A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Palm Sunday 10:30 am
Meditation
Against all odds,
thanks be to God,
the birds still sing.
~ Rev. Sarah Speed
From There to Here: We Gather
Gathering Music
Welcome
Welcome to this service of worship! 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! During the service, you are invited to rise in body or in spirit, standing or sitting, at points in the service marked “<>.”
Gospel Lesson Luke 19:28-40
When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ” So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They said, “The Lord needs it.”
Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. Now as he was approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,
“Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!”
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”
¨ The Call Deb Beishline, Reader
One: On this day, Jesus marched
All: in between the city walls and the Temple, in between joyful Hosannas and doubtful whispers, in between oppressive poverty and greedy power, in between rampant fear and hope unfurled.
One: On this day, Jesus marched in between what had been and what could be.
All: So may we meet Christ in that liminal space. May we lay down our coats in that messy middle.
One: Hosanna in the highest!
All: Hosanna in between!
¨ Palm Processional
Everyone is invited to join in the Processional. When invited, please move to stand lining the aisles as the pastors, children, and adults process through “the crowd.” Those processing will begin by the door under the Peace Bell. All who would like to do so may gather in that hall, or join as the procession passes your pew.
¨ Hymn #213 Hosanna, Loud Hosanna Ellacombe
1 Hosanna, loud hosanna the little children sang; through pillared court and temple the lovely anthem rang. To Jesus, who had blessed them, close folded to his breast, the children sang their praises, the simplest and the best.
2 From Olivet they followed mid an exultant crowd, the victory palm branch waving, and chanting clear and loud. The one whom angels worship rode on in lowly state, and glad to see the children, slowed down the donkey’s gait.
3 “Hosanna in the highest!” That ancient song is ours. We hail our great Redeemer, and sing with all our powers. “Hosanna, Christ we praise you with heart and life and voice, Hosanna! In your presence forever we’ll rejoice.
¨ 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
Special Music Here Comes Our King! Schram, Williams Union Church Choir
Shout with joy, here comes our King! With one voice, we praise our King! He’s our salvation; Light of all nations. Join with angels as they sing! Highest hosanna! He rides on a donkey low, as was foretold long ago. Jesus is the One we’ve been waiting for. There’s hope in our hearts as we adore Him. He’s humble, but filled with power, and in this very hour, we exalt the One we’ve been waiting for.
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.
Sung Psalm #Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 p. 700
The psalms were originally musical compositions. During Lent we will pray the psalms in musical form. You are invited to sing the response when invited, at the “R” if using the hymnal.
Sermon Between Shouting and Silence Rev. Kent Gilbert
Video Reflection
A chance to take in what we have heard.
Living Prayer
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. There are artistic reflection opportunities at stations around the sanctuary. Please join us in our collaborative art. You may also choose to source the essential ingredient of solitude and private prayer, remaining with your own thoughts in your pew.
Offertory Breath, Listen and Notice Paul Vasile
A Chance for Generosity: www.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 www.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!
Silent Prayers and Prayers of the Community Deb Beishline, Reader
One: Speaking God, Most days we are inundated with noise. Some of it is good— laughter, music, storytelling. Some of it is hard— arguments, slurs, the sound of bomber planes. Every day we live between silence and shouting, rotating through quiet and noise. So in the midst of this messy middle, help us to hear what is yours.
Help us to hear your song, your story, your good news. Help us to hear your voice, your Spirit, your will. And show us how to release the rest.
One: Great Creator, forgive me
All: when I speak before listening, when I speak over my neighbor, when I speak with barbed words.
One: Creator God, forgive me
All: when I listen to society, when I listen to my friends, when I listen to the news, but I do not listen to you.
One: Creator God, forgive me
All: when I shout out, but do not shout your name, when I listen, but do not listen for your voice. Forgive me.
One: Create in me a heart like yours.
All: Amen.
One: This we pray, reaching to you as …
Our Lord’s Prayer
Our Maker, Our Mother, and Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; Thy kin-dom 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 kin-dom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Hymn #223 What Wondrous Love Is This Wondrous Love
1 What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul What wondrous love is this, O my soul What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss To bear the heavy cross for my soul, for my soul To bear the heavy cross for my soul!
2 To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing To God and to the Lamb, I will sing To God and to the Lamb, who is the great I Am While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing While millions join the theme, I will sing.
