December will soon be here! It's hard to believe that 2023 is almost over. Before we blink, we will be ringing in 2024. But before we turn another page on the calendar, let me share some of the wonderful things taking place in worship during the Season of Advent!
This year, Advent begins on Sunday, December 3. During Advent, we will eagerly prepare for Jesus’ arrival, making rooming our hearts and in our lives for him. We also prepare our Sanctuary for Christmas each year as we celebrate the Hanging of the Greens on the First Sunday of Advent. This year, we will have our Hanging of the Greens Service on Sunday morning. Before the service at 10:00 AM, we hope you will join us for a fellowship time with the Union Family in the Fellowship Hall and bring a snack to share. Spending time together in fellowship is a great way to kick off the Advent Season.
During the four weeks of Advent, our theme in worship will be “Rerouted," and we will focus on the many ways that God directed and re-directed people in the Christmas story. I am especially excited about this sermon series as it reminds us to keep our eyes, ears, hearts, and minds open to the new things God wants to do in our lives.
On December 20 at 6:00 PM, we will hold our second annual Blue Christmas Service to reach out to those grieving in the church and the wider community. You may not have heard of a Blue Christmas Service before, but it's a service that speaks especially to people grieving loss during this time of year. You may know a friend or neighbor who is grieving the loss of a loved one or who is grieving another type of loss, including a recent divorce or job transition. Our Blue Christmas service will acknowledge the heaviness that people often feel during this season while pointing to the hope that Jesus brings even as we grieve. Please pray that God will use our Blue Christmas service to comfort those feeling blue this season.
Our music ministry will lead us in worship on Sunday, December 17, as the story of Christ is told through song and readings. We also look forward to our candlelight Christmas Eve service on Sunday, December 24, at 5:00 PM. Since Christmas Eve is also on Sunday this year, we will have a family-friendly service for all ages at 11:00 AM on Christmas Eve that morning, too. There will be no Sunday School on Christmas Eve.
I hope you will invite a friend or neighbor to visit Union for any of our services during December. It will be a rich and meaningful month of worship. During December, there are also a host of fellowship and service opportunities for all age groups in the Union Family. You can find more information about these fellowship and service opportunities sprinkled throughout these pages. It will be a joyous month as we watch and wait for Christ. May the joy of Jesus fill our hearts this December as we worship, serve, and fellowship together.
The Prayerful Pause - November 15
What do you want to praise God for today?
That’s our question of week this week, and my heart has been full this week hearing your answers. Indeed, we have so much in our lives to be grateful for, and God’s unconditional love and constant care are two amazing gifts that really are important to me.
Sometimes in life we may not feel like praising God: when we are discouraged, facing many personal challenges, or feeling weighed down by hard things in the world or in the lives of those we love. It can feel hard to praise God sometimes when our hearts, our lives, and the world are heavy. Yet, I’ve noticed over the years that offering our praise and thanks to God, even in the middle of struggles and storms, helps us find new hope and new strength to carry on.
In worship, we sing the doxology each week. It’s one of the ways that we seek to praise God during every service. May the words to the doxology be on your lips each day, trusting that no matter what struggle or storm we are facing, we can count on God to be with us in it. Indeed, God is with us as our creator, our redeemer, and our sustainer even in the struggles and the storms of life. That’s always a reason we can praise God! So sing it with me right where you are:
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
The Prayerful Pause - November 1
November is here, and Thanksgiving will soon be upon us. We have so much to be thankful for every day! During November, I want to encourage you to spend some time prayerfully reflecting on the many ways God has blessed Union in 2023. Here is a short list of things we can thank God for as a church family this Thanksgiving!
Thank God for the worship, fellowship, and service that fills our lives with joy as we seek to follow Christ together!
We’ve welcomed five new members by transfer of letter in 2023: David Lovell, Madison and Adam Fitzgerald, and Pam and Larry Gunter. We’ve welcomed 2 new members by baptism, Noah Whitehurst and Cora Sledge. We've also welcomed several new active participants into the community this year!
