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

The Music Box — Calling All Singers!

The Adult Choir began rehearsals on Aug. 30 at 6:15 p.m. in Room 128, Presser Hall.

(the choir rehearsal room). This room is just left of the elevator on the lowest floor

(parking lot level).

We are currently privileged to have a wonderful core of about 16 singers who

faithfully lead our musical worship.

I am so grateful for their commitment and joyful participation. But, they and I strongly

encourage other singers to join us so that we might be an even more effective and beautiful asset to Union’s

worship services. We will offer child care for both this choir and the handbell choir (more below). Since our

rehearsal time is relatively early, I hope that singers with children can join us, knowing that we are routinely

finished by 7:45 p.m. I know that newcomers will be warmly welcomed and will soon find themselves embraced

by a loving “congregation within the congregation.” If you have any questions about choir, please contact me

(985-8669).

Finally, a word of thanks to the singers and keyboard players who have so graciously assisted in worship this

summer. You have added greatly to our worship experience and I have had a wonderful time working with you.

Thanks so much!

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

Jennifer Shelton, Bea

Chasteen, Dorie Chasteen,

Childcare

Erik Reinhart, Custodian

Welcome, Rev.

Rachel! SS & WNL

to begin ............... 1

Birthdays &

Anniversaries,

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

From the Pastor 3

Youth News, Our

Mission ................ 4

From the Church

Admin ................. 5

Memory Keepers,

Back Bay ............. 6

Sept.

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

Join Us Sunday

Mornings!

Worship,

10:30 am,

Gray Auditorium

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

Sunday School and WNL to begin!

Rally Day, September 9th, 9:45 am. Meet us on the ground floor patio of Presser

(where we have lemonade after church) for a continental breakfast, activities, fellowship,

and information as we celebrate the beginning of our fall activities!

Sunday School Begins, September 16th, 9:30 am. Join us for fun times of learning

for all ages! Nursery through youth meet in Knapp Hall, adult study meets on third floor of

Presser Hall.

Children's Church Begins, September 16th, during church. Anna Kate is back to

share her spirit and activities with our children.

Welcome Back to Wednesday Nite Live! On September 12 we will gather at

the Quaker Meeting House to share a Potluck dinner with our new Associate Pastor, Rev.

Rachel Small Stokes and her wife Leslie. Please come at 5:30 as we begin a new church

year together. Drinks and table service provided, 'course you are welcome to bring your

own to save water.

Youth group from 6:30—7:30! Bob Berger will resume his Minor Prophets class on

Sept. 19, and look forward to his plans for the rest of the fall!!

Questions? Call the church office or Kevin Burke 985-1144.

Welcome to Rev. Rachel Small Stokes!

We are eagerly anticipating the arrival of Rev. Rachel Small

Stokes as our Associate Pastor, to begin work on September 1!

Rachel and wife, Leslie, will join us in worship Sept. 2, and we in the

office have dubbed September 4 Rachel Day, when we will begin

getting her oriented - (dis)oriented - to the office. Rev. Rachel will

preach on Sept. 16.

Rachel & Leslie will live at 419 Center St.

Hey, what's going on around here?! If

you'd like to take a tour of the building and see

what's been accomplished mid-construction,

meet at 1:00 pm Sunday, Sept. 9, in the church

parking lot, near the construction dumpster.

Rev. Kent and Dave Kobersmith will be on hand

to lead you through some of the areas. Please

wear closed shoes and long pants, for safety's

sake. Be prepared for stair climbing, dusty areas

and some messiness.

PA G E 2

Birthdays

2 David Milley

2 Hamrick Walters

5 Steve Goff

7 Noah Broomfield

7 Thomas Chapman

9 Hailey Biggs

11 Lisa Shroyer

13 Steve Connelly

13 Mary Nash

14 Debbonnaire Kovacs

15 Loretta Mountjoy

17 Joyce Fields

17 Sunni Walters

18 Ruth Wesley

18 Reid Connelly

20 Mark Gailey

21 Renee Wellinghurst

27 Olin Shaw Perry

28 Pat Barrett

29 Katrina Rivers Thompson

29 Abi Woodie

30 Megan Purcell

Anniversaries

1 Gene & Dorothy Chao

9 Harry & Virginia Piland

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

Received from Carla Gilbert

Thank you so very much for the card,

notes and personal words of sympathy

of the recent losses in our family.

Prayers are so important to well-

being, and yours on behalf of me, Kent

and Kevin and our extended family

were, and are, most gratefully

appreciated.

Peace and Blessings to you all.

