The Church of

Christ, Union CPO 2105

Berea, KY 40404

Phone: 859-986-3725

E-mail: office@union-church.org

Website: www.union-church.org

Non-Profit Postage Paid

Permit Number 169

Berea, KY 40403

Return service requested

From Your Church Staff,

We thank you all so very much for your help in moving the church back into the

church throughout the month of January !!

We are so grateful for the hours of lifting & carrying, cleaning, moral support,

conversation, snacks and prayer from our church family. We

hope you’ll stop by soon and take a look around

— call the office any time between 8 am & 5 pm

weekdays if you’d like a guided tour.

Thank you!!!

Rev. Kent, Rev. Rachel, Dave, Larry and Joan

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

T H E C H U R C H O F C H R I S T , U N I O N

CONSIDER . . . T H E U N I O N

C H U R C H

N E W S L E T T E R

About Us...

All who seek and serve the

love of God are ministers of

Union Church

Rev. Kent Gilbert, Pastor

Rev. Rachel Small Stokes,

Associate Pastor

Merlin Kindel, Moderator

Larry Brandenburg, Director

of Music Ministries

Dave Kobersmith, Church

Administrator

Joan English, Office

Administrator

Youth Directors, Chris &

Grace McKenzie

Hope Hounshell, Woman’s

Industrial Director

Bea Chasteen, Dorie

Chasteen, Childcare

Erik Reinhart, Custodian

Lenten Challenge,

Nominating

Committee ......... 1

Birthdays &

Anniversaries,

News of the Family .......... 2

From the

Pastor ................. 3

MORE Lent

Options! .............. 4

Lenten Lunches.. 5

Youth, Financial

Corner ................. 6

Calendar ............. 7

Sunday Mornings!

Sunday School, 9:30

am

Worship,

10:30 am

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 3

“So many of us want to live

in the way of Jesus – pursuing a

life that is deeply soulful,

connected to our real needs,

and good news to our

world. Yet too often

our methods of

spiritual formation

are individualistic,

information driven, or

disconnected from

the deta i l s of

everyday life.

We s imp l y a r e no t

experiencing the kind of

transformation that is the

historically expected result of

the Christ phenomenon…

Simply put, I believe we need

to recover a sense of immediacy

and action in our

spiritual practices.”

– from Practicing

the Way of Jesus:

Life Together in the

Kingdom of Love by

Mark Scandrette.

What does this

quote do for your soul? For

mine, it both shocks and

excites. I feel a little fear, a

little threatened, but also

some rea l awe and

exhilaration. What does it

mean that we’re not

experiencing the “historically

expected result of the Christ

phenomenon?” What might

we look like, act like, feel like

if we did?

As we prepare for Lent

th i s year , t he Fa i th

D e v e l o p m e n t a n d

Community Life and Growth

Boards have been pondering

this theme, and have teamed

up to create an amazing

opportunity. We’ve been

thinking, studying, and praying

(Continued on page 4)

Union Church shines in

faith, service, and community

because so many hands and

hearts are engaged in creating

and sustaining good work -

together.

In fact, the life of our

church community depends

on the collective efforts of

each of us serving in many

different ways. Hallelujah!

One way that you can

serve is to say “yes” to

participation on one of the

church Boards. There is a

place for you to turn your

energy and ideas into

cooperative service and

support. Several Board

positions are open and

waiting!

Please consider offering

your participation of one of

these Boards, either as a

member or an active

supporter:

Administration

Community Life and

Growth

Faith Development

Mission and Service

Nurture and Care

Properties

Stewardship and

Finance

Worship

To learn more about the

role of the Boards, look at

the Union Church website

www.union-church.org , or

call the church office to ask

for a written description of

the tasks of each Board (859-

986-3725).

Thank you for stepping up!

Rise and Shine!

Will YOU Step Up and Say “Yes”?

40 Days: A Lenten Challenge

PA G E 2

Birthdays! 4 Sandy Bolster

4 Lauri McVicker

5 Lisa Bosley

6 Joy Frazier

6 Ralph Thompson

7 Jean Boyce

8 Eric Crowden

8 Henry Basham

11 Cora Livingston

12 Ashley Cochrane

13 Ben Livingston

14 Greg Lakes

15 Bernice Robertson

17 Grace McKenzie

19 Harry Piland

22 Ramona Culp

23 Steve Boyce

23 Nancy Shinn

24 Krystal Lovelace

26 Triss Holland

28 Rachael White

Anniversaries

4 Ronald & Annie Sims

16 Luther & Yvonda Center

17 Bob & Joan Bates

22 William & Sarah

Broomfield

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.

February Birthdays & Anniversaries

T H E U N I O N C H U R C H N E W S L E T T E R

News of the Family

Please hold Barb Taylor in

prayer, at the death of her father,

Russell Thayer. A service

celebrating his life will be held here

on February 9.

