A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Baptism of Jesus
January 12, 2014 10:30 am
Welcome & Announcements
Prelude Meditation Douglas E. Wagner
* Call to Worship
One: The Voice called long ago.
All: The Voice calls today.
One: The Voice compelled Jonah to go.
All: The Voice compels us to go.
One: The Voice called to Jonah, compelling him to share the good news of God’s redemptive love.
All: The Voice calls to us, compelling us to share the good news of God’s redemptive love.
One: With those who would be enemies.
All: With those who would be enemies.
One: The people of Nineveh, beloved of God.
All: The people of Iraq, beloved of God.
One: The Voice calling long ago.
All: The Voice calling today.
One: The Voice continues calling…
All: Come, let us listen!
adapted from a prayer by Katherine Hawker
* Hymn #168 Black O Radiant Christ Dickinson College
* Prayer of Confession
One: What do we do when we feel the tug of a call, a small or big urge within us, to something scary?
All: So often, we run away.
One: What do we do when we feel like the outcast, the one everyone despises?
All: We fear the worst and react to that fear rather than risking the real action.
One: What do we do when the tables turn? When we are not the righteous, but the one in need of righting?
All: More than we’d like to admit, we are bitter and angry.
One: What do we do when our enemies become more holy than we?
All: We might not exhibit the appropriate amount of jubilation… we might even resent it.
One: What do we do when our weaknesses get the best of us?
All: We pray, O God, just like we’re doing now. God, help our unbelief. Where we are weak, give us strength; where we falter and hold back, gently bring us forward; where we fail, please forgive us. Amen.
* Words of Assurance
One: We worship a gracious and merciful God, who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. God calls us to repent, but God also offers forgiveness.
All: Thanks be to God! Hallelujah, and Amen.
* Passing the Peace of Jesus 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.
Anthem Down to the River to Pray trad. Union Church Choir
The choir invites you to join in the singing – either from your seats or to join them up front. We all have a voice to raise up in joyful singing!
As I went down to the river to pray studying about that good ol’ way and who shall wear the starry crown? Good Lord show me the way!
O sisters let’s go down let’s go down, come on down. O sisters let’s go down, down to the river to pray.
As I went down to the river to pray studying about that good ol’ way and who shall wear the robe & crown? Good Lord show me the way. O brothers let’s go down ……
O fathers let’s go down…..O mothers…O sinners…
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Jonah 2:1-10
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, Little Church for children Preschool & under is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Fellowship Hall, and Children’s Church, for grades K-3, takes place in the chapel. If this is your child’s first time attending Little Church or Children’s Church, please accompany them to fill out a registration form. Otherwise, children are welcome to follow volunteers to their worship spaces.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Jonah 3:10-4:11
Sermon Prophetic Temper Tantrums Anna Kate McWhorter
Hymn of Response #170 Black Your Ways Are Not Our Own Schuman
Offertory Badinerie from Suite from Orchestra #2 J.S. Bach
* Doxology Avery\/Marsh
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 Prayer and Prayers of the Community
Our Lord’s Prayer
One: Our Maker, our Mother,
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.
* Closing Hymn #354 Black God, When I Came into This Life Land of Rest
* Benediction
Postlude March from “Athalie” Felix Mendelssohn
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 Cyprus, Turkey and Greece 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 the service of our country and all those who wait and worry for them.
* Tony Irelan, Rusti Mullins’ father, recovering at home after being in ICU for a pulmonary embolism
* Dick Drake, recovering from a fall
* Ethan Hamblin’s grandmother, Geraldine Sandlin, very ill with COPD
* Ruth Butwell, recovering well at home after hip replacement
* Judy Rowell
* Greg Bolster, Steve’s brother, fighting cancer
* Linda Parsons, recovering at home
* Michelle Tooley, awaiting cancer treatment
* Dawn Manor, Dot Kindel’s daughter, as she recovers and they adjust to a new home
* Naomi Brandenburg, Larry’s mother, recovering at home after hip replacement
* Rose Brandenburg, Larry’s aunt, at Berea Health Care Center
* Edith Hansen, at The Terrace
* Klara Welsh, at Berea Health Care Center
* Bernice Robertson, at Berea Health Care Center
* Shirley Dean, on hospice care for lung cancer
At Wednesday Night Live on January 15, Kate Grigg, Eastern KY Regional Organizer for the Fairness Coalition, will speak about the good work of Bereans for Fairness.
Children’s Choirs are back in action on Wednesday nights. 4-6 year-olds sing from 5:15-5:45. 2nd grade through 5th grade sing at 6:30-7:15. We’d love to have all of our singers back, and if you haven’t joined yet, now is a great time! Our first song in worship will be in mid-February.
Music Meeting today after church! Join us to think about what our hopes are for music ministry at Union Church in the future.
We can be a Safe Haven. We are invited to organize a tornado “Safe Haven” where local people (especially those in mobile homes) could shelter in our community room whenever there’s a tornado watch. We’ll need about six church members to staff it. Join us after service on January 26 in the community room to explore this opportunity (light lunch provided). This is a pilot program from FEMA, the local Emergency Management Agency, Dept of Public Health, Red Cross, and other agencies. For details, join us Jan 26 or contact Doug Hindman at 582-5806.
Explore Epiphany! On Wednesday Nights after WNL, about 7pm, Debbonnaire Kovacs will lead a small group that explores all sorts of things about Epiphany: what does the word mean? How has it been used? How did it get connected with the magi? Are there some times we feel we’ve had epiphanies in our lives? It promises to be a great experience of spiritual growth. The group will run through Feb. 12th.
The Food Bank needs fresh fruit! They report heavy usage at this time of year and would love to be able to give families some lovely fresh fruit. Donations can be brought to church, or to the Food Bank directly, at 103 Parkway Ave. There are shelves outside the building to place donations if they aren’t open.
Teri VanPelt & Christine Ward could use a couple of strong backs to help move furniture & items around the house, and some help organizing. Email Teri at teejoy@live.com
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