A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
April 12, 2026 10:30 am Second Sunday of Easter
Meditation “Singing is the sound of the soul stretching.” ~ Mary Chapin Carpenter
From There to Here: We Gather
Prelude
¨ Call to Worship
One: The grace of Jesus Christ be with you all.
All: And also with you!
One: Let us pray together:
All: Come, Resurrected Jesus, rattle the rooms in which we are hiding, shake the tired foundations until unjust institutions crumble, break the rules that keep You and any of your people out of our sacred spaces. Then lift from the dust and rubble a new creation.
One: Come, Resurrected Jesus, enter our lives, whisper our names and scatter Your gifts of grace with wild abandon. Give Your silent strength to all imprisoned and let Your raging fire be our sign of liberty.
All: Come, Resurrected Jesus! Help us find ourselves in vital places, bringing Your word and freedom to the poor, the oppressed, the outcast. Call us, lead us, urge us, to let justice roll down today and all days! Amen!
¨ Hymn #333 Black I’m Goin’a Sing When the Spirit Says Sing trad. Spiritual
2. I’m goin’a sing ….
3. I’m goin’a shout ….
4. I’m goin’a pray….
~~When using uncredited African-American spirituals in worship, it has become our custom at Union Church to make a donation to our friends from Berea College’s Black Music Ensemble. ~~
¨ Passing the Peace of Christ
All who come to this sanctuary are welcome companions on the journey of faith. Please turn to those nearest you and greet them with words of peace.
¨ Prayer of Approach & Confession Box Breath Prayer (3x)
As we pray, we slow our breathing and our lives in order to attend to God. The leader will guide this meditation three times, and you are invited to pattern your breath with each phrase as indicated below.
Inhale: We doubt; we worry; we fear
Hold: The Lord is here.
Exhale: Christ breathes peace for all
Hold: We hold the peace of Christ.
¨ Words of Assurance
One: Our panic stilled, our brokenness seen and held, we receive forgiveness and peace.
All: Our soul breathes and our hearts sing for we have seen the Lord at work! Amen!
¨ Passing the Peace of Christ
All who come to this sanctuary are welcome companions on the journey of faith. Please turn to those nearest you and greet them with words of peace.
Word and Worship
Anthem Resurrection Suite Union Church Orchestra
Scripture Reading Psalm 150
Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
~ New Revised Standard Version, updated
Children’s Moment as the children return to their seats we sing:
May God’s blessings 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.
Scripture Reading John 20:19-31
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book.
But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
~ New Revised Standard Version, updated
Sermon First, Breathe … Rev. Kent Gilbert
Video Reflection
Living Prayer
Call to Prayer
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. Next week, let us hold the people of Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania; and our siblings at Calvary Baptist Church in our hearts, and pray for them today and throughout the week.
Ringing 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.
Embodied Prayer
You are invited to reflect and pray at the candle table. You may also choose to source the essential ingredient of solitude and private prayer, remaining with your own thoughts in your pew and using the bulletin insert for further inspiration.
Christ Breathes Peace… Do We?
So-called “Box Breathing” is an ancient prayer practice now credited with deep neurological benefits. Slowing your breathing settles nerve responses and increases oxygen uptake. More oxygen feeds and frees the brain. It lowers blood pressure. It resets the vagus nerve stem. With our thoughts clear, our heart settles, and the space opens to receive what God is offering in each moment. Here is prayer meditation to center and ground you for this week:
Breath Prayer for The Week:
Inhale (count of 3): I doubt; I worry; I fear.
Hold (count of 3): The Lord is here.
Exhale (count of 3): Christ breathes peace for me.
Hold (count of 3): I hold the peace of Christ.
Repeat the pattern until you are deeply at peace. Ten times is a good start, but do more if you need or have time. Do this anytime you find your anxieties on the rise, or you need the spiritual support of Christ’s love.
Christ Lifts Our Hearts…
Easter is the sure sign that joy is part of God’s plan. Far from condemnation and guilt, Christ seeks to lift the hearts of everyone he touches. What would lift your heart? What makes it sing? Stopped because what you want or need feels preposterous? Well, is it more preposterous than a risen Christ appearing in a locked room… TWICE? Even if only in this prayer relax your judgement and offer up what would free your heartsong. Hold the vision and allow Christ to breathe peace over it. Pray for what you need to lift your heart.
Offertory
A Chance for Generosity: easytithe.com/union
A community of caring relies on support. Your recurring or one-time donation will make a ministry of healing, justice, and teaching available to all in need.
¨ Use your smart phone or computer and go to easytithe.com/union. No registration required, but registering once makes future generosity simply entering an amount and a click.
¨ Baskets for checks or cash are located at the head of each aisle for those who wish to make an in-person donation.
¨ Give by Text. Text an amount to 859-448-3403 (Example: Text “$50.00 Offering”).
