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

Third Sunday of Advent December 14, 2014, 10:30 am

Meditation
Joy is the most infallible sign of the presence of God— Leon Bloy

Gathering in Hope, Peace and Joy

Hymn Sing           Choose Your Favorites!
Welcome & Announcements
Prelude     Noelle Suisse   L.C. Daquin
Hebrew Scripture Lesson                  Isaiah 61:1-4,8-11
Lighting the Third Advent Candle     
The Advent Wreath tradition reaches back to pre-Christian northern Europeans who lit candles awaiting the winter solstice. By the 1500s, both Lutherans and Catholics had adapted the Advent Wreath as a devotional way to prepare for the coming of Christ, the Light of the World. Each week as we wait through Advent, we light a new candle representing an aspect of the light God intends for all people. This Sunday the candle of JOY is lit.
One:     We wait.
One:     We wait – not because we do not know the story of Jesus, and not because you are not already and always here.
All:      We wait because to wait is to expect something more. To wait is to expect that the story might enter our hearts and our world in new ways,  to bring the change for which we long.
One:    As we light the candle of joy, we remember the stories of God’s loyalty to all creation.
All:     We give thanks for the messengers – the apostles, prophets, artists, sages, faithful ones – present in every age, who bring us the good news of God’s restoring love;
One:     and we shout with joy, trusting that God is with us and before us, and that joy will be born anew in us.

Joining in Expectation

* Opening Hymn   Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus      Hyfrydol
*  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.
Anthem    My Lord, What a Morning      arr. Robert Benson

Union Church Choir

My Lord, what a morning, when the stars begin to fall. You’ll hear the trumpet sound, to wake the nations underground, looking to my God’s right hand; when the stars begin to fall. You’ll hear the sinner cry to wake the nations underground. You’ll hear the Christian shout, to wake the nations underground, looking to my God’s right hand, when the starts begin to fall. My Lord, what a morning, when the stars begin to fall.
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 of the Community
Our Lord’s Prayer         
One:    Our Maker, our Mother, and …
All:     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.

Committing of Ourselves

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 joy made visible. Thank you!
 Offertory             And There Was a Star D. Paxton
*  Doxology            Old Hundredth
   To God all glorious heavenly light;  To Christ revealed in earthly night; To God the spirit now we raise   Our grateful hymn of thankful praise. Amen.
Introduction and Invitation to Membership   
Union Church is a vital and growing family of faith, a home to those committed to the way of Christ’s sacrificial love and service. All who feel led to join will be received in joy, and are welcome to come forward during the Doxology. Thanks be to God for these ministers among us.
Questions of the Congregation and New Members    
* Covenant of Welcome             
And we, the members of this church, renewing our own covenant      to God and to each other, do now heartily welcome you to our fellowship, promising to watch over you in love, and praying that  you and we may be true witnesses for Christ, a light in the world,  and continue to increase in usefulness and joy in his service.

Experiencing the Word

Moment of Reflection with Children and Others

                                   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.

Today’s service is very interactive and great for children, so they are all invited to stay and participate.  For children preschool & under, if they do not wish to stay in the sanctuary, care is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Community Room.
A Pageant for All People                        adapted from a script by Carolyn Peters
Cast
Pageant members: All of You!
Narrator: Sunni Walters
Innkeeper: Cora Livingston
Innkeeper’s Assistant: Jessie Richards
Shepherd: Sayer Kobersmith
Farmer: MacGregor Lakes
Angel Herald: Elly Green
Star: Eleanor Srsic
Liturgist: Jenny Hobson
Hymns to be Sung When Directed
      Gentle Joseph, Joseph Dear               #105, Black Hymnal
      Jesus, Our Brother, Strong and Good            #138, Black Hymnal
      Hark!  The Herald Angels Sing                       #144, Black Hymnal
      Go, Tell It on the Mountain                 #154, Black Hymnal
We Three Kings
We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain, Following yonder star.
Refrain: O Star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright;
Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy Perfect Light!
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain, gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never over us all to reign. Refrain
Frankincense to offer have I: incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising, we are raising, worship Him, God most high. Refrain
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume breathes of life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone-cold tomb. Refrain
Glorious now behold Him arise, King and God and Sacrifice
Alleluia, Alleluia sounds through the earth and skies. Refrain
Joy to the World                      #132, Black Hymnal

