Fourth Sunday of Advent December 20, 2015, 10:30 am
Meditation
“The moment you have in your heart this extraordinary thing called love and feel the depth, the delight, the ecstasy of it, you will discover that for you the world is transformed.”
— Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895-1986)
FROM THERE TO HERE
Welcome & Announcements
Welcome to this service of worship. We’re glad that you are here today. You are invited to rise in body or in spirit as you are able and willing 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.
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.
Hymn Sing Choose Your Favorites!
• Congregational Introit While We Are Waiting, Come WAITING
Scripture Reading Micah 5:2-5a
Lighting the Fire of Love
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: From the little comes the great. That is the message of the prophet to backwater Bethlehem. Things may appear too minor to be of importance, yet every flame adds heat to the furnace.
One: Great love requires many such flames, candles lit against the dark, hope flung into the void, imagination keeping alive Love not yet made visible. Love warms, bonds form, and the world is transformed.
One: From the little comes the great. A great refiner’s fire is kindled by a single match: the coming of child and strength of a mother’s labor. A world of compassion flows from the love of a child. The warmth of it melts our hearts and our lives are refined.
One: On this fourth Sunday of Advent, let us pray:
All: Lord, we confess being too far from the flame too much of the time. Forgive our fear of fire that keeps us from finding our best selves. Forgive our distraction and dissipation. Concentrate and distill us. Warm and refine us by your mercy and passion. We are your people and would be changed.
One: We kindle this flame of love:
All: In a story passed on through the ages,
One: In a love surpassing all loves,
All: In a God who sacrifices self,
One: Who is born anew from the dross
All: A light unto the world.
One: May God’s Love prevail for all.
All: Amen.
• Opening Hymn & Choir Anthem Canticle of the Turning STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN
Please join the choir in singing the chorus
• 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.
THE WORD IN OUR MIDST
Gospel Lesson Luke 1:39-55
Sermon Love Refined Rev. Kent Gilbert
GIFTS GIVEN FOR LOVE TO FLOW
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 love made visible. Thank you!
Offertory Forest Green, trad. English Carol arr. Grant Edwards
Pearl Marshall
• Doxology To God all glorious heavenly light; OLD HUNDREDTH
To Christ revealed in earthly night;To God the spirit now we raise
Our grateful hymn of thankful praise. Amen.
• Prayer of Thanksgiving
PRAYING IT FORWARD
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.
Hymn Come, O Long-Expected Jesus HYFRYDOL
Come, O long-expected Jesus, born to set all people free;
from our fears and sins release us, grant us your true liberty.
Israel’s strength and consolation, hope to all the earth impart,
dear desire of every nation, enter every longing heart.
Born all people to deliver, born a child, you came to reign!
Born to rule on earth forever, come, be known to us again.
By your own eternal Spirit come to claim us as your own;
by your all-sufficient merit, let us share your cross and crown.
EXPERIENCING THE WORD
A Pageant for All People adapted from a script by Carolyn Peters and Rachel Small Stokes
Cast
Pageant members: All of You!
Narrator: Sayer Kobersmith
Farmhand: Cadence Perman
Innkeeper: Colin Perman
Angel Herald: Ellie Green
Head Shepherd:Grace McKenzie
Star: Della Walters
Hymns to be Sung When Directed
Gentle Joseph, Joseph Dear #105
Jesus, Our Brother, Strong and Good #138
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing #144
Go, Tell It on the Mountain #154
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
GOING FORTH IN HOPE, PEACE AND JOY
• Benediction
Postlude Gloria in Excelsis Deo T. Kendall
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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 Cape Verde, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal and our brothers and sisters at Mount Zion Christian Church in your hearts, and pray for them.
Please also hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week:
Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound: Edith Hansen, Nancy Jones, Mary Miller, Averill Kilbourne, Alva Peloquin
George Oberst
Elizabeth Long’s brother, Jay, whose cancer has metastasized
Cassandra Jaggers, with aggressive breast cancer
The Coynes’ neighbor, Sheila Johnson, fighting breast cancer
Marlene Payne and her family
Kelly Ambrose
George Hardman
John Hillman
NoraRuth’s Jenkins’ cousin, Terry Allen Wattts, facing serious medical procedures
Rochelle Seals, undergoing treatment for breast cancer
Dexton May
Judith Faulkner
Jimmie Lewis, at the death of her sister
Christmas Baskets: Mission and Service Board is partnering again with St. Clare Catholic Church for their local Christmas Basket Project. There’s still time to write a check to MSB to handle the shopping —feel free to do so today.
LongNight Service: A Service of Light and Prayers for Healing, tonight, 7:00 pm: This special quiet service is for anyone who is suffering in body, mind, or spirit during the holidays. Set near the longest night of the year, the service is meant as a loving community of care as we wait for the light to return.
Christmas Eve at Union Church: There will be two services on Christmas Eve: 5:30 pm (Gathering music starting at 5:00 pm) followed by a potluck finger-food reception for all (please bring generous portions—there are always many guests!), and a special 11:00 pm service in Cowan Chapel to welcome the Christ Child at midnight.
Please join us for any and all of these special events as we Wait and Watch for the Advent of the Lord.
On Sunday, December 27, Rev. Joe White will preach; and we look forward to welcoming musicians and friends from Berea College’s Christmas Country Dance School!
Your Talents are needed! The Nominating Board invites you to follow the link on the Union Church website https://union-church.org/bearing-the-light-through-service-sign-up-now/ and take the survey to let us know what talents and skills you may like to contribute to the ongoing work of the Church. Please respond by Jan. 15, 2016.
Calling All Christmas Elves! Want to Help Usher? Read? Light Candles? Wash Dishes? Help with Food? VOLUNTEER SPOT! Signing up for service is easy using volunteer spot at Union Church. Here’s the link to the new page for Christmas Volunteering! Sign-ups on VolunteerSpot: https://www.volunteer spot.com/login/entry/977303128029
Widows’ Group. We are starting a new group for widows/widowers. If you are interested, you are invited to a planning group Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 7:00 pm in the Wayside Room. Contact 859-779-0793.
“Black Lives Matter” yard signs. Union Church, in our ongoing commitment to our history and work for justice, has “Black Lives Matter” yard signs available for $10 You can pick them up at the church office.
Come to the National Festival of Young Preachers January 2-5, 2016 in Lexington, at the Hilton Downtown and Good Shepherd Episcopal Church. Abby Embry, Della Walters and Abi Woodie will attend, thanks to our Faith Development Board! YOU can volunteer at this event and hear some of the best and brightest young preachers who will be the leaders of tomorrow’s church.
Volunteers are essential to make the National Festival of Young Preachers a success! Please contact Debbie Moody at 859-494-1000, debbie@academyofpreach ers.net. Festival information: www.academy ofpreachers.net/festivals/2016-national-festival/
Greeters to welcome the attendees, help direct them as they arrive.
Registration— 4-6 volunteers
Preaching Venue Hosts—Each of the preaching venues has 1-2 hosts
Event Set Up— Monday evening.
Activity Hosts needed volunteers to help at the Saturday night nVoke and Monday’s Preachapalooza.
Meals—Help provide meals for Sunday evening (250 people) & Monday noon (35)
Ushers for the Sunday night service at Broadway Christian Church.
Sermon Evaluators and Conveners
Community Preachapalooza Choir—led by Dr. Everett McCorvey and will sing Monday night. Rehearsals for Sat. and Sun. January 2nd and 3rd, 2-5:00. Need help recruiting choir members.
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