Bluegrass United Church of Christ

In just a few days, the U.S. will celebrate 250 years as a nation. The current state of politics and policy, the lack of morality among some of our nation's leaders, along with a seeming disregard for history and the lessons it has taught us, is making it hard for many of us to feel the celebration. What are we supposed to do with this tension? How do we respond when we're faced with the t...

We get tired and wonder if there's much to hold onto while our world seems to spiral. Elder Daniel Beasley shares a message of hope and promise that inspires us to stay the course and hold on to our faith. MESSAGE: "Hold On Just a Little While Longer" by Daniel Beasley SCRIPTURE: Romans 5:5 Learn more about us at: bluegrasschurch.org⁠ Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube

There are seasons in life when hope feels easy. There are moments when the sun is shining, relationships are healthy, bills are paid, and the future seems full of promise. During these times, hope comes naturally. But that is not when hope is most needed. Hope is most needed when the diagnosis arrives, when the relationship ends, when we watch the news and wonder what has happened to our country,...

We receive the Bible as our foundation for what is good and right. It is not the only holy text or common writing that informs who we are, but it is where we begin our "truth." But how do we discern its words? How is it that where we see Jesus as a model of compassion, others who follow him see harsh judgment and condemnation. It is said that if we're going to make a case for God&#39...

This month's Lexington Pride Festival is about a month earlier than usual, but this special weekend gives us an opportunity to celebrate part of God's wonderful creation as the city's LGBTQ community comes together, as the original Pride did, in both jubilee and protest. We believe celebrating our LGBTQ siblings is a spiritual act and one that God expects of us as holy followers. Join...

Today is Pentecost Sunday. Grace Ellen tells a story about growing up, spending time with family, enjoying life, and learning lessons. Today, Grace Ellen tells us about going to the fairgrounds with "Fat Mama" and "Fat Daddy" to be a part of the dedication service for Harmony Acres Fairgrounds. All the churches in the community were going to be there, and the experience of so m...

We need change. Our world needs big changes. Our leaders have betrayed our trust, corruption and greed have stopped hiding themselves, and the church's responsibility to step in as holders and proclaimers of truth has never been more important or vital. The writer of Acts wrote about the urgency in their time, and it now reflects on us and our time. MESSAGE: "Waiting For the World to Chan...

The prophet Isaiah gives us one of the most intimate images of God in all of scripture. Not a king. Not a judge. Not a distant ruler. But a mother. The prophet asks, "Can a woman forget her nursing child?" We know that many have warm memories of happy moments with their mothers, while others don't. Some find comfort in the promises of maternal love, while others find it strange and d...

Here’s the thing: “Do not let your hearts be troubled” can sound like a platitude if we’re not careful. It can feel like something stitched onto a pillow rather than spoken into a world that is unraveling. But in the Gospel of John, these words aren’t soft or sentimental; they're spoken in the shadow of fear, confusion, and loss. This is not a calm moment for Jesus' disciples, any more tha...

In the 40-day period following his resurrection before ascending into heaven, Jesus appeared to his disciples and followers several times. This week, as Simon Peter, Thomas, and others were fishing without much luck, a mysterious man convinced them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat to see if their luck might change, and did it ever! Encounters with Jesus may not always end with such...

Easter resurrection happens in all kinds of ways, even in the process of moving and walking; sometimes it even happens in our attempts to escape our worries and troubles. The movement pulls us out of the constraints that bind us, the worry that weighs us down, the pressure that builds up inside of us. The experience of resurrection also comes from the experience of eating with others, sharing both...

Easter was not a thing when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb the morning after Jesus was buried. They did not have our modern perspective, and, more importantly, we do not have theirs. The first Easter was dramatic, scary, and confusing. The pageantry, nice outfits, and stained glass we've given to it over the centuries have blunted the reality of its messiness. But finding i...

This Palm Sunday, our worship series takes us on a very literal journey with Jesus. Like it often does, it likely felt like both the end and the beginning. A pilgrimage may reach its destination, but the hope, the wisdom, and the lessons learned along the way often offer us a new starting point. For just as we feel like we have reached a dead end, if we heed the nudge of the Spirit, we will find t...

Jesus's friend, Lazarus, was very sick. His sisters, Martha and Mary, sent word to Jesus to come and heal their brother, but Jesus didn't come right away. Was it because he didn't sense the urgency? Was he being insensitive to his friend's need? Did he have more important things to do? If you've read the story of Lazarus and his ultimate resurrection from the grave, you know th...

Jesus told a story to some of his followers, and a group of uptight Pharisees happened to be close by to hear. There was a dad who had two sons, one who was hardworking and faithful, and one who felt the world was too big to be wasted on farm life. The dad let the adventurous son go, but never lost hope that he'd be back. What ensued was a story of exploration, wasted opportunity, and repentan...

We're in our Lent series about this journey called life, and this week we focus on how the journey changes us. This can lead to not always being understood. Jesus found this out as he pushed against the status quo of his day, leading to a fair amount of rejection. Close family, friends, and neighbors may cling to an idea of who we are and cannot imagine we have grown beyond that identity. And...

We're taught that everything costs. But our ways are not God's ways. We're all invited, without price, to the abundance of God's grace. This is the higher way that we are invited to embody for the sake of the world. The "rich food" we are invited to partake is the richness of life when all have enough not simply to survive, but to thrive. Hospitality is the way. Even thou...

Lent is a time of reflection, and there’s nothing like a pilgrimage to conjure that up. Making intentional journeys has been a ritual of humankind across time and traditions. Inspired by passages in the Judeo-Christian scriptures that talk about the journeys, roads, and pathways of life, during Lent, we will make our way together through this season. The popular and poignant movie, The Way, about...

Jesus took some of his friends to the top of a very high mountain and then was transformed, his face and his clothes shining brightly. When two ancient prophets appeared, one of the friends declared that they should build shrines. The experience changed the perception of Jesus' friends. It's a fascinating story and a powerful lesson. MESSAGE: "Changed" by Pam Lee-Miller SCRIPTURE...

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same wa...

Every part of our body serves a purpose. Every organ, every digit, every muscle and bone, all of our parts are important to our body's ability to function properly. The same goes for us as a human family, an organization, or even a church. During the protests in Minneapolis these past few weeks, members of the community there have come together, bringing their strengths and abilities to serve...

Because of a major winter storm that brought snow, sleet, freezing rain, and frigid temperatures to the area, we had an online-only service today. Kenny shared some thoughts from his home on the tragic killing of Alex Pretti in Minnesota at the hands of the federal government, our response, and the consequences of a silent church in the face of a tyrannical government. MESSAGE: "A Moral Recko...

BUCC got its beginnings in October of 2010 when the United Church of Christ called Rev. Marsha J. Charles as pastor of a new church start in Lexington, Kentucky. The new congregation held its first service in the chapel at the Lexington Theological Seminary on January 9, 2011. On September 8 that same year, the church officially adopted the name Bluegrass United Church of Christ and adopted its fo...

From time to time, we get to hear from Grace Ellen, the fictional character inspired by Pam's great-grandmother. Pam draws a lot from her time and experiences with her relatives and weaves them into gospel stories and lessons. Today, she shares an experience that happened with a neighbor while she visited family in Alabama. Things were hard for Hollis, and it was when he decided to trust God w...

As we end our Advent/Christmas series, Herod is still in power. Christ is born, yet it feels as if the world has not changed. The temptation to give up is strong, especially in the face of violence. But the magi don't let Herod's fear-driven demands stop them from honoring the newborn, or returning home by a different way. They model to us what it looks like to be led by hope, moving throu...