CONSIDER...
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The Union Church
Newsletter
August 2015
Sunday Worship 10:30
We'd also love to connect with you on Facebook http://https://www.facebook.com/UnionChurchBerea
Mailing address CPO 2105; Berea, KY; 40404 Physical address 200 Prospect St.; Berea, KY; 40403 Phone 859-986-3725
Office [email protected] Rev. Kent [email protected] Rev. Rachel [email protected]
Inside this issue:
ReKindle the Spirit, Bazaar,
Financial Corner
Rekindle the Spirit August 16!
1
The Faith Development Board invites you
to Rekindle the Spirit Day on
Sunday, August 16 (following worship
service) to join the conversation.
Birthdays, Anniversaries, News 2
of the Family, Sock Drive
From the Pastors
3
Pastors, con’t, and Alzheimer’s 4
Education
Summer Musical Notes
5
Youth Group News & Photos
6
Ways to Serve & Help
7
Regular Events, Staff, Mission
Statement, Bible Reading
8
Bazaar Aug. 29!
Raffles! Bake sale!
Food on the lawn! Live
music! Great stuff!
Junque!
th
We want to take time to share our vision
for the future and hear where you want
to go. Together, we will go boldly in to
future of our faith development! The
Intergenerational Bell Workshop
discussion will take place in the activities
room downstairs, and a snack lunch will be provided.
Topics to be discussed will include, but will not be limited to: changes to
Sunday School, children’s church, family faith days and opportunities to further the
mission of the Faith Development Board.
We look forward to seeing you and hearing what you have to say!
Union
Church’s
Bazaar proceeds help
fund Mission & Service
projects locally, nationally
a n d i n t e r n a t i on a l l y .
Thanks for your support
and help!!
This year the bazaar
will be S atu rd ay,
August 29, from 10 am
to 2 pm. Bring donations
to the former Nursery off
the Community Room.
Baked goods, jams,
welcome too.
Financial Corner
The bar graph represents our actual income and expenses
for 2015 through June 30th. The total income is $247,327 and
our expenses totaled $211,118. Our net income year to date
is $36,208. This is due to the steady and generous giving from
friends and members of Union Church. Thank you!!!
The income is extra high thanks to a one-time, nonrepeatable gift and bequests monies from the Lambert Fund
that are distributed in June. We are incredibly grateful for this
assistance, but since we can’t count on it in the future, we
hope you’ll continue to be generous and to help us have a year
in the black! Every gift matters in our efforts to be witness
and workers for justice and joy.
Visit http://union-church.org/donate/ to donate online.
Please
clearly.
price
items
We will be asking for
volunteers to help with
this Mighty Event soon.
Consider...page 2
August Birthdays & Anniversaries
Birthdays
1 Tom Hubbard
1 Barb Smith
2 Joyce Mosher
3 Jeanne Hamilton
4 Richard Drake
4 Finn Strange
6 Jack Marshall
7 Truman Fields
12 Elizabeth Erlandson
12 Teri Mehler
14 Les Pross
14 Alice White
15
15
16
17
18
18
20
21
21
22
23
24
25
Kelly Richards
Kaitlyn Shaffer
Alonza Myers
Kim Kobersmith
BG Hibbard
Sally Zimmerman
Pearl Marshall
Rachel Small Stokes
Kayleena Ward
Rebecca Baker
Alvera Perman
Sylvia Cochrane From
Tom Warth
26 John Culp
26 Robert Rorrer
29 Sofia Saderholm
Anniversaries
4 Larry & Nancy Shinn
5 Dave & Kim Kobersmith
6 Jeff & Laurinda Pool
18 David & Lisa Shroyer
19 Larry & Iris Brandenburg
23 Doug & Nancy
Hindman
If we don’t know your
birthday or anniversary, we
want to! Or if we’ve made a
mistake please call or email
the office.
News of the Family
We celebrated the life of
Margaret Durham, 93, who died
June 17th with her children and many
other family and friends.
We are saddened by the sudden
death of Bob Bates on July 5th. Our
prayers surround his wife Joan, his
children and grandchildren.
Abby Embry, former intern and
chair of our Worship Board, has been
hired as full-time chaplain to Hospice
Care Plus! Congratulations!
Our public library has recently
acquired a copy of Michelle
Tooley’s 1997 book Voices of the
Voiceless: Women, Justice and Human
Rights in Guatemala.
Save the Date:
Saturday, Sept 19th
Ordination
of
Naomi
Schulz
and her Installation
as pastor of the
Congregation for
Reconciliation United Church of
Christ, in Dayton, OH! There will be
c a r poo l s and r id e s h a r in g
information as we get closer to the
date! Come celebrate!
Rev. Kent has been selected as
one of 30 clergy to participate in a
pastoral renewal program of the
United Church of Christ. A weeklong retreat focusing on spiritual,
vocational, financial, and physical
health will take place in late October,
followed by a year of distancelearning and group support.
Our Fellowship Principles
“Union Church welcomes all followers
of Christ and works with all who work
with Him; respecting each person’s
conscience; working by love,
endeavoring to keep the unity of the
spirit in the bond of peace.”
You can join this movement!
New members are received the
second Sunday of every month, and
you are very welcome here! Come,
be part of this family working for
Christ’s justice and joy! Next
chance—August 9!
Dobby Sock Drive
The Harry Potter Alliance chapter of Lexpecto Patronum in
Lexington is a group of young people organizing to do good in the
world.
They are asking us to help with a sock drive for homeless people. In
the Harry Potter books, the house elf Dobby was emancipated by
being given a sock. Let’s make that a reality by bringing socks to church
on August 9!
New and very gently used socks are acceptable. Donate whatever you
would give a dear friend with cold feet. ♥
For more info about Lexpecto Patronum, go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/LexpectoPatronum/
Consider...page 3
So, What Were They Doing in
Cleveland, Anyway?
Many of you noticed that Rev.
Kent and Rev. Rachel were gone for
what seemed like FOREVER during
the end of June and beginning of July.
Actually, it was only a week, but it
felt like a long time to be separate
from you as we heard news of
churches being burnt and marriage
equality being upheld. We very much
wanted to be with you during that
time.
But what we were doing was kind
of amazing, too, and we want to
share that with you. Both of us are
ordained in the United Church of
Christ, a unique denomination of
congregations that have united into
regional conferences for regular
business and fellowship, and then
meet together as a national body
once every two years to listen,
discern, and speak to each other.
Most denominations have national
bodies that issue declarations and
decide rules. The UCC General
Synod instead sees itself as a group
gathering to discern and prophesy
where the spirit is leading us, and
then to suggest those things to the
independent congregations.
The
congregations can then seek the
Spirit’s guidance on whether or not
to adopt them. It’s kind of like a
Holy Spirit Advisory Council.
This year’s Synod wasted no time
in hitting big issues. Some were
“slam dunks,” voted in almost
unanimously. Others were incredibly
contentious and required hours of
debate and prayer, committee
meetings and compromises. Here
are some of the resolutions that the
body decided the Spirit was calling
out of us:

To transition completely away
from dependency on fossil fuels
by 2040
Our Pastors’
Report from
General Synod

To address the ways our legal
system has failed African
Americans, becoming the “New
Jim Crow.”

To encourage congregations to
become “WISE” (welcoming,
inclusive, supportive, engaged)
for greater inclusion and service
to people with mental health
concerns.

To extend our stewardship from
our planet into outer space,
educating ourselves about the
dangerous level of debris from
satellites in an orbit surrounding
our planet.

To actively resist attempts
around the country to limit
access to rights and services for
LGBT people on the basis of
“religious freedom.”

The most controversial: a call to
divest from and boycot t
companies who profit from the
Israeli occupation of Palestinian
lands. A resolution to call the
occupation “apartheid” was
voted down.
All people
recognized that this is a difficult
conversation, and that we hope
to be in continual talks with our
Jewish brothers and sisters
through this.
To see more about these and the
other resolutions passed, go to:
http://synod.uccpages.org/resolutions/
In addition, we heard great
preaching and wit ness from
prominent community leaders. Here
are some Twitter-length summaries:
 Ms. Connie Schultz, the nationally
syndicated columnist, reminded us
that “Christianity is about fixing
yourself and helping others, not
the other way around.” (You
might have heard Rev. Kent quote
this in a sermon recently.) She
also encouraged us to be
committed to sharing our stories
and listening to one another, and
in doing so to see more clearly
the Author of all of our stories.
 Rev.
Paul Raushenbush: the
Religion editor for the Huffington
Post urged us to fight for the soul
of the Church, acknowledging that
too often injustices have been
perpetrated in the name of our
Christian faith. He also called us
to the mission field of social
media: “The Internet is too
important, too wonderful, and too
dangerous for the Church to sit it
(Continued on page 4)
Consider...page 4
Our Pastors’ Report from General Synod, con’t.
(Continued from page 3)
out.” You might have noticed if
you’re on Twitter that Rev. Kent
(@revkentg) and Rev. Rachel
(@revsmallstokes) have both
become more active tweeters
since that sermon. :-) FYI, Union
Church is @UnionChurchKY.
 Ms.
Winona LaDuke,
environmental activist and writer,
called us to face our “addiction to
fossil fuels,” noting that—like
addicts—we justify our use and
engage in extreme behaviors to
attain the product. She listed a
number of those “extreme
behaviors” that are damaging our
earth and our society as a whole.
She named Appalachian
Mountaintop Removal as a prime
example.

