One week from today is Christmas Day. We have walked through this Advent season with intention – learning from each of the gospel writers as they answer the question, “Where does the good news, the gospel, begin?” This Sunday, Christmas Sunday, we will turn to John. What does his gospel home look like? What does he have to tell us about the Messiah?
John’s gospel begins with the same words used in Genesis. “In the beginning….” How can the birth of this tiny baby create a new beginning?” I hope you will join us on Sunday as we explore this question together.
And then, we will joyfully gather on Christmas Eve at 5:00 for our Candlelight service. This night we will make one last stop at one more home. Whose home might that be? I look forward to sharing this good news together.
Pastor Jane
December 11
This past Sunday, the second Sunday of Advent, was filled with the sounds of music. Christmas Alleluia, shared by the Praise Band is always a Union favorite and watching each of you as you listened to the words of this beautiful song was such a blessing. Then, on Sunday night we had the privilege of hearing a lovely Christmas piano concert, given by three of our own – Gina McKinney, Patsy Orr, and Sharon Tatum. I am so grateful for the many hours of practice that these women put in to bring us such a special Advent gift.
This Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent, we will again have the opportunity of experiencing special Christmas music, as we are led by our extraordinary choir. I know you are as grateful as I am for the leadership of JR Beckwith and the commitment of the choir members to lead us in worship every Sunday. I hope you are making plans to attend.
Each Sunday of Advent, in addition to the beautiful music we share, we light a candle - candles of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. May this poem by Howard Thurman encourage each of you to light your own candle this Advent season.
I will light Candles this Christmas,
Candles of joy despite all the sadness,
Candles of hope where despair keeps watch,
Candles of courage for fears ever present,
Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days,
Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens,
Candles of love to inspire all my living,
Candles that will burn all year long.
Pastor Jane
December 4
Over the past few days you may have noticed an interesting phenomenon. The Friday, Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday following Thanksgiving had “nicknames.” Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday were so named to provide an extra emphasis on spending money, with amazing deals on consumer goods – in most cases an economic way to purchase items for Christmas presents.
But, Giving Tuesday, has an entirely different emphasis. Since 2012, Giving Tuesday has been a way for non-profits to raise additional funds, over and above, for the betterment of the people they serve. Called a Global Generosity Movement, you may have noticed hundreds of “helping” agencies asking for money on the one day. Personally, I saw requests from over 50 different organizations on Tuesday.
I would like to offer an opportunity for Union to have it’s own Giving Day – not a specific day, but a way to give “over and above” your regular giving. Because of the consistent generosity of our congregation, we have been able to step out in faith and take on new ministries. Anytime there is a need, Union gives. Most of you know that we are in the midst of the final renovation project to make our church complete. We are renovating the back hallway – where our offices, library, and children’s rooms are located. This renovation will make it a more welcoming place for all of us.
So, on our unofficial Giving Day – would you consider giving either a one time, extra gift for the building fund, or if you are unable to make a one time, larger gift, would you make a pledge for extra monthly giving this next year? It is the hope of our leadership that we will come out of this project with very little debt. Our extra giving can make this a possibility.
Please pray about your part in this endeavor and we will keep you posted as we move forward. Thank you, Union Family.
Pastor Jane
November 27
This Sunday is a day of new beginnings as we begin the season of Advent and a new church year with the Sunday of HOPE. I want to encourage you to be a part of all the times for worship, fellowship, and mission experiences that are available during this season. This Sunday will offer two opportunities – Sunday morning worship, where we will light the first Advent candle, and Sunday evening Hanging of the Greens service, which will begin at 5:00. We will meet in the sanctuary to learn about all the symbols of the season, led by our children and youth. Following worship, we will have Cocoa and Cookies, along with a visit by Santa Claus in the Gathering Space.
We will also have available to all the children and youth a new offering from Illustrated Ministry – a nativity sticker set with a manger background. Pick one up for your child, grandchild, neighbor children, and anyone else who might benefit from this unique way of telling the Christmas story.
