A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the

Church of Christ, Union

The Baptism of Jesus

January 11, 2015, 10:30 am

Meditation
If you have the gift of frustration and the deep sense that the world is a mess, thank God for that; not everyone has that gift of vision. It also means you have a responsibility to lead us in new ways.
Recognizing that something is wrong is the first step toward changing the world.

                                                        — Shane Claiborne, The Irresistible Revolution

From there to here

Welcome & Announcements
Prelude     Toccata in G Major     Smith
*  Call to Worship
One:     On that first day, when time began:
All:      you gave birth to creation;
light danced through the darkness;
the waters of hope flowed free and clear.
One:     On that first day at the Jordan, when redemption began:
All:      you spoke of life for all your children,
as your Child stepped into the waters of forgiveness,
dancing in hope with his cousin, John.
One:     On this first day of the week, when we begin anew:
All:      you call us to faithfulness,
as we open our hearts to you,
your voice claiming us as your own.
*  Opening Hymn #12 Black         I Sing the Mighty Power of God          Ellacombe
*  Prayer of Approach & Confession (Unison)
 Timeless God,
you cast Light into sin’s dark places
and call us your Beloved.
Forgive us:
    when we still linger in the shadows;
    when we treat others in hurtful ways;
    when we speak ill of your friends.
Baptized and blessed in your living waters,
you would have us be your servants in our time.
Forgive us:
    when we fail to welcome the stranger;
    when we refuse to forgive as we should;
    when we believe we are too good to kneel down
        and tie the shoes of the lost, the least, the last, the little. Forgive us and wash us clean.
* Words of Assurance
*  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    Hymn of Promise        Natalie Sleeth
Union Church Choir
In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree; in cocoons, a hidden promise; butterflies will soon be free! In the cold and snow of winter, there’s a spring that waits to be, unrevealed until its season, something only God can see.
There’s a song in every silence, seeking  word and melody; there’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me. From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
Alleluia. In our end is our beginning; in our time , infinity. In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson                       Psalm 29
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 1:4-11
Sermon     Not to Persuade, But to Entrance       Rev. Kent Gilbert

Remembering God’s Love

Today, with many other Christians, we celebrate a renewal of our Baptismal Vows, using both words and water. During the readings and music, a branch from a Christmas tree will be used to sprinkle water over the congregation. Like the rain, the grace of God falls on all people, whether baptized or not. We invite all who will to join in prayers for grace and wholeness, and all who will to recommit to service in the way of Jesus. All God’s children are beloved.
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.
Waters of Blessing Litany
One:     God calls us to the water to find a new way:
a new grace,
a new hope,
a new faith,
a new life.
All:      God calls; we come.
One:     Come to the water and let go of the outworn:
outworn habits,
outworn pains,
outworn angers,
outworn burdens.
All:      God calls; we come.
One:     God blesses the water and it
heals us,
cleans us,
renews us,
refreshes us.
All:      God blesses; we praise.
One:     Come to the water and receive
blessing,
freedom,
mercy,
love.
All:      God blesses; we praise.
One:     Bless to us this water with your presence, Lord. Amen.
Receive this water, gift of God, and hear for yourself how God names you: Beloved.
All:      By the waters of baptismal grace we promise to love and serve God by following the Christ.
We pray to boldly and creatively embody the life and ministry of Jesus by celebrating the transforming power of God, the compassion of Christ, and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Asperges: Remembering and Receiving
      Hymn #163 Black      Many Are the Lightbeams       Lightbeams
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.

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             Choral Song    Broughton
*  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.
*  Prayer of Thanksgiving                

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 #326 Black         Crashing Waters at Creation  Stuttgart
*  Benediction & Sending Forth
Postlude    Allegro Maestoso        G.F Handel
———————————————
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 Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, Iran and Iraq and our brothers and sisters at Berea Church of the Nazarene 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, Bernice Robertson, Nancy Jones, Mary Miller, Averill Kilbourne, Alva Peloquin, Ruth Butwell
* Peggy Coyne, recovering from surgery
* Rich Royalty,  recovering well from a stroke
* Michael Embry’s mother, Kelly Basham, struggling with health problems
* Joan Moore, at the death of her father, Bob Moore
* Lee Etta Cummings and Lisa Vaughn, in the loss of Lee Etta’s mother
* The family of Jim Orwig, longtime church family member, who died Thursday night at the age of 95.
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. other better.

Join the church today! You are welcome here!  New members will be received today at the end of service, and the second Sunday of every month.

Church’s Annual Budget meeting to consider the 2015 budget will be today after worship. Lunch provided.

New Year, New Directory! We’re going to produce a new directory in the next couple of weeks — a draft copy for correcting/approving will be available at the Congregational Budget meeting after worship today.

    If your info – and your family’s – has been correct (birthdays, emails, etc.) – you don’t need to do anything. BUT if something has changed (or if you’ve added cell #s or emails) OR you haven’t been in the Directory before OR you want to send us a new photo, we’d love it!

    We print names, birthdays, emails, phone numbers & cell numbers (with permission, of course), and produce printed or pdf copies. If you have a spouse/partner or children who don’t sign in on Sunday mornings but you’d like in the Directory, please let us know that too. We won’t publish the Directory on the website without password protection.

Dorie Isaacs is expecting a new baby!  There will be a diaper party for her next Saturday, the 17th at 2:00 pm in the Community Room (like a baby shower, but she only needs disposable diapers and wipes). All welcome, refreshments served!

Nifty nifty, Kent is 50!  A reception after church on January 18th will acknowledge this rite of passage for Kent’s birthday which occurs on  January 16th.  Please join us for cake and ice cream and  maybe even 50 candles! (once we check with the fire marshal!)

Valentine’s Day dessert party at Liberty Place: Dodie Murphy is planning a surprise Valentine’s Day dessert party at Liberty Place on Friday, Feb. 13, and is asking for donations of homemade (rather than store-bought) cakes, cupcakes, cookies or fudge. Okay to use a mix. Liberty Place is a women’s 108-bed long-term residential addiction recovery center in Richmond. Anyone interested in taking part can contact Dodie at 859-200-7277 or dodiemurf@yahoo.com. She will happily pick up donations the day before or the morning of the party. Thanks for considering taking part.

Anyone Seen Our Drills? Union Church has two Dewalt cordless drills and a number of bits that have gone missing. If you have seen them in the church, or perhaps borrowed them, please let the office know!