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

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

August 20, 2017           10:30 am 

Meditation  
We saw a stranger yesterday. We put food in the eating place, drink in the drinking place, music in the listening place. And with the sacred name of the triune God he blessed us and our house, our cattle and our dear ones. As the lark says in her song: Often, often, often, goes the Christ in the stranger’s guise.          
 — Celtic rune of hospitality      

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 Prelude and Fugue in F Major, BWV 556 J.S. Bach
¨  Call to Worship
One: I will light a light in the name of the Maker who lit the world and breathed the breath of life for me.
All: I will light a light in the name of the Son who saved the world and stretched to his hand to me.
One: I will light a light in the name of the Spirit who encompasses the world and blesses my soul with yearning.
All: We will light three lights for the Trinity of love:
God above us, God beside us, God beneath us;
The Beginning, The End, the Everlasting One.
¨  Opening Hymn  Christ Be Beside Me Morning Has Broken
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:   O Trinity of Love, God in community, holy and one, look now on us who look to you…
All:    And hear our prayer for our community.
One:    Where there is falseness…
All: Smother it by your truth;
One: Where there is any coldness….
All: Kindle the flame of your love;
One: Where there is outrage…
All: Temper it into healing action.
One: Where there is joy and hope…
All: Free us to share it together;
One: And make us one…
All: As you are one.
One: Before God and you who are near me, I release anything I hold against you; I regret all I have done
All:  Before God and you who are near, we release anything we hold against one another; we regret the harm we have done; we stand beside the wrong in our lives and ask for God’s forgiveness. Amen.
¨  Words of Assurance
One: Jesus says to us, each one: “Go and sin no more, come and follow me.” Now bind our hands with honesty and grace as we offer them to each other in peace.
¨  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 Be Thou My Vision trad. Mick McEvilley
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Genesis Genesis 45:1-15
Joseph, incognito as Pharaoh’s deputy in Egypt, reveals himself to his brothers, forgiving them for their mistreatment of him.
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 15:10-28
Critiqued by other Jewish authorities, Jesus meditates on what truly defiles a human being and gets a lesson in practicing what he preached.
Sermon Down to the Bone 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                    Lord, Help Me trad.       Mai Hernon & Mick McEvilley
¨  Doxology                 Avery/Marsh

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
Musical Prayer The Lord’s Prayer  Mai Hernon
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

¨  Closing Hymn       We Met You         
¨   Benediction & Sending Forth
    Postlude    Postlude on Hyfrydol         J. Smyth
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  Liberia and Sierra Leone and our brothers and sisters at St. Clare Catholic  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, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin, Gloria VanWinkle.
¨ The victims of recent violence in Charleston, SC; Barcelona, Spain, and  worldwide.
¨ Those killed and injured in mudslides in Africa.
¨ Rebecca Bradshaw-Cates, recovering from surgery for ovarian cancer
¨ George Mountjoy and the family and friends of Loretta, who passed away Tuesday, August 8.  Condolences can be expressed to George at 107 Clay Dr, Richmond, KY 40475.
¨ Dan Rohrer, recovering from a hospitalization
¨ Amy Williams, recovering from a car accident. She would appreciate some help with meals as she recovers: www.mealtrain.com/trains/4d7r22
¨ Susan Doring-Zook, recovering from surgery on her arm, broken in a fall.
¨ 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.
Announcements
Eclipse Watching Safety Info Session today at 4 pm, Community Room. Jeff Hutton will lead an Eclipse Orientation session.  This session is open to all (trip participants and those going to observe on their own). Most importantly, we’ll talk about eye safety and how to best enjoy the experience. Those of us on the vans will also get last minute instructions. We’d like to collect funds this afternoon. You can make checks payable to “Union Church”. 
God on the Quad this afternoon. Representatives of diverse religious communities in our area will welcome first-year Berea College students from 3-5 on the Draper Quad. The Willis D. Weatherford Campus Christian Center hosts this event every year, and Union Church is delighted to participate.
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! 
August 24: Music Ministries Picnic at Rev. Kent’s House, 6:00pm. 298 Harrison Road, Berea. Open to all, this will be a time of fun and fellowship.  Please bring a side or dessert – burgers, dogs and drinks provided. You will have an opportunity to meet current Union Church choir members, handbell ringers, and your music staff!  Handbell Rehearsals start August 30 at 7:00 pm, and vocal choir the 31st at 6:15.
Time to Rekindle the Spirit, August 27. At the beginning of each school year, the Faith Development Board hosts a lunch (veggie option available) and gathering at which we can each learn about all the Faith Development offerings this year and see where you’d like to join in and rekindle your own spirit.
Plan to stay for an hour or so after church on August 27th to learn about what’s happening, including children’s church, youth group, adult studies, and All Y’all Faith Days. Newcomers should find this especially helpful!
We’ll also have the good fortune to host a special screening of an award-winning 13-minute Applashop film Dying Breed by Lauren Rose, Jaydon Tolliver, our own Ben Whaley-Jones, and Shaylan Clark.
“After decades of decline, a deadly coal miners’ disease is on the rise in Central Appalachia. Living with black lung disease is a frightening reality that thousands of coal miners face. During recent months, lawmakers have tried to block funding for black lung treatments and benefits.
This film hopes to bring awareness to a disease that has gone unnoticed on a national scale. Viewers will experience the challenges that victims and their families face, along with insights from profess-sionals in the field.”  https://vimeo.com/228241566.  Ben will be present to introduce and discus the film.
Celebration of Andy Blyth’s life Sept. 3. Andy’s Celebration will be held Sept 3rd, 2 -4 PM in the Union Church Sanctuary and feature numerous local musicians in a lively and memorable musical tribute to our favorite minstrel, Andy Blyth, who passed away July 27th. This is a Community Celebration and everyone is welcome and encouraged to come early and bring a snack to share.  A free-will offering will be taken up to benefit Union Church (sound system) and also WoodSongs Front Porch Association which encourages music in the schools and live local music.
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 5-K run and will have a booth. Volunteers will be needed to staff it and hand out literature. We have a quilt that was donated (and refurbished by Bob Boyce) which we can raffle off at the Festival. 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
Barb Smith is moving to an new place in town and has a grill to give away. Call her at 985-5522 if you can give it a good home.
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).
Stephanie Runyan, potter, has been accepted into the Artist Accelerator program at the 123 Gallery in Old Town! Congratulations!