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

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

August 11, 2019          10:30 am

 
Meditation
Awaken to the mystery of being here and enter the quiet immensity of your own presence.
— John O’ Donohue, For Presence

From there to here: we Gather

Gathering Music
Pennies from Heaven        Johnston/Burke

Betty Sarafin

All I Ever Have to Be Gary Chapman
Sing your Praise to the Lord Rich Mullins

Alvera Perman

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 Aria Handel
Stanley Kramer, violin; Charles Hoffman, cello
The Call John O’Donohue
Awaken to the mystery of being here and enter the quiet immensity of your own presence. Have joy and peace in the temple of your senses. Receive encouragement when new frontiers beckon. Respond to the call of your gift and the courage to follow its path. Let the flame of anger free you of all falsity. May warmth of heart keep your presence aflame. May anxiety never linger about you. May your outer dignity mirror an inner dignity of soul. Take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek no attention. Be consoled in the secret symmetry of your soul. May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder.
¨  Musical Meditation For You Have Promised Glenda B. Schales
Debbonnaire Kovacs, Merry Kay Winter, Robert Rorrer, Jeff Hutton
¨  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 hospitality.

The Living Word among us

Anthem Oh Happy Day Edward R. Hawkins
LaRee Jacobs & Bradley Villanacci
Hebrew Scripture Lesson  Isaiah 61:10-11 (p. 879)
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 are welcome to return to their seats. The Children’s Worship Center in the back of the sanctuary has 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 in Room 104 off the playground.
Gospel Lesson Luke 1:46-55(p. 1225)
Sermon Mama’s Boy Rev. Nate Craddock
Ave Maria Gratia Plena
Was this His coming! I had hoped to see
A scene of wondrous glory, as was told
Of some great God who in a rain of gold
Broke open bars and fell on Danae:
Or a dread vision as when Semele
Sickening for love and unappeased desire
Prayed to see God’s clear body, and the fire
Caught her white limbs and slew her utterly:
With such glad dreams I sought this holy place,
And now with wondering eyes and heart I stand
Before this supreme mystery of Love:
A kneeling girl with passionless pale face,
An angel with a lily in his hand,
And over both with outstretched wings the Dove. —Oscar Wilde

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.
Acts of Reflection and Prayer
Some resources for reflection and prayer are provided . You are free to use  – or ignore –  these prompts as you find helpful. In whatever prayer manner you adopt, please hold the concerns of those listed, and those you know about, in God’s peace-giving light.
Today we’re inviting you to spend a few minutes of quiet contemplation in your seats prior to moving about the sanctuary to pray.
An added note: We need more notes of encouragement for the bowl in the prayer corner. While you are sitting in contemplation, consider whether you would like to write a note or two, and add them to the bowl after church or at any time.
How do you feel called to nurture your gifts for creativity? How does music enhance your worship experience?
Special Music Sonata No. 5, for Flute and Keyboard, BWV 1034 J. S. Bach
Richard and Jenny Bromley

1. Adagio ma non tanto
2. Allegro

A Chance for Generosity: Offering Baskets in the Aisles
Offering baskets are placed in the aisle, and can also be brought to your seat. 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 those in need via many external agencies.
Many friends give online, and you can use your smart phone or computer and go to www.easytithe.com/union. You don’t have to register to make a contribution, but if you do, it can make future generosity that much easier. You can even give by text! Text to 859-448-3403 (Example: Text “$50.00 Offering)
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Please sing when invited:                Metta Prayer
May I be at peace
May my heart remain open
May I awaken to the light
Of my own true nature:
May I be healed
And be a source of healing
For all beings
(substitute “you/your” on second verse, “we/our” on third verse)
Pastoral Prayer and 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
¨   Hymn #4 Black Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You                  Hymn to Joy
Accompanied by the Union Church Orchestra
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 when invited. 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.
¨  The Sending and Blessing
Postlude (please be seated) Every Time I Feel the Spirit trad., arr. Mark Hayes
B.G. Hibbard
_________________________________
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 Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger  and our brothers and sisters at New Life Assemblies of God in our hearts, and pray for them. Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week.
¨ Families and Friends in Crises…may God be present to every need and heal every rift and wound.
¨ For Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon. 15,000 are now detained in the US.
¨ In thanksgiving for those students, teachers, parents, lawmakers, and citizens who are witnessing and working to end gun violence in our society. May laws that help be passed; may hearts that are broken be healed; may all who are in danger be kept safe.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound: Alva Peloquin, Edith Hansen, Nancy Hindman, Jennie Kiteck, Mary Miller.
¨ For those who are without homes and safe places, that we may work together for solutions.
¨ Hazel Morris, recovering well at home.
¨ Marie, 4-year-old great grand niece of Dorie Hubbard, being treated for cancer.
¨ Judy Rowell, recovering at home.
¨ Dean Jacobs, Mary Lou Wiese’s brother, who recently had brain surgery.
¨ Samuel Ssengooba from Samuel’s Kids school & orphanage and several of the children are in the hospital with malaria, and help is urgently needed. Donations can be made at https://www.paypal.me/samuelskidsorg?fbclid=IwAR1Ya4HqFZmpjzxXlX3m_XJuv-LVDOpNVxJYyXaYcHfKFHmXFlMeHQTjsgw
¨ Cheryl Moore, who has several family members struggling with health issues: Larry O’Hara in hospice care, Rob Unterberger with lung cancer, and Hunter Lamb, undergoing medical tests.
¨ Larry Brandenburg’s mom, who has broken her hip after a fall.

