A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union

Transfiguration Sunday February 15, 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  (Indian Theosophist Philosopher, wrote The Future of Humanity, Songs of Life, Kingdom Happiness. 1895-1986)

From there to here

Welcome & Announcements
Prelude     Rondeau          J. Mouret
*  Call to Worship
One:     We have seen the light of God
All:      on high mountains of celebration and in the ecstasy of a lover’s embrace.
One:     We have seen the light of God
All:      through the bitter scorn of betrayal and the searing chasm of grief.
One:     We have seen the light of God;
All:      with eyes that have been shaded, with eyes that have been opened, with eyes that have been blinded.
One:     We have seen the light of God.
All:      Let us worship, basking in the light.

                                   — adapted from a prayer by Katherine Hawker

* Opening Hymn #182 Black         We Have Come at Christ’s Own Bidding       Hyfrydol
*  Prayer of Approach & Confession
One:     He came bathed in light, dazzling, radiant…
All:      Forgive us, God, for accepting mediocrity in your name and calling it good enough.
One:     He came appearing with Elijah and Moses…
All:      Forgive us, God, for demanding exclusive expressions of faith even in the face of your expansive vision.
One:     He came while a voice was shouting, “this is my Beloved; listen!”
All:      Forgive us, God, for silencing the voice of the other struggling to praise your name.
            Forgive us, astound us, renew us, O God.  Brings us forth into your light. Amen.

                        — adapted from a prayer by Katherine Hawker

* Assurance of Pardon
One:     The God of Elijah, the God of Moses and the God of Jesus desires mercy more than sacrifice, and a contrite heart rather than burnt offerings. Love God and do the right thing and forgiveness shall be your friend and mercy your true companion. Thanks be to God!
All:      Amen.

          — by the Rev. Madison Shockley

*  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    Make a Joyful Noise    Don Kalbach
Union Church Choir
Make a joyful noise to the Lord all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness and come before His presence with a song. For the Lord is good, and His mercy endures. His truth endureth to all generations. We are His children and the sheep of His pasture.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson                       2 Kings 2:1-12
Children’s Anthem         Turn the World Around             Belafonte; arr. Emerson
Jubilee and Joyful Noise Choirs
We come from the fire, living in the fire, go back to the fire, turn the world around.
We come from the mountain, living in the mountain, go back to the mountain, turn the world around. We come from the water, living in the water, go back to the water, turn the world around.
Oh, so is life! Ah, so is life! Do you know who I am? Do I know who you are? See we one another clearly? Do we know who we are?
Water make the river, river wash the mountain, fire make the sunlight, turn the world around.
Heart is of the river, body is of the mountain, spirit is the sunlight, turn the world around.
We are of the spirit, truly of the spirit, only can the spirit turn the world around.
Oh, so is life a-ba-tee wah, ah, hah! So is life!
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-3 are invited to Children’s Church, which takes place in the chapel.  If this is your child’s first time attending Children’s Church, please accompany them to fill out a registration form.  Otherwise, children are welcome to follow volunteers to their worship spaces. For children preschool & under, care is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Community Room. Please pick up your children in the Chapel after the service.
Gospel Lesson                  Mark 9:2-9
Sermon     Changing Loves          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.
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             Exuberant Joy Arnold Sherman
Union Church Handbell Ensemble
*  Doxology  Praise God from whom all blessings flow;    Old Hundredth
                  Praise God all creatures here below;
                  Praise God above, ye heavenly host:
                  Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

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 …

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.       

Celebrating God’s gift in Baptism 

Introduction of Evelyn Myers
Hymn #449 Black (v. 1)  Softly and Tenderly     Softly and Tenderly
Questions of Baptism
Anointing
Covenant and Welcome
One:     The church is the family of God and the Body of Christ, the community in which we grow in faith and commitment.
All:      We rejoice to welcome you, Evelyn, to this community of care.  We commit to being a community that boldly and creatively embodies Christ’s life and ministry, and which lives as faithful heirs to Christ’s promise.  In all that we do, we will seek God’s grace to make the radical and inclusive love of God, the beloved community proclaimed by Jesus, and the continuing inspiration of the Holy Spirit visible and real to you, and to all. 

From Here to There

*  Closing Hymn#184  Black          O Wondrous Sight, O Vision Fair       Deo Gracias
*  Benediction & Sending Forth
Postlude    Triumphal March        W. Stickles
———————————————
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 Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands and our brothers and sisters at Galilee Baptist Church in your hearts, and pray for them.
Please also hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week:
* Those in harm’s way in service of our country, and those who wait and worry for them.
* For the victims of violence everywhere, and especially under the influence of racial prejudice and simmering fear. Peace to those everywhere our madness reigns.
* Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound:  Edith Hansen, Klara Welsh, Nancy Jones, Mary Miller, Averill Kilbourne, Alva Peloquin, Ruth Butwell
* Teri VanPelt and Christine Ward and especially Kim Wooldridge
* Elizabeth Crowe’s father
* Loretta Reynolds recovering from sarcoma surgery in NYC
* Lee Hubbard, long-time chaplain for Women’s Creative Sewing and Crafts, recently hospitalized with heart and lung issues
* Kelly Mehler
* The Perry-Wick family in the birth of Levi!
* Mary K. Kauffman recovering from her fall in Florida.
* Judy Rowell and the family of Mervin Deaton, her brother, who passed away in late January.
* The family of Bernice Robertson, especially her siblings and her sons, Don and Bruce.
* Anne Weatherford, who is declining and under greater care at her nursing home in Asheville, NC
* Berea High School Junior, Jayson Smith, who suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) during a football game  on November 7, 2014.
* Faith Birznieks, at the death of Ilmars.
 