This month we bid farewell to

Ron and Linda Hardert, who are

making a permanent move to the

Southwest at the end of September.

We will miss them dearly, and wish

them God’s speed in their new life.

Betty Hibler, Dorothy Chao,

and Michelle Tooley recently

returned from a service trip to

Guatemala. Search www.union-

church.org for “Guatemala” for

details!

Please hold Toby Wilcher in

prayer: she is having knee surgery to

repair torn meniscus and possible

ACL repair on Sept. 5. As soon as

she has healed from that surgery,

they are going to schedule hip

replacement surgery. She will need a

lot of prayers and support from

church family. Love you all dearly!

Volunteers Needed: Two

volunteers are needed to stuff

backpacks on Wednesdays from

noon—2:00 pm for the Snack Pack

food program at Berea Community

School Family Resource Center on

Sept. 5, Oct. 10, Nov. 7, Dec. 5.

Please contact Angela Anderson

at 859-985-8922 to volunteer and

to make a difference in kids’ lives.

Sally Zimmerman will be have

a shoulder manipulation done on

Sept. 6, at 7:30 am. She asks for

prayers that this, plus daily PT, from

September 6 through the14th will

help her get full use of her shoulder

back. Sally thanks church family for

all the support this year.

Berea Arts Council Invitation

3-D Exhibition and Sally Wilkerson

Spotlight Exhibition/Sale August 31

through October 27. Opening

Reception, Friday September 7, 5:30

The 3-D show will come down

and the BAC will expand the

materials and put up the art estate

sale; everything will be for sale.

Sally Wilkerson Exhibition

and Estate Sale Oct 29-Nov 12.

How Bazaar!

YES, we’re having a Bazaar!

October 13 is the date, the Union Church lawn is the place, and the other details will

be worked out as the day approaches. Put that date on your calendar, and please set

aside and price your items for the Bazaar (no junk please).

Plan to bring your items to the church at the last minute, since we don’t have storage

at our building. Details will follow — stay tuned!

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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

Memory Keepers

While our Union Church Memory

Keepers Support Group for those

whose loved ones suffer serious

memory loss is on hiatus for the

time being, due to space but also less

immediate need, there is still much

that is offered by the UK Sanders-

Brown Center for the Aging, UK

Center for the Advancement of

Women’ s Hea l th and the

Alzheimer’s Association of Greater

Ky and So. IN Chapter.

Should the level of need for

those whose loved ones are

affected by memory loss

changes, Memory Keepers will

resume . Numbers are not

important for support. It’s just that

the group is not currently regularly

meeting.

Please contact Rev. Carla

Gilbert at 859-985-1144 should

your need for support occur.

In the meantime, the latest issue

of the Woman’s Health Missing

Memories, Fading Lives, offers helpful

information regarding what may be

signs of early cognitive impairment

and onset of dementia and specifically

Alzheimer’s disease. The article

states that:

Memory loss with aging is NOT

normal, though forgetting names of

people or things and sometimes

f o r ge t t i n g appo in tmen t s bu t

remembering them a little bit later is

normal. However, forgetting recently

learned materials or asking for the same

information over and over again is a

particularly worrisome sign of memory

change.

There are other indications that

would indicate attention to the

situation, and are listed in the article.

The good news is that although

Memory Loss with aging is not

normal, identifying memory loss at its

earliest stages is hopeful because

treatments are more effective when

given early. This issue also provides

some very important information

regarding effective preventative

measures and follow up for

symptoms. (Statistics indicate that

women are more likely than men not

to want cognitive impairment

addressed.) You can request a copy

through the Center for the

Advancement of Women’s Health, 1-

800-929-2320.

Many individuals manage on their

own during the earliest stages of

Alzheimer’s disease, with support

and assistance from others. Helpful

suggestions about Living Alone with

Alzheimer’s are listed in the May 2012

issue of the Alzheimer’s Assoc.

Newsletter….www.alz.org.

A 24 Hour Helpline is also

available: 800-272-3900. For further

information on workshop schedules

you can contact the Lexington Office

of the Alzheimer’s Association office

at 859-266-5283 to request mailings.

2012 Walk to End Alzheimer's is

taking place in Berea on Sept 15 with

Registration at 9:00 am at the Artisan

Center.

Other information regarding

workshops, etc., will be shared as it

becomes available.

Peace and Blessings

Carla

5th Annual Back Bay Mission Trip sponsored by Mission and Service Board

Dates: Sep. 30 - Oct. 6 (Leave early Sunday morning, get back Saturday evening; work Monday through Friday)

Cost: About $200, including lodging, food, and sharing gas costs -- scholarship help available Work Description:

Home repair projects (all tools/supplies/coordination provided); if preferred, can work in the Food Bank, Micah

Center (daytime homeless drop-in center), office projects.

