August 11, 2024, Worship Bulletin & Prayer Concerns

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

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost 10:30 am 

Meditation   You are the poem I dreamed of writing, The masterpiece I longed to paint. You are my child.

From There to Here: We Gather

Prelude                        

Welcome   

¨   Call To Worship  Susie Ritchie, Reader

One: Bless the Lord always, and let the humble hear and be glad!

All: We magnify the Lord, and exalt God’s name together!

One: Come all who seek in need, all who come in joy.

All: God delivers us from our fears, and saves us from  every trouble.

One: Taste and see that the Lord is good!

All: We consecrate our hearts and lives to God of our salvation!

 ¨  Opening Hymn  #448 Take My Life, God, Let It Be Vienna

1 Take my life, God, let it be consecrated, faithfuly. 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 Approach  and Confession

All: Gracious and loving God, open our hearts so that we are able to admit to you the fullness of our lives – that which is beautiful and good, and that which is hurtful and hateful.

We confess that we do not follow Jesus in all that we do.

We love with condition. We judge and condemn.

We cast the first stone, and keep the logs in our own eyes.

We do not turn to You as the source of our healing.

Forgive us, we pray. Forgive our sin, and empower us to be imitators of Christ in love and service. Amen.

~ Written by Beth Merrill Neel on her blog, ‘Hold Fast to What Is Good’.  Used with permission.

¨   Words of Assurance

¨  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. 

Celebrating God’s Presence in Baptism

Special Music Azulão Jayme Ovalle Whitney McKnight, vocalist

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. 

 Celebrating the Covenant of Baptism

The Church of Christ, Union receives all followers of Christ and works with all who work with him: respecting each person’s conscience; serving in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.

Today, Alexander Loyal Todd McKenzie will be welcomed into the great company of Christian disciples through baptism. Our joy knows no bounds as we recognize God’s grace at work in him and his family. Grace and Chris, his parents, family, Godparents and the whole congregation make promises for and with Alexander as we recognize his journey of faith.

Moderator: Baptism is the sacrament through which we are united to Jesus Christ and given part in Christ’s ministry of reconciliation. Baptism is the visible recognition of an invisible event. It is the place where one person’s deep commitment to this ministry and God’s unfailing love meet and touch. Baptism is the reminder and the sign that God is with us in trial and rejoicing, and the washing away of all that keeps us from God’s love. It is the promise of new life through Jesus, and a promise to follow in Jesus’ way.

We gather now to celebrate the commitment of this family and the gift of grace in the sacrament of baptism and to make our own commitments to support Alexander’s walk of faith. We believe there is one body and one Spirit. There is one hope in God’s call to us. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God, creator of us all.

All: Out of the waters of baptism we rise with new life, forgiven, renewed, and one with Christ, members of Christ’s body.

Questions to Parents, Sponsors and Congregation

Baptismal Prayer

One: God be with you.

All: And also with you.

One: Lift up your hearts.

All: We lift them to God.

One: Let us give our thanks to God.

All: It is good to give God thanks and praise. 

One: Gracious and Holy God, we bless you for the gift of life, and, within it, the gift of water. Over its unshaped promise your Spirit hovered at creation. By water, comes the growth of the earth.  Through water, you led the children of Israel to freedom.  In the waters of the Jordan your Child Jesus was baptized.

One: As the water is poured, we recall Isaiah’s promise:

All: “waters shall break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert;”

One: Ezekiel’s declaration:

All: “I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean;”

One: the Psalmist’s testimony:

All: “Beside the still waters, God leads me;”

One: and Jesus’ words:

All: “whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones— truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”

One: May your Spirit be upon us and what we do, that this water, blessing of your hand, may be a sign for all of new life in Christ, in whose name we pray.

All:  Amen!

Act of Baptism

Blessings of Family and Friends

Affirmation and Celebration of the Congregation

All: We rejoice to welcome you, Alexander, to our care. With you we promise to be a community seeking makes the radical and inclusive love of God, the beloved community proclaimed by Jesus, and the continuing inspiration of the Holy Spirit visible and real to all. As Love demands!

Presentation Hymn #351 I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry Borning Cry

1 I was there to hear your borning cry, I’ll be there when you are old. I rejoiced the day you were baptized, to see your life unfold. I was there when you were but a child, with a faith to suit you well; In a blaze of light you wandered off to find where demons dwell.

2 When you found the wonder of the Word I was there to cheer you on; You were raised to praise the living God, to whom you now belong. Should you find someone to share your time and you join your hearts as one, I’ll be there to make your verses rhyme from dusk ’till rising sun.