Union Church is a place where

your faith can grow and deepen. We

are actively looking for those who

would like to explore discipleship

with Jesus in this congregation. If

you’d like to formally join Union

Church, please call the office or

either pastor.

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."

New members in December:

Kate Grigg, 304 Jackson St.,

Apt. 4; Chelsey Lloyd, CPO

1013; and Maggie Park. In

January: Javier and Lindsay

Clavere, 204 Peachbloom Hill;

Krystal Lovelace & Ryan

Creevy, 69 Arrowhead Dr.;

Joseph Jaggers, 192 Glades Rd.,

Apt. 2; and Keith Viveros

Congregational Budget Meeting December 12, 6:30 pm.

Chelsey Lloyd

The Haydens

Joseph Jaggers

Maggie Park

Kate Grigg

Photos of some of our newer church family members! The Mullins

February 2013

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T H E U N I O N C H U R C H N E W S L E T T E R PA G E 6

We are very excited to start a new year with the

youth of Union Church. We will meet, as we did last

year, every Wednesday night after the Wednesday

night live supper in the upstairs youth room. If you

know anyone between 6th and 12th grade who may be

interested in joining us, please extend to them an invi-

tation for us.

Our youth room will be getting a revamp in the

coming weeks. We will be replacing the furniture and

getting things organized for a productive year back in

our own space.

This February the youth will be having a weekend

retreat to kick off the Lenten season and to get us

prepared and focused for the new year. The venue and

dates have not quite been set in stone, but look for

those details soon.

We have booked our date for the Passport youth

camp this summer! It will be between the dates of July

7th and 14th this year and we hope to have a big

group going. Passport was such a wonderful experi-

ence for our youth last year and so we are very excit-

ed to be returning. It will again be

Passport "Choices" camp held on the

campus of Wingate University in

North Carolina. If you know anyone

who is interested in going, please let

us know as soon as possible so we can

hone our plans.

To raise money for Passport, we

will be giving the community the op-

portunity to "Rent-A-Youth". If you have yard work

this spring, you need some help moving things or or-

ganizing, or even if you need help learning to use a

piece of new technology, you can call Grace or Chris

McKenzie and we will set you up with some super-

vised help from members of our youth group.

Our phone numbers are - Chris: 678-982-1731 and

Grace: 205-451-7444

Thank you all for your wonderful support and have a

blessed 2013.

Chris and Grace McKenzie

News from Youth!

Financial Corner

In 2010, your generosity during the capital campaign allowed Union Church to proceed with our dream to

undertake long deferred and much needed renovations. In 2011, bids for the construction work were received that

exceeded the previously estimated costs. Certain projects were shaved off the plan and the overage was reduced by

about half. Then the congregation met and approved that the Church get bank approval for a construction loan to

cover the remaining costs as needed. Now, the work is winding down and our foresight is paying off. People’s Bank

still approves the loan we will need to meet our construction obligations.

The interest to be paid for this commercial loan is the current rate of 4.5% for 2 years. After that, the rate will

adjust to the commercial loan rates at that time. Therefore, there has been discussion and creative thinking about

ways to save on the loan principal and interest. In preliminary consultation with an attorney, it was learned that

members and friends of Union Church could loan the Church money via promissory notes to limit the amount of

money needed from and interest paid to the bank.

Today most savings accounts receive 0.1 to 2 percent interest with other investments not much higher. The legal

details need to be worked out, but it would be possible to put your money to work with Union Church and get the

same or slightly better rate of return! In turn, this would reduce the amount of the loan obligation we would have at

4.5% interest. What a win-win for investors and the Church!

If you are interested in learning more about this alternative investment opportunity as details become available

please contact Dave Kobersmith at davek@union-church.org or call the Church Office.

Union Church’s Annual Meeting will be March 17 right after worship. Annual Reports are due in the office March 4.

T H E U N I O N C H U R C H N E W S L E T T E R PA G E 3

From the Pastor Rev. Kent is travelling for continuing education, and

shares this poem

Wild Geese

by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain

are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees,

the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and

exciting —

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things.

February 3 Jeremiah 1:4-10 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Luke 4:21-30 Psalm 71:1-6

February 10 Exodus 34:29-35

Psalm 99

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2

Luke 9:28-43

Bible Reading for

February

February 24 Genesis 15:1-12,17-18 Psalm 27 Philippians:3:17-4:1 Luke 13:31-35 or Luke 9:28-36

February 17 Deuteronomy 26:1—11 Psalm 91:1-2,9-16 Romans 10:8b-13 Luke 4:1-13

PA G E 4 T H E U N I O N C H U R C H N E W S L E T T E R

Wednesday Night Bible Study in Lent

The Adult Bible Study meeting Wednesday evenings at 6:30 will begin a new program February 20, 2013:

Evolution of the New Testament. We will study the New Testament books as we believe they were

chronologically written, starting with Paul's 1 Thessalonians. The model for the program is a new book by Marcus

Borg, Evolution of the Word, The New Testament in the Order the Books Were Written.

