Summer is finally here! It’s time to enjoy some warmer weather and fun with family and friends. The summer season is also an important time to take a breath and find some new rhythms and routines. As we ease into the summer months, our June sermon Series, “Making Room,” will help us focus on several ways of intentionally making room in our lives to rejoice, recharge, remember, and rest. Through this Sermon Series, we will discover that when we seek to make room for these 4 important R’s, God has more room to grow us and guide us to become more deeply rooted in Christ.
Vacation Bible School starts next Monday, June 5 at 5:30 PM and runs through Thursday June 8! Thank you to all who have volunteered and shared supplies with us for VBS already! Hero Hotline is going to be a lot of fun and a wonderful opportunity for our children to learn and put down deep roots in their faith. Please pray for the children and all the volunteers who will participate in VBS this year. Ask God to bless them and grow each one in his grace.
This summer, we are also trying something new specifically for our Middle and High School during the summer months. Union’s Meet Up Mondays will give our Middle and High Schoolers a chance to connect for more regular times of prayer and fellowship during the summer months! If you have a Middle or High School student, please check out the information about Meet Up Mondays in the pages that follow or reach out to Holly for more information.
Union has also been invited to a game kickball and cookout with several sister churches in our area on June 11 at 6:00 PM. This gathering will be held at Watkinsville First United Methodist. All young adults, youth, children, and those young at heart are invited to join our Union Kickball Team and share in this fun time together!
Please also make sure to mark your calendars for our Annual Congregational Meeting on Sunday, June 11 following morning worship. As we prepare for the new church year that begins in July, your participation in this important meeting is vital. We will share a covered-dish meal together after our business is concluded that day in the Fellowship Hall.
Union Family, I love being your pastor, and I am so thankful for the vibrant life and ministry that we have together!
The Prayerful Pause - May 24
This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday! We look forward to celebrating God’s gift of the Holy Spirit and the Birthday of the Church. Red is the liturgical color for Pentecost because it reminds us that the Spirit came with a loud rushing wind and tongues of fire, enabling Jesus’ disciples and followers to speak in many languages and understand each other at same time. I hope you will wear red to church on Sunday to celebrate Pentecost! We will also be waving some red streamers during the opening hymn as we remember God’s gift of the Holy Spirit.
The Feast of Pentecost was first an important celebration for the Jewish people. Each year, faithful Jews traveled to the Temple at Pentecost to celebrate the early wheat harvest that took place 50 days after Passover. Jews from all over traveled to the Temple to offer the most-choice wheat from the early harvest as a "thank offering" to God. In the Jewish tradition, Pentecost, or the Feast of Weeks, was also a time to remember that God had given the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai.
But the Pentecost recorded in Acts 2 was the most unusual Pentecost ever. Hearing and understanding so many different languages, the bewildered crowd wondered, “What does this mean?” All these years later, that’s a good question for us, too, as we prepare to celebrate Pentecost once again. What does it mean to be the Church empowered and bound together by the gift of the Spirit? Here are a few reflections:
Pentecost reminds us that the Spirit continually sustains us, guides us, and equips us for our shared ministry.
Pentecost reminds us that the Spirit empowers our ministry individually and collectively as the Church.
Pentecost reminds us that we, as the People of God, can find unity even in our diversity.
Pentecost reminds us that the Spirit is powerful! May we continue listen for the Spirit’s powerful leadership in our lives, not only at Pentecost but in every season.
If you have young children or grandchildren at home, author Traci Smith offers some creative ways to celebrate Pentecost with little ones. See her ideas below.
The Prayerful Pause - May 17
Union’s members have a long tradition of military service over the years. As a church, we seek to honor our service men and women in various ways throughout the year. We post flags on the graves of the 44 veterans buried in Union’s Cemetery for Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day. This past December, we placed wreaths on each veteran’s grave to honor their service and sacrifice. Each November, we seek to honor our living veterans on the Sunday closest to Veterans Day. We feel so inspired when we see the pictures of Union's veterans, both past and present, in our annual slideshow tribute each November.
