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

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost August 2, 2015, 10:30 am

Meditation
God longs for God and uses us, rises in us…becomes in us. Let us be silent, a quiet dough where God moves into every pore… where God lives as God pleases.  Let us rise simply, a quiet dough.

— Gunilla Norris

From there to here
Prelude     Three Piece Suite, II. Romance           M. Dring   Jenna Sehmann, oboe
*   Call to Worship 
One:     We are called to love one another with patience, humility, and love.
All:      Let us be the Body of Christ.  
One:     Christ has generously divided out gifts for us.
All:      Let us be the Body of Christ.
One:     The body is made up of apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists, men, women, young and old.
All:      Let us be the Body of Christ.
One:     We are called to speak the truth in love, knit together into one body that builds itself up in love.
All:      Let us be the Body of Christ.
One:     We come to worship God, who has created us for different purposes and yet calls us into one body.
All:      Let us worship God!
*   Opening Hymn #18        Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer      CWM Rhondda
*   Prayer of Approach & Confession  
One:     In humility and trust, we confess our shortcomings to you.
One:     Create in us clean hearts, O God,
All:     and put a new and right spirit within us.
One:     In our freedom to make choices in life, we have not always chosen wisely for ourselves or for others.
One:     Create in us clean hearts, O God,
All:      and put a new and right spirit within us.
One:     As stewards of your creation, our dominion has often been cruel. We have not always tread lightly on this earth or protected it.
One:     Create in us clean hearts, O God,
All:      and put a new and right spirit within us.
One:     Wonderfully made in your image, we sometimes doubt our own holiness.
One:     Create in us clean hearts, O God,
All:      and put a new and right spirit within us.
One:     As a community filled with many gifts, we have not always seen those gifts in others or called them forth for the good of all.
One:     Create in us clean hearts, O God,
All:      and put a new and right spirit within us.

