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

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 :

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

Gail Wolford, Moderator

Rev. Kent Gilbert, Pastor

Rev. Rachel Small Stokes,

Associate Pastor

Gabriel Evans, Director of

Music Ministries

Dave Kobersmith, Church

Administrator

Joan English, Office

Administrator

Chris & Grace McKenzie,

Youth Directors

Bea Chasteen, Dorie Isaacs,

Jennifer Shelton, Childcare

Heather Richardson, WCSC

Director

Shirley Carlberg, Bell Choir

Director

Rekindle the Spirit,

Dedication &

Concert ................... 1

Birthdays &

Anniversaries, News

of the Family, Pastor

Evaluations ............. 2

From the Pastor ... 3

From the Assoc.

Pastor, Youth ......... 4

Solar Panels

Available ............... 5

Weds. Nite Live to

begin ....................... 6

Musical

Opportunities! ...... 7

Mission News ......... 8

Bazaar & Notes &

Notices ................... 9

Calendar Highlights ............. 10

Photos .................. 11

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Sanctuary Dedication

After years of planning and waiting, work is

progressing on our sanctuary refurbishments.

Floors have been refinished in front of the

organ and under all of the pews. The wall

behind the organ has had unused and

unsightly heating grills removed, and received

a fresh coat of paint.

Finally, new carpet has been installed in the

back stairwells, the pulpit platform, and along

the aisles. Other improvements include the

installation of new pew racks, increasing the

leg room in each pew by 3”, and the cleaning

and re-lamping of all our chandeliers.

Barring unforeseen problems, worship is

scheduled to resume in the space on

September 7 at 10:30.

A special open-

h o u s e r i b b o n

cutting and organ

recital will be held

September 21, at

4:00pm.

W e a re a l s o

d e l i g h t e d t o

announce that the

Thomas Library,

refinished in stunning

walnut, rosewood,

cherry and marble is

nearly finished and

will be dedicated at

this special service. The library honors the

memory of Taran and Evan Thomas, both of

whom were lost to separate tragic accidents.

Their father John Thomas has done all the

carpentry and finishing of this room that will

be dedicated to quiet peace and reflection

overlooking the memorial garden.

Rekindle the Spirit Day! Sunday September 7th

The Faith Development Board invites you to rekindle both the spirit of community

we share as a church and learn about opportunities to rekindle the spirit of Christ in

you this fall!

We will celebrate in worship those who have offered their ministry as teachers and

leaders for faith development.

We will enjoy a simple lunch together after church. Then children will meet their

teachers for the year and adults will hear about opportunities for them.

Please join us as we rekindle our spirits for a new program year!

PA G E 2

Birthdays

2 David Milley

2 Hamrick Walters

2 Dodie Murphy

5 Steve Goff

6 Chris Green

7 Noah Broomfield

7 Thomas Chapman

9 Hailey Biggs

11 Lisa Shroyer

13 Steve Connelly

13 Mary Nash

14 Debbonnaire Kovacs

17 Joyce Fields

17 Sunni Walters

18 Reid Connelly

20 Mark Gailey

21 Renee Wellinghurst

22 Whitney Owens

27 Olin Shaw Perry

28 Pat Barrett

29 Katrina Rivers Thompson

29 Abi Woodie

30 Michelle Hayden

Anniversaries

1 Gene & Dorothy Chao

17 Tom & Joy Frazier

September 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 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 were received on August 10. Welcome

to Donnie Lytle and Darlene Smith Thanks be to God

for these strong hearts!

Steve and Erin Sherman, and big brother Gabe, at

the birth of Luke Theodore Sherman, on August 26.

Congratulations to First Christian Church on the call of

their new co-pastors, Mark and Lisa Caldwell-Reiss.

The couple will begin on Sept 17, and will welcome us at

our annual joint service on World Communion Sunday,

Oct 5. Fun Fact: Lisa preached in Union Church in 2003 as

an Berea College Alumna Preacher.

Rev. Rachel attended the first gathering of those

awarded the 2014 New Generation Leadership Initiative

fellows. The award provides 3 meetings a year on topics of

pastoral excellence and church leadership for 10 years.