Rev. Molly Baskette, pastor of a
renewing church near Boston,
exhorted us to “be brave” and
show people our whole selves,
not just our “front stage.” Her
congregation practices taking
turns confessing their sins before
the whole congregation, who
loves and affirms them back.
And then they have a big dance
party. After her sermon, we also
had a dance party!
 Bishop
Dwayne Royster of
Philadelphia asked us, “Is God
real? Or did we just make God up
in order to go to church and have
social hour to hang out with
friends?” He called us to our
mission in this moment: “to
change the d*** world!”
 Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, a Palestinian
Christian pastor serving in
Bethlehem, reminded us that the
foundational question of our faith
is not, “Is there a God?” but
“Where are you, God?” This is
what the Incarnation helps us
answer: God shows up in
unexpected places. He also
reminded that Palestinians are
asking this question under
occupation just as Jesus lived
under Roman occupation of the
same land.
The rest of our time was spent in
great conversation (and for Rachel,
fellowship-related lectures and
discussions on leadership) with
fellow Synod-goers, including former
interns Chrissy Cataldo, Mark Pettis
(and his wife Elena and their son
Thomas!), and Naomi Schulz. All
send their great love!
We know it was a big week to be
gone, and please receive our
gratitude for allowing us to be part
of this holy work. We bring back
lots of inspiration and good ideas
that we’ll be sharing. (Also, Rachel
has brought back a LOT of post-it
notes. If you need some, let her
know…)
With peace and love,
Rev. Kent and Rev. Rachel
Watch the Sunday
service at unionchurch.org/livebroadcast/
Alzheimer’s Education at Madison County Public Library,
Richmond location
Session 1: Living With Alzheimer's for Caregivers: Early Stage. In the early stage of Alzheimer's disease, families face
new questions as they adjust. Tuesday, August 4, 2:00 pm
Session 2: Living With Alzheimer's for Caregivers: Middle Stage. In the middle stage of Alzheimer's disease, those
who were care partners now become hands-on caregivers. Tuesday, August 11, 2:00 pm
Session 3: Living With Alzheimer's for Caregivers: Late Stage. In the late stage of Alzheimer's disease, caregiving
typically involves new ways of connecting and interacting with the person with the disease. Tuesday, August
18, 2:00 pm
If you or someone you know is affected by Alzheimer's disease or dementia, it's time to learn the facts. To
register, call 1-800-272-3900
Consider...page 5
(End-of) Summer Musical Notes
Hymn Sing
Share Your Music Sunday,
Sunday August 23
7:00 pm-8:30 pm ~ Cowan Chapel
(All Ages Welcome!)
August 30 ~ Sanctuary
We will gather for a “traditional” hymn-sing led by the
Union Church music staff.
Please turn in a list of your five favorite hymns from the
Black or Red Hymnbook by August 16.
You will have an opportunity to briefly share the reason
a particular hymn is significant to you.
It is not necessary to submit a sign-up form in order to
participate, however it will increase the chances that
your favorites will make the list of hymns to be sung.
They can be found in the ivory pamphlet—or just make
a list & place in the offering plate.
From July’s Hymn Sing
This is an opportunity for vocal and instrumental
soloists and ensembles to share the music of their
hearts in worship.
If you would like to provide music for this special
service, please fill out the sign-up sheet in the
brochure and turn it in by August 16 or sooner.
We will need this information well in advance so
we can craft an inspired, and smooth-running
worship service, as well as an efficient sound-check
schedule.
Please contact Gabe to coordinate additional
practice times.
Summer pick-up choir was a blast—
and they sounded great too!!
Union Church Music Ministries
Picnic
We Want YOU! Choirs are Starting
Back Up! Come Join!
August 20, 6 pm ~ Rev. Kent’s house,
298 Harrison Rd.
August 26 ~ 7-8 pm
Thinking about joining the Choir? Or the Bell
Choir? Want to know more? Come to this picnic and
meet choir members, music staff, bell folks—bring
your family! Burgers, hot dogs and drinks provided.
Bring a side or dessert to share.
RSVP to Sharona Nelson by August 16—
[email protected]
Union Church Handbell Ensemble
August 27~ 6:15—7:45 pm
Union Church Chancel Choir
Consider...page 6
A note from Grace McKenzie about Youth Group
For the past four years,
Chris and I have served as
youth directors here at
Union Church.
We have had the
opportunity to serve with
some of the best and
brightest among us. Our
youth constantly ask us
to probe our faith
deeper and to serve with
compassion. They also
constantly make us smile
and laugh and just enjoy
being with them. It is
with a heavy heart that I
inform you all that I will
be stepping down from
my part in the work as
youth director.
In the fall I will start a
Master's of Social Work
with Kent School at the
University of Louisville. It
is an online program, but I
will also continue my
work as the Associate
Director of Family
Partnership at Partners for
Education. With that in
mind, Chris and I have
decided that I will step
down and Chris will
continue to serve as
Youth Director.
The 10 hour per week
position is one that Chris
and I decided to work on
together, as we bring
different skills to the table.
Though the position was
originally for one person,
any one person needs
significant support from
volunteers to assist
providing programs
that adequately serve
our youth.
In the past year, we
have had the delight of
having
several
volunteers (Ashley
Hammond, Abigale
Embry, Alvera Perman,
and Kelly Richards)
serve with us and for the
upcoming year some of
those volunteers will
