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

Fifth Sunday of Easter     April 29, 2018 10:30 am 

Meditation
… the horizon is still quite dark,
but hope is about to dawn.
The seed of salvation is sprouting,
as earth makes ready.
What about the roots of our hearts? …
— Pierre Talec

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 Fugue in C Major, BuxWV 174 Dietrich Buxtehude
¨  Call to Worship 
One: Come Friends and let us gather ourselves in.
All: In this place, we lay down our fears and sing God’s praise.
One: Here in God’s vineyard, we tell the stories and lay the foundations of greater love.
All: Together we seek and serve God’s love!
¨  Opening Hymn #407 Black  How Firm a Foundation Foundation
¨  Prayer of Approach (unison)
Lord of the vine, root us deeply this day. Prune from us all that does not serve our wellbeing. Graft your purpose and passion into every act, and may our fruit be the strong and healing community Jesus proclaimed. We are branches of your vineyard, Lord. Help us to be green and growing. 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 The Lord Is My Shepherd Montgomery, DeFord
Union Church Choir; Stanley Kramer, violin
The Lord is my Shepherd, no want shall I know, He leadeth my soul where the still waters flow, and safe in green pastures He maketh me rest, restores me when wandering, redeems me when oppressed.
Through the valley and shadow of death though I stray, Thy rod shall defend me, Thy staff be my stay, since thou art my guardian no evil I fear, no harm can befall with my comforter near.
The mercy will follow me all of my days, and in thine own house thou prepares my place, with blessings unmeasured my cup runneth o’er, oh what shall I ask of Thy providence more?
Lesson from Acts of the Apostles Acts 8:26-40 (p. 1329)
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 15:1-8 (p. 1305)
Sermon A Good Pruning 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        An Exultant Alleluia! Lani Smith
¨  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 #23 Black There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy alt. Tune: Holy Manna
¨  Benediction & Sending Forth
Postlude (please be seated) Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Joel Raney
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 Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan 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.
¨ Betty Sarafin and the family and friends of Gary Dillon, who passed away Sunday night, April 22, after a long struggle with cancer. The family service in Pittsburgh was this week, and a memorial for Berea family and friends is scheduled for May 27th at Union Church.
¨ Landen Doring-Zook, recovering from a serious bout of flu and breathing issues.
¨ For Luke Woodie, recovering from bile duct cancer surgery at home.
¨ 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 430 Pepper Dr., Berea.
¨ Jimmie Lewis’ sister, undergoing cancer treatment.
¨ Berea College students, faculty and staff as they head into finals week.
¨ Joseph Jacobs, at UK hospital with another attack of pancreatitis, and for Paul and LaRee.

Announcements

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!
Gerrie Blanchard’s NEW address is: 430 Pepper Dr., Berea. 
Great news! Jenny Hobson has won the Unsung Heroes of Social Change Award given by UK’s College of Social Work. The award shares that her creation of  “the ‘Letters to Mitch’ campaign has promoted greater levels of commitment to the democratic process.” Jenny’s Letters to Mitch show us a human, wry, and loving way to speak serious truths to the seemingly numb ears of the political establishment. 
Thank you so much to all who helped make Saturday’s Victory Garden Blitz a great success!
WNL Supper is a potluck this week, May 2! Bring a dish to share, come anyway if you don’t have time to cook.
Library podcast to be recorded 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 partnering with The Jeff Richey Experience for this LIVE recording of their Season 2 Finale and Small Concert. Free, all welcome!
Empowering Lay Leadership at Union. Come to WNL on May 9th! After supper you’ll have the chance to hear findings and recommendations from the Needs Assessment Committee about lay leadership. This information has been presented to the Long-Term Planning group.  Our hope is for an opportunity to gain feedback and start some conversation about potential ways we can move forward together to empower lay leadership.
Kentuckians for the Commonwealth’s annual Pie Auction will be Thursday, May 10, 6 to 8 pm at First Christian Church’s gymnasium. This year, we invite our community to bring everyone along, including children as we will include fun activities for all ages. We are anticipating an exciting auction filled with laughter, love, and pie! $5 for adults, $3 for students, free for children 12 and under. 
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. 
May 18, SongFarmers’ Gathering, Community Room, 5:30 pm. SongFarmers of Madison County is focused on creating opportunities for musicians and artists to play and jam together and for all to benefit from the love of live music. This event will include an acoustic open mic for singer/songwriters doing original work and covers plus a jam (play and singalong) section, all intermingled with poetry (original or inspired). Do join us for an evening of community and music. Come early for chili and an opportunity to build community. If you want to perform, please sign up by 6 PM.
Make Me An Instrument…A Musical Meditation on the Prayer of St. Francis, May 20th, 2:00.  Both the Union Church Choir and Handbell Ensemble are hard at work preparing for this upcoming concert. Both groups will perform selections that have carefully been crafted to transform this beautiful prayer into a deeper meaning.  Please join us for our first ever concert together! Admission is free and open to the public. We will be taking a love offering to help support the Berea Leadership Experience.
Baby Shower June 3, after worship! Come celebrate baby Anat, the foster daughter of Deborah Payne!! Gift registry info coming soon.
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 Rising 2nd-8th graders. 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. The camp is already half filled after 3 weeks of sign-ups, so register soon. There are also openings for several staff members. Training and a reasonable stipend are provided; contact Director at kim.kobersmith@gmail.com if interested. Thank you!