Meals: Prepare own breakfast/bag lunches from groceries that we buy from our food monies; share dinner

preparation; fully equipped kitchen.

Travel: Car pool; share driving and gas costs.

Insurance: covered on-the-site by Union Church liability policy.

Perks: Rocking chairs on the porch of the Volunteer Center for end-of-the-day conversation, sunset/moonrise

walks on the beach, great companions!

Questions?? Contact Betty Hibler at 986-7252 or betty_hibler@berea.edu

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

Well! After many years of prayer

and planning, another major vision is

living itself out in our midst. I am so

delighted to welcome the Rev.

Rachel Small Stokes as colleague and

associate pastor here, and like most

of you, find myself both anxious and

excited to see what will unfurl from

this new partnership. Welcome to

Rev. Rachel, and welcome all of us to

a time of rampant uncertainty, new

possibility, and certain grace!

For my part, I’m delighted to have

a collaboration partner, another

person whose heart and intellect is

offered to the mission of this place.

And due to her particular skill set,

we have received both “depth” and

“breadth” in our ministry. She brings

many skills I lack, and I hope that

with certain experiences of mine, I

can offer her support she, too, may

not have had before. In short, I am

excited about being part of a team

that will help us more boldly and

more creatively serve God and

God’s people in this place.

In our neighborhood meetings

we’ve been discussing how can we

serve God best? How can we be the

finest servant-leaders, and how can

encourage and sustain the best

efforts out of all who labor with us,

especially our newest pastoral

associate?

Many of the groups have

highlighted that we should take time

to come to know Rev. Rachel, and

allow her to come to know us. We’ll

do our best not to load and overload

her with tasks, but rather we’ll focus

on connections for her and Leslie.

Some remarked that we have to help

her say the hardest word in Berea:

“No,” or, “Not yet,” and be

understanding when she must.

Other’s have offered that we make

room for her gifts, and celebrate the

diversity of thought and experience

we now have on staff. She and I have

already started brainstorming how

we might do just that, and I know

she is as anxious to begin as we are

to receive her.

Given that we have no permanent

offices yet, and given that she and I

will be learning our strengths for a

time, we know that we are entering

a time of adjusted expectations.

“Elasticity” and “discovery” and

“gentle joy” should be our goal and

expectation. We’ll be trying out and

working out a lot of new ways to do

things, and your feedback will be

very important. Thank you in

advance for your

forbearance as

we work things

out.

There are no

guaranteed answers or successes in

such a process. Only a series of

nearer approximations as we refine

the vision God has called out of us to

be a vibrant, serving, risking, loving,

light-pouring family of God. What is

guaranteed, though, is that God has

been with us thus far and clearly has

much for us to discover in our

journey.

As soon as Rachel gets her boxes

unpacked, and we’ve found her a

desk to sit at and a phone to use, I

know she will be anxious to come to

know you, and to hear your stories

of faith and hope. In late September

and October we will reconvene the

neighborhood gatherings, this time

with Rev. Rachel visiting all of them

so she can meet members and

friends in smaller groups, and you

can interact with her more closely. I

hope you’ll not only come to those

yourselves, but also invite others to

join in the fellowship. It would be a

shame not to share all the good that

God is sending us!

September 2, 2012 Song of Solomon 2:8-13 Psalm 45:1-2,6-9 James 1:17-27 Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23

September 9, 2012 Proverbs 1-2,8-9,22-23 Psalm 125 James 2:1-17 Mark 7:24-37

September 16, 2012 Proverbs 1:20-33 Psalm 19 James 3:1-12 Mark8:27-38

September 23, 2012 Proverbs 31:10-31 Psalm 1 James 3:13-4:3,7-8a Mark 9:30-37

September 30, 2012 Esther 7:1-6,9-10,9:20-22 Psalm 124 James 5:13-20 Mark 9:38-50

Bible Reading for

September

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

What's up with Youth?

It is once again the

season of school. In

the past few weeks, students highs and

lows have often been the same: school has

started, which means they get to see

friends they have seen in months (high) but

that school with all of its drudgery is back

again (low). It also means that they have

interesting things to fill their days with

again (high), but that they will have so

many games and practices that getting

their homework done will be a challenge

(low).

In the midst of their busy schedules, our

youth still manage to make this community

of believers a priority in their lives. They

come searching and with questions, but

they come with answers as well. They come of their own

choice; seeking fun and fellowship and trying to

understand the connections between the scripture and

their own lives, in the midst of all the challenges of being

young in this world.

