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

Communion Sunday, First Sunday of Advent

December 2, 2018         10:30 am

Meditation
We can be reconciled to life in its severest aspects if we are confident that the disasters are not meaningless, and that the valley can be made a place of springs.
—Charles Allen Dinsmore, Atonement in Literature and Life

From there to Here: We Gather

Hymn Sing Choose Your Favorites!
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 Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming arr. B. Childers
Pearl Marshall, Handbells
Prophetic Reading Jeremiah 33:14-16 (p. 935)
“The days are surely coming,” says the Lord, when humanity shall see the long-awaited justice and righteousness of God made manifest.
  Advent Wreath Lighting   The Light of Hope Jennifer Even Melton
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 HOPE is lit.
The light of hope is passed forward as words guide our meditation on expectation. If the candle comes to you please pass it forward toward the wreath.  
¨ Hymn  #345 Black Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Picardy
¨  Passing the Peace of 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 hospitality.

The Living Word among us

Anthem Gloria Mark Hayes
Union Church Choir
Gloria in excelsius Deo. Et in terra pax. Hominibus bonae voluntatis. Laudamus te benedicimus te. Adoramus te. Glorificamus te.
Glory to God in the highest. And on earth peace to all of those off goodwill.  We praise thee. We bless thee. We worship thee. We glorify thee. 
Contemporary Reading    One Star J. Stephen Rhodes
Each week in Advent Union Church has asked for words from local poets, or poets connected with our congregation. Published poet, The Rev Dr. J. Stephen Rhodes, now resides in South Carolina, but was a member of Union Church for more than 20 years.  This is the premiere publication of this work, a series in homage to Maurice Manning’s “Beaucolics,” where “Boss” is used as a term for the divine.
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 Children’s Moment, children kindergarten through 5th grade are invited to Children’s Church in Cowan Chapel. They are also welcome to stay in the service if they prefer. The Children’s Worship Center in the back of the sanctuary has 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 in Room 104 off the playground.
Gospel Lesson  Luke 21:25-36 (p. 1269)
Jesus speaks of “signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth distress” when the earth shall be radically changed, a time when “your redemption is drawing near.”
Sermon At the End of Hope Rev. Kent Gilbert

