the church of christ, union t h e u n i o n...

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The Church of Christ, Union CPO 2105 Berea, KY 40404 Phone: 859-986-3725 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.union-church.org Non-Profit Postage Paid Permit Number 169 Berea, KY 40403 Return service requested We'd also love to connect with you on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ UnionChurchBerea) and Twitter (@UnionChurchKY) INSIDE THIS ISSUE: THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, UNION CONSIDER ... THE UNION CHURCH NEWSLETTER 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 Isaacs, Jennifer Shelton, Childcare Consecration Sunday, November preacher Rev. Bowman ............. 1 Birthdays & Anniversaries, News of the Family .......... 2 From the Assoc. Pastor ................. 4 Photos! ................ 5 Mission & Service Board................... 6 Worship & Youth Group .................. 8 Life in Pictures ... 9 Special Fundraiser Concert & other dates ................... 9 Sanctuary.......... 11 Nov. highlights . 12 NOVEMBER 2013 Invest in the Rest: Consecration Sunday, November 3 One of the blessings of a sabbatical time is the opportunity to experience and learn completely different things. As we invest in the rest of Kent’s sabbatical, we open ourselves to the same kinds of exploration that he is experiencing in his travels. We have some fantastic gifts of preachers of the Word here in Berea. One of them is the Rev. Gail Bowman, the Director and Chaplain of the Willis D. Weatherford, Jr. Campus Christian Center at Berea College. The Worship Board, on your behalf, has invited Rev. Bowman to lead us in worship for the entire month of November. Working with Rev. Rachel, Larry, and the Worship Board, she is preparing and planning the worship services, and will serve as our preacher for the month. As part of this experimental time, Rev. Bowman has been asked by your pastors and Worship Board to shake us up, try new things, and challenge us in worship. This is almost guaranteed to feel uncomfortable for each of us at different times. It’s key to remember that this is all an experiment – an opportunity to stretch our comfort zones. Our hope is that this stretching will lead us to new experiences of the Holy, and a deeper understanding of who we are as a church. Just like trying new and strange- looking foods, we might not like everything we try, but we might love some of it! We hope you will come to worship with a spirit of wonder and openness, as we see what God and Rev. Bowman have in store for us. To give you a little background, Rev. Bowman has been at the College for just over a year, having come from similar callings at Dillard University in New Orleans (where she survived Hurricane Katrina) and Spelman College in Atlanta. She has also served on the staff of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and worked as a lawyer in the Carter Administration and on Capitol Hill. She is a native of Morgantown, WV (where (Continued on page 3) Invest in the Rest! November 3 rd is your opportunity to consecrate your investment and pledge in Union Church for 2014! In worship on Sunday the 3 rd , we will dedicate our gifts as we make our pledges together. You should have received a commitment and pledge card in the mail. Please think and pray about what you can give, and come join us as we offer those gifts in hope and joy to God. If you need additional cards for other family members, or didn’t get a mailing, cards will be available in the pews. After we, the church, let the Church Finance Board know our giving estimates so that the specific projected income can be known, they will be ready to finalize a 2014 budget. This budget will be presented for review and approval at the regular December financial meeting of the congregation, scheduled for Sunday, December 15 th after church & a light lunch. Union Church welcomes Rev. Gail E. Bowman, J.D., to our pulpit for November!

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Page 1: THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, UNION T H E U N I O N CONSIDERunion-church.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/2013-November-Consider.pdf · THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, UNION CONSIDER... T H E U N I O

The Church of

Christ, Union CPO 2105

Berea, KY 40404

Phone: 859-986-3725

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.union-church.org

Non-Profit Postage Paid

Permit Number 169

Berea, KY 40403

Return service requested

We'd also love to connect with you

on Facebook (www.facebook.com/

UnionChurchBerea) and Twitter

(@UnionChurchKY)

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

Isaacs, Jennifer Shelton,

Childcare

Consecration Sunday, November preacher Rev. Bowman ............. 1

Birthdays & Anniversaries, News of the Family .......... 2

From the Assoc.

