A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Second Sunday after the Epiphany 10:30 am
Meditation
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
From There to Here: We Gather
Gathering Music O Holy Spirit, Come arr. Wilbur Held
Welcome
The Call
We are called to share our diverse gifts as One Body with many members, strengthened by steadfast love, activated and transformed by the same Spirit. God longs for us to be united in love and to manifest the Spirit in our unique ways. Let each of us, a piece of the beautiful mosaic, delight in our diversity.
We are bound together in an inescapable network of mutuality and tied to a single garment of destiny. Called into the unending work of justice, peace and love. Let us gather to offer praise to the One who challenges us and calls us to create the beloved community.
Passing of the Peace
Building the Community: News that Connects Us
Lighting the Justice Candle
We recently lost one of the great actors of our time, Sidney Poitier. In 1967, he became famous as the first Black actor to win an Academy Award for Best Actor. He won many more awards for acting and directing throughout his long career. In 1974, he was even knighted by Queen Elizabeth. Professionally, he was a role model for other actors of color refusing to portray any character who lacked integrity. “They call me Mr. Tibbs” is the quote from “In the Heat of the Night” illustrates how he demanded resect. However, today we light the Justice Candle to remember his uncompromising insistence on racial justice. Sir Poitier was a lifelong activist for racial justice, helping to organize the March on Washington in 1963.He and Harry Belafonte dogged the Ku Klux Klan to deliver money to support the Freedom Riders volunteers in 1964. In a tribute to his friend, Belafonte says that they “made as much mischief as possible”.
The Living Word Among Us
Hymn God of Change and Glory Katherine
1. God of change and glory, God of time and space, when we fear the future, give to us your grace. In the midst of changing ways give us still the grace to praise.
Refrain: Many gifts, one Spirit, one love known in many ways. In our difference is blessing, from diversity we praise one Giver, one Word, one Spirit, one God known in many ways, hallowing our days. For the Giver, for the gifts, praise, praise, praise!
2. God of many colors, God of many signs, you have made us different, blessing many kinds. As the old ways disappear, let your love cast out our fear. Refrain.
3. Freshness of the morning, newness of each night, you are still creating endless love and light. This we see, as shadows part, many gifts from one great heart. Refrain.
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Hebrew Scripture Lesson 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 Joan Moore, Readers
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says ‘Let Jesus be cursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.
Children’s Moment Please join in singing as we bless children everywhere:
May God’s blessing 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.
Gospel Lesson John 2:1-11
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
Sermon How Then Shall We Live? Rev. Kent Gilbert
Living Prayer
Offering Music Allegretto Louis Vierne
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.
A Chance for Generosity: www.easytithe.com/union 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 portion of our contributions flows out to aid those in need via many external agencies.
Many friends give online, and you can use your smart phone or computer and go to www.easytithe.com/union. You don’t have to register to make a contribution, but if you do, it can make future generosity that much easier.
You can even give by text! Text to 859-448-3403 (Example: Text “$50.00 Offering”)
You can also use US mail! Mail to: 200 Prospect St., Berea, KY 40403
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Community Prayer
For all our common trials and everyday afflictions give us yet the strength for joy and transformation. The six jars of our diluted anxieties? Make them into the overflowing blessing you would have us carry to the world. With gifts differing you bless us. Convert our languishing to laughter in the face of challenge. Unite us across division with the feast of your Holy Spirit set for all, and strengthen every weary heart for changes yet to come. Our joy is in you. Our strength is in you. Bless again; change us again, save and challenge us again that justice may roll down like mighty waters, waters to be the healing of us all. Jesus our brother teaches us to reach to you now and always as…
Our Lord’s Prayer
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
Hymn How Then Shall We Live?
1. Took a walk outside of my walking. Stepped inside another’s shoes. Walked the dusty borders between us. Paths I’d never chosen to choose. Refrain: How then shall I live? How then shall I live? How then shall I live, O God? How then shall I live?
2. Heard a sound outside of my list’ning. Felt the living hum of the ground. Waited on the voice of the spirit, singing with its new old sound. Refrain.
3. Saw the world outside of my looking. Gazed upon the eyes of its soul. Held the hopes and fears of tomorrow, found the pieces making a whole. Refrain.
4. Took a step outside of my walking. Found within a beat that we share. Walked with you the length of a lifetime, and made of life a living prayer. Refrain.
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Benediction
Postlude Chaccone Louis Couperin
Come to Virtual Coffee Hour!! Zoom link — Join https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87387600761
OUR FELLOWSHIP PRINCIPLES:
“Union Church welcomes all followers of Christ and works with all who work with Him; respecting each person’s conscience; working by love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.”
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 the Berea Evangelistic Center in our hearts, and pray for them. Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week.
¨ All those seeking a new and just society and those fearful that they will be supplanted, may God open their hearts and include them in grace.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Alva Peloquin, Loyal Jones, Jennie Kiteck, Lois Morgan, Jan Hamilton, Laura Robie, Tom & Dorie Hubbard, Sally Zimmerman
¨ Families and Friends in Crises…may God be present to every need and heal every rift and wound and those who care for them.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon.
¨ Those affected by the Covid-19 virus, their families and friends living with fear, anxiety, and feelings of isolation, may God bring peace to all who love them; and our wider community as we cope with the new realities of living, including the now over 12,500 Kentucky residents, and 221 Madison County residents, who have died to date from Covid-19.
¨ Betty Hibler and all the family, at the passing of her sister, Grace Behrendes, after a long illness.
¨ Doug and Sally Hindman’s brother in Sacramento, whose whole family has Covid-19.
¨ Amy William’s father in hospital in Texas
¨ Judy Royalty’s family, at her death Nov. 15.
¨ Important dates—if we haven’t got yours, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
Birthdays: today, Jan. 16 – Kent Gilbert; 21 – Iris Brandenburg, Sally Hindman, Ella Sutherland; 23 – Bob Boyce
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