February 2024
February 4
February 11
ReNEWal New Healing, New Service, New Strength Mark 1:29-39
ReNEWal A New Vision Mark 9:2-9
February 18
February 25
God’s Artistry Formed Genesis: 2:4-7, 15-25
God’s Artistry Molded Jeremiah 18:1-6
The Prayerful Pause By Pastor Heather Webb
Church life is often exciting and full of fun. Yet, at times, we must also attend to the nuts and bolts of our life together to keep us moving forward. This month, I want to share about the important work of two of Union's Short-Term Committees appointed and tasked with special projects by the Church Council. The Columbarium Committee: Thank you for your participation in the Columbarium Survey last fall. The results were presented to the Church Council at their November meeting, and the Council decided to appoint a Phase II Columbarium Committee. This Phase II Committee will work to develop a concept design and cost estimate for a Union Church Columbarium, which, upon development, will be presented to the Council and Congregation for consideration and approval. At their January meeting, the Church Council approved Patti Clark’s recommendation as Chairperson to appoint the following people to the Phase II Columbarium Committee: Angie Eades and Hal Tatum, Co-Chairs, Julia Beckwith, Ken Clark, Eric Sherrer, and Sharon Tatum. Please be in prayer for the Columbarium Phase II committee as they undertake their work in 2024, and please reach out to them with any ideas, suggestions, or feedback you have as well. Bylaw Review Committee: Just as the Columbarium Phase II Committee begins its work, our Bylaw Review Committee seeks to finish its work. The Bylaw Review Committee, appointed by the Church Council in the fall of 2022, has worked diligently over the last 18 months to revise Union’s Constitution and Bylaws from 2012. For any church to stay agile in doing ministry together, a review of the documents that govern the church must be evaluated and revised from time to time. This Bylaw Committee has spent countless hours working on this project together, and we give thanks to God for the way that they sought to include the whole church in this process. To inform their work, the Committee collected feedback from the Elders, Deacons, Congregation, Church Staff, and twice from the Church Council as they evaluated and revised the document. As they worked, they made edits that clarified language and reflected the church's current practices. Below is a summary of the Committee's proposed revisions to the Constitution and Bylaws.
A Table of Contents was added to make the document more user-friendly.
The Article on Membership was updated to reflect current practices.
The duties of the Administrative Officers were updated to match current practices.
An Article on Committees and Service Teams was added. This Article includes a description of Union's Standing Committees, outlining their work and detailing how they nominate new members or a new Committee Chairperson to the Church Council for final approval. Information about Union’s Short-Term Committees was clarified, and a description of Union’s Service Teams was also included in this Article.
A section on Staff Ministers, Support Staff, and Personnel was added to clarify details related to the hiring, supervision, and evaluation of those who serve in these roles.
An Article outlining the importance of Christian Stewardship to the overall life and ministry of the church was added.
Language was added to authorize the Church Council to conduct votes electronically as the Chairperson sees fit. as long as a quorum of 2/3 of the Council participates in the vote.
The duties of the Elders and Deacons were updated to match current practice. The Elders were also given the responsibility of handling any situations involving nepotism in the church.
The Church Council approved these changes at their January meeting and is now sending the document to the Congregation for consideration and action at a called Congregational Meeting on Sunday, February 11, 2024, after morning worship. Before this important meeting, please prayerfully read and reflect on the proposed Constitution and Bylaws. Copies are available in the Gathering Space or online (see the Midweek Update). If you have any questions, please get in touch with any of these Committee members: Julian Beckwith, Angie Eades, Rose Mary Martin, or David Webb, Chairperson. Indeed, attending to the nuts and bolts of our life together in open and transparent ways is a marker of a healthy and active church. It is also a hallmark of our congregational polity in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). I am thankful to be the church together with you and so grateful to be your pastor!
