A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Fourth Sunday of Easter 10:30 am
Meditation
“If we truly showed respect for the sacred, we would cease in its destruction and abuse. We would seek consent, rather than taking what does not belong to us. We would not work to destroy that which we don’t understand. Without the sacred, humanity perishes.”
~ Ruth H. Hopkins, Great Sioux Nation member
From There to Here: We Gather
Prelude
Welcome
¨ Call To Worship Growth Pamela Chabora, Reader
God of all being,
May we heed your call
To sprout from the shell of our cracked seed
To reach into the fertile soil all around us
To accept both the sun and the rain
To unfurl our tightly clenched tendrils
May we trust that we are planted where we need to be right now
That we’re growing toward the light
Drawing nourishment from deep roots
Putting forth productive buds.
Fill us with the grace
To open our petals
To be satisfied with their color
And to humbly, confidently share abundantly
What we have to offer.
Amen. ~Jennifer Even Melton
¨ Hymn #563 We Cannot Own the Sunlit Sky Endless Song
1. We cannot own the sunlit sky, the moon, the wild-flowers growing,
For we are part of all that is within life’s river flowing.
With open hands receive and share the gifts of God’s creation,
That all may have abundant life in every earthly nation.
2. When bodies shiver in the night and weary wait for morning,
When children have no bread but tears, and war horns sound their warning.
God calls humanity to awake, to join in common labor,
That all may have abundant life, oneness with their neighbor.
3. God calls humanity to join as partners in creating
a future free from want or fear, Life’s goodness celebrating,
that new world beckons from afar, Invites our shared endeavor
that all might have abundant life
and peace endure forever.
¨ 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.
Word and Worship
Anthem How Can I Keep from Singing Robert Lowry Union Church Choir
My life flows on in endless song; Above earth’s lamentation, I hear the sweet, though far-off hymn That hails a new creation. No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that refuge clinging. Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?
Through all the tumult and the strife, I hear that music ringing; it finds an echo in my soul—how can I keep from singing?
What though my joys and comforts die? I know my Savior liveth. What though the darkness gather round? Songs in the night He giveth.
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart, a fountain ever springing For all things are mine since I am his—How can I keep from singing?
Scripture Reading 1 John 3:16-24
We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us–and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.
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 10:11-18
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away–and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
Sermon All the Other Sheep Rev. Kent Gilbert
Video Reflection
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.
Offertory
How Can I Keep from Singing? Union Church Orchestra
Sung Response
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 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!
Prayers of the Community Pamela Chabora, Reader
The earth is yours, O God, and all creatures who dwell here. Bees and behemoths, moles and mountains, ants and grasshoppers, and all the fish, all the birds, all the streams, all the seas, and all of us: you have formed the web of life which holds us all. Only love can hold such miraculous balance. Your love for this creation and the hope that we too might share that love brings us close to you. Help us love one another. Help us love our earthly home and all in it as you do. We are too often ravaged inside. In turn, we have ravaged your earth. May your love shepherd us to change and to grace in ways of care and compassion. Help us learn to love better and to heal. By healing inside, may we help heal all that you care for, and in loving what you love, come closer to you to walk in your garden once again. This we pray in the name of the risen Christ who taught us to reach to you as….
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.
From Here to There
¨ Hymn #479 God Is My Shepherd Brother James’ Air
1 God is my shepherd, I’ll not want, I feed in pastures green. God grants me rest and bids me drink from waters calm and clean. Through daily tasks, I’m blessed and led by One I have not one seen.
2 Restored to life each morning new, I rise up from the dust to follow God whose presence gives me confidence and trust. I praise the name of God today; in God I put my trust.
3 When I must pass through shadowed vale, where loss and death await, I will not fear for God is there, my shepherd strong and great, whose rod and staff will comfort me and all my fears abate.
4 No enemy can overcome, no power on earth defeat the one anointed by God’s grace and fed with manna sweet. My cup is filled and overflows as I my Savior greet.
5 Goodness and mercy all my days will surely follow me; and where God reigns in heaven and earth, my dwelling place will be. My shepherd blesses, cares, and leads through all eternity.
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
Rev. Dr. Jamesetta Ferguson, senior pastor of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, in Louisville, KY, serves as a mentor and educator to congregational members aspiring to receive ordination within the UCC denomination. She is also the author of the 2016 book “Urban Ministry: Revitalizing a Church and Impacting a Community,” where she outlines her successful seven-week program for easing re-entry into communities.
Under Dr. Ferguson’s leadership, the MOLO (meaning welcome in Xhosa, a South African dialect) Village Community Development Corporation (CDC) was established in 2011, engaging Russell neighborhood residents in holistic approaches to community development. MOLO focuses on individuals and families impacted by poverty, incarceration, and recidivism, helping them transform into a community resource. Dr. Ferguson’s vision for MOLO is rooted in the concept of inclusivity. This welcoming approach has led to the development of a 30,000-square-foot mixed-use retail and office building in the historic Russell community, providing much-needed services and generating wealth-building and job training opportunities for residents.
Partnership and Purpose
Today presents an opportunity to covenant together! All who would like to are welcome to join the church family – you will be received in joy.
Questions of the Congregation and New Members
¨ Covenant of Welcome
And we, the members and faithful friends of this church, renewing our own covenant to God and to each other, do now heartily welcome you to our fellowship, promising to watch over you in love, and praying that you, and we, may be true witnesses for Christ, a light in the world, and continue to increase in usefulness and joy in his service.
¨ Benediction The God of Second Chances David Haas
Those who are able & willing are invited to fill the aisles as we sing the Benediction Response together. If you’re at home or in the balcony, you are part of the embrace too. The embrace is as wide as God’s love!
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 Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia; and our brothers and sisters at Dixie Park Cornerstone 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: Jan Hamilton, Betsy Hoefer, Dorie Hubbard, Lois Morgan, Sara Parker, Cheryl Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie, Sally Zimmerman.
¨ All those suffering from mental strain, trauma, and disease: may God soothe and heal all who are troubled.
¨ Members and Friends who need safer housing and income security.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ Barb Taylor, recovering well at home from a stroke.
¨ NoraRuth Jenkins, recovering from two recent surgeries.
¨ David Hampton, dear friend of Matt and Lynnette Willis who recently suffered a stroke, and is recovering in hospital in Sacramento.
¨ David, a friend of Claudia Munson-Schrumpf, struggling with a rare autoimmune condition.
¨ Debby Gray, recovering from emergency surgery last weekend
¨ For all those caring for others in their illnesses and needs: may God give them both strength and encourage-ment in this work of costly love.
¨ In thanksgiving for the new birth of River Nicholas Rosen, son of Alex & Amanda Rosen, and grandchild to Ron and Nikki Rosen!
¨ Prayers for health and new life for Seth and Laurel Hutchins and Brice and Meaghan Spencer-Catlett (daughter of Maureen and Bruce Spencer), “Great with Child” and anticipating delivery in the very near future. May God watch over newborns and new parents!
¨ Chris and Grace McKenzie, at the birth of their son on Thursday, April 18. Details forthcoming!
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: April 20 – Howard Carlberg; 22 – Shirley Carlberg; 24 – Jessica Burton, Elaine Vaughn, Sam Franklin; 25 – Betty Sarafin; 26 – Martin Hensley; 27 – Susan Doring-Zook, Bryce Carlberg, Samantha Melton
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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