A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the
Church of Christ, Union
First Sunday of Advent Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
December 1, 2013 10:30 am
Welcome & Announcements
Introduction to Las Posadas
Prelude Savior of the Nations, Come (Chorale and Var. 1) Hugo Distler
Posadas Song Please sing the song when invited
* Hymn #116 Black O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Veni Emmanuel
Verses 1,7
* Prayer of Confession
One: When we reject the poor and the outsiders,
All: Forgive us, and turn our hearts.
One: When we seek fear rather than love,
All: Forgive us, and turn our hearts.
* Words of Assurance
One: One is coming, and is already here, who will beat swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks, who will take the hardest of hearts and melt it into a warm embrace.
All: Come, Lord Jesus! Come, O Come, Emmanuel!
* Passing the Peace of Jesus 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.
Anthem Advent Carol Alfred Fedak
Union Church Choir
Desert, blossom as a rose rising, radiant as it grows, all arrayed in crimson show; Come to us, O God of Hope. Thirsty land, become a stream, flowing fountain, calm, serene, Clear cascade from heav’n above; Come to us, O God of Love,
Weakened hands, be now made strong; Silent tongues, break forth in song; blinded eye, your sight employ; Come to us, O God of Joy.
Soon a pathway shall be found; for the faithful, holy ground, safe from angry warring beasts; Come to us, O God of Peace.
Sing God’s praise, Jerusalem! Hope, joy, love and peace shall come; sorrow, sighing, now dispel; Come to us, Emmanuel. King of glory, Soul of bliss, everlasting life is this:
Thee to know, They pow’r to prove, thus to sing, and thus to love! Alleluia! Alleluia!
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, Little Church for children Preschool & under is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Fellowship Hall, and Children’s Church, for grades K-3, takes place in the chapel. If this is your child’s first time attending Little Church or Children’s Church, please accompany them to fill out a registration form. Otherwise, children are welcome to follow volunteers to their worship spaces.
Scripture Lesson Isaiah 2:1-5
Sermon World of Peacecraft Rev. Rachel Small Stokes
Offertory O Lord, How Shall I Meet You Paul Manz
* Doxology Tallis’ Canon
All praise to you, eternal Son, whose advent has our freedom won.
With the Creator we adore, and Holy Spirit, evermore.
* Prayer of Thanksgiving
Hymn #345 Black Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Picardy
Invitation to Communion
One: May the God of Advent be with you!
All: And also with you!
One: Lift your heads and your hearts to God.
All: We lift them to the One who comes with hope.
One: Let us give thanks to the God who promises that all things shall be made new.
All: Our voices resound in glad praises to our God.
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
Communion Prayer and Sanctus when invited, please join in singing:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.
Communion Prayer
One: Blessed is the One who comes as our Teacher, our Judge, our Salvation. Hosanna in the highest!
God of power and might, you come to reveal a new and more acceptable way. You put down the mighty from their thrones and exalt those of low degree. You fill the hungry with good things, and bid the rich to humble themselves in sacrifice.
To model this way, you through your Son Jesus Christ became flesh, Emmanuel, God with us. He humbled himself in obedience to your will and freely accepted death on a cross. By the gift of his suffering and death, transformed by your grace into the majesty of resurrection, we too are granted hope of resurrection.
As we begin this year’s journey of Advent together as pilgrims seeking new hope, we proclaim together this mystery of faith:
All: Christ has died, for “the Lord is our righteousness;”
Christ is risen, for “the Lord is our salvation;”
Christ will come, for “the Lord is our hope.”
Words of Institution
One: God of the present moment and of eternity, pour out your Holy Spirit on all of us gathered here, and on the gifs of this Table. Make them be for us the body and blood, the very sustenance of You within us, that we might have the courage and faith to walk with you in these days of expectation. This gift is not a prize for the perfect, but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak. We bring ourselves in our weakness for the strengthening of your spirit.
By your spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast together at the heavenly banquet.
God of birth, God of life, God of eternal spirit, holy three in one, we sing praises to you and await the glory of your coming.
All: Amen.
Serving One Another
All who seek the love of God are welcome at this table and are invited to freely receive from it. By tradition, unfermented grape juice is used in the cup on Sunday mornings. 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 the usher. If it is not your tradition to receive, you are invited to join in prayers for the unity of the Spirit within your tradition. You may remain in your seat, or you may come forward for a blessing, as you wish.
Blessing for Those Who Will Receive at Home
Members who have been designated to carry communion to those who could not be with us this morning are invited forward at this time. The bread and juice 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 with the Nurture and Care Board members or by contacting the pastor.