As I mentioned Sunday night at our Thanksgiving Family Meal, I want to encourage you to take a walk down the side hallway off the ramp door. For many, you never travel this way, and it is especially difficult during renovation. But, take a moment and walk the hallway. Hanging on the walls are beautiful posters, created by our church ministry assistant, Nickie Pearson. She does new posters each month and JR prints them for us. On these posters you will see all the offerings for this Advent season. Come and experience Advent with your Union family.
Pastor Jane
November 20
Monday Morning
Things are busy around the “church house” this morning. The sounds of volunteers moving all of the items out of the back hallway are ringing in the air. Others are getting turkeys in order for Thanksgiving Boxes that will be given out on Friday and for our Thanksgiving Family Meal on Sunday. Downstairs I can hear contractors finishing up the new bathroom – fully designed for our Family Promise families.
Just yesterday, we were bustling with sounds of food boxes arriving, the voices of children and youth learning about Jesus, the beautiful sounds of three of our women rehearsing for a piano concert occurring during Advent, the moving of tables and packing of boxes, church members taking names for Secret Santa gifts for children at one of our schools, and writing words of thanks on fall leaves, and finally….bringing Christmas decorations from the attic.
All of these are sounds of a vital church – one who cares for its people, cares for the community, and loves God. During this Thanksgiving season I am especially grateful for all of you and the ministry that comes from this building. A building that is being renovated and a building that holds God’s beloved. Thanks be to God.
Pastor Jane
November 13
The picture your see accompanying my article this week is one of the beautiful Gingko trees from the front of the church. Two trees, located on either side of our church sign, anchor our church building. While we always notice them, the bright yellow color found during fall seems to bring a beauty to them that is unmatched.
What is it about the colors of fall that call out to us? Each year millions of people take pilgrimages to view the fall colors. Have you ever wondered what it is that draws us to these colors and these trees? These words below are a description from SALT – an online commentary series.
“Many leaves contain yellow and orange pigments all year round, but in the spring and summer they’re masked by the vivid greens of chlorophyll, the pigment responsible for the absorption of light to provide energy for photosynthesis. But as the days shorten and the temperature falls, the chlorophyll breaks down and drains away - and those yellows and oranges begin to shine through. They were there all along, quiet and unnoticed, but now they emerge as the green curtain fades. If God is a painter of autumn trees, what we see is an art not of addition but of subtraction. It’s an art of revelation, of revealing the hidden beauty of what was always already there.”
This week, the sermon is based on Isaiah 65:17-25 and will focus on how we can take our faith public. Just like God does with the leaves, we can reveal the beauty of our faith – a faith that is not hidden, but visible. A faith that is already there. Remember, those oranges and golds arrive by way of revelation, disclosing what’s been there all along. A sermon in pigment and light, shimmering for all who have eyes to see.
Pastor Jane
November 6
There is a beautiful children’s book called The Shaking Bag, which tells the story of an old woman who lives in her run-down house with only her dog, Effie Lucille. Miss Annie Mae never lets the birds in her yard go hungry, even if it means giving up her last crust of bread. One day, five ravens arrive and receive the last few seeds from her feeding bag.
Later that same day, a young traveler named Raven Reed shows up at her home seeking food and shelter. Being the unselfish woman that she is, she offers him the last of her food.
Suddenly, he pulls out a feed bag from his belongings. He hands the bag to her and says, "Shake it up! Shake it up! All around!" With this chant in her ears, she repeats it as she shakes the bag. Suddenly, from the bag appears firewood, food, a bigger table, and two extra chairs. The next morning, he leaves the bag and tells her that if she ever finds herself without food, to shake the bag and she'll never be hungry again.
This Sunday we will talk about giving. What Disciples Do - Disciples Practice Generosity. I hope you can join us as we learn to live as the woman with The Shaking Bag did – giving our all – knowing that God will provide all we need.
