Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union

Second Sunday after the Epiphany 

January 14, 2018  10:30 am 

Meditation   
Ask yourself what makes you come alive and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.  —Howard Thurman

From there to Here

Welcome & Announcements
Welcome to this service of worship!  During the service, you are invited to rise in body or in spirit, standing or sitting, at points in the service marked “ ” .”
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!
Prelude Give Me Jesus David Kidwell
¨  Call to Worship
 [When questions are asked, if it applies to you, please respond, “Here I am. God has called me!” The first and last question are listed below.]
One: Gathered here, we are a people of many gifts and many struggles. Are there people here who…
One: Feel young or young at heart?
[Those to whom it applies] Here I am. God has called me!
       ….
One: Who are ready to worship the God who knows us just as we are and calls us into service?
All: Here I am. God has called me! Let us worship God!
¨  Opening Hymn #382 Come, We Who Love God’s Name Marching to Zion
¨  Prayer of Approach and Confession based on Psalm 139
One: O Lord, you have searched us and known us.
All: You know when we sit down and when we rise up; you discern our thoughts from far away. Even before the words are on our tongues, O God, you know them completely.
One: Where those thoughts and words have led us away from your heart,
All: Forgive us, God.
One: You are present behind and before us, under us and upon us.
All: Where can we go from your spirit? Where can we flee from your presence? We could fly to heaven and you would be there; we could make our beds in the depths of hellish places, and you would still be there.
One: When your judgment or guidance or grace have seemed too great and we attempt to hide,
All: Forgive us, God.
One: When it seems darkness is gathering around us, and our lights are going out, you remind us that even the darkness is not dark to you, the night is as bright as day.
All: Help us, God, to trust your power and guidance. Forgive us our fear, and transform us into candles of your light. Amen.
¨ Words of Assurance
One: It was God who formed our inward parts; who knit us together in our mothers’ wombs.
All: We praise God, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made. We have been intricately woven in the depths of the earth; may we live fully into the potential for which God created us, knowing that God’s grace is enough! Thanks be to God! Amen.
¨  Passing the Peace of 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 Living Word among us

Anthem      In Your House, O Lord        Jay Turner
                     Union Church Choir
In your house, O Lord, in Your dwelling place, apart from all the world I come to seek Your face. In Your house of prayer, at the altar there, quiet and alone, I bow before Your throne, in Your house, O Lord. In Your house, O Lord, my worship I will bring, my hands for all you give, my songs of praises sing. May my heart be filled and my spirit healed. I will leave here changed, in Your house, O Lord.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson 1 Samuel 3:1-20 (p. 326)
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 the Children’s Moment, children kindergarten through 5th grade are invited to Children’s Church in Cowan Chapel. They are also welcome to stay in the service if they prefer. The Children’s Worship Center in the back of the sanctuary has toys, books, and drawing materials for children (or parents) who would like help staying present in the service. For children preschool age & under, care is available in the Nursery, downstairs in Room 104 off the playground.
Gospel Lesson John 1:43-51 (p.1280)
Sermon Call and Response Rev. Rachel Small Stokes

GIfts Given for Love to Flow

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        Prayer Song Paul Taylor
¨  Doxology  To God all glorious heavenly light; Old Hundredth
To Christ revealed in earthly night; To God the spirit now we raise our  grateful hymn of thankful praise. 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 Prayer 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 Closing Hymn. Thanks be to God for these ministers among us.
¨  Closing Hymn #593 Lift Every Voice and Sing Lift Every Voice
¨  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.
¨  Benediction & Sending Forth
Postlude (please be seated) Another Year Is Dawning Mary McDonald
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 Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen and our brothers and sisters at Church on the Rock in our hearts, and pray for them.
Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week. Prayer requests to be printed may be sent to the office anytime before 10:00 am Fridays.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound:  Ruth Butwell, Edith Hansen, Nancy Hindman, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin, Gloria VanWinkle.
¨ Jackie Perman, mother of Kelly Madden and grandmother to Cadence and Colin Perman and William and Brian Madden, who is now HOME after a long illness.
¨ Neighbors and friends in fear of ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) raids in our area, and for DACA students and their families. May we all strive for a safe and respectful path forward to be good neighbors.
¨ Dan Rohrer, who is suffering from a severe liver disorder.
¨ Teri VanPelt, recovering from knee replacement surgery at home.
¨ Anthony Smallwood, in the loss of his sister.
¨ Dick Drake and the Drake extended family in the death of Joey, his daughter Margie’s husband. Joey passed away December 28th from cancer.
¨ Loyal Jones, who has moved to Arcadian Cove.
¨ Judith Singleton, recovering from her recent illness, and for her daughter, Stephanie, undergoing a difficult immunotherapy for her Multiple Sclerosis in New Mexico.
¨ Hazel Morris’ cousin, Bill, diagnosed with bladder cancer in Florida.
¨ Travel mercies for those who must make their way in inclement weather.
¨ BJ Godby, recovering from ankle surgery at home.
¨ The family of Scotty Rothwell, who died Thursday
¨ Renee Wellinghurst’s father-in-law, Dave Wellinghurst, due to undergo surgery for a brain tumor tomorrow.
”Meg, and all the family, at the sudden death of Bill Suters.
Announcements
Tomorrow’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Commemoration events
Co-sponsored by: Office of the President; Carter G.Woodson Center for Interracial Education; Black Cultural Center; Willis D. Weatherford Campus Christian Center; Center for Excellence in Learning Through Service; Berea  College Music Department; Union Church
9:30 a.m.  Gather at Union Church, Music by Black Music Ensemble
Welcome MC—Leemu K. Hall, President, Black Student Union; Rev. Kent Gilbert & Rev. Rachel Small Stokes, Union Church pastors; Ben Groth, Director, Campus Christian Center; Steven Connelly, Mayor, City of Berea; Berea College President Lyle Roelofs—“Why We March” 
10:00 a.m.  March Line-Up Led by Black Music Ensemble March to Presser Hall—Gray Auditorium (Refreshments)
10:30 a.m. Welcome  Music by Black Music Ensemble MC—Nana Boateng, Coordinator, Diversity Peer Education Team
“The Good Food Revolution,” Malik Yakini Co-founder and Executive Director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN)
12:30 p.m Lunch  Berea College Cafeteria
3:00 p.m Convocation: “The Fannie Lou Hammer Story: A One Woman Play,” performed by Mzuri Moyo Aimbaye,  Phelps-Stokes Auditorium
4:30 p.m Reception and Conversations with Mzuri Moyo Aimbaye and Malik Yakini, Carter G. Woodson Center for Interracial Education Gallery, hosted by Black Male Leadership Initiative.
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.
Join the church today! 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! New members are received every second Sunday of a month. YOU are welcome here!
Birthday lunch for Hattie Parks today! Come to the Community Room after worship for a light lunch and birthday cake to wish Hattie Parks a happy 95th birthday!  All are welcome – and be sure to sign her birthday card.
Berea Classic Chorale rehearsals begin January 15 at 7:00 pm in the choir room. New singers are welcome! We will be working toward a spring concert in mid April.
Poinsettias! Thanks to all who contributed to make our worship space come alive with color for the season. The plants are now ready to be taken home.
Bloodmobile January 16! Community Room, 11-5.
At WNL this week! Bob Shaffer Book Signing, Wednesday  6:30pm! Church member, Presbyterian pastor and long-time Berea notable has published a new volume of prayers. Bob’s agreed to read from his new book and sign copies at Wednesday Night Live this week. Join us at 5:45pm for soup supper, too! There will be copies for sale after dinner.
Our youth program is growing and, to meet the need, we are adding a position of Assistant Youth Director to work with Chris McKenzie. If you are interested please send a letter including contact information, work history, reason you would like to work with the youth program. Letters need to be received in the office no later than Friday, January 26,2018. Send to Union Church; CPO 2105; Berea; KY; 40404.
Have you seen the sign-in book we use to record new members’ joining dates and attendance at meetings? It’s been missing and we need it back! Maybe someone accidentally took it home or tucked it somewhere for safe keeping? It’s black padded leather, about 8 1/2 x 11.
Organ and Voice Recital TODAY, 5 pm.
We invite you to join us on January 14 at 5:00pm, in the Sanctuary for a wonderful event! Sandro Silva is a concert organist who is currently residing in Sao Paulo, Brazil.  He is visiting the United States, completing graduate school auditions around the country, and will be visiting Kentucky on his journey.  
He will be joined by Margareth Miguel, a mezzo-soprano originally from Sao Paulo, but is currently residing and teaching in Louisville, Kentucky.  This recital is one that you will not want to miss! It is free and open to the public.