A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Fifth Sunday after Epiphany February 8, 2015, 10:30 am
Meditation
“I will go unto the altar of God.” And the monk responded, “To God who gladdens my youth.” “Juventutem meam,” he said, distinctly and with feeling. He was 81.
To those whose lives are fueled by belief–to people still young at 81 because they’re scarcely at the threshold of eternity–there’s no corner of life where faith is irrelevant.
–Tony Proscio
From there to here
Welcome & Announcements
Prelude Reflection D. Wagner
* Call to Worship
One: Friends, in every moment God reaches a hand to us, calling us to rise from the sorrows of the day, of the past, of the world.
All: Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? God never grows tired or weary, and renews us with a touch.
One: Let us worship the God of our transformation, the one who can turn mourning into dancing, whose understanding is beyond human scope. As God takes hold, let us turn loose of all but praise and relief so we may sing, serve, and follow in the way of the Lord!
* Opening Hymn #2 Black Glory, Glory Hallelujah Glory, Glory
* Prayer of Approach & Confession (unison)
We cannot hide from you, Everlasting God, even if we were to go from one edge of creation to the next. You speak to us of compassion, but the ways in which we treat others show we have not been listening. You explain your hopes to us, and we act as if we have no clue as to what is going on. We run as fast, and as far, from what should, and must, be in order to be whole, and then wonder why we have no energy to understand the healing proclaimed by Christ. Forgive us. See us reaching to live better, and help us find the path forward. We ask in Christ’s name: Amen.
Yet you search for us in all the deserted places we flee to, Never-wearied God, so you can take us by the hand to show us the way to life with you. You heal our broken hearts so we can offer them to others. You fill us with your strength so we can bind ourselves to Jesus, our Savior, following him to serve all of your children.
* Assurance of Pardon
One: Have you not been listening? God never tires out, nor is there is an expiration date on God’s forgiveness. God searches all the deserted places we flee to, looks under all the rocks of hard, hard life to offer the hand of hope. God heals our hearts so we can offer them to others. God is ever with us, healing us with mercy, and strengthening us for service.
Forgiveness is ours and we are not bound by what “used to be.” Fly from it on the wings of Eagles. God shall renew your strength for good news.
* 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 Pacem Lee Dengler
Union Church Choir
Soloist: Merry Kay Winter
Dona nobis pacem. Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Give us peace. And on earth peace to men of good will.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Isaiah 40:21-31
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 1:29-39
Sermon Demonic Dispossession 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 Meditation arr. F.W. Asper
* 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.
From Here to There
Introduction and Invitation to Membership
Union Church is a vital and growing family of faith, a home to those committed to the way of Christ’s sacrificial love and service. All who feel led to join will be received in joy, and are welcome to come forward during the Doxology. Thanks be to God for these ministers among us.
Questions of the Congregation and New Members
* Covenant of Welcome
And we, the members of this church, renewing our own covenant to God and to each other, do now heartily welcome you to our fellowship, promising to watch over you in love, and praying that you and we may be true witnesses for Christ, a light in the world, and continue to increase in usefulness and joy in his service.
* Closing Hymn #311 Black Renew Your Church All Is WEll
* Benediction & Sending Forth
Postlude Toccata in G Major T. Dubois
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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 Ireland and the United Kingdom and our brothers and sisters at Liberty Avenue Full Gospel Outreach 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
* For Loretta Reynolds recovering from sarcoma surgery in NYC
* For 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.
* For Judy Rowell and the family of Mervin Deaton, her brother, who passed away in late January.
* For the family of Bernice Robertson, especially her siblings and her sons, Don and Bruce.
* In thanksgiving for the members of our confirmation class
* In thanksgiving for Les Small Stokes’ new job
* 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
Announcements
You Matter! Please Sign the Register, Check in on Facebook/Twitter and try a nametag! It’s hard to get to know people elsewhere, but we don’t want it that way at church. Let’s all try to get to know each other better.
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.
Joan English, Office Administrator, will be away visiting family next week (Feb. 11-17). Thanks to Dodie Murphy, Krystin Porter, Patti Smithson and Sharona Nelson for filling in!
Join the church today! New members will be received today, Feb. 8, and the second Sunday of every month.
If you’re thinking about joining, but have some questions, come to a Fourth Sunday new membership info session! Each Fourth Sunday of the Month 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. Next opportunity: February 22.
Welcome Confirmation Class of 2015: Confirmation is a 4-month spiritual formation process for young persons in the church to engage their faith with study, mentors, and the chance to fully embrace or make their baptismal vows. This morning we welcome those beginning this journey with us and give thanks for their lively spirits.
WNL program February 11: Learn about participating in East Ridge Community Garden and hear more about Glean Kentucky, a group that organizes folks to collect extra food from local gardens to supply food banks.
Baptism Next Week: We will celebrate the baptism of 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!
Mardi Gras Brunch next Sunday! 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, 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!
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!
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.
Mark your Calendar! Union Church’s Annual Meeting will be March 22, in the Community Room, after worship & lunch. Also, 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.
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