Pastor Jane
October 30
This Sunday, along with churches around the world, we will observe All Saints Day in worship. This is a time where we will offer words of remembrance and thanks for those saints who have gone before us. As we do each year, we will speak the names of the saints who have ties to Union. Their families have received a letter inviting them to join us for worship, where they will have the opportunity to either light a candle or stand in loving memory of their family member. Would you take the time this Sunday to welcome them and offer words of support as they remember and give thanks?
My sermon this Sunday will talk about resurrection hope – how even in our own grief, Jesus gives us hope. The focal passage will be Ephesians 1:11-23, but we will also hear additional words from Paul, found in Romans 6. Both texts offer assurance that because of Jesus, we have resurrection hope. I encourage you to read these words during this week.
Resurrection Hope - We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. Romans 6:4-5
Pastor Jane
October 23
Continuing in our sermon series, What Disciples Do, we find ourselves in an unusual place. This week’s sermon is about something we DON’T do – Disciples Don’t Judge. Our text this week is a familiar one, a parable told by Jesus, found in Luke 18:9-14, that is often referred to as The Pharisee And The Tax Collector. In this story, Jesus points us to a man who exhibits a characteristic of unhealthy faith. What is that trait? A faith that judges others. As we approach this story, we are also reminded of Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 7:1-5:
Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgement you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, “Let me take the speck out of your eye”, while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.
I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we explore this text together.
Pastor Jane
October 16
I am so very grateful for your kind words and gifts this past Sunday to mark Pastor Appreciation Day. It is such a joy to minister together! Thank you especially to all who offered special “words.” They are truly humbling and greatly appreciated.
This week I want to share something with you that I’ve heard several times recently. I’ve often heard that if you hear something more that once, you need to pay attention. After worship, each of the past three Sundays, different people have come to me commenting on how well we have been singing as a congregation. Each person offered words of affirmation about how our congregational singing has enhanced the worship experience for them. Then, during the week, additional people have stopped by the church to offer the same words. Isn’t it incredible how voices lifted to God through song can have such an impact? Let’s keep singing together as we are reminded of the words from Psalm 100 - “Make a joyful noise to the Lord.”
Pastor Jane
October 9
We continue this Sunday in our series What Disciples DO – a look at the importance of our faith practices. This week we will talk about the importance of family, as we learn from the story of Timothy, his mother Eunice, and his grandmother Lois, found in 1 Timothy, chapters 1 and 3. Because of their faith and how they shared it, young Timothy grew up to be a man of faith and leader in the early church.
Recently I came across an article that speaks beautifully of the importance for parents to make their faith a priority in their families, written by Megan Breeland Woodham of First Steps Ministries. Where to begin? I believe this is a start! What about you?
Take your kids to church.
Make the effort. Wake them up early. Fool with the belts and the buckles and the fancy hair bows. Endure the sleepy, grumpy faces and the misplaced shoes. Run around like a mad woman gathering everybody’s everything and trying to get out the door on time. Hop to the car with a shoe in one hand and your make-up bag in the other. Give those babies a pop-tart and some milk and let ‘em eat it in the car. If it’s raining, get wet. If it’s cold, get a jacket. If you’re tired, go tired. But take those babies to church. You know why?
Because Jesus is there.
He’s there. And He’ll meet them there. And you too, Mama.
He’ll be there in the sweet smile of their Sunday School teacher as she greets them into their room. He’ll be there in the goldfish and the apple juice and the filling of their little bellies and hearts. He’ll be there in the hug from a sweet friend and the encouraging smile that assures you that they “just barely made it” too. He’ll be there in the sacred words read from the Bible speaking truth to their little impressionable hearts. He’ll be there in the worship and the raised hands and the watery eyes and whispers of praise.
