A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Fourth Sunday of Advent 10:30 am
Meditation
“The light of love is always in us… always present, waiting for the spark to ignite.” —bell hooks
From There to Here: We Gather
Gathering Music
Welcome
The Call Micah 5:2-5a Carla Gilbert, Reader
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace. If the Assyrians come into our land and tread upon our soil, we will raise against them seven shepherds and eight installed as rulers.
Lighting the Advent Wreath Betty Hibler, Reader
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 LOVE is lit.
One: All of us have caught ourselves looking for signs. The year, now nearly past, has been fraught with struggles. The pandemic has laid bare, and widened, economic disparity locally and globally. Our families have known illness and hardships unseen before, and the future is as yet uncertain. As we enter the Advent season, we who seek the sign of Christ, are working and hoping that the Holy will be born anew out of revolutionary love–offering respite, sustenance and care, opening the doors ever wider to those seeking shelter from the onslaught of life. No one church, no one person, can do it all, but each can do something. As we study the biblical prophets that call us to care for our neighbors and “make room in the inn,” the lonely and frightened spaces within us are filled with the light of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.
Song Love Waits for Us at Advent Amanda Udis-Kessler
One: Today we offer the Light of Hope to illumine the Door of Welcome. If you are lighting your candle at home, join us now and offer this blessing:
All: “May this light shine in our hearts, in our lives, and in this church community. May Hope awaken us to possibilities and lead us to greater hospitality.”
One: Thanks be to God: There IS room in this Inn, a House for the Holy.
Song Love waits for us at Advent…
Passing of the Peace
Building the Community: News that Connects Us
Lighting the Justice Candle
This fourth Sunday in Advent we are focusing on LOVE. Trailblazing Black feminist bell hooks, whose graceful, probing and wide-ranging books sought to empower people of all races, classes and genders, anticipating and helping shape ongoing debates about justice and discrimination in the United States, died Dec. 15 at her home in Berea, Ky. She was 69.
A poet, memoirist, social critic and scholar, she wrote more than 30 books, mixing the personal and the political as she examined Madonna music videos, Clarence Thomas’s Supreme Court confirmation hearing, the representation of Black Americans in film and the nature of love.
Honing a voice that was by turns fiery and uplifting, earnest and wry, Dr. hooks became known as one of the country’s leading feminist theorists — a “rare rock star of a public intellectual,” as Time magazine put it last year. She appeared on panels with scholars such as Cornel West and Henry Louis Gates Jr. while reaching readers far outside the academy, expanding her audience through self-help and children’s books. (from The Washington Post)
The Living Word Among Us
Hymn What Does Love Demand? Mark Hayes
What does it mean to love my neighbor? How can I live in harmony? Are you my brother or are you just another? When I look in your eyes, who do I see? I see you’re made in the image of God, uniquely gifted with the right to be loved. Neighbor or stranger, how may I serve you? What does love demand?
Love is listening with heartfelt compassion, holding the lonely, wiping a tear. Love demands that I live in the moment to live in the question when the answer’s unclear. Love demands I seek what unites us releasing fear and whatever divides us. With God as my strength I will be the change I want to see. For that’s what love, that’s what love demands.
What can we do to stand for justice? What can we do so all are free? What can we do to end oppression, so all have the same opportunity? We will be God’s hands and welcoming arms. We’ll keep you safe from danger and harm. Homeless or helpless, how may we serve you? What does love demand? Love demands we do what we can. Take a stand. Lend a hand.
Love is listening with heartfelt compassion, holding the lonely, wiping a tear. Love demands that we live in the moment, to live in the question when the answer’s unclear. Love demands we seek what unites us, releasing fear and whatever divides us. With God as our strength we will be the change we want to see. For that’s what love, that’s what love demands.
Gospel Lesson Luke 1:39-55
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’ And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’
Sermon Hearth and Heart Rev. Kent Gilbert
Advent Presentation 2021 ed. Rev. David Jones
Living Prayer
Ringing of the Peace Bell Betty Hibler
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.
Hymn #116 O Come ,O Come, Emmanuel (v. 1, 3, 6) Veni Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel. That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Child of God appear . Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O Key of David, come, and open wide your heavenly home; make safe the path to endless day, the hell’s destruction close the way. Refrain.
O come, O Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by your advent here; Love stir within the womb of night, and death’s own shadows put to flight. Refrain.
Call to Prayer and Offering
A Chance for Generosity: www.easytithe.com/union 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 portion of our contributions flows out to aid those in need via many external agencies.
Many friends give online, and you can use your smart phone or computer and go to www.easytithe.com/union. You don’t have to register to make a contribution, but if you do, it can make future generosity that much easier.
You can even give by text! Text to 859-448-3403 (Example: Text “$50.00 Offering”)
You can also use US mail! Mail to: 200 Prospect St., Berea, KY 40403
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Offering Music Canticle of the Turning
Debbonnaire Kovacs, handbell tree; Robert Rorrer, drum
My soul cries out with a joyful shout that the God of my heart is great, And my spirit sings of the wondrous things that you bring to the ones who wait. You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight, and my weakness you did not spurn, So from east to west shall my name be blest could the world be about to turn? My heart shall sing of the day you bring, let the fires of your justice burn, Wipe away all tears for the dawn draws near and the world is about to turn!
Prayers of the Community Betty Hibler, Reader
In love and for love you have come to us over and over again. We house your holy spirit in each act of love proffered and received, and make our prayer for your continual advent with every reach toward a beloved community, your peace-able kin-dom. Our need is urgent, the cries for love so desperate, Lord. When we are weak and weary, cradle us as love demands we might for your Christ child. When we are arrogant, full of pride, dangerous to ourselves and others, may ‘logos’ and ‘chesed’ correct our failings. Love demands of all of us the acts that kindle grace and create the hearth of unfailing warmth. May love prevail: in us and for you. Over and over again.
Our Lord’s Prayer
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
Benediction
Postlude
Singing Together
OUR FELLOWSHIP PRINCIPLES:
“Union Church welcomes all followers of Christ and works with all who work with Him; respecting each person’s conscience; working by love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.”
Come to Coffee Hour after worship! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87387600761
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 China, Hong Kong and Macau and our brothers and sisters at Kirksville Christian Church in our hearts, and pray for them. Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week.
¨ All those seeking a new and just society and those fearful that they will be supplanted, may God open their hearts and include them in grace.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Alva Peloquin, Loyal Jones, Jennie Kiteck, Lois Morgan, Jan Hamilton, Laura Robie, Tom & Dorie Hubbard, Sally Zimmerman
¨ Families and Friends in Crises…may God be present to every need and heal every rift and wound and those who care for them.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon.
¨ Dear friends of Union Church, Michael Harrington and his husband, Matthew “Freddie” Frederickson, who is very ill at UK Hospital.
¨ Those affected by the Covid-19 virus, their families and friends living with fear, anxiety, and feelings of isolation, may God bring peace to all who love them; and our wider community as we cope with the new realities of living, including the now over 11,700 Kentucky residents, and 208 Madison County residents, who have died to date from Covid-19.
Dalton Singleton, friend of Claudia Munson-Schrumpf, who is ill and trying a new medication with potential side effects, and his wife.
¨ John & Shelly McChesney, and all those touched by her love of music, children and teaching, at Mary Miler’s death.
¨ The family, many friends and colleagues of bell hooks, at her passing.
¨ Important dates—if we haven’t got yours, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
Birthdays coming up: Dec. 22 – Maria Hartz; 23 – Ben Whaley-Jones
Anniversaries: Dec. 22 – Aidan & Annette Broadbridge
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