Closing Prayer
* Closing Hymn #110 Now Bless the God of Israel Forest Green
* Benediction
Postlude Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying (Wachet Auf) Michael Burkhardt
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 Big Hill Pentecostal Holiness 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 children and family of Holly Toalston, childhood friend of Maggie Park, at her untimely death
* Nancy Jones
* Alberto, Les Pross’ grandson-in-law, recovering from multiple fractures sustained in a fall
* Ruth Butwell, home after hip replacement
* Judy Rowell, recovering from surgery
* Greg Bolster, Steve’s brother, fighting cancer
* Erin Hay
* Linda Parsons, recovering at Cardinal Hill
* Gail Wolford, recovering at home
* Michelle Tooley, awaiting cancer treatment
* Dawn Manor, Dot Kindel’s daughter, recovering at the Kindels’ home
* Naomi Brandenburg, Larry’s mother, recovering at home after hip replacement
* Rose Brandenburg, Larry’s aunt, at Berea Health Care Center
* Edith Hansen, at The Terrace
* Klara Welsh, at Berea Health Care Center
* Shirley Dean, on hospice care for lung cancer
* The family of James Bonta, at his grandmother’s death
About today’s music: On each of the Advent Sundays, the organ music for the Prelude/Procession is based on the German Advent chorale, “Savior of the Nations, Come” (Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland). The 20th century German composer, Hugo Distler, composed a large scale partita (variations) on this tune whose 10 sections is 17 minutes in duration. Each Sunday, after a simple presentation of the tune, one of the brief Distler variations will follow.
You Matter! Please Sign in, 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.
Ninth Annual Christmas with a Conscience Alternative Giving Market from noon – 2:00 pm TODAY in the Community Room! Wondering what to get for family and friends this Christmas? Does your sister really need another sweater? Why not give alternative gifts this year that reach toward your loved one’s hopes and dreams for a better world? Maybe what your friends & family really want for Christmas this year is health care, food and housing for those in need, or the protection of our natural resources. Information on over 25 local, state, national and international non-profit organizations will be available for alternative giving — AND there will be a soup lunch & good conversation with friends and neighbors!
And, following Christmas with a Conscience…. stay to make ready our Sanctuary for the Season of Advent and coming of the Christ Child. We need folks who will put up the lights outside, arrange the decor of the Sanctuary, and decorate other areas of the church. Hot cocoa provided!
Wednesday Nite Live for December 4 and December 11: There are two remaining programs to wrap up the fall term for WNL. On December 4, Willie Dodson, Duncan Blount and Sarah Clark will facilitate a workshop exploring how we at Union Church might work to alleviate some of the suffering caused by prisons – a matter that has been explored in previous WNL presentations. They will use popular education techniques to frame the discussion. On December 11, Doug Hindman will discuss Emergency Preparedness.
Thank you from the Mission & Service and Community Life & Growth Boards for all of the program presenters during the fall. We have had a wonderful variety of programs, along with the food and fellowship. If you would like to present or have suggestions for WNL programs in the new year, please speak to Michelle Tooley or Betty Hibler.
Concert Weds. Dec. 4, 8:00 pm: the African-Latin Ensemble & Fusion Percussion Ensemble will play in Presser Hall, free, all welcome!
21st annual Danish-American Christmas Celebration on Sunday, Dec. 8th 5:30 PM – 8 PM at Russel Acton Folk Center. Santa Lucia Processional, Santa’s workshops, music and carols by Al and Alice White, and live candles on the Christmas tree. This is a free, family-friendly event sponsored by the Folk Circle Association. Information at 986-7584, or www.berea-folk-circle.org.
Hair dyeing fundraiser! Many of our youth will be dyeing their hair on Dec 11th!! They’ve been raising funds for camp this summer by collecting money in jars labeled by colors; the jar with the most money by December 4th will be the color we dye our hair. If we raise more than $1000, Rev. Rachel has promised to dye her hair, too (and we are thiiiiis close….!) Look for the jars after worship in the parlor and at Wednesday Nite Live, and get your votes in! Thanks to all who have contributed to sending us to camp. It is the event of the year for many of our youth.
Congregational Meeting to act upon the 2014 budget and conduct other church business, December 15, after church and a lunch by Womens Creative Sewing and Crafts (formerly Womans Industrial).
Calling all high & middle school students, children’s choir participants, and any other children! Would you like to be IN the Christmas Pageant on Dec. 15 during morning worship? IF so, plan to attend rehearsal on these dates:
Dec. 4 – 6:30-7:30
Dec. 7 – TBA
Dec. 11 – 6:30-7:30
Dec. 14 – TBA
Dec. 15 – Pageant Performance!
The Longnight Service will be Thursday, December 19, 7:00.
Teri VanPelt & Christine Ward could use some help cleaning and other jobs around their house call 859-358-6857 if you can help.
Two coats were left at the hayride — a pink kids jacket and a leather adults jacket. They’re in the office, come and claim them.
There’s some gardening stuff in the office that was loaned to VBS — if it’s yours, please come & get it!
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