Planning Ahead
* Nov. 23 – 10 – noon, Congregational Discernment session
*Nov. 28 – 2:30-4:00 pm, Community Room -Thanksgiving dinner.
*Dec. 15 – 3 pm – Congregational Budget Meeting
Welcome to returning Berea Alumni, friends and families and to those in the Homecoming Choir, pianist Madeline Rogers, and conductors, Dr. XT Hong and Dr. Stephen Bolster! It’s a joy to worship together! Travel mercies to all who are heading home today.
Thanks to the Black Music Ensemble for an inspiring and uplifting concert held here yesterday. Union Church supports the work of the BME through a yearly contribution in honor of the unrecognized and uncredited composers of black spirituals and folk melodies that enrich and enhance our worship and world. We are so grateful for this decades-long tradition!!
Congregational Discernment Process, Nov. 23, 10-noon, Community Room.
Our congregation, along with our community, state, nation, and world, is facing a rapidly shifting cultural and political landscape. This shift is impacting many of the anchor institutions, cultural norms, and community values that have provided stability. In the face of such rapid change, we, as the church, Union, must determine what love demands of us now and in the coming 3-5 years. We must discern where our people’s talents, energy, and passion intersect with our community’s needs.
Theologian Walter Brueggemann described the discernment process as finding “the place I am most needed and where I most need to be.” Competing needs demand our attention and pull on our energy but we know we cannot do everything. Our task as a congregation is to identify those needs around us that we have the capacity and passion to address.
On November 23rd from 10 am – noon, you are invited to meet with others in our congregation to begin this journey of discernment. This will be the first meeting of several that will help us move from identifying things we COULD do to what we WILL do to answer the pressing needs of our time.
Many of us feel tired, fearful, and discouraged about the lack of compassion and open hostility displayed by many in our society. We cannot control how other people but love demands that we hold on to hope and be the hands and feet of Christ to our community.
The poet Mary Oliver wrote, “Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too was a gift.” Within the struggles we are facing is the gift of opportunity. Join us to discern our opportunities as individuals and as a congregation to bring light to the darkness.
Successful Estate Sale The Betty Wray estate sale was a huge gift that keeps on giving! We do not have a total yet but the estimate is about $7000.00 to date! Several of the larger furniture pieces have yet to find their new home. The Mission and Service Board will also set up a table in the Community Room with some of the treasures that got overlooked in the masses for your Christmas shopping pleasure.
The two day sales event (sounds like Macy’s) was a success because of the many folks who helped set up and sell! Thank you to: Carla Gilbert, Sally Gastineau, Betty Sarafin, Paula White, Joy Gritton, Jeannie Hogg, Walter Rausch, Joan English, Sandy Bolster, Hazel Morris, and Teresa Dickson. Special appreciation goes to: Bob Boyce and his brother, Steve, who drove from Knoxville to get the pricing started; My friends Steve Royce, Bea Stringer and Angie Gilliam who helped set up, shopped and lent support; Jeff Hutton and Dave Kobersmith who cheerfully delivered tables and set up the tent; and Lydia Kitts and her daughter who baked cinnamon bread for hungry workers.
A huge Thank You goes to James and Karen Wray who worked for weeks unpacking, cleaning and organizing the collected treasures. Their gracious welcome made the work a pleasure. And finally, to Betty Wray, whose generous spirit and love of beautiful things made this fundraiser possible.
New Art! Sale extended Jennifer Elam has put up some new art in the dance corner of the sanctuary to go with Kent’s theme: Together We Rise. She will also be selling art at in the Com-munity Room today to help support Union Church. Come do your Christmas shopping!
About tonight’s Compline: 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.
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!
Menu for Nov. 20
· Apple/Cranberry Baked Chicken
· Rice
· Roasted Vegetables
· Cake
· Pumpkin Fluff – Gluten Free
Christmas is coming (can you believe it?!) Cantata in the works! Celebrate Advent and Christmas making music! Sing or Play for December music and special Cantata. Our Music Director is starting early plans for a Christmas Cantata. If you, or any kids or youth in your household, would like to participate, please get in touch with Bernardo! bernardo_ scarambone@eku.edu
Speaking of Christmas … it’s not too early to start collecting or buying new of slightly used books for kids and young adults (particularly needed) for Christmas baskets! You can bring to the church office.
The Food Bank reports its resources are running very low. Financial donations can be made at bereaoutreach.org. The Food Bank doesn’t take food items, they pool all our donations of money to get the best deals on items most needed. Thank you!
Bake sale January 5 to benefit Highways and Hedges! Would you like to donate some baked goods or money to buy some? Please contact Deb Beishline at beishlinedeborah @gmail.com
There are bins around the church for donations of cold weather gear (esp. tarps and sleeping bags) for our unhoused neighbors. See next page for a complete list.
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