A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Easter Sunday
March 27, 2016 10:30 am
Meditation
Wring Out My Clothes
“Such love does
the sky now pour
that whenever I stand in a field
I have to wring out the light
when I get
home.”
― St. Francis of Assisi, trans. Daniel Landinski
From there to here
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 Da Jesus an dem Kreuze Stundt, BWV 621 J .S. Bach
The Good News! Luke 24:1-12
Call to Worship (seated) from Isaiah 65:17-25
One: This is the Good News—the grave is empty, Christ is risen.
All: Alleluia!
One: This is the Good News—The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never put it out.
All: Alleluia!
One: This is the Good News—Once we were no people, now we are God’s people.
All: Alleluia!
One: Christ is our peace, the indestructible peace we now share with each other.
He is Risen!
All: Alleluia! Christ is Risen indeed!
Easter Processional
Please remain seated as this introduction to the hymn is played and the elements of celebration are brought forward and the sanctuary is transformed. When invited, please rise and sing:
* Hymn #233 Black Christ the Lord Is Risen Today Easter Hymn
* 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 Forth He Came at Easter Crum, Pote
Union Church Choir
Christ is risen, alleluia! Risen from the dead, risen as he said, Christ is risen, alleluia! In the grave they laid him, love whom men had slain; thinking that never he would wake again. Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen; love is come again like wheat that springeth green. Forth he came at Easter, like the risen grain, he that for three days in the grave had lain. Quick from the dead my risen Lord is seen; love is come again like wheat that springeth green.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Isaiah 65:17-25
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.
For children preschool & under, care is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Community Room. There is no Children’s Church today; young ones are invited to rejoin their families.
Easter Acclamation Psalm 118:1-24 p. 700
Refrain
Lesson from Acts of the Apostles Acts 10:34-43
Sermon The Living Among the Dead Rev. Kent Gilbert
Gifts given for Love to flow
Call to Offering
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.
Giving 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 Paean of Triumph Lani Smith
* Doxology
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
Litany for Easter Sunday
One: Lord Jesus, here are your disciples. We meet you even in the midst of confusion. Help us live into those questions for which there are no easy answers. Feed our faith with the assurance of your presence.
All: May we hear your voice in and through all the other voices we hear. May we find life even in our questions; blossom, even in our uncertainty.
One: Lord Jesus, here are your disciples. We meet you even amidst the tombs and stony places. Bring new life where we are worn and tired. Bring new love where we have turned hard-hearted. Bring forgiveness where we feel hurt and where we have wounded others. Bring joy and release where we are prisoners of ourselves.
All: May we let go of fear and embrace hope. Heal our broken places that we may share your resurrection joy.
One: Lord Jesus, here are your disciples, the body of Christ, your Church. We pray for your Church throughout the world and for that part to which we belong: that we may find both wisdom and strength to be your hands of mercy, of compassion, and right-relation.
All: Help us rise free of all that binds us; of all that divides us from one another. May we be liberated and united by the love of the resurrected one.
Our Lord’s Prayer adapted for the New Zealand Prayer Book by Jim Cotter (1988)
Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,Source of all that is and that shall be;Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!The way of your justice be followed by peoples of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth. With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and test, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever. Amen.
From Here to There
* Closing Hymn #245 Black The Day of Resurrection Lancashire
If you would like to join the choir in singing the Hallelujah Chorus, please make your way to the choir loft, if able, during the last verses of the hymn.
* Benediction Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah G.F. Handel
Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth! The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of the Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever: King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Hallelujah!
Postlude Symphony No. V., Toccata C.M. Widor
_____________________________
* Those who wish to may stand
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 Thailand and our brothers and sisters at Gethsemane Baptist Church in your hearts, and pray for them.
Please also hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week:
¨ Refugee families and individuals seeking shelter and safety, and all who are working to provide it: May God magnify our efforts.
¨ Les Pross, at the death of his sister, Margaret “Peggy” Banker.
¨ Teri Mehler, recovering at home from abdominal surgery
¨ Laura Robie, recovering at home from knee replacement surgery
¨ Andy Blyth, recovering at home
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound: Edith Hansen, Nancy Jones, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin
¨ The family and friends of George Oberst who passed away very early Wednesday morning
¨ Sheila Johnson, facing breast cancer
¨ Marlene Payne and her family
¨ Kelly Ambrose and family
¨ Terry Allen Watts, NoraRuth Jenkins’ cousin
¨ Cindy Saylor’s friend Genny Bryant, who has colon cancer.
¨ Loretta Mountjoy, recovering at home
¨ Jerry Cooper’s daughter, Debbie diagnosed with breast cancer
¨ Anna Grethe Jensen, Sune Federiksen’s sister-in-law in Denmark, recovering from heart valve surgery
¨ Jillean McCommons, feeling a lot of stress and anxiety
¨ Alvera Perman’s new niece, Avery Stallard, born March 14 at just over one pound, and her family
¨ Kelly Kelsey, with health concerns and an upcoming move
¨ For all discerning the way forward in difficult circumstances, may God’s light lead and guide
Announcements
You Matter! Please Sign the Register, Check in on Facebook/Twitter and try a nametag! It’s hard to get to know people elsewhere, but we don’t want it that way at church. Let’s all try to get to know each other better.
We Need YOUR PICTURE for a New Church Directory! If you’ve got a photo you’d like to use, please send it to the office. Also — if there’s a chance we don’t have your address, phone, email address, anniver-sary, or birthday(s)—please send that info on as well: office@union-church.org. There will be a draft available in the office for you to check and correct if needed. If we left you out — we don’t mean to!! Please add your info! Also, if you happen to know that someone has moved or attends church elsewhere, let us know that too.
Wednesday Nite Live! is Union Church’s Wednesday evening of community supper, fellowship and activities. JOIN US! Bread for the World Potluck & Offering of Letters March 30: Potluck with St. Clare Catholic Church and Berea Friends Meeting for Bread for the World 2016 Offering of Letters. Letter writing materials provided. Empty Bowls Project bowls also for sale for $10.00, proceeds to area Food Banks. Plus kids’ choir, handbell ensemble, occasional programs, youth group. ALL are welcome, regardless of your faith tradition.
Crafters: Continuing Sunday Morning Fellowship Opportunity! The group enjoyed their before-worship time so much, they are continuing. Feel free to join ‘em, Community Room—near the coffee. Needle-workers, Crafters, Crocheters and More! Sunday mornings, 9:45am-10:15am, bring your own creative project to work on, and join others for relaxed and unstructured conversation, community-building, and coffee before the church service begins.
Order Raised Beds Now! April 1 is the deadline for ordering and paying for Raised Beds to be installed between April 13 – 16 through the Berea Victory Garden Blitz. it forward with a gift of $100 to gift a bed to someone else. This is our chance to help people learn to grow food and build community around sharing food. Help build our local food economy and supporting a just and sustainable food system for all. Contact Sustainable Berea at 859-985-1689 to order.
6th Annual Brushy Fork Cleanup April 9. Register at 9:30 am at Brushy Fork Park.
Host a Dane: April 11th-15th! Seeking families to host pairs of Danish teens (either 2 girls or 2 boys). These students are English immersion students, so their English is good, but they may be shy about it. Please let Carol Hunt know if you are able to be a host family: thehuntfamily6@hotmail.com Phone: 859-779-5360. You won’t regret it!
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