So take them. Carry all of their Bibles and drawings and toilet paper tube creations. Sit by them in worship. Open your Bible and open theirs. Show them how to find the scripture the pastor is preaching from. Show them how to worship. Explain to them why God is worthy of worship. Let them see you laugh and cry and praise and study. Forgive their wiggles and paper rustles and know that they’re listening even when it seems like they aren’t. Ask them questions and answer the ones they ask you. Introduce them to Jesus. Tell them of His greatness - his power - his faithfulness. Tell them with your words and show them with your life. Tell them what he’s done for you and how you’ve been changed by His grace and forgiveness and goodness and love. Tell them how they can be too. Point them to Jesus. Over and over and over again.
Take your kids to church. They’ll love it there. It’s the only place where they can go and just be themselves. They don’t have to “be” good enough or smart enough or athletic enough. They don’t have to perform for approval or achievement. They just get to go and hear how much God loves them. Just because they’re them. Just because God created them, they’re valued. Wanted. Their worth isn’t based on the grades they make or their ability to throw a curveball. It’s not dependent on their performance or skill level. And they need a little more of that, don’t you think? A little more grace and a little less pressure. A little more love and a few less demands.
Take them to church. Before you take them to the ballfield or the dance studio or the gym. Before you take them on vacation or to grandmas or to the backyard to play. Take them to church. Let them know it’s a priority. Show them it has eternal value. Let them see you set aside schedules and extra-curricular activities and work and busy-ness to be present with the Lord in His house. I promise you won’t regret it. I promise you it won’t return back void.
Take them to church.
Pastor Jane
October 2
Sunday is World Communion Sunday. This year at Union, we will be celebrating by using bread from other cultures and by having other cultures represented in the communion table setup. I would like to share with you some words about this very important day from Illustrated Ministry.
“World Communion Sunday is celebrated every year on the first Sunday in October. Though it started in a Presbyterian church in the United States in the 1930s, it is now an ecumenical event recognized by different denominations across the globe. This Sunday celebrates our connections to one another.
When we participate in communion, we come to our own places of worship, drink from the cup, and eat the bread provided by our own churches. But Jesus tells us that every time we take communion, we also connect with him and everyone else gathering for communion. Within this ordinary act of our regular lives, we glimpse the Heavenly banquet where all will sit at one table together.
On World Communion Sunday, we recognize and celebrate that while we may show up to different churches on Sunday mornings, and while we may come from different traditions and even live worlds apart, we are still one family bound up together in the love of Christ. World Communion Sunday is about acknowledging our identity as one family. As a family, we are called to share what we have with each other, care for one another, and be in relationship amid our differences. This is such an important message to hold in this present time of much division.”
Pastor Jane
September 25
This Sunday will be the final sermon in the Unraveled series. We have looked at stories in both the Old and New Testaments, that have spoken of times of Unraveling in the lives of Biblical characters, and in our own lives. Unraveling of vocation, justice, dreams, shame, plans for our children, and the mind are just some of the topics we’ve explored. This week: When Everything Has Fallen Apart.
Have you ever had a time in your life where it felt like literally everything has fallen apart? Family, job, money, health….the list could go on and on. As you’ve probably guessed, we will be exploring this topic through the lens of Job. I would encourage you to read his entire story found in the Old Testament book of the same name. Job lost all his oxen and donkeys, sheep and camels. All his servants were killed. His seven sons and three daughters are killed in a freak accident. He is covered with hideous boils and festering sores. And, his wife and friends speak harshly against him.
Even in the midst of all this, when his life is unraveling all around him, Job still worships God. We will be looking at chapter 28 this week, where Job speaks of wisdom. In Job 28:28 we read, “”To fear God is wisdom.” The Hebrew word for “fear” is yirah, literally translated as “awesome.” True wisdom lies in breathless reverence for God’s mystery and presence.
When Everything Has Fallen Apart, can we still trust God’s presence in every situation? That is true wisdom.
Pastor Jane
September 18
For my article this week, I would like to share with you some words from artist Hannah Garrity. You will see her artwork on the front of the bulletin on Sunday. In this week’s sermon we will be exploring the story of Legion, found in Mark 5:1-20. This is a healing story, but one that is met with derision by the crowd, not joy.