3 And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be And through eternity, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on And through eternity, I’ll sing on!
From Here to There
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
On this Palm Sunday, which is also Plant Appreciation Day, we honor the local justice warriors who are building community and fighting food insecurity through the Berea Urban Farm. Founded by Richard and Cheyenne Olson, this 1.4-acre educational treasure provides plants and seeds to the community at no cost and offers free workshops on topics ranging from bee keeping to herbs to pruning fruit trees! A new Farmacy Program will be providing fresh produce and a raised bed garden free to low-income adults suffering from chronic illness.
Their Victory Garden Blitz, which was held this past week, has constructed and delivered 1,700 raised garden beds over the past 11 years to our community. Through their new Acts of Restorative Kindness (ARK) program they are supporting Bereans who are taking additional steps to become stewards of their land by converting their spaces to organic food production and nature. Spring is a time of planting and the Berea Urban Farm is planting good things in Berea!
¨ Blessing the Way of John McWilliams
With deep feeling, we commend you to your life and work in other places, taking with you our strong support and sincere prayers.
All: Go forth into the world!
Piano Side: In peace!
Bell Side: In love!
Piano: To teach!
Bell: To learn!
All: Go forth into the world!
Piano: To preach!
Bell: To pray!
Piano: To heal!
Bell: To comfort!
All: Go forth into the world!
Piano: To build!
Bell: To plant!
Piano: To grow!
Bell: To thrive!
¨ Blessing Song In God’s Hand Deborah Payne
During Lent we depart to serve without a postlude as a kind of “fasting” from our regular routine. Please join for fellowship downstairs where coffee, tea, and light refreshments await.
Our Prayers for Others
¨ 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 (World Council of Churches Ecumenical Prayer cycle: union-church.org/ministries/prayer). Let us hold the people of Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania; and our brothers and sisters at Calvary Baptist Church in our hearts, and pray for them today and throughout the week.
¨ 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.
¨ All those affected by the devastating losses in the current conflict in the Middle East.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Jerry Cooper, Jan Hamilton, Betsy Hoefer, Dorie Hubbard, Susan Kramer, Lois Morgan, Sara Parker, Cheryl Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie, Theresa Scherf.
¨ All those suffering from mental strain, trauma, and disease, and those who care and worry for them: may God soothe and heal all who are troubled.
¨ Our Kentucky neighbors, hit again with flooding in these recent storms.
¨ 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.
¨ Members and Friends who need safer housing and income security.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ The Guild family as Will continues his struggle with brain cancer and stroke.
¨ Muse Watson, continuing to gain strength after his surgery.
¨ Rev. Kent’s cousin, Kathy, undergoing chemotherapy for esophageal cancer, and her mother, Helen, who is Rev. Carla’s sister.
¨ Ally Nurre, doing well after further treatment of her knee.
¨ Kelly Mehler, who has resumed treatment for his lymphoma.
¨ Barb Taylor’s son, David, undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.
¨ Dodie Murphy asks for prayers as she is treated for middle stage chronic kidney disease.
¨ Rev. Christina’s family: her brother-in-law, Jamie, with stage 4 cancer and his wife, her sister Veronica. They’ve got two small children.
¨ John McWilliams has a new address: 175 Kings Hwy 234; Punta Gorda, FL; 33083
¨ Sarah Belanger, at the sudden death of her sister, Julie.
¨ Terry Scherf, as she navigates her new residence at Dominion in Richmond.
¨ Maya Todd, with heart issues.
¨ Prayers for the Shinn family and the numerous friends of the Rev. Dr. Larry Shinn, who passed away from complications caused by his cancer on Wednesday, April 2nd. An ordained United Methodist minister and professor of Southeast Asian/Indian Religious traditions, Larry served as the 8th President of Berea College from 1994 to 2012.
He and his wife, Nancy, were honored as Union Church Honorary Lifetime Deacons in 2012. In retirement they returned first to Pennsylvania and then moved to Maryland (DC area) to be near family as Larry’s illness progressed. He passed away in the company of his family and entered the wider life with grace. A memorial service will be held June 7 here at Union Church.
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: April 13 – Jeff From; 15 – Iris Dorroh-Sheehan; 16 – Annie Sims; 18 – Haley Campbell, Alexander McKenzie; 19 – Madalyn Dodson; 20 – Howard Carlberg
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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