With the new school year I ask you

to: remember all the stresses it

might bring as our youth rush from

one class to the next and from

soccer to WNL, pray for the highs

and lows they will experience over

the upcoming year, and maybe take

an extra moment to let them know

how awesome they are.

Youth Group begins September 12,

6:30—7:30, for Middle and High

School students.

Peace and Grace,

Christopher McKenzie

Youth Group

begins Sept. 12 at

Wednesday Nite

Live!

from 6:30—7:30.

If you are a middle

or high school

student, this is the

group for you!!

Come join!

Remember our Mission!

W e, the People of Union Church, seek to live out our discipleship to God as a community

inspired by Jesus’ transforming love. As a gathering of those seeking to boldly and

creatively embody Christ’s life and ministry, we commit ourselves to work and fellowship that

makes the radical and inclusive love of God, the beloved community proclaimed by Jesus, and the

continuing inspiration of the Holy Spirit visible and real to all. As one in body with Christ, we

commit ourselves to acts of:

Unbounded Hospitality to Build a Beloved Community of Christ

Thoughtful, Inspirational and Intentional Faith Development

Passionate Worship

Risk-Taking Mission and Service

Extravagant Generosity and Care in Our Stewardship

In keeping with Union Church’s inclusive Christian tradition and its emphasis on the dignity and worth of all people, the congregation values and embraces diversity. Employment, membership, and participation in any church activity is open to all without regard to ethnicity, race, skin color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability or religion.

Employment decisions are based on training, education and experience related to the requirements of each position. Due to the age and construction of the buildings, not all areas are easily accessible to persons with mobility issues. Union Church will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities within these limitations.

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

“Green” Building Practices As the construction continues on our beloved building the Design Team wants to keep the congregation

informed on the steps that are being taken to minimize the effects of the renovation on the environment. Last

month you read about the improvements to lighting in the renovations. This month is paint and finishes.

The new paints that are being used have no or very low VOCs (volatile organic compounds) or aerosols that

affect the ozone and environment. This also means that there will be less “off gassing” for the health of our

congregation as we enter the newly renovated spaces. The adhesives and glues have no or very low VOCs as

well. The carpet and carpet tile that are being used have a backing that uses recycled content.

Thanks to Josh Ives of Pearson & Peters Architects for supplying this information.

From the Church Administrator

Construction Update: The

project is nearing 40% completed

and the current estimate of when

we’ll be back in the building is the

end of October.

Work continues on the heating

and cooling, sprinkler installation,

and electrical work. The framing of

walls is complete for the offices,

conference room and room 204 and

has begun in the fellowship hall. The

work in the fellowship hall has been

held up by the

plumbing work not

yet being completed,

due to change

orders that have

taken a long time to

finalize and a busy

schedule for the

plumber.

Work has also

been started on the

outdoor excavation

to provide new

drains for the

downspouts and the

window wells of the

original building and

that tied our new

sprinkler system into a water main

on Scaffold Cane Rd.

What’s a Change Order?

Change orders are the way to

make changes to the contract we

have entered into with Hawkins

Construction, which provides

construction management of the

project. Any work that changes the

cost of the project has to go through

a change order review process that

includes our architects, construction

management firm, sub-contractors

and the church’s change order

review team. Some changes are

initiated by the building inspectors

and merely

inform us of

costs we have

to incur (we

have had some

of these in

regard s to

e x i s t i n g

e l e c t r i c a l

work).

Our budget for

these change

orders is called

the contingency

for the project,

currently set at

$49,106. This

amount can

change as we

realize savings in

other parts of our

project, but this is

the dollar amount

our change order

review team is

working with now.

As of our last

meeting we have

agreed to approximately $44,000

worth of changes in the contract.

Some of the change orders dealt

with changes to the kitchen, work to

save the White Oak tree at the NW

corner of the Sanctuary, new outlets,

and a change in the routing of

sprinklers in Cowan Chapel. Other

things were mandatory - to get

approval from an inspector adjust

plumbing for the bathroom in the

vestibule of the Sanctuary and

making existing electrical system

safer.

There were some change orders

we didn’t agree to, but each item

was carefully looked at before a

decision was made.

You’ll have an opportunity to take

a tour of the church, Sept 9 at 1:00

pm. Details on p. 1 of this news-

letter. It is exciting to see the change

taking place that is bringing the

project closer to completion our

moving back church home!

Trench for downspouts, etc.

Looking into the Memorial Garden, sanctuary on the left, Chapel on the right