A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany 10:30 am
Meditation
Truth is seeking to awaken to itself through you, to see itself everywhere through your eyes and taste itself everywhere through your lips. —Stephan Bodian “Encountering the Gateless Gate”
From There to Here: We Gather
Gathering Music
Welcome
The Call Don and Rhonda Cardwell
Holy One, you are ready to meet us
wherever we are in our lives,
offering vision, interruption, hope
where we may least expect it.
Surprise us here at worship today
With some grace unexpected
that will change something in us
—large or small—
and send us into the world
inspired and impassioned to do your work.
Amen.
Passing of the Peace
Building the Community: News that Connects Us
Lighting the Justice Candle
Today we light the Justice Candle in honor of Kentuckians For The Commonwealth. KFTC’s Mission Statement reads as follows: Kentuckians For The Commonwealth is a statewide organization working for a new balance of power and a just society. As we work together we build our strength, individually and as a group, and we find solutions to real life problems. We use direct action to challenge – and change – unfair political, economic and social systems. Our membership is open to all people who are committed to equality, democracy and non-violent change. Over the past year members of the Madison County Chapter have worked together to promote clean energy at the local level, register and educate voters, support a Fairness Ordinance in the County, and much more. There are more than 500 members of various ages and backgrounds, and new folks are always welcome.
The Living Word Among Us
Hymn How Then Shall We Live?
1. Took a walk outside of my walking. Stepped inside another’s shoes. Walked the dusty borders between us. Paths I’d never chosen to choose. Refrain: How then shall I live? How then shall I live? How then shall I live, O God? How then shall I live?
2. Heard a sound outside of my list’ning. Felt the living hum of the ground. Waited on the voice of the spirit, singing with its new old sound. Refrain.
3. Saw the world outside of my looking. Gazed upon the eyes of its soul. Held the hopes and fears of tomorrow, found the pieces making a whole. Refrain.
4. Took a step outside of my walking. Found within a beat that we share. Walked with you the length of a lifetime, and made of life a living prayer. Refrain.
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Hebrew Scripture Lesson Isaiah 6:1-13 Don Cardwell, Reader
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.” The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!” And he said, “Go and say to this people: ‘Keep listening, but do not comprehend; keep looking, but do not understand.’ Make the mind of this people dull, and stop their ears, and shut their eyes, so that they may not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and comprehend with their minds, and turn and be healed.” Then I said, “How long, O Lord?” And he said: “Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is utterly desolate; until the Lord sends everyone far away, and vast is the emptiness in the midst of the land. Even if a tenth part remain in it, it will be burned again, like a terebinth or an oak whose stump remains standing when it is felled.” The holy seed is its stump.
Children’s Moment Please join in singing as we bless children everywhere:
May God’s blessing 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.
Gospel Lesson Luke 4:14-21
Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.
Sermon Into The Deep Water Rev. Kent Gilbert
Living Prayer
Offering Music
A Chance for Generosity: www.easytithe.com/union 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 portion of our contributions flows out to aid those in need via many external agencies.
Many friends give online, and you can use your smart phone or computer and go to www.easytithe.com/union. You don’t have to register to make a contribution, but if you do, it can make future generosity that much easier.
You can even give by text! Text to 859-448-3403 (Example: Text “$50.00 Offering”)
You can also use US mail! Mail to: 200 Prospect St., Berea, KY 40403
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Responding to God’s Love in Communion
Invitation to Communion
One: The Lord Be with you!
All: And also with those you cherish.
One: Lift up your hearts!
All: We lift them to the Lord.
One: Let us give thanks to God!
All: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
One: In this time of increased isolation, let us center ourselves in this moment of committed community. If you have a candle with you. Let’s light it now.
As the disciples saw Christ coming from a distance across the water, we can allow the flame to be a reminder of strong love coming to us. Let us center ourselves now for prayer. As we do, Please put in the comments or in the chat, what you are most hoping to be in touch with: the people, the ideas, the struggles. Com-Union. By this act together, add in what and who you are praying for.
Ringing of the Peace Bell Don Cardwell
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
God of the deep places we gather in the hopes of drawing close to you. In mighty acts of creation, in the minute details of beauty, in all the blessings of this world we see your hands. You have sent us artists and prophets to teach us your ways and show us your justice. Through them you have proclaimed that we cannot draw close to you without drawing close to one another. In the fullness of time you sent us your son, Jesus, who calls us into the waters of love and compassion, of justice and everlasting life. And so we gather now, here and in homes, now and in all times and places to join the seraphim singing Holy, Holy, Holy is your name!
Communion Sanctus
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.
Words of Institution
One: Holy one, you who are in every gathering where joy is spread and hope is kindled, we remember the bounty of the waters of your grace and the one who taught us to cast our nets wide. Even on the brink of betrayal and death, we remember that Jesus took bread and, when he had given thanks, he broke it among those gathered and said,
All: “This is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
One: Not just the daily bread, but also the cup of celebration is passed to us: new life, flowing like joy, and looking like company. Amongst those same friends, he took a cup, and giving thanks, said,
All: “This cup is a new covenant of my life and blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
One: For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord until he comes.
Gracious God, by this meal we recall Jesus’ birth, his ministry to all on the margins, and his promise of eternal life and light. Send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this bread and cup, that we who eat and drink at this holy table may share the life of Christ, our Lord. Pour out your Spirit upon the whole earth and bring in your new year, and your creation. Gather us together from the ends of the earth and the limits of our understanding; gather us into your kingdom where peace and justice are revealed in all; gather us that we, with all your people of every language, race, and nation, may share the banquet you intend for all. Amen.
Community Prayer Rhonda Cardwell, Reader
When into deep waters your Spirit drives us; when futility more than fish is our catch; when words that must be said are heavy and choke us; come then, Holy One. In those moments, bind our hearts and minds, our frailties and fears to you and your Greater Love. Set us to your Holy Work, and point us to all we need to do it. For without your guidance and grace our efforts are incomplete; the fear of our weaknesses our only guide. But you hold your people in the grip of something better. In the midst of want you establish the bounty and fill our nets. When into the deep waters you call us, aid us so we may say “Here I am, Send me” in the sure and certain knowledge that we will not cast our nets in vain.
This we ask as Jesus taught us to pray, reaching to you as…
Our Lord’s Prayer
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.
From Here to There
Hymn You Have Come Down to the Lakeshore Pescador des Hombres
1. Tú has venido a la orilla, no has buscado ni a sabios ni a ricos;
tan sólo quieres que yo te siga.
Refrain in English: O Jesus, you have looked into my eyes; kindly smiling, you’ve called out my name. On the sand I have abandoned my small boat; now with you, I will seek other seas.
Refrain in Spanish: Jesus, me has mirado a los ojos, sonriendo has dicho mi nombre, en la arena he dejado mi barca, junto a ti buscaré otro mar.
1. You have come down to the lakeshore seeking neither the wise nor the wealthy, but only asking for me to follow. (Refrain)
2. You know full well my possessions; neither treasure nor weapons for conquest, just these my fish nets and will for working. (Refrain)
3. You need my hands, my exhaustion, working love for the rest of the weary a love that’s willing to go on loving. (Refrain)
4. You who have fished other waters; you, the longing of souls that are yearning: O loving Friend, you have come to call me. (Refrain)
Reprinted with permission using OneLicense #A-723786
Benediction
Postlude
Come to Virtual Coffee Hour!! Zoom link — Join https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87387600761
OUR FELLOWSHIP PRINCIPLES:
“Union Church welcomes all followers of Christ and works with all who work with Him; respecting each person’s conscience; working by love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.”
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 Andorra, Italy, Malta, Portugal, San Marino, Spain and Vatican City; and our brothers and sisters at Mt. Zion Christian Church in our hearts, and pray for them. Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week.
¨ All those seeking a new and just society and those fearful that they will be supplanted, may God open their hearts and include them in grace.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Alva Peloquin, Loyal Jones, Lois Morgan, Jan Hamilton, Laura Robie, Tom & Dorie Hubbard, Sally Zimmerman
¨ Families and Friends in Crises…may God be present to every need and heal every rift and wound and those who care for them.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon.
¨ Those affected by the Covid-19 virus, their families and friends living with fear, anxiety, and feelings of isolation, may God bring peace to all who love them; and our wider community as we cope with the new realities of living, including the now over 13,000 Kentucky residents, and 231 Madison County residents, who have died to date from Covid-19.
¨ Sharona Nelson, recovering well from surgery to mend a badly broken shoulder.
¨ The Garrett family, at several positive Covid tests.
¨ Carol, Ben and all the family, at Bob Shaffer’s passing, in New Jersey (120 Town Center Blvd., Apt. 244, Sewell, NJ 08080).
”Claudia Munson-Schrumpf’s friend Michelle Wyman, whose mom is very ill and who lost her dad last year.
¨ Tom Hubbard recovering from Covid and for Dorie making her move to new residence at Morning Pointe
¨ Raymond Binkley, Betty Wray’s brother, aged 94, and in ill health.
¨ George Hardman, Joan English’s dad, with serious urinary tract complications.
¨ Important dates—if we haven’t got yours, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
¨ Birthdays: Today, Joy Frazier; Feb. 7 – Jean Boyce; 8 – Henry Basham; 9 –Sage Jodock; 10 – Betsy Whaley; 11 – Cora Livingston; 12 – Ashley Cochrane; 13 –Ben Livingston
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