Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

July 22, 2018         10:30 am 

Meditation
It goes on one at a time,
it starts when you care
to act, it starts when you do
it again after they said no,
it starts when you say We
and know who you mean, and each
day you mean one more.   —From “The Low Road” by Marge Piercy

From there to Here: We Gather

Welcome & Announcements
Welcome to this service of worship!  During the service, you are invited to rise in body or in spirit, standing or sitting, at points in the service marked “ ”.”
Please sign in using the pew folder, passing it back down the row so all can greet one another by name, and place the sheet in an offering plate. We’re glad you’re here!
 Prelude Amen Siakudumisa C. Moklebust
Summer Handbell Ensemble
 The Call      “The Low Road” by Marge Piercy
“I Need You to Survive” by Hezekiah Walker
Emmanuel J. Stokes and Shannon Abbott, vocalists
I need you, you need me. We’re all part of God’s body; Stand with me, agree with me, we’re all part of God’s body.
It is God’s will that every need be supplied; you are important to me, I need you to survive.
I pray for you, you pray for me, I love you, I need you to survive;
I won’t harm you with words from my mouth. I love you. I need you to survive.
Prayer for Approach, Confession & Release
¨   Passing the Peace of Christ
All who come to this sanctuary are welcome companions on this day! You are invited to turn to those nearest you and greet them with words of peace and hospitality.

The Living Word among us

Anthem It Is Good Natalie Sleeth
Union Church Summer Choir
It is good to give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, for the bountiful blessings that all can see. It is good to sing praise to Thy name, O Lord, to declare to the people Thy steadfast love. For Thou, O Lord, with a mighty hand hath blessed Thy creatures through the land, now let hymns and anthems in chorus sound, to reecho all around: It is good to rejoice and be glad, O Lord, and to tell of Thy glory forevermore. It is good to rejoice and be glad!
Epistle Lesson  1 Corinthians 12:12-31 (p. 1396)
Paul reminds encourages the church members in Corinth to be part of the same body, the Body of Christ. Each part of the body is specialized, but no part of the body can do without the other.
Children’s Moment                                as the children return to their seats we sing:
May God’s presence guard, protect and guide you.  God bless you, God bless you. Our savior’s loving arms be ever ’round you.  God bless you, God bless you. 
Following the Children’s Moment, children kindergarten through 5th grade are invited to stay in the service or visit the Children’s Worship Center in the back of the sanctuary, which has toys, books, and drawing materials for children (or adults) who would like help staying present in the service. For children preschool age & under, care is available in the Nursery, downstairs in Room 104 off the playground.
Epistle Lesson Galatians 3:23-29 (p. 1417)
In a letter to the members of the Church in Galatia (modern central and south Turkey), Paul proclaims the liberty that comes to all—regardless of background or station—when we put on the “clothes of Christ.”
Sermon No Longer Rev. Chad Abbott

Living Prayer

Ringing of the Peace Bell
The Union Church Peace Bell was created by Jeff Enge in honor of Union Church member Carl Eschbach (1904-1998).  A twin bell hangs in Berea’s sister province in Japan and is also rung in the hope of peace for all nations.
Acts of Reflection and Prayer
Offered here is a time to connect prayer and action in a time of reflection. Use the included sheet as a guide to reflection stations around the sanctuary, or use the printed questions while remaining in your pew. Our hope in this time is that together we may pray as we are led, respond as each is called, and reconnect with the Spirit of God who holds us dear.
Our Offering 
Every gift is a piece of the work of resurrection. Together we reach in and reach out to be and become the living hope Jesus proclaimed and intends for all. One, among many, ways you can become part of the body of transforming grace is to send some of your money into the world in ways that matter. We are careful stewards of every gift, but not by hiding it away; rather by putting every offering to the work that will honor the gift and the Giver.
In a  time when so many members of Christ’s body are downtrodden and abused, your gift today will help heal the broken. Liberty Place is a house of rehabilitation for women recovering from drug and alcohol addictions. We need these women to survive and thrive, and so your gift will them do that. Our world needs moms and dads to be with their children. Thanks to your gifts, we are sending funds to legal aid agencies reuniting immigrants with their stolen children. Every gift means we are keeping bodies and souls together, “re-membering” the Body of Christ with every dime. If inspired, please join in, become a part of the great transformation. We need you to survive and thrive in our common work!
When invited, please join in singing the familiar chorus: Alleluia!
Community Prayer & Our Lord’s Prayer
One: Our Maker, our Mother, and …
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:                                 
 For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.  Amen.