                        based on Psalm 51

*   Words of Assurance 
One:    Though we are often fractured in ourselves and divided from one another, the mercy and compassion of Christ yet heals and restores our brokenness. Believe the good news! In Christ we are forgiven and whole. In Christ we are changed and challenged and restored. Amen.
*   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.
 The Word in our Midst
Special Music       Be Thou My Vision      arr. W. Fritchie   Jenna Sehmann, oboe
Epistle Lesson                  Ephesians 4:1-16
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 return to their seats or follow volunteers to the front entrance of the sanctuary to 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 age & under, care is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Community Room.
Gospel Lesson                  John 6:24-38
Sermon                 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              Six Metaphors after Ovid, Op. 49  I. Pan, II. Noble     B. Britten    Jenna Sehmann, oboe
*   Doxology                         Avery/Marsh
Sharing God’s Love in Communion
*   Invitation to Communion
One:     God be with you!
All:      And also with you!
One:     Lift up your hearts.
All:      We lift them up to God.
One:     Let us give thanks to God.
All:      It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Communion Hymn #330            Let Us Break Bread Together            Let Us Break Bread Together
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 Prayers and Prayers of the Community
Communion Prayer
One:     We thank you, God, Creator of us all; from the beginning you made the world and all its creatures. You made people to live for you and for one another.
All:      We praise you, O God.
One:     You created Adam and Eve and gave them a garden; you showed Noah a rainbow; you gave Moses strength to free your people and taught Miriam to sing; you gave courage to Esther and loyalty to Ruth; you gave David a harp and a kingdom, and helped him defeat the giant.
All:      We praise you, O God.
One:    Yet, even when great people turned away from you and forgot about you, you did not forget. When we forget your vision, and aren’t sure how to move ahead, You do not forget. You call us to places of new life. You build us up in love. You send us out with good news. You never forget.
One:     You sent Jesus to the world to show how much you love us and to bring us back to you again. He came as one of us, first an infant, later a youth, then an adult. He rejoiced with those who rejoiced, and wept with those who wept. To the despairing, he spoke a word of hope. To the sick, he gave healing. To the hurting, he was a friend.
One:     Even betrayal and death could not still his message or stunt the beloved community of your grace he proclaimed. He was lifted from the grave and restored to life, that he might be with us and we with him,
All:      One Body, One Spirit, maintaining the unity of the spirit within the bond of peace, each given grace that we might grow up in every way which is Christ.
One:     Therefore with all the saints of every time and place, we join the angels in their praise:
Communion Sanctus  
Words of Institution
One:     We gather at this table to remember that on the hillside beside the sea, in the house of a tax collector, and on the night before he died, Jesus ate with his friends, and he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it, he broke it and gave it to them, saying:
All:      “Take, eat. This is my body, given for you. Each time you do this, remember me.”
One:     That same night, Jesus also took a cup, and after giving thanks, passed it to his friends, saying:
All:     “Drink. This cup, poured out for you, is the promise of God: forgiveness for you and for all. Whenever you drink it, remember me.”
One:     Christ has lived, died and risen!
One:     Christ loves, calls, and heals the world!
All:      In all we do, may we embody the life and ministry of Jesus.
One:     Send, O God, your Holy Spirit upon us and what we do here, that we and these gifts, touched by your Spirit,  may be signs of life and love to one another,  and to the world.
All:      Amen.
Serving One Another
All who seek the love of God are welcome at this meal and are invited to freely receive from it.  We will share the elements today by intinction, dipping the bread in the cup. When invited please come to one of the stations by exiting your pew to the left and returning by the right. If it is not convenient to come forward, the elements can be brought to your seat by signaling to the usher. All the bread is gluten-free, and the chalices are filled with non-alcoholic grape juice.
If it is not your tradition to receive, you are invited to join in prayers for the unity of the Spirit and all people, within your tradition.
Blessing for Those Who Will Receive at Home
The elements from our meal will go with our blessing and prayers for our continued unity in the Spirit. If you would like serve by taking communion to others, you are very welcome to do so and are invited to volunteer.
Prayer of Thanksgiving (unison)
Almighty God, we give you thanks for the gift of our Savior’s presence in the simplicity and splendor of this holy meal.  Help us discover your beloved community in our midst with, and for, all who are fed by Christ’s body and blood that we may faithfully proclaim the good news of your love in this place, and that your universal church may be a rainbow of hope in an uncertain world; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, Amen.
From Here to There
*   Closing Hymn  #347       Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ  Linstead
*   Benediction & Sending Forth
Postlude (please be seated)         Trumpet Tune  N. Bowden
____________________
*   Please rise in body or in spirit as you wish
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 Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and our brothers and sisters at Berea Church of Christ in your hearts, and pray for them.
Please also hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week:

• Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound:  Edith Hansen, Nancy Jones, Mary Miller, Averill Kilbourne, Alva Peloquin, Ruth Butwell
• Marlene Payne, undergoing medical testing and possible surgery on Monday
• Loriel Warren, having back surgery on Monday
• For the Eschbach, Zimmerman, and Freeman families in the sudden death of David Freeman, and also dear friend Russ Meeker.

• Prayers of celebration from the Gravel family: Sophie’s friend Cole is healing more quickly than expected and coming out of casts 3 weeks early! Muse’s Aunt Lib is home now, up and doing. We are holding their sister-in-law Sherri and dear friend Diane Barber in our prayers, both with cancer, and Diane very near her death. May light and love be their path.
• Teri VanPelt, recovering from knee surgery, and her sister Karen Lee, who is moving to Berea
• Bone marrow screening drive for baby Dexton, August 2, 12 to 4 pm,  at the Climax, KY, Volunteer Fire Department.

