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

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

August 13, 2017              10:30 am 

Meditation  
… the religious contradiction: simultaneously to be out on 70,000 fathoms of water and yet be joyful.          —Søren Kierkegaard  

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 I Will Sing New Songs A. Dvorak
Stephen Bolster, baritone
I will sing new songs of gladness, I will sing Jehovah’s praises upon a ten-stringed psaltery. Every day will I extol Thee and will bless Thy Holy Name, I will bless Thy Holy Name. God is great and great is His mercy. Who shall tell of all His greatness? Who shall his power declare? My song shall be of praise and honor, and of Thy glorious acts. Thy works are wonderful, past our knowing. Yea, all shall tell of Thy great kindness and of Thy wondrous might, and my voice shall proclaim aloud Thy glory.
¨  Call to Worship
One: As God’s people we have gathered.
All:    Let us welcome one another, whether despairing or dancing, let all come.
One:      As God’s people we worship and pray.
All:      Let us sit together sharing the solace of silence and the clamor of celebration in God’s presence.
One: As God’s people Jesus comes to us.
All: Let us be comforted and quieted, challenged and changed, as we worship, learn, sing, and pray.
¨  Opening Hymn #6  Sing Praise to God, Our Highest Good         Mit Freuden Zart  Verses 1,3,4,5       
¨  Prayer of Approach and Confession (unison)
Merciful God, we confess that we have often thought more of our fear than of your call. In fear we have thrown others into pits of despair, in fear we have refused to lift them out.
We have not done your will, we have not offered your love, we have not shared our bread, all because we feared the winds of misfortune and the waves of convention.
Now we ask your forgiveness and your help because this is not the way we want to live, nor the way that will bring your love into the world.
Call us from the boat of our complacency and willful self-interest, and rescue us from sinking greed and arrogance.
Calm the storms of our hearts that lead to hurt and fear, and forgive us our sins that we may serve you and be renewed.
¨ 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 and joy. 

The Living Word among us

Musical Meditation Didn’t My Lord trad.
Stephen Bolster, baritone
Didn’t my Lord deliver Daniel? And why not every man? He delivered Daniel from the lion’s den, and Jonah from the belly of the whale. And the Hebrew children from the fiery furnace, so why not every man? The wind blows east and the wind blows west, it blows like Judgment Day. And every soul that never did pray will be glad to pray that day. The moon runs down in a purple stream, and the sun refuse to shine. And every star will disappear. Now freedom will be mine.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Jacob’s favorite son, Joseph, is resented by his brothers who nearly kill him, then sell him into slavery.
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 Children’s Moment, children are welcome to visit the Children’s Worship Center, where there are toys, books, and drawing materials for children (or parents) who would like help staying present in the service. For children preschool & under, care is available in the Nursery, which is NOW downstairs in Room 104 off the playground. Follow the blue butterflies!!!
Gospel Lesson Matthew 14:22-33
Jesus comes to the disciples walking on the water.
Sermon All the Fears that Drive Us Down Rev. Kent Gilbert

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                    Meditation T. Kendall
 Doxology                 Avery/Mars

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.

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 Closing Hymn. Thanks be to God for these ministers among us.
¨  Closing Hymn  Eternal Father, Strong to Save (opposite) Melita
¨  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.
¨  Benediction & Sending Forth
    Postlude Gothic Minuet on “Kingsfold” M. Walicke
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, Niger and our brothers and sisters at Bethel 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, Alva Peloquin, Gloria VanWinkle.
¨ Mary Miller, back at The Terrace—visitors encouraged!!
¨ Rebecca Bradshaw-Cates, recovering from surgery for ovarian cancer
¨ George Mountjoy and the family and friends of Loretta, who passed away Tuesday, August 8, 2017. A memorial service was held here yesterday in Cowan Chapel. Condolences can be expressed to George at 107 Clay Dr, Richmond, KY 40475.
¨ Dan Rohrer, recovering from a hospitalization
¨ Sue Peterson Blyth and all loved ones of Andy Blyth as they mourn his passing. A service in celebration of Andy’s life will be held here at Union, Sept. 3, at 2 pm.
¨ Teri VanPelt, with health difficulties
¨ Susan Doring-Zook, recovering from surgery on her arm, broken in a fall. Meal Train at www.mealtrain.com/trains/wodzge.  
¨ Rev. Rachel’s cousin, Jeff Small, father of two small kids, who is on a heart transplant waiting list.
¨ Prayers for all those returning to classes and education, and prayers for the educators in our midst! We free the soul when we free the mind. May God bless learners of every age.
 