This Saturday at 11:00 AM, we will be making preparations for Memorial Day in Union's Cemetery. Larry Saul has already been working hard to prepare for this special workday, pre-marking our veterans' graves for this meaningful time of remembrance. Members of our Disciples Men’s Group and the Cemetery Committee will be helping in this effort, and we want to invite anyone else who can join us to participate in this special workday.
We will begin promptly at 11:00 AM in the cemetery, with a time of prayer and remembrance. During this prayer time, we will especially remember those who lost their lives in service to our country, asking God to comfort and sustain these families as they grieve. Then, we will respectfully post flags on the graves of each veteran buried in Union's cemetery.
This Saturday’s Cemetery workday promises to be a deeply meaningful time together as we stop and give thanks for the service of so many dedicated service men and women. I hope you will plan to join us on Saturday and also take a moment to thank God for all who have served.
The Prayerful Pause - May 10
This Sunday, May 14, is Mother's Day! Let’s pause and thank God for all who mother us and pray for them as well. Here are a few prayer points to help us pray.
Thank God for the mothers who raised us and also for all the women who have mothered us over the years in one way or another.
Thank God for those who mothered us in the home and for those who mothered us in the faith.
Thank God for all the women who have mothered us, nurtured us, taught us, prayed for us, encouraged us, and given us wise counsel and guidance.
Pray for those who long to be mothers and for those who grieve the loss or absence of children.
Pray for those who are missing mothers who have passed away or who are absent.
Pray for those who may be estranged from their mother. Ask God to bring healing, hope, and reconciliation.
Pray that God will provide wisdom, encouragement, and strength to all the women who mother others daily.
Union is filled with mighty women who mother others in such amazing ways! Thank God for all who mother in the Family of God.
Indeed, God has used and continues to use women to love, nurture, and guide us. Thanks be to God for the mothering care of the mighty women in our lives. Amen!
The Prayerful Pause - May 3
Each year as we turn the calendar to May, I am reminded of the familiar adage: "April showers bring May flowers." Each time I remember that old familiar saying, I am reminded that both sunshine and rain are needed for flowers and plants to grow.
This month, we begin a new sermon series entitled "Growing." We'll look at how God grows us in trust, wisdom, love, and the Spirit as we seek to follow Jesus. Yes, as Christians, we put some effort into our faith formation and spiritual growth, but it's God, and God alone, who gives us growth. So, this month, I want to encourage us to prayerfully ask God some big questions.
Lord, how do you want to grow me?
Lord, how do you want to grow us as a church?
Lord, how do you want to grow the impact of Union's life and ministry together?
These are questions that only God can answer. May we listen for his voice and follow his lead as we seek to grow together. As always, I would love to hear what God is sharing with you as you consider these questions prayerfully.
This month, I also hope you will take some time to pray about how you can plug into some of Union's programs and ministries. This midweek update and our recent May newsletter are both filled with opportunities that God can use to grow us in various ways.
Union Family, I love being your pastor and seeing how God continues to grow and guide us together!
The Prayerful Pause - April 26
This week, I have been reflecting on how each generation in the Union Family plays an essential part in our life and ministry together! Just take a look at our Choir and Worship Band on Sunday mornings! We have a great combination of generations leading us in worship each week. I especially love that our children participate alongside of our grown-ups, learning to serve God and developing their musical skills. When we teach our young folks how to serve as part of the Body of Christ, God equips them for continued service as adults.
When we recently shared Easter boxes with families in the community, all generations participated as well. Whether filling boxes, purchasing hams, or carrying food to cars on pick-up day, all generations in the church took part! God used the entire Union Family to share the love of Christ with 40 families in the community this Easter. What a wonderful intergenerational ministry!
