A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
February 1, 2026 10:30 am Fourth Sunday of Epiphany
Meditation
Don’t dress avoidance up as holiness. Don’t call silence “peacemaking.” Don’t light a candle and think it substitutes for showing up. ~ Rev. Matt Moberg, Chaplain, MN Timberwolves
From There to Here: We Gather
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 Jennifer Melton, Reader
One: Beautiful are the works of God!
All: Beautiful also are the skins of God’s people!
One: Beautiful is the mind of God!
All: Beautiful also are the hopes of God’s people!
One: Beautiful is the heart of God!
All: Beautiful also are the souls of God’s people!
One: God made the heavens and the earth!
All: To God be the glory for the things God has done.
¨ Hymn I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me African-American Spiritual
When using uncredited African-American spirituals in worship, it has become our custom at Union Church to make a donation to our friends from Berea College’s Black Music Ensemble.
¨ Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: Friends, called into God’s presence, we are also called into God’s heart. And the heart of God is for the healing of all the wounds, the restoration of all that has been broken. Broken promises, broken trust, broken bodies, broken hearts. God promises help in this healing. God promises forgiveness and transformation of what we have done and what we have left undone that breaks the world. Turn with me now as we seek mercy and strength.
All: You have shown us what is good, O lord. Help us do right where we have done wrong. Help us love kindness more than hate, more than comfort, more than apathy. Help us choose paths closer to you, your justice, your joy, your people, and your grace for all. Make us a blessing, despite our fractures and failures. In Christ’s name we ask and we pray. Amen.
¨ Words of Assurance
One: God promises forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace to all who turn away from what breaks and seek what heals. Believe and live this good news. The lord walks with us for good.
All: Thanks be to God!
¨ 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
Special Music Amazing Grace trad. Union Church Orchestra
Scripture Reading Micah 6:1-8
Hear what the Lord says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. Hear, you mountains, the case of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth, for the LORD has a case against his people, and he will contend with Israel.
“O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me! For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised, what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the Lord.”
“With what shall I come before the Lord and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?
~ New Revised Standard Version, updated
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 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he began to speak and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
~ New Revised Standard Version, updated
Sermon May It Be For a Blessing Rev. Kent Gilbert
Video Reflection
Responding to God’s Love in Communion
Invitation to Communion
One: God be with you.
All: And also with you!
One: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift our hearts in prayer.
One: Let us give thanks to God.
All: It is right to give God thanks and praise, for God has always shown us what is good and what is required of us.
Call to 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 Next week we pray for Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Western Sahara, and Tunisia and our siblings at Bethlehem Baptist Church in our hearts, and pray for them today and throughout the week.
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.
Communion Prayer
One: God of Creation, you laid the foundations of the earth and the mountain and hills witness to your justice. You redeemed your people from the house of slavery and called us to remember your saving acts that we might know your ways and live our lives in justice, kindness, and humility.
One: When our own wisdom and discernment failed to bring us near to you, you sent prophets and you sent Jesus to us, the source of our life and hope, teaching us the way of mercy, peace, and righteousness.
One: Therefore, with our hearts lifted high we offer you thanks and praise at all times through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Sanctus
Words of Institution
One: We give thanks that Jesus dwelt amongst us, and not just with those who were ready, or well-to-do, or educated, rich or powerful.
One: On the night when he was betrayed, Jesus took bread and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said:
All: “Take and eat. This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
One: In the same way, also the cup, after supper, saying.
All: Take and drink. This cup is the new covenant of my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
One: Come then, O Holy One, in the breaking of this bread,
All: be our comfort and strength.
One: In the sharing of this cup,
All: be our courage and commitment.
One: Lead us in paths of righteousness, we pray.
All: Amen.
Serving One Another
All who seek the love of God are welcome at this table and are invited to freely receive from it. By tradition, unfermented grape juice is used in the cup on Sunday mornings. If it is not convenient to come forward, the elements can be brought to your seat by signaling to the usher.
If it is not your tradition to receive, you are invited to join in prayers for the unity of the Spirit within your tradition. You may remain in your seat, or you may come forward for a blessing, as you wish.
Living Prayer
Offertory
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!
Embodied Prayer
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.
¨ Doxology Old Hundredth
To God all glorious heavenly Light, To Christ revealed in earthly night, To God the Spirit now we raise Our joyful songs of thankful praise. Amen.
Silent Prayer and Prayers of the Community Jennifer Melton, Reader
As we have broken bread, break open your people like loaves of love. Let us be strength for the journey toward justice and joy. As we have poured out cups of blessing in your name, empty our hearts like bottles that we might fill cups of lovingkindness passing among those hurting and harmed. As we have risen to light candles, help us to rise with light in our souls that love might lead and justice might roll down outside of these walls. Let light shine so that none should hurt or harm on any holy hill or plain.
May what you make of us be for a blessing. May the heads of tyrants turn toward your mercy. May the most vulnerable be the most beloved and most protected. Humbly we pray to walk with you. With all our heart we hope to love your mercy. With all our strength we hope we may do justice for the sake of your kin-dom to come. This we pray in the name of our brother Jesus, who commanded us to love one another, and taught us to reach to you 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 #436 God of Grace and God of Glory CWM Rhondda
1. God of grace and God of glory, on your people pour your power. Crown your ancient church’s story, bring its bud to glorious flower. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour, for the facing of this hour.
2. From the evils that surround us, and assail the Savior’s ways, from the fears that long have bound us, free our hearts for faith and praise. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the living of these days, for the living of these days.
3. Cure your children’s warring madness, Bend our pride to your control. Shame our reckless, selfish gladness, rich in things and poor in soul. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, make our broken spirits whole, make our broken spirits whole.
4. Set our feet on lofty places, gird our lives that they may be, armored with all Christ-like graces, in the fight to set us free. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, in the quest for liberty, in the quest for liberty.
5. Save us from weak resignation, to the evils we deplore; let the search for your salvation, be our glory evermore. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, serving you whom we adore, serving your whom we adore.
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
On this frigid morning we recognize the board members Room In The Inn, commonly known as RITI, a seasonal shelter serving those experiencing homelessness during the winter. This year the board members have encountered many challenges from extreme temperatures to a significant increase in the number of people needing shelter. The van used to transport folks in previous years was no longer available. To further complicate things, volunteers are not allowed to bring food cooked at home. Meals must be prepared in a health department approved kitchen or purchased from a restaurant and each volunteer serving must have a valid food handler’s permit.
The board has managed each challenge by partnering with Churches, the Berea Food Bank, local restaurants and volunteers. They even proposed legislation to exempt RITI and similar charities from the regulations that have hampered their service!
But the challenges are not over. The extreme cold continues to erode finances that this essential services to continue. Union Church Mission and Service Board is donating each month and many Church members are doing the same. If you have not donated and are able to do so, here’s a link: ritiberea.org/index.htm#don
¨ Benediction
¨ Benediction Response #570 We Shall Overcome We Shall Overcome
¨ 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 the fragile ceasefire in the Middle East may hold; and those suffering 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.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Dorie Hubbard, Susan Kramer, Sara Parker, Hattie Parks, Cheryl Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie, Theresa Scherf.
¨ Joy Gritton and Black Bear LaBoueff. Bear is hospitalized with lung issues.
¨ Laura Menefee-Greene, at the death of her husband, David.
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Moved to Richmond! Tom & Mary Ellen Cochrane!
Birthdays: February 2 – Peggy Coyne; 4 – Sandy Bolster, Donna Eder, Donna Abner; 5 – Lisa Bosley; 6 – Joy Frazier, Tim Monroe; 7 – Jean Boyce; 8 – Eric Crowden, Henry Basham
Anniversaries: February 2 – Al & Alice White; 3 – Thomas & Sarabeth Brownrobie; 4 – Ronald & Annie Sims
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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