¨ Give by Mail to: 200 Prospect St., Berea, KY 40403.
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Doxology Lasst Ens Erfreuen
For death-defying hope, we praise; for love that conquers all, we raise alleluias! Alleluia! For justice here on earth we sing and righteousness as if a stream. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Silent Prayer and Prayers of the Community Rev. Betsy Whaley, Reader
Basking in resurrection promises, still we are flooded with fears. Breathe your peace upon us. Plagued by a tyranny of distractions and doubts, we long to touch anything real. Breathe your peace upon us, and help us to breathe your kin-dom into our bones. Meeting us where we are—in gardens or guard towers; in the upper rooms of our worst fears, or in the cozy grace of living rooms and loved ones—breathe songs of resilience and restoration into your people once again.
As we seek holy breath and life-giving heartsong, enliven pastors and people that we might rise with to joy, right-living, compassion, and peace as you have shown. Heal us body, mind and spirit of all that harms. Protect, we pray, those most vulnerable to the active apathy and lazy vengeance of those in power. Gather graces and surround with deep care those who are fragile, fearful, hurting, and healing. Teach us to care for one another with unrelenting persistence.
Help us lift torches of hope the darkest of places. And with breath in our lungs and songs of your beloved community in our hearts, help us always and everywhere be your witnesses and sincere disciples of all that your rising love demands.
In joy we pray, reaching to God as Jesus taught us to say…
Our Lord’s Prayer
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.
¨ Hymn You Are a Song for the Earth, O People Bring Forth
1. You are a song for the earth, O people: songs for the reign of God! Share the music of life, O people: Life in the City of God!
Refrain: Sing forth the reign of mercy, Sing forth the reign of peace; Sing forth the reign of justice, Sing forth the City of God!
2. You are a light on the hill, O people: light for the City of God! Shine so holy and bright, O people: shine for the City of God! Refrain
3. You are a breath of the Word, O people: bring forth the reign of God! Breath of mercy and breath of justice, blow through the City of God! Refrain
4. We are a blessed and a pilgrim people: bound for the reign of God! Love’s our journey and love’s our homeland: love is the Kingdom of God! Refrain
Community Connections
Announcements
We share opportunities for Beloved Community and ways to serve. Please see the listing of church & community events, prayers, and notices in the pages following the service.
Lighting the Justice Candle to Lead us Forth
Today’s Justice Candle honors David Barsamian, son of refugees who had fled the Turkish genocide of Armenians. Barsamian’s experience interviewing his mother showed him how important it is to listen to unheard voices – not only for true democracy, but also for an opportunity to heal through communication.
In 1986 he founded Alternative Radio heard on more than 250 radio stations worldwide, Barsamian’s journalism is well-respected around the world for analyzing the world´s most pressing social, economic and environmental problems.
From Here to There: Breathing and Singing
Pastoral Sabbath Rest: April 13 – July 19, 2026 : “Sabbatical” is the time a congregation releases a pastor from the day-to-day ministries of the church to take time with family, time to process loss and grief, time to catch breath, and time for all that makes the heart sing: things often sacrificed to the many important needs of a thriving congregation, especially when leading us all through pandemic and multiple crises. During sabbatical the congregation also takes this time to “breathe and sing” as we examine the call of God and gain new perspective. Both pastor and people come back to share these new perspectives recommitted, renewed and re-invigorated.
This is “part 2” of an unusual sabbatical cycle begun last year when Rev. Kent had 2 months of leave. Today, after careful preparation, we complete that sabbatical with the final 3 months. We commission our pastor, our sabbatical pastor, and ourselves to breathe in renewal and breathe out songs of resilience and restoration.
Assisting in our transition blessing today is Moderator Betsy Whaley, Pastoral Relations Board Chair Laura Nagle, and the Rev. Christina Ryan Perkins, our sabbatical pastor.
Moderator: Today we commission Sabbath rest and renewal for our pastor, who in ways visible and invisible has expended himself serving God and our congregation. This is the much hoped for conclusion to his deferred leave and the long planning of the Pastoral Relations board who applied for a special grant to support this time to “Breath and Sing.”
PRB Chair: The Pastoral Relations Board is excited to share all the plans we have been working on for this time: a time for all of us to breath and find ways to let our hearts sing. For Rev. Kent, the grant will allow him special travel and time with family. For the church, it allows us to invite everyone to special events, programming, and worship. We are delighted to again welcome the Rev. Christina Ryan Perkins who helped us begin his release time last year. She returns for these three months to lead and guide, shepherd and bless us as we minister together.
Moderator: For this time we make a covenant with our pastors and with one another: Rev. Kent by promising to take in breath, to be “in-spired,” to rest and seek God’s strength in joy; Rev. Christina by promising to help us breathe, help us sustain and support our congregation; and all of us by promising to seek inspiration, breaths of fresh air, faithful ways to let our hearts sing to God of grace and goodness.