Phase II Columbarium Committee Angie Eades - Co-Chair Hal Tatum - Co-Chair Julia Beckwith Ken Clark Eric Sherrer Sharon Tatum
Courageous Youth & Cool Kids Our Courageous Youth enjoyed a wonderful weekend at Regional Youth Assembly at Epworth By the Sea along with Pastor Heather, Mrs. Holly and Donald Hansford! A special thanks to Donald for serving as our male chaperone and our van chauffeur! We had a great time of fellowship, fun, good food and learning how to tap into our own spiritual gifts or “superpowers” to spread God’s love to others. We’d like to thank our church family for supporting us each year in attending this assembly to grow in our faith!! Our Cool Kids and Courageous Youth will meet each week in February except for February 18 due to fall break for Oconee Schools. On Super Bowl Sunday, February 11, after worship, we will collect donations in soup pots for our annual Souper Bowl of Caring! Our proceeds will benefit Oconee Food for Kids. Thank you, Union, for your continued support of our children and youth!! Sunday, February 4 Cool Kids 4:00-5:15 PM • Courageous Youth 5:00 – 6:15 PM Sunday, February 11 Souper Bowl of Caring (After Worship, to Benefit Oconee Food for Kids) Cool Kids 4:00-5:15 PM • Courageous Youth 5:00 – 6:15 PM Sunday, February 18 Oconee Schools Winter Break • No Meetings
Sunday, February 25 Cool Kids 4:00-5:15 PM • Courageous Youth 5:00 – 6:15 PM
We invite children, ages 0 - 5th grade, to come and hang out at Union on Friday, March 1, from 5:30-8:30 PM. Parents, this is a great time for you to enjoy an evening out while your children have a blast! Kids, we will have dinner, a Bible story, games, crafts, and a movie. The theme for the night is Treasure Hunters Seeking Jesus, Our Real Treasure! This event is free, but you must pre-register online. We still have plenty of slots open, so invite your neighbors and friends. They can register at www.unionchristianchurch.net/pno.
Union Family, Let’s Celebrate! Union will host a wedding shower for Kendall Green (daughter of Chris and Holly Green) and Daylon Bowen on February 3, at 2:00 PM. We will host a shower for Melinda Lay and Reynolds Brown (son of Jessica Butler and grandson of Jim and Bonnie Butler) on March 3, at 2:00 PM. Both showers will be in the Fellowship Hall.
Elders’ Meeting Union’s Elders will meet on Sunday, February 4, at 9:00 AM.
Church Council The Church Council will meet on Thursday, February 15 at 7:00 PM.
Disciples Men Men, join us for the February breakfast meeting of the Disciples Men at Strickland's (4723 Atlanta Highway, Athens) on Saturday, February 3, at 8 AM. We have a wonderful time, and we would love to have you come and fellowship with us.
Ash Wednesday The first day of Lent begins on February 14, Ash Wednesday. We will gather at 6:30 that evening for a service of repentance, contemplation, communion, and the imposition of ashes. The 40 days of Lent is a time to intentionally focus on prayer and repentance.
CommUnity Groups @ Union Union’s current CommUnity Groups begin February 1, running until June; we will have a second session from July—November. If you were unable to sign up, you can still join. Contact Nickie in the church office to be added to a group. If you have never participated, CommUnity Groups are 6 to 7 people who meet about once a month to foster fellowship. Each month the group members decide the activity they would like to do. While many groups eat a meal together, groups can choose to go for a walk/hike, go bowling, go on day trips, go out to lunch/ dinner (in someone’s home or a restaurant), take a class, or even go sky diving! While we always love pictures, should a group decide to go skydiving, pictures are required.
Christian Women’s Fellowship The CWF will meet in the Fellowship Hall on Thursday, February 8, at 9:30 AM. All of the ladies in the church are invited to join us. During February, the CWF is collecting items for Family Promise of Athens. Their most needed items are listed below. Thank you for helping to bless this local ministry that is on the front lines in helping families experiencing or trying to avoid homelessness. Walmart Gift Cards • Kroger Gift Cards • New sheet sets (all sizes) • New pillows Paper towels • Toilet paper • Body wash • Lotion • Shampoo • Dish soap Laundry detergent • Dryer sheets Our special person for February is Holley Downs. Her address is, The Landings; 2881 Monroe Highway; Building 300; Suite 311; Bogart, GA 30622.
GriefShare is a support group for those grieving a death. We are looking forward to our spring session, which will meet on Thursdays from February 29 through May 23. We meet in the Union Fellowship Hall, from 1:30—3:00 PM.
If you would like to join our group, you can register online at www.griefshare.org/ groups/180554. You can also call the church office; we can help you get registered and answer any questions you may have about GriefShare.
February Serving Calendar February 4
February 11
February 18
February 25
Worship Leader
Joyce Beckwith
Patsy Orr
Jonathan Byrd
Julia Beckwith
Elder
Patsy Orr
Annette Saul
Jonathan Byrd
Donald Hansford
Deacon
Ryan Sledge, Peter Cook, Sue Williams, Betsy Peck
Lanier Orr, Ryan Sledge, Mary Brookshire, Lynn Chapman
Betsy Peck, Sue Williams, Lisa Sledge, Ruth Cook
Kay Smith, Ryan Sledge, Lynn Chapman, Ruth Cook
Children’s Church
David & Jyoti Webb
Patti Clark
Angie Eades
Children’s Helper
Melanie Tate
Mimi Benkoski
Sandra Allen
Amy Pritchett
Greeter
Lynn Chapman
Sherica Dickens
Kathy Peters
Mary Brookshire
Sanctuary Prep
Ken Clark
Larry Allen
Jonathan Byrd
Larry Allen
Safety Volunteer
Ken Clark
Larry Saul
Leonard Williams
Eric Sherrer
Children’s Chat
Patti Clark
Angie Eades
Jonathan Byrd
Patsy Orr
February 6
February 13
February 20
February 27
Nan Deal
Evelyn Shelnutt
Amy Pritchett
Julian Beckwith
Meet/Greet Host
Young adults, come and hang out at the Webb home on Tuesday, February 20, at 6:30 PM. We will enjoy pizza and some games together. Bring a friend and your best game face; we promise not to monopolize your time.
Lenten Soup and Study The season of Lent is almost upon us, and as has been our custom, we will gather as a church family on the Wednesdays of the season, beginning with Ash Wednesday, February 14 at 6:30 PM. On the Wednesdays following – February 21, 28 and March 6, 13, and 20 – we will meet at 5:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall for a soup supper followed by a Lenten study. This year we will use Taylor Mills’ book, Toward the Cross, as we explore qualities and characteristics of Christian discipleship that lead us to claim Jesus as our highest priority. You do not need a book to attend the study, but if you would like to follow along, you can purchase a copy at Amazon or any other book retailer. The ISBN for the text is 9781791028947.
Sign-Ups for Soup Supper If you would like to sign up to help provide the soup supper for our weekly Lenten studies, check out the Union clipboard in the Gathering Space.
Bible Book of the Month: Psalms Overview: https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/psalms/
Coming Up at Union! Disciples Men’s Breakfast February 3, 8:00 AM
Wedding Shower for Melinda Lay March 3, 2:00 PM
Wedding Shower for Kendall Green February 3, 2:00 PM
Maundy Thursday March 28
Family Promise of Athens La Tablé February 6, 11:00 AM
Easter Egg Hunt March 30
Christian Women’s Fellowship February 8, 10:00 AM
Easter Sunday March 31
Souper Bowl Of Caring February 11, After Worship
Spring Bible Studies Begin April 15 & 17
Congregational Meeting February 11, After Worship Valentine’s Breakfast for Dinner Potluck February 14, 5:30 PM
Ash Wednesday Service February 14, 6:30 PM Disciples Men’s Breakfast February 3, 8:00 AM Family Promise Host Week February 18-25 Young Adult Hangout February 20, 6:30 PM
Union at ACTS February 23, 9:00 AM Lenten Soup and Study February 21-March 20 GriefShare Spring Session February 29-May 23 Parent’s Night Out March 1, 5:30-8:30 PM
February Meetings Elders’ Meeting February 4, 9:00 AM Finance Committee Meeting February 4, 9:00 AM Staff Meeting February 12, 10:30 AM Building Committee Meeting February 12, 6:00 PM Church Council Meeting February 15, 7:00 PM Personnel Committee Meeting February 26, 12:00 PM Finance Committee Meeting February 27, 5:00 PM Permanent Fund Committee Meeting February 27, 6:00 PM
Prayers of the People Global Prayer: Orphans and widows around the world. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27 Community Prayer: ACTS – Oconee County’s Foodbank Prayers for Health, Healing, and Care: Sharon Abbott (Chemotherapy) Peggy & Bob Baldwin (Surgery Recovery) Ed Berry (High Shoals Rehab) Frank Baxter (Cancer) Mark Beach (Leukemia) Mimi Benkoski (Suffered Recent Falls) Myla Bennett Betty Benton Leon Boyce (Serious Car Accident) Mandie Boyce (Hospitalized) Renee Brown (Rehab) Bonnie Butler Jonathan Byrd Annabelle Carter (Under Care for Seizures) Cavin Family (House Fire: Mom suffered 2 nd degree burns while saving a 2-year-old son, who suffered 3rd degree burns over most of his body) Rainey Collis (2-Year-Old, Surgery Recovery) Zachary Cook Deb Cosgrove (Failing Health) Jen Crane (Gastroenteritis) Michael, Leah, Charlotte, and Juliette Crenshaw Eric David (Broken Pelvis, 7 Years Old) Nan Deal Andra Dickens (Hospitalized) Holley Downs Devin Driskell (Recovery from Accident) Brice Eades (Surgery Recovery) Janice Faulker Vicky Grey (Health Issues) Mary Hamby (Upcoming Surgery) Brandy Harris (Health Concerns) Rick Hebert (Lung Cancer Treatments) Margaret Hogan (Cancer) Mahlon Holland (Transitioned to Assisted Living) Katelynn Hood (RSV) Shelly House (Anxiety and Depression) Nancy Huff (Hospitalized) Howard Karloff (Terminal Illness) Terry Karloff (Addiction) Adam Karloff Sari Karloff Johnny Lay (Health Concerns) John Leonard (Stomach Cancer)