We’ve had several opportunities to reach out to young families in our community through Fall Family Fun Night, Vacation Bible School, Parents Night Out, and the Easter Egg Hunt. God has graciously grown our Ministry to Children and Youth over the last year as well!
God continues to use our GriefShare Ministry, providing comfort and care for the participants through our extraordinary leaders. God has even grown this ministry, allowing us to partner with our friends at Presbyterian Village to host a safelight group this fall.
Our Young Adult Hangout Group continues to be an excellent way for our young folks to stay connected and find an outlet for Christian fellowship.
In addition to Sunday School, we offered 3 small group Bible Studies, 2 groups for women and 1 group for men, in the winter, spring, and fall. We’ve seen participants in the women’s Bible Studies from the wider community. We also had a meaningful Soup and Study during Lent.
Our Disciples Men spent a day serving at Camp Christian last spring, and they just held a dinner to enjoy fellowship and learn more about the ministry of ACTS.
Many volunteers in the church family regularly serve with ACTS, and we are thankful for their support of this life-giving ministry.
Our Tuesday morning craft group has made 1,435 fleece comfort pillows to encourage people undergoing medical treatments. They are now diligently working on some amazing new Chrismons for our Sanctuary Tree!
Union has spent 4 weeks providing meals and serving as hosts to support Family Promise of Athens, with a fifth week on the horizon in December.
Your giving to our Fifth Sunday Benevolence Offerings has helped families in need in our local community 31 times this year. You’ve also shared 40 Easter Food boxes, and we plan to share around 50 food boxes with families this Thanksgiving.
You've generously given supplies and money to support 12 different Christian Women's Fellowship Projects throughout the year, impacting families in our community and around the world.
Indeed, we have much to be thankful for as a church family! I hope you will spend some time this month thanking God for all these good gifts in our life and ministry together!
The Prayerful Pause - October 25
We have some exciting things going on at Union this weekend!
On Friday, our Disciples Men will enjoy a catered dinner at 6:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall. This gathering will include fellowship and a chance to learn more about the ministry of ACTS from Randy Dawson. I am thankful for Julian Beckwith and his hard work in putting together this special evening. It’s great to see our Disciples Men seeking to become more intergenerational in their fellowship and service. I look forward to seeing how God will continue to grow and guide them going forward.
This Sunday is also our annual Fall Fun Night! We are excited to welcome our community to Union for this special outreach event. I am thankful so many of you have signed up to serve or share supplies for this outreach. Please take a moment this week to invite your friends and neighbors to join us for Fall Family Fun Night! It’s a great way to reach out to young families with children and youth in our community.
Below are a few prayer needs as we prepare for this special outreach event and some details about arrival times for volunteers and supplies.
Prayer Needs for our Fall Family Fun Night Outreach:
Please pray that the event will go smoothly and be a gift to the community.
Please pray that all who come will experience God’s love through the warmth of welcome and generosity of the Union Family.
Please also pray for those who are seeking a new church home. May God welcome them “home” to Union at Fall Family Fun.
Arrival Times for Supplies and Volunteers:
Please deliver all food or supply donations to the Basement by Sunday morning.
The Set-Up Crew will start working at 1:30 PM on Sunday.
All station, activity leaders, and Trunk or Treat participants, please arrive by 2:20 PM and be ready to go at your stations by 2:40 PM.
Fall Family Fun Schedule:
1:30 PM- Set-up Crew begins
2:20 PM- Station, Activity, Leaders, and Trunk or Treat Participants arrive.
2:40 PM- All Stations Ready
3:00 PM- Fall Family Fun Night Begins
5:00 PM- Clean up
The Prayerful Pause - October 18
Sharing our unique viewpoints to inform the work of our church committees is a marker of a healthy and active church. Seeking input from the congregation is also a hallmark of our congregational polity in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
This week, I want to encourage everyone to prayerfully consider the information packet and survey that the Columbarium Committee has recently shared with the church if you have not already done so. The committee wants to hear as many opinions as possible since the survey data will be used to determine if our congregation has enough interest to plan and construct a columbarium for Union Christian Church. The final day of the survey window is Sunday, October 22, so the time to make your voice heard is running short.
