A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
April 6, 2025 10:30 am
The Fifth Sunday of Lent Pretzel Sunday
Meditation
So what are the rules for this day and age?
Can we turn black and white into shades of gray?
Do we call each other out, for righteousness; sake?
Do we call each other in? Do we grab something to eat?
As always, love is somewhere in between. ~ Rev. Sarah Speed
From There to Here: We Gather
Prelude
Welcome
Welcome to this service of worship! 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! During the service, you are invited to rise in body or in spirit, standing or sitting, at points in the service marked “<>.”
Thanksgiving for the Sabbatical Ministry of the Rev. Christina Ryan Perkins and the Welcome Return of the Rev. Kent H. Gilbert
For the past 2 months Rev. Kent Gilbert has been released from pastoral duties to refresh and renew. Rev. Christian Ryan Perkins has served as our sabbatical pastor during this time and today we thank her for her service and welcome Rev. Kent’s return.
¨ The Call Carla Gilbert, Reader
One: We come to worship because we long for mercy.
All: We long for community. We long for God.
One: We come to worship because we need a good word.
All: We need connection. We need moral reminders.
One: We come to worship because we are in between:
All: hope and grief, faith and doubt, joy and longing, curiosity and conviction.
One: So we come to worship and God meets us here.
All: Surely, we are not alone. Thanks be to God for meeting us in the middle! Amen.
¨ Hymn #448 Take My Life, God, Let It Be Vienna
1 Take my life, God, let it be consecrated, Lord, faithfully. Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
2 Take my spirit, let it move at the impulse of your love. Take my intellect and use all its power as you choose.
3 Take my will; your will be done! Make your will and mine be one. Take my heart, and by your grace make of it your dwelling place.
4 Take my love and help it grow; let my loving overflow. Take me now and let me be part of Christ’s community.
¨ Prayer of Confession
One: Friends, our faith calls us to live with both mercy and righteousness. Somewhere along the way, however, we have forgotten that truth.
Somewhere along the way, we began arguing about who deserves mercy and whether or not they had acted with enough righteousness to receive it.
Fortunately, God does not act that way. No matter what mistakes we have made or wrong turns we’ve taken, God consistently meets us with mercy and invites us to try again. So let us lean into that good news, and go to God in prayer:
All: Merciful God, when we fail to be righteous, show us mercy. When we fail to be merciful, show us what is right. Again and again, bring us closer to you. Again and again, show us the way. Amen.
¨ Words of Grace
One: Family of faith, hear and believe this good news: When we fail to be righteous,
All: God is merciful.
One: When we fail to be merciful,
All: God invites us to try again.
One: Again and again,
All: God moves closer to us.
One: Again and again,
All: God shows us the way.
One: Thanks be to God for this unending love.
All: Amen.
¨ Passing the Peace of Christ
All who come to this sanctuary are welcome companions on the journey of faith. Please turn to those nearest you and greet them with words of peace.
Word and Worship
Special Music Righteous Mercy Hyfrydol Union Church Choir
1. Since our childhood you have taught us what is wrong and what is right. Nurturing our sense of justice, fueling us to work and fight. Keep that fire for justice burning in the shadow of our fear. Even there your Spirit’s stirring, lighting us a path so clear.
2. Though there’s wideness in your mercy, let us not abuse that grace; called into this Christian journey, let our lives reflect our faith. When we falter and fall short of our commitment to your will. Hold us, wrapping us in your love s we work toward wholeness still.
3. Far too often we hold onto anger dressed as righteousness. We forget we serve a God who calls us to relationship. So when those who caused us harm repent and choose a better way, Spirit move our vengeful hearts to choose love instead of wrath.
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.
Sung Psalm #85 p. 676
The psalms were originally musical compositions. During Lent we will pray the psalms in musical form. You are invited to sing the response when invited, at the “R” if using the hymnal.
Scripture Reading Luke 19:1-10
He entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”
So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”
~ New Revised Standard Version, updated
Sermon In Between Mercy and Righteousness Rev. Kent Gilbert and Rev. Christina Ryan Perkins
Video Reflection
A chance to take in what we have heard.
Responding to God’s Love in Communion
Invitation to Communion
One: Here in this place, we join Jesus in the sacred space between his last supper and his last breath in our own liminal moments. In the limbo of uncertainty, when all we can do is wait— with those between paychecks, between jobs, between meals, with those in hospital rooms or prison cells, the every present Jesus abides.
One: So come all who are in between and all who are on the way. Come join as we unite in this act of meeting in the middle: meeting each other and meeting the God of Journeys and Home and Journeying again. Let us rest in the presence of Christ, and each other, as we prepare with prayer.
Ringing 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.
Communion Prayer
One: God of every Mercy, Lord of all Righteousness, we gather at your table to remember your love and what love demands.
One: As we come to strengthen others and ourselves with the gifts of your table, we come to remember your diverse, impartial, and inclusive presence:
One: With those who fight to be believed by doctors, who wait for diagnosis, treatment, or results, and with those who have Long COVID or other serious conditions
All: Jesus the Suffering Savior, abide.