Going Forth in Hope, Peace and Joy

*   Benediction
 Postlude   Carillon           L. Vierne
———————————————
*  Please rise in body or in spirit
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 Emmanuel 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.
¨ For the victims of violence everywhere, and especially under the influence of racial prejudice and simmering fear. Peace to Ferguson, MO, New York City, Cleveland, OH and everywhere our madness reigns.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound:  Edith Hansen, Klara Welsh, Bernice Robertson, Nancy Jones, Mary Miller, Averill Kilbourne, Alva Peloquin, Ruth Butwell
¨ The family of Melissa and Susan Doring-Zook, dealing with multiple deaths in their families.
¨ The family of Jim Wallace, at his passing
¨ Peggy Coyne, recovering from surgery
¨ Rich Royalty,  who has had a stroke
¨ Christine Ward, recovering from surgery
 
Announcements 
Today and All Advent Long: Nurture & Care Breakfasts, Sundays, 9 am: The Nurture & Care Board would love to nurture and care for you! Come join us for a casual oatmeal breakfast Sunday mornings in Advent! Oatmeal, festive toppings, coffee, friends old and new: we want to hang out with you! In the Community Room.
Christmas Basket Project: Mission and Service Board asks that items being brought in for this project be placed beside the tree — NOT in office (unless refrigerated – then place note on items that it’s for Christmas Basket Project and place downstairs in Kitchen refrigerator space where it can be kept until drop off date). A MSB member will be in touch to remind people of drop of date for this project and answer any questions you may have. Also if you need a list of grocery needs for the families – see us on Sunday! Thanks so much for being apart of this wonderful project!
Danish American Christmas Celebration at the Folk Center TONIGHT 5:30 — 8:00 pm Santa’s workshop, music, singing, dancing, storytelling, flags, snacks….and more! All welcome! No charge, donations accepted
Musicians Needed: last chance to volunteer!! Next Sunday,  December 21, we will be having a Sounds of the Seasons musical Sunday! As part of the service this Sunday, the choirs will be singing, the bells will be ringing, and we will hear some of the wonderful musical talent from members of our congregation! This is a wonderful opportunity to bless our church with joyous music to set us in the mood for Christmas. If you, or a group, (young, old, in-between) would like to participate in the service, please contact Gabe Evans, gevans@union-church.org, for more details. All genres and types of music are welcome!

Annual Caroling Party, Weds., December 17 (caroling: v.; to go about outdoors in a group singing Christmas carols, especially in a cheerful manner — Webster’s Dictionary)

    And that’s what you are invited to do on Wednesday evening, December 17 – – come one and all. Following the WNL meal of hot soup to warm you up, we will divide into groups and bring some Christmas Cheer to many in our church family and beyond.
 
At the end of the evening, we’ll gather back in the Community Room for cookies and hot drinks to end the evening. All ages and singing abilities welcome — the “cheerful manner” mentioned above is the most important qualification! Please join us.
Longnight Service December 21 Whether we are missing someone we love this Christmas, or we find ourselves in need of contemplation, renewal and hope, we gather this evening, as darkness comes, to worship God in the midst of grief.
We gather to shed tears if they come, and to join our voices with one another and our forebears in the faith who still cry out, “How long?”
Whether or not you are able to attend, whether you come for yourself or on another’s behalf,  please know that the members and friends of this congregation will hold you in the light of Christ that night, “and the darkness will not overcome it.”

Christmas Eve services There will be two services on Christmas Eve: 5:30 pm followed by a potluck finger-food reception for all, and a special 11:00 pm service in Cowan Chapel to welcome the Christ Child at midnight.

Dancers for  Christmas Eve: For many years, the early Christmas Eve Service (5:30 pm)  has begun with the Light being brought forth by dancers, carrying  candles down the aisles and doing simple movements in the front of the Sanctuary before lighting the Advent Candles.

    If you would like to be one of those persons,  please contact Carla Gilbert at 985-1144.  The choreography will be very simple (we are carrying lighted candles) and depends on who and how many are participating.  The only requirement is that you are to able to spend a relatively short time rehearsing before Christmas Eve (usually on the Sunday before Christmas Eve after the worship service).

New Year, New Directory! We’re going to produce a new directory in January. If your info – and your family’s – has been correct (birthdays, emails, etc.) – you don’t need to do anything. BUT if something has changed (or if you’ve added cell #s or emails) OR you haven’t been in the Directory before OR you want to send us a new photo, we’d love it!  We print names, birthdays, emails, phone numbers & cell numbers (with permission, of course), and produce printed or pdf copies. If you have a spouse/partner or children who don’t sign in on Sunday mornings but you’d like in the Directory, please let us know that too. We won’t publish the Directory on the website without password protection. Send info & photos to  office@union-church.org

Next Family Faith Day will be January 10. Wanted: Fabric and quilting batting from your stash for our next Family Faith Day of making quilts for Project Linus. Please bring fabric pieces that are at least 1/4 yard. Needed by Sunday, January 4th. Call Kim Kobersmith with questions at 985-0185.

Budget meeting: Union Church’s annual budget meeting to consider the 2015 budget will be January 11, 2015, after worship & lunch.