“Lord we believe, and we doubt. We hold fast to the gift of new life, and yet the nails of current reality bite hard. For all who are listening and praying now: place the healing of your hands into the holes of our hope. Breathe peace into our troubled and locked rooms. Bring us through knowledge and compassion to the resilience required of us. For those who suffer, God, we ask your strength and touch: in mind, body, and spirit heal those who are ill, and tend those who care for them. Our life is hidden in the power of your Christ. Our doubt is no impediment to your love. Find us where ever we are sheltered, slip through the locked door of our minds and hearts, and show us again that life shall triumph and love shall conquer and all sighs and tears shall flee away. In the name of the Risen and Rising Christ, Amen.”
Greetings beloveds!
This prayer so beautifully offered on Sunday morning by Chris Green and Jenny Hobson, may resonate with some of you. I certainly hope that even in the midst of current chaos, Peace strange and precious has leaked under the door of your anxiety at least a little. We are being forged, my friends, not punished. And I hope God is giving you a sense of grace and curiosity, even as hardships present and force us to adapt and change. I know it’s hard, and I know there are many challenges. And we all know it’s not over. By your prayers and by your compassionate care for others, you can and are girding yourself spiritually for whatever must come, and for whatever length of time is needed for all God’s children to be safe, whole, and healed.
The Union Church family is hard at work trying to help in this. Dozens of you responded to the urgent needs for food here at our local food bank and als
o for Samuel’s Kid’s orphanage in Uganda. Our work with One Great Hour of Sharing, an international project that supports Church World Service disaster relief was recently recognized by United Church News, and your donations are making a huge difference, both here and abroad.
Close to home, mask-makers of Union Church have been putting out a steady supply and distributing to members, local community organizations and others. Wearing a mask reduces the chance of spreading the virus, so show forth your love of others by wearing one everytime you are out. If you need one, just let the office know and we’ll make sure you get one from one our great volunteers!
Another way we are being the church is through connection and fellowship. You may have noticed that we have started broadcasting on Facebook now! That means you can check in online, share comments with me and others live, and also see who else is watching with you. You can really help others find us by letting them know that you are watching! And please share the broadcast if you can. It helps trigger search engines, so people looking for Union Church or the love and camaraderie you create can find us! Here are some new fellowship opportunities!
Join me for Coffee Hour Conversation tomorrow!! I’d love to connect zoomface-to-zoomface with any and all of you who can make it!
You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: Apr 22, 2020 10:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/uJEqcuyurzouyJBWoiHpJJIQW1r7XWPcEw
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Hymn Sing on Thursday! Bernardo Scarambone, our director of music ministries and I are teaming up for an hour of your favorite hymns on Thursday night! Log in to Facebook and go to Union Church Berea. We’ll be live and taking requests!
Look for a New Church App for your Phone or Tablet! We hope to have our new church database program up and running by May 1. Everyone will have password protected access to your own information so you can upload a current photo, change addresses, and set what information you do and do not want visible to other members. There will also be a new church app that will give you a LIVE DIRECTORY and the ability to check in, make contributions, and so much more! Look for the launch of Union’s Fellowship One Go! App soon!
In all these things, beloved, you are more than conquerors. You are a light shining to others, and certainly to me. Keep the faith, wash your hands, pray hard and help others. This is our discipleship. And in all of this, I’m so glad to be working to embody the life and teaching of Jesus for a new era. It is a bold task, but you have proven over and over that you are up for it.
Many blessings,
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