Pastor ................. 4

Photos! ................ 5

Mission & Service

Board ................... 6

Worship & Youth

Group .................. 8

Life in Pictures ... 9

Special Fundraiser

Concert & other

dates ................... 9

Sanctuary .......... 11

Nov. highlights . 12

N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 3

Invest in the Rest:

Consecration Sunday, November 3

One of the blessings of a

sabbatical time is the

opportunity to experience

and learn completely different

things. As we invest in the

rest of Kent’s sabbatical, we

open ourselves to the same

kinds of exploration that he is

experiencing in his travels.

We have some fantastic

gifts of preachers of the

Word here in Berea. One of

them is the Rev. Gail

Bowman, the Director and

Chaplain of the Willis D.

Weatherford, Jr. Campus

Christian Center at Berea

College. The Worship Board,

on your behalf, has invited

Rev. Bowman to lead us in

worship for the entire month

of November. Working with

Rev. Rachel, Larry, and the

Worship Board, she is

preparing and planning the

worship services, and will

serve as our preacher for the

month.

A s p a r t o f t h i s

experimental time, Rev.

Bowman has been asked by

your pastors and Worship

Board to shake us up, try new

things, and challenge us in

worship. This is almost

g u a r a n t e e d t o f e e l

uncomfortable for each of us

at different times. It’s key to

remember that this is all an

experiment – an opportunity

to stretch our comfort zones.

Our hope is that this

stretching will lead us to new

experiences of the Holy, and

a deeper understanding of

who we are as a church. Just

like trying new and strange-

looking foods, we might not

like everything we try, but we

might love some of it! We

hope you

will come

to worship

with a spirit of wonder and

openness, as we see what

God and Rev. Bowman have

in store for us.

To give you a little

background, Rev. Bowman

has been at the College for

just over a year, having come

from similar callings at Dillard

University in New Orleans

(where sh e su rv i v ed

Hurricane Katrina) and

Spelman College in Atlanta.

She has also served on the

staff of Pittsburgh Theological

Seminary, and worked as a

lawyer in the Carter

Administration and on

Capitol Hill. She is a native of

Morgantown, WV (where

(Continued on page 3)

Invest in the Rest! November 3rd is your opportunity to consecrate your investment and

pledge in Union Church for 2014! In worship on Sunday the 3rd, we will dedicate our gifts as we

make our pledges together.

You should have received a commitment and pledge card in the mail. Please think and pray

about what you can give, and come join us as we offer those gifts in hope and joy to God. If you

need additional cards for other family members, or didn’t get a mailing, cards will be available in

the pews.

After we, the church, let the Church Finance Board know our giving estimates so that the

specific projected income can be known, they will be ready to finalize a 2014 budget. This budget

will be presented for review and approval at the regular December financial meeting of the

congregation, scheduled for Sunday, December 15th after church & a light lunch.

Union Church welcomes Rev. Gail E. Bowman, J.D., to our pulpit for November!

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PA G E 2

Birthdays!

2 Cheyenne Olson

9 Andy Chao

11 Betty Wray

14 Wyndee Holbrook

15 Edith Hansen

16 Scottie Frederiksen

21 Hannah Crowe

21 Tina Hemphill

21 Eleanor Srsic

22 Jim Barrett

25 Cadence Perman

29 Barbara Taylor

29 Joe Spencer

29 Anna Kate McWhorter

Anniversaries

30 Merlin & Dot Kindel

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.

November 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

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."

Greg Bolster, Greg Bolster,

Steve’s brother, who, after 5 years of

treatments, is presently undergoing

more aggressive chemotherapy to

treat an uncontrolled growth of

cancer that has now spread to a lung

Erin Hay and her family. Erin

is a 2011 graduate of Berea College

and an alumnus of the Concert Choir

and Women’s Chorus, married to

Berea College and Concert Choir

alumnus John Cook, ’11, and the

mother of a 10-month old daughter.

She is being treated aggressively for

inoperable brain cancer.

Gail Wolford is recovering from

surgery at St. Joseph’s Hospital in

Lexington

Michelle Tooley is healing from

surgery and await ing cancer

treatment

Peggy Baker is at home after an

11-week long hospitalization!

Dawn Manor, Dot Kindel’s

daughter, recovering from surgery at

M.D Anderson Center in Dallas

Naomi Brandenburg, Larry’s

mother, in rehab at Cardinal Hill after

a fall and hip replacement

Rev. Kent in Kiyosato, reading stories to children at the KEEP resort,

Seisen-Ryo. There may be nothing like hearing a little chirping 4 year old

saying "Kento-san! Kento-san!"

Regular Weekly Calendar

Sundays 9:30 am .................... Sunday School Classes for all ages

10:30 am .................... Morning Worship, see page 6 for service details

5:30 pm .................... Overeaters Anonymous, Classroom

Weekdays 8:00 am .................... Zen Meditation, Cowan Chapel

Mondays 6:00 pm .................... AlAnon meets, Wayside Room

7:00 pm .................... AA, Room 301

7:00 pm .................... Berea Community Drumming Circle, Comm. Rm.

8:00 pm .................... Mens Big Book Study, Room 301

Tuesdays 11:30 am .................... GED Class, Classroom

Wednesdays Wednesday Nite Live frequently includes a program — see page 6 for that schedule.

5:10 pm ................... Middle School Youth Group

5:15 pm .................... Young Childrens Choir

5:45 pm .................... Supper

6:30 pm .................... High School Youth, Elementary Childrens Choir, Middle School Handbells

7:00 pm .................... Handbells

Thursdays 11:30 am .................... GED Class, Classroom

12:00 pm .................... Bible Study, classroom

6:15 pm .................... Union Church Choir

Fridays 9:00 am .................... Women’s Creative Sewing & Crafts (formerly Woman’s Industrial)

1st & 3rd Sundays 1:30 pm .................... ShapeNote Singers, Parlor

2nd & 4th Mons 9:30 am .................... Berea Knitters, Classroom

2nd & 4th Weds 6:00 pm .................... Episcopal Canterbury Fellowship, Chapel

Board Meetings

Mon. Nov. 11 4:00 pm .................... Properties Board

7:00 pm .................... Administration Board

Tues. Nov. 12 6:00 pm .................... Faith Development Board

6:30 pm .................... Finance

7:00 PM .................... Mission Board, Community Life & Growth

Weds. Nov. 13 10:00 am .................... Worship Board

4:00 pm .................... Pastoral Relations Board

Mon. Nov. 18 7:00 pm .................... Church Council

Special Events

Berea College Homecoming, Nov. 8-10

Nov. 9 1:30 pm .................... Black Music Ensemble Concert

Nov.10 Berea College Alumni Choir sings at Worship, Jacqueline Schwab plays

3:00 pm .................... Concert by Jacqueline Schwab, see p. 9

Nov. 11 Office closed in observance of Veterans Day

Nov. 19 11:30—5:00 ...... Bloodmobile, Community Room

Nov. 24 7:00 pm .................... Community Thanksgiving Service, Cowan Chapel

What’s Going on Around Here in November?

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PA G E 1 0 T H E U N I O N C H U R C H N E W S L E T T E R

Sanctuary Improvement Fund: Updated total of $15,864.83 raised of our $30,000 goal!

New carpet, refinished floors, angled side pews and better lighting, that is our dream and goal so we can continue to

invite and inspire, proclaim and sing of really good news in really good pews! We are already more than halfway to our

goal!

A gift of $20 is enough to refinish a square yard of floor (we have 400+ sq yards to do!).

A $50 gift will help furnish 1 new full length pew rack with space to put tissues, pads, and books.

Want to adopt a pew? A $200 gift will pay for all the racks and the more comfortable spacing adjustment for one

whole pew.

To make a contribution, make checks payable to “Union Church” with “Sanctuary Refurb” in the memo line. This is a

perfect way to make a gift in honor or in memory of someone, too. Just let us know who should be remembered and

we’ll publish and keep all names in our special memorial book.