Averill Kilbourne has relocated to a care home in

Brevard, NC. Her new address is 23 Tores Dr, Brevard,

NC, 28712.

Elizabeth Orwig was laid to rest in our memorial

garden in a lovely service in Cowan Chapel. Jim Orwig, her

father, unable to travel attended by web-cast. Our prayers

surround her family.

Pastoral Evaluations

The Pastoral Relations Board is

charged with monitoring the health

of the relationship between our

pastors and the congregation. They

function as sounding board for both

pastors and people, and are also

charged with helping arrange for

regularly scheduled evaluations of

our pastoral staff. Evaluations are

not part of any disciplinary action,

but rather a regular time for

minister and congregation to reflect

on areas of success as well as

“growing edges” as we work

together.

Ordinarily a pastor is evaluated

every 2 years with all members of

the congregation asked to take part

in a written survey. Some board

leaders may also be interviewed in

person by the PRB to gain a richer

narrative on the character and

nature of the pastoral relationships.

For Rev. Rachel, we are right on

schedule since she joined us as

Assoc iate Pastor for Fa i th

Development and Community Life &

Growth on September 1, 2012.

Rev. Kent would ordinarily have

been evaluated in 2013, but due to

the new creation of Rev. Rachel’s

position, the disruption of our

construction projects and Rev.

Kent’s imminent sabbatical that year,

Church Council recommended that

both ministers be evaluated

together this fall.

Those for whom we have an email

address will soon be receiving a link

to an online survey. The answers

are completely confidential unless

you choose to provide the Board

your name should they or you wish

to follow up on your comments. It

greatly assists us if you can take the

survey online since the computer

will do all of the data crunching for

us. For those who do not have or

do not prefer access to a computer,

paper copies will be provided.

Members, regular visitors, and

even outside community members

will be solicited for their opinions

and comments. Thank you in

advance for helping us help our

pastors thrive and grow, even and

they help us do the same.

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

As part of the bizarre Bazaar

day’s fund-raising efforts, Rev.

Kent and Rev. Rachel are doused

with cold water!

Our Pastors: Good sports for a good

cause!

PA G E 1 1

Photos from August’s Healing Service

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

Regular Calendar

Sundays 9:30 am ................ Sunday School for all ages (starts Sept. 14)

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

6:30 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, Berea Classic Chorale

Tuesdays 9:00 am ................ GED Classes, Classroom

7:30 pm ................ Berea Community Drumming Circle, Cowan Chapel

Wednesdays Wednesday Nite Live! starts September 10!

5:15 pm ................ Joyful Noise Chor

5:45 pm ................ Supper, donation if able

6:30 pm ................ Youth Group, Jubilee Choir, program if scheduled, see page

7:00 pm ................ Bell Choir

Thursdays 9:00 am ................ GED Classes, Classroom

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

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

Fridays 9:00 am ................ Womens Creative Sewing and Crafts

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

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

2nd Sundays New Members welcomed

4th Sundays Newcomers’ Gatherings after worship

Standing Board Meetings

Tues. Sept. 2 6:00 pm .............. Pastoral Relations Board

Mon. Sept. 8 3:00 pm .............. Properties Board meets

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

Tues. Sept. 9 6:00 pm .............. Faith Development Board meets

6:30 pm .............. Finance Board meets

7:00 pm .............. Community Life & Growth and Mission Boards meet

Tues. Sept. 16 6:00 pm ............. Nurture & Care Boards meet

Mon. Sept. 22 7:00 pm .............. Church Council meets

Bloodmobile September 15—11:00—5:00, Community Room

Bible Reading for September

September 7

Exodus 12:1-14

Psalm 149

Romans 13:8-14

Matthew 18:15-20

September 21

Exodus 16:2-15

Psalm 105:1-6,37-45

Philippians 1:21-30

Matthew 20:1-16

September 14

Exodus 14:19-31

Exodus 15:1b-11,20-21

Romans 14;1-12

Matthew 18:21-35

September 28

Exodus 17:1-7

Psalm 78:1-4,12-16

Philippians 2;1-13

Matthew 21:23-32

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

Between the growing disparity in

wealth and class and the television

coverage of paramilitary police units

fed a steady diet of violence and fear, it

has been a very hard month on the

American ideal, and nothing short of

corrosive to a Christian concept of a

“Beloved community.”

So many tears through so many

years have not led us to a renewed

commitment to the elimination of core

inequalities in our justice and

economic system, but instead have

created the polarlized pockets of

partisan paralysis that keeps pumping

money and opportunity up the

corporate ladder, and keeps young

black men firmly in the gunsights of the

tetchy trigger finger of white male

power structure.

Jesus had a few choice words to say

to the little voices in our heads that

say “It’s too big. You can’t do anything

about it.” Even in Aramaic most of

them started with “Bull—.”

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is good

news to those suffering, frustrated,

worried, fearful, vengeful, poor,

starving, grieving because it reminds us

of two critical points: 1) You matter to

God. EVERYONE matters to God, and

2) With love comes justice. If you say

you love someone and are blind to

their needless suffering, your love is

false. Likewise, if we say we are a great

country founded on Justice, but we

cannot show love, and cannot do

ensure just treatment, then our claim

is not yet true. I think you’ll agree

from all of these events (and too many

more besides) that we have work to

do in bringing that Good News to

benighted places in our society.

Jesus and his faithful followers

through the ages remind us that to

succeed it isn’t enough to ensure that

YOU have YOUR piece of the pie and

then let your foot off the justice gas.

Whatever your constituency, whatever

the issue, the oneness proclaimed in

Christ by Paul in the letter to the

Romans openly demands that when

one part of the body suffers, the whole

body is in peril.

And we are deeply in peril.

How can it be that despite the fact

that more than 52% of voters are

women, our legislators have over and

over again refused to sponsor or

promote equal pay for equal work

legislation? I’m mystified how in the

land of the brave and free, this can be

anything but a NO BRAINER. The

failure is not just theirs, but ours if we

do not speak clearly and speak loudly.

How can it be that Americans

consistently rank themselves as among

the kindest and most religious of

peoples, yet we willingly imprison our

children at younger and younger ages

for increasingly harsh sentences?

Funding for rehabilitation is minimal.

Funding for new prisons astronomical.

How can a nation founded on a

rejection of a class tyranny imprison

perpetuate both racial and economic

classes? Why do we imprison black

children at 6 times the rate of white

children? How have we missed the fact

that we are doing the very things have

been taught to deplore in others?

The tyranny, the unfairness, the

imprisonment all of the frustration of

generations wells up in violence born

of grief and fear. Black and white, we

are reaping the whirlwind of social

tensions that we thought we could

sweep aside under an upswing in

national pride or prosperity, while

ignoring that both benefits were really

only coming to a very, very small

number of us, black and white. Martin

Luther King, Jr said that “a man starts

to die the minute he stops talking

about things that matter.” Worse, if

we keep silent we are not victims of

these forces, we are volunteers for

them.

So what to do? At least one thing is

to pray hard and pass the ammunition

of God’s impartial love. We don’t need

radical revolution or riots in the

streets to make loving, fair and

reasonable shifts in our thinking, as

individuals or as a society.

Mak ing educat ion , hous ing ,

infrastructure, and the care of children

a national budget priority could employ

as many or more people as are

currently employed in the making of

bombs, guns, bullets, landmines and all

the other instruments of death. And

we get healthier children. And safe

places to live. Why isn’t that

considered national security? Not just

creating a minimum wage tied to

inflation, why don’t we also use our

(Continued on page 5)

From the Pastor

What

World Are

We Going to

Live In If We

Don’t Do

Something?

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

New Possibilities

Do you feel

the excite-

ment in the

air?

By the time

this newsletter hits your mailbox, it

will be only a week before our

Sunday School and Wednesday Night

Live programs start back up, as well

as the adult Choir, handbells, and

children’s choirs. We’ll soon begin

our SALT projects (Serving and

Loving Together, a once-a-month

hands-on mission experience). There

will be new friends to be made, new

meals to be eaten, new things to be

learned and from which to grow.

As a bit of nerd, this time of year

always made my heart beat faster. I

LOVE buying school supplies: fresh,

fully-capped markers and pens, crisp

notebooks with just the right number

of pockets and dividers, and my

favorite, Post-It notes in many colors.