Announcements

Today: A prayer vigil for the victims of the recent mass shootings will be held in Richmond at Our Saviour Episcopal Church, 2323 Richmond Rd from 4-5 pm. This ecumenical, a-political vigil is expected to last one hour.
Next Week: We are inviting you to bring fruits and vegetables for the sharing table, which can be cans from the store, or can be fresh produce from your own garden.
10th Annual Celtic Festival next week! Events around Berea August 16 – 18. At Union Church we’ll have 2 mini-concerts Saturday in Cowan Chapel at 3  4 pm (see calendar) and the Celtic Gala Concert Saturday night, 7:30 pm. $20. Harpist Jeni Balcom will join us at the worship service on Aug. 18.
God on the Quad: Sunday August 18th. This is our opportunity to welcome Berea College freshmen and let them know that their neighbors at Union Church are glad they’re here. There are two ways you can help:
1) COOKIES!! Bring cookies or other portable treats to worship on 8/18. We will make sure they get to the students.
2) VOLUNTEER!! We will meet at the church at 2 and walk over to set up on the quad on campus. The event lasts from 3-4:30. You could help set up, pack up, or be there in the middle to meet the students.
Questions? Ask Laura: 859.359.0106 (text or call) or joyfulsunflower@gmail.com.
Update- Thanks to those who ordered books for those inmates at MCDC who had requested them!  The books were received this week, and the inmates were surprised and overwhelmed that anyone would do anything for them.
As with anything successful, we now have a few more requests!  Please contact Pearl (bellteacherpem@yahoo.com) for information if you’d like to lift an inmate up in this way.
Bamboo Painting Retreat—Saturday, September 7, 9-12, in the Classroom on the office level. Led by Donna Eder, this retreat will be an introduction to bamboo painting. Since many people have their own materials there will be no fee for this retreat—bring what you have and let me know what you might need in the way of brushes, ink, or paper. Chinese brush work is an ancient tradition which strengthens “chi”, while promoting sensitivity and an appreciation for simplicity. Advanced registration requested by contacting Donna at eder@indiana.edu or 859-868-1142.
Hospitality & Cookies – can you help?! One of the things that we do best is making each other feel welcome and loved and included every single week. The Hospitality Team is committed to creating a space — with lemonade and cookies! — for this to happen after service. Can you commit to helping your church family by volunteering to prepare after-church snacks once every three months? (If we have 12 volunteers, everyone only has to do it about four times per year!) We provide the food and drinks. You get them ready (10 minutes, usually before service begins), carry them upstairs (10 minutes near the end of service), and then carry the empty plates back down to wash them (10 minutes). It’s a great opportunity for families to volunteer together. We will show you everything you need to know. Please contact Laura at 859-358-0106 (text or call) or joyfulsunflower @gmail.com or find her after service. Thank you SO much for your willingness to be the church for each other.
Children’s Church Team Seeks One More Teacher for the 2019/20 Year: Come join the most fun ministry of all! You don’t need to be a trained educator, you just need to be willing to sit on the floor and explore our faith with small humans. You would be paired with another teacher, and scheduled to teach approximately once every three weeks. (Don’t worry, we all know that things come up and schedules change. We work well together to adjust accordingly.) Spending time in the chapel with Union’s bright and beautiful kids during Children’s Church is truly a joyful experience. Contact Laura with questions or interest: 859-358-0106 (text or call) or joyfulsunflower@gmail.com
Choirs beginning soon! Music Ministries Potluck in the Community Room August 22! Open to all, this will be a time of fun and fellowship. You will have an opportunity to meet current Union Church choir members, handbell ringers, and your music staff! Would you like to join one of the choirs? Come talk about it & share some fellowship –  no pressure!
Time to make a Joyful Noise! Handbell Choir begins August 28, 7 pm. Vocal Choir begins August 29, 6:15 pm. Both in the 3rd floor Choir Room and YOU are very welcome to join them!
Music Quilt Raffle! Check out the two beautiful children’s quilts in the back of sanctuary hand stitched by Jo Wernegreen. Raffle proceeds will benefit Samuel’s Kids. Buy tickets after worship – $2 each or 6 for $10 – in the vestibule!
Several in the church have asked if it is possible to write to Jack Marshall at the Madison County Detention Center. The best way is a new electronic email system available to prisoners. Cost of a message is $0.50 and requires that you register at https://www.smartjailmail.com. Select the Madison County Detention Center from the list, then search for “John Marshall” and a request to open messaging will be sent. You must buy a minimum $5 of message credits, but you can transfer a credit so he can write back without incurring additional fees.
Letters to Jack need to have his proper name: “John Marshall” followed by his jacket number:  #206801. Send to 2901 Richmond Rd., Suite 140-322, Lexington, KY 40509.
Mission Trip Opportunity The Arizona trip mentioned in previous weeks has filled. The Mission & Service Board is interested in working with former Union Church member Dorothy Chao in Tucson, who is active in border work and would be willing to coordinate a similar delegation. Please let Betty Hibler, Chair, know of your interest: betty_hibler@berea.edu — or speak to her at church.
Recycling info: paper recycling isn’t picked up curbside in Berea anymore, but you don’t have to send it to the landfill. You can bring it – and other recyclables – to Richmond. The Richmond/Madison Recycling Center is located just behind Lowe’s (The road is actually called Recycling Road).
They accept:

• Corrugated cardboard
• Paper board, such as cereal boxes, gift boxes
• Newsprint
• Mixed paper such as office paper, wrapping paper, magazines, and ads such as fliers
• Plastics (all numbers)
• Plastic bags
• Steel & aluminum cans
• NO styrofoam
• NO glass

Please separate into categories.

Save the Date!

Community Life and Growth is sponsoring a Back to School
potluck at Memorial Park (across from the Folk Center) on Thursday, September 12 from 5:45-8. More info soon!