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

Rev. Rachel grew up!), but grew up

mostly in Iowa. Her broad

experience and perspective,

combined with a strong and vibrant

faith, are sure to a treasure to

Union Church.

Berea College has published a

wonderful article on Rev. Bowman’s

incredible journey of faith. You’ll

see it linked on our website this

month, and we really encourage you

to check it out. In it, she is quoted

as saying,

“Berea is so interesting! There is

so much to learn here. The

community and what we are trying

to do resonates with me because it

brings together so many aspects of

my life experience. Berea is race, it

is history, it is possibility, it is

quality; it’s Appalachia but it’s also

the world…Howard Thurman said

‘A crown is placed over our heads

that for the rest of our lives we are

trying to grow tall enough to wear.’

The ideals o f Berea , our

commitments, are such a crown,

and we in the CCC are honored

that we have a role to play in the

everyday and overall growth of this

‘beloved community.’”

Like what you read? Come to

worship this month to hear and see

even more from Rev. Bowman!

Rev. Gail Bowman (Continued from page 1)

On September 27th, Revs. Kent and Rachel presented Berea College president Lyle Roelofs with a gift from

the Union Church congregation in honor of his inauguration. Dr. Roelofs is the ninth president of the college, and

so the church council commissioned church member Jerry Cooper to create this beautiful wall hanging of the nine

fruits of the spirit (compassion, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-

control).

The piece also includes a blessing for Dr. Roelofs from the congregation. It was made of wood from a former

Union Church sanctuary pew, and so it carries with it a long history of college and church faith and fellowship.

We wish Dr. Roelofs a long and blessed presidency!

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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

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

– Psalm 46:10

As it turns out, I have some

control issues. This is probably not

news to any of you, but it’s

something I’m discovering in a new

way. I’ve always enjoyed thinking of

myself as easygoing and non-

controlling, able to empower others

to follow their hearts and God’s lead

and do amazing things. And I really

do believe that this is what God calls

us to do.

My first month as the pastor in

charge has taught me that this is a

lot easier said than done. That’s

because “letting go and letting God”

doesn’t mean only letting go of

things I don’t want to do or that I’m

not good at. (I am delighted to have

an excuse to let go of those things!)

But it also means letting go of

those things that I feel like I could do

really well if I just had the time, or

things that I feel very passionate

about but don’t have the resources

to make happen. It means accepting

my limitations as a human. It means

letting God be God and me be me.

And that’s, well… hard.

My desire to regain control can

leave me trying to do too much and

then feeling resentful. And that

doesn’t help anyone! And I know all

this, but it’s very hard to put it into

practice.

And then along comes Matthew

Sleeth, our guest preacher on Oct.

27th who came to talk to us about

the importance of Sabbath, telling us

to take a WHOLE DAY and

dedicate it to God. Not even to

check email, or facebook, or just

stop by the office for a minute. A

WHOLE DAY. That’s a lot of letting

go. That’s a lot of trusting that

God’s got my back, and that this

whole community has each others’

backs. And that I (and you) don’t

have to be God.

Several weeks ago, I was really

honored to have the opportunity to

offer blessings of anointment at our

healing service. It was a mystical

experience to bless so many of you

individually, to get to look at each of

you in the eye and bless you for

healing. I was incredibly focused on

this task, and wrapped up fully in the

moment. It wasn’t until the last

person came through my line that I

realized that the whole community,

in the midst of me doing my part,

had gathered in a circle around me,

and was singing beautiful blessings to

each other. When I was finished

with my part, I could step back into

the circle and take my place among

this gathered community, held in the

powerful ministry that all of you

were already

engaged in. It

was a healing

moment for

me, too. I

could see,

very clearly,

that God had all of our backs.

So, I’m accepting Dr. Sleeth’s

challenge. I’m going to do my level

best to really keep Sabbath on

Fridays. I’m pretty sure I’m gonna

mess it up a few times. But I think

the practice of Sabbath might have

the ability to transform me

thoroughly. It might just bring me

closer to God, and what more could

I want than that? That’s worth the

struggle of letting go.

Would you like to join me in the

challenge? We can hold each other

in prayer and accountability. And

together we can remember:

Be still and know that I am God.

