Church family at Pentecost,

VBS, PRB Report

1

Birthdays, Anniversaries 2

From Rev. Rachel 3

Project Alianza, WCSC 4

More WCSC, Camping trip,

Bazaar, Free lunch at library!

5

Summer Musical Notes 6

Family photos, John Culp &

Hospice

7

Regular Events, Staff, Oscar

Romero, Bible Reading

8

Inside this issue:

What Was He Doing?

Did you notice Pastoral Relations

Board member Tom Frazier

standing by the receiving line with a

notepad in hand after Sunday's

service on May 17? Wonder what he

was doing?

Tom was serving as Pastoral

Assistant for the day. In an effort to

help the pastors keep up with the

requests and information shared as

they greet folks after worship, PRB

members will take turns serving in

this capacity on Sundays.

This is an effort to help the

pastors and congregation enhance

communication. If you'd like to join

in this act of service or have other

feedback to share please contact

PRB Chair Wyndee Holbrook

(wyndeeholbrook @gmail.com).

We look forward to helping

connect the dots!

PRB: Dodie Murphy, Debbonnaire

Kovacs, Eef Fontanez, Tom Frazier,

Susan Doring Zook and Wyndee

Holbrook

Visit Our Website for MORE News & Video Webcasts: www.union-church.org

We'd also love to connect with you on Facebook (www.facebook.com/

The Union Church

Newsletter

June 2015

Worship 10:30 Sunday

Mailing address CPO 2105; Berea, KY; 40404 Physical address 200 Prospect St.; Berea, KY; 40403 Phone 859-986-3725

Office office@union-church.org Rev. Kent kgilbert@union-church.org Rev. Rachel rsmallstokes@union-church.org

The Union Church Family at Pentecost!

CONSIDER . . .

Children: Under Construction: Community Building! Grab a hammer and a nail and get ready to build up the kin-

dom of God! We’ll learn together what it takes to build a house, and also use that as a way to understand what it means

to build relationships with people of all kinds. For kids ages 3-11.

Youth and Adults: Images of Home: A Writing Project! Debbonnaire Kovacs will lead youth and adults 12 & up in

four different exercises to explore the idea of what “home” means. Bring your ideas and wonder; no talent required!

Want to Help Make it Happen?

1. Volunteer! 2. Sponsor a child for $10-15! 3. Invite someone and give them a ride

Vacation Bible School June 14-17 &

Pool Party/Burger Bash June 20th

! June 14-17 5:30-8:00 pm Nightly

Snack Supper Provided

Register online at http://union-church.org/home/vbs2015/

June Birthdays & Anniversaries

News of the Family

Birthdays!

1 Reid Livingston

2 Jane Mecham

4 Eef Fontanez

4 Tina Parker

4 Rhonda Edwards

5 Charles Wesley

6 Deborah Payne

6 Luke Woodie

7 Andy Blyth

12 Nancy Hindman

12 Patti Smithson

14 Teresa Gowler

16 Michael Mecham

17 Susana Lein

19 Ruth Butwell

19 BJ Godby

19 Charles Hoffman

19 Jessica Holly

20 Dave Kobersmith

22 Krystin Porter

22 Teri VanPelt

22 Jane Warth

24 Les Small Stokes

25 Stephanie Woodie

25 Keith Viveiros

27 Toby Wilcher

30 Patty Boyce

Anniversaries

6 Tina Parker &

Jason Bailey

8 Jenny & Richard

Bromley

9 Jean & Bob Boyce

11 Bill & Annriette

Stolte

16 Rachel & Leslie

Small Stokes

18 Keith Viveiros &

Christopher Paiva

19 Patty & Steve

Boyce

19 Carol Gilliam &

Harry Rice

20 Barbara & Sune

Frederiksen

23 Sandy & Steve

Bolster

27 Rachel & Greg

Lakes

If we don’t know your

b i r t h d a y o r

anniversary, we want

to! Or if we’ve made a

mistake please call or

email the office.

At the Bloodmobile on

May 19, 84 people

presented for donation.

Since a pint of blood is

used for 3 procedures, we

helped with 252 medical

procedures!

