Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Second Sunday of Easter
April 23, 2017 10:30 am
Meditation
“Humor is not the opposite of seriousness. Humor is the opposite of despair.”
-Conrad Hyers
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 Meditation on Psalm 96 Jeffrey Honore
Sing a new song unto the Lord:
Show God’s salvation from day to day.
Declare God’s glory among all peoples,
God’s wonders among all peoples.
¨ Call to Worship
One: Joy is loose,
All: In the wiggles of the children,
One: The whispers of the youth,
All: The smiles of the adults.
One: We praise God for this glorious day,
All: Let the praise break forth in the most unlikely places and in silly ways.
One: Joy and praise fills our hearts and in our songs
All: Let the laughter be deep, for we are God’s people.
¨ Opening Hymn #241 Joy Dawned Again on Easter Day Puer Nobis Nascitur
¨ Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: Joy is loose, None of us likes to look foolish, but which is sillier? Chasing after the world and all its gaudy trinkets which flatter our souls, or being a ‘fool for Christ’, imitating him in service to others, offering ourselves in love and joy to the world? Let us admit to God the foolish choices we make each and every day, as we pray, saying,
All: You know better than we do, Amused God, what important people we believe we are. Believing we have to be serious all the time, we miss out on the joy of your creation.
Choosing to feast on the pain of the world, we skip the picnic offered in paradise.
Clinging to the despair which is our best friend, we ignore Jesus. who can bring us home to your heart.
Forgive us, Heart of Joy, and make us open to the startling, and upside-down, ways in which you work.
Fill us with Easter’s laughter;
fill us with your healing joy;
fill us with the love poured into us
through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
¨ Words of Assurance
One: The Gospels tell us over and over again of the joy which comes to us through Christ. When Jesus was around, lives were changed, the sick were healed, the sorrowful began to laugh with joy. The good news is that this joy is now given to us.
All: Through the Holy Spirit, we are gifted with joy. We are sent forth to bring good news to the oppressed, to bring healing to the broken, to anoint everyone with the oil of gladness. Thanks be to God, we are forgiven. Amen.
¨ Welcome and 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
Lesson from Acts of the Apostles Acts 2:14a, 22-32
Peter delivers a sermon about Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promise to David.
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, or are welcome return to their seats or visit the Children’s Worship Center, where there are toys, books, and drawing materials for children (or parents) who would like help staying present in the service. For children preschool age & under, care is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Community Room.
Gospel Lesson John 20:19-31
After his resurrection, Jesus appears twice to disciples in a locked room.
Sermon What’s so funny? Rev. Rachel Small Stokes
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 Here I Am, Lord Jeffrey Honore
Here I am, Lord.
Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, where you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
Commissioning of Stephen Leaders
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 Prayers and Prayers for 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.
From Here to There
¨ Closing Hymn #256 Black We Live by Faith and Not by Sight Dunlap’s Creek
¨ Benediction
Postlude Easter Toccata Diane Bish
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, Georgia and our brothers and sisters at Gloryland Baptist Church in your hearts, and pray for them. Please also hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound: Ruth Butwell, Edith Hansen, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin, Gloria VanWinkle.
¨ Donnie & Darlene Lytle, who are moving across the country to Seattle. Take our love and good wishes with you!!
¨ David Bellnier & Laura Howard, on their engagement.
¨ Remembering the families of Les Pross and Nancy Jones, at the first anniversaries of their deaths.
¨ For Susie Ritchie and Patty Tarter in the recent death of their aunt, Geri Haga.
¨ Mary Miller, who is recovering from a major illness at The Terrace.
¨ Loretta Mountjoy, at Richmond Place, in Lexington.
¨ Dodie Murphy, at home.
¨ For those suffering from mental illnesses and for their families who love and care for them.
¨ For Refugees around the world: may they find a home in safety and may God’s people help.
Learn more about the church today! We’re delighted you’re here, we hope you feel very welcome! No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, this place is open to you! We celebrate with joy the resurrection of Love Embodied, and we pray that joy and blessing will fill you today.
If you are new to the church and would like to know more, there are lots of ways to do so. Our website, www.union-church.org has a lot of basic information. If you put your name and contact information in our pew folder, we will contact you next week.
We also have a newcomers meet and greet with Pastor Rachel and other members after the worship service every fourth Sunday of a month (approximately noon – 1pm). Or, just drop in at one of the many events you see listed in our calendar, and we’ll make sure you get introduced to lots of folks.
New members will be received each Second Sunday of the month at the close of worship.
Stephen Ministers Commissioning Today! Today Jeff From, Betty Hibler, Kent Gilbert and Mary Lou Wiese will begin the process of bringing the lay caring ministry of the Stephen Series to Union Church. They are traveling to St. Louis, MO, to begin seven days of intensive training in the techniques of teaching others to do caring ministry. Please keep them in your prayers so that they have safe travel to and from the conference and a spirit-filled learning experience while they are there. We eagerly look forward to the blessings the Stephen Series will bring our church.
ABLE (Achieving and Building Life Equally) will meet on Tuesday, April 25(and every 4th Tuesday), at 5:30 pm in Room 101. ABLE is a support group/network for those who self-identify as differently-abled: to inspire, encourage, and empower one another, and to make Berea a more accessible community.
Lunch Bunch Thursday – Cooking for One or Two? Join the Lunch Bunch, Thursday, April 27. Several members cooking for just themselves or one other decided to create a fellowship lunch with the opportunity to share new recipes and swap techniques for good eating. Everyone, young and old, cooking for just a few are invited to lunch at 12:00 pm in the Community Room. Bible Study will be at 1 pm on Lunch Bunch days. Every 2nd and 4th Thursday.
RSVP is needed so we can cook the right amount! Please call the church office (986-3725) by Tuesday to let us know how many are coming. Bring friends and recipes!
Next Sunday, after worship: Brief meeting to vote upon the revised 2017 budget. Copies are available in the vestibule, or by email for the asking.
Help Wanted. We have an ongoing need for volunteers to help with Sunday services. Can you be a worship reader, greeter, coffee angel, etc.? For details go to the church website, union-church.org and click on “Volunteer” near the upper right corner (or talk to Doug Hindman).
Concert Choir’s Annual Spring Concert Today, 3:00 pm. The Berea College Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, Stephen Bolster conductor, Lindsay Clavere, piano, will present their annual spring concert in Gray Auditorium. The public is invited to attend, and there is no charge for admission.
April 30, 2:30 pm. Community Handell Concert at First Christian Church in Richmond. Handbell ensembles from 6 churches, including Union, will play! All are welcome, no charge.
We Need YOUR PICTURE for a New Church Directory! If you’ve got a photo you’d like to use, please send it to the office. Also — if there’s a chance we don’t have your address, phone, email address, anniversary, or birthday(s)—please send that info on as well: office@union-church.org. There will soon be a draft available in the office for you to check and correct if needed. If we left you out — we don’t mean to!! Please add your info! Also, if you happen to know that someone has moved or attends church elsewhere, let us know that too.
Coming up … watch for more details — May 5 – Union Church’s FIRST-ever Talent Show!!
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