A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost August 10, 2014, 10:30 am & 7:00 pm
Meditation
To be joyful out on 70,000 fathoms of water, many, many miles from all human help—yes, that is something great! To swim in the shallows in the company of waders is not the religious.
—Soren Kierkegaard
From there to Here
Welcome & Announcements
Prelude Prelude and Fugue in D Minor J.S. Bach
* Call to Worship
One: The world belongs to God,
All: the earth and all its people.
One: How good it is, how wonderful,
All: to live together in unity.
One: Love and faith come together,
All: justice and peace join hands.
One: If Christ’s disciples keep silent,
All: these stones would shout aloud!
One: Open our lips, O God,
All: and our mouths shall proclaim your praise!
* Opening Hymn #273 Black Praise with Joy the World’s Creator Lauda Anima
* Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: Holy God, Maker of all,
All: have mercy on us.
One: Jesus Christ, Servant of the poor,
All: have mercy on us.
One: Holy Spirit, Breath of Life,
All: have mercy on us.
One: You who lead us through the pits of life and out again, forgive the ways in which we have thrown others into the pit to save ourselves. Lift us up in your resurrection, even as we strive to lift up those on either side of us.
[silence is kept]
Before God, with the people of God, I confess to my brokenness: to the ways I wound my life, the lives of others, and the life of the world.
All: May God forgive you, Christ renew you, and the Spirit enable you to grow in love.
One: Amen.
All: Before God, with the people of God, we confess to our brokenness: to the ways we wound our lives, the lives of others, and the life of the world.
One: May God forgive you, Christ renew you, and the Spirit enable you to grow in love.
All: Amen.
Affirmation and Words of Assurance from Psalm 105
One: With the whole church,
All: we affirm that we are made in God’s image, befriended by Christ, empowered by the Spirit.
One: With people everywhere,
All: we affirm God’s goodness at the heart of humanity, planted more deeply than all that is wrong.
One: With all creation,
All: we celebrate the miracle and wonder of life, the unfolding purposes of God, forever at work in ourselves and the world.
One: O give thanks to the Lord, call on God’s name, make known God’s deeds among the peoples.
All: Sing to the Lord, sing praises to God; tell of all God’s wonderful works.
One: Praise the Lord!
All: Praise the Lord!
Breathing in The Living Word
Passing the Peace of Jesus 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.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Genesis 37:1-28
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.
Gospel Lesson Matthew 14:22-33
Response to the Word
One: For the Word of God in scripture, for the Word of God among us, for the Word of God within us,
All: Thanks be to God.
Sermon Deep Peace of the Running Wave to You Rev. Kent Gilbert
Sharing the Gifts of Love
Call to Offering
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
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 Thou Shalt Bring Them In G.F. Handel
* Iona Doxology Avery/Marsh
* Prayer of Thanksgiving
Being and Becoming One
Prayers of the Community
The worship leader will offer spoken prayers. Between each prayer there will be an opportunity to respond in prayer:
One: God in your mercy,
All: Hear our prayer.
After the last petition will be this response:
One: Living God, may they not fail you,
All: Nor we fail them.
One: We pray together as Jesus taught us, to our Mother, our Maker, and
Our Lord’s Prayer
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
Introduction and Invitation to Membership
Union Church is a vital and growing family of faith, a home to those committed to the way of Christ’s sacrificial love and service. All who feel led to join will be received in joy, and are welcome to come forward during the hymn. Thanks be to God for these ministers among us.
Questions of the Congregation and New Members
* Covenant of Welcome
And we, the members of this church, renewing our own covenant to God and to each other, do now heartily welcome you to our fellowship, promising to watch over you in love, and praying that you and we may be true witnesses for Christ, a light in the world, and continue to increase in usefulness and joy in his service.
* Closing Hymn #172 Black Jesus Calls Us Galilee
* Closing Response
One: This is the day that God has made;
All: We will rejoice and be glad in it.
One: We will not offer to God
All: offerings that cost us nothing.
One: Go in peace to love and to serve;
All: We will seek peace and pursue it.
One: In the name of the Trinity of Love,
All: God in community, holy and one.
We remain standing to leave, the work of our day flowing directly from our worship.
*Postlude Organ Piece in G Major A. Hesse
____________________________
* Please rise in body or in spirit
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 the Caribbean: Antigua, Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, Suriname, Saint Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Vincent & Grenadines and our brothers and sisters at White’s Memorial Presbyterian Church in your hearts, and pray for them.
Please also hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week:
¨ Those in harm’s way in service of our country, and those who wait and worry for them
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes: Edith Hansen, Klara Welsh, Bernice Robertson, Nancy Jones, Mary Miller, Virginia Piland, Averill Kilbourne, Ann Thomasson, Alva Peloquin
¨ Charlie Smithson, Paul’s brother, battling multiple myeloma.
¨ Janet Dailey-Hosp, who had a lung transplant on June 11, recovery is going very well. Prayers also for the generous family that turned their tragedy into new life for others
¨ The Orwig family, at Elizabeth’s death. A service will be held here at Union Church, 11:00 am on August 30
Announcements
You Matter! Please Sign the Register, Check in on Facebook/Twitter and try a nametag! It’s hard to get to know people elsewhere, but we don’t want it that way at church. Use the pew folder in your row, passing it back when all have signed. Let’s all try to get to know each other better.
Join the church today! You are welcome here! New members will be received at both services today, August 10, and the second Sunday of every month.