(Is there a better invention in the

world than Post-Its?)

Most of all, it was a time of

possibilities. Who would my teacher

be? Would we learn interesting stuff?

Would I get to do fun projects? It

was a blank slate, and I had my chalk

in hand.

As I write this, I am getting that

feeling all over again, at the beginning

of the ten-year fellowship I’m

privileged to be part of. I’m meeting

my new classmates, and even got a

new pen and post-it pad!

The most exciting part of it,

though? We are jazzed about our

churches. I am bragging on y’all all

over the place, and others are, too.

We are sharing cool stuff we’re all

doing for justice and joy, spirituality

and sustenance.

I am jazzed about Union Church,

because it’s a group full of people

who care deeply about the world and

the individuals around them, and who

are willing to put that care into

action. Through meal trains and

cards, hugs during the passing of the

peace and long conversations after

lemonade on the porch, we make

connections with each other. You all

are willing to try almost anything if it

will bring about love in the world.

And you know what? That is

awesome!!

So, as we begin this new program

year, what are you hopes for what

church could be this year? How can

we continue to bring God’s love into

the world where it is most needed?

What do you want to draw on your

chalkboard? What do you want to

learn, or explore, or get help with?

Where you can you be a teacher or

team leader? Who are the “new

kids” you can invite to your lunch

table?

One of my favorite uses of Post-Its

is to put one on my bathroom mirror

with an affirmation or thoughtful

question. A mentor of mine had one

in her bathroom that said, “What is

possible?” I offer that Post-It

question to you as we begin our fall

together: what is possible?

Let’s see what God has in store

for us! It’s bound to be great.

With blessings and excitement,

Rev. Rachel

Youth group is excited to start back after an

exciting summer!!

Middle and high school groups will meet after the meal from 6:30-7:45. We are excited to

have Alvera Perman, Abigale Embry, Ashley Hammond and Kelly Richards helping us as vol-

unteers. We will be having a meeting with parents at 3:00 on Sept 21st (Room 104) to talk

about this new year with youth group, including confirmation class in the Spring and planning

for Passport camp next summer.

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

Thank you to everyone who helped with the bazaar

on August 23!

With a greater than 50% chance prediction of rain

for the time of the event, and plans being made for an

indoor event, the persistent work of GPAR (Group

Praying Against Rain), and the Heroic decision by Dave

Kobersmith at 6:15 am to go for "Outside" and the

Big Bunch of Volunteers who showed up by 7 am to

move probably thousands of items outside, we had a

really good day. (apologies to all Grammar Nazis

about the length of preceding sentence).

Fellowship and laughter was great during pricing,

and other tasks. Sales were as usual a little chaotic,

but I understand we sold about $6000 in treasures.

Some money is yet to come in and minimal expenses

to be claimed. Not too bad considering we did not

have a quilt raffle to count at this time! HOWEVER, a

quilt was donated by Carla Gilbert and a Coverlet by

Jenny Bromley and we started selling raffle tickets at

the Bazaar.

Plans are to continue selling raffle tickets (everyone

invited to help and also buy tickets) with a planned

drawing Sunday, November 16th at the Christmas

With a Conscience Event. There will be a drawing for

each item. Tickets will be RED or BLUE, depending

on your choice of item, not choice of Political Party.

Buy several of each.

September is National Recovery Month

To honor it, we will have an outdoor candlelight prayer service and vigil at 7:30 PM Wednesday, Sept. 17,

in front of the church (weather permitting), for those who still suffer from alcoholism and/or drug addiction,

those who are recovering from it, and family and friends affected by it. The vigil is open to the public.

After the 5:45 PM dinner and prior to the service, at 6:30 PM, there will be a discussion and question-and-

answer session about alcoholism and drug addiction, facilitated by Dodie Murphy, LCSW, about the disease,

recovery from it and its implication for and effects on family and friends. This, too, is open to the public.

Dodie is a Union Church member and licensed clinical social worker in Berea, specializing in addiction treat-

ment. She has been sober in a 12-Step program for 28 years.

