A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the
Church of Christ, Union
Second Sunday after Epiphany
January 17, 2016, 10:30 am
Meditation
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
—Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
From there to here
Welcome & Announcements
Prelude Great Is Thy Faithfulness arr. J. Raney
Call to Worship
One: Come all who would go to the mountain!
All: Bend us in an arc of justice!
One: Come all who worry and thirst!
All: Christ joins us at the feast and blessings abound.
One: Come we who would walk in the Light!
All: Let us worship God with all the gifts of the Spirit!
Opening Hymn #382 Come, We Who Love God’s Name Marching to Zion
Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: Let us join in prayer together:
All: We confess, O God, that in the hope of building a society that demonstrates your impartial and immense love for all persons, we have not yet succeeded. We have been silent friends when our voices were needed. We have been distracted bystanders because we already had what we needed. And as for risking time, talent or treasure in the service of a better world, we haven’t shown up, stood up, or paid up as we ought. We need a better way, and we pledge ourselves to seeking it in light of your call to us. Forgive us our past and mold our future with your mercy and grace. Amen.
Words of Assurance
Passing the Peace of Jesus Christ.
The Word in our Midst
Anthem Oh, Freedom Arr. Brazeal Dennard
Union Church Choir
Oh, freedom, oh, freedom, oh, freedom, over me. Refrain: And before I’ll be a slave, I’ll be buried in my grave, and go home to my Lord and be free, and be free. There’ll be prayin’, there’ll be prayin’, there’ be prayin, over me. Refrain. No more weepin’, no more weepin, no more weepin’ over me. Refrain. Oh, freedom, oh freedom, oh freedom, over me. Refrain.
Epistle Lesson 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Children’s Anthem Ubi Caritas Becki Slagle Mayo
Jubilee and Joyful Noise Choirs; Jane Mecham, flute
Ubi caritas, ubi caritas, Deus ibi est. Where there is charity and love, God is there. Where there is charity and love, God is always there. We have gathered in this place, joining hearts in love and praise. Giving thanks to God above, we go out to serve in love.
Children’s Moment
As the children return to their seats or move to children’s church, 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.
Gospel Lesson John 2:1-11
Sermon Perishing As Fools Rev. Kent Gilbert
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 Air I G.F. Handel
Doxology Old Hundredth
To God all glorious heavenly light;
To Christ revealed in earthly night;
To God the spirit now we raise
Our grateful hymn of thankful praise. Amen.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
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 for 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
Closing Hymn #593 Lift Every Voice and Sing Lift Every Voice
Benediction & Sending Forth
We Shall Overcome (2x),
We shall overcome someday…
Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe:
We shall overcome some day.
Postlude Aeolian Fanfare C. Callahan
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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 peoples of Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and the Occupied Territories and our brothers and sisters at Emmanuel Baptist Church in your hearts, and pray for them.
Please also hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week:
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound: Edith Hansen, Nancy Jones, Mary Miller, Averill Kilbourne, Alva Peloquin
¨ Judy Rowell, in the death of her brother G.B. Deaton on Thursday.
¨ George Oberst
¨ Elizabeth Long’s brother, Jay, whose cancer has metastasized
¨ Cassandra Jaggers, facing breast cancer
¨ Sheila Johnson, facing breast cancer
¨ Marlene Payne and her family
¨ Kelly Ambrose, continuing his chemo
¨ George Hardman, recovering well from colon surgery
¨ Averill Kilbourne, very ill in North Carolina
¨ John Hillman
¨ Terry Allen Watts
¨ Rochelle Seals, undergoing treatment for breast cancer
¨ Dodie Murphy’s cousin, Jean Monahan
¨ Linda Landree, relative of Dodie Murphy, hospitalized in NJ with serious medication problems.
¨ Dodie Murphy’s grandson’s father, CJ, in dire straights in NJ.
