May 9

Have you looked in the Fellowship Hall recently? We have a lovely addition I want to tell you about.

Several years ago, Union’s Tuesday morning Craft Group, led by Joyce Beckwith, began creating new Chrismons for the Chrismon tree that graces our sanctuary each Advent. These have a styrofoam base and are covered with pearls, sequins, and jewels in colors of gold and white. Each year they are placed on the tree alongside those that were made in earlier years. These different Chrismons tell the history of the church and are a reminder not only of the Christ Child, but of those saints that have been a part of Union’s history.

This past year the Craft Group took on another task. They have created large Chrismons that are now framed and hanging in the Fellowship Hall. Each one has the name of the Chrismon and a description of its important meaning. I would like to encourage you to take the time and walk around the room – looking at each one and reading about its important meaning for our Christian faith. The word Chrismon comes from the words Christ-monogram. I hope you can learn more about the monograms of Jesus and our faith that grace these walls.

-Pastor Jane

May 2

In 1952, a new holiday was born – National Secretaries’ Day. Over the next few decades, the name changed several times, and it is now called Administrative Professionals’ Day - a day to recognize and honor those who carry the heavy load of administration for organizations like ours. This day is observed the last Wednesday of April each year, and this year that day fell just before Union’s Barbecue. As such, it was overlooked by me and I am so sorry for that!!

Nickie Pearson is Union’s Administrative Assistant and without her, the church would be severely limited in our ministry and mission. She greets those that drop by daily with a smile, produces the bulletin, Midweek, and the monthly newsletter, handles the church ministry software that includes our entire financial system, as well as personal profile changes. Every week, she ministers beautifully with those who come seeking benevolence help, guiding them toward other agencies that can also help, offering them a listening ear, and praying with them. She is the office “point person” for every committee and group, such as Elders and Church Council. She guides our advertising efforts for larger events, posts the sermon and manages the church website, and the list goes on and on.

I am so very grateful for the opportunity to work every day with Nickie. She is a jewel! She makes me a better minister and I am honored to be able to call her my friend. I hope you will take the opportunity to express your gratitude to Nickie this week.

Happy Administrative Professionals’ Day, Nickie – One Week Late!! You are loved.

-Pastor Jane

May 1

I am writing this on Friday morning of Barbecue weekend –Union’s 81st. For all these years, the saints of Union have gathered together for a packed 36 hours to create the best barbecue in Georgia. Beside the finished products of chicken, pork barbecue, and hash—a more important product comes out of these hours of hard, back-breaking work. In the midst of the fire building, pot hauling, meat grinding, hash stirring, sop making, Fellowship Hall set up, car parking, and meat picking, comes an even greater product than the sum of all the parts.

That product is community. Of course, we produce the barbecue for the greater community, but what I have found after my own four years of participation, is the loving community spirit among the Union family that occurs over the weekend. Those folks who find themselves standing at the table picking meat for several hours, engage in conversation and get to know both old and new friends. Those men who stay up all night, tending the fire and cooking the meat, dozing off and on, also, as my mama says, “solve the world’s problems.” We are encouraged by those whose job is to sit for several hours and package sop, those who greet people at the drive through, those who plate and box.  In everything, we work together.

One of the blessings of Union Christian Church is that this community extends beyond the barbecue. We saw it just a few weeks ago as we gathered together to welcome families during our first Interfaith Hospitality Network host week. This was Christian community at its finest. We are doing it this morning, as I am writing, at ACTS – serving food to those who are hungry and also helping them gather clothing and other needed supplies.

Community – I am grateful to be a part of the Union Christian Church community who works, serves, and worships together. Thanks be to God!

April 25

Perhaps the most beloved portrayal of Jesus from the I Am statements is the picture of him as the Good Shepherd found in John 10. From this image, and others in scripture, we can be assured that Jesus....

Protects us - "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand." John 10:28

Guides us - "He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." Psalm 23:3

Nurtures us - "He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms." Isaiah 40:31

Lays down his life for us - "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10:11

I look forward to learning more with you this Sunday about Jesus, our Good Shepherd.

-Pastor Jane

April 18

We continue in the I Am series this Sunday, with Jesus’ declaration – I AM the Gate. Embedded in the passage are two beautiful images of Jesus. John 10 begins with the picture of a single shepherd, entering a sheep pen filled with sheep from many different herds.

