Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the

Church of Christ, Union

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

June 26, 2016      10:30 am

Meditation
“I will not tire of declaring that if we really want an effective end to violence we must remove the violence that lies at the root of all violence: structural violence, social injustice, exclusion of citizens from the management of the country, repression. All this is what constitutes the primal cause, from which the rest flows naturally.”
—Archbishop Oscar A. Romero

From there to Here

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  Variations on St. Anne J. Courter
* Call to Worship  
One: Throughout the ages, disciples have said, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
All: Lord, give us the freedom to follow you in the ways of love.
One: We come from busy homes, filled with little time to consider Christ in our lives.
All: Lord, give us the strength to follow you in the ways of peace.
One: In times of struggle, we look to God for help.
All: Lord, give us the opportunity to follow you in the ways of kindness.
One: Today, we celebrate the Holy Spirit, who shows us the joy of following God.
All: Lord, give us the patience to follow you in the ways of faith. Amen.
*  Opening Hymn #1             Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise           St. Denio
*  Prayer of Approach and Confession   
One:      We struggle to manifest the fruits of the Spirit, but often find ourselves bound by works of the flesh.  We know the whole law is summed up in the single commandment:
All:   to love our neighbor as ourselves.
One: Yet we create fences around ourselves to keep neighbors outside and tell ourselves we have no responsibility.  Even in our own back yard we “bite and devour” one another.
All: We wish it were different.
One: When Jesus calls us to follow him, we find every excuse to instead go home  or to the workplace to finish something more important first.
All:   Yet we yearn to be more centered on You.
[Silent confession…..] —inspired by Galatians 5:13-25, Luke 9:51-62
* Assurance of Pardon
One: Despite our resistance, we can be assured that God’s strong arm redeems the people.  God calls us back to God’s realm, and encourages us with a love we can never lose no matter how hard we push back, no matter how often we forget, no matter how far we stray. We need but ask and we are forgiven.
All: Thanks be to God.  Amen.
—from Putting on the Mantle: Service Prayers for the 6th Sunday after Pentecost,                              written by The Rev. Catherine Rolling
*  Passing the Peace of Jesus 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 joy.

The Word in our Midst

Anthem Joyful Rhythm K. McChesney
Summer Handbell Choir
Hebrew Scripture Lesson 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
Children’s Moment        
As the children return to their seats or move to children’s church, 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 Children’s Moment, children are welcome to visit the Children’s Worship Center, where there are toys, books, and drawing materials for children (or parents) who would like help staying present in the service. For children preschool & under, care is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Community Room.
Gospel Lesson          Luke 9:51-62
Sermon        Riding the Wind Rev. Kent Gilbert

Gifts Given For Love to Flow

Our gifts help sustain this particular community of caring by sustaining the building, pastors and staff, and all the materials that make our ministry of healing, justice, and teaching available to all in need. In addition, a good portion of our contributions flows out to aid to those in need via many external agencies.
This can now be done online or by text to  859-448-3403 (Example: Text “$50.00 Offering” to contribute to the ongoing ministries, or add “youth,” or “missions” or designation of your choice to benefit one in particular.)
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Offertory Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart D. Hustad
*  Doxology Avery/Marsh

Praying it Forward

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.
Silent Prayers and Prayers for the Community                  
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