¨ Ray Cable, father of Annette Broadbridge, very ill in Tennessee
¨ Donna Eder’s niece, Jane Bensimhon, facing upcoming proton radiation treatment for a rare cancer in her eye socket
¨ Kimberly Shank
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Announcements
IMPORTANT FAITH WORK FOR TODAY: All Y’All Faith Day After Church! Race and Diversity issues can be fun? Yes! All ages are invited to join us next Sunday right after church for a snack lunch. Then, our guest facilitators will lead us in interactive and thought-provoking games and activities about race and diversity.
This is important for our faith walk. Pastor Kent has called for a special emphasis for our church to help dismantle the toxic racial and privilege divides in our community. We hope to begin a discussion by listening to others’ stories, getting a sense of where we each are on a privilege spectrum, and contemplating where Union Church can make a difference. Our discussion will be better if people of all ages and perspectives join in!
TOMORROW! MLK Day Festivities start at Union Church in the Sanctuary. Here’s the Schedule:
10:00am Meet in Union Church Sanctuary for Singing and Presentations
10:30am March to Presser Hall
11:00am Performance of Fannie Lou Hamer: A One-Woman Play, Presser Hall
12:30pm Lunch at Berea College Cafeteria
3:00pm Martin Luther King Day, Jr. Convocation. Lateefah Simon: Changing the Future. Phelps-Stokes Auditorium
4:30pm Speaker Reception, Carter G. Woodson Center for Interracial Education
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.
Want to know more about this place? Find out next week! Stay after church for a newcomers’ info session. This is also a great time to come and explore what membership might be like. Snacks provided!
Joan English will be away until Jan. 21 to be with her parents through her dad’s surgery & early recovery. Thanks for the office coverage, friends!
Thanks to Aidan Broadbridge and to Lindsay Clavere for a wonderful concert last night!
We’ve Started a Widows’ Group. We are starting a new monthly group for widows/widowers. Those grieving a divorce are also welcome. If you are interested, you are invited to contact Debbonnaire Kovacs 859-779-0793. The group will meet Jan. 19, and the third Tuesday of each month, at 1 pm, in the Wayside Room.
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Lexington invites us to the Ordination of Diana E. Hultgren at 4pm, January 24, 2016. Diana is the Oncology and Palliative Care Chaplain at UK Hospital and a member of our Berea and Union Church community. A reception will follow!
“Black Lives Matter” yard signs. Union Church, in our ongoing commitment to our history and work for justice, has “Black Lives Matter” yard signs available for $10 at the church office.
Michelle Hayden in a New Exhibition: “Turn up the Heat” is an encaustic art invitational exhibit at M. S. Rezny Studio/Gallery, (Lexington Distillery District, 903 Manchester Street) . You can support Michelle and enjoy this lovely artform of beeswax and pigments with mixed media January 12th—Feb. 20, Artists Reception January 15th 5-8pm.
ABLE (Achieving and Building Life Equally) will meet on Tuesday, January 26, at 5:30pm in Room 101, Union Church. Lisa Ladanyi, director of disability services at Berea College, will join us for a great conversation! BYOS (Bring your own snack or supper.). ABLE is a support group/network for those who self-identify as differently-abled: to inspire, encourage, and empower one another, and to make Berea a more accessible community.
At Wednesday Nite Live! January 27: Discussion about the Madison County Time Bank. Come join a community of caring — where everyone’s time is equally valued. Time Bank connects the needs of a community with the talents that it offers: an hour for an hour. Join us!
Baking Skills Needed! Union Church members’ baking skills are needed for a surprise Valentine’s Day party at Liberty Place in Richmond at 2 PM Friday, Feb. 12. Wanted are cakes (okay to use a mix), cupcakes, cookies or brownies. Also needed are bags of “fun size” candy bars. The event is open to Union Church members. Contact Dodie if you want to participate by baking, attending or both — 859.200.7277 or dodiemurf@yahoo.com.
Want to Help Usher? Read? Light Candles? Wash Dishes? Help with Food? VOLUNTEER SPOT! Signing up for service is easy using volunteer spot at Union Church. Here’s the link to the new page for Volunteering! Sign-ups on VolunteerSpot: https://www.volunteer spot.com/group/737396918047
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