A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
10:30 am, Second Sunday of Advent
“Give peace a chance.” ~ John Lennon
From There to Here: We Gather
Hymn Sing Choose Your Favorites!
Meditation Chant/Song Kindle a Flame John Bell
@1987, Iona Community, GIA Publications, Inc., agent Reprinted with permission using OneLicense #A-723786
First Reading Isaiah 40:1-11 Carla Gilbert, Reader
Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”
See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.
~ New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021)
Lighting the Candle of Peace
As its name implies, Advent is a time of new understandings, of awakening, and of expectation and of beginnings. We start not in the bright lights of Christmas cheer, but rather in the NEED that calls for this longed for child. We start in the shadows, learning their shape, and tracing the presence and promise of God that leads from “shadow” to “living love.” Today we examine the shadows around Peace.
Reading by Candlelighter EJ Stokes
One: Advent is the beginning of a sacred arc for us, one that moves from “shadows” of sin and fear, to the “kindled light” of Christmas. Throughout Advent we seek to understand the shape of these shadows and God’s presence and promise among them.
Today the prophet speaks comfort to the people. Having seen hardship and having come through a time of exile, the promise is of Peace. This promise isn’t about a wrapped up and ready present, though. It’s about the enduring and ongoing work God undertakes to “make peace,” and the promise that even if we are in the shadow of war, we can be closer to God when we join in that work. Today we have passed the candles of HOPE and PEACE to lighten the dark and show us the way. Let us pray:
Prayer from the Shadows
One: God, you lift our every valley and are making the path of peace straight and level.
All: Dispel the shadows of our fears, Lord, and bring comfort to all the people!
One: We confess that we have mistaken “peace” for “quiet;” that we have been strong for war and weak for peace in crooked ways. We see differently now, we seek more.
All: Forgive us, and reshape our shadows into the true Peace of your coming Christ.
The Candles of Hope and Peace are Lit
One: God you meet all those who seek to follow your light and the Peace you proclaim is precious beyond price.
All: You have kindled Peace in us, O Lord of Light. Grant that we may carry the flame for all. Amen.
¨ Hymn #101 Comfort, Comfort O My People Psalm 42
1 “Comfort, comfort O my people, tell of peace,” thus says our God; Comfort those whose hearts are shrouded, mourning under sorrow’s load. Speak unto Jerusalem of the peace that waits for them; tell them that their sins I cover, and her warfare now is over.
2 For the herald’s voice is calling in the desert far and near, bidding us to make repentance since the realm of God is here. Oh, that warning cry obey! Now prepare for God a way; let the valleys rise to in meeting and the hills bow down in greeting.
3 Straight shall be what long was crooked, and the rougher places plain! Let your hearts be true and humble, for Messiah’s holy reign; for God’s glory evermore shall be known o’er all the world; and all flesh shall see the token that god’s word is never broken.
¨ Passing of the Hope
All who come to this sanctuary are welcome companions on the journey of faith. Please turn to those nearest you and greet them with words of hope.
Word and Worship
Anthem O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Funderburk, Little Union Church Choir
O Come, O Come, Immanuel and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lowly exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here, disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and bring to earth thy truth and light. O come, o come thou Lord of might who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height in ancient times didst give the law in cloud and majesty and awe.
Children’s Moment as the children return to their seats we sing:
May God’s blessings 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.
Scripture Lesson Mark 1:1-8
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'”
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
~ New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021)
Sermon Shaping Peace from Shadows Rev. Kent Gilbert
Video Reflection
Living Prayer
Ringing of the Peace Bell Rhonda Cardwell
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.
Offertory
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Doxology At the conclusion of our Offertory and Prayer, please join in singing and return to your seats:
To God, all glorious heavenly light; To Christ, revealed in earthly night; To God the Spirit, now we raise Our joyful songs of thankful praise. Amen.
Community Prayer Carla Gilbert, Reader
Peace, not “pieces” is our cry in the wilderness Lord of light. Like John the Baptizer, we aim to level the rough places in this world, and so bring your holy “shalom.” Give us voices for that shalom as love demands. Strengthen our weary hearts to light candles in dark times and warm as many as we can with the fires of our love. We are fractured in spirit. We are often overwhelmed. Our bodies tell of the toll placed on all those who yearn for peace with justice but don’t have it yet. Give your people courage to sing on and bring us to the day where all your children can gather at peace and unafraid. Lift up the valleys and bring down the barriers so we may come to you whole and serve each other as love demands. This we ask in the name of the coming Christ, who taught us to reach to you as…
Our Lord’s Prayer
All: 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: We Depart
Hymn Prepare the Way, O Zion Bereden Vag For Herran, Frans Mikael Franzen
Reprinted with permission using OneLicense #A-723786
Community Connections
Announcements
We share opportunities for Beloved Community and ways to serve. Please see the listing of church & community evens, prayers, and notices in the pages following the service.
Lighting the Justice Candle to Lead us Forth
On this day as we focus on Peace, at the same time wars are raging around the globe, the words of Anne Weems echo….
“In the midst of war, I no longer pray for peace. I pray for miracles. I pray that stone hearts will turn to tenderheartedness, and the soldiers already deployed will be snatched out of harm’s way, and the world will be astounded onto its knees. I pray that the whole world might sit down together and share its bread and its wine. Some say there is no hope, but then I applaud those who never give up on our faith: that we are loved by God, that we can truly love one another. I no longer pray for peace. I pray for miracles.”
Today we light this candle for the teachings of Ann Weems who passed from this earthly world in 2016. Ann was a Presbyterian elder, a lecturer, an author and a poet. Her books include Family Faith Stories, Reaching for Rainbows, Searching for Shalom, Kneeling in Bethlehem, Kneeling in Jerusalem, Psalms of Lament, and Putting the Amazing Back in Grace.
¨ Benediction
¨ Benediction Response Let There Be Peace on Earth Courtney, Miller
Reprinted with permission using OneLicense #A-723786
Postlude
Our Prayers for Others
¨ 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 (World Council of Churches Ecumenical Prayer cycle: union-church.org/ministries/prayer) Let us hold the people of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam; and our brothers and sisters at St. Thomas Lutheran Church in our hearts, and pray for them today and throughout the week.
¨ All the people of Ukraine for their safety and sovereignty. Prayers also that the government of Russia will turn to reason & respect for their own peoples’ lives as well as for Ukrainian families.
¨ All those affected by the devastating losses in the current conflict in the Middle East.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Jan Hamilton, Betsy Hoefer, Dorie Hubbard, Lois Morgan, Sara Parker, Cheryl Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie, Betty Wray, Sally Zimmerman.
¨ Betty Wray has moved to Homestead Nursing & Rehab, 1608 Versailles Rd., Lexington, 40504.
¨ Rita Barlow, receiving care at home.
¨ All those suffering from mental strain, trauma, and disease: may God soothe and heal all who are troubled.
¨ James Stephens, Charlie Hoffman’s brother-in-law, responding well to cancer treatment.
¨ Members and Friends who need safer housing and income security.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ Jeannette Davidson, having health problems.
¨ Tennant Kirk’s dear friend Allison Setterlind, whose husband died tragically on Monday, and Allison’s children Sophie, Owen and Anna.
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: Today, Dec. 10 – Joan Moore; 13 – David Jones, Shane Wilcher; Opal Bailey; 15 – Mary Kay Kauffman; 16 – Thana Connelly; 17 – Joan English, Laura Wick
Anniversaries: Dec. 12 – Deborah Martin & Eric Dodson
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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