Some of you have asked if both spouses in a family are welcome to submit responses to the survey. Indeed, both spouses in a family are welcome and encouraged to submit their own survey responses.
You can find links to the informational packet and online survey by scrolling down in our midweek update. Paper copies of the packet and survey are also available in the church office and in the Gathering Space with envelopes in both locations to return your completed survey this Sunday.
Please take the time to share your thoughts and opinions with the Columbarium Committee before Sunday, October 22. I am thankful to be your pastor! You are a healthy church, and I appreciate the way we can ponder big questions together.
The Prayerful Pause - October 11
I am excited to officially welcome our new Assistant Childcare Provider, Maya Allen!
Maya will be helping Emily in the nursery on Sunday mornings, and we are thrilled to have her on board. Emily and Maya will lovingly care for our youngest children while also sharing a play-based Bible lesson with the kids in the nursery each week. It’s never too early to begin teaching our babies and toddlers about Jesus’ love, and I know that Emily and Maya will make a great team. Please take a moment to pray for Maya as she takes on this new role, and please offer her a warm welcome when you see her around the church building.
Speaking of prayer, I would like to thank everyone who has been praying for me this month during Pastor Appreciation Month. It means so much to me and my family. You are a true blessing!
This week, I also want to ask you to pause and pray for our church staff. We have a dedicated church staff, and I am blessed to serve alongside each of them.
Please pray for Nickie as she serves in the church office with amazing attention to detail, boundless compassion, and great love.
Please pray for J.R. as he offers expert guidance and ministry to the choir, worship band, and congregation while seamlessly handling all our A.V. needs.
Please pray for Holly as she ministers to our youth and children in a beautifully authentic and relational way, encouraging them to follow Jesus wholeheartedly while also recruiting and coordinating volunteers for these ministries.
Please pray for Gina as her fingertips glide over the piano keys, joyously sharing God’s love with each note she plays.
Please pray for Brice as he shares his musical gifts as an intern in our music ministry with dedication, enthusiasm, and a can-do attitude.
Please pray for Emily and Maya as they care for our youngest children in the nursery with compassion and patience, while modeling Jesus’ wide-armed welcome and love for them.
Please pray for Kay Benton as she cleans the church building with a great combination of hard work, faithfulness, and love.
The Prayerful Pause - October 4
October is my favorite month of the year! I love watching the leaves each October as they turn rich hews of red, yellow, and orange. During October, the sunsets also seem a little more spectacular when you watch them while also enjoying the crisp, cooler air. This October, I am looking forward to the exciting things God has on the horizon for us as a church family as well.
Our October theme in worship is Mountainside Messages. In this Sermon Series, we will explore the challenging teachings that Jesus offers in the Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew 5-7. The Sermon on the Mount provides guidance on how followers of Christ can seek to live with ethics that reflect the Kingdom of God. I look forward to all that we will learn together as we explore Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount this month in worship.
Our Bible Book of the Month for October is Mark, and we will continue with our questions of the week both on Social Media and in person, too. It’s wonderful to see conversations across various generations both about the Bible and the questions of the week.
Our Disciples Men will hold a special dinner on Friday, October 27, at 6:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall for the men of the church. Gathering for this special meal will be a great chance to build friendships and explore fellowship and service opportunities for our Disciples Men. Our speaker will be Randy Dawson, and he will share about the vital ministry of ACTS, Area Churches Together Serving. You can find more information by scrolling down. I hope you will join our Disciples Men for this special opportunity.
This month, we can also look forward to our Fall Family Fun Night outreach on Sunday, October 29, from 3–5 PM. Fall Family Fun Night is an excellent chance to invite our neighbors to experience the warmth and friendliness of the Union family. We will have invitation cards ready to pick up this Sunday, so you can invite your friends and neighbors to join in the fun. We need many volunteers and supply donations to make our Fall Family Fun Night outreach possible. Please look out for the sign-up clipboard on Sunday mornings or contact Holly Green for more information on how to help. Please also be in prayer for all who will come that day. Let's pray that God will help each person who comes to experience Jesus' love and welcome here at Union.
The Prayerful Pause - September 20
This week, I am thankful for our upcoming Disciples Women's Retreat. Friday, September 22 - Sunday, September 24. I am looking forward to leading the group through a keynote and workshops surrounding the topic, Dancing in the Rain.
In my absence, Rev. Allie Osborne will lead worship this Sunday. Rev. Osborne is from Richmond, Virginia, and moved to Atlanta in 2021 with her two cats, Poppy and Scooter. She currently serves as the Minister of Missions and Children's Discipleship at Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church in Atlanta. She has also previously served in both children’s and youth ministry positions with other congregations. Allie has an undergraduate degree in Communication from Christopher Newport University in Virginia and a Master of Divinity from McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University in Atlanta. Her favorite activities are reading, hiking, and enjoying Mexican food.
I hope you will join me in praying for Rev. Osborne, as she travels to be with you on Sunday. Pray that God will bless our Sunday service.
I also encourage you to pray for the Disciples Women's Retreat. Union has 8 women attending, in addition to myself. Pray for safe travels for all involved in the retreat. Pray that God would move and speak to the attendees, allowing them to go back to their home congregations refreshed and ready to continue serving God.
I love being your pastor, and I will certainly miss being with you this Sunday, but I know that you are in good hands.
The Prayerful Pause - September 13
This week, I am wondering where do you feel most connected to God? That's our question of the week. I have heard some fantastic answers representing all the generations in the Union Family since last Friday when we posted this question on our Social Media pages. I've heard some amazing answers both online and through rich, in-person conversations as well.
For me, it's sitting in my favorite chair in my house when all is quiet. Many of you have shared how being in nature and admiring the beauty of God's creation helps you feel connected to God. Others have shared about feeling connected to God when reading and studying the Bible. Several of you have shared how music helps you connect to God deeply. Others of you find that journaling helps you connect to God.
Brothers and sisters, God longs to connect with us. This week, I encourage you to carve out some time and intentionally seek to connect with him. No matter where or how you choose to do that, know that God is already present with us. He is present wherever we are, just waiting for us to recognize and respond to his presence. He longs to give us rest, comfort, and peace as we sit in his presence. He longs to teach us and lead us as we connect with him. May these words from Matthew’s Gospel, which is also our Bible Book of the Month, help guide our hearts as we seek to connect with Christ this week.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
The Prayerful Pause - September 6
For several months, I have been praying and thinking about the importance of being a Multigenerational Church. Each generation has a meaningful perspective and brings something unique to the Body of Christ. As we continue to learn and grow in Christ together, I want us to learn from each other, too.
This year, I hope to encourage faith-filled conversations across all generations of the church family in two ways.
First, we will start by sharing a Question of the Week to encourage faith-filled, face-to-face dialogue and online conversations. Our Questions of the Week will be posted each Friday on social media, in Sunday's bulletin, and in the Midweek Update. Please take some time to chat with a family member or friend about our Question of the Week in person or on social media!
Here are some upcoming Questions of the Week for September to whet your appetite.
September 1-7: What’s your favorite Bible story and why?
September 8-14: Where do you feel most connected to God?
September 15-21: What three words would you use to describe Jesus?
September 22-28: What’s your favorite Bible verse and why?
September 29-Oct 5: What do you love about your church family?
Second, we will begin highlighting and reading a specific book of the Bible each month. I hope that by highlighting a particular book each month, all the generations of the church can explore the same part of the Bible together and reflect on ways we can apply it to our lives in today’s context.
During September, I encourage everyone to read through the Book of Matthew. Soon, I will be sharing some tips for reading through a book of the Bible with children, youth, spouses, friends, and neighbors in upcoming midweek articles. For now, I have shared some basic information and video resources about the Gospel of Matthew below to help get you started! I like to call this type of contextual information about a Bible Book the “back story.”
