A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the
Church of Christ, Union
First Sunday of Lent
February 17, 2013
Meditation
The merit of a fast day is the charity dispensed then.
—The Talmud
Gathering to Worship
Welcome and Announcements
Prelude Forty Days and Forty Nights (Heinlein) David N. Johnson
¨ Call to Worship
One: Come into this space all you who live in the shelter of the Most High.
All: We travel with God.
One: Come into this space all you who trust God as your refuge and strength.
All: We walk through the seasons of our lives, seeking grace.
One: Come into this space, God’s most high dwelling place.
All: We worship God here, and walk together.
¨ Opening Hymn #392 Red Take Time to Be Holy Holiness
Prayer of Approach and Confession
Here are questions for silent reflection, meant for grace. We will read them silently, and you are invited stand or sit, whichever feels most prayerful to you
When we travel through Lent, we travel light. The story is heavy enough.
To travel light in your own life, is there something you should let go?
On this journey we strive to be released from history that shames us.
We let go of the words that hurt us… and refuse the stigma of those who meant us harm.
Is there something you say or said that does not bring life to others?
Are there things we believe about each other that stop us living together well?
On this journey we confess that we are bound to our lives with complicated feelings, unresolved pain, unvoiced hopes, and relentless possibilities.
Are you where you want to be?
When we travel through Lent, we travel light. We let go those things we do not need.
We journey in the way of Christ. God help us.
Words of Assurance
One: In letting go of what hurts and shames us we make a new community possible. May we travel in peace, in new life, in hope, and in promise.
All: So be it. Amen.
¨ Passing the Peace of Christ
All who come to this sanctuary are welcome companions on this day. Please turn to those nearest you and greet them with words of peace.
Hearing the word
Anthem My Song Is Love Unknown Mark Schweizer
Union Church Choir
My song is love unknown, My savior’s love to me, Love to the loveless shown that they might lovely be. O who am I that for my sake My Lord should take frail flesh and die?
Christ came from heaven’s throne Salvation to bestow, But people scorned and none the longed-for Christ would know. But O my friend, my friend indeed, Who at my need His life did spend!
Here might I stay and sing, No story so divine: Never was love, dear King, Never was grief like Thine. This is my friend, in whose sweet praise I all my days could gladly spend.
Epistle Lesson Romans 10:8b-13 (p.1375)
No one who is saved will be disappointed, not Jew nor Greek.
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, child care for ages kindergarten & under is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Community Room, and Children’s Church for kids ages 5-8 is available in Room 104. The activities provided acquaint the children with the structure of the regular service in a way that engages them and encourages their participation. Children’s Church is staffed by Anna Kate McWhorter, and parents who wish to accompany their children are very welcome.
Sung Psalm 91 p. 681 Black
The Psalms were all originally musical compositions. During Lent we will pray the psalms in musical form with congregational responses. Please sing the response at the “R” when invited.
Gospel Lesson Luke 4:1-13 (p. 1231)
Jesus begins his life-work in a confrontation with the devil in the wilderness. There, the devil offers Jesus a number of tempting alternatives to Jesus’ divine mission. Jesus refuses.
Sermon By Bread Alone… Rev. Kent Gilbert
Prayers of the People
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 Kiyosato, Japan and is also rung in the hope of peace for all nations.
Silent Prayers, Prayers of the Community & Consecration of our Lenten Commitments
When the leader says, “Lord, in your mercy,” please respond, “Hear our prayer.”
Our Lord’s Prayer
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.
Offering Our Gifts
Offertory Again, We Keep This Solemn Fast (Erhalt Uns, Herr) Flor Peeters
¨ Doxology, sung in English Laudate omnes gentes
Walking Forward in Faith
¨ Closing Hymn #211 Black Lord Jesus, Who Through Forty Days St. Flavian
¨ Benediction and Sending Forth
¨ Benediction Response Blessing Round Jonathon Jensen
_____________________________
¨ 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 Portugal, Spain, Italy and Malta and our brothers and sisters at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 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 the service of our country
¨ Carol Shaffer, recuperating from February 13 shoulder surgery at daughter Beth’s, 113 Redman Avenue, Haddonfield, NJ, 08033, at least until March 13. Email is m.schlitt@verison.net
¨ Julie Midkiff, who has a mass in her neck.
¨ Robert Foley, who has some difficult trials ahead.
¨ Jan Hamilton, recovering from knee replacement
¨ Mary Miller, longtime member and friend of generations of Union Church’s children, has moved to a nursing home in Indiana. She would love to hear from Union Church friends: Rm. 111; Waters of the Dune Lands Nursing Home; 110 Beverly Dr.; Chesterton; IN; 46304
¨ Renee and Billy Wellinghurst at the birth of Whitney Louise, born at 25 weeks on December 8, weighing 1 pound, 7 ounces. Please hold the family in prayer as Whitney faces some serious health challenges.
¨ Abi Dietz, who is now in rehab in Philadelphia. Cards may be sent care of her mom, Georgina Bard, 403 Edge Hill Rd., Glenside, PA, 19038
¨ Edith Hansen, at The Terrace
¨ Shirley Dean, on hospice care for lung cancer
¨ Ruth Wesley, very ill at home. Cards welcome, to 215 Peachbloom Hill
Assisting in Worship
Worship Leader today is Steve Gowler. Next week: John Culp
Announcements
You Matter! Please sign in on the Pew folders which will be passed in your row, with the last person taking out the sheet and placing it in the offering plate. Thank you.
Please stay for lunch! During Lent, all are invited to stay after worship for a lunch prepared by church family members. Today we are treated to a meal made by the Faith Development and Nurture & Care Boards.
Mark Scandrette’s book, “Practicing the Way of Jesus” has been described as, “an invitation to love creatively and recklessly, so that we might do something to interrupt the status quo, surprise the world with God’s goodness and fascinate the world with grace.” Join us Sunday mornings at 9:30 in the Wayside Room as we experientially practice the Way of Jesus together. Come to experiment even if you don’t feel like you have time to read the book. Contact Kim Kobersmith with questions or to reserve a book at kim.kobersmith@gmail.com or 985-0185.
Debbonnaire Kovacs is opening her outdoor labyrinth to the community during Lent. Feel free to stop by anytime to use it for your own meditation. Simply go to 773 Big Hill Rd. (down Prospect St. from the church about half a mile) and park in the circular drive. The labyrinth is behind the house and through a gate.
Visit Dead Sea Scrolls. Let’s see the Dead Sea Scrolls on Sat., Feb 23, at the Cincinnati Museum. We’ll leave at 10 am from the church. We’ll drive to Cincinnati, eat lunch, and have the afternoon to see the Scrolls and the museum. Then we’ll eat dinner and drive home. Cost is $23 (seniors $20, kids $15) plus meals and parking/gas. (If we get a group of 15 or more, we get a group rate of about $4 less.) Call Doug Hindman (582-5806) to reserve your place (and let us know if you can drive).
If you would like to participate in the study on Miroslav Wolf and Reconciliation, which will start next week, please let Debbonnaire Kovacs know as soon as possible. You can catch up with her at lunch today or call her at 859-779-0973. The class will use the book The End of Memory: Remembering Rightly in a Violent World ($16).
Cool Youth Group project needs some help! After we have the materials, the youth group is going to work with Barb Taylor and anyone else who would like to join to make bean bag chairs for their room and we are looking for donated items. Feel free to bring items you have in your house or buy some cool fabric if you prefer.
We will need:
· old grocery sacks for stuffing the bags, I know you have some in your house
· pieces of fabric that are at least 1 yard, preferably larger
· old bean bag chairs that you have at your place and want to get rid of– even if they are breaking, we can put a new outer layer on them!
Please place items in the senior high room on the third floor or give them to a youth to take upstairs for you!
Coffee, Bagels, and Church Fixes – Tuesday 8:30-Noon – Come join for whatever time you can in fellowship and helping with minor repairs, etc. There will be job opportunities for people of all skill levels — from cleaning organizing old bulletins to building shelves.
Interested in the Mission Trip to El Salvador? The Mission Board invites you to give it some thought. Fill out the interest form and bring or send it to the office, along with your deposit of $100, and a delegation member will be in touch! Then, be sure your passport is up to date. If you need a form, ask Jenny Bromley or we can email you one from the office.
Need to get into your attic? Need some spring cleaning? Having problems understanding your new phone? Need someone to get your flowerbed ready for the Spring? A youth can do it! In the upcoming months the youth will be working hard to raise money for their trip to Passport Choices in Wyngate, NC. If you need assistance with any task, no matter how big or small, call Chris (678-982-1731) or Grace Mckenzie (205-451-7444). Be ready to estimate the number of youth you will need, what supplies you have and if you need us to bring any, and how long the project will take.
Union Church’s Annual Meeting, at which members are elected to Boards and Committees, the Annual Report presented, and other business of the church conducted, will be March 17, after worship and the Lenten luncheon. Annual Reports are due in the office on March 4. If you’d like to receive the past couple of years of reports — either just from your Board or in their entirety, call or email the office and we’ll get it to you.
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