*  Closing Hymn  Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (opposite) trad.
*  Benediction & Sending Forth
   Postlude (please  be  seated) Three Pieces for Organ I. Rigaudon C. Callahan
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 Angola and Mozambique and our brothers and sisters at Pilgrim Ministries in your hearts, and pray for them.
Please also hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week:
¨ Victims of the shooting at Pulse Club in Orlando, and all who are reeling in the aftermath of violence
¨ Refugee families and individuals seeking shelter and safety, and all who are working to provide it: May God magnify our efforts.
¨ With joy we celebrate the one year anniversary of the repeal of DOMA, and the landmark case that made marriage between all persons legally possible and recognized across the country. We give thanks for those who continue to work so that love and justice for all may prevail!
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound:  Edith Hansen, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin, Gloria VanWinkle
¨ Jasmine Beltran & Christopher Mullins at the birth of Elijah!
¨ Terry Confer, facing surgery and treatment for cancer
¨ Kelly Ambrose’s family, at his death on Monday night. His life will be celebrated at a service here at 4:00 pm.
¨ Michelle Hayden’s mother, being cared for by hospice
¨ Judy Rowell, recovering well at home!
¨ Toby Wilcher, recovering from broken bones at home, and for Shane Wilcher
Learn more about the church today. Fourth Sunday New Membership Info: Come One Come All!  Each fourth Sunday of the Month anyone wanting to know more about Union Church or wanting to explore church membership, as well as new members who have not been able to participate in a previous meeting, are invited to come to the classroom two doors past the office, right after worship,  for conversation with the Pastors and the Community Life and Growth Board.
New members will be received each Second Sunday of the month at the close of worship.  Next chance: July 10!
Hymn sing for the day is cancelled and not rescheduled.  See you at the one in July!
Today’s Service is Brought to You By….THE SUN! This week 78 solar panels, inverters and monitoring equipment were installed on the sanctuary roof. This significant investment in the welfare of God’s creation means that 25% of our current electrical consumption will be met by the new system. We will soon share a website where anyone can log on to see real-time production and usage stats.
New Support Group for those who have lost a family member to homicide: Glades Christian Church has started a support group for people who have lost children or family members to homicide. 3rd Mondays of the month, 6 pm. Call Glades for more info: 986-1421.
Come Be a Wild Goose! Rev. Rachel is organizing a trip to the Wild Goose Festival in Hot Springs, NC, next month.  It’s a festival of progressives gathering to think, talk, and worship God in a campground setting.  The dates are July 7-10. We will carpool the 5 hour drive to the location near Asheville.  Jim Wallis, author of America’s Original Sin, will be speaking as well as famed theologians Brian McLaren, Shane Claiborne, Emilie Townes, and Matthew Fox.  Musical guests include the Indigo Girls, Dar Williams, Ken Medema, and Christian rapper J.Kwest.  This is a festival for all ages, kids through seniors, and there are varying ticket prices for different groups.  Check here for those: http://wildgoosefestival.org/tickets/. You can also volunteer to get in free! Check out more info at http://wildgoosefestival.org/, and contact Rev. Rachel if you’re interested. rsmallstokes@union-church.org.
Summer Music Opportunities
Choir: July 3, 10, 17 – 9:15 am Adults and youth are welcome to participate in Summer Choir. No commitment is expected.  Just show up for rehearsal at 9:15am in the Sanctuary on the days you wish to participate.
We will learn an anthem, which will then be shared as part of the 10:30am worship service that morning. We will rehearse and offer our anthems from the sanctuary floor so that this opportunity is accessible to all.
Handbells: July 3, 10, & 17 – 10:00 am On each of these Sundays, anyone interested in ringing along with one of the hymns is welcome to join us in the sanctuary to rehearse.  We will read from chord charts instead of a musical score so that this opportunity may be enjoyed by ringers with any or no music reading experience!
 Baby Shower for Rev. Rachel & Leslie Small Stokes! 3 pm Sunday, Aug. 14, in the Community Room. All are welcome!
BJ Godby, Melissa Neal and Dodie Murphy are coordinating the shower and they need help: setting up, decorating, providing finger foods and desserts, and clean up. They want the shower to be a church effort rather than a BJ-Melissa-Dodie affair since so many of us want to nurture Leslie and Rachel.
Two gift registries are available (more on that next week) and used clothing in very good condition is a perfectly fine gift for the moms-to-be.
For more information or to volunteer, please call BJ, Melissa and Dodie, whose phone numbers are in the Church Directory.
Thank you! Thank you! in advance for all the help I know we’ll receive.