A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the
Church of Christ, Union
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
August 18, 2013
Welcome to this service of worship. We are glad that you are here today. You are invited to rise in body or in spirit as you are able and willing at points in the service marked “*.”
Hearing enhancement devices and large print bulletins are available in the vestibule. After checking in on FaceBook and Twitter, please silence your cell phone, pager, etc, so all may worship undistracted.
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.
Meditation
Kindle, O Lord, in our hearts, we pray, the flame of love which never ceases, that it may burn in us and give light to others. May we shine forever in your temple,set on fire with that eternal light of yours which puts flight to the darkness of this world; in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.
— St. Columba, the Irish missionary who landed on Iona in 563 and started a program of welfare and evangelism which led to the Christianizing of Scotland and far beyond. The Celtic Church, of which he was an abbot, was particularly keen to revere God in the life of the world and the process of human life.
Gathering to Worship
Welcome & Announcements
Prelude Josephine’s Waltz
Jeni Balcom, harp
Processional Come, All You People (opposite) Uyai Mose
Please rise and sing as the Procession reaches your pew.
* Call to Worship
One: Creator of the world, eternal God,
All: We have come from many places for a little while.
One: Redeemer of humanity, God-with-us,
All: We have come with all our differences, seeking common ground.
One: Spirit of unity, go-between God,
All: We have come on journeys of our own, to a place where journeys meet.
One: So here, in this shelter house, let us take time together. For when paths cross and pilgrims gather, there is much to share and celebrate
All: In your name, three-in-one God, pattern of community. Amen.
* Hymn Christ Be Beside Me Bunessan
Christ be beside me, Christ be before me, Christ be behind me, king of my heart.
Christ be within me, Christ be below me, Christ be above me, never to part.
Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand, Christ all around me, shield in the strife.
Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting, Christ in my rising, light of my heart.
Christ be in all hearts thinking about me, Christ be on all tongues telling of me.
Christ be the vision in eyes that see me, in ears that hear me Christ ever be.
* Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: Eternal God, maker of the skies above, lowly Christ, born amidst the growing earth, Spirit of life, wind over the flowing waters, in earth, sea and sky, you are there.
All: O hidden mystery, sun behind all suns, soul behind all souls, in everything we touch, in everyone we meet, your presence is around us, and we give you thanks.
One: But when we have not touched but trampled your creation, when we have not met but missed you in one another, when we have not received but rejected you in the poor, forgive us, and hear now our plea for mercy.
* Words of Assurance
* Passing the Peace of Christ
All who come to this sanctuary are welcome companions on this day. Please turn to those nearest you and greet them with words of peace.
Hearing the Word
Gift of Music The Swan Jeni Balcom, harp
God Speaking through the Epistles Hebrews 11:29-12:2 (p. 1474)
The Letter to the Hebrews recounts the stories of the great heroes of faith who endured much suffering. Their witness emboldens us today in our living of the faith.
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, child care for ages kindergarten & under is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Fellowship Hall. Activity clipboards are available at the altar for older children.
God Speaking through the Gospels Luke 12:49-56 (p. 1253)
Jesus declares that his startling mission is to cast fire upon the earth and to divide families, saying he has come to work remarkable change in the world.
Sermon Prophets of the Present Rev. Kent Gilbert
Prayers of the People
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 Kiyosato, Japan and is also rung in the hope of peace for all nations.
Silent Prayer and Prayers of the Community
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.
Offering Our Gifts
Call to Offering
Offertory Prelude on Candler (Ye Banks and Ye Braes) J. Bert Carlson
* Doxology Avery/Marsh
Walking Forward in Faith
* Closing Hymn Song for Love Arhyd y Nos
1. Now we sing to praise love’s blessing all through our lives; laughter, joy, surprise confessing, all through our lives. Love that dreamed a new creation, love that dared an incarnation, love that offered transformation all through our lives.
2. How our wounds ache for love’s healing all through our days. How our world needs love’s revealing, in all its ways. Fearful hearts suspect the stranger, hardened nations arm for danger, love lives on, the powerful changer, all through our days.
3. Love’s the grace that makes us caring all through our lives, urges us to warmth and sharing all through our lives, speaks in us, oppression naming, strives in us, injustice shaming, lives in us, true peace proclaiming all through our lives.
4. Love’s the clown that mocks at winning all through the world, midwife of each beginning all through the world. In the struggles that confound us, in the chaos all around us love’s wide arms with hope surround us all through the world.
* Benediction and Sending Forth
Postlude Sent Forth by God’s Blessing (The Ashgrove) Dale Wood
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 the Pacific Islands: Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Samoa & the French Overseas Territories of New Caledonia (Kanaky) and French Polynesia (Tahiti), 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 the service of our country and all those who wait and worry for them.
- The Cooper family, at the untimely death of Shannon’s sister
- Peggy Baker, recovering at UK Hospital
- Bob Bates, recovering at home from emergency surgery
- Lori Wallhauser, daughter-in-law of John and Mary Wallhauser, recovering from a stroke, in Cincinnati
- Dawn Mason, Dot Kindel’s daughter, and the family. Dawn has recently had surgery and the family is moving to Berea
- Ruth Butwell
- Teri Van Pelt, experiencing pain from stenosis in the cervical vertebra
- The father of Debbonnaire Kovacs, hospitalized with serious health issues
- Rose Brandenburg, Larry’s aunt, at Kenwood Nursing Home in Richmond
- Edith Hansen, at The Terrace
- Shirley Dean, on hospice care for lung cancer
Announcements…
Explore Union Church! This is a place where your faith can grow and deepen! We are actively looking for those who would like to explore discipleship with Jesus in this congregation. YOU matter, and so does YOUR faith journey. If you’d like to join Union Church in pursing the way of peace, justice, and hope, please call, email, or Facebook either pastor, or call the church office. YOU are welcome here!
Come make a joyful noise — Choir starts soon! Regular rehearsals for the Union Church Choir begins on Thursday, Aug. 29 at 6:15 p.m. This will be an “open house” rehearsal for any and all who may be interested in seeing what we are up to on Thursday nights! Come and try us out!
Make a difference in kids’ lives! Three volunteers are needed to stuff snack bags for the Snack Pack food program at Berea Community School Family Resource Center on Tuesday, September 10, 2013 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Please contact Angela Anderson at 985-8922 to volunteer. Thanks!
Youth Group is back! Youth Group meetings will begin on August 14th. Middle school group will meet at 4:45 & the high school group will meet at 6:30. We realize that meeting at 4:45 may not be conducive to some work schedules, so if you will call Chris (678-982-1731) or Grace (205-451-7444) we can arrange to pick up your youth if you need us to.
Mindfulness-Based Strengths Practice for Caregivers This eight week program is a psychoeducational group for caregivers for individuals with dementia. It is designed to teach caregivers about mindfulness and character strengths and how to utilize them, even in the face of stressful circumstances, to experience less anxiety and sadness and more quality of life. While traditional approaches to teaching and learning will be used, special emphasis will be placed on learning through experience and practice. Meets every Thursday from Aug. 22 to Oct.10, 9-11 am. To register or for more details, contact Talia at (859) 358-3849 or at talia_bryant29@mymail.eku.edu.
Project Read of Madison County needs tutors! Can you help share your gift of knowledge? Project Read offers free classes in adult basic literacy, computer skills, GED Math and English as a second language. If you’d like to learn more about tutoring, check out the poster in the back hallway or call 623-4905. Or if you know someone who would benefit from Project Read’s services, encourage him or her to call.
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