return and Erin Connor
has offered her support as
a volunteer.
Support from the
church
through
volunteers, through
helping with fundraisers,
and mentoring the youth
have been very important
to Chris and me and will
continue to be so as we
transition our roles.
Expect to see less of
me, as I bury my head in
books. You can aid in the
transition by remembering
to have discussions about
youth group with Chris
and by reaching out to him
to offer your support.
Peace and Blessings to
you all,
Grace Todd McKenzie
All photos are from
this summer’s
experience at
Passport Camp
Consider...page 7
Ways to Serve and Help
Special Call to Help Feed Our Neighbors
Achieving and Building Life Equally
Did you know that many Bereans will face an extra challenge
in feeding their families this August and September? As
Kentucky's EBT system (formerly known as "food stamps")
makes changes to its calendar, some families will have to find
ways to feed their children for a week longer than usual.
Berea Community's Family Resource/Youth Service Center
is able to help meet the need during those weeks, but needs
your help to do so. You can make a financial contribution to
the FRYSC, and staff will convert your dollars into filling meals
for families who are facing food shortages. Your donation is tax
deductible.
Write a check to Berea FRYSC and be sure to mark "family
meals" in your memo line. You can mail that check to Berea
FRYSC, 3 Pirate Parkway, Berea, KY 40403. Call Jenny Hobson
at 893-1075 or email [email protected]
Berea Food Bank
Don’t forget the Food Bank
during the summer months! They
are happy to receive extra produce!
Food can be brought to 103
Parkway Dr.
Individuals or families may receive a
week's worth of groceries up to
three times in a six month period.
GleanKY: Two
Problems: One
Solution
Are you interested in joining together to create a
Berea support group for those of us who self-identify
as differently or uniquely able, or identify as disabled?
This includes anyone who may be coping with a
chronic or long-term illness, or dealing with an injury
or illness that impacts daily life.
Let’s meet on August 19 at 6:00pm in the
Community Room at Union Church. This could
become a regular get-together, an opportunity for
friendship and sharing in a confidential setting.
We, in ABLE (Achieving and Building Life Equally),
work hard to be strong and fearless. We succeed in
life with creativity. We are not ‘less than;’ we are
equal in the world.
Please bring the following with you
in order to receive assistance from
the Food Bank:
 Driver's license or other photo
ID;
 Social Security Card for all
adults in your household;
 Piece of recent mail verifying
Free Lunch at the Public
Library through Aug. 11!
Monday –Saturday 18 & under
Sunday 1-2 Snacks for all ages!
No need to sign up—just show
up and eat a healthy lunch!
your current address.
Hunger and food waste.
These are two major
problems in America and,
while they might not seem
connected, they are.
According to Feeding
America’s Map the Meal
Gap study, one in six
people in Kentucky does
not have access to the
fresh, nutritious food they
need to live a healthy,
active lifestyle — over
750,000 people. At the
same time, 27 percent of
America’s food — as much
as 300 pounds of food per
person — gets thrown
away. If even a fraction of
that wasted food were
diverted from the trashcan
onto the dinner table, 4
million more Americans
could be fed each day.
How GleanKY Helps:
GleanKY bridges the gap
between
programs
working with foodinsecure populations and
groceries, markets and
farms with excess fruits
and vegetables. Every day,
volunt eer s pick up
produce that can’t be sold
but is otherwise perfectly
edible and deliver it to the
various organizations and
hunger ministries in our
community. GleanKY is
neither a food producer
nor a food preparer, yet
we’ve created a system
that links the two, which is
a win-win for both — they
are the only organization
in Kentucky that is doing
this type of work.
A GleanKY Madison
County chapter is just
getting started and will glean
for the first time August
1st at the Berea Farmer's
Market. Our next
organizational meeting is
August 12, 7:00 pm in the
Conference room at Union
Church. Come find out
more!! And check ‘em out
on Facebook —
https://www.facebook.com/g
leanKY?fref=ts or the web
www.gleanky.org
Consider...page 8
WE,
UNION
THE PEOPLE OF
CHURCH,
SEEK
TO
GOD
LIVE
OUT
Regular Weekly Happenings
Sundays
OUR
10:30 am ..... Morning Worship
4:00 pm ..... Overeaters Anonymous, Room 104
INSPIRED BY JESUS’ TRANSFORMING LOVE.
Weekdays 8:00 am ...... Zen Meditation, Cowan Chapel
10:00 am ..... Berea Mamas, Rm. 104
1:00 pm ..... GED Class, Classroom (changes to Tues/Thurs
at 9:00 am on August 18)
AS
Mondays
5:30 pm ..... QiGong, Cowan Chapel
6:00 pm ..... AlAnon meets, Wayside Room
7:00 pm ..... AA, Comm. Room.
Tuesdays
7:30 pm ....... Berea Community Drumming Circle, Cowan
DISCIPLESHIP
TO
AS
A
COMMUNITY
A GATHERING OF THOSE SEEKING TO
BOLDLY AND CREATIVELY EMBODY
CHRIST’S
LIFE AND MINISTRY, WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO
WORK AND FELLOWSHIP THAT MAKES THE
RADICAL AND INCLUSIVE LOVE OF
BELOVED COMMUNITY PROCLAIMED
GOD, THE
BY JESUS,
AND THE CONTINUING INSPIRATION OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT VISIBLE AND REAL TO ALL.
AS ONE IN BODY WITH CHRIST, WE COMMIT
Saturdays 11:00 am ..... ACA (Adult Children of Alcoholics), Class.
Other Regular Events
2nd & 4th Mons 9:30 am……….Berea Knitters, Classroom
2nd Tuesdays 10:00 am……….Basket Weaving Group, Comm. Rm
2nd Sundays New Members welcomed at Morning Worship
4th Sundays
11:45 am………Newcomers’ Gatherings
7:00 pm………Hymn Sing in Cowan Chapel!
Board Meetings
OURSELVES TO ACTS OF:

UNBOUNDED HOSPITALITY TO BUILD A
BELOVED COMMUNITY OF CHRIST

THOUGHTFUL, INSPIRATIONAL AND
INTENTIONAL FAITH DEVELOPMENT

PASSIONATE WORSHIP

RISK-TAKING MISSION AND SERVICE

EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY AND CARE
IN OUR STEWARDSHIP
Aug. 5
Aug. 10
5:00 pm ...........Community Life & Growth
3:00 pm ...........Properties Board
6:00 pm ...........Administration Board
Aug. 11
7:00 pm ...........Mission & Service Board
Aug. 12
6:30 pm ...........Finance
Aug. 17
7:00 pm ...........Church Council
Please contact your Board chairperson for meeting times if not
listed here.
About Us...
 All who seek & serve the love of God are ministers of Union Church
 Gail Wolford, Moderator
 Rev. Kent Gilbert, Pastor
 Rev. Rachel Small Stokes, Associate Pastor
 Dave Kobersmith, Church Administrator
 Gabriel Evans, Director of Music Ministries
 Pearl Marshall, Handbell Director
 Carrie Jadud, Alvera Perman & Leslie Small Stokes,
Jubilee & Joyful Noise Choir Directors
 Chris McKenzie, Youth Director
 Joan English, Office Administrator
Bible Reading for August
August 2
2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a
Psalm 51:1-12
Ephesians 4:1-16
John 6:24-35
August 9
2 Samuel 18:5-9,15,31-33
Psalm 130
Ephesians 4:25-5:2
John 6:35,41-51
August 16
1 Kings 2:10-12,3:3-14
Psalm 111
Ephesians 5:15-20
John 51-58
August 23
1 Kings 8: 1,6,10-11,2230,41-43
Psalm 84
Ephesians 6:10-20
John 6:56-69
August 30
Song of Songs 2:8-13
Psalm 45:1-2,6-9
James 1:17-27
Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23