Pastor Jane
BEGGED TO LEAVE
(JESUS HEALS LEGION, A MAN POSSESSED BY DEMONS)
Have you ever seen the illustration of equity vs. equality? There is a young child standing next to a young teenager and an adult. They all wish to see over a fence. In the description of equality, they each get a box that is the same size. The adult now towers over the fence, the teenager can see, but the child is still unable to see what’s on the other side. In the depiction of equity, they each get a different sized box. Now, all of their heads are peering comfortably over the fence. Why are we afraid of equity?
In the land of the Gerasenes, Jesus shows us what it looks like. He provides healing for an outcast of society, the man shows gratitude, and he evangelizes. This sounds like a moment we would rejoice in. Instead the townspeople beg Jesus to leave. Do they fear scarcity? But we know that God provides in abundance. Do they fear grace? But we yearn for God’s grace. Do they fear for their safety?
Why do humans fear the radical grace of God? Why did the people of Gerasene fear Jesus? We laud Jesus’ work in the gospel as the work we must replicate. We teach our children to think of what Jesus would do. However, time and again history shows us that when we truly work toward the embodiment of the gospel, humans interrupt the work. Humans killed Jesus.
© Hannah Garrity - a sanctified art
September 11
We are drawing close to the end of our Unraveled sermon series. This week we will explore a question that has haunted parents throughout time. What do we do when our plans for our children unravel? Whether we admit it or not, as parents we often have a dream or a plan as to how we envision our children as adults. We guide them through school, encouraging them toward their favorite college. We get tutors for standardized tests, extra coaches for the athletes. It goes on and on.
But, what if all our plans are for naught. What if these well laid plans unravel? This Sunday we will attempt to answer these questions through the eyes of Moses’ mother found in Exodus 1:22-2:10. This well-loved story shows the depths of a parent’s love. I hope you can join us.
-Pastor Jane
September 4
If you were in worship this past Sunday, you will remember the sermon came from Jeremiah 29, the story of the Israelite’s exile in Babylon. We talked about God’s message to them – to live fully in the new situation, to build houses and settle down, to plant gardens and eat what they produce, to marry and have sons and daughters. In other words, God was telling the people that even though these will be very hard years, instead of fretting and complaining, they were to settle in and live. And then God offered a promise found in verse 11, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” God said, I will always be with you and I have a plan for you. God will always be with us. We will never be alone. What an amazing promise!
During communion following the sermon, we heard a beautiful piano piece, “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” from the Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical, Carousel. You must admit, this is an unusual piece for communion, but it was just right for this past Sunday! Why? Because in a round-about way, it spoke of God’s promise to the Israelites and to us, that no matter what, we will never walk alone. That God will always be by our side. I encourage you to look up the lyrics of this song and you will quickly understand just how perfect it was.
Each week we are blessed with the music of Gina McKinney. She is thoughtful in her music selection and in her playing. She selected this piece because after reading the scripture passage, she automatically knew the theme of my sermon and selected accordingly. Each week she does the same thing. I am thankful for Gina’s quiet service every Sunday. Please join me in offering your gratitude. Thank you, Gina.
-Pastor Jane
August 28
Do you have dreams? As a child, did you dream of making the team, or making the Honor Roll? As you grew up, did you dream of going to that perfect college? What about as an adult? Did you dream of the perfect spouse, perfect job, perfect home, perfect children?
If we are honest with ourselves, we all have dreams – some visible, and others hidden. But what do you do when it becomes obvious your dreams will not come to fruition or perhaps that your dreams will be deferred. Our scripture this Sunday (Jeremiah 29:1-7) tells the story of the Israelites during the Babylonian exile, when they were taken from their homes, lost their identity, and seemingly lost God.
You would think that the prophet Jeremiah would tell them to fight to get back home; to do everything they could to reclaim their land and their heritage. Instead, his message was startling – settle in, build homes, and plant gardens in that foreign land.