At worship on May 24,

Dot Kindel was honored

for her lifetime donation

of 160 pints, or 20 gallons

... OR 18 peoples’ worth!

Memorial Services for

Jim Orwig will be held

June 11 at 11am in the

main sanctuary. Please join

the fami ly as we

remember this more than

60-yr member.

Our dear f r iend

Michelle Tooley entered

the wider life on May 26,

surrounded by loved ones

and songs. Her life will be

celebrated at a service on

June 16 at 11 am.

We celebrate our high

s c h o o l g r a d u a t e s !

Summer Richmond,

will go to Eastern

Kentucky University Sofia

Saderholm, will attend

University of Kentucky's

engineering program, and

Abigail Woodie will

a t tend Transy l van i a

University!

It’s wedding season! The

Union Church family is

invited to attend two joyous

celebrations in June!

Christine Ward &

Teri Van Pelt, June 20,

2:00 pm, Cowan Chapel,

Reception to follow in the

Community Room. RSVP

to Christine at 859-358-

6857

Lizzy Spencer &

Luke Erlandson, June

26, 6:30 pm, Sanctuary,

Reception to follow in the

Community Room. RSVP

to Lizzy at 859-868-7135

or Luke 859-779-9838.

Thanks everyone for a great singing season! Special thanks to Jubilee & Joyful Noise Choir Directors Carrie Jadud

Alvera Perman, and Leslie Small Stokes!! See you in the fall — join us—we sing! We learn! We party at the park!

Consider...page 2

None of the Above

A report from the Pew Forum

on Religion came out last month

that confirmed what many of us

who’ve been paying attention to the

religious landscape already knew:

Christianity, especially mainline

Protestant Christianity, is shrinking

rapidly. According to “America’s

Changing Religious Landscape,” a

“survey of more than 35,000

Americans by the Pew Research

Center finds that the percentage of

adults (age 18+) who describe

themselves as Christians has

dropped by nearly eight percentage

points…, from 78.4% in 2007… to

70.6% in 2014.”

Where are the people going? A

few are going to other faiths such as

Buddhism, Sikhism, and Islam. But

most are simply going… away.

Away from church, away from

organized religion, away from

anything that smacks of stodginess,

rigidity, or condemnation.

According to the study, “Over

the same period, the percentage of

Americans who are religiously

unaffiliated – describing themselves

as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in

particular” – has jumped more than

six points, from 16.1% to 22.8%.”

Social scientists are calling them the

“nones,” in reference to their

choosing “none of the above.”

There has been a great uproar

among many of my colleagues

around this report. “The sky is

falling!” they cry. It feels very much

like the opposite of the Ascension:

Christendom is collapsing. If things

continue at this pace, Christianity

will no longer be a majority religion

by the time the generation being

born now graduates from college.

For many, this is terrifying. (And

as one who makes her living off of

serving a rapidly shrinking church, I

certainly have some concerns.)

But overall, I really think this is

good news. The “nones” leaving

the church are, in many ways, right;

in general, the institution has

become stale and irrelevant, if not

downright harmful in some cases. I

would not want someone I loved to

feel obligated to serve such an

institution, and frankly, I wouldn’t

want to, myself.

Fortunately, I am not called to

serve an institution. I am called to

serve the living God, in whatever

form he or she decides to take.

And so are you. Like the “nones,”

we have permission to say “no” to

that which is death-dealing, and

instead seek that which gives life.

Rather than looking toward the sky

at Ascension, we look broadly

around us for where the spirit is

moving now.

This is a Pentecost moment in

our history. The old ways are

crumbling; “Behold!” God says, “I

am about to do a new thing!” (Isaiah

43:19). The spirit is breaking forth,

blowing through old walls and

stained glass, igniting people in new

ways. They may not be the ways

we are familiar with. They may

mean the closing down old things so

that new ones have room to grow.

But I have faith that, if they are in

the Spirit of God, they will be

p a t h w ay s

to freedom

a n d

liberation,

n o t

stodginess

a n d

oppression.

I think our church is, at its best,

very attuned to this spirit of hope

and newness. Union is made of

people who aren’t afraid to be

“nones,” but have also found

something of new life flowing

among us here, and so are turning

their heads and hearts toward it.

