Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the
CHURCH OF CHRIST, UNION

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
August 28, 2016    10:30 am

Meditation
If you are humble, nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know who you are.
—Mother Teresa

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 Amazing Grace arr. J. Raney
Call to Worship
One: We who have risen to embrace this day,
Two: we who are weary in body and spirit,
Three: all are welcome in this sacred place.
All: All are welcome in this sacred place.
One: We who know the abundance of life,
Two: we who are left impoverished by harsh realities,
Three: all receive a sustaining measure of God’s love.
All: All Receive a sustaining measure of God’s love.
One: We who are strong in mind and soul,
Two: we who are challenged by illnesses of many kinds,
Three: all are whole in the Spirit of God.
All: All are whole in the Spirit of God.
One:      We who have a voice and the strength to use it,
Two:      we who whisper prayers in our hearts.
Three:    all are invited to worship the God we love.
All:       All are invited to worship the God we love.
Leaders:   Come, for you have a place of honor in the heart of God.
*  Opening Hymn Gather Us In  Gather Us In
*  Prayer of Approach and Confession (unison)
We are uncomfortable, Watching God, when you notice how we want to sit in the seats of honor. We can be so proper, so good, so well-off, but so tempted, so ignorant, so insulated to imagine we are superior to the poor, the foreign, the different, the less privileged. We confess that in the scramble to look good, we forget to do good when we have the chance.
Forgive us, Welcoming God. Fill our emptiness with your grace and humility that we would spend our lives alongside Jesus loving as he loved: throwing a party for the poor, the damaged, the prisoner, the lost, the oppressed. Send us the chance to see and act differently to turn the tables for the better. 
*  Words of Assurance
One: This is the good news: after what God has done for us, what can anyone or      any thing do to us? We are new people, graced by our loving God.
All: Forgiven, embraced, welcomed by our God, we will offer open hearts and serving hands to everyone we meet. Thanks be to God. 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 How Great Thou Art M. Hayes
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Hebrews 13:1-8,15-16
Admonition and encouragement in the style of Paul to let mutual love continue and to do good in every way.
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 the Childrens 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  Luke 14:1,7-14
Jesus dines with Pharisee and critiques the human desire for status, even at dinner parties.
Sermon       Turned Tables 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 Sonata in G Major, Op. 49 No. 2 L. van Beethoven
*  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 Prayers and Prayers for 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

* Closing Hymn  I’m Gonna Eat at the Welcome Table (next page) Welcome Table
*  Benediction & Sending Forth
   Postlude (please  be  seated) How Firm a Foundation D.M. Cherwien
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 Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia and our brothers and sisters at Berea Church of God in your hearts, and pray for them.
Please also hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week:
¨ For the healing of families, communities, and our nation wracked by violence and murder, may we be agents of transformation.
¨ Prayers and funds are rising for the flood victims in Louisiana. Over 40,000 homes damaged with many displaced families. Church World Service is assessing. Over and above offerings may be made to Union Church marked “Flood Relief.”
¨ For Susan Doring-Zook’s mother recently diagnosed with colon cancer and for Susan, who suffered an unusual and life-threatening breathing attack of unknown origin.
¨ For Reda Hutton at the death of her mother, Rosemary Deremo, in Cincinnati
¨ Victims of the earthquakes in Italy, and for our members and friends who are traveling in the region.
¨ For Larry Brandenburg, recovering from kidney stone surgery
¨ For Loretta Mountjoy, recovering in Central Baptist hospital after heart valve replacement surgery.
¨ Congratulations to Jasmine Beltran and Christopher Mullins, who were married by Rev. Rachel on Thursday!
¨ Gary Dillon, undergoing chemo for lung cancer.
¨  Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound:  Edith Hansen, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin, Gloria VanWinkle.
¨ Toby Wilcher, recovering from broken bones at home, and for Shane Wilcher.
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.  Let’s all try to get to know each other better.
After worship today: Fourth Sunday New 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 for conversation with the Pastors and the Community Life and Growth Board.
New members will be received each Second Sunday of the month at the close of worship.  Next chance: September 11!
What if we could help each other see beyond red and blue to better get to know me and you? Peace Camp meeting today, 4 pm. What if we could unite people who care, throughout Berea, into creating a camp that would teach our young (and young-at-heart) people ways to love their neighbor that are practical and helpful?
A group of us at Union Church is hoping to make this vision a reality, and we want to invite you to be part of it, because we think your voice is vital to the conversation. Our hope is to create a weeklong camp next year that would teach and empower kids, youth, and adults to encourage understanding and empathy, inspire connection with others, and build sustainable peace.
We’re hosting an interest and discussion meeting this afternoon from 4-6pm in the Community Room.  We have some ideas to present, but are also very open to your ideas and perspective.  Would you be able to attend? Are you interested in finding a way to help make this happen? We’re not asking for a commitment up front, but there will be opportunities to make some commitments; primarily, we’re asking for your input and ideas! Please join us!
Both the Union Church Choir and the Union Church Handbell Ensemble kick off their programs next week!  The Union Church Handbell Ensemble will begin weekly rehearsals August 31, at 7:00 pm, and choir will begin September 1, at 6:15 pm.   Both ensembles rehearse in the Choir Room, located on the third floor.  As always, each group extends the invitation for new membership, returning membership, and old membership wanting to come back and join the fun! No musical experience is required for either ensemble.
For more information about the choir or handbell program, please visit the church website, or email Gabe (gevans@union-church.org) or Pearl (pmarshall@union-church.org).  We look forward to a fun, musical season!
Youth Group is starting back on Wednesday night, Sept. 7, same night as the first Wednesday Nite Live supper of the year (potluck)! As usual, Youth Group will convene at 6:30pm after dinner upstairs in the youth room. We will meet until 8:00pm. Any youth from the 6th to the 12th grade is very welcome to join us! Bring a friend!
How Bazaar…. The Union Church Bazaar will be Sept. 17, 10-3!!!   Donations or household goods, Christmas things, hardware, furniture, books welcome. Plus there will be Music, Food, Art, Festivities! Want to help? Contact Jenny Bromley 623-5007 or Jack Marshall(859) 408-5628 AND come to the first Wednesday Nite Live of the season for a potluck supper and to hear about plans!
Summer Food Service Program … by the numbers:
¨ 13,880 meals served (breakfast & lunch)
¨ at 12 sites
¨ in 78 days
¨ plus over 30 activities
¨ saving Berea families $44,519.14
Thank you, Union Church family, for being a part of this much-appreciated program!
Join the Madison Singers starting Sept. 6—with new Union Church connection! The Madison Singers announces its 2016-2017 season with a new conductor, Dr. Stephen Bolster, and a new assistant conductor/ accompanist, Gabe Evans. The Madison Singers are the adult community choir sponsored by the Richmond Area Arts Council. Rehearsals are Tuesday evenings from 7:30-9:00 p.m. at the Richmond Area Arts Center, 399 W. Water Street. No auditions are necessary and all singers in the community are welcomed to join the group. Tuition for fall semester is $65.00, which includes the price of all music.
Register by calling 859-624-4242 or email debbie@artsinrichmond.org.