We will begin the study with an overview of Paul: his life and thoughts as they related to the risen Christ.

Then, we will introduce each book considering the events and thoughts of the particular time the book was

written, followed by the reading of the book.

Join us in the Office Classroom for this highly realistic look at our New Testament. For thoughts and inquiries

call Bob Berger, 986.7507.

together about ways that we can live

more fully into our faith, and

opportunities we can offer to

experience God in new ways. We

will be challenging each of you to try

an experiment for the Lenten

season, something you normally

wouldn’t try but might be interested

in doing (especially if you knew it

could end in six weeks, no questions

asked!). We invite you to begin

thinking now about what kind of

transformation you might be willing

to try.

There will be multiple ways to do

this. We’ll have 4-5 groups meeting

weekly during Lent. One will study

the book from which this quote

above comes – it’s a book that

provides different challenges for

every week that just might change

your life. Others will be on

meditative practices, reconciliation,

musical vespers, and practicing acts

of kindness.

In addition, maybe this will be the

time that you decide to finally try

singing in the choir, playing handbells,

practicing hospitality by greeting,

volunteering for the food bank,

practicing Zen meditation, or one of

the many ongoing things that the

church does. For those who can’t

commit to something weekly, we’ve

a l so go t se ve ra l one - t ime

opportunities, including meditative

hikes, mission and volunteer

opportunities, healing

through art, and

facing grief.

E x c i t i n g ?

Exhilarating? A little

scary? We hope so!

And if none of these

work for you, you’ll have an

opportunity to share with us what

you WOULD like to try, and you’ll

get our wholehearted support and

encouragement for it.

We are on a journey toward a

mysterious and transformative holy.

What could be waiting for you?

Let’s seek the answer together.

With blessings, peace, and

excitement,

Rachel

(Continued from page 1)

Caffeine + Youth: A Thrilling Combination!

We have a very special opportunity for our youth during Lent. The generous folks at Berea

Coffee & Tea are going to open half an hour early for us so that we can meet there at 9:30 for

Sunday School!

We’ll start the second Sunday of Lent (Feb. 24th) due to a scheduling conflict with the first

Sunday, and we’ll meet there through Palm Sunday (March 24th). We’ll use a special curriculum

designed to be paired with a coffee shop atmosphere. It should be fun and relaxing, and there

will be no excuses for being too sleepy to come!

Come and join us! All youth from 6th through 12th grades are welcome. Meet at the

church and we’ll walk over together.

PA G E 5 T H E U N I O N C H U R C H N E W S L E T T E R

Lenten Lunches to Begin Sunday, February 17 -- Mark Your Calendar Now!

We will continue our tradition of Lunch in

Fellowship Hall following Worship during Lent, including

Sundays from February 17 though March 17. These

Lunches provide a wonderful opportunity to get to

know some of our newer church members, as well as

visitors and regulars whose faces may be familiar, but

with whom you have not had an opportunity for

conversation.

Our Board members generously take the lead on

organizing the Lunches, but additional help is

appreciated and necessary. If you are able to volunteer

to help for one or more of the Sundays, please sign up

on the bulletin board on the back wall of the sanctuary

with your name and phone number. A grateful Board

member will contact you.

We ask for a donation to cover the cost of the meal

and all additional monies will go toward helping the

church reach its budget goals for 2013.

Lenten Lunch Cooks—Schedule:

February 17: Faith Development and Nurture and

Care

February 24: Worship and Mission and Service

March 3: Administration and Pastoral Relations

Committee

March 10: Stewardship and Finance and Properties

March 17: St. Patrick's Day Lunch -- Kevin with

Community Live and Growth

FUN-raiser with proceeds to help provide scholarships for our mission trip to El Salvador

Pre-Mardi Gras Brunch, Sunday February 10, 12:00

Join us February 10, 12:00, in the Fellowship Hall. Another famous Pancake Brunch and

Fixins celebration, right after church services, with the proceeds going to provide

scholarships for our Mission Trip to El Salvador in June.

Eat well, share a salivacious home cooked brunch and help continue our long term

partnership with our friends in El Salvador. Refreshing Sunday food, great company and other activities. Donations

will be willingly accepted. Come join the pre-Lenten celebration of our mission. Food for the body and the soul.

Suggested donations: $10 adults; $5 children or $20 family/

Joan English, Office Administrator, will be on (a fabulous) vacation from February

15—22. If anyone is available to answer the phone, maybe fold a bulletin or two,

would you please call the office at 986-3725 to volunteer? Shifts are 9-12, 1-5 week-

days. Thanks!