In her book, The Preaching Life, Barbara Brown Taylor shares how the shepherd can distinguish his sheep within the larger herd:
“In Palestine today, it is still possible to witness a scene that Jesus almost certainly saw two thousand years ago, that of Bedouin shepherds bringing their flocks home from the various pastures they have grazed during the day. Often those flocks will end up at the same watering hole around dusk, so that they get all mixed up together—eight or nine small flocks turning into a convention of thirsty sheep. Their shepherds do not worry about the mix-up, however. When it is time to go home, each one issues his or her own distinctive call—a special trill or whistle, or a particular tune on a particular reed pipe, and that shepherd's sheep withdraw from the crowd to follow their shepherd home. They know who they belong to; they know their shepherd's voice, and it is the only one they will follow.”  Later in chapter 10, Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

Immediately, Jesus utters the words I Am the Gate for the sheep. What does he mean? I hope you can join us this Sunday as we explore the sheep, the shepherd, and the gate.

-Pastor Jane

April 11

Each year, around the first week of June, something extraordinary takes place in the Great Smoky Mountains. The Synchronous Firefly Viewing Event occurs when tens-of-thousands of lightening bugs gather in swarms and flash in harmony, as the entire forest alternates between light and darkness. Located just a few minutes from downtown Gatlinburg, the largest population of synchronous fireflies in the Western Hemisphere creates an incredible phenomenon that is a sight to behold! What makes this so special that thousands of people request passes to see it each year?

Just steps away from the neon lights of Gatlinburg, viewers enter the forest in the dark, guided only by low-light flashlights with red filters. As the lucky spectators arrive at the viewing location, flashlights are turned off. As everyone’s eyes adjust to the darkness, suddenly the woods explode with the light of these lightening bugs. There, in the midst of total darkness, the light, created by these thousands of fireflies, stuns onlookers with its arrival. Why? Because even though it is expected, the affect is unexpected. For you see, we don’t expect a little ‘ole lightening bug to provide such an amazing and bright show.

Jesus said in John 8 – I Am the Light of the World. But he also said that we are the Light of the World. In Matthew 5:14-16, we read, You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Just like these synchronous fireflies, may we  join our lights together to shine in the darkness so that the world can see Jesus in us.

-Pastor Jane

April 4

I AM the Bread of Life. Ego eimi (I Am) the Bread of Life. These Greek words identify Jesus as God – described for us, his followers, as bread. The first of Jesus’ I AM statements take us directly to the table – the same table we gather around each week. As we gather for worship and the table on Sunday, may our thoughts be specifically focused on what it means for Jesus to be bread for us. How can this bread give us life? Perhaps these song lyrics will guide your thoughts this week and as we gather for worship and the table.

I Am the Bread of Life
I am the Bread of Life
All who eat this Bread will never die
I am God's love revealed
I am broken that you might be healed

All who eat of this heavenly Bread
All who drink this cup of the covenant
You will live forever for I will raise you up

No one who comes to Me shall ever hunger again
No one who believes shall ever thirst
All that the Father draws shall come to Me
And I will give them rest

Songwriters: John Michael Talbot
I Am the Bread of Life lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

-Pastor Jane

April 1

April 1 – It’s April Fool’s Day, but it’s also Easter – the Day of Resurrection. Are we fools to believe in something that is so far-fetched? In our world today, many would argue that we are. But, as believers, we know of the power of the resurrection. We know resurrection can change our lives and has the power to change our world. As April begins, we will move into a new sermon series that examines this topic. How can we be assured of the power of Jesus and can we also access that same power?

For the next eight weeks, we will explore these questions as we learn from the I Am statements of Jesus from the gospel of John. Seven different times in this gospel, Jesus describes himself using a metaphor that would have been familiar to his hearers. He used illustrations to describe and define himself using ordinary, everyday images people could easily understand.

What can these statements mean for us today? Taking his statements to heart has the possibility of bringing each of us into a closer connection with Jesus. Most importantly, these statements can take us directly to God. We can know God, through Jesus.

I hope you can join with us as we walk through these I Am statements each Sunday morning over the next few weeks.