The Gospel of Matthew is one of the four Gospels found in the New Testament that chronicles the life, ministry, and teachings of Jesus. It was written primarily for a Jewish audience and focuses on the themes of promise and fulfillment. The Book of Matthew has traditionally been attributed to the Apostle Matthew, also known as Levi, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. The Gospel of Matthew is more like the Gospels of Mark and Luke than John’s Gospel. Together, Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called the Synoptic Gospels because they share a significant amount of common material and offer a similar perspective on Jesus’ life and ministry.
For those who would like a quick overview of the book before you read, or if you are a more visual learner, the Bible Project has two great videos for you to check out below.
The Prayerful Pause - August 23
Today I want to pause and ask you to pray for our spiritual leaders at Union, both our Elders and Deacons. Our current and previously serving Elders and Deacons will participate in a retreat in the Fellowship Hall from 10-2 PM this Saturday. Our topic for the Retreat will be Forward Together, and we will explore the importance of being a multigenerational church. We will look at ways to grow interactions and connections between various generations in the Union Family. We will also explore practical ways to connect with people from various generations who are hungry for God in the surrounding community.
Each generation has unique perspectives to share, and we celebrate that all of God's children from every generation can find a home in God's family! God wants our life and ministry together to be meaningful and relevant for all ages. Saturday's workshop will help our spiritual leaders seek God's direction and God's way forward together, so that people of all ages have a place here at Union for generations to come.
As you pray for our spiritual leaders at Union this week, I also invite you to reflect on the words of the old Hymn, O God, our Help in Ages Past. It's number 67 in our Chalice Hymnal, and we will sing it this Sunday together in worship. The text by Isaac Watts reminds us of the incredible way God brings us all together and keeps us moving forward as the people of God.
O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home!
Under the shadow of thy throne
still may we dwell secure;
sufficient is thine arm alone,
and our defense is sure.
Before the hills in order stood,
or earth received her frame,
from everlasting thou art God,
to endless years the same.
A thousand ages, in thy sight,
are like an evening gone;
short as the watch that ends the night
before the rising sun.
Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
soon bears us all away;
we fly forgotten, as a dream
dies at the opening day.
O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
be thou our guide while life shall last,
and our eternal home.
The Prayerful Pause - August 16
I am excited to share a few updates about our GriefShare Ministry with you! By God's grace, our GriefShare ministry is expanding this Fall, and we will host two groups to support those grieving the loss of friends and loved ones.
Our primary group will be at Union starting Thursday, August 24, at 1:30 PM and will run for 13 weeks. We will gather at the start of each session in the Fellowship Hall for some light refreshments and fellowship before the support group session begins.
This Fall, we are also partnering with our friends at Presbyterian Village to co-host a second group specifically for their residents on Mondays.
We are blessed to have fantastic facilitators who will lead these weekly group sessions at both locations. I am excited to see how God is using their willingness to serve and their unique gifts to compassionately walk with those who are grieving.
Please pray for all who will lead or participate in GriefShare. Prayer support is vital to a ministry like GriefShare, and we are so thankful for the way the Union Family continues to intercede for those involved in this ministry.
I hope you will also reach out and invite someone you know who is grieving to join our Thursday GriefShare Group Union at 1:30 PM. Our Union support group is open to anyone from the church or the community who may find GriefShare helpful. Participants can join any time during the 13 weeks by registering online at https://www.griefshare.org/groups/168289 or by calling the church office.
It’s exciting to see how God is growing the impact of our GriefShare Ministry through your prayers and support. I can’t wait to see what God does next, both in us and through us together.
May God continue to keep us moving forward together!
The Prayerful Pause - August 9
I am excited about gathering with you as we celebrate Union Sunday this weekend! On Sunday, we will celebrate 171 years of ministry as a church together and prayerfully imagine how God is calling us forward in our life and ministry together! This is a tremendous milestone, and we thank God for how he has used this caring community to share his love throughout its history, both within and beyond these walls. We also look forward to ways he will work in us and through us in the future with great expectations. Our theme for Union Sunday will be "Forward Together," and we will draw insight from Joshua 4:1-14, 19-22 and Ephesians 4:11-16.
As we prepare for worship on Union Sunday, I invite you to prayerfully consider some important questions this week.
What can I thank God for when I think about my journey with Jesus and with the Union Family over the years?
