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

Second Sunday after the Epiphany

January 20, 2019       10:30 am

Meditation
One day, youngsters will learn words they will not understand.
Children from India will ask: What is hunger?
Children from Alabama will ask: What is racial segregation?
Children from Hiroshima will ask: What is the atomic bomb?
Children at school will ask: What is war?
You will answer them:
Those words are not used any more
like stage coaches, galleys or slavery
Words no longer meaningful.
That is why they have been removed from dictionaries.                   —Martin Luther King, Jr.

From there to Here: We Gather

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 Bluebirds’ Winter Flight M. Prins           Pearl Marshall, Handbells
The Call Tom Lane
If Jesus could transform common water into wedding wine                                                                                                                                                          Spit and dirt into new sight
Troubled sea into a pathway
Well water into living water
Could Christ transform the waters of my life
Shallow
Murky
Polluted
Stagnant
Sour
Into a shower of blessing?
¨ Hymn #177 Black             God of Change and Glory  Katherine
¨  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 hospitality.

The Living Word among us

Anthem We Shall Overcome arr. Tom Trenney Union Church Choir
We shall overcome, we shall overcome, we shall overcome someday; Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, we shall overcome someday.
We’ll walk hand in hand, we’ll walk hand in hand, we’ll walk hand in hand someday; Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, we’ll walk hand in hand someday.
We shall live in peace, we shall live in peace, we shall live in peace someday …
We are not afraid, we are not afraid today …
God will see us through, God will see us through someday…
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Isaiah 62:1-5 (p. 879)
Isaiah the prophet sings of the delight that the Lord has in the people of Israel. “God shall rejoice in you.”
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 2:1-11 (p. 1281)
On the third day Jesus attends a party after a wedding in Cana of Galilee. There, he manifests his glory.
Sermon W(h)ine Not? Rev. Kent Gilbert

Living Prayer

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.
Prayer in Action and Reflections
Offering baskets are placed in the aisle, and can also be brought to your seat.
Some suggested prayer direction is printed in the bulletin on page 8 and at the tables you visit. You are also free to choose to rest in private prayer, remaining with your own thoughts and in your pew.
On the piano side, you will find a large bowl of “wine” and many small cups. Hold a cup and think of any empty places in your soul, or parts of you that need to be transformed or deepened. Fill your cup with the wine and cradle that part of you.
On the bell side, you will find a bowl of clear water representing the wider community. Consider what you have to offer to help the community find transformation. Pour out part of your “wine” into the bowl, but don’t empty yourself. Set down your cup, giftedness intact, around the bowl.
 Reflections
Space is provided  here for you to write notes, to reflect, or draw responses to questions or ideas that occur to you during the sermon, or holy questions of your own. 
Jesus filled Jewish ceremonial jars with a new and transforming experience. Meditate on the transformations that have occurred in your life.
Are there ways in which old, perhaps cherished, traditions have been filled with new meaning for you?
Are there parts of you that need new enriching and transformation, or parts of you that feel empty and need filled?
Our 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.
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)
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
As we draw back to our seats, you are invited to join in singing:
Holy Spirit, Come to Us Taize
 Silent Prayers and Prayers of the Community
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

¨  Hymn  God the Creator (opposite) Bunessan
¨  The Sending and Blessing
Postlude (please be seated) Minuet in D John Buttstