No WNL this week.
Next week: Abigale Embry Preaching! We are delighted to welcome Abby Embry back to Union Church to bring the word while Rev. Kent and the choir are away in New York City. Abby is a Berea College graduate, and in her final weeks of seminary at Louisville Presbyterian Seminary. She will soon be finishing the ordination process in the United Church of Christ. We look forward to welcoming her back next week!
Thanksgiving Meal Delivery: Join members and friends to help deliver meals on Thanksgiving day, 10:30 am at First Christian Church parking lot. Members from all Berea churches are serving up this blessing. Meals are all prepared ready to deliver to addresses you will be given. Bring an insulated cooler to keep them hot!
St. Clare Christmas Basket Program! Each year we partner with St. Clare Church to help provide food staples and childrens’ gifts for the holidays. We have often gotten a corporate donation of toys from Hasbro, but they are unable this year. Thus, specific toys are in definite need. In the sanctuary each week from now until December 16, you will find information about how to provide food for families of various sizes. Your items, put into a cardboard box (or boxes), along with any toys or children’s books, do not need to be delivered to St. Clare until later in December. We will however, collect toys and food baskets here if you wish, or would like help transporting your items. If you wish to make a financial contribution in lieu of shopping yourself, here are the recommended donation amounts:
1-2 person family: $70
3-4 person family: $95
5-6 person family: $105
7 + person family: $115
A more comprehensive list of toys will be sent out soon, but specific toys needed now include:
Legos, Lincoln Logs, KNex, building blocks, magnetix, tractors/ trucks/ cars, dolls and doll house furniture, play kitchen and food sets, puzzles, stacking toys, headphones, basketballs and soccer balls and jump ropes.”
Adopt a Gift for Liberty Place Recovery Center Residents and Their Children. Liberty Place Recovery Center for Women is one of our Union Church Mission and Service projects as we support women who are making the courageous and difficult journey to freedom from addiction. While a resident of the recovery center, women are not able to work, so providing for themselves and for their families is always a factor. This year you can help by adopting a resident or their children for a Christmas present. Provide your name and contact information in the basket on the giving table at church, or send it to the church office and you’ll be provided with the specific sizes and needs of your resident or their children. Please write legibly so we can make a blessing!
Many thanks for helping make the season brighter for those most in need!
How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Our Choir can tell you! They leave Friday to perform in the concert A Winter Rose November 26. American composers/conductors Joseph Martin and Mark Hayes bring their original choral music to Carnegie Hall to celebrate the holidays.
Hanging of the Greens Nov 25 at 1:30. All are welcome to participate in decorating the Sanctuary. Many hands make light work! Cookies and hot cocoa for dessert!
Do you have greenery in your yard? Cuttings of holly and magnolia especially appreciated. Other evergreens with thick-ish foliage are also welcome. Please leave branches outside alongside the handicap ramp so they will remain fresh – sometime after Monday, Nov 19th . Further supplies may be needed to freshen up the sanctuary before Christmas Eve. Contact John Payne, 986-8100 with questions.
Have a Heart For Fellowship, Communication and Welcoming New Members? We Need 3! The Community Life and Growth Board of the church helps “outsiders” become “insiders” by helping Rev. Kent welcome new members, get people acquainted with each other for ministry and spiritual support, and oversees our website, social media, and media outreach (advertisments, banners, webcasts, etc). We need three people to help fulfill this vital work with our pastor. Is one of them you? Please contact Carla Gilbert of the nominating board: carla_gilbert@windstream.net or call the church office!
Want to know more about economic justice efforts in Kentucky? Grace McKenzie attend a meeting on Dec 8th with Kentuckians for the Common-wealth 10:30-4:30 in Lexington or Frankfort (location TBD) and can invite a few other folks. Please email her at grace@kftc.org if you are interested in attending.
Mission Board Supports MOLO Village Community Development Corporation. Thanks to your generous giving, the Mission and Service Board has been able to support several important projects. As we continue our prayers for dismantling white supremacy, we have been impressed by the work of “MOLO Village” in west Louisville, and have recently given a $500 grant. “MOLO” means “welcome” in Xhousa (a South African dialect) and MOLO Village CDC is a grassroots organization committed to addressing some of the complex issues that face the Russell community. Their primary goal is engaging residents of the Russell Neighborhood in holistic approaches to transform, empower, and renew the community served through education, community service, advocacy, and healthy living. Their programs include an ex-offenders re-entry program, holistic health initiatives for young and old, recovery groups for those suffering from addiction, senior adult renewal programs, and economic entrepreneurial education. Learn more at http://molovillage-cdc.org/
Reinstated SNAP time limit has led to thousands without food assistance. Since May of this year, 10,097 Kentucky adults have lost food assistance as a result of new barriers to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation erected by the state. Beginning in February, the state began reinstating, on a county-by-county basis, a three-month time limit on how long adults without a disability or dependents can receive SNAP benefits without working an average of 20 hours per week. Over 54,000 adults in 112 counties are now subject to this requirement. New data shows almost one in five Kentucky adults who could lose food assistance due to the three-month time limit have done so. Many support groups, churches, and aid agencies opposed this change because it endangers the wellbeing and health of Kentucky families. The Kentucky Council of Churches also strongly opposed this action and urges concerned citizens to contact the Cabinet for Health and Family Services at (800) 372-2973.
LOOKING AHEAD:
Plan now for Lenten experience: This year there will be a pre-Lent retreat for adults (ages 18+) on March 4-6 planned by Donna Eder and Carla Gilbert. The focus will be on Solitude and Sharing in Sacred Space and it will be held at the Loretto Community guest house, located 1 ½ hours west of Berea. We will be offering oppor-tunities for contemplation and spiritual sharing, many of which can be continued afterwards to deepen your Lenten experience. The cost per day for meals and lodging is $45 for a double room and $65 for a single room. Because space is limited to 9 people (plus Donna and Carla) and a one night’s deposit is required, we ask that you sign up if interested by Nov. 30th Contact Donna Eder (859-868-1142) donnajeder@gmail.com or Carla Gilbert (859-985-1144) carla_gilbert@wind-stream.net to register or if you have any questions about the retreat.
Christmas Caroling: Sunday December 16th at 4:00 pm. Help is needed to plan the details of this event. Please contact Laura (call or text) at 859-358-0106 or joyfulsunflower @gmail.com to volunteer your fun-planning skills!
Please Sign up to Read Scripture or to Help Greet and Usher! Please use our electronic sign up system, http://signup. com/go/xkdVtB, where you can pick a date that works for you and get reminders! OR you can also call the office and we’ll get you on the lists.
From “I Happen to Be Standing” by Mary Oliver
…I happened to be standing
just outside my door, with my notebook open,
which is the way I begin every morning.
Then a wren in the privet began to sing.
He was positively drenched in enthusiasm,
I don’t know why. And yet, why not.
I wouldn’t persuade you from whatever you believe
or whatever you don’t. That’s your business.
But I thought, of the wren’s singing, what could this be
if it isn’t a prayer?
So I just listened, my pen in the air.
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