Serving together across the generations also helps us encourage each other as we grow in love, grace, and unity. This past Saturday, a group of our Disciples Men traveled to Camp Christian for a workday. It was a smaller group, but it included multiple generations of hard workers. One of our young adults, Harrison Clark, even drove from Atlanta to serve with them. Yet another example of intergenerational ministry!
In addition to serving together, we also need to have fun as a family of faith! Research has shown that families who regularly spend time doing enjoyable activities together have stronger relationships with each other than families who do not.
This weekend, we have a fantastic opportunity for all the generations in the Union Family. Please join us for our Intergenerational Game Night on Sunday from 4-6 PM in the Fellowship Hall. We will play bingo and other games around the tables. May God use this time to grow and strengthen our relationships with each other across the whole church family. I hope you will invite a friend to join you for this fun night at Union.
In closing, I invite you to take a moment to thank God for drawing all generations together in Christ using this verse from Ephesians 3:20-21.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to the power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.
The Prayerful Pause - April 19
This week, I want to encourage you to take some time to pray for the work of the various Committees and Service Teams we have here at Union! Our Committees and Service Teams share their time and talents with great love, and we are thankful for the seen and unseen ways that God is using them.
Please ask God to give each group the wisdom and resources needed to do the work God has given them as part of our life and ministry together. Additionally, if you ever have any questions about these groups or how you can plug in, please contact the chairperson, team leader, or myself for more information. A full list of all the people who serve on these Committees and Services Teams is maintained in the Church Office.
Thank you for praying for the work of Union's Committees and Service Teams! I love serving and praying as part of the Body of Christ with you!
Permanent Committees at Union:
Worship Committee, Alan Hickerson, Chair
Finance Committee, Patti Clark, Chair
Cemetery Committee, Julian Beckwith, Chair
Building Committee, Earl Elsner, Chair
Permanent Fund Committee, Chair will be selected at the next meeting
Pastoral Relations Committee, Julia Beckwith, Chair
Personnel Committee
Shot-Term Committees Currently Working:
A Columbarium Task Force, Hal Tatum Chair
The Church Council formed the Columbarium Task Force Committee in March of 2023. This committee will objectively study the feasibility of having a Columbarium in the Cemetery for the interment of cremated remains. This committee will seek feedback from the congregation as they undertake their work in the coming months. Please pray for this committee as they seek to study the feasibility of a Columbarium at Union.
The By-Law Review Committee, David Webb, Chair
The Regathering Committee, Earl Elsner and Alan Hickerson, Co-Chairs
Service Teams at Union:
Maintenance Team, Leader: JR Beckwith
Greeter Team, Nickie Pearson manages the schedule/supplies
Sanctuary Prep Team, Nickie Pearson manages the schedule/supplies
Hospitality Team, Leader: Wanda Maxey
Safety Team, Leader: Larry Saul
Children’s Church, Holly Green manages the schedule/supplies
Children’s Chat Team, Holly Green manages the schedule
Nursery Team, Holly Green manages the schedule
The Prayerful Pause - April 12
My heart is still full after our wonderful experiences together during Lent, Holy Week, and Easter! The joy of Resurrection Sunday will continue to linger as we celebrate the next 6 Sundays of Eastertide.
This week, let’s take some time to pause and thank God for the many blessings we have seen and experienced during Lent, Holy Week, and Easter. Please join me in thanking God for the following:
The amazing Easter Boxes that were shared with our neighbors in need. These boxes were a beautiful outreach to families in our local area.
A meaningful Lenten Soup and Study that God used to draw us closer to Christ and one another.
We welcomed Noah Whitehurst as a new member by profession of faith in March. He will be baptized on April 16.
Our new GriefShare Ministry launched during Lent and is off to a great start. The participants feel cared for and supported.
A meaningful Maundy Thursday service that called us to consider how much Jesus loves us.
A joyous Easter Egg Hunt made possible by faithful volunteers and donations from the congregation.
A special Sunrise Service and a delicious breakfast prepared with love.
A glorious Easter Service at 11:00 AM filled our hearts with joy!
The fantastic way that the Union Family works together to accomplish ministry for the Glory of God!
Indeed, we have much to be thankful for as we look back and see how God has been working in us and through us each day!
Next week, our Spring Bible Study Sessions begin for both women and men! I hope you will participate as your schedule allows and invite a friend to join you. You can find more information about these Spring Bible Study Groups below. These small groups are a great opportunity to grow in our faith and in our relationships with each other.
I thank God for you, Union Family! May God continue to grow us and guide us as we seek to follow Jesus and love others in his name.
The Prayerful Pause - April 5
It’s Holy Week, and this Thursday is Maundy Thursday. We will hold a Communion and Tenebrae Service at 6:00 PM that evening to remember Jesus’ final hours before his death.
Maundy Thursday is the night that we remember and celebrate the final supper Jesus shared with his disciples before he went to the cross. As Disciples, we share communion each Sunday. Yet, it takes on a special significance on Maundy Thursday as we journey with Jesus from the Upper Room, to the cross, and then to the tomb.
The term Maundy Thursday is derived from the Old French mande and from the Latin mandatum novum, meaning "a new commandment" that is referenced in John 13:34. “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” Jesus’ great love of us is reflected powerfully in the way that he laid down his life for us.
Tenebrae, the Latin word for darkness, is an adaptation of the ancient service in which candles are lit at the opening of the service and extinguished one by one after each scripture lesson, commemorating the darkness at the time of the Crucifixion.
Come and share in the Lord’s Supper and walk through the shadows of Jesus’ final hours this Thursday at 6:00 PM. This service will be a rich time of worship that makes Easter even more meaningful.
The Prayerful Pause - March 29
I am looking forward to this Sunday! It's Palm Sunday, and we will remember Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We will remember that the crowds welcomed Jesus by waving palm branches and shouting, "Hosanna." We will remember that Jesus entered the city in a most unexpected way, riding on the back of a humble donkey. We will remember that those welcoming cheers of Hosanna soon turned to jeers, sneers, and angry voices shouting, "crucify him."
As we prepare our hearts for Palm Sunday and for the start of Holy Week, let’s prayerfully pause and remember that Jesus, our King, comes to us every day as we experience ups and downs on the road of life. In times of joy, celebration, sorrow, challenge, or peace, Jesus, our King, comes to us and is with us on the journey every day! May we welcome his presence and rejoice!
Palm Sunday also begins Holy Week, the week that we journey with Jesus from the shouts of “Hosanna” on Palm Sunday, to the Upper Room and the Garden on Thursday, to the horrific events of Good Friday, and to the joy of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday.
As we prepare for Holy Week, please pray that God will draw us and others in the wider community closer to Jesus. I also want to encourage you to invite someone you know to come with you to Union during Holy Week. The vast majority of people who begin attending a new church have been specifically invited by someone that they already know in that church.
Holy Week is an excellent time to be intentional about inviting your friends and neighbors to come and experience God's love at Union. Below you will find a calendar of events for Holy Week at Union. You can pick up printed copies of this invitation card on Sunday to share with your friends and neighbors, too. We will also be posting our Holy Week calendar on social media so you can share it on your page as an easy way of inviting others to Union.
I look forward to experiencing Holy Week as we remember Jesus' life, death, and resurrection together!
The Prayerful Pause - March 22
During Lent, we've been exploring some meaningful conversations that people had with Jesus during his earthly ministry. Prayer is our primary way of talking and listening to God. Yet, in our busy and noisy lives, it can sometimes feel hard to stay focused in prayer with so many things competing for our time and attention.
What helps you focus your mind and your heart when you pray? Here are a few things that help me focus when I seek to talk and listen to God.
I often pray out loud, just as if I am talking to a dear friend. Sometimes these prayers are just a few sentences, and at other times, I have much more to share with God. Over the years, I have found that the length of my prayers or the words that I say don’t matter. It is the regularity of my out loud conversations with God that are important. The more we talk to God, the deeper our connection with the Lord grows.