April 1
The Great I Am
John 6:16-21

April 8
I Am the Bread of Life
John 6:35-40

April 15
I Am the Light of the World
John 8:12         

April 22                     
I Am the Gate                                             
John 10:7-10

April 29                                              
I Am the Good Shepherd                           
John 10:11-18

May 6                                                
I Am the Resurrection and the Life            
John 11:25-26

May 13                                                
I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life       
John 14:1-6

May 20                                               
I Am the Vine                                              
John 15:1-8

March 28

This is a week of extremes: from the joyful Hosannas of Palm Sunday, to the Maundy Thursday scene of the Last Supper, the agony of Good Friday, the silence of Holy Saturday, and the joyful Alleluias of Resurrection Sunday, we travel the gamut. My prayer for you this week is that you will not rush too quickly to Alleluia, and will allow yourself to experience the grief of Friday and the silence of Saturday. It is only from that grief and silence that we can fully realize the gift of the cross; that we can fully absorb the gift of his great love for us.

Therefore I Will Hope
 A Blessing for Holy Saturday
 I have no cause
 to linger beside
 this place of death
 no reason
 to keep vigil
 where life has left
 and yet I cannot go,
 cannot bring myself
 to cleave myself
 from here
 can only pray
 that this waiting
 might yet be a blessing
 and this grieving
 yet a blessing
 and this stone
 yet a blessing
 and this silence
 yet a blessing
 still.

 Jan Richardson

 May God bless you as you live fully into this holiest of weeks.

-Pastor Jane

March 21

It is Monday morning and our building is quiet, but this was not the case just a few hours ago. For yesterday afternoon found a bevy of Union folks tearing down and building back up. Sunday School rooms were transformed into bedrooms as furniture was moved, beds were rolled in, and beautiful clean sheets and towels were placed for our guests. The building was alive with children playing in the play-sized kitchen, eating wonderful food, and running up and down the hallways, as only children can do! Parents were relieved with the knowledge that their family was in a safe place with loving people. It was the first day of hosting families from Interfaith Hospitality Network.

This past Sunday, as I preached from Jeremiah 31, where we are reminded that God’s word, God’s law, and God’s love are written on our hearts, it didn’t cross my mind that this very passage would be lived out that afternoon. For you see - as Union volunteers set up, cooked dinner, spent time with the families, spent the night, and drove them to day care and the Day Center this morning – each person was living as examples of the New Covenant – examples of what our lives can be like when God is “tattooed on our hearts,” as our own children learned during Children’s Chat on Sunday.

“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people.” Jeremiah 31:33

-Pastor Jane

March 14

This Sunday we move back into the Old Testament, to the book of Jeremiah, continuing our Lenten series on Covenant. Interestingly, as we’ve moved through these five weeks of Lent, God’s covenants have moved closer and closer to us. Do you remember?

We began with God’s covenant to Noah – marked by a rainbow with its promise way up in the sky.  God’s covenant with Abraham and Sarah, the promise to make them parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents of a multitude of nations, probably seemed to them to also be way up in the sky – an impossibility. The Ten Commandments were a covenant written on stone tablets kept in the holy of Holies in the Temple.  God’s covenantal promise of enduring love, made possible through Jesus, moves closer and closer to us. And, as we will be reminded this week, Jeremiah says that one day God will write a covenant on our hearts. It doesn’t get much closer, does it?

In worship on Sunday, we will focus on the text from Jeremiah 31:31-34, where God makes this extraordinary promise. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

Written on our hearts – it doesn’t get much closer!

-Pastor Jane

March 7

This Sunday will mark the fourth Sunday of Lent – over half way through the season. On Sundays during worship, we have been exploring the idea of Covenant. We have learned from the stories of God’s covenant between Noah and all of humanity, God’s covenant with Abraham and Sarah, and the covenant of law, given to Moses. The very first Sunday of Lent, we defined covenant as being based on trust between the two parties.

This Sunday, we will explore how God’s covenant of love, given to us all, becomes personal for each of us through the sacrifice of Jesus. In Christ, God became us. Through faith in Christ we are saved. And that faith is unbreakable because of the perfect love of God. I hope you will join us as we are reminded once again, that:

Because of God’s great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgression – it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4-5

-Pastor Jane

March 1

The month of March brings images of new birth to the forefront of our minds. We see tentative blossoms on trees and plants. We feel the warming air; see the vivid blue sky; hear the song of the returning birds. We are in the season of Lent, but the joy of Easter and Christ’s resurrection are just on the horizon. It feels like “almost, but not quite.”

It is in these days of waiting that God’s presence can become most real to us. This month, “new birth” will wear the clothes of families with children. We will open our building to these families - providing them a warm, safe bed and a hot meal – as we host our first week of Interfaith Hospitality Network. Months of prayer, planning, and preparation have gone in this upcoming week. Just like the spring, something new is being born in our church and we are simply the caretakers of God’s wonderful work.