Free Qigong workshop September 6, 9:00—5:00.

Qigong (this type is called Zhineng Qigong) involves slow gentle

movements along with meditation. A regular practice of Zhineng

Qigong can be very helpful for those with all kinds of health challeng-

es....(both physical, mental, emotional and spiritual).

All levels of physical ability are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Joan is a certified nurse practitioner and has been practicing and teach-

ing qigong for several years.

P l e a se check webs i t e f o r more i n fo rmat ion :

www.smilingheartqigongcenter.com Please bring a water bottle, wear

comfortable clothing and something you may lay on if you are able.

Bizarre Bazaar thank-you!

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

Project Alianza: Building Prosperity

In Nicaragua!

Sam Hawes, a

recent Berea

College

graduate, has

been working

with Project

Alianza to help

coordinate,

market and

campaign for their cause and mission.

Based in Boston, Massachusetts –

Project Alianza is an innovative

program designed to help farming

families improve their standard of

living and preserve their land through

access to fair buyers and agricultural

education.

They are currently launching their pilot

program, beginning in Jinotega,

Nicaragua.

Their plan is as follows:

Develop a mobile education

program for up to 25 farmers, with

a team of agricultural technicians

that will visit each individual farm,

teaching better ways to plant, tend

and market their coffee.

Improve access to farming

technologies and promote bio-

construction techniques with

structures such as rainwater

catchment and compost bins

Establish a sourcing plan with

ecologically and socially conscious

coffee companies. They have

established a partnership with Ethical

Coffee Chain, to connect farmers to

international markets that bring

coffee to the consumer.

Gather information and

disseminate best practices

through networking and round-table

discussions with industry leaders,

cooperatives and experienced

farmers, about tropics such as new

technology and diversification

techniques and strategies for

improving quality control.

Continuously measure and

evaluate our impact on farming

families and communities, and

systematically assess our successes

and challenges as we move forward.

Document stories of farmers

through photo essays and short

videos.

Project Alianza is an innovative

program with a belief in evidence-

based research and recognition of the

challenges and hard work ahead. To

learn more about this project and how

to get support their pilot program in

Nicaragua – please visit:

www.projectalianza.org

Adam Cantor – 3rd

Album “Sceyence” sales

benefit CoCoDa

Adam Cantor is a medical stu-

dent an Indiana University and

was part of the IU team that

was in El Salvador with CoCo-

Da last summer. The Union

Church delegation had the

pleasure of working and learn-

ing with the IU team during

some of our stay there.

His 3rd Album “Sceyence” just released this month -

was influenced from his visit and work completed within

the area. In thinking about what could be done, Adam de-

cided that all proceeds from album sales will be donated

to support global health initiatives in El Salvador through

IU ENLACE and CoCoDA. His passion for music and

health, combined with the love and community in El Salva-

dor, brought together for a brighter future:

“Music is an inspiring thing, and together I think we can

bring hope and a brighter future to many in need.”

For more information about Adam’s music and how to

purchase his album and

support global health

initiatives in EL Salva-

dor, please visit

From our Mission Board

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 5

Christian values to say (again and

again), it isn’t right, it isn’t just, and it

isn’t moral to create a job that

doesn’t pay a living wage to those

who make our livelihood possible?

When did Christian morality come

to mean how short your skirt should

be or at what age you should be

allowed to buy alcohol? There is a

time and place for a restoration, an

uprising of better Christian morals

that starts with the life and

treatment of all God’s children. Solve

that, and then we can move to less

deadly matters like dress code and

drink. But let’s start with the sin of

racism, and economic feudalism, and

war machine profits first.

The Gospel says to us over and

over that a better world is possible

and that the kin-dom we are seeking

is here among us. Not off in the sky

for someone to bring to us. Not

attainable only in fiction. The gifts we

need and the recognition that our

common fate bound up black and

white, rich and poor, are both within

our current grasp.

How many mothers have to cry at

the graves of their sons before we

are willing to live a life worthy of our

calling? Ask those in Ferguson how

many more sons they are willing to

give up and let’s get to work.

Peace and grace,

(Continued from page 3)

Lease a Solar Farm Panel

New Berea Solar Farm panels available for leasing!