Mardi Gras Brunch after worship! The Youth Group of Union Church will be hosting a Mardi Gras themed pancake breakfast for the community after church downstairs in the Community Room February 15. We will be making several different types of pancakes and will have different options for topping them. We will also serve grits, cheese grits and sausage! There will be mask and hat making booths as well. All proceeds will go toward sending the youth to Passport Summer Camp this year. Thanks for your support of our youth!
Today!  We will celebrate the baptism of new member Evelyn Myers, who has chosen to be immersed. We will join in thanksgiving and covenant with her in worship and then all who will are invited to join the Pastors and Evelyn at First Christian Church immediately following service as we make use of their indoor baptismal tank for this blessing!
New Group meeting at Union: Adult Children of Alcoholics: If you were brought up in a home of addiction, a home of abuse, and if it has affected your life, there is a place for you. ACA meetings, 11am on Saturdays, in the Office Level Classroom. You are not alone
Learn more about the church next week! If you’re thinking about joining, but have some questions, come to a Fourth Sunday (Feb. 22)  new membership info session!   Anyone wanting to know more about Union Church or wanting to explore church membership, as well as new members who have not been able to participate in a previous meeting, are invited to come to the classroom two doors past the church office immediately following worship for conversation with the Pastors and the Community Life and Growth Board.
Ash Wednesday Service this week, 7:00pm in the Chapel.  The first night of Lent, Ash Wednesday is a time of repentance (turning toward God).  In this service we will focus on letting go of that which binds us, and freeing ourselves to journey toward the heart of God.  Ashes, a symbol of our mortality in the presence of the infinite and immortal, will be offered for those who want a tangible reminder of this season.
Lent developed in the early days of Christianity to mirror Jesus’ 40 days of temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11).  It reminds us that even Jesus needed time to think, and pray, and focus on God.
This was the time in which new Christians studied and learned the faith before being baptized on Easter Sunday.  It has become a traditional time of fasting, prayer, service, and sacredness, a time of preparation and repentance, a turning toward God.  Our word “lent” comes from the Old English for “to lengthen,” as the days lengthen through spring toward Easter. It’s a “spring cleaning for the soul,” if you will.
 
QiGong Workshop Saturday, Feb. 21, A day of learning the practice of Lift Qi Up Pour Qi Down, a day of meditation and movement. All levels of health are welcome and a practice DVD will be given so that you can continue a daily practice on your own.  This will also be an introduction to the practice of QiGong, and you can continue with group practice Monday evenings for Lent!
Bring a mat if you have one, comfortable clothes, water, and a blanket.  Dress in layers for comfort. For more info, check out the website www.smilingheart qigongcenter.com.
Saturday, Feb 21, 7:00 pm, A Festival of Music by African American Composers. In the sanctuary. From Spirituals to Jazz to Classical,   Performers will include: Berea College choirs and instrumental ensembles, the Clavere Duo, West Jessamine Chorus, Liza and AJ and other special guests.  Come join the celebration!
Lenten Lunches Begin February 22 Plan now to travel no further than to the Community Room for Sunday Lunch during Lent.  You may have noticed the Line Item “Lenten Lunches” in the Income section of the Church Budget. Each year the Boards work together to provide lunch for the five Sundays of Lent and the income from these lunches helps to fund the budgets of our Boards — suggested donations of $5.00/single or $15.00/family.
On Feb. 22, the Worship and Nominating Boards will serve up some country cookin’! Most important is the fellowship  shared, and especially the opportunity to get to know some of our newer members. Mark your calendars now!
After Feeding your Body, Feed your Spirit! Special Sunday Lent Opportunities   begin Feb. 22nd:
The Artist’s Way Sunday Afternoons, 1-2pm, Office Classroom, ten weeks Discover how to remove your personal blocks to creativity in an Artist Way workshop/creative cluster, plus identify and/or recover your personal Artist.  Andy Blyth, (Folk Musician/Retired Sound Engineer) and his wife Sue Peterson Blyth, (Community Organizer) will facilitate and encourage a synergy of artistic spirit through mentorship, collaboration, com-munity building and artistic expression.
Classes will run from 1-2 PM after Lenten Lunches, with time adjusted as needed for all-church events.  The text will be The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. Used books are available for $10 (please sign up online for a book) – or you can bring your own.  A suggested donation for each session is $5.00.
Living and Dying Well: How to Be Mortal Sunday Evening, 4-6 pm, Office Classroom Back by popular demand! Death and dying is often a frightening prospect, but as an inevitable part of living, young and old encounter it every day. From practical matters like living wills and emergency planning to the deep spiritual questions of meaning and legacy, there is much to learn about ways we can embrace love and empower ourselves even in the midst of death and dying.  Rev. Kent and Rev. Rachel will create a safe, honest, faith-filled, nurturing, even humorous, space to explore this most dreaded and most universal of topics. Whether you are a young adult just starting in the world, or an especially “experienced” mortal this class is for you!
FREE Tax Prep at Berea College! Eastern Kentucky Asset Building Coalition offers free income tax preparation to those earning under $58,000 –call 985-4124to schedule an appointment.
Annual Meeting—Mark your Calendar! Union Church’s Annual  Meeting  will be March 22, in the Community Room, after worship & lunch. If you are a chairperson of a Board, please submit your Report for the Church’s Annual Report, by March 2. If you’d like a couple years’ worth of Reports for reference, I can send you pdfs. Many thanks. All are welcome to propose items of business, concern – or churchwide conversation – for the agenda. Please send ideas to Doug Hindman, Vice Moderator & Church Council chair, hindmandouglas @gmail.com by March 2.