Weekly Lenten Social Justice Action: This week’s Prayer In Action Day in Frankfort focuses on gun violence. This week, please call or write your legislator in Frankfort to ask them to protect Kentucky students through supporting meaningful and sensible gun legislation and by opposing legislation that makes students less safe. Currently, HB210 is under consideration and would allow concealed carry on Kentucky college campuses. Kentucky colleges oppose this bill. Wesley Morgan, who represents much of Madison County, is one of the bill’s sponsors. The phone number for the Kentucky legislature is 800-372-7181. If you participate on social media, you can post about your Action this week with the hashtag #UCLent2018
Pastoral Relations Board Talk Session Feb. 20, 6:30 pm Classroom. An open opportunity to process staff transitions. We want to process any grief together and hold one another in the light.
Join the All-Church Read: “An Other Kingdom” for Lent. “An Other Kingdom” presents an alternative to soul-crushing systems of consumerism and patriarchy that have wounded so many. Walter Brueggeman and 2 colleagues proposes another way drawing on the prophetic imagination of scripture and community. Copies are available at Robie books, or online (kindle and audio versions available). Rev. Kent Gilbert will host a weekly discussion Sundays at 1 pm starting Feb. 25 in the Conference Room — or read along on your own!
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.
Post Pictures for The Lent Photo-a-day Project! One theme per day, and you can post them and share using hashtag “#UCLent2018”. Use the same code in facebook’s search box to view these visual prayers.
Security Code Changing Soon: Are you Affected? If you need to use the outdoor key box to get into the building for your group or meeting, drop us an email to request the new code. It will change March 1.
Stephen Minister Informational Meeting Feb. 25! We Need Caring, Committed Members to be Stephen Ministers! New Training Starts Soon! Stephen Ministry is a one-to-one lay caring ministry where trained and empowered lay caregivers- called Stephen Ministers- provide high-quality, confidential, accepting, compassionate care to people who are hurting. 50 hours of training are required, and classes will run mid-April through early September. So Grab your lunch and bring it to the Stephen Minister Classroom off the Community Room downstairs. There will be another informational meeting on Wednesday February 21st right after the Wednesday Night Live meal. You can pick up an application at one of the informational meetings, the church office, or contact Jeff From jeff.from@gmail.com. Interviews for applicants will be conducted in March.
Our Whole Lives (OWL) Parent Meeting Next Sunday After Church: Our Whole Lives is a comprehensive sexuality curriculum for high school-aged young adults. The weekly sessions will start March 1 and finish in May. Led by Carla Gilbert and Chris McKenzie the curriculum explores the science and spirituality of sexuality in its many facets, and hopes to answer questions teens have about sex in a safe and structured environment. Both Carla and Chris have received intensive training on how to deliver the curriculum and are certified to deliver the program to this age group. A parental orientation session will be required (Classroom, Feb. 25, 1 pm, after lunch) and youth must commit to the program from the beginning in order to attend the weekly sessions. Families who are interested should contact Chris McKenzie at 205-451-7444. Cost: $60, half scholarships available.
Madison County Songfarmer Gathering Feb. 23, 5:30 pm, Community Room. Lover of acoustic music Picker? Community open mic, jam and sing along Friday! Several local Songfarmers (Sue Peterson Blyth, Jerry & Leah Sparks, Jesse Willhite, and Jack Marshall) have agreed to help sponsor and get the Gathering up and running for the 2018 season. If you want to participate in the open mic sign up by 6 PM.. Come early for a bowl of chili and meet new friends. Music starts officially at 6:30 PM. We will pass the hat.
Festival of Spirituals Concert Feb. 24, 7 pm, Sanctuary. A wonderful festival of African-American spirituals performed in many styles by many different artists, including Liza & A.J., the Black Music Ensemble of Berea College, the Folk-Roots Ensemble, and many more. All welcome, no charge.
Annual Reports due March 1! If you are the chairperson of a Board, please get your Annual Report to the office as soon as possible. Email is preferred, no need to format it. If you’d like to see a couple of previous years’ reports to use as a guide, just call the office and we’ll send them!
Folk Concert March 3, 7 pm, Cowan Chapel. Singer-Songwriter Melody Youngblood just released her debut album, “Sweet Isolation,” featuring original songs and hauntingly beautiful traditional ballads. Sarah Marie Miller/Rainbow Star records her debut, “Music From The Rainbow Sparkle Palace: Volume I” February 16-19 in Berea, Ky. Come let yourself be taken away by sweet soulful folk music like none you’ve ever heard. Guests will be given a chance to order albums that eve. Free admission. An offering for Union Church as a thanks for their hospitality will be taken.
Our Multi-Media Team is Amazing! Join Them and Help Broadcast Union Church! Do you have an interest in multi media? After a year of work, Marty Hensley and Jack Marshall have perfected our new system and are ready and willing to train whoever might be interested. No prior experience is necessary! We will train you in everything you need to know about all of the multi media assets that are around our beloved Church. We hope to build 4 to 6 teams consisting of two people each. This is a great thing for families to participate in together, and can be taught to anyone between nine and 99 years old! Email Jack Marshall at jack.a.marshall @gmail.com or text him at 859-200-2679 if you are interested.
Official Record Book Still Missing :(. Have you seen the sign-in book we use to record new members’ joining dates and attendance at meetings? Did you look in your car? What about at home? It’s been missing since November and maybe some-one accidentally took it home or tucked it somewhere for safe keeping? It’s black padded leather, about 8 1/2 x 11. Help!
In the community:
Berea Home Village volunteer orientation February 22nd, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Saint Joseph Berea boardroom. Lunch will be provided. Katie Heckman, Executive Director, Berea Home Village 859-985-0099.
Save the Dates! Berea Leadership Experience for Youth, July 16-20. Berea Leadership Experience will hold its camp for kids to learn skills of conflict resolution, media literacy, mindfulness, and appreciation of nature the week of July 16th -20th, 9 am – 2 pm for kids in incoming grades 2-8. We are also seeking sponsors for scholarships and other financial donations to make this camp possible for as many people as possible. Sponsorships are $60 to cover one student. Checks can be made or online donations can be designated to Union Church, memo line “Berea Leadership Experience.” Thank you!
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