We hear the voice of God in a new

language, but it is a language of our

hearts – a language of liberation.

So, as we change and grow

together, church, let us do so

without fear. Let us instead do so

with the prayer that, no matter

what happens, we will be ignited in

the warmth of a Spirit who sets

captives free and brings sight to the

blind. A Spirit that doesn’t worry

about when we have Sunday School,

but that our children are fed the

(possibly gluten free) bread of life.

A Spirit that mourns the passing of

old and beloved programs, but

seeks to transform thing into the

new thing that God is doing. A

Spirit that takes what is dead within

each of us, and blows into it the

breath of life, the breath of justice,

the breath of joy.

Come, Holy Spirit!

Amen,

Rev. Rachel

From the Associate Pastor

So, as we change and

grow together,

church, let us do so

without fear.

Consider...page 3

Friends at Union Church,

Ever since we’ve begun our work

supporting coffee farmers and their

children in Nicaragua last year, so

many people ask why? Why Nicaragua?

Why coffee? Why even make the foray

i n t o r e m o t e a n d c o m p l e x

communities? Our answer is simple:

because together

we can make a

real and lasting

impact.

A t P r o j e c t

A l i an z a , we

support the

poorest coffee

farming families

in Nicaragua by

connecting their

knowledge and determination to the

resources they need. We provide

access to essential tools and markets

so farmers earn more from their

coffee sales and education so they can

reach their full potential.

We have been in operation for one

year, and have since provided field-

based agricultural education to a

group of six farmers on sustainability,

quality and shade-growing techniques

and provided them a link to a large

farm willing to purchase their coffee

at a fair price. By advancing their

agricultural knowledge, farmers who

have been trapped in the “missing

middle” can begin to reach their

entrepreneurial potential and increase

income.

But despite our work with farmers,

my colleagues and I are aware that a

lasting impact requires a community-

based approach.

Over 35 percent of the population

of Nicaragua is under the age of 18, so

we have prioritized education for

youth in coffee communities. We are

in the process of transforming an

abandoned house into a school—a

safe place to learn and explore— for

children who have never received a

formal education and are at risk of

child labor.

By collaborating with farmers and

other nonprofits in the community,

we are creating a nutrition program,

and providing health screenings, solar

panels as well as adequate school

supplies.

Real, lasting impact is the guiding

principle of Project Alianza, and with

your cont inued support and

partnership, we will continue planting

the seeds of the future that will grow

rural prosperity.

With gratitude and hope,

Kristin Van Busum

Founder, Project Alianza

Mission Board: Updates from Project Alianza & WCSC

Women’s Creative

Sewing and Crafts

Program Changing

The WCSC program of

Union Church has been a

Friday morning fixture for

the last 120 years, giving

local women a place of

fellowship, craft experience,

a n d e d u c a t i o n a l

opportunities. Many of the

women coming literally

grew up under the tables

while their mothers or

aunts came to “the sewing.”

The fellowship of the

women will continue

unabated when the

program reconvenes in the

fall, but the program will

become a more self-

directed gathering.

With Heather Richard-

son’s resignation (see p. 5)

important exit interviews

showed that, while the

program has supported

fellowship in strong ways,

other hopes have not been

able to be realized. Three

previous directors have

worked hard and creatively,

but they too were unable

to help the women keep

new members or take

ownership of either

creative or educational

goals.

Upon the recom-

mendation of the pastors,

the Church Council has

voted to not seek a new

director at this time, nor

apply for funding from the

Appalachian Fund for 2016.

(The program received

approximately $9,500 from

that grant in 2015, which

supplements the church’s

contribution of approx.-

imately $10,000 for the

director’s salary). The

group of about 20 women

will be encouraged to keep

meeting on Fridays to work

on projects or for

fellowship. The church will

continue to support them

with space and coffee

supplies.

In a recent meeting with

members of the group,

Pastor Kent spoke directly

about both the hope and

the reality to the women.

“There is great receptivity

to organizing and to fresh

new ideas for the program,

but the current pattern the

group has seemed to prefer

doesn’t require $20,000 of

funding. If something new

and stronger can emerge

from this more ‘fallow’

year, I think we would all

be very excited about that,”

Rev. Kent shared with

them.