What are your hopes and dreams for Union as we move forward in ministry together?
What are God’s dreams for Union as we move forward in ministry together?
How does God want to use this church family together to share his love for the next 171 years and beyond?
Union Sunday is a great day to invite friends and neighbors to join you at church. Sometimes people have trouble finding authentic community and a sense of home in today’s fragmented world. The warm way you welcome and receive others at Union is a testimony to God's love and hospitality for all. As we celebrate 171 years in ministry, it seems especially appropriate to draw the circle wider once again. Let’s invite and welcome guests in anticipation that God will lead them to find their place with the Union Family. We also look forward to sharing a delicious fellowship meal after worship on Sunday and hope you will bring a covered dish for everyone to enjoy.
I love being your pastor Union Family! It’s a joy to walk forward together in ministry with you!
The Prayerful Pause - August 2
It's the First Day of School in Oconee County, and other schools in our area will soon follow. Today seems like a good time to let you in on a little secret about me. I absolutely love shopping for school supplies! There is nothing like a fresh bunch of sharpened pencils, a new set of colorful crayons, or the crisp click of a new three-ring binder. Yet, each year as I shop for school supplies, I am reminded that some school supplies don’t come from the store. Indeed, the most essential school supplies that students, teachers, and school staff need come from God! I am talking about school supplies like courage, patience, flexibility, kindness, perseverance, protection, and grace.
Our students, teachers, and school staff need our prayers. During the month of August, let's be united in praying for students, teachers, and school staff daily. Ask God to provide courage, patience, flexibility, kindness, perseverance, protection, and grace to all who learn and serve in schools. Let’s ask God to provide these important school supplies in abundance this year.
This Sunday, we have a special opportunity to pray for students, teachers, and school staff during our annual Blessing of the Backpacks in morning worship. This Sunday is a great day to invite the students, teachers, and school staff you know to join you at Union. During worship, we will share a blessing tag for school bags and backpacks as a reminder of the many prayers that will continue to go with those who learn and serve in our schools this year.
Thank you for being a praying church! I love being your pastor!
The Prayerful Pause - July 26
It’s hard to believe that summer is winding down and school bells will be ringing again soon. It seems like only yesterday that summer started. But even as the seasons change, many exciting things are coming up for us as a church family!
On Sunday, July 30, we have an Intergenerational Ice Cream and Music Social in the Fellowship Hall. This year, I am praying that God will continue growing us even more fully into a multigenerational church family. Every generation brings something unique to the Body of Christ, and our intergenerational fellowship opportunities give us a chance to develop relationships with each other across the generations. No matter our age or which generation we represent, we can always learn from each other and support each other as we grow in faith together. Our Ice Cream and Music Social will be a fun and relaxed time for everyone! I hope you will join us and get to know someone from another generation better.
Our annual Blessing of the Backpacks will take place on Sunday, August 6, in morning worship. This is a great time to invite students, teachers, and school staff to join you at Union. During worship, we will pray for all students (preschool to graduate school), teachers, and school staff. We will also share a blessing tag for school bags and backpacks as a reminder of the many prayers that go with those who learn and serve in our schools this year.
August 6 is also the Fall Kick Off for the Sunday evening programs for our Courageous Youth and Cool Kids. This year, we are trying a new schedule. Our Cool Kids will meet with Ms. Holly from 4:00-5:15 PM, and our Courageous Youth will meet with her from 5:00-6:15 PM. You may notice some overlap, and that's so each group can enjoy snack supper together but also have their own unique time of learning and fun with Ms. Holly. Parents, please be on the lookout for more details from Holly soon. And church, please pray that God will grow our youth and children in his grace this year and they seek to follow Jesus.
On Sunday, August 13, you are invited to join us for Union Sunday as we mark 171 years of ministry as a church. On this special Sunday, we will celebrate the past and look forward to the future God that is calling us to together. Union Sunday is a great day to invite friends and neighbors to come and experience the warmth, love, and care that we find at Union! We will also share a delicious covered dish fellowship meal after worship on Union Sunday.