Responding to God’s Love in Communion

¨  Invitation to Communion
One:   May God 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:      Join in glad songs of thanksgiving.
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 Japan and is also rung in the hope of peace for all nations.
Silent Prayers
Communion Prayer
One: You speak the Word, Holy One, and the days come tumbling out, scooping up clay to mold mountains, carving river ways and valley floors, planting trees in deserts, flinging planets into the universes.
One: Shaping us in your image, and shaping us still, you reach beyond our distance and distress, bringing your  justice, becoming our righteousness, and teaching us the ways of hope.
One: Your Word became flesh, springing forth from the root of Jesse’s own tree, becoming one of us, to claim us as your own.
One: And we praise you, for you have not forgotten us, and we join our voices with those of every day and place:
Sanctus                                                                               Please Join in Singing
Communion Prayer
One: In the midst of chaos and destruction you send us promised signs of the coming kin-dom, Jesus of Nazareth.
He came then and comes to us now, to show us the path and dwell among us that we might see beyond the world to the hope, peace, joy and love, God intends for all.
As we begin our new journey to Bethlehem, as we celebrate your coming to us in Jesus, we proclaim that mystery we know as faith:
All: Christ died, for ‘the Lord is our righteousness;’ Christ rose, for ‘the Lord is our salvation;’ Christ is among us, for ‘the Lord is our hope.’
One:    We remember that when Jesus ate with his friends, he took a loaf of bread and, after blessing it, he broke it and gave it to them, saying,
All:    “Take, eat. This is my body, given for you.  Each time you do this, remember me.”
One:   Then he took a cup and, after giving thanks, passed it to his friends, saying:
All:    “Drink. This cup that is poured out for you is the promise of God, made in my blood.  Whenever you drink it, remember me.”
One: Pour out your Spirit upon this pilgrimage to past and future, and on the gifts of the Table. The days are surely coming when the Bread which was broken becomes the healing of our world. Surely, the days are coming when the grace which fills the Cup is poured out for all who long for justice and righteousness.
And when we gather at the corner of Steadfast Love and Faithfulness, to feast at your eternal banquet, we will join our voices with our sisters and brothers, forever singing to your glory, God in Community, Holy in One.
All: Amen.
—Liturgy inspired by Thom M. Shuman, “Lectionary Liturgies” © 2012
All Are Invited Forward
All who seek are welcome and are invited to freely receive. As the music plays, you are invited to use the time coming forward for personal meditation, for reflection and connection. When invited please come to one of the stations by exiting your pew to the left and returning by the right.
You are also free to choose to rest in private prayer, remaining with our own thoughts and in your pew. Some suggested prayer direction is printed in the bulletin on page 9. You’ll find today’s Advent Wreath and Contemporary Readings on page 10.
A Chance for Generosity: Offering Baskets in the Aisles
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.
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)
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Receiving Strength for the Journey: The Bread and Cup
We will share the elements today by intinction, which means dipping the bread in the cup. If it is not convenient to come forward, the elements can be brought to your seat by signaling to the usher. All the bread is gluten-free, and the chalices are filled with non-alcoholic grape juice. Children of every age are welcome and encouraged to come forward, too.
Prayer in Action and Reflections
As you come forward for communion, you are invited to contemplate the Advent passages on display in the St. John’s Bibles on the front tables.
Remember the Community Sharing Table in the back corner, where you will find opportunity to bring food, warm socks, scarves, hats, blankets, and other necessities for our neighbors in need as we come into the cold season. As you pass, lay your hands on these items to bless those who will receive, and to remember that small things can mean a great deal.
As we draw back to our seats, you are invited to join in singing
O Come, O shoot of Jesse, free your own from Satan’s tyranny, From depths of hell your people save, and give them victory o’er the grave. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!
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 elements 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.
 Prayer of Thanksgiving

From Here to There

¨  Hymn  People Look East (next page) Besancon
¨  The Sending and Blessing
Postlude (please be seated) Tempest III Beethoven
Space is provided  here for you to write notes, to reflect, or draw responses to questions or ideas that occur to you during the sermon, or at the tables, or holy questions of your own.
What do you hope for? Think of times when you have had hopes that were or were not fulfilled, or were fulfilled differently than you expected.
What does it mean to “dwell in safety,” whether physically, mentally, or emotionally? How can we help assure that safety for ourselves and others?
When you are or have been in the midst of “distress” and “foreboding,” what or who has brought you the resilience that makes hope possible? With eyes closed, picture that time. Now open your eyes and consider where you are now and where hope might be. Use scripture language such as fig leaves unfurling, etc.
Advent Wreath Lighting Reading – The Light of Hope  -Jennifer Even Melton
Let this time of waiting—this season of Advent
be filled with the Light of Hope
Be still… and let it be
Prepare the way for the Hope-filled journey
As we await the arrival of the Holy One
As we await what has yet to come,
yet is already bestowed and embedded deep in our hearts
As we await the mysterious gifts
enfolded in the Light of Hope
Be still… and let it be
In these darkening days of Advent
Be still
Be still and know
That the Light of Hope overcomes
the most challenging obstacles
That the Light of Hope reveals the crevices
through which the Holy One draws near
That the Light of Hope illuminates
who we are called to be
Shining into the unknown
Revealing mysterious paths
Inspiring hearts to open and receive the Beloved
All around us
Right here
Right now
Be still… and let it be 
Be still
Seek the Light
Hold the Light
Breathe the Light
Are we ready to receive the Light of Hope?
Beautiful, not yet, and already ours
Are we ready to carry the Light of Hope?
To light the way for Hope
Are we ready to gift the Light of Hope?
To become the Light of Hope
Be still…
and let it be
 