Sometimes I write my prayers out in a journal. These prayers are penned like a letter to God, but I never worry about correct spelling, good handwriting, or proper grammar. I write out whatever is on my heart, knowing God understands.
I've also drawn and doodled my prayers when I don’t have the words to pray. I am not an artist, but God understands what I am trying to communicate.
Praying with other people often helps me focus, too. At times, I have met weekly with a prayer partner. Now, our family spends time together in the evenings, reading a few chapters of Scripture and praying before bed. Our Tuesday Night Meet and Greet and our Saturday morning Prayer Call are two ways to connect with others in prayer each week, and there is always room for more folks to join in. Making prayer with others a routine is a wonderful way to cultivate a habit of prayer.
Listening to God as we pray can at times seem elusive. I've found that listening to Christian music throughout the day helps me focus my heart on listening to God. The music helps me quiet myself enough to listen for God’s voice but sometimes God even uses the lyrics of the music I am listening to teach me important things.
Often, I find myself listening to God when I am doing something else like driving, brushing my teeth, or walking around. I’ve never heard the audible voice of God, but I usually hear God’s voice as a gentle nudge in my heart or as a surprising idea that springs to mind unexpectedly. I’ve heard God's stirring in my spirit and sensed God’s leadership in my gut. God has even spoken to me through the encouragement or questions of God's people. I think the key to listening to God is simply being open and available for God to speak to us. So, this week, I want to encourage us to regularly open ourselves up to God using the word that the young prophet Samuel did by simply telling God, "Speak, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3: 10).
Prayerful Pause - March 15
Signs of new life are beginning to blossom all around us. Spring comes with a colorful beauty that delights our eyes but also disturbs our sinuses. Spring comes with both warmer days and cooler days with rain. As we did last Sunday, Springing Forward is another part of spring with pros and cons. We don't relish the thought of losing an hour of sleep or the impact the time change has on our sleeping patterns, but we enjoy the extra daylight in the evenings. As the seasons change, we embrace both the wonderful and the challenging aspects because it's part of growth and new life.
At Union, we have signs of life and new growth all around us. New ministries are sprouting up and growing. Our GriefShare ministry is off to a great start, with 17 people present last week, including participants and leaders. Our new CommUnity Groups@Union are off to a great start with three groups enjoying fun and fellowship together. Our children's ministry, youth ministry, and young adult ministries are also growing!
Even around the church building, we can see signs of restoration and renewal. Our Building Committee has done some amazing work in selecting the materials for the Fellowship Hall refresh, and we are starting to see some of the results already. Over the next several weeks, this project should be wrapping up. Union's Maintenance Team is also working hard to care for our building and grounds. Have you noticed the new swings on the swing set recently? They are a big hit with our youth and children. We even have some wonderful new storage racks for our paraments and banners that JR Beckwith designed and made.
Yes, new signs of life are all around us. But sometimes, when there is growth and change, we find ourselves needing flexibility, patience, and grace to meet the unexpected challenges that often accompany new life. This week, I want to encourage us all to build each other up and practice patience and peace with ourselves and others when new life and growth brings challenges.
Paul said it well in Romans 14:19, So let's strive together for the things that bring peace and the things that build each other up. Union Family, indeed, let's celebrate and thank God for these new signs of life while also prayerfully seeking God's help to support and encourage each other when we face the challenges of new things too!
I love you, and I love being your Pastor!
The Prayerful Pause - March 8
During Lent, we have several opportunities to reach out and pray for our neighbors who are physically and spiritually hungry.
While we are preparing our hearts for Easter during Lent, we also have the opportunity to prepare and share Easter Food Boxes with families in need in our local area. Our goal is to help 40 families by providing an Easter meal this year complete with ham, sides, and dessert. You can pick up a box and a shopping list in the Gathering Space starting this Sunday, March 12. Boxes are due back at the church by March 26 and will be disrupted to families on Sunday, April 2.