On Saturday, August 26, we will hold a Deacons and Elders Leadership Retreat, from 10:00-2:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall. This workshop is for both current and previously ordained Elders, as well as those who are serving or have served as Deacons previously. Our theme for the retreat will be Forward Together. Lunch will be provided. Please let me know if you plan to attend the Leadership Retreat by August 15.
Indeed, even as the seasons change, God has great things ahead, Union family! It's a joy to journey with you!
The Prayerful Pause - July 19
As I shared with you in last week’s Prayerful Pause, I want to encourage us individually and collectively to find ways to practice Holy Stillness before God during July and August. I believe that the time we spend in the stillness with God at the start of this new church year will help us as we seek to move forward together in our shared ministry. This week, I want to share some suggestions for helping us be still and know God more deeply.
My first tip is to begin your time of stillness with a prayer. David’s prayer in Psalm 131 paints a beautiful picture of stillness before God. If you've ever watched a child still and quiet as they drift off to sleep in a parent's arms, you've seen a picture of what Holy Stillness looks like. It's a place of comfort, satisfaction, and rest. You may want to consider praying the words of Psalm 131 as you enter a time of stillness with God.
1O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, hope in the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore.
Here are a few more tips for practicing Holy Stillness during July and August.
Find a comfortable and quiet place to sit when you practice stillness. Listen and talk to God in a place where you feel relaxed and at peace.
Put away all the things that distract you. Focus on something that soothes you and helps you be still.
You can pray out loud or silently. You can journal, draw or doodle your prayers to God too. At times, I’ve also found joy in writing letters to God.
Listen to quiet hymns or praise music in the stillness. I have found that Instrumental music works well for me.
Read and reflect on a Bible verse or passage.
Try starting with 5 or 10 minutes of stillness and then build up to 30 minutes or more.
You can practice Holy stillness at any time of the day or night whenever it's convenient for you.
Give yourself permission to doze off in the stillness but be sure to set an alarm if you have somewhere to go!
Above all, be still and know that God loves you and will never leave you. In the stillness, may you find love and the deep peace of Christ that fuels our life and ministry together!
The Prayerful Pause - July 12
When it the last time you were really still? It’s a call we find in Psalm 46.
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10
Last week, I enjoyed reading about how the Christian non-profit International Justice Mission practices an intentional Holy Stillness each morning from 8:30-9:00 AM. International Justice Mission is a courageous and bustling organization that works around the world to fight against human trafficking, slavery, and abuse. Despite this daunting work that could so easily feel soul-crushing and exhausting, the entire organization is committed to stopping for 30 minutes at the start of every morning to be still before God for 30 minutes.
During this time of intentional Holy Stillness that occurs across multiple times zones each day, there are no cell phones, computers, or devices, and no meetings are held. Instead, they focus on being well-connected to Christ and staying connected to him as their source for service. Many use this time to journal, to pray, or to focus on a verse of Scripture or a well-loved passage from the Bible. Others simply sit still and listen for God’s direction.
During July and August, I want to encourage us to be intentional about taking a little time every day to be still and to know God. As we sit in stillness with God, I have listed a few things you can talk with God about below. But I am sure you have things of your own you would enjoy talking about with God. These are only suggestions.
God, please sing me a love song that reminds me who I am in Christ.
God, what do you want me to remember about you today?
God, what are your dreams for me as a follower of Christ?
God, what are your dreams for Union as a church?
God, what assignments do you have for me as I seek to share your love in the world?
God, what do you want to teach me or show me today?
Next week, I will share a few tips for practicing Holy Stillness and drawing closer to Christ in our midweek update. Until then, may you find Christ's love and deep peace in the stillness.
The Prayerful Pause - June 28
Sometimes it is easy to get depleted and bogged down by life’s difficulties. Over the years, I have learned that when I feel discouraged, it helps to intentionally thank God for what I am grateful for each day. When I spend time praising God, the giver of all good gifts, God grows a heart of gratitude in me that helps me rejoice even when life is tough.