Our Mission and Service Dollars at Work: Additional $2000 sent to Aid Immigration Refugees: Thanks to the generosity of Union Church members the mission and service board has been able to send an additional $2000 to two agencies who are doing both direct support judicial advocacy for refugee children. $1000 was sent to Catholic Charities and $1000 was sent to Save The Children for use by their partners who are working mainly in Texas. Rev. Kent has contacted the Kentucky Council of Churches and we are exploring regional support as well. Many thanks to those of you who have put action into words as we strive to live Jesus call to strengthen the weak and welcome the children. These monies are in addition to the amounts contributed from the offering plates. You may still make a contribution with the memo “immigrant children” and we will forward all funds to the places of greatest need.
Beginning today, August 10, Sunday Morning AND Evening worship in Cowan Chapel. While the sanctuary flooring is being renovated, services will be held in Cowan Chapel. Because the chapel is small, There will be TWO services per Sunday, one at the usual 10:30 am, regular time, and one at 7:00 pm. We encourage those who like to “sleep in” to attend the evening service.
Potluck Supper, 5:30 tonight Hosted by the Sustainagility Task Force. Bring a dish to pass, and come for food and fellowship. All welcome!
Healing Anger Workshop New Union Church member Dodie Murphy offers a three-week class on healing anger, for three Mondays of August– the 11th, 18th and 25th at 7:00 pm in the Office Level Classroom at the church. Participants need to bring a pencil/pen and paper. Nothing that you write needs to be shared. This is process-oriented, not therapy. Dodie is a licensed clinical social worker living and practicing in Berea. Her treatment specialties include self-hate, rage, addiction, PTSD, and bereavement–all of which may have unhealthy anger components. Please call Dodie at 859-200-7277859-200-7277 if you plan to attend.
The Gobles are back for a visit! Come see Harriet and Corban at an Open House Saturday, August 16th, 3-5pm at Happiness Hills Farms, 8682 Battlefield Memorial Highway (US 421), Berea-out near Big Hill. The Gobles lived in Berea in the ‘50s-’70s. Corban was the editor of the Berea Citizen, and Harriet was active in various community service programs and helped to create the Sunday School/office building. They raised their three kids in Berea. Come visit a bit and say hello!!
Invitation to Singers – The Berea Classic Chorale is open to new singers for its 2nd season. Interested singers are asked to schedule a 10-minute slot for a voice check. Please contact conductor Larry Brandenburg for a time. He will meet singers in the Choir Room of Union Church Sunday, Aug. 10 and Monday, Aug. 11 from 7:00 – 8:30 pm. TheChorale rehearses on Mondays from 7 – 9 pm, beginning Aug. 18. Fall Concert Sunday, Nov. 23. Contact Larry at brandenburg_40403 @roadrunner.com or 859-353-2866859-353-2866.
Do you know who our next Childrens Church Director is? It could be you, or someone you know. Visit the church’s website www.union-church.org and search “job description.”
Union Church Choir kicks off soon! We would love to welcome all current, old and new members, and anyone who is curious to join. We welcome all people, music readers and non-music readers, to be part of us. If you don’t know what an eighth note is, we will gladly teach you. Youth (high school and older), along with Berea College students, are strongly encouraged and invited to join. Practices will begin on a regular weekly schedule, Thursday, August 28 at 6:15pm, with our first anthem to be sung on September 7. To accommodate Berea students and members who may not be able to join on Thursday evenings, there will be an additional rehearsal that will meet outside of regular choir rehearsal time –TBA at a later time. If you would like to discuss an interest or have any questions about joining our musical family, please feel free to email Director of Music Ministries, Gabriel Evans, at gevans@union-church.org.
Co-Director Needed for Children’s Choir Do you enjoy our little ones singing for church? Why not join them? Our music program is looking for someone to help co-direct our Joyful Noise Choir (ages 4—1st grade) and our Jubilee Choir (grades 2nd—5th). This is a wonderful opportunity to work with the little ones of our church and pass along a beautiful talent that richly blesses our services one Sunday a month. Scheduled rehearsals of these groups are on Wednesdays, 5:15—5:45 (Joyful Noise Choir) and from 6:30—7:15 (Jubilee Choir), with our Wednesday Night Live dinner and fellowship in between. If you are interested in co-directing this group (with Carrie Jadud), please contact Gabriel Evans for information. Choirs begin with Wednesday Nite Live! — September 10.
Mini-Bazaar Saturday, August 23 10 am until 2 pm. Baked goods, jams & jellies, treasures, rummage, household items, books, baskets, plants…all kinds of items needed to sell (not clothing). Please price your items (in 25-cent increments, please, and no lower than $1). Many volunteers needed! Sign up at www.union-church.org or talk to John Payne.
Free Qigong workshop September 6, 9:00—5:00. Qigong (this type is called Zhineng Qigong) involves slow gentle movements along with meditation. A regular practice of Zhineng Qigong can be very helpful for those with all kinds of health challenges….(both physical, mental, emotional and spiritual). All levels of physical ability are welcome and encouraged to attend. Joan is a certified nurse practitioner and has been practicing and teaching qigong for several years. Please check website for more information: www.smilingheartqigongcenter.com Please bring a water bottle, wear comfortable clothing and something you may lay on if you are able.
Amazon Smile Donates to Union Church…When you can’t shop local for what you need, many turn to Amazon.com. Here’s a way to help locally even if you have to shop online. Amazon supports charities with a special program called “Smile.” By registering and choosing Union Church as your charity, Amazon will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases the ministry of the congregation. While each contribution might be small, it all adds up, and your purchases can support the mission of peace and justice we all care so much about.
Already an Amazon customer? All you have to do is put “smile” before “amazon.com” in the address bar of your favorite browser, like this: https://smile.amazon.com/. Either sign in or register, and when prompted for the charity of your choice, pick “Church of Christ Union” in Berea. That’s it! There’s no cost to you, you can still use your Amazon Prime benefits, and Amazon will remember that you are a Smile user and help you maximize your contribution. However you choose to support good work, thank you!
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