One: With those in the closet, and those who’ve just come out with those waiting for surgery, or HRT, or radical acceptance,
All: Queer God, abide.
One: With those who are sick of waiting: Indigenous people whose loved ones disappear in silence, Black communities urged to wait for justice in an onslaught of brutality, and all those who find themselves burning out in the endless efforts to resist injustice,
All: Black Christ, native of occupied land, abide.
One: With all who scramble between life and death, survival and thriving: immigrants and refugees, border crossers and ICE detainees, the people of Palestine, people of Ukraine— bombed, displaced, and denied aid,
All: Jesus the refugee, abide.
One: With those enduring the worst of climate change, and all whose homes or whole communities have been ravaged by natural disasters,
All: Creator God, abide.
One: With all whom our society fails to protect: those who are unhoused, and those whose homes are fractured by violence, those experiencing mental illness or addiction, and all who are shoved to the margins,
All: Persecuted Christ, abide.
One: Lord of every and all people, you have set the world as a table of blessing and sent us prophets and teachers, women of wisdom and men of compassion, who show us the way. With saints present and saints past we join in the song of unending praise:
Sanctus please join in singing:
Words of Institution
One: In the fullness of time, to make visible your love in new ways, you sent us Jesus, our brother and savior. When the in-between becomes permanent with no going back to how things were, in our moments of despair at the world’s pain, we cry out, “HOW LONG, O LORD?!” it is his way of mercy and righteousness that sustains and heals. And so we pray, O Lord:
All: Abide with us, everlasting God. Abide with us. Send us now the presence the Christ to reach to us again.
One: We remember that Jesus reclined at a table with his closest friends, and after taking the bread and giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying,
All: “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
One: In the same way, he took the cup after the meal and said,
All: “This cup is the new covenant by my blood, which is poured out for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Pastor: Co-creating and co-suffering God, we count on your steadfast presence even when we doubt and demand answers. Teach us to share in one another’s pain, becoming your hands and feet on earth. And now, as we break this bread and drink from this cup, may this meal nourish us. May it give us courage, just as it surely gave you courage on that night many years ago. Amen.
Serving One Another
All who seek the love of God are welcome at this table and are invited to freely receive from it. By tradition, unfermented grape juice is used in the cup on Sunday mornings. If it is not convenient to come forward, the elements can be brought to your seat by signaling to the usher. If it is not your tradition to receive, you are invited to join in prayers for the unity of the Spirit within your tradition. You may remain in you seat, or you may come forward for a blessing, as you wish.
Communion Hymn Breath, Listen and Notice Paul Vasile
Offertory
Embodied Prayer
You are invited to reflect and pray at the candle table. There are artistic reflection opportunities at stations around the sanctuary. Please join us in our collaborative art. You may also choose to source the essential ingredient of solitude and private prayer, remaining with your own thoughts in your pew.
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 entering 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!
¨ Doxology Old Hundredth
To God all glorious heavenly Light, To Christ revealed in earthly night, To God the Spirit now we raise Our joyful songs of thankful praise. Amen.
Prayer of Thanksgiving Carla Gilbert, Reader
One: Loving God, Week after week we return to this space, because we long to see you.
Like Zacchaeus who climbed a tree to get a peek at you as you walked by, and like Zacchaeus we have found ourselves guests at a feast of righteousness and peace.
We came to this sanctuary hoping to get a peek
of your goodness,
of your forgiveness,
of your joy,
of your light,
of your will,
and of your way.
Gratefully, humbly, and ever in transition we pray…
Our Lord’s Prayer
Our Maker, Our Mother, and Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; Thy kin-dom 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 kin-dom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Hymn #23 There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy Bradbury
1 There’s a wideness in God’s mercy, like the wideness of the sea. There’s a kindness in God’s justice, which is more than liberty. There’s no place where earthly sorrows are more felt than in God’s heaven; there’s no place where earthly failings have such kindly judgement given.
2 For the love of God is broader than the measures of our minds, and the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind. If our love were but more faithful, we would gladly trust God’s word; and our lives would show thanksgiving for the goodness of our God.
From Here to There
Release of Rev. Christina Ryan Perkins Rev. Betsy Whaley, Moderator, Dr. Steve Bolster, PRB Chair
When invited, please respond:
All: We receive your gratitude and we offer you our memories. We express our thanks for the conversations, prayers and stories shared in your time among us. Your influence in our lives will not leave us, even though you depart from us as our sabbatical pastor.
Rev. Christina: I receive your gratitude, trusting that our time together and our parting are pleasing to our loving God and to the Risen Christ we are called to serve.
Moderator: Do you, the members and friends of Union Church, now release the Reverend Christina Ryan Perkins as our sabbatical pastor? Do you offer your encouragement and support in the next step in her journey as minister in Christ’s wider church?
All: We do With God’s help.
PRB Chair: And do you Reverend Christina now release the people of Union from their pastoral relationship with you, setting aside the responsibilities, duties and burdens you have carried in your weeks with us?
