeks? Wednesdays at 6:30 in the 3rd floor Choir Room. No huge commitment necessary AND on Easter Sunday, April 9, anyone who would like to will be welcome to sing the Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah. Choir will rehearse the piece at every Weds. rehearsal so you’ll be prepared to make a joyful noise!
Next Berea Old Time Music Circle Jam will be Saturday, March 11th, 2023 from 10-12:30 p.m. at “The Parlor” in Union Church, 200 Prospect Street, Berea, KY.
Mark your calendars! Union Church’s Annual Meeting will be March 19. Format (Zoom, in-person, hybrid) tbd.
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