Holy Week comes to us the final week of March and we will have the opportunity to spend that week in both joyful celebration and deep grief, as we remember the great sacrifice Christ made for us. As that week comes to an end, we will remember Jesus’ last meal with the disciples by the re-creation of The Living Last Supper. And, as the month ends, and the light of April comes, we will welcome the resurrection.

My prayer for us all is that we travel through this month with intentionality, listening for God’s voice in the quiet and in this new birth. I share with you a portion of a poem by Ted Loder that calls to us all this month.

Catch Me In My Scurrying, Lord
by Ted Loder

Catch me in my mindless scurrying, Lord,
and hold me in this Lenten season:
hold my spirit to the beacon of your grace
and grant me light enough to walk boldly,
to feel passionately,
to love aggressively;
grant me peace enough to want more,
to work for more
and to submit to nothing less,
and to fear only you…
only you!

-Pastor Jane

February 28

This week, I want to call your memory back to the last Sunday of June, 2017. On that day, we had our Church Annual Meeting and learned about several new and exciting ministry possibilities for Union. We also approved a Permanent Fund Policy to guide the use of some extraordinary financial gifts that had come to the church. Finally, over the next few weeks, the “fruit” of these possibilities are becoming realized.

One of the decisions in setting up the Permanent Fund Policy was to tithe the beginning amount and to use that money for mission opportunities. This week, the Finance and Permanent Fund committees met together and made a recommendation for $10,000 grants to be given to ACTS, The Sparrow’s Nest, and Interfaith Hospitality Network. The Church Council approved this recommendation. 

In making this decision, each of the organizations were asked to share their most pressing needs – where would this money be used? ACTS said their greatest need was always food items, so our donation will enable them to keep the food pantry shelves well-stocked. The Sparrow’s Nest will use the money to help their clients with bus passes and many other personal needs. Interfaith Hospitality Network shared their greatest need was money to pay for childcare for their families.

We are blessed to have a church that takes Jesus’ words about caring for “the least of these” so seriously. From financial gifts, to gifts of time, to gifts of love, to gifts of needed items, the Union family opens their hearts to all of God’s children. “l assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.” Matthew 25:40
-Pastor Jane

February 21

How are your Lenten practices going? Have you been intentional during this first week of Lent to find quiet time to spend with God?

From our Lenten devotional guide for the First Sunday of Lent, there is a reflection on Jesus’ baptism as told in Mark 1. We are reminded that his baptism was preceded by John the Baptist’s preaching on repentance and forgiveness of sin. Hear these words from our guide:
               
In Mark’s original Greek, the word for repentance is metanoia, from meta (change) and noia (mind); today we might say “change of heart,” or “change of life.”

What change is God calling you toward this week? How are you changing your life?

-Pastor Jane

February 14

Over the past few months, a good number of you have come to me with concern in your voices. What is the problem? You were afraid the church would catch fire! And what was the culprit causing this great anxiety? It was the candles on the communion table. For you see, over time they had begun to smoke. In fact, one Sunday, a church member told me they listened to the sermon through a cloud of smoke.

We tried everything. We trimmed the wicks. We lengthened the wicks. We learned that some “bad” oil had been put in, so we burned it all out, threw the bottle away, washed the candles and refilled them with “good” oil, only to watch them smoke again. What had happened? The top of the “bad” oil bottle had mistakenly been put on the “good” oil bottle, so even though we were filling the candles with “good” oil, it was passing through the “bad” top. You can imagine there was a lot of laughter during this process.

We now have new, beautiful candles and candlesticks. I hope you noticed them on Sunday. The brass bases, which had been used for 30 years, had tarnished beyond repair, so they were replaced also. It has struck me, that we all enter the season of Lent much like this candle experience. Over time, and years of use, our souls begin to smoke. We try lots of things, but still, our souls are tired and smoking.

As we enter the season of Lent, I invite you to be intentional about slowing down so that you can refill your lives with “good” oil. Set aside some time for silence and solitude, use your Lenten devotional book for guidance as you hear God’s word and take on practices that will help you understand this season better. I hope you will come tonight and be reminded once again that “you are dust and to dust you will return,” as the smoky ashes are placed on you.

