Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union

Fourth Sunday of Easter                     April 22, 2018  10:30 am 

Meditation
“Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together … all things connect.”  —Chief Seattle
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” —Jane Goodall

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 Acclamation in G Minor K. Thompson
Union Church Handbell Ensemble
¨  Call to Worship 
One: The earth is the Lord’s!
All: And the fullness thereof!
One: God’s Creation shepherds us, feeds us, shapes us.
All: We live and move, eat and drink, breathe and worship by God’s hand. Let us worship God, the shepherd who leads us in green pastures of grace!
¨  Opening Hymn #252 Black  Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us Resignation
¨  Prayer of Approach
One: We gather to worship, O God, under the shadow of the empty cross, sign of human shame and divine wisdom.
All: Like Jesus we would follow faithfully in your way;
One: Like Jesus we would live to you and die to you.
All: We are your people; we belong to you. We offer you our worship and our lives. May your name be glorified in your church as we are open to your presence today. Lead us and feed us, through Jesus the Christ. Amen.
¨  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 and joy. 
The Living Word among us
Anthem Berea ShapeNote Singers Sacred Harp
Union Church Choir
The Lord is risen indeed! Hallelujah! Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.
And did He rise? Did He rise?  Hear it, ye nations! Hear it, O ye dead! He rose, He burst the bars of death, And triumphed over the grave.  
Then I rose, Then first humanity triumphant passed the crystal ports of light, and seized eternal youth.  Man all immortal hail, heaven, all lavish of strange gifts to man, Thine’s all the glory, man’s the boundless bliss.
Epistle Lesson  1 John 3:16-24 (p. 1496)
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. 
Following the Children’s Moment, children kindergarten through 5th grade are invited to Children’s Church in Cowan Chapel. They are also welcome to stay in the service if they prefer. The Children’s Worship Center in the back of the sanctuary has toys, books, and drawing materials for children (or adults) who would like help staying present in the service. For children preschool age & under, care is available in the Nursery, downstairs in Room 104 off the playground.
Gospel Lesson              John 10:11-18 (p. 1296)
Sermon      When the Wolf Comes         Rev. Kent Gilbert

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 Prayer and Prayers of 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.

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        My Shepherd Will Supply My Need (Resignation) Gilbert Martin
¨  Doxology  Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Lasst Uns Erfreuen
Praise God all creatures here below! Alleluia, alleluia! Praise God above, ye heavenly host! Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost.  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

From Here to There

¨  Closing Hymn #479 Black God Is My Shepherd    Brother James’ Air
¨  Benediction & Sending Forth
Postlude (please be seated) Allegro vivace Hermann Schroeder
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 Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia and our brothers and sisters at Galilee Baptist Church in our hearts, and pray for them. Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week.

Prayer requests to be printed may be sent to the office anytime before 10:00 am Fridays.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound:  Ruth Butwell, Edith Hansen, Nancy Hindman, Loyal Jones, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin
¨ Dan Rohrer, who is suffering from a severe liver disorder.
¨ Dave Wellinghurst, receiving treatment for glioblastoma.
¨ Gary Dillon, significant other of Betty Sarafin, critically ill with cancer.
¨ For Luke Woodie, recovering from bile duct cancer surgery at home.
¨ Lauri McVicker’s mother, recovering from hip surgery, in New Jersey
¨ Alejandra Sanchez’s sister in El Salvador, Marco Amalia Sanchez, suffering the final stages of cancer, and her family.
¨ Loyal Jones, recovering at Arcadian Cove.
¨ Tennant Kirk, recovering well at home from extensive ankle surgery.
¨ Sharona Nelson’s son-in-law’s mom, Giselle, who has had a stroke
¨ Joan Moore, who will be in Najaf, Iraq, till May 19 teaching conversational English with the Muslim Peacemaker Team
¨ Gerry Blanchard in the death of her son, Edmund James DeGraw, 59, who passed away on Monday after a long illness. Prayers welcome, and cards may be sent to 417 Whitehall Dr., Berea.
¨ Jimmie Lewis’ sister, undergoing cancer treatment.
Great News! Linda Parsons has agreed to serve as clerk! She was elected at Church Council on April 16, to be affirmed at the next Congregational meeting.
Board Orientation today. After worship, all new and continuing Board Members and Officers are invited to an orientation session in the Community Room. A light lunch will be served. We’ll get acquainted, tour the building (you’ll be surprised at all the nooks & crannies!), review our church mission statement and discuss how to:

• Read a budget
• Pay for things
• Distribute minutes and documents AND how to retrieve them
• Schedule rooms and heating/cooling

If you use a laptop, bring it with you and we can help with Google docs if you’d like.
If your Board has set a recurring meeting date , please let us know in the office. Thanks!
Many thanks to all who made Friday’s SaraCare celebration a success!
Graduation season is upon us! If you or someone in your family is graduating from high school, college, graduate school, or another milestone educational program, please email the name, degree, and school to the office (office@union-church.org) by May 1. Thanks! We’d love to celebrate the good news!
May 7, 7:00 pm in Cowan Chapel: Did you know that our public library has its own podcast? Neither did we. The Nerd Factor (from the Madison County Public Library in Richmond and Berea, Kentucky) is partner-ing with The Jeff Richey Experience for this LIVE recording of their Season 2 Finale and Small Concert. Free, all welcome!
Youth Talent Show May 11, 7 pm: Spring is in the air and it is that time of year again, time for the Union Church Youth Group Talent Show! This year’s talent show will be on Friday, May 11th at 7:00 pm in the Community Room. We will have return appearances from some of last year’s great performers with brand new material, and we have several new talents as well. Tickets are $5 per person, or $15 per family. We will have concessions available for a suggested donation to enjoy with the show. All proceeds will go to help offset the costs of the Youth Group’s summer trips and activities. Please come out for this evening of entertainment and fellowship that supports a good cause. 
Sustainable Berea Victory Garden Blitz April 28 needs volunteers! 8-2 at the Berea Municipal Utilities building. Help needed to construct beds, deliver and install beds, haul dirt. Trucks needed too. Potluck at 1 pm!
Older iPad Needed: Do you have an older generation iPad you no longer use? The AV system we use in the Community Room would benefit from a dedicated iPad  for church and rental use. It must have the older, wider power connection to work, but other than that, any iPad  will be more than enough to power the system. Contact the 
office or Rev. Kent if you can help!
Official Record Book Still Missing :(. Have you seen the sign-in book we use to record new members’ joining dates and attendance at meetings? Did you look in your car? What about at home? It’s been missing since November and maybe some-one accidentally took it home or tucked it somewhere for safe keeping? It’s black padded leather, about 8 1/2 x 11. Help!
Please Sign up to Read Scripture or to Help Greet and Usher!  Please use our electronic sign up system, http://signup.com/go/xkdVtB, where you can pick a date that works for you and get reminders!  OR you can also call the office and we’ll get you on the lists.
Berea Leadership Experience for Youth, July 16-20. Registration is open! Berea Leadership Experience will hold its camp for kids to learn skills of conflict resolution, media literacy, mindfulness, and appreciation of nature the week of July 16th -20th, 9 am – 2 pm for kids in incoming grades 2-8. We are also seeking sponsors for scholarships and other financial donations to make this camp possible for as many people as possible. Sponsorships are $60 to cover one student. Checks can be made or online donations can be designated to Union Church, memo line “Berea Leadership Experience.” Thank you!