As a church family, we have much to be grateful for this past year. Union is growing and thriving in our shared ministry together. We’ve had rich times of worship over the past year, filled with God’s presence and some amazing music from our Choir and Worship Band. We had six new members officially join, and many more active participants became part of the Union family, too! Our youth and children’s ministries are flourishing. We’ve launched new ministries like Young Adult Hangout, GriefShare, CommUnity Groups, and enjoyed several wonderful Intergenerational Fellowship opportunities. You’ve continued ministries like Family Promise, service with ACTS, Christian Women’s Fellowship Projects, Craft Group, and Disciples Men. Our Small Group Bible studies that meet during the school year are thriving with groups for both women and men. Our outreach efforts into the local community through VBS, Benevolence Ministries, outreach projects, and other special events have helped us interact with our neighbors and share God's love within and beyond our walls. The thriving ministry of Union Christian Church gives me a reason to smile and rejoice today!
As we enter a new church year this month, I want to encourage you to take a moment to view some of the pictures of our life and ministry together over the past year. Check out the wonderful slideshow of updated photos on the church website at www.unionchristianchurch.net/photos. I promise you’ll see many reasons to smile and rejoice! As you watch the slideshow, I hope you’ll take some time to give God all the praise and glory for so many good gifts! Then, please pray that God will continue to grow us and guide us our ministry together in the year ahead.
I love being your pastor, Union Family! I thank God each time I remember you!
The Prayerful Pause - June 21
This week, I wanted to pause and share a few ideas for simple, low-cost ways that we can be the hands and feet of Christ together this summer! Yes, we can share God’s love with others in our daily lives just by doing small acts of unexpected kindness from time to time. Here are a few ways to prayerfully consider reaching out to folks around you this summer.
Help Union’s Christian Women’s Fellowship collect the school supplies that our teachers have requested for students in need. You can drop your supplies in the Gathering Space until July 23. Please be sure to check the list of supplies needed in this mid-week update before you do your shopping.
Mail notes of encouragement to 3-4 people on the Union prayer list.
Call, text, or email someone who is discouraged and share some kind words of encouragement, remembering that "Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body” (Proverbs 16:24).
Deliver some pre-packaged snacks to a local fire station, police station, medical office, or business with a thank you note.
Spend time with a friend or neighbor who needs some encouragement. The ministry of your presence with others means so much.
Drop off some flowers, garden fresh produce, cookies, or another small gift on a neighbor's porch with an encouraging note.
Invite some friends to join you for church on a Sunday morning, and then share a meal and good conversation with them afterward.
No matter how you are led to do it, please keep sharing God’s love with others wherever you are and wherever you go this summer! I am thankful for you, Union Family! May God continue to bless others through your love, generosity, and service!
The Prayerful Pause - June 14
Each of us is an integral part of the Body of Christ, and we each have various gifts, talents, and passions that God has given us for service and ministry together. The Apostle Paul's words to the Church at Corinth remind us, "You are the Body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it” (1 Cor. 12:27).
One great way to get plugged in and use some of the gifts God has given you is to serve on one of our Service Teams at Union! Below are some short descriptions of our Service Teams. If you are interested in serving on a Service Team, take a moment to sign-up as the clipboard is passed over the next several weeks. You can also contact me for more information if you have any questions.
Worship Leader Team- Lead the Call to Worship, offer the Invocation, and read the Opening Scripture during morning worship.
Children’s Church Teacher- Teach a Bible lesson to our preschool and elementary-aged children. A lesson plan with fun activities will be provided.
Children’s Ministry Assistants- Assist the lead teacher or childcare provider as needed on Sunday in the children's church or the nursery.
Children’s Chat Team- Share a Bible story or object lesson with our children during morning worship.
Greeter Team- Welcome guests and members to Union in a warm and friendly way.
Sanctuary Prep Team- Prepare the Sanctuary and Communion Table for morning worship.
Hospitality Team- Help provide food and hospitality during times of illness or bereavement.
Maintenance Team- Troubleshoot and work with a team to tackle the maintenance and repair needs of the church building.
Safety and Security Team- Secure and monitor the church building and parking lot on Sundays.
I am thankful for each of you and the many ways we can serve together as the Body of Christ!