PRB Chair: Rev. Kent, are you ready to faithfully undertake this renewal? For the next 3 months we ask you to release back into our care the many pastoral duties and burdens you shoulder, and seek holy rest. We ask that you catch your breath and be inspired by whatever God has in store for you. We hope you will pray for us as we will pray for you, and re-enter service with us at the right time to share what God has revealed.
Rev. Kent, will you promise to fulfill this covenant, seeking and serving God’s love as you do?
Rev. Gilbert: With God’s help, I do so promise. I will rest, I will pray, and I will come back to serve with you in joy.
PRB Chair: Rev. Christina, will you again covenant with God and with this congregation to lend your insight, love, and wayfinding gifts during this sabbatical season? With love we ask you to encourage and cajole us, comfort and challenge us, and help us catch our breath and lift our hearts to God’s ministry and Christ’s love. We ask that you take up the pastoral responsibilities to uphold the health of our fellowship in every way, that you work alongside the boards, staff, and leadership to advance the work of Christ in this house, and that with your Godly gifts help us deepen our own.
Rev. Christina, will you fulfill this covenant, seeking and serving God’s love as you do?
Moderator: [to the congregation] Our covenant promises are an extension of our faith: that God’s love is for all; that in Christ we have been called together for a purpose; and with the power of the Holy Spirit, God will guide and bless us in our discipleship. Will you promise to release pastor Kent from the needs of the church, and your needs and expectations during his sabbatical? Will you pray for him, and while he is gone, welcome and support Rev. Christina as our sabbatical pastor? Will you join with one another during this time to support each other, our church leaders, our sabbatical pastor, and our staff members with breath, heart and song.
All: With the help of God we do so promise. This day we release you, Rev. Kent Gilbert, from the responsibilities of shepherding Union Church for this time of renewal. We will pray for you, hold God’s work for you in our hearts, and rejoice when we come together again to share the fruit of our time apart. We entrust you to God’s care as you catch your breath and sing open your heart.
We receive with gladness the ministry of Rev. Christina Ryan Perkins, asking God to help us breathe in every blessing of this time. We pledge our support to Pastor Christina, our staff and to our ministries that together we may continue to lift songs of hope and peace in this place.
Moderator: Let us pray: God of Sabbath and God of Grace, attend to the promises we have made in our service of your kin-dom come. Bless Pastor Kent with all he needs to renew in you. Bless your congregation that we might be creative and bold in the tasks of joy you have set before us; and bless Rev. Christina with wisdom and love to help us grow ever closer to you and to each other. In Christ’s name we pray:
All: Amen!
Exchange of Symbols and Gifts
The Moderator removes the stole from Rev. Kent, symbolizing release from his yoke of responsibilities and places it on Rev. Christina. A special candle is lit and will be placed near the peace bell and the rock cairn made earlier as a way-marker as a symbol of this sabbatical covenant. Rev. Kent and Rev. Christina will also exchange small tokens of blessing for their respective tasks during this time.
¨ Benediction
One: Let all that has breath praise the Lord!
All: Let songs rise, hearts heal, and justice roll down!
One: May God who gives us breath, give you new heart for the work of Joy. Christ is risen and bids us follow. May we go in peace, breathing the peace of the Lord into all the world.
All: Amen!
¨ Benediction Response I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me
I’m Goin’a Breathe …
I’m Goin’a Sing …
Our Prayers for Others
¨ All the people of Ukraine for their safety and sovereignty. Prayers also that the government of Russia will turn to reason & respect for their own peoples’ lives as well as for Ukrainian families.
¨ Those in mortal danger in the war in Iran. For the leaders of nations to set aside assassination and warfare in favor of just, diplomatic solutions to conflict.
¨ We pray for our country, and those who are directly affected by the actions and inaction of our government to address the needs of its people and the world.
¨ Our neighbors experiencing housing insecurity, homelessness and food insecurity.
¨ Bella, graduating from college and about to start the job search, prayer request received online.
¨ Barbara Wade, who has broken her humerus and awaiting the surgeon’s decision on how to proceed.
¨ Susan Doring-Zook, who survived a serious car accident on Wednesday. Thanks be to God, everyone in 3 cars survived a head-on collision.
¨ Travel mercies as Rev. Kent begins his sabbatical with a trip to the mountains of Japan.
¨ ¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Dorie Hubbard, Susan Kramer, Hattie Parks, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie, Theresa Scherf.
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: April 12 – Joan Bates; Tom Cochrane, Della Walters, Ainsley White; 13 – Jeff From, Lucas Christopher; 15 – Iris Dorroh-Sheehan; 16 – Annie Sims; 18 – Haley Campbell, Alexander McKenzie; 19 – Madalyn Dodson; 20 – Howard Carlbert
Anniversaries: April 13 – Steve & Thana Connelly; 17 – Jeff & Reda Hutton
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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