A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
December 21, 2025
10:30 am
The Fourth Sunday of Advent
Meditation
In a world full of fear, where do you see glimmers of Love?
From There to Here: We Gather
Hymn Sing Choose Your Favorites!
Welcome
Welcome to this service of worship! 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! During the service, you are invited to rise in body or in spirit, standing or sitting, at points in the service marked “<>.”
The Call Tom McClure, Reader
One: Here in worship—
All: we pray together,
One: we stand together,
All: we sing together,
One: we listen together.
All: Here in worship—we are not alone.
One: So when life gives you reason to grieve, to fear, or to worry, remember this moment.
All: We are not alone.
One: Let us worship our with-us God.
All: We worship as Love demands.
Lighting the Candle of Love Joy Gritton & Black Bear LaBoueff, Readers
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.
Reader 1: In a world full of fear, where can you see the presence of love?
Reader 2: Love is all around us, even when we don’t mark it or pay attention. I see love when people hold open the door. I see love in a warm embrace, a homemade casserole, a phone call after a long day. I see love in random acts of kindness and intentional acts of empathy. I see love when people do hard work to help others. You can see love everywhere.
Today we light the candle of love as a reminder of this good news. May this flicker of light help us remember that even in a fearful world, love is here. Love is world-changing. Love is shining bright. We only have to look for it.
[The Candles of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love are lit.]
Reader 1: Thanks be to God for a love like that! Let us pray…
Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: Every day we are given choices—the choice to be a friend, to be an ally, to extend a welcoming hand. Some days we choose wisely, but from time time, we inevitably get it wrong.
All: Standing in the light of Love, we remember what we have done and left undone. We ask for the courage to change what we can, and for God to forgive and heal what we cannot.
One: Help us Lord to stand in solidarity with mercy; to share the light of peace, and give others hope. You transform deepest night into brightest day. Hear our prayers and make us whole.
All: In Christ’s name we pray.
Words of Assurance
¨ Hymn #50 I Sing the Praise of Love Almighty St. Petersburg
1. I sing the praise of love almighty, which shines revealed in Jesus’ face.
I offer up all that delights me, all mean desires, each fond embrace,
turn from myself in pure devotion, and eager plunge in love’s vast ocean.
2. How loving-kind you are, how gentle, how your heart reaches after mine!
My heart responds in elemental sympathy, beating perfect time.
This mutual love, this strong attraction, I have no other satisfaction.
3. Secure my heart and all my being, in you, my Savior, crucified.
You gave your life to work my healing, bleeding for me, you groaned and died.
Beloved Jesus, my salvation, you have, through love, restored creation.
4. May my heart bear the deep impression of love that Jesus shares with me,
My life become a pure expression of all that Christian love can be:
Each word, each act, a bright reflection of joy in Love’s own resurrection.
¨ Passing the Peace of Christ
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 peace.
Word and Worship
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 Reading Matthew 1:18-25
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
“Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife but had no marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son, and he named him Jesus.
~ New Revised Standard Version, updated
Sermon Love’s Reach Rev. Kent Gilbert
Video Reflection
A chance to take in what we have heard and reflect together.
Living Prayer and Christmas Cantata
Ringing 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.
The season of Advent reminds us of all the waiting that we do in our lives. Joseph waited, Mary waited, the Magi had to travel a long time not knowing what they would find at the end of their journey. The world waited for Messiah. As you listen to this special cantata, think about how hope, peace, joy, and love help you while you wait. Our readers are Jennifer Elam, Alan Hester, Corey Hester, and Ally Nurre. The original narrative was written by Debbonnaire Kovacs.
While We Are Waiting, Come Don Cason
Carol of the Advent Philip Dietterich
Emmanuel, Emmanuel Bob McGee
When Love is Found Brian Wren
Celtic Advent Michael Barrett
Offering Sunset Randall Hartsell Union Church Orchestra
Embodied Prayer
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 Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and the Mainland of China; and our siblings at First Christian Church our hearts, and pray for them today and throughout the week.
You are invited to reflect and pray at the candle table. You may also choose to source the essential ingredient of solitude and private prayer, remaining with your own thoughts in your pew. Please refer to the insert in your bulletin for further inspiration.