In addition to preparing a box, I also want to encourage you to pray for the families who will receive these Easter food boxes throughout the month of March. Ask God to provide for their daily food needs faithfully, but also pray that God fills those who are spiritually hungry with the nourishment of his love and peace. Please pray that these families will experience God’s presence and guidance as they navigate various challenges in their daily lives as well.
We also have another way to help those experiencing food insecurity this month. Will you consider donating canned protein items to our CWF food drive for ACTS this month to help those who are hungry? You can drop off your protein items in the Gathering Space anytime this month. As you do so, please pray that God will continue to use the ministry of ACTS to help those in need in the area in compassionate and life-giving ways.
Finally, this month's community prayer emphasis is the Oconee Area Resource Council (OARC). Please pause and pray for the children and families who receive food from OARC’s Food for Kids Program this month. We were thankful for your generous donations to the Souper Bowl of Caring last month, giving $401 to support OARC’s Food for Kids Program. Please pray that God will continue to use this program to fill the hungry with good things for years to come.
The Prayerful Pause - March 1
The Season of Lent has arrived, full of opportunities for God to grow and guide us in grace as we seek to draw closer to Christ. Above all this Lent, I want to encourage you to pause and spend time with Christ daily. Try to carve out some intentional time each day to pray and spend time in conversation with Jesus. Spend time talking and listening to Christ, allowing his voice to whisper to you, peace be still, even when the wind and waves of life would like to crash in and interrupt your conversation.
This Lent, I also want to invite you to participate in one of the new opportunities that we have for God to grow our faith and impact at Union. One way for God to grow us is by participating in our Lenten Soup and Study each Wednesday in March at 5:45 PM in the Fellowship Hall. We will study a book called 24 Hours that Changed the World by Adam Hamilton. It’s an account of Jesus’ final 24 hours before the cross. This study will be an excellent way for God to grow us in grace during Lent. I hope you will participate and invite a friend to join you.
Another new opportunity that we have for growth this month is the launch of our new GriefShare Ministry, beginning March 2 from 5:30-7:30 PM. This new ministry needs considerable prayer support. I hope you will consider allowing God to grow you and this new ministry by praying intentionally for GriefShare during Lent this year.
No matter how we choose to engage with Christ this Lent, may God draw us all closer to Him and each other as he continues to grow us and guide us in grace!
The Prayerful Pause - February 22
Today is Ash Wednesday, and our Lenten journey begins in earnest. Please join us this evening for our Ash Wednesday service at 6:30 PM, as we remember our deep need for Jesus.
During our Lenten Journey, we will remember Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness just after his baptism and before the start of his public ministry. During Lent, we walk with Jesus in the wilderness, trusting God is with us daily in hard places and spaces of life.
Lent is sometimes considered a heavy season, as we remember the 40 difficult days Jesus spent in the wilderness. However, Lent is also a time of joyful growth. Indeed, God grows and stretches us as only God can, and it's joyous to see what God can do when we are open to growth.
I think it is interesting that the word Lent comes from the old English word for "lengthen." Lent is a season of the church year that takes place just as the days are becoming longer. I wonder, what does God want to grow and "lengthen" in us during Lent? Maybe God wants to "lengthen" the amount of time we spend in daily prayer or study. Perhaps, God wants to grow and "lengthen" the impact of our shared ministry together. Maybe God wants to "lengthen" our understanding of grace so that we can receive it and extend it more freely.
No matter what God wants to "lengthen" in us as individuals or as a church family this Lenten season, God's growth is always rooted in love and exactly what we need. May God continually grow our understanding of how wide, long, high, and deep the love of God in Christ Jesus!
The Prayerful Pause - February 15
Next Wednesday, February 22, is Ash Wednesday. We will gather for a special service at 6:30 PM in the Sanctuary to impose ashes and remember our need for Jesus. This service marks the beginning of Lent, a season of preparation before we celebrate Easter. On Ash Wednesday, we set aside time to remember and respond to God at the start of our Lenten journey.