Contemporary Reading – One Star by J. Stephen Rhodes                   
You could have done everything
a lot differently Boss
you could have been louder
maybe prettier Boss
how would I know
all we could ever hear
would be you talking
or maybe see you shining
in our eyes never stopping
to hide behind a bush or the horizon
how would that be for you Boss
always having to talk
or dress yourself up
never leaning back against a tree
with a stem of grass in your mouth
never letting us stumble around
on a moonless night
wondering if you’ll ever
turn up again with only
that one star at dusk
to say that you’re still alive
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 Myanmar and Singapore and our brothers and sisters at Wayside Christian Church in our hearts, and pray for them. Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week.
Prayer requests to be printed may be sent to the office anytime before 10:00 am Fridays.
¨ Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound: Ruth Butwell, Edith Hansen, Nancy Hindman, Loyal Jones, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin.
¨ Emily Spires, daughter of Randy Stone, continuing her treatment for breast cancer.
¨ Mary Lou Wiese’s brother, with serious health concerns.
¨ Javier Clavere, who will have spinal surgery on December 11.
¨ Chrissy Cataldo and family, at the death of her father.
¨ Tonya , Judith Singleton’s daughter-in-law, diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer.
¨ Laura Robie, recovering from her second knee replacement.
¨ Alva Peloquin, who will celebrate her 97th birthday on Tuesday! 97th birthday!
¨ For Annette Broadbridge, Union Church member living in Sweden with her family. She suffered an unusual heart attack on Tuesday at age 48. She is expected to make a full recovery.
¨ For baby Jack, cousin of Sarah Miller, still in NICU with lung development problems.
¨ We pray for all those living with HIV/AIDS remembering World AIDS Day, and also for those who lend their hearts, minds, and money to cure deadly diseases and the suffering they bring.
¨ For our Jewish neighbors and friends as Chanukah begins tonight and continues throughout the week.
Advent Begins today! Advent is the beginning of a new church year. It is a time of waiting and preparation for the joy of Christmas. The color of Advent is dark blue to symbolize the night before the dawn of Christ. During this season we hear readings from the prophets and light a candle each Sunday at the beginning of worship symbolizing one of the gifts of the coming messiah. Join us for this special season of quiet before the joy of Christmas!
Many thanks to the performers, directors, and staff who helped make the Berea College Christmas Concert the glorious experience it was!
Christmas trees needed! Do you have a 5-7-footer you aren’t using? We can use them at church. Call the office at 986-3725.
Danish American Christmas Celebration Dec. 2. Festive, family friendly fun for kids of all ages. 5:30 – 7:45 pm at Acton Folk Center.
I need a bit of help organizing bulletins in the office. Any weekday, 8-5. Call 986-3725 to volunteer. Thanks—Joan.
Union Church Budget Meeting December 9, after worship and lunch. Why Come to a Budget Meeting? The budget of Union Church is the very core of our ministry. It’s often not thrilling, but it is a theological document that tells you where our values are and how we’ve decided to act those out.  As the gospel of Matthew reminds us, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Please attend this meeting to help decide where our hearts will be for 2019. Copies available in the vestibule, in the December Consider and will be included in the Monday Announcements.  Union Church will soon consider bylaws to our Constitution that will establish a Union Church Endowment Fund. The proposed bylaws were approved by Church Council at its November 19 meeting. The proposed bylaws will be discussed at our December 9 meeting, but voted upon at a special called meeting right after church on December 16.
Alternative Giving Market Dec. 16, 11-3 at Acton Folk Center.  What to get that friend or family member for the holidays?  Does your sister really need another sweater?  Why not give alternative gifts this year that reach toward your loved ones’ hopes and dreams for a better world?  Maybe what your friends and family really want for this year is health care, food and housing for those in need – or maybe disaster relief. Come and shop for that alternative gift for your loved ones.