A Chance for Generosity: easytithe.com/union
A community of caring relies on support. Your recurring or one-time donation will make a ministry of healing, justice, and teaching available to all in need.
¨ Use your smart phone or computer and go to easytithe.com/union. No registration required, but registering once makes future generosity simply entering an amount and a click.
¨ Baskets for checks or cash are located at the head of each aisle for those who wish to make an in-person donation.
¨ Give by Text. Text an amount to 859-448-3403 (Example: Text “$50.00 Offering”).
¨ Give by Mail to: 200 Prospect St., Berea, KY 40403.
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
God Has Work For Us To Do Mark Miller
God— has work for us to do, God— has work for us to do, ’til God’s will is done and all things are made new—-
God— has work for us, God— has work for us to do, God— has work for us to do, ‘ ’til God’s will is done and all things are made new—-
God— has work for us, work for us to do! Work for us to do! Work for us to do! Work for us to do!
Prayers of the Community Tom McClure, Reader
Mighty one, author of our salvation, thank you for the reach of your love! You stretch across horizons, and reach over barriers, to be with your people. You stand with the poorest of us, and the poorest in spirit. Your love holds us all. In that name of that embodied love, we pray:
Show us how to reach across dividing lines.
Show us how to walk with each other, on the good days and the bad.
Show us how to see each other.
Show us how to reach for each other to heal wounds and bring light.
Help us dream beyond hardship and reach into the realm of justice and joy proclaimed by Jesus, the one who taught us to reach to in prayer as…
Our Lord’s Prayer
Our Maker, Our Mother, and Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; Thy kin-dom 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 kin-dom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
¨ Hymn #165 Love Came Down at Christmas Whitney
1 Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas;
star and angels gave the sign.
2 Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, Love divine;
worship we our Jesus,
but wherewith for sacred sign?
3 Love shall be our token;
love be yours and love be mine;
love to God and neighbor,
love for plea and gift and sign.
From Here to There
Community Connections
Announcements
We share opportunities for Beloved Community and ways to serve. Please see the listing of church & community events, prayers, and notices in the pages following the service.
Lighting the Justice Candle to Lead us Forth
Today we light the Justice Candle to recognize the Christmas Baskets that have brought food and toys to families for over sixty years. Father Beiting, of St. Clare Parish, started the program in the 1960s with the help of volunteers. They got referrals from Social Services and Head Start, and later from the Family Resource Centers. After Father Beiting left as pastor, nuns and staff of St. Clare parish took the program on, seeing it as a social action response to the Gospel message. As the need grew, St. Clare leaders reached out to other churches for help, and a great response came from Union Church!
St. Clare and Union Churches continue to partner to make sure that families who can not afford to put a special Christmas dinner on the table or toys under the tree for their children can have a better celebration than they otherwise would have.
Let us always remember that feeding the hungry is LOVE in action.
The Joy of Welcoming New Members
Partnership & Purpose
Today presents an opportunity to covenant together! All who would like to are welcome to join the church family – you will be received in joy.
Questions of the Congregation and New Members
Covenant of Welcome
And we, the members and faithful friends 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.
¨ Benediction
¨ Benediction Response you’re invited to join in singing:
Our Prayers for Others
¨ Dave Reilly’s nephew, Herb Post, ill with kidney cancer that has spread to his lung.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ 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.
¨ That those suffering in conflicts receive the aid they need.
¨ We pray for our country, and those who are directly affected by the actions and inaction of our government to address the needs of its people and the world.
¨ Our neighbors experiencing housing insecurity, homelessness and food insecurity.
¨ Victims of the most recent mass shootings in Australia and Rhode Island; and the family and friends left to grieve them.
¨ Dave Kobersmith’s mother, Marty Kober, recovering from recent surgery.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Betsy Hoefer, Dorie Hubbard, Susan Kramer, Lois Morgan, Sara Parker, Hattie Parks, Cheryl Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie, Theresa Scherf.
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: December 21 – Pam Chabora, Maxine Keller; 22 – Maria Hartz-Clineburg; 23 – Ben Whaley-Jones; 27 – Sue Peterson Blyth; 28 – Marvin Jenkins, Iris Bailey
Anniversaries: December 22 – Annette & Aidan Broadbridge; 27 – Colin & Maranda Weckman
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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