Heather Richardson will

serve through the month of

June during which time she

will work with Church

Ad m in i s t r a t o r D av e

Kobersmith and the Mission

and Service board to help

determine how to finalize

accounts and store/

distribute fabrics and other

WCSC equipment. If a

workable plan serving the

values of WCSC emerges in

the next 12 months, new

funding will be sought and

considered next summer.

“For everything there is a season…”

Consider...page 4

Dear Church family,

I have been received

with such warm hearts

here as the Director of

Women's Creative Sewing

and Crafts. It is hard for

me to imagine a more

supportive and caring

group of people to work

with/for and beside me as I

walk my journey with the

mission of sharing love,

creativity and healing work

along the way. I have

learned so much and my

devotion to the ladies of

WCSC has expanded my

heart in immeasurable

ways over the past year. I

can't thank you all enough

for the opportunity I've

had to work in this

capacity, serving love and

the creator with all the

skills I have to bring to this

community. It has truly

been a blessing.

I am truly saddened to

leave you all and the ladies

in the capacity of Director.

I have given my resignation

and it has reluctantly been

received. The month of

June will be the last of my

official involvement with

WCSC. As I write this, I

am not sure about the

future form of WCSC, but

I do know that its history

i s m o r e t h a n

commendable. It is a

history to be proud of,

continuing for 120 years

not only in name, but

fulfilling a real mission.

I hope that whatever

the future brings for me I

will make time to be

involved in the ongoing

transformation that will be

the church's outreach to

ladies as the WCSC and

Women's Industrial has

served for so long. I've

w i t n e s s e d s o m e

remarkable surprises as

some participants have

grown in ways I couldn't

have imagined.

I look forward to that

kind of lovely surprise as I

await with curiosity what

will come to meet me on

my adventures and

mission.

I will certainly continue

to be a spontaneous face

at church services and

events, please feel free to

chat with me about

WCSC or any inspiration

you may have concerning

creativity and God's work.

With Love and Devotion,

Heather Richardson

It’s time to mark the dates for

Union Church Camping trip Friday

July 31-Sunday August 2nd.

This is an all ages camp out for you

or you and your family. Join us,

won’t you?

We will be camping at Craigs

Creek Group Campground Area at

Laurel Lake—so it isn’t even a long

drive!

We plan to kick off Friday night

with a group cook out. The

evenings will be filled with s’mores,

singing, maybe a few spooky

stories, and much laughter

guaranteed. Daytime will be filled

with relaxing, activities, and getting

to know each other.

Lots of time to find a friend or

two and find some outdoor fun.

We will even have a Sunday

outdoor service. Cost is $20 per

person or $50 per family. Mark

your calendar now!

Union Church Bazaar August 29!

Union Church All Ages Camping Trip!

Our CHURCH BAZAAR will be Saturday August 29

10 am to 2 pm. NOT TOO EARLY to start thinking

about bringing donations to our Bazaar closet below the

front porch of the church.

The door is not locked and the closet is located to the

right of the stage in the Community Room; light switch is

just around the corner. Please price items clearly.

Remember: no clothing, and NO OLD TVs please.

All sales benefit mission work of the church. Happy

Debulking Day at your house! Questions? Contact John

Payne johnvpayne@yahoo.com or 986-8100.

We will be asking for volunteers to help with this

Mighty Event soon. John Payne for the Mission and

Service Board.

Free Lunch at the Public Library from June 1—August 11!! Monday—Saturday 12—1 for those 18 years old &

under. Super Snack Sundays from 1-2 pm, all ages. No sign up required, just come and eat!

More WCSC News : from Heather Richardson

Consider...page 5

Summer Choir - No Robes

~ No Stairs ~

No Commitment!

Sundays: June 7, and, 21, 28, July

5, 12, and, 26

9:15 am ~ Sanctuary

Adults and youth are welcome to

participate in Summer Choir

for any or all of the Sundays we

sing. No commitment is expected.

Just show up for rehearsal at

9:15 on the days you wish to

participate.

We will rehearse a new anthem

each of these six Sundays which

will then be shared at the 10:30 am

worship service that morning.