Ash Wednesday reminds us that we are dust, and to dust we will return. We remember that we are people with a deep need for a savior. We also remember that God gives beauty for the ashes of our despair through the work of Christ on the Cross. On Ash Wednesday, we also remember that we can repent and believe the Gospel, confident that Jesus makes all things new.
During our Lenten Journey, we will remember Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness just after his baptism and before the start of his public ministry. In Lent, we walk with Jesus in the wilderness, trusting God is with us daily in hard places and spaces. At times, Christians have given up things that are important to them during Lent so that they might focus on God more clearly. At other times, Christians have taken on a new spiritual practice or aspect of service during Lent as a way to draw closer to Christ. No matter how you observe Lent this year, it is a time to focus on God and remember Jesus' life, ministry, and sacrifice for us all.
Please join us for our Ash Wednesday Service next Wednesday, February 22, at 6:30 PM, and encourage a friend to join you. It will be a meaningful time to remember Jesus and the forgiveness he offers to all.
The Prayerful Pause - January 11
I feel quite reflective this week because Sunday, January 15, will mark one year since you officially called me to serve as your Pastor!
I've been remembering many details of that memorable weekend last year. The Bulldogs had just won a National Championship, and our family made sure to wear our red and black attire for the Welcome Dinner that Friday night with the Search and Call Committee. That dinner featured incredible food, and I knew as a non-cook, I would be just fine coming to a church that knew how to cook so well.
I also remember that a victory parade was planned for Saturday to celebrate the Dawgs; so many fans had come to town for the celebration that our hotel was full. When we checked in, the most enormous baskets of snacks and special treats awaited us in our room from you all. Pastor Jane also sent flowers to our hotel room, which was a complete surprise. Winter weather was in the forecast, and the “call Sunday” was held Saturday evening to beat the storm. I remember being so thankful for your warmth and hospitality that weekend, even when it was cold outside. You welcomed us with open arms. Union, you really do know how to welcome folks, and you also know how to joyously celebrate, too!
So, one year on, as we celebrate another Bulldog National Championship, I find myself reflecting on the things we celebrate in our faith journey. I wonder, what is God doing in your life or in the life of your church that you want to celebrate at this time?
As your Pastor, I am celebrating the tender way you love and support one another through hard things. It's a joy to see you pray for one another and encourage each other.
I am also celebrating ministry opportunities for us as a church family as we begin a new year. Our Winter Bible Studies begin next week. Sign-ups are now underway for our new CommUnity Groups @ Union and for our Intergenerational Chili Cook-Off at the end of January. To support those grieving in our church or in the wider community, our new GriefShare Ministry will launch in March 2023 as well. I am also celebrating our continued faithful service with long-standing ministry partners like Family Promise and ACTS. It's a joy to see you serve, offering yourselves as the hands and feet of Christ.
But most of all, I am celebrating the love and grace of Jesus that flows through our lives each day.
What are you celebrating, Union family? What are you celebrating in your walk with the Lord or in our life together as a church? I am thankful that there is always something to celebrate with Jesus! May God give us eyes that see what needs to be celebrated and hearts that rejoice in singing the goodness of God!
The Prayerful Pause - January 4
Happy New Year, Union Family! Each January, many folks make new year's resolutions. Maybe this year you hope to eat a bit healthier or be more intentional about spending time with your family. Perhaps, this year you want to exercise a little more or finally clean out all your closets and donate some things you don't need to charity. New year’s resolutions can sometimes be a really good thing, but if we are honest with ourselves, we often abandon our resolutions by the time February 1 rolls around.
This year, instead of making a resolution, I want to invite you to think about what new thing God wants to do in and through your life. How does God want to grow you in grace, wisdom, or service this year? How will God enrich your life through Bible Study, fellowship, or worship this year? How does God want to grow your prayer life and draw you closer to Christ? How will God use you this year to share love and encouragement with those who need it most? So right from the start this year, may we focus on how God works in our lives instead of what we can accomplish on our own. God is always doing something new, and we are invited to catch a glimpse of it daily.