Rev. Christina: I do, with great thanks, and in the sure hope that we will meet again.
Moderator: Let us Pray:
All: O God who graces every change, we welcome the return of Rev. Kent and release with love and gratitude Rev. Christina. The time when we were together here in your name saw laughter, tears, triumphs and many, many graces.
Guide us as we hold close these cherished memories, and receive our thanks for her service among us. Help her to move and thrive in your call in every time and place. May she carry from us markers of the blessings she brought us and know our prayers even when we are parted.
Moderator: Your everlasting love for us all is trustworthy; help each of us to trust the future which rests in your care. Bless your servant Kent with renewed insight and compassion as he guides us in our service to you. Bless Christina and those whom she will serve next with strength and wisdom for all that is “next.” And bless your congregation that in all our ways, we might be creative and bold in the tasks of joy you have set before us. May all who seek and serve you be ever united in your feast of living and life. We ask all this in Christ’s name.
All: Amen.
Exchange of Gifts and Symbols
Stones from the cairn are given to Rev. Christina, along with special gifts from Rev. Kent and the congregation. The special candle lit at the beginning of the sabbatical period is extinguished, it’s light carried by our prayers for both pastors and our common work.
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
This past week was Autism Awareness Day. Today we light this candle for the parents and caregivers of children with autism who are very aware of their child’s needs every minute of every day.
Children with autism, especially those with severe autism, often have additional conditions such as sensory processing disorder, epilepsy, intellectual disability and rare genetic disorders and they do not grow out of it. They need lifelong care. Their families need emotional and financial support. The assistance that Medicaid previously provided is in jeopardy. Let us pray for a more just and humane resolution to the federal budget.
¨ Blessing the Way of Matt and Netty Willis
With deep feeling, we commend you to your life and work in other places, taking with you our strong support and sincere prayers.
All: Go forth into the world!
Piano Side: In peace!
Bell Side: In love!
Piano: To teach!
Bell: To learn!
All: Go forth into the world!
Piano: To preach!
Bell: To pray!
Piano: To heal!
Bell: To comfort!
All: Go forth into the world!
Piano: To build!
Bell: To plant!
Piano: To grow!
Bell: To thrive!
¨ Blessing Song In God’s Hand Deborah Payne
¨ 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 The Balkans – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia; and our brothers and sisters at Calvary Apostolic 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: Jerry Cooper, Jan Hamilton, Betsy Hoefer, Dorie Hubbard, Susan Kramer, Lois Morgan, Sara Parker, Cheryl Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie.
¨ All those suffering from mental strain, trauma, and disease, and those who care and worry for them: may God soothe and heal all who are troubled.
¨ Our Kentucky neighbors, hit again with flooding in these recent storms.
¨ We pray for our country, and those who are directly affected by the actions and inaction of our government to address the needs of its people and the world.
¨ Members and Friends who need safer housing and income security.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ The Guild family as Will continues his struggle with brain cancer and stroke.
¨ Muse Watson, continuing to gain strength after his surgery.
¨ Rev. Kent’s cousin, Kathy, undergoing chemotherapy for esophageal cancer, and her mother, Helen, who is Rev. Carla’s sister.
¨ Ally Nurre, doing well after further treatment of her knee.
¨ Kelly Mehler, who has resumed treatment for his lymphoma.
¨ Barb Taylor’s son, David, undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.
¨ Dodie Murphy asks for prayers as she is treated for middle stage chronic kidney disease.
¨ Rev. Christina’s family: her brother-in-law, Jamie, with stage 4 cancer and his wife, her sister Veronica. They’ve got two small children.
¨ John McWilliams has a new address: 175 Kings Hwy 234; Punta Gorda, FL; 33083
¨ We bid farewell, with sadness and loving wishes for their thriving elsewhere, to Matt & Netty Willis, as they move from Berea.
¨ Sarah Belanger, at the sudden death of her sister, Julie.
¨ Terry Scherf, as she navigates her new residence at Dominion in Richmond.
¨ Condolences to Rev. Christina and her family at the death of her Aunt Ethel, who passed away on March 31.
¨ Maya Todd, with heart issues.
¨ Prayers for the Shinn family and the numerous friends of the Rev. Dr. Larry Shinn, who passed away from complications caused by his cancer on Wednesday, April 2nd. An ordained United Methodist minister and professor of Southeast Asian/Indian Religious traditions, Larry served as the 8th President of Berea College from 1994 to 2012. He and his wife Nancy were honored as Union Church Honorary Lifetime Deacons in 2012. In retirement they returned first to Pennsylvania and then moved to Maryland (DC area) to be near family as Larry’s illness progressed. He passed away in the company of his family and entered the wider life with grace.
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: April 7 – Greg Sutherland; 8 – Ashley Hammond; 11 – Sayer Kobersmith; 12 – Joan Bates, Della Walters; 13 – Jeff From
Anniversaries: April 13 – Steve & Thana Connelly
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOneGo
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