The Berea Municipal Utilities (BMU) has more than

doubled the Solar Farm - again! - adding 126 new 250

watt solar panels that are now producing electricity

and available for leasing! Founded in 2011, the pur-

pose of the Solar Farm is to provide those who want

to invest in local solar generation an opportunity to do

so. The program invites community members to

come together in helping Berea

and Kentucky move toward a

better energy future.

How does the leasing work?

Anyone can lease solar panels

(no limit on number) for a one-

time lease fee of $750 per panel.

This one-time fee covers a 25-

year period. In return, BMU cus-

tomers designated by the leasers

will receive credit every billing

period for 25 years for the elec-

tricity generated by the Solar

Farm panels. This provides ac-

cess to solar generation at an excellent price (about

$3.00 per installed watt). The panels will be owned

and maintained by BMU and located on city property

with true-south orientation to the sun and no shading.

The program is ideal for people who want local op-

portunities to invest in clean energy but

have homes, apartments or businesses not well

suited for solar installation due to directional

orientation or shade

can’t afford the relatively large cost of installing

an entire system on their property

do not want to undertake the responsibilities of

ownership.

How is leasng related to Union Church? For each

panel leased, a BMU customer must be identified as

the receiver of credit for the electricity generated.

Union Church is a BMU customer! So . . . this creates

an opportunity to give a gift that keeps on giving every

month for 25 years – electricity at a fixed rate as utili-

ty prices continue to increase!

Union Church currently re-

ceives credit for the electrici-

ty produced by 12 Solar Farm

panels, 10 that we have leased

over three years and 2 that

have been donated by church

members.

How can I sign up? Signing

up is a two-step process:

Complete a License Agree-

ment application and return it

with a check made out to

BMU for the total amount due. Each panel is $750.

You can pick up a License Agreement form at the

BMU office or download it from the Solar Farm sec-

t i o n o f t h e B M U w e b s i t e ,

http://www.bereautilities.com/

Deliver your completed License Agreement applica-

tion and check weekdays between 9 am and 4 pm to

Joyce Hendricks at the BMU.

For more information or questions, please call Joyce

Hendricks at 986-4391 or Steve Boyce at 986-9210.

PA G E 6 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 SALT of the Earth with Union

Church

Wishing you could put your faith into action, but

not sure where to start? Union Church can help you

out! If you are thirsty for justice, eager to build

peace, committed to helping others we will soon be

starting once-a-month service opportunities. SALT is

“Serving And Loving Together.” We’re working on a

whole year’s worth of options like working on a

Habitat for Humanity Build one Saturday, helping

staff local food banks, field trips to help

flood/tornado victims, and providing able bodies for

individuals and helping agencies in need around

Berea, Richmond, the mountains and Bluegrass.

Jesus called us to be SALT for the earth. Prepare

to flavor your faith with a little SALT! Watch for

upcoming projects in church bulletins, this

newsletter, and on the web! If you have an idea you

think would be great for a SALT project, talk to Rev.

Kent or Jessica Holly.

Women's Creative Sewing and

Crafts has begun regular Friday morning meetings

and will continue through the school season. There

are lots of new projects to dive into so please join us

if you've got the urge to sew a seam or weave a

scarf. We'll also be creating a special quilt or two

specifically from the materials donation of Virginia

Piland, what an inspiring opportunity!

We are looking for volunteers to fill a few job

needs: to help once a month in the regular class

sessions, to help oversee finances, and for some skill

sharing leaders. For more information please contact

WCSC Director Heather Richardson at

hrichardson@union-church.org.

Wednesday Nite Live! Starts Sept. 10

HELP WANTED

A new season of Wednesday

Night Live (WNL) will resume on

September 10. If you are new to

Union Church, here is the format:

A meal is served at 5:45 p.m.

sandwiched between rehearsals for

the two children’s choirs.

The youth group meets after

dinner at 6:30, and the Bell Choir

rehearses at 7:00 p.m. And on

many Wednesdays, the Mission

and Service Board (M&S) presents

brief programs from 6:30 to 7:00,

h i gh l i gh t ing some o f the

organizations that Union Church

supports through our M&S giving.