Volunteers make this event a success!! Can you make chili and cookies, set up from 10-1, clean up after the event, contribute funds for advertising?  (send to Union Church, designate for Alternative Christmas ads). Call Annriette Stolte if you can help with these tasks, 986-9032 or annriette@ roadrunner.com
Christmas Caroling: Sunday December 16th at 4:00 pm. Help is needed to plan the details of this event.  Please contact Laura (call or text) at 859-358-0106 or joyfulsunflower @gmail.com to volunteer your fun-planning skills!
St. Clare Christmas Basket Program! Each year we partner with St. Clare to help provide food staples and children’s gifts for the holidays. In the sanctuary each week from now until December 16, you will find information about how to provide food for families of various sizes. Your items, put into a cardboard box (or boxes), along with any toys or children’s books, do not need to be delivered to St. Clare until later in December. We will collect toys and food baskets here if you wish, or would like help transporting your items. If you wish to make a financial contribution in lieu of shopping yourself, here are the recommended donation amounts: 1-2 person family: $70; 3-4 person family: $95; 5-6 person family: $105; 7 + person family: $115
A more comprehensive list of toys will be sent out soon, but specific toys needed now include: Legos, Lincoln Logs, KNex, building blocks, Magnetix, tractors/ trucks/ cars, dolls and doll house furniture, play kitchen and food sets, puzzles, stacking toys, headphones, basketballs and soccer balls and jump ropes.
Adopt a Gift for Liberty Place Recovery Center Residents and Their Children. Liberty Place Recovery Center for Women is one of our Union Church Mission and Service projects as we support women who are making the courageous and difficult journey to freedom from addiction. You can help by adopting a resident or their children for a Christmas present. Provide your name and contact information in the basket on the giving table at church, or send it to Dodie Murphy, dodiemurfmsw@yahoo.com or call 859-868-9622.
Many thanks for helping make the season brighter for those most in need!
Dancers of all abilities and skills are enthusiastically invited to help us dance in the light on Christmas Eve. Dancers begin the service with slow and lovely music as we light the worship candles for the service. If you would like to join (no experience necessary), contact Carla Gilbert (859-985-1144 or 859-358-2962) .  Rehearsals will be scheduled as soon as the group is assembled.  We’ve love to include male and female dancers in the group!
The “Little Quilt Show and Silent Auction” sponsored by Friends of the Madison County Public Library will come to a close on December 8th at 5pm.  This is your last week to view and make a bid on your favorite Little Quilt!  Any one of these 62 quilts would make great gifts.  Please visit the Madison County Public Library website and visit the auction page soon. Half the quilts are hung in each library.  It is a great opportunity to show your support for your local library community of which there are approximately 65,000 active card holders.
Plan now for Lenten experience: This year there will be a pre-Lent retreat for adults (ages 18+) on March 4-6 planned by Donna Eder and Carla Gilbert. The focus will be on Solitude and Sharing in Sacred Space and it will be held at the Loretto Community guest house, located 1 ½ hours west of Berea. The cost per day for meals and lodging is $45 for a double room and $65 for a single room. Space is limited. Contact Donna Eder (859-868-1142) or Carla Gilbert (859-985-1144). Our email addresses are: donnajeder@gmail.com and carla_gilbert@windstream.net.
Have a Heart For Fellowship, Communication and Welcoming New Members? We Need 3! The Community Life and Growth Board of the church helps “outsiders” become “insiders” by helping Rev. Kent welcome new members, get people acquainted with each other for ministry and spiritual support, and oversees our website, social media, and media outreach (advertisements, banners, webcasts, etc). We need three people to help fulfill this vital work with our pastor. Is one of them you? Please contact Carla Gilbert of the Nominating Board: carla_gilbert@ windstream.net or call the church office!