A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
10:30 am Second Sunday of Easter
Meditation
The simplicity of coming back to life, as a flower, from desolation, the symbol now the fact, the same power, as if you rose up out of the ground, as everything in spring, in colorful passion, banishes the suffering. ~Maurice Manning, Lent XL
From There to Here: We Gather
Prelude
Welcome
The Call Maurice Manning
¨ Hymn #241 Black Joy Dawned Again on Easter Day Puer Nobis Nascitur
1 Joy dawned again on Easter Day,
the sun shone out with bright array;
For when the Apostles hid in fear,
the Risen Christ to them appeared.
2 O Jesus, Savior, Gentle One,
come take our hearts to be your own,
That we may give you all our days
the willing tribute of our praise.
3 O Sovereign One, with us abide
in this our joyful Easter-tide;
From every weapon death can wield,
your own redeemed forever shield.
¨ 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 Is there Another Sky? Lillian
This piece and the benediction response are both the result of a collaboration between Maurice Manning and composer Brendan Taaffe while Brendan was a fellow at the Berea College Sound Archives. The original poem was adapted by the poet to meet the metrical and musical needs of the composition.
1. Is there another sky besides the blue one, Boss, you made? A grayer one though just as wide to gloom above the glade? Is there another yellow moon beyond the face I know? That shortly shows itself then soon it darkens as it goes.
2. From glowing glee then suddenly its face is pinched to none, what notion dawns upon it fee to be the moon alone? O single handed Boss of all the only things like me, I sigh that half of them are lost in the only sky we see.
3. What reason can you give me now for showing me but half? There’s honey sweet, but then I know the wheat must lose the chaff. Remaining torn from hope but bright with hope I wander long beside the moonlit stream at night then wake to greet the dawn.
4. You boss the face of everything to cleave it clean in two, so both halves joining then can sing to cleave themselves to you. I don’t mind rising half the time, the other half I’m shamed for ever thinking I could rise or you would call my name.
Scripture Lesson John 20:19-31, p. 1314
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.
Poetry Selection Maurice Manning
Sermon Rev. Kent Gilbert
Living Prayer
Prayer and Reflection
During this time of reflection you are invited to pray and consider all that is rising in your prayers. Reflection questions are provided to help focus or inspire thought and action and space for notes or drawing is provided for those who find it helpful. All are also invited to move from the pews to any or all the prayer stations.
During this time we also bring our offerings, gathering the blessings of the community for the work of Easter throughout the whole year. The church, the work of reconciling support and healing, worship, and works supporting others in need cannot and do not happen without your support. Your generosity is a blessing, and contributions can be placed in the baskets found in the aisles or can be easily made online or via text message:
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 an amount and a click.
· Baskets are also placed at the head and foot of each aisle and passed 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!
Offering Music
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 & Prayers of the Community
Our Lord’s Prayer
All: 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: We Depart
Community Connections
Announcements
We share opportunities for Beloved Community and ways to serve.
Lighting the Justice Candle to Lead us Forth
Berea Earth Warriors is a community volunteer group committed to litter recovery and restoration efforts in parks, hiking trails, and other natural areas. Some of our projects include The Owsley Reservoir Restoration and Protection Project, Berea Earth Warriors Community Cleanup Partnership, and our fundraising festivals throughout the year, including a concert series, featuring talented musicians and artists from a variety of genres.
Most recently they have teamed up with Berea Food Bank and the Eastridge Community Garden to create an educational gardening experience. The project aims to enhance the quality of life in our community through gardening. Half of the food we grow will go straight to the food bank, and the other half will be made available to the public at no cost.
https://bereaearthwarriors.org/ (859) 979-1810
https://www.facebook.com/groups/bereaearthwarriors
¨ Hymn #256 Black We Live by Faith and Not by Sight Dunlap’s Creek
1 We live by faith and not by sight;
no gracious words we hear
From Christ who spoke as none e’er spoke,
who still we know is near.
2 We may not touch Christ’s hands and side,
nor follow where Christ trod;
but in confessing we rejoice:
our Savior and our God!
3 Help then, O Christ, our unbelief;
and may our faith abound
To call on you when you are near
and seek where you are found:
4 That, when our life of faith is done,
in realms of clearer light
We may behold you as you are,
with full and endless sight.
¨ Benediction
¨ Benediction Response Our Cheerful Voices Let Us Raise Vermillion
1. Our cheerful voices let us raise and sing a parting song. My friends, I’m with you here today but cannot tarry long
2. For I must go and leave you all. It fills my heart with pain. Although perhaps we’ll part in tears I hope we’ll meet again!
3. We have buy yet a few days more before we cross the tide. There’s many more has crossed the stream, safe on the other side.
4. O could we hear the trumpet sound and with the dead arise? And shout and sing as we go up to meet him in the skies.
Postlude
Questions for Prayer and Reflection
Peace among us:
Jesus enters the locked rooms of fears and doubts. Take a moment to consider what you have locked away: What would it mean to have some “Peace” breathed into that part of you? What would be the sign that something new was possible and what would help alleviate your doubts and fears? As you breathe, breathe in such peace as the disciples might have known. Ask for what you need. If you wish, unlock a padlock at the prayer station and let the process begin.
Personal Prayer:
You are invited to a space of personal prayer where you may kneel, sit, or stand to pray for self and for others. Candles are provided if you would like to light one to illuminate your path. Each week a meditation, blessing, or question will be placed there that may help center your spiritual work, but all are invited to pray as they are led.
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 (Link to World Council of Churches Ecumenical Prayer cycle. (union-church.org/ministries/prayer/). Let us hold the people of Belarus, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine ; and our brothers & sisters at Liberty Avenue Full Gospel Outreach in our hearts, and pray for them. Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week.
¨ Prayers for 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 seeking a new and just society and those fearful that they will be supplanted, may God open their hearts and include them in grace.
¨ For the survivors of the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria that help will arrive and that lives may be spared. Hold them in their grief and empower all those who can help to lift their hearts to the aid needed.
¨ Rita Barlow
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Jan Hamilton, Doug Hindman, Betsy Hoefer, Dorie Hubbard, Loyal Jones, Lois Morgan, Tom & Sara Parker, Cheryl Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie, Betty Wray, Sally Zimmerman
¨ Patsy Boyce, sister-in-law of Bob and Jean Boyce, undergoing chemotherapy.
Celebrations with Prayers of Joy! Birthdays: Today – April 16 – Annie Sims; 19 Madalyn Dodson; 20 – Howard Carlberg
Anniversaries: April 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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