A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
February 8, 2026 10:30 am Fifth Sunday of Epiphany
Meditation “We need not lose hope, we just need to locate where it dwells.” ~ Terry Tempest Williams
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 Diane Bailey, Reader Based on Psalm 112:1-10
One: Called to be light,
All: we carry God’s hope into the shadows of the world.
One: Called to be salt,
All: we enhance the lives of those around us, with joy.
One: Called to live in God’s reality,
All: we stand with sisters, brothers, siblings, in faith, rising to light the way with love.
¨ Hymn #525 This Little Light of Mine Latimer
1. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
2. Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine, everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine, everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
3. All through the night, I’m gonna let it shine …
¨ Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: Happy are those who fear God and delight in the commandments of God!
All: May we rise as light in the darkness; may gracious mercy and just conduct be the seal of our faith.
One: Lord, we pray for forgiveness when we have failed you and failed your world.
All: Help us restore the habitation of Righteousness within us; help us become both generous and kind.
One: We pray so we can be closer to the Light of the World, Jesus your Christ:
All: Amen.
¨ Words of Assurance
¨ 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 Soon and Very Soon Andrae Crouch, arr. Schrader Union Church Choir
Soon and very soon we are going to see the King; soon and very soon we are going to see the King; soon and very soon we are going to see the King; Hallelujah! Hallelujah! we are going to see the King.
No more dying there, we are going to see the King ….
Scripture Reading Isaiah 58:1-12
Shout out; do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they want God on their side. “Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?”
Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day and oppress all your workers. You fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, “Here I am.”
If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your needs in parched places and make your bones strong, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.
~ 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 5:13-20
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot. “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp put it under the bushel basket; rather they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
~ New Revised Standard Version, updated
Sermon Wave after Shining Wave Rev. Kent Gilbert
Video Reflection
Living Prayer
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 Andorra, Italy, Malta, Portugal, San Marino, Spain and Vatican City and our siblings at Ransom 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.
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.
For Reflection and Inspiration
On the tables here, or later at home, at a restaurant, a friend’s house, make time to touch, taste and meditate on salt. It melts ice; it flavors food; it can ruin a soup or make a meal. Salt pulls moisture; salt lowers temperature of water before it freezes.
Does one of these metaphors speak to your state? Your soul’s need? Something you might wish to put into the world as your salt?
Take time to taste, savor, and reflect, asking God to “salt the pot” of all you need.
Light
Kindling flames in the dark is our ancient prayer to “enlighten” our way. We both give and receive this gift.
For what do you need light and where has it come from?
What light is yours to shine for others and how are you offering it today?
Your offering and your receiving is a prayer unto itself.
Let light shine in and through you this week.
Offertory Deep River trad. Union Church Orchestra
A Chance for Generosity: easytithe.com/union
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¨ Give by Mail to: 200 Prospect St., Berea, KY 40403.
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
¨ 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 Diane Bailey, Reader
Too fast, too furious, too little, too late: all our prayers are too weak when we are too concerned with being too visible, too powerful, too self-absorbed. We are particles of indiscretions and regrets too easily swept aside.
But you, God of salt and light, you illuminate a better way. You call us into waves of grace and help us savor your work with abundant abandon. Draw us close when we lose the flavor of your love in our life and forget that our well-being is bound with that of our neighbor. Help us fast from all that harms ourselves and others, and help those who are suffering here to be seen and heard in your heart of hearts. Restore our spirits even our bodies are weary. Your love leads us. With spirit and in truth we turn to you.
Hear and help your people that we may do as Love demands and SHINE with your light. This we pray in the name of Jesus, who taught us to reach to you 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 #181 You Are Salt for the Earth, O People Bring Forth
1. You are salt for the earth, O people: salt for the reign of God! Share the flavor of life, O people: Life in the City of God!
Refrain:
Bring forth the reign of mercy, bring forth the reign of peace; Bring forth the reign of justice, bring forth the City of God!
2. You are a light on the hill, O people: light for the City of God! Shine so holy and bright, O people: shine for the City of God! Refrain
3. You are a seed of the Word, O people: bring forth the reign of God! Seeds of mercy and seeds of justice, grow in the City of God! Refrain
4. We are a blessed and a pilgrim people: bound for the reign of God! Love our journey and love our homeland: love is the Kingdom of God!
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
The New Americans Initiative is a diverse group of Kentuckians, comprising community leaders, elected officials, business owners, students, volunteers, attorneys, and everyday Kentuckians, from across the Commonwealth, who are dedicated to making space for foreign-born Kentuckians in our electoral process. There are more than 60,000 immigrants in Kentucky who are eligible for naturalization, who do not become citizens because of financial and language barriers.
The New Americans Initiative, whose board is composed of first- and second-generation immigrants are working to help Kentucky’s immigrant population onto the pathway of citizenship and keeping naturalized citizens engaged in the electoral and civic processes. newamericansinitiative.org
¨ Benediction
¨ Benediction Response #570 We Shall Overcome We Shall Overcome
1. We Shall Overcome, we shall overcome, we shall overcome someday; Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, we shall overcome someday.
2. We’ll go hand in hand, we’ll go hand in hand, we’ll go hand in hand someday; Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, we’ll go hand in hand someday.
3. We are not afraid, we are not afraid, we are not afraid today. Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, we are not afraid today.
4. Our God will see us through …
5. The truth will make us free …
6. We shall live in peace …
¨ 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, Hattie Parks, Cheryl Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie, Theresa Scherf.
¨ Prayers for Stephen Black Bear LaBoueff, who is gravely ill and not expected to recover. We hold his wife, Joy Gritton, in God’s light as she accompanies him on his journey into the Wider Life.
¨ Steve Rutledge, whose wedding anniversary would be Feb. 14. His Elaine passed in June.
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Moved to Richmond! Tom & Mary Ellen Cochrane!
Birthdays: February 8 – Eric Crowden, Henry Basham; 9 – Sage Jodock; 10 – Alison Szewczyk, Betsy Whaley, Colin Weckman; 11 – Cora Livingston; 12 – Ashley Cochrane; 13 – Ben Livingston; 14 – Greg Lakes
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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