A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Second Sunday after Epiphany January 18, 2015, 10:30 am
Meditation
We are young despite the years. We are concern. We are hope despite the times.
R.E.M.
From there to here
Welcome & Announcements
Prelude Prelude on Amazing Grace arr. D. Lasky
* Call to Worship
One: Before anything was,
All: God dreamed of me.
One: God searches for me,
All: God finds me.
One: Before I speak,
All: God hears me.
One: Before I move,
All: God is before me.
One: Before I was born,
All: God knew me.
One: Before I was seen,
All: God saw me.
One: Before I was named,
All: God called me.
One: Before I give praise,
All: God calls me here.
* Opening Hymn #593 Black Lift Every Voice and Sing Lift Every Voice
* Prayer of Approach & Confession
During this reflective prayer, you are invited to cup one hand and cover it with the other.
One: I am holding my confession, O God. It is the whole shape of my life: who I have become in it, where I have journeyed, and the decisions I have made.
I am holding my confession, O God. Grant me the strength to hold it, and recognize myself in it—my hurts and longings, the memories I cannot let go.
I am holding my confession, O God, of missed journeys and lost opportunity, of pathways and relationships begun, beyond where I should have gone.
I am holding my confession, O God, and you know each one, for you are before me and behind me, knowing every word before it is formed, my lying down and my rising.
And you invite me to open my hands, so I can know the sin you keep—the burden you cannot forgive …
I find there is nothing there.
* Words of Assurance
One: God does not hold on to our sins. Knowing us fully, loving us unconditionally, forgiving us absolutely, God holds us completely.
* 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 Grant Us Thy Peace Felix Mendelssohn
Union Church Choir
Grant us Thy peace, almighty Lord, Thou source of every blessing! Feeble and frail, trust we Thy word, all things in Thee possessing. If Thee is our hope and safety.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson 1 Samuel 3:1-20
Children’s Anthem Somebody’s Knockin’ arr. Ken Berg
Jubilee and Joyful Noise Choirs
Somebody’s knockin’ at your door, somebody’s knockin’ at your door!
Oh, sinner, why don’t you answer? Somebody’s knockin’ at your door!
Somebody’s prayin’ for your soul…
Someone is a-knockin’, someone is a-knockin’, someone is a-knockin’ at your door!
Somebody’s singin’ “Hallelu!”…
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 John 1:43-51
Sermon “And What’s Good About That?” Rev. Kent Gilbert
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 Just as I Am, Without One Plea arr. Wood
* 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.
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 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
* Closing Hymn The Summons (next page) John Bell
* Benediction & Sending Forth
Postlude Closing Voluntary J. Zundel
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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 people of Cyprus, Greece and Turkey and our brothers and sisters at First Faith Independent Church 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
* Michael Embry’s mother, Kelly Basham, struggling with health problems
* The family of Jim Orwig, longtime church family member, who has died, at the age of 95.
* Deborah Martin and family, at the death of her father, Andy Martin
* Teri VanPelt and Christine Ward and their family
* Krystin Porter
* Happy Birthday, Kevin Burke!
Right after worship today — Nifty nifty, Kent is 50! A reception after church will acknowledge this rite of passage for Kent’s birthday which was January 16th. Please join us for cake and ice cream and maybe even 50 candles!
Next week: Fourth Sunday New Membership Info: Come One Come All! Each Fourth Sunday of the Month anyone wanting to know more about Union Church or wanting to explore church membership, as well as new members who have not been able to participate in a previous meeting, are invited to come to the classroom two doors past the church office immediately following worship for conversation with the Pastors and the Community Life and Growth Board.
Light refreshments will be offered and you are invited to pick up coffee or tea in the parlor on your way through the hall. Childcare will be offered downstairs as needed; please contact the church office the prior week if you would like this service.
New members will be received each Second Sunday of the month at the close of worship. Those joining may choose to attend the Fourth Sunday meeting prior to or after becoming members, whichever is more convenient.
Explore Confirmation next Sunday We will all gather on Sunday, January 25th, right after church in the Community Room to have lunch and meet to discuss plans for this year’s confirmation. This meeting is for all students who are interested in confirmation, their parents, and those who have volunteered to be mentors.
We will go over what confirmation is, the program we are using, and the dates for retreats and gatherings from now until the confirmation process is finished at the end of April. You will also have a chance to ask questions of the Youth Directors. There will be pizza and salad for lunch—including vegetarian pizza options.
Confirmation is an exciting and valuable time in the life of the students who participate – and in the life of the Church. We hope to see you all there. If you are unable to attend, please contact Chris or Grace McKenzie so we can make alternative plans to meet with you.
Valentine’s Day dessert party at Liberty Place Feb. 13: 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. Liberty Place is a women’s 108-bed long-term residential addiction recovery center in Richmond. 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.
Our Wednesday Nite Live speaker on January 28 will be Gwen Holder, Director of Liberty Place.
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!
Two metal carts are missing from the kitchen as well. See Dave Kobersmith if you have any ideas. Thanks.
The new church directory is ready. There are hard copies in the Community Room, or they are available as pdfs by email. Just email the office & we’ll send you one right back! We can easily make more paper copies, so please call the office if we run out.
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