-Pastor Jane

February 7

This Sunday we conclude the sermon series, “Can You Hear Me Now?” For the past five weeks we have been looking at people who were called by God, and how they responded to that call. This Sunday we will explore the story of Naaman, found in 2 Kings 5:1-14. If you don’t know that story, I encourage you to read the entire chapter and hear the story of a man who was offended by how he was instructed to follow that call. Too often we think of following a call as a grandiose event, when sometimes it is just a simple act. I hope you will join us this week as we learn from Naaman and his servants.

_______________________

By the time you receive the Midweek next week, it will be Ash Wednesday. This Sunday we will offer something special  to guide you through this season. Mary Oliver and the Poetry of Lent: A Lenten Devotional, is a devotional guide to accompany you on these 40 days of introspection and listening for God’s voice. If you don’t know Mary Oliver’s work, you will be blessed by reading it. In this Lenten devotional book, words of scripture and her poetry will be your guides.

The devotional guide offers a scripture passage, lines from a Mary Oliver poem, a guide for a time of meditation, as well as specific practices you can do. These are presented for each of the five Sundays of Lent, as well as Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Easter Sunday. While the devotional book is complete within itself, if you would like to read more of Mary Oliver’s words, you can order her book Devotions: The Selected Poetry of Mary Oliver. Here is the amazon link.

_______________________
 

Last year during Lent, we were blessed by the offering of Lenten Crosses for our yards. The hard work of Julian Beckwith and Bill Crawford, who constructed the crosses, as well as Joyce Beckwith and a group of women who prepared the fabric drapes, provided anyone who wanted a cross to have one. Even though most of us already have a cross, we will offer them again for those who would like one and didn’t get one last year. Plan to sign up as the clipboard is passed this Sunday. For those of you who have a cross, you can begin placing it in your yard next Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, with a purple drape.

January 31

This Sunday, I would like to welcome Dr. Ross Johns to the pulpit. Ross was the beloved Interim Minister at Union from January 2014 to June 2014, and it is a joy to have him lead us this Sunday.

I will be away this weekend at the Georgia Disciples Youth Assembly at Epworth By The Sea at St. Simons Island. Union is sending six youth and four adults to this wonderful event. Our own Jackie Byrd is one of the leaders for this event, and it will be a joy to observe her in this leadership role. We ask for your prayers as we travel and as we hear God’s word this weekend.

This week two Bible/Book studies have begun for Union’s women, with 30 women participating in the two groups. I would love to offer this same opportunity to Union’s men. Men, please think and pray about this and then let me know if you would be interested. I am happy to work with whatever schedule would work for you.

We are surrounded by ministry, mission, and learning opportunities. What a blessing! Come and join in.

~Pastor Jane

January 24

Today I find myself immensely grateful for a church that provides professional leave. I am currently in Dallas with 54 other clergy women from across the US and Canada. We are learning together about the Enneagram and its use in church leadership - a study of personality types and how they help inform us in our own spiritual growth. Thank you for this opportunity.

This Saturday we will welcome our neighbors to Union during our Chicken Brunswick Stew. Thank you to everyone who has signed up to help. If you missed the opportunity to sign up on the clipboard, join us anytime during the day. There will be a multitude of jobs!

I look forward to seeing you on Saturday.

~Pastor Jane

January 17

Union works alongside several ministry partners in our community. With each of these, we try to step in whenever there is a need. These needs can range from providing food and clothing items or serving every two months at the ACTS ministry center; serving breakfast every fifth Saturday at Sparrow’s Nest; and, our newest partner, Interfaith Hospitality Network of Athens, where we will be partnering with First Christian and Ashford Methodist in Watkinsville to provide week-long housing in our church building for up to three homeless families. It is exciting to see how our ministry arms are stretching out into the community.

There are several immediate needs where we can all step in to help. The extremely cold weather has been especially brutal this year. You are invited to bring coats, hats, gloves, and other warm weather wear of all sizes to the church THIS SUNDAY. They will be distributed to clients of Sparrows Nest – many who are living on the streets. Please take the time to look in your closets and share generously.

This Sunday you will also see a Giving Tree in the Gathering Space. On it there will be “ornaments” of items that are needed before the start up of Interfaith hosting in March. These will range from specific items, to monetary needs, to gift cards. We are rushing quickly toward Valentine’s Day. Let this be your gift of love to those in need.

 Ministry and Mission – I am grateful to serve alongside you.

~Pastor Jane