Be still and know. Be still. Be.

In hope and faith,

Rev. Rachel

With peace and blessings,

From the Associate Pastor

Bible Reading for November November 3

Habakkuk 1:1-4,2:1-4

Psalm 119:137-144

2 Thessalonians 1:1-4,11-12

Luke 19:1-10

November 17

Isaiah 65:17-25

Isaiah 12

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Luke 21:5-19

November 24

Jeremiah 23:1-6

Luke 1:68-79

Colossians 1:11-20

Luke 23:33-43

November 10

Haggai 1:15b-2:9

Psalm 145:1-5,17-21

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5,

13-17

Luke 20:27-38

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 9

Live Music!

Concert by Ken Burns’ pianist

Jacqueline Schwab

November 10, 3:00 pm

Sanctuary

Tickets at the Door: $10 adult, $5 student/child,

$35 family maximum

cash or check

Jacqueline Schwab has played

piano for as long as she can

remember and loves setting musical

moods in concert performances, as

well as inspiring people to dance. She

creates meditative and spirited

arrangements on traditional and

vintage tunes from America, England,

Scotland and beyond—spinning out

stories, in her variations on the

themes.

In film maker Ken Burns’ words,

“Jacqueline Schwab brings more

feeling and intensity to music than

anyone I know. Her playing is

insistent, physical, heartfelt and ...

unusually moving.” Playing with “the

jazz/classical improvisational spirit of

Keith Jarrett and the touch of George

Winston ....” (New England Folk

Almanac), pianist Jacqueline Schwab

has performed on over a dozen of

Burns’ documentaries, including his

Grammy award-winning Civil War, his

Emmy award-winning Baseball, Lewis

and Clark, Mark Twain, The War, The

National Parks, and Dust Bowl. She has

performed on The Irish in America and

Ric Burns’ New York: A Documentary

Film and other PBS documentaries.

She has performed at the White

House for President Clinton,

celebrating Burns’ Lewis and Clark

series, and also with Scottish singer

Jean Redpath on public radio’s A

Prairie Home Companion and CBS’ Late

Show with David Letterman. Schwab’s

playing was recently featured on

public radio host John Birge’s Giving

Thanks.

Schwab has performed her solo

arrangements at concerts and festivals

throughout the US, including at the

Savannah Music Festival and the

National Underground Railroad

Freedom Center, in Cincinnati. She

draws on a wide repertoire—Stephen

Foster and Civil War song tunes from

North and South, Victorian ballroom

dance tunes, Scots and Irish songs and

dance tunes brought over by settlers,

hymns and spirituals, ragtime—plus

Latin waltzes and tango, Billie Holiday

blues, and contemporary-style Celtic

and English traditional music.

J acque l ine ’s arrangements o f

American “heart songs” honor the

historical spirit of this community and

improvisational spirit of music making

but also link to the present day. She

enjoys speaking with audiences about

the music.

In addition to her concert,

recording and dance work, Jacqueline

has taught students of many ages,

both privately and through short

school and college residencies. She

has also led weeklong workshops on

improvisation and traditional dance

music. She is a graduate of New

England Conservatory of Music,

where she majored in piano

improvisation. She lives on Cape Cod.

Fo r more i n fo rmat ion , s ee

Jacquelineschwab.com

Save-the-Date!

Thursday, November 7, 7:00 pm, meeting with Regan Hunt, Executive Director at Kentucky Voices for

Health, discussing Affordable Care Act. Community Room. All are welcome.

Sunday, December 8, Christmas With A Conscience, alternative giving Christmas event! Right after church, lunch

served. If you are associated with an organization that would like to participate, call John Payne, 986-8100

Sunday, December15, Annual Budget Meeting, 11:45 (light lunch served), right after worship in the Community

Room Call the office if you need transportation—we’ll get you there!

Sunday, December 15, 2:30 pm Berea Classic Chorale Concert, sanctuary

Save-these-Dates too!

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PA G E 8 T H E U N I O N C H U R C H N E W S L E T T E R

The Berea College Concert Choir blesses our worship

service with their music.

