10 A.M. Combined Contemporary Service

Dear Union Church,

Hallelujah! Fall is here. Football is back. And, finally, the kids are all back in school (sort of). Yes, God has indeed placed us in a challenging season. So we dare not move forward alone. We need each other. Therefore, by God’s grace and provision, let us move forward into this strange fall season together.

In particular, please do TWO things:

One, please join us in kicking off the fall season with a combined outdoor worship experience in the Union Church parking lot on Sunday, September 20th. Beginning at 10am we will come together in-person (or remaining in your car if you prefer) and worship the Lord on his holy day. This year’s theme is “Forever Faithful” and we will be giving God thanks and praise for his faithfulness to us during this pandemic. Following the service at 11:00 we will be offering a time of outdoor fellowship. There will be a food truck on hand (“Rolling Meatballs”— appx. $7-10 person) as well as Bruster's ice cream for the kids (adults, too, if there is enough). And while masks are optional for this outdoor service, we are still asking that you practice social distancing to the best of your ability. So come on out, bring some camping chairs with you, and let us kick off a new ministry year together.

Two, join us in a “Season of Prayer” for our community. Beginning Wednesday, September 23rd through October 28th we will be meeting weekly from 6:00 to 6:45 p.m. to pray for our community – local, statewide, national, and international. We extend this call to a season of prayer in light of the suffering of our neighbors near and far, the preponderance of violence and hatred on our streets, and the challenges to our Christian witness in the midst of the current election cycle. The prayer time will be guided and focused. The first few minutes of our gathering will allow for specific prayer requests. The remainder of the 45 minutes will be done bidding style – addressing themes or concerns in succession, allowing time for those present to offer silent and/or spoken prayer. We will address the general themes of 1. Providential care for our community in view of the COVID-19 pandemic; 2. Healing and mercy for those who have suffered because of violence; 3. Wisdom for leadership in our community: political, healthcare, education, economic, service providers, etc.; 4. A spirit of neighborliness, generosity, and good will toward all; 5. The Spirit’s powerful working through the Body of Christ here and around the world. Our prayer time will not focus upon a political party, ideology, or agenda. We will not pray for specific candidates or policy positions. Our aim is to come together in the power the Holy Spirit who makes us one body in Jesus Christ. In this way, we may come together to pray as an act of genuine faith, and in so doing, provide a model to the world of a community characterized by grace and love for each other. I hope that you will make plans to join us! We will be meeting in the sanctuary or online if you prefer.

Third (Did we say, 2 things? We meant three. After all, we are preachers! We must have three points.). Please look out for one another and love your neighbors… the Gospel always calls us out of isolation to find where there is a need and calls us to give our lives away.

In His service,

Pastor Billy and Tom