Could God have the same message for us when our dreams are deferred? Where does God dwell when we are uprooted? What does God say to us when our dreams unravel? I hope you will join us on Sunday and we explore these questions.
August 21
As we continue in our Unraveled series this Sunday, we will be learning from the story of the Samaritan woman at the well and her encounter with Jesus found in John 4:1-29. Using this story as a background, we will explore the topic of shame. Have you ever considered that some of your life choices, or even the understanding of your own worth come out of an underlying of hidden sense of shame? Often we are not even aware of this, but it can pervade every part of our lives.
In 2012, author Brené Brown released one of her many best-selling books entitled Daring Greatly, which explores the topics of vulnerability and shame. She describes shame as “the intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging.” We all live with shame, some of it seen, but much of it hidden. We are a lot like the Samaritan woman. I hope you can join us Sunday as we explore this topic through her eyes and through the eyes of Jesus.
-Pastor Jane
August 14
We continue our Unraveled series this Sunday, returning to the Old Testament where we will follow the story of Moses and Pharaoh, as Moses tries to obtain justice for the Israelites. We will focus specifically on Exodus 5:1-2 and 7:8-23, but I encourage you to read the entire story found in Exodus 1-12. Moses tries to obtain justice for his people, but Pharaoh refuses. How can this ancient story speak to people of faith today? That question will be our focus this Sunday.
Listen.
I have a story to tell –
A story of a God who longed for justice.
A story of a God who pushed back the waters to make dry land.
A story of a God who would not take “no” for an answer when it came to the safety of God’s own.
For God’s people were suffering.
God’s people were crying out.
God’s people were shackled and bound by oppression.
So God said to Moses, “Speak.”
“Let my people Go.”
And Moses spoke –
Over and Over again.
Moses stood up for justice,
But over and over again, Pharaoh said no.
Power said no.
The path to justice is never easy, is it?
The path to change is never a straight line, is it?
So like Rosa, who sat on the bus, and Martin who had a dream,
Moses kept trying.
God kept speaking.
Moses kept listening.
Hope kept breathing.
And when power tried to unravel justice,
The people kept dreaming.
God longed for justice.
God still longs for justice.
So let us worship God –
For human injustice will never be strong enough to unravel God’s dream that all might be free,
And all might know love.1
1 Sarah Are. A Sanctified Art. Unraveled. Liturgy for Exodus 5:1-2; 7:8-23.
Image by Lauren Wright Pittman
-Pastor Jane
August 7
“Zacchaeus was a wee little man and a wee little man was he….” Did you grow up singing that song as a child? I remember how fun it was to sing it with my friends, complete with motions that mimicked him climbing up that tree. When Jesus says, “Come on down, for I’m going to your house today,” we all shouted those words at the top of our lungs. It was a fun, happy, almost bucolic scene.
But, is that truly what happened? Did Zacchaeus jump up in that tree, hang from the branches to see Jesus, just to hop down and take Jesus home, with a big cheer from the crowd? This Sunday we will explore this question about Zacchaeus from his story found in Luke 19:1-10. As you read, I encourage you to think about questions that might open up some other possibilities.
Zacchaeus had a job that enabled him to profit from a corrupt economic system that allowed and encouraged him to rob and defraud those on the lower rungs of his society. Because of that and his ill-gotten wealth, he was not welcomed or wanted by most people. How did Jesus change the people’s perception of Zacchaeus? How did Jesus’ generous and loving welcome invite him into community? And, fitting with our theme of Unraveled, how did Zacchaeus live into a new life when his vocational life unraveled? One of the most beautiful parts of Zacchaeus’ story is how he responded to his unraveling with joy.
We will ask some of these same questions of ourselves this week as we look at vocation. We will also explore how we, like Jesus, can open up opportunities to welcome others who find bits of our their lives unraveling. I hope you will join us.
-Pastor Jane