A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost August 24, 2014, 10:30 am & 7:00 pm
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
Prelude Prelude and Fugue in G Major J.S. Bach
* 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 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.
* Opening Hymn All Are Welcome Marty Haugen
* 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.
But when we have not touched
but trampled you in 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.
* Affirmation and Words of Assurance
One: Hear now the words of Jesus:
For all who are truly sorry
and seek to renew their lives;
Your sins are forgiven.
Go in peace, come and follow me.
Breathing in The Living Word
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.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Exodus 1:8-2:10
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.
Epistle Lesson Romans 12:1-8
Sermon Deep Peace of the Flowing Air Rev. Kent Gilbert
Sharing the Gifts of Love
Call to Offering
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 Air I G.F. Handel
* Iona Doxology John Bell
* Prayer of Thanksgiving
Being and Becoming One
Prayers of the Community
When invited, please respond:
One: Christ, in your mercy,
All: Hear our prayer.
Our Lord’s Prayer
One: our Mother, our Maker, 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
* Closing Hymn Sisters and Brothers, with One Voice (opposite) John Bell
* Postlude Allegro Maestoso G.F. Handel
____________________________
* Please rise in body or in spirit
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 Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia and our brothers and sisters at Bethlehem Baptist 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 service of our country, and those who wait and worry for them
* Our church family members in nursing homes: Edith Hansen, Klara Welsh, Bernice Robertson, Nancy Jones, Mary Miller, Virginia Piland, Averill Kilbourne, Ann Thomasson, Alva Peloquin
* Charlie Smithson, Paul’s brother, battling multiple myeloma.
* Janet Dailey-Hosp
* The Orwig family, at Elizabeth’s death. A service will be held here next Saturday, 11:00 am, with visitation Friday 4-6 pm
* Averill Kilbourne, who has suffered a back fracture
* Bob Bates, who had open heart bypass and valve replacement surgery. He is at St. Joseph Main in Lexington
* Rev. Rachel’s aunt, Annamarie Hogbin, in critical condition in West Virginia
* Doug & Nancy Hindman, on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary
Announcements
You Matter! Please Sign the Register, Check in on Facebook/Twitter and try a nametag! It’s hard to get to know people elsewhere, but we don’t want it that way at church. Use the pew folder in your row, passing it back when all have signed. Let’s all try to get to know each other better.
Welcome to returning Berea College students, faculty and staff!! Union Church offers our prayers and hopes for a rewarding new semester for all.
Thanks to all who helped out with the Bazaar and Estate Sale yesterday! If you had the winning bid on a Silent Auction item, please pick that up and pay for it promptly, so our money can start doing good works right away!
Learn more about Union Church today – Fourth Sunday Membership Info: Come One Come All! Each Fourth Sunday of the Month anyone wanting to know more about Union Church or wanting to explore church membership, as well as new members who have not been able to participate in a previous meeting, are invited to come to the classroom two doors past the church office immediately following worship for conversation with the Pastors and the Community Life and Growth Board. Light refreshments will be offered.
New members will be received each Second Sunday of the month (September 14) at the close of worship.
Union Church Choir starts Thursday! We would love to welcome all current, old and new members, and anyone who is curious to join. We welcome all people, music readers and non-music readers, to be part of us. If you don’t know what an eighth note is, we will gladly teach you. Youth (high school and older), along with Berea College students, are strongly encouraged and invited to join. Practices will begin on a regular weekly schedule, Thursdays at 6:15pm, with our first anthem to be sung on September 7. To accommodate Berea students and members who may not be able to join on Thursday evenings, there will be an additional rehearsal that will meet outside of regular choir rehearsal time – to be determined. If you would like to discuss an interest or have any questions about joining our musical family, please feel free to email Director of Music Ministries, Gabriel Evans, at gevans@union-church.org.
Wednesday Nite Live! to Resume September 10 A new season of Wednesday Night Live (WNL) will resume on September 10 & we need you (to help cook)! If you are new to Union Church, here is the format: A meal is served at 5:45 p.m. sandwiched between rehearsals for the two children’s choirs. The youth group meets after dinner at 6:30, and the Bell Choir rehearses at 7:00 p.m. And on many Wednesdays, the Mission and Service Board presents brief programs from 6:30 to 7:00, highlighting some of the organizations that Union Church supports through our M&S giving. See your upcoming September Consider for details.
September is School Attendance Awareness Month and you can help. The families and young people in your life need to know you care that all children in your community are in school. If you’re able to help take a child to school when the parent cannot, let the family know. When interacting with students, ask them about school. Let them know the important role it played in your life. Contact your local school to see how else you can help. Attendance matters to us all!
New Berea Solar Farm panels available for leasing! The Berea Municipal Utilities (BMU) has more than doubled its Solar Farm – again! – adding 126 new 250 watt solar panels that are now producing electricity and available for leasing! Founded in 2011, the purpose of the Solar Farm is to provide anyone who wants to invest locally in clean energy an opportunity to do so. Want more information? Call Joyce Hendricks at BMU, 986-4391.
Free Qigong workshop September 6, 9:00—5:00. Qigong (this type is called Zhineng Qigong) involves slow gentle movements along with meditation. A regular practice of Zhineng Qigong can be very helpful for those with all kinds of health challenges….(both physical, mental, emotional and spiritual). All levels of physical ability are welcome and encouraged to attend. Joan is a certified nurse practitioner and has been practicing and teaching qigong for several years. Please check website for more information: www.smilingheartqigongcenter.com Please bring a water bottle, wear comfortable clothing and something you may lay on if you are able.
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