A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the
CHURCH OF CHRIST, UNION
Second Sunday of Advent December 6, 2015, 10:30 am
Meditation
“I hope to refine music, study it, try to find some area that I can unlock. I don’t quite know how to explain it but it’s there. These can’t be the only notes in the world, there’s got to be other notes some place, in some dimension, between the cracks…”
—Marvin Gaye (American soul singer, songwriter and producer, 1939-1984)
FROM THERE TO HERE
Hymn Sing Choose Your Favorites!
Scripture Reading Malachi 3:1-4
Congregational Introit While We Are Waiting, Come WAITING
Please see insert
Lighting the Fire of Peace
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 PEACE is lit.
One: Messengers of Hope, messengers of peace… God speaks through so many voices: some lauded as prophets, others obscured, their gold buried in the dross of the world.
One: But the message never dies. God whispers to the world of peace with justice, of lives restored, of hearts alive, and never, never, never, never stops.
One: The refiner’s fire is meant to draw all that is precious to the heat and allow the rest to be left behind. In the work of peace, in the hope of justice, we need this warmth and we follow this light wherever it can be found.
One: On this second Sunday of Advent, let us pray and confess together again:
All: Lord, we confess being too far from the flame too much of the time. 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 peace:
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 peace prevail.
All: Amen.
• Opening Hymn #345 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence PICARDY
• 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
Anthem O Come to Us, Emmanuel Joseph M. Martin
Union Church Choir
O come to us, Emmanuel, deliver us we pray. Lord, come to us, abide with us, restore our joy today. Lord, come walk beside us, come lead, teach and guide us. Shine in our shadows and show us the way. Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to us and ransom Israel. O come to us, Emmanuel, and make us one in love. By your strong hand, Lord, heal our land with grace from above. Bring peace for our sorrows, hope for tomorrow. Shine in our shadows and bring a new day.
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 Children’s Moment, children grades K-5 are invited to Children’s Church, which takes place in Cowan Chapel. Otherwise, children are welcome to visit the Children’s Worship Center, where there are toys, books, and drawing materials for children (or parents) who would like help staying present in the service. For children preschool & under, care is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Community Room. Please pick up your children in the Chapel or Nursery after the service.
Gospel Lesson Luke 3:1-6
Sermon Refining Peace: Building the World We Pray For 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 Vignette T. Birchwood
• 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
RESPONDING TO GOD’S LOVE IN COMMUNION
Invitation to Communion
One: May the God of Justice and Peace 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 for Peace.
One: Sing glad songs of praise in this place!
All: We join sisters and brothers in joyful thanksgiving.
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 Prayer and Prayers of the Community
Communion Prayer
One: Like others who have gone before us, we hear the voice in the wilderness calling us to change and be changed, to reform and be reformed, to challenge and refine the church, and to allow ourselves to be challenged and refined, that we might better serve you as the Body of Christ. With all the saints who live beside us, whose weaknesses and strengths are woven with our own, we praise you, O Lord.
One: You send us Jesus to share our life and journey with us, to show us how to live as you want. With his words and actions, Jesus taught us that the ways of God are different from the ways of the world. We are called to be your peacemakers, to hunger and thirst for what is right, and to offer comfort and mercy to others. With all who have taught your “way in the wilderness” we give you thanks and praise as we sing:
Sanctus Please Join in Singing
One: The one sent by God invited saints and sinners to dine with him and be his friends. And Jesus invites us – saints and sinners – to this meal, in which we can taste and see, experience and remember the goodness of our God who feeds us like a shepherd.
High voices: Be present in our hope in this holy time:
Low voices: In the silence of power and the power of silence;
Piano side: In the throne rooms of the rich and the shanties of the poor;
Bell side: In overfed communities and underfed souls;
One: Gather up peace in this bread and cup. Break open the good news of your incarnation: on parched farmlands and frightened cities; in the hearts of the proud and the longings of the lowly.
One: Even when the world rejected Jesus—on the very night he was betrayed—he continued to feed others with strength and hope. He sat with his friends, took bread and blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them saying,
All: “This is my body, given for you.” Open us and feed us, O God.
One: After supper, he took a cup, offered you thanks, and gave it to his disciples saying,
All: “This is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for the forgiveness of sin. Whenever you share this cup, remember me.” Redeem and strengthen us, O God.
One: Come now, Holy Spirit. Gather up the good news in this communion. Come now, God. Where once we ate the bread of tears, nourish us now with the abundance of your love made real in a small child born long ago and far away, yet real and living now in our midst. For all humanity awaits the life you give. Make your advent here in our hearts. Amen.
Serving One Another
All who seek the love of God are welcome at this meal and are invited to freely receive from it. We will share the elements today by intinction, dipping the bread in the cup. When invited please come to one of the stations by exiting your pew to the left and returning by the right. 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.
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.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
All: This table: it is peace in our chaos, a leveling of hill and valley, a place where the very source of living water pours through our needs. We dwell in our thanksgiving, abiding in your word made flesh, awaiting with Heaven and Earth the coming of our Lord. Amen.
FROM HERE TO THERE
• Closing Hymn #121 Toda la Tierra TAULE
• Benediction & Sending Forth
Postlude (please be seated) Trumpet Tune N. Bowden
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 Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Mauritania and our brothers and sisters at Church on the Rock 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
¨ George Oberst, undergoing cancer therapy
¨ Delores Carpenter’s mother, who is very ill
¨ 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. Visit her Caring Bridge site www.caringbridge.org/visit/marlenepayne
¨ Kelly Ambrose
¨ George Hardman
¨ John Hillman, recently diagnosed with ALS, and his family.
¨ SaraKatherine Manning-Beavin and the family, at the death of her father
¨ Nancy Shinn and family, at the death of Nancy’s mother, Elizabeth Albright, at 98, in Louisville, Ohio. Condolences may be sent to Nancy at 183 Fox Ridge Ln, Winfield, PA, 17889
¨ Jessica (Gowler) and Dan Siepler, at the birth of Heidi Claire last Sunday! Proud grandparents are Steve and Teresa Gowler
¨ NoraRuth’s Jenkins’ cousin, Terry Allen Wattts, facing serious medical procedures
¨ Rochelle Seals, undergoing treatment for breast cancer
¨ Alva Peloquin, on the great occasion of her 94th birthday!
¨ A friend of Hazel Morris, Pearl Nahki, died Monday night on her 86th birthday in Red Valley, AZ, on the Navajo Reservation. Prayers for her family: David, Jane and Marie
Announcments
Be an angel! Union Church has an emergency assistance fund that needs topping up! Please consider a holiday donation today as a special “first Sunday” offering. Your gift provides needed relief to church members throughout the year. Your check can be marked “EAF.” Thank you!
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: http://vols.pt/VPcdLk
Sound system operators needed! Training right after worship. We need YOU to volunteer to be trained to run the sound system on Sunday mornings. This is a volunteer position — BUT if you’re trained on the system, there’s also the occasional opportunity to run the system for special events, which are paying jobs. No age limit — upper or lower.
Budget Meeting next week, Dec. 13, right after worship service and lunch. The 2016 Budget will be voted upon – copies are available—hard copies or by email. See you there for this important meeting in the life of the church. Make chili for lunch! Signup on VolunteerSpot http://vols.pt/wAm3So
Next Week — Share YOUR Music Sunday Dec. 13 Mark Your Calendars! Sounds of the Season Musical Service! This service will feature the musical offerings of the Union Church Choir, Union Handbell Ensemble, and many of our talented church folks! This is a fun event that will feature lots of congregational participation and you WILL NOT want to miss it!
The Berea Classic Chorale Winter Concert is next week, Dec. 13, at 2:30 pm, sanctuary. They will perform Vivaldi’s masterpiece, “Gloria,” accompanied by a chamber orchestra composed of faculty and students from EKU. Other pieces to be performed will be Christmas music by Gustav Holst and Edward Elgar, and pieces by contemporary American composers.
The Chorale is a 25-voice ensemble of singers from the Berea community, conducted by Larry Brandenburg and accompanied by Terri Bradley. $5 adults, children & students free. Reception to follow in the Parlor.
Danish-American Christmas Cele-bration Dec. 13, 5:30—8:00 pm, Russel Acton Folk Center – all welcome, no charge! Storytelling, Santa Lucia processional refreshments, Santa’s work-shops, dancing around the tree!
Christmas Caroling: Wed, Dec. 16th Ride the trolley and spread good cheer! We’ll start Wednesday Night Live early (5:30) with a soup supper. Then we’ll split up into groups and go caroling to our neighbors who have trouble getting out. Finally, come back for cookies and hot chocolate. (Please bring cookies, by the way…) Join us for one of the highlights of the year!
Check out the new photography exhibit in the Pross Gallery by Thomas Wray!
Gifts for Liberty Place. Liberty Place is asking Union Church’s help in providing new sweatpants and sweatshirts or sweat jackets for some of the women residents to open Christmas morning. Items should be put in a gift bag. LP is a long-term residential recovery center in Richmond and many of its clients are residents of Berea and surrounding rural areas. To sponsor a woman call Dodie Murphy, 859-200-7277. 8 more needed!!!!
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