Monday Announcements, Carillon Concert tonight at 7, on Draper quad, Poem Read in Worship Service!

Today,  Monday, July 2^nd, at 7:00 pm, Mr. Joey Brink will perform a carillon concert at the Quad of Berea College. The repertoire includes selections of Americana and Patriotic Songs. We welcome you to join us at 7:00 pm for an early celebration of the 4^th of July. Refreshments will be served.

Moms Demand Action on Gun Violence invites everyone who’d like to, to march in the Lexington July 4 parade with them. See this Facebook event for details:  https://www.facebook.com/events/395059970986621/

Dental & Vision Benefits eliminated for Kentucky Medicaid recipients. Despite Friday’s court ruling that blocked the Bevin administration’s Medicaid Waiver called Kentucky HEALTH in its entirety, we have just learned that CHFS has plans to eliminate dental and vision benefits for Medicaid expansion members immediately. As of July 1, Kentuckians covered by Medicaid expansion will be denied access to critically needed dental and vision care without any notice or opportunity to find an alternative source of care. This goes against federal Medicaid rules that a State Planned amendment first be approved by CMS to reduce benefits, followed by filing a revised state regulation, holding a public comment period, and providing notice to affected Medicaid members. Nearly half a million Kentuckians will be affected by this decision. If you have thoughts about this decision you’d like to relay to the governor, here’s Gov. Bevin’s contact info:

Phone: (502) 564-2611

Link to email: https://governor.ky.gov/contact/ 

United in Rescue: Interfaith Teach-in and Prayers for the Rohingya People Saturday afternoon & evening, July 7. At Central Baptist Church, Lexington. Rev. Kent, Rabbi David Wirtschafter, Roman Catholic Bishop John Stowe, and other religious leaders will lead prayers for the safety and security of all people in Burma, including this ethnic minority. Time tba, check with the office and look for coming Facebook events. The teach-in will be followed by a meal and a vigil.

Summer Choir July 8, July 15, July 22–9:45am. Adults and youth are welcome to participate in Summer Choir for any or all of the Sundays we sing.  No commitment is expected. Just show up for rehearsal at 9:45am in the sanctuary on the days you wish to participate. 

Community Hymn Sing July 8, 2:00 pm, Cowan Chapel. Did you know that singing with others releases endorphins in our brains that promote a sense of well-being and community connectedness? Come see, hear, sense, and feel for yourself! All ages welcome! 

Share-YOUR-Music Sunday, July 29 This is an opportunity for vocal and instrumental soloists and ensembles to share the music of their hearts in worship. If you would like to participate in this special worship service, please contact Gabe by Sunday, July 15 with your name, title/composer, instrument, and whether you need an accompanist or microphones. We will need this information well in advance so we can craft an inspiring, and smooth-running worship service, as well as an efficient sound-check schedule. Please contact Gabe to schedule additional practice times. 

Hymn Favorites on Handbells Sunday, August 12, 2:00pm Whether you are a current ringer with UCHE, or you have rung bells in another time or place, we would love to have you join us for the August 12, 2:00 pm, performance. There are three more scheduled “full ensemble” rehearsals.  July 11 & 25, and August 8, at 7pm in the sanctuary.  Please contact Pearl (pmarshall@union-church.org) if you’d like to participate.

Handbell Anthem in Worship July 22. Rehearsals July 18, 7:00pm & July 22, 9:00am. Adults and youth are most welcome. Please contact Pearl Marshall (pmarshall@union-church.org) as soon as possible if you are interested in ringing  the handbell anthem this summer.

Birthday celebration! Amy Williams is hosting a concert on July 7 at 7 pm at the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center to celebrate her 50th birthday! Come hear Sam Gleaves, Deborah Payne and Judith Ann Anderson and join her friends and family from near and far for this wonderful occasion.

Benefit Concert July 7, Berea Arena Theater. The Sparrowhawks will perform a benefit concert for Hospice Care Plus in memory of Andy Blyth. Free admission, $10 donation suggested.

You’re Invited to make a small quilt based on a favorite book! Join the Friends of the Madison County Public Library Fundraiser today! Contact Rita Barlow at lashleybarlow@gmail.com for details. The quilts will be on display at both library branches and are sold by silent auction.

Help Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) provide safe, warm, dry, and accessible housing for children, their families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities living in poverty.
BuildUP is a one-day service blitz (August 4) with Christian Appalachian Project in Floyd, Johnson, and Rockcastle counties. Volunteer groups serve (primarily) on construction projects and though skilled volunteers are welcome, no prior experience is necessary. You provide your hard work, and we provide meals, materials, tools, and jobsite leadership. Call Betsie at 606-887-3114 or email groups@chrisapp.org for info.

Kentuckians For The Commonwealth Annual Membership Meeting “Claiming Our Commonwealth: Creating Kentucky’s Beloved Community” August 3-5 at Berea College. To register: kftc.org/events/2018-annual-membership-meeting

Pool Party August 1, 7-9 at the Berea City Pool. Pizza provided, please bring salads and desserts.

Please Sign up to Read Scripture or to Help Greet and Usher!  Please use our electronic sign up system, http://signup.com/go/xkdVtB, where you can pick a date that works for you and get reminders!  OR you can also call the office and we’ll get you on the lists.

Ceremony for Completing a Poetry Reading Chrystos

This is a give-away poem

You have come gathering

You have made a circle with me

of the places where I have wandered

I want to give you the first daffodil opening from the earth I have sown

to give you warm loaves of bread

baked in soft mounds like breasts

In this circle I pass each of you a shell from our mother sea

Hold it in your spirit & hear the stories she will tell you

I have wrapped your faces around me, a warm robe

Let me give you ribbonwork leggings, dresses sewn with elk teeth

moccasins woven with red & sky blue porcupine quills

I give you blankets woven of flowers & roots

Come closer

I have more to give this basket is very large

I have stitched it of your kind words

Here is a necklace of feathers & bones

a sacred meal of chokecherries

Take this mask of bark which keeps out the evil ones

This basket is only the beginning

There is something in my arms for all of you

I offer you

this memory of sunrise seen through ice crystals

Here, an afternoon of looking into the sea from high rocks

Here, a red-tailed hawk circling over our heads

One of its feathers drops for your hair

May I give you this round stone which holds an ancient spirit

This stone will soothe you

Within this basket is something you have been looking for

all of your life

Come take it

Take as much as you want

I give you seeds of a new way

I give you the moon shining on a fire of singing women

I give you the sound of our feet dancing

I give you the sound of our thoughts flying

I give you the sound of peace moving into our faces & sitting down

Come

this is a give away poem

I cannot go home

until you have taken everything

and the basket which held it

When my hands are empty I will be full