April 28, 2024, Worship Bulletin & Prayer Concerns

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

Fifth Sunday of Easter 10:30 am

Meditation   

 Love is a fruit in season at all times and within reach of every hand.  ~ Mother Teresa

From There to Here: We Gather

Prelude  

Welcome

¨  Call To Worship Praying Lorilyn Howie-Kipphut, Reader

It doesn’t have to be

the blue iris, it could be

weeds in a vacant lot, or a few

small stones; just

pay attention, then patch

a few words together and don’t try

to make them elaborate, this isn’t

a contest but the doorway

into thanks, and a silence

in which another voice may speak.

¨  Hymn  #402 De colores De Colores

De colores, de colores se visten los campos en la primavera. De colores, de colores son los parjaritos que vienen de afuera. De colores, de colores es el arco iris que vemos salir, Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores me gustan a mi, Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores me gustan a mi.

1.Sing of colors, sing of colors that over the hills in profusion are springing; Sing of colors of the birds that fly outside my window their canticles singing; Sing of colors, in the rainbow’s bright colors God’s promise of hope we recall; Sing of colors that make up the earth and give thanks to the God who created us all. Sing of colors that make up the earth and give thanks to the God who created us all.

2.Sing, rejoicing! Every creature that breathes raise a song to the God of creation. Sing, rejoicing! Sing to the God who so earnestly cares, who has offered salvation. Sing the Good news! Sing the love of the Savior reflecting the colors of all. Many colors that shine from God’s face, many colors that tell us God’s love to recall. Many colors that shine from God’s face, many colors that tell us God’s love to recall.

¨  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 I’m Gonna Live so God Can Use Me trad. Spiritual Union Church Choir

I’m gonna live so God can use me, anywhere, Lord, aytime. I’m gonna work so God can use me, anywhere, Lord, anytime. I’m gonna pray so God can use me, anywhere, Lord, anytime. I’m gonna sing so god can use me, anywhere, Lord, anytime. Use me, Lord, I’m gonna live so God can use me, anytime.

Scripture Reading Acts 8:26-40

Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 

Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

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 1 5:1-8

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. am the vine, you are the branches.

Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

Sermon Making Connections 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

Connecting to the Source:

Fruit comes from being connected to the source of nutrients and water, that is, the vine. With slow and deep breaths take time in prayer today to feel the deep connection that abides for you. You might try “sinking into the connection” as you breathe in and out, or you might imagine tracing love and light flowing into you.

Where in your body does it flow easily?

Are you finding restricted places?

As you breathe and pray, see if you can reconnect and open the flow.

Friend not Master:

In prayer today think carefully about how you view the relationship with Jesus you have. If it seems weird or distant, try recalling that Jesus called the disciples “friends” not “servants,” not “employees,” not even “disciples.”

So what do friends do?

What might a friend say to you that you needed to hear?

See if you can hear those words in the accents of Jesus, and of Love.

Sung Response #767 Alleluia J. Berthier

A Chance for Generosity: www.easytithe.com/union

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¨ 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.

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Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!

Prayers of the Community Lorilyn Howie-Kipphut, Reader

Lord of the Vine, who tends us and shapes us, how tangled we can grow! Life erupts from us at frantic pace, and we twist in the profusion of well-intended chaos. When you thin the vines, let it be for the blessing of blossom and fruit. When we are entangled, tightly growing in the wrong direction, prune the branches and graft us back to the vine of your purpose and power. Do not cut us off, Lord. And reach to us so we won’t bolt from the arbor of your love. You are the True Vine, our path to holy ground and living water. Tend us, shape us, and bring us in with a mother’s hand and a creator’s care.

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               God, Bless Your Church with Strength!         Ich Halte Treulich Still

1. God, bless Your church with strength! Wherever we may be, upbuild Your servants as we work in common ministry. Urge us from fledgling faith to venture and to soar through open skies to sing the praise of Christ whom we adore.
2. God bless Your church with life! May all our branches thrive, unblemished, wholesome, bearing fruit, abundantly alive. From You, one holy vine, in freedom may we grow; sustain us in our mission, Lord, your love and peace to show.
3. God, bless Your church with hope! Despite chaotic days, may we in chaos shine to light a pathway through life’s maze. May justice be our aim, and kindness ours to share, in humbleness O may we walk, assured our God is 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

Earth Day and Goldman Environmental Prize recipient, Diane Wilson

On April 22 every year since 1970, Earth Day marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement. Decades of industrial pollution were catching up with America, with rivers catching fire and Lake Erie declared biologically dead. Environmental concerns grew after the Rachel Carson’s 1962 book Silent Spring, and a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara in early 1969 spurred Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson to team up with activists to conduct “teach-ins” at colleges across the country. What became known as Earth Day was born.

Earth Day and environmental awareness expanded globally, and beginning in 1989 the Goldman Environmental Prize has honored six environmental activists from around the world. The 2023 recipients hail from USA, Turkey, Brazil, Zambia, Indonesia and Finland. (Berea’s own Craig Williams was an awardee in 2006, based on his work to safely dispose of obsolete chemical weapons at the Bluegrass Depot near Richmond.) Today we specifically honor 2023 recipient Diane Wilson of Texas, who won a landmark case against Formosa Plastics for the illegal dumping of toxic plastic waste on Texas’ Gulf Coast. The $50 million settlement is a record for a citizen lawsuit.

¨ 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 Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan; and our brothers and sisters at Emmanuel 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, a friend of Claudia Munson-Schrumpf, struggling with a rare autoimmune condition.

¨ Debby Gray, recovering from emergency surgery.

¨ 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, Alexander Loyal Todd McKenzie on Thursday, April 18. Meal Train: mealtrain.com/gmm0g8

¨ Travel mercies for Rev. David Jones, and the Connexions college fellowship group, on their end-of-semester retreat. Many thanks to all who helped make this time possible by attending the lunch last week, buying jewelry or contributing!

¨ Sara Parker, and Tina, Jason, Opal & Iris thank all for the prayers, cards, and care after Tom Parker’s passing in August.

¨ Muse Watson, with continuing health difficulties.

¨ Deb Beishline’s mom, Doris Mosley, who had her gall bladder removed last week after pain and tightness in her chest. Doris’ 89th birthday is May 4, and she’d love to recieive cards! Send to:

Doris Mosley

826 Forest Rd. Apt. #124

Greenfield, NH 03047

¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!

Birthdays: May 2—Jenny Hobson; 3 –  Edd Easton-Hogg; May 5 – Steve Rhodes

Anniversaries: May 1 – Charles & Megan Hoffman

If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!