The combined children’s choirs made their debut on

Sunday, Oct. 20th.

We hosted the annual Hymn Sing as part of the Traditional

Music Festival on Sunday, Oct. 20th.

Rev. Kent and Dr. Ed McCurley of First Christian Church

give their 14th and final dialogue sermon for World

Communion Sunday on October 6th.

Union Church Life in Pictures! Many thanks to Rachael White for the photos!

Rev. Kent’s farewell for sabbatical.

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

All photos by Rachael White

A former emer-

gency room physician,

Dr. Matthew Sleeth

resigned from his po-

sition as chief of the

medical staff and di-

rector of the ER to

teach, preach, and

write about faith and

the environment.

Dr. Sleeth is a

graduate of George

Washington Universi-

ty School of Medicine

and has two postdoc-

toral fellowships. He

is the author of Serv-

ing God, Saving the

Planet: A Christian Call

to Action, the intro-

duction to The Green

Bible, and 24/6: A Pre-

scription for a Healthi-

er, Happier Life.

October 27 visit from Matthew Sleeth,

MD – Founder & Executive Director of

Blessed Earth

Union Church Family Hayride & Bonfire

October 26

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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

Our Active Mission & Service Board

We will boldly and creatively em-

body the life and ministry of Jesus with

risk-taking mission and service. As dis-

ciples of Christ, we will reach out to the

world to love, heal, and transform it

through the difficult work of justice,

reconciliation, and hope.

The Mission and Service Board

thanks the Back Bay Mission Group

for their risk-taking mission and ser-

vice in Biloxi, Mississippi from Sep-

tember 15-21, 2013. Led by Betty

Hibler, the group of 6 worked on

painting and rehabbing two different

houses. This year’s team included

Lori Poston, Dave Kobersmith, Dan

Frilling, Robert Rorrer, Carla Gil-

bert and Betty Hibler. For more

information on Back Bay Mission,

visit www.thebackbaymission.org

The Mission and Service Board

invites all Union Church members

and friends to two programs at

Wednesday Night Live in Novem-

ber. The programs begin with din-

ner at 5:45 and conclude at 7:00 pm.

On November 6—Bring a

dish of food for your family and

hungry college students. B e -

rea Friends Meeting, St. Clare Cath-

olic Church and Union Church host

the annual Witness for Peace Pot-

luck and Speaker. This year's tour

features Anibal Perez, a Colombian

activist credited with making public

the January 13th Drummond coal

spill. Much of Colombia has been

devastated by coal mining by multi-

national corporations, e s p e c i a l l y

Drummond Coal. This year's tour

will highlight the realities of environ-

mental and labor abuses that are

taking place in Colombia by US cor-

porations.

On November 13, Sune Fred-

eriksen will present a program on

The Daniel Boone Chapter o f

the American Red Cross. The Red

Cross is a humanitarian organization

guided by its Congressional char-

ter with the purpose of assisting

victims of disaster and helping peo-

ple prevent, prepare for, and re-

spond to emergencies. The Daniel

Boone Chapter receives no federal

funding in support of its operations

and relies solely on the income gen-

erated from fundraising activities,

direct solicitations, and grants. The

Daniel Boone Chapter s e r v e s a

seven-county region that includes

Garrard, Jackson, Lee, Lincoln, Madi-

son, Owsley, and Rockcastle coun-

ties.

On November 20 Iván Vil-

lasbôa, CoCoDA Coordinator for

Community Economic D e v e l o p -

ment, will give an update on CoCo-

Da’s good work in El Salvador.

Salvadoran friends Ivan, Yunior

(say Junior), Karen and Ana Marie

will join us for dinner. We spent

many happy hours eating, laughing,

dancing and hauling broken bricks

while working on knocking down

the school with them on the Mission

Trip to El Salvador.

Arriving Monday afternoon, they

will be in Berea November 18, 19

and 20. They will speak at several

venues during their time in Madison

County.

We will get an update on the

progress of rebuilding the school.

