On US Highway 42 in Union, Kentucky, Union Presbyterian Church has built a reputation for radical welcome. Members range from newborns to ninety-nine-year-olds, Sunday worship is livestreamed on YouTube, and a sixteen-plot community garden behind the building helps fund food pantries serving children and families in Northern Kentucky.
A Family That Wrestles Together
Union Presbyterian describes itself first as a family. Its members are young families, singles, parents of tweens and teens, empty nesters, and retirees - lifelong Presbyterians sitting alongside newcomers who have tried other church traditions along the way. The congregation is diverse in education, employment, ability, political views, and belief. That diversity, the church says, challenges the congregation but also unites it and makes it stronger. Members wrestle with tough questions, laugh over shared meals, gather for book studies, dig in the garden together, and work to care for the wider community.
Sunday Worship - Old Hymns and Radio Songs
Sunday worship is held at 10:00 am and is livestreamed on YouTube. The service is a deliberate blend: an order of worship with call-and-response readings, prayers, and scripture, paired with contemporary and timely sermons. The music draws from traditional hymns, songs you might hear on the radio, choir-led pieces, instrumental piano, and the occasional special offering. Cheryl Martinez, a classically trained pianist and Miami University (Ohio) graduate, has served as accompanist since 2007 and has been making music at Union Presbyterian since 1990. She also plays weddings, funerals, and community services hosted at the church.
All Are Welcome - And They Mean It
The church's welcome is unusually explicit. Union Presbyterian is open and affirming, welcoming everyone regardless of ability, gender identity, race, or sexual orientation. The congregation affirms LGBTQ+ pastors and members. As part of the Presbyterian Church (USA), it draws on the resources of a denomination that supports LGBTQ+ inclusion. Theologically, Union Presbyterian confesses belief in God the Creator who calls the church to care for all creation, in Jesus Christ who modeled radical hospitality to sinners and saints alike, and in the Holy Spirit who empowers daily discernment and faithful living.
The Community Garden
Behind the church, sixteen 4-by-8-foot garden plots go up for rental each spring at $40 a season, available to both the congregation and the wider community. Gardeners get access to a gas-powered tiller, a shed full of tools, tomato cages on a first-come basis, and water from a creek-side shed. The garden is fenced three feet high to discourage critters, and the use of fertilizers and pesticides is discouraged in favor of camaraderie and a love of growing. Plot rental raises money for Abraham's Pantry, a mission of Union Presbyterian Church that provides food for hungry people in the Union and Florence area. A partnership with Baeten's Nursery gives growers a ten percent discount on plants and supplies.
Mission Beyond the Walls
Union Presbyterian's mission partnerships reach across Northern Kentucky. Members serve as a support church for Family Promise of NKY, the only local organization that allows homeless families to stay together during their transition back to housing. Once every six to eight weeks, volunteers provide dinner, transportation, and companionship to families staying at the shelter. A long-running partnership with Cornerstone Fellowship in Covington and Latonia finds church cooks preparing meals that volunteers deliver and serve to men, women, and children. The congregation also supports GoPantry, a non-profit that feeds hungry kids on days when schools are not open. Each year the church runs a booth at the Boone County Pride Festival at Florence Y'alls Stadium, an outreach the church frames as sharing grace with the wider community.
Youth, and the Most Active Seniors Around
Middle school and high school youth meet weekly for Bible study, topical discussion, fun activities, and mission projects, with a summer trip to the Montreat Youth Conference as the annual highlight. The Union Presbyterian Seniors group - the UPSters - is, by the church's own description, hands down the most active group in the congregation. They meet monthly for meals at Colonial Heights and schedule theater outings, restaurant trips, and tours of historic towns. Most are retirees, but the group will not turn anyone away.
A Parking Lot Full of Neighbors
On any given weeknight, the church parking lot hosts a striking mix of visitors. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Cub Scouts meet there. Weight Watchers holds meetings. The Hills of Kentucky Dulcimers gather to play. Alcoholics Anonymous meets in the building. A non-church congregation in residence shares the space. Private music teachers give lessons. The church considers it a privilege to share its facility with so many community groups.
The Pastor and the Music
Reverend Lisa Stenner has served as pastor since 2012. A native Alabaman and self-described Auburn and NASCAR fan, she is known as a cross-generational shepherd equally at ease singing with little children or going on outings with the seniors. Her activist heart, the church says, leads her to use her privilege to speak for the vulnerable and work toward justice. Cheryl Martinez coordinates music for worship and special services throughout the week.
Giving and Staying Connected
Gifts can be made online, by texting an amount to 844-844-2710, by mail to the church address, or by using envelopes in the pews. The church publishes a weekly bulletin, a regular newsletter called UPC News, and an email update list. Sunday altar flowers can be dedicated to mark anniversaries, baptisms, birthdays, or in memory or honor of loved ones; arrangements are created by The Secret Garden and usually cost $35 to $55.