Our Nursery is now located in Room 104, off the playground!!   
Join the church today. We would be honored to be church family with you… Membership in the church is a matter of covenant: covenanting with others to learn and teach, to give and to serve the God of love and justice. We who worship here are not of one mind and we come from many backgrounds.
       We don’t all agree on everything, but we agree to explore and serve together; to listen and act faithfully, and to support one another. This Sunday is a chance to be welcomed into such a fellowship, and to receive the church’s promise to journey together in our service to Christ. Please consider joining and being a member here. We would be honored to serve alongside you.  
So Much Love, So Many Thanks! Diana and I are overwhelmed by the love and support we get every day from our church family but your care for us during these weeks of preparation and wedding have filled our hearts to overflowing. Thanks to all who brought food and drink so there could be celebration. Thanks to all those who have given us so much so that our start might be enriched and blessed. And special thanks to those who donated to others in our honor. We are humbled and very happy that our union is blessing others in the form of housing, recovery, and transformational love. We are wealthy beyond measure to be in a community of such friends. Thank you for including us in your circles of grace.  ~Rev. Kent & Diana
P.S.: If you are the giver of a blue tramontina dutch oven, we’d like to thank you but it came in the mail without a name or card!
Thanks so much to those who worked so hard to make the pool party a success!
Celtic Gala Concert at Union Church August 19, 8 pm! Celtic Festival Concert next Saturday, Celtic Worship Service Sunday: Again this year, Union Church is partnering with the Folk Circle Association and the Berea Celtic Festival. A special concert benefitting the Kentucky Environmental Association. Tickets are $20, $5 children & students, $75 priority seating – available at www.brownpaper tickets.com/event/3000155
Celtic Concert needs Volunteers!  The Celtic Gala Concert supporting Kentucky Environmental Foundation needs YOUR help. If you can help with taking tickets at the door, cleaning dishes after the musicians dinner or CD sales contact Sune Frederiksen at 248-0690. If you can help with tidying up the sanctuary after the concert contact Dave Kobersmith at davek@union-church.org  
Music Theory: Step One: August 23, 6 pm, Conference Room. “Music is the universal language of all people.” Seems simple until you start to look at it on a page.  Have you wanted to join choir or handbells, but don’t want to because you can’t read music? How about brushing up on some old skills you have?  “Music Theory” is the body of rules and language that encompass the methods and concepts composers and other musicians use in creating music. Understanding some basic terms and concepts can help you better communicate with your director, and s/he with you! We’ll answer all your current questions, and give you a framework for understanding the “quick answer” as new ones come up in your music. If you want to learn the basics of music theory, come find out how much fun it is to learn! 
From the Mission & Service Board: No Bazaar this year.  The Mission & Service Board has decided that we will not be able to do a Bazaar this year, due to the difficulty we have had getting moving this year. We have been short two members. We will be looking for other fundraising opportunities that will not require as  much effort to plan and organize.
Union Church will be a sponsor for the Spoonbread Festival and may be able to have a booth. We have a quilt that was donated (and refurbished by Bob Boyce) which we can auction off this year. Please let members of the Board know if you would be willing to assist with fundraising events. Thank you,
Sally Zimmerman and Dodie Murphy
Join the Children’s Church team this year! Volunteers lead children in grades K-5 in a short lesson and activities during the second half of the church service each Sunday. We’re looking to add members to our team for the 2017-2018 school year. Children’s church leaders are provided with the lesson and activities each week, and each volunteer works together with a buddy to team teach.
The commitment is one Sunday per month, and we have a lot of fun, helping our curious and lively young people engage with the life of the church.  Interested? Contact Laura Nagle at 358-0106.  Or joyfulsunflower @gmail.com
School supplies are needed by Berea Family Resource Youth Service Center including college-ruled single subject notebooks, one-inch binders & markers Donations may be left in the church office.
Scribes to help our Pastors. You may see a member of the Pastoral Relations Board standing near the pastors as they greet folks on their way out of the worship service. These are scribes—their job is to note  important conversations and details the pastors  might forget in the activity.
Are you a Creative Decorator?  The Worship Board seeks folks to “boldly and creatively” rethink our sanctuary décor.   Do you have some ideas?  Can you help?  If so, please talk to one of the pastors. 
Help Wanted!  We have an ongoing need for volunteers to help with Sunday services.  Can you be a worship reader, greeter, coffee angel, etc.?   For details go to the church website, union-church.org and click on “Volunteer” near the upper right corner (or talk to Doug Hindman).
Assisting in Worship
Worship Leader today is Susie Ritchie . Next week: Paul Smithson
Scribe today is Tom Frazier. Next week: Dodie Murphy
Steve Bolster is our guest musician today. Dr. Bolster is the Mary W. McGaw  Endowed Chair in Music at Berea College, where he has taught for 34 years. He conducts the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, and teaches voice, vocal methods, conducting, and the music senior seminar. Under his direction the Berea College Concert Choir and Chamber Singers have toured annually for three decades in the eastern United States, and performed on international tours in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and China.  The Concert Choir has also performed multiple times for the Kentucky Music Educators Association annual In-Service Conference, and has twice performed under Dr. Bolster’s direction at the American Negro Spiritual Competition in Cincinnati’s famous Music Hall.
August 20: Guest Celtic Festival Musicians Mai Hernon & Mick McEvilley
August 27: Susan Waterbury, piano; Gabe Evans, piano & organ