They will talk to us about their pro-

jects in El Salvador. Another topic

will be the CoCoDA Scholarship

Program which facilitates students

from the communities we work with

to get their degree at the University

of El Salvador. With enough funds,

two houses are being rented for the

students in the capital of San Salva-

dor. Without this help they could

not afford to attend university.

Over twenty young community

members have received their de-

grees with our help. Both Yunior

and Ana Marie earned their degrees

with the benefit of this housing.

They all speak English well and

look forward to spending time with

us in our community which they

heard so much about. This will be a

great opportunity to eat with our

friends and get to know the folks

you have heard so much about. We

will recall hard work and good

times. And hear about the Salvador-

an friends we left behind in El Ro-

bles.

All are welcome to join in an

evening celebrating our friends’ visit

to Berea.

Match Your Donation Begin-

ning on December 1 until December

31, the Mission and Service Board

will match (up to $50 per donation)

your donation to your favorite char-

ity. We have allocated up to $1500

for this program.

Christmas with a

Conscience

Calling all volunteers: will you

help with Christmas with a Con-

science – Our Alternative Giving

Christmas Market? Join our church

and community for a soup dinner

and Christmas market on Decem-

ber 8 after church. Honor family &

friends with gifts that give hope &

(Continued on page 7)

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 7

improve the lives of people in Be-

rea, Appalachia or the Global South

countries, such as clean water, food,

medicine, animals, education or a

solar oven. Bring materials and staff

a table for your favorite nonprofit.

Christmas Baskets Union

Church lends a hand to our sister

church, St. Clare Catholic Church

for their Christmas Basket and Toy

Collection during Advent. We will

contribute 15 Christmas baskets

with food for families of 2 to fami-

lies of 8. For more information or

to volunteer to help, contact mem-

bers of the Mission and Service

Board: Jenny Bromley, Willie Dod-

son, John Payne, Jessica Holly or

Michelle Tooley.

(Continued from page 6)

Did you know?

Since youth group started back, 28 youth have

been involved in youth group. (This has nearly dou-

bled the size of youth group)

We have had between 12-20 youth at WNL.

Many of these youth do not attend Sunday morn-

ing services, so you may not recognize them unless

you come to WNL.

16 youth spent the night at the church the night

before the Bazaar. They moved tables, priced items,

took items outside, put up the caution tape, made 8

dozen cupcakes, 4 dozen cookies, chocolate covered

pretzels and chocolate covered coffee beans to sell

for the bazaar until the wee hours of the morning.

This year youth have continued the tradition of

assisting with the Hunger Hurts food drive, dropping

off bags and picking up bags full of food

one week later.

Last year, eight youth attended Pass-

port camp with Chris and Grace in

North Carolina over the summer. This

year, we anticipate at least 13 youth at-

tending and the need for another female

chaperone besides Grace.

Melissa Neal and Christine Ward have stepped up the

help on a regular basis with youth group and many others

have stepped up as needed as well. Thank you for all the

care that you give to youth at Union Church! They love

being part of such a caring place.

Announcement: The Hunger Hurts food drive

raised more than 5,000 lbs of food! Thanks to the Chris-

tine Ward, Leslie Small Stokes, and the youth group for

helping out!

Dancers are Needed! December is the month we will be using the Arts in worship. Dancers who are adults

or young adults are needed for a presentation on Sunday, December 15th and others of middle school or older to

"bring in the light" on Christmas Eve, Tuesday December 24th. Males and females are welcome to participate.

Neither requires a great deal of experience, but a willingness to enjoy the experience of worship through dance

and a commitment to rehearse. Child care can be arranged. If you are interested, please contact Carla Gilbert. at

859-985-1144 or [email protected]

Acolyte Coordinator needed. Joyce Henderson has faithfully coordinated acolytes for Sunday worship for

quite some time and she wishes to retire SOON. We have been so

fortunate to have her, and now we are looking for someone who is

willing to cover that task.

What is needed? Recruit the young people who light the candles, and

instruct them before the service each Sunday morning. Please consider

this ministry!

Photo by Rachael White

From the Worship Board

Youth Group News