From Here to There

¨  Hymn #314 Black  Community of Christ Leoni
¨  The Blessing and Sending
Postlude (please be seated) The Church’s One Foundation Mary McDonald

Prayer in Action Reflections

Use these meditations during worship or anytime during the week! Space is provided for you to write notes, to reflect, or draw responses.
¨ Can you imagine Paul’s vision of a world where there is “No longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female?”  What does that vision look like to you? Does unity require uniformity. How or how not?
¨ Are you feeling disconnected? Out of joint? Where and to what or whom do you need to be “re-membered?”
¨ “Unity” even in the Body of Christ is a hard vision to realize. What are signs of hope for you? What signs tell you of the presence of that greater vision?  What helps you trust in the hope of God and Spirit in the midst of the struggle?
Especially in our prayers
Each week we join millions of Christians who pray for one another through the ecumenical prayer cycle and, locally, the Berea Ministerial Association’s prayer cycle. Let us hold the people of Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda and our brothers and sisters at New Liberty Baptist Church our hearts, and pray for them. Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week.
Prayer requests to be printed may be sent to the office anytime before 10:00 am Fridays.
¨ Jennifer Shelton, former church family member & nursery worker, injured in a car wreck July 3. 
¨ Blessings on the upcoming union of church members David Bellnier and Laura Howard, who will marry here this weekend!! May God grant them a long and happy life together!
¨ Baby Vera Stevens Garrett, born July 11. She weighed 9 lbs, 7.5 oz. and was 21.5 inches long at birth. Congratulations to her parents Mary Robert and Andrew, and big sisters Claire, Paige and Ella. https://mealtrain.com/20vm3q
¨ Teri VanPelt and Christine Ward are celebrating the birth of their first grandchild: Hope Olivia Ward born to Chris Ward and Harley Lovelace born at 5:54 on July 11. She weighed 7.4lbs and was 19.5 inches long.
¨ The Ngabwema Family, our adopted refugee family from the Congo! That God will help us help them with all they need for a full and safe life in Lexington.
¨ Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound: Ruth Butwell, Edith Hansen, Nancy Hindman, Loyal Jones, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin
¨ Dan Rohrer, who is suffering from a severe liver disorder.
¨ Dave Wellinghurst, receiving treatment for glioblastoma.
¨ Jimmie Lewis’ sister, undergoing cancer treatment.
¨ Congratulations to Kristi Haydon & Gary Johnson and Heather Queen & Eddy Martin! Both couples were married here at Union last week.
Announcements
We are fortunate and glad to welcome The Rev. Chad Abbott to the pulpit today! Rev. Abbot the Conference Minister the United Church of Christ congregations in Indiana and Kentucky. Having served congregations in both the United Methodist and United Church of Christ traditions, he is a pastor at heart. Chad is the author of a couple of books, his latest of which is Sacred Habits: The Rise of the Creative Clergy.  He is passionate about local churches, pastors, and spirituality. He is a trained labyrinth facilitator, spiritual director, and story-teller. Chad and his wife, Shannon, live in Indianapolis with their two kids, Isabel and Solomon, and dog, Zoe.  Not only a pastor, husband, and father, Chad is a runner, musician, first degree black belt in karate, converse shoe collector, lover of laughter and nature, and all around spiritual pilgrim.
Welcome to the folks from Community United Methodist Church of Naperville, IL, who stayed in the Community Room overnight on their way to Hazard, KY, for an Appalachian Service Project.
Learn more about the church today! Come One, Come All! Each fourth Sunday of the month anyone wanting to know more about Union Church or wanting to explore church membership, are invited to come to the Classroom and join in conversation with the Community Life and Growth Board after worship. 
Refugees Moving in! “Thanks to the generosity of Union Church and the additional support of Bluegrass United Church in Lexington the Ngabwema family is moving into their new apartment! We’re getting details on when and how to move the house materials we have collected up to them. This holy work has been an oasis of love and “right action” in a time when compassionate care has been sorely needed. Thank you from all of us at Kentucky Refugee Ministries!”
MealTrain organized for the Garrett family at the birth of Vera! Contact the office for the link or sign up at https://mealtrain.com/20vm3q
Thanks for the Light! A group of volunteers under the director of Dave Kobersmith, church administrator, completed replacing all of the sanctuary lighting with LEDs! Thanks, all!
New Church Directory Coming and we NEED YOU! We’re trying for a print date of earliest September. If you will send us your photo and info (names, addresses, birthdates, email addresses and phone numbers), you can save us a phone call! Maybe the number in your household has changed? Kiddo gone off to school? Gotten hitched? Maybe you’d like to opt out of the Directory? Send to office@union-church.org. Thanks.
Brrr! Why am I chilly at worship? Why are we spending so much money on air conditioning?! Our Sanctuary and Chapel organs both suffer when it’s damp, and the Sanctuary organ loses its tuning when it gets too hot (or very cold). Fluctuating temperatures wreak havoc with our delicate instruments. Paying a bit more on the electric bill is much thriftier than paying for more organ services throughout the year.
Habitat Foundation Blessing July 28, See Page 10.
Can You Help With Special Aug 5 Coffee Hour? Kent & Diana’s first wedding anniversary will be celebrated at an after-worship Coffee Hour August 5, in the Community Room. We’ll also celebrate our newly wed church members, David Bellnier and Laura Howard (set to be married on July 28). If you can bake something gluten-free for this joyful event, please call Barb Smith at 859-582-0368. Thank you!
Rescheduled — Community Hymn Sing August 5, 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! 
Hymn Favorites on Handbells Sunday, August 12, 2:00 pm. 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 25, and August 8, at 7pm in the sanctuary.  Please contact Pearl (pmarshall@union-church.org) if you’d like to participate.
Flying Solo Widow’s Support Group Returns, Flying Solo is resuming its meetings on the third Tuesday of the month at 1 pm in the Wayside Room. Those who have lost a spouse to death will be made warmly welcome.
Laura Howard’s sister is in need of a reliable used car under $5,000. Please contact howard.laura.p@gmail.com if you have one you are interested in selling.
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.
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.