Electronic Newsletter emailed on Friday. If we have your email address, you should have gotten a link to August’s newsletter on Friday. If you didn’t, or it didn’t work correctly for you—let us know and we’ll see what we can do better. If you aren’t and want to be on the emailing list – or prefer a paper newsletter – let us know that too.  Tks!
The Faith Development Board invites you to Rekindle the Spirit Day on Sunday, August 16th  (following worship service) to join the conversation. We want to take time to share our vision for the future and hear where you want to go.  Together, we will go boldly in to future of our faith development! The discussion will take place in the Community Room downstairs, and a snack lunch will be provided. Topics to be discussed will include, but will not be limited to: changes to children’s church, family faith days and opportunities to further the mission of the Faith Development Board.  We look forward to seeing you and hearing what you have to say!
Achieving and Building Life Equally Are you interested in joining together to create a Berea support group for those of us who self-identify as differently or uniquely able, or identify as disabled? This includes anyone who may be coping with a chronic or long-term illness, or dealing with an injury or illness that impacts daily life. If interested, let’s meet on August 19 at 6:00pm in the Community Room at Union Church. This could become a regular get together, an opportunity for friendship and sharing in a confidential setting.
We, in ABLE (Achieving and Building Life Equally), work hard to be strong and fearless. We succeed in life with creativity. We are not ‘less than;’ we are equal in the world.
Share-YOUR-music Sunday! August 30  ~  Sanctuary This is an opportunity for vocal and instrumental soloists and ensembles to share the music of their hearts in worship.
If you would like to provide music for this special service, please fill out the sign-up sheet in the ivory brochure and turn it in by Sunday, August 16 or sooner.
We will need this information well in advance so we can craft an inspired, and smooth-running worship service, as well as an efficient sound-check schedule.
Please contact Gabe to coordinate additional practice times.
Alzheimer’s Education at Madison County Public Library, Richmond location Session 1: Living With Alzheimer’s for Caregivers: Early Stage. In the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease, families face new questions as they adjust. Tuesday, August 4, 2:00 pm
Session 2: Living With Alzheimer’s for Caregivers: Middle Stage. In the middle stage of Alzheimer’s disease, those who were care partners now become hands-on caregivers. Tuesday, August 11, 2:00 pm
Session 3: Living With Alzheimer’s for Caregivers: Late Stage. In the late stage of Alzheimer’s disease, caregiving typically involves new ways of connecting and interacting with the person with the disease. Tuesday, August 18, 2:00 pm
If you or someone you know is affected by Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, it’s time to learn the facts. To register, call 1-800-272-3900
Dobby Sock Drive August 9 The Harry Potter Alliance chapter of Lexpecto Patronum in Lexington is a group of young people organizing to do good in the world.
They are asking us to help with a sock drive for homeless people. In the Harry Potter books, the house elf Dobby was emancipated by being given a sock. Let’s make that a reality by bringing socks to church on August 9!  New and very gently used socks are acceptable.
Donate whatever you would give a dear friend with cold feet. ♥
For more info about Lexpecto Patronum, go to www.facebook.com/groups/Lexpecto Patronum/
Free Lunch at the Public Library through August 11!! Monday—Saturday 12—1 for those 18 years old & under. Super Snack Sundays from 1-2 pm, all ages. No sign up required, just come and eat!
Church Bazaar, Sat. August 29!  Raffles! Bake sale! Food on the lawn! Live music! Junque! Bring donations to the former Nursery off the Community Room. Baked goods, jams,  welcome too.
Special Call to Help Feed Our Neighbors — Did you know that many Bereans will face an extra challenge in feeding their families this August and September?  As Kentucky’s EBT system (formerly known as “food stamps”) makes changes to its calendar, some families will have to find ways to feed their children for a week longer than usual.
Berea Community’s Family Resource/Youth Service Center is able to help meet the need during those weeks, but needs your help to do so.  You can make a financial contribution to the FRYSC, and staff will convert your dollars into filling meals for families who are facing food shortages. Your donation is tax deductible.
Write a check to Berea FRYSC and be sure to mark “family meals” in your memo line.  You can mail that check to Berea FRYSC, 3 Pirate Parkway, Berea, KY 40403.  Call Jenny Hobson at 893-1075 or email jenny.hobson@berea.kyschools.us