This year the Community Life

and Growth Board (CL&G) has

enlisted Super Chef Shirley

Carlberg to put together menus,

along with amounts of ingredients

needed, for September and

October meals.

We hope to sign up two cooks

each week (who can choose from

among the menus or proceed on

their own) to create a simple meal

for approximately 75 diners. Look

for a sign-up sheet on the bulletin

board.

The WNL meals are a “stand-

alone” project in terms of funding.

A basket is at the beginning of the

serving table for donations to

cover the cost of the meal. The

CL&G Board suggests a donation

of $4.00 - $8.00 per adult and

$2.00 - $3.00 per child or youth.

Oh – and you are wondering what

if you don’t like the main dish?

There is always PB&J – just ask the

kids. A time of good food and

good fellowship is enjoyed by all.

CL&G Board: Kevin Burke,

Betty Hibler, Susie Ritchie,

Annriette Stolte, Alice White

Program Schedule:

September 17 -- Dodie Murphy

on AA's anniversary this month --

and a candle-light vigil to follow

outdoors, see page 9

September 24 -- Who is my

neighbor? Union Church, St. Clare

and other faith communities on

migration

October 1 -- Grace McKenzie --

Promise Neighborhoods Program.

October 8 -- Witness for Peace

Pot-Luck with St. Clare, Friends,

Richmond Unitarian Universalists,

etc. -- as is our tradition (note: on

Sunday before please wear

something from another country)

October 15 -- Nadine Umutomi -

Caux Scholar

October 22 --Project Alianza,

Nicaragua (see page 8)

October 29 -Habitat for Humanity

All God's Children Got a Place in the Choir...

Calling all young singers! Our youngest worship leaders will begin weekly rehearsals with

the first Wednesday Night Live of the year on September 10. The Joyful Noise Choir

will meet from 5:15 to 5:45. The Jubilee Choir will meet from 6:30 to 7:15. Singers and

their families are encouraged to stay/come for dinner in between.

In addition to learning to use their voices and bodies in a variety of songs and games,

singers will participate in worship one Sunday each month. Whether your specialty is

singing in the shower, dancing to the radio, hooting like an owl, or buzzing like a bee,

the choir is the place for you! Please contact Carrie Jadud (carrie@jadud.com; 440-

334-6686) with any questions.

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

Musical Opportunities Abound!

Union Church Choir

We would love to welcome all current, old and

new members, and anyone who is curious, to join.

We welcome all people, music readers and non-

music readers, to be part of us. If you don’t know

what an eighth note is, we will gladly teach you.

Youth (high school and older), along with Berea Col-

lege students, are strongly encouraged and invited to

join. Practices have just begun, Thursdays at 6:15—

come on and join! Our first Sunday anthem will be

sung on September 7.

To accommodate Berea College students and those

who may not be able to join on Thursday evenings,

there will be an additional rehearsal that will meet

outside of regular choir rehearsal time –TBA at a lat-

er time.

If you would like to discuss an interest or have any

questions about joining our musical family, please feel

free to email Director of Music Ministries, Gabriel

Evans, about joining at gevans@union-church.org.

Berea Shape Note Singers will start

singing again on Sunday, Sept.7 from 1:30 - 3:00

in the Parlor. What's Shape Notes, you ask? It re-

fers to a kind of musical notation that uses different

shapes to denote the tones to sing.

Originally developed to help untrained singers learn

to sight-read, it has developed a dedicated following

of singers of all ages and abilities. The style has some

distinctive features, including open 4-part harmonies

and a capella singing in the "convenient key".

We sing 1st and 3rd Sundays from 1:30 - 3:00, and

maintain an email list to keep you informed of other

regional opportunities. Come sing with us!

The Bells! ... The Bells!

The Union Church Ringers will begin the new sea-

son of handbells on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 7:00

downstairs in the Community Room.

We'll start the season with some simple tunes, so

new ringers are especially welcome! If you've never

rung before and are interested in learning more, I'd

love to meet with you any time after Labor Day for a

little "show and tell".

You an reach me at treasurer@union-church.org,

and I'm in the directory and the phone book. -

Shirley Carlberg