Handbells for Children

Saturday, July 18, 1 pm-4 pm and

Sunday, July 19, 9:30 am

Choir Room, 3rd Floor

(for children rising to 3rd- 6th gr.)

Finally, an opportunity for the

children to get their hands on bells!

The children will learn how to ring

and dampen a handbell, and

explore the many techniques. We

will learn to play music using “Ring

& Sing” charts as well as by reading

from a color-coded handbell score.

The afternoon will also include

several music and coordination

games, and a healthy snack.

The children will present their

handbell music as part of the

10:30am worship service on Sunday,

July 19.

Space is limited to 9 ringers. There

is a materials fee of $10,

registration deadline is June 28.

Please contact Gabe to inquire

about help with the fee.

Please direct questions to Pearl at

bellteacherpem@yahoo.com or

(859) 408-5508.

Handbells for Beginners

Saturday - June 13

Non-Music Readers 9:00am-11:30am

Music Readers 12:30pm-3:00pm

Choir Room, 3rd Floor

The registration deadline was May

31 BUT contact Pearl to see if space

is still available.

June 13 - Special Event -

Organ Recital by Gabe Evans

The Berea College Alumni Association is hosting an organ

recital by Gabriel Evans, Union Church Director of Music

Ministries, commemorating the five year anniversary of John

Courter's passing. John served as college organist and

carillonneur for 39 years and was the organist at Union Church.

Gabe will play hymn variations composed by John and other

organ selections.

The recital will be in the Union Church sanctuary, performed

on the 44-rank Steiner-Reck, two manual organ. Saturday, June

Hymn Sings

Sundays - June 28, July 26, Aug. 23

7:00 pm-8:30 pm ~ Cowan Chapel

(All Ages Welcome!)

Once a month, 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 one week before

each Hymn Singing (deadlines:

June 21, July 19, 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.

Summer Musical Notes

Consider...page 6

Surprised by Compassion

John Culp is a 15-plus-year member of the Hospice Care Plus

volunteer program. He was recently included in a book about

local leaders and heroes, created by students at Berea

Community Elementary School.

Click on the link to read the article.

http://hcpblogs.com/2015/05/11/surprised-by-compassion/

Union Church Family Life in Photos

Baptism in Brushy Fork Creek Speaking from the heart about

Stewardship

Helping decorate

Joyful Worship!

Confirmands & Pastors “That water’s cold!”

Consider...page 7

Regular Weekly Happenings

Sundays 10:30 am ..... Morning Worship

4:00 pm ..... Overeaters Anonymous, Room 104

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

10:00 am ..... Berea Mamas, Rm. 104

12:45 pm .... GED Class, Classroom

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

Fridays 12:45 pm .... GED Class, Classroom

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 ( June,

July, August, ALL welcome!)

Board Meetings

June 8 3:00 pm ........... Properties Board

6:00 pm ........... Administration Board

June 9 6:00 pm ........... Faith Development

6:30 pm ........... Finance, Nurture & Care

7:00 pm ........... Community Life & Growth

June 22 7:00 pm ........... Church Council

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

Gabriel Evans, Director of Music Ministries

Dave Kobersmith, Church Administrator

Pearl Marshall, Handbell Director

Carrie Jadud, Alvera Perman & Leslie Small Stokes,

Jubilee & Joyful Noise Choir Directors

Joan English, Office Administrator

Chris & Grace McKenzie, Youth Directors

Watch the Sunday service

at union-church.org/live-

broadcast/

Bible Reading for June

June 7

1 Samuel 8:8:4-20

Psalm 138

2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1

Mark 3:20-35

June 21

1 Samuel 17:32-49

Psalm 9:9-20

2 Corinthians 6:1-13

Mark 4:35-41

June 14

1 Samuel 15:34-16:13

Psalm 20

2 Corinthians 5:6-17

Mark 4:26-34

June 28

2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27

Psalm 130

2 Corinthians 8:7-15

Mark 21-43

http://union-church.org/june-3-celebration-of-the-beatification-

of-oscear-romero-all-invited-potluck-worship-service-fiesta/

salvadoran-recipes/

Consider...page 8