May God give us eyes to see and hearts that embrace the new things He wants to do in us, through us, and in our midst in 2023! I look forward to seeing all the ways that God will grow and guide us this year!
The Prayerful Pause - December 21
My heart is full this Advent! It’s been a joy to journey toward the manger with you, Union Family, celebrating my first Advent season with you!
As we continue to prepare our hearts for Christmas this week, let’s focus our attention on the gift that Jesus is for all people. Jesus fills our hearts with hope, peace, joy, and love, not only during December, but throughout every day of the year! What will we do with the gift of Jesus this Christmas? May we celebrate and savor the Advent of Christ in our own hearts but also continue to share the gift of Jesus with others in both word and deed this Christmas.
I also want to encourage you to connect with Christ in worship this week. We have three upcoming services, and each will be a unique opportunity for you to reflect on the gift of Jesus.
We will hold our first Blue Christmas Service tonight, Wednesday, December 21, at 6:00 PM. Some are carrying the heaviness of grief and are feeling blue during this season. Union’s Blue Christmas Service will offer a quiet and reflective time of worship that acknowledges the heaviness of grief and loss while also pointing to the hope that Jesus gives. After the service, we will have some light snacks in the Fellowship Hall for those who wish to linger and experience the warmth and love of Union's caring community.
Our Candlelight Christmas Eve Service will take place at 5:00 PM this Saturday. Come and share in the joy of Christmas as we light the Christ Candle, share communion together, and celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Since Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year, we have an extra chance to worship together this season on Christmas morning at 11:00 AM! We will gather for a joyous, family-friendly service with all ages of the Union family, from the youngest to the oldest. Our children and those young at heart are welcome to join us for worship wearing your Christmas PJs if you like! Please note that Sunday School will not meet on Christmas Day.
Finally, please take a moment this week to invite a friend or neighbor to worship with you this Christmas. Personal invitations mean so much, and they are also a great way to encourage others to connect with Christ and a caring church family.
May God bless you and your family this Christmas and continue to fill your hearts with the joy of Jesus!
The Prayerful Pause - December 14
Can you believe it? Christmas is almost here! In just 11 more days, we will celebrate Jesus' birth once again! Even as we await Jesus' arrival, we have several opportunities coming up this week to prepare our hearts for Christmas. I hope you will plan to join us and invite others too.
On Saturday, we are participating in Wreaths Across America by laying Christmas wreaths on the graves of the veterans buried in Union's cemetery. Volunteers are needed to help with this effort. We will gather Saturday at 1:00 PM in the cemetery for this unique time of remembrance.
This Saturday evening from 4-6 PM, you are also invited to a Christmas Open House at our home (3147 Meadow Spring Drive). We will have fantastic finger foods and warm fellowship together. Jyoti is also excited to show you all her Christmas decorations! You don't need to bring anything to the party, and you are most welcome to invite a friend or neighbor.
This Sunday, we have another tremendous opportunity to worship God and enjoy the music of the season. Our choir has been practicing hard and will lead us in worship this Sunday, sharing several anthems and readings during the service. Our music ministry blesses us at Union, and we are thankful for the faithful service of JR, Gina, the Choir, and our Worship Band. Please take a moment to invite a friend or neighbor to join us for our special music service this Sunday.
Finally, as we continue to prepare our hearts for Christmas, I want to encourage each of us to be intentional about pressing the pause button during this busy time of year by spending time with God each day. We can spend time with God anywhere, praying, reading Scripture and devotional books, listening to music, or reflecting on God's goodness in silence. As we prepare for the coming of Christ, I am praying that we will be even more intentional about abiding in Christ each day. For when we abide in Christ, God fills us with the love of Christ and helps us share that love with others too. May the hope, peace, joy, and love of Jesus dwell with you richly today and always.