Brayden Lord (Oconee Student, Stage 4 Hodgkin Lymphoma, Resumed Treatments) Jayne McCluskey (Skin Cancer) Angela Madaras (Declining Health, Stage 4 Kidney Failure & Lupus) Sean Mahan (Advanced Pancreatic Cancer) Margo McClain (Broken Hip) Maxine (Colon Cancer) Evelyn McKenzie (Upcoming Surgery) Bailey Moore (Foster Family Needs) Rod Morgan Kaaren Mosley (Stroke, Surgery Recovery, Cancer Treatment) Albert Munguia (Addiction Issues) Grace Nash (Breast Cancer) David Nelson (Hospitalized) Annette Nesler (Awaiting Transplant) Jason Oliver (Heart Surgery Recovery) Gunner Patterson (3-Year-Old, Medical Issues) Herschel and Amy Pritchett (COVID) Johnny Pritchett (Encouragement) Margie Provost (Complications from Breast Cancer Surgery) Linda Rice (Lung Cancer Treatment) Sue Roach (Hospitalized) Lawson Saul (Chest Pains) David Simpson (Lung Cancer) Mary Short (Hospice) Billy Skinner (Cancer) Eloise Slaton Mickey Smith (Health Concerns) Zane Springer (Infant; Surgery Recovery) Ann Stephens (Broken Pelvis) Troy Tatum (ALS) Jacqueline Thomason (Transition Adjustment) Harry Tracy Reese Waddell (Recovering at Home) Patti Wagner (Scleroderma) Gene Wengert (Pancreatic Cancer) Cathie Wettlaufer Lanier Whitehead (Cancer) Mike (Health Concerns) and Judy Zech (Caregiving) Prayers for Those Who Mourn: The Family and Friends of Henry Shelnutt The Family and Friends of Carbie Epps Prayers for Our Military: Harrison "Harry" Booth Tyler Brown Charlie Witkowski (Stationed in Poland)
February 2023
SSunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
1
Friday
2
Saturday
3
8:00 AM Disciples Men \
10:00 AM Prayer Call 2:00 PM Wedding Shower Lynn Chapman
Sue Williams
Mary Frances Wall
9
10
4
5
6
7
8
9 AM Elders’ Meeting
6:00 PM Women’s Bible Study
9:30 AM Craft Group
9:30 AM Women’s Bible Study
10:00 AM CWF Meeting
10:00 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship
11:00 AM La Table (FPA) 6:30 PM All-Church Meet & Greet
12:00 PM Finance Meeting
10:00 AM Prayer Call
5:00 PM Men’s Bible Study 6:30 PM Praise Band 7:00 PM Choir
4:00 PM Kids 5:15 PM Youth
11
12
13
10:00 AM Sunday School
10:30 AM Staff Meeting
9:30 AM Craft Group
11:00 AM Worship
6:00 PM Building Committee Meeting
6:30 PM All-Church Meet & Greet
12:00 PM Souper Bowl of Caring
14
15
5:30 PM Valentine’s Potluck
7:00 PM Church Council Meeting
10:00 AM Prayer Call
Austin Eades Brice Eades
6:30 PM Ash Wednesday Service
16
17
7:00 PM Choir
12:00 PM Congregation Meeting 4:00 PM Kids 5:15 PM Youth
Brenda Vaughn Lisa Vaughn
Larry Saul
Gary Wall
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Family Promise Host Week
Family Promise Host Week
Family Promise Host Week
Family Promise Host Week
Family Promise Host Week
Family Promise Host Week
10:00 AM Sunday School
9:30 AM Craft Group
5:30 PM Lenten Soup & Study
Family Promise Host Week
11:00 AM Worship
6:30 PM All-Church Meet & Greet
6:30 PM Praise Band
9:00 AM Union at Acts
7:00 PM Choir
6:30 PM Young Adult Hang Out
Kendall Green
Cami Allen
25 Family Promise Host Week 10:00 AM Sunday School
26
27
28
29
10:00 AM Personnel Committee Meeting
9:30 AM Crafts
5:30 PM Lenten Soup & Study
1:30 PM GriefShare Begins
11:00 AM Worship 4:00 PM Kids 5:00 PM Youth
Grayson Sherrer
5:00 PM Finance Mtg 6:00 PM Permanent Fund Meeting 6:30 PM All-Church Meet & Greet Laura Cook
10:00 AM Prayer Call
6:30 PM Praise Band 7:00 PM Choir
Union Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 1130 Union Church Rd. Watkinsville GA 30677–4101
Union Christian Church