3 In the middle ages of your life, not too old, no longer young, I’ll be there to guide you through the night, complete what I’ve begun. When the evening gently closes in, and you shut your weary eyes, I’ll be there as I have always been with just one more surprise.

4 I was there to hear your borning cry, I’ll be there when you are old. I rejoiced the day you were baptized, to see your life unfold.

Scripture Reading Ephesians 4:25-5:2

So then, putting away falsehood, let each of you speak the truth with your neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. Those who steal must give up stealing; rather, let them labor, doing good work with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths but only what is good for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption.

Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Sermon         Members of One Another             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

Embodied Prayer

You are invited to reflect and pray at the candle table. You may also choose to source the essential ingredient of solitude and private prayer, remaining with your own thoughts in your pew. 

For those who would like to connect & renew, the baptismal water is available near the Christ candle.

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 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

Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above ye heavenly host: Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost! Amen.

Silent Prayer and Prayers of the Community Susie Ritchie, Reader

New life, new hope, new promises, and many old challenges: all these things are much with us, Lord. Hear our prayers to be a better community, to be a strong beacon of your love and light. Help us to set aside the falsehoods we fool ourselves into thinking are small, and to make great and tender our hearts for one another.

For those who are ill and suffering in body, mind or spirit, rely on your mercy and on your grace. Heal our bones of any malice, our tissues of any hateful thing, and make us strong to do good in whatever way you will.

Through you we are members of one another and beholden to the love you intend for all. Thus we pray that out of everything we do, good might prosper and that Deeper Love might prevail through all our lives. This we ask in the name of Jesus, 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  #308 At the Font We Start Our Journey Westminster Abbey

1 At the font we start our journey, in the Easter faith baptized; doubts and fears no longer blind us, by the light of Christ surprised. Alleluia, alleluia! Hope held out and realized.

2 At the pulpit we are fashioned by the Easter tale retold into witnesses and prophets, by the power of Christ made bold. Alleluia, alleluia! Faith proclaimed, yet still untold.

3 At the altar we are nourished with the Easter gift of bread; in our breaking it to pieces see the love of Christ outspread. Alleluia, alleluia! Life embraced, yet freely shed.

4 At the door we are commissioned, now the Easter victory’s won, to restore a world divided to the peace of Christ as one. Alleluia, alleluia! Easter’s work must still be done.

 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

Kandi Mossett, a renowned Indigenous environmental activist, has dedicated her career to advocating for environmental justice and the rights of Indigenous communities. Born on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota, she is a member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nations. Her personal experiences with the detrimental impacts of fossil fuel extraction on her community propelled her into activism.

Beyond protesting fossil fuel projects, Mossett advocates for a just transition to renewable energy. She envisions community-led projects that promote economic opportunities and energy sovereignty for Indigenous peoples. Representing Indigenous voices in global climate discussions, Mossett’s work underscores the essential link between environmental sustainability and social justice.

¨  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 Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger and our brothers and sisters at Pilot Knob Missionary 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, John Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie.

¨ 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.

¨ 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.

¨ Erikke Meadows’ mom, Prudy Meadows, with COPD.

¨ The Guild family as Will continues his struggle with brain cancer and stroke.  

¨ A service in celebration of Steve Boyce’s life will be held this afternoon, 3pm.

¨ Laura Nagle, recovering from a broken leg.

¨ Prayer for a restored and renewed sense of integrity in all public officials and work: that justice may be louder than greed; fair and good governance a blessing to all people, not the favored few.

¨ John Payne is at The Terrace in Berea and would love visits and cards! 1043 Brooklyn Blvd., Berea.

¨ Joy Frazier is recovering from a stroke. Cards and notes can be sent to 3660 Central Ave. #250, Columbus, IN, 47203.

¨ The family and friends of Barbara Prairie, at her death early this week. Services will be held in Cincinnati, details shared when we know them.

¨ Mary Ellen Sarafin, Betty’s sister, suffering from cirrhosis.

¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
We rejoice, as a church family & as a community of faith,  in the baptism today of
Alexander Loyal Todd McKenzie!!

Birthdays:  August 14 – Alice White; 17 – Kim Kobersmith, Meaghan Spencer-Catlett

Anniversaries:  August 12 – Matt & Carrie Jadud; Jen Eich & Amy Schill; 13 – Gwen & Marty Hensley; 18 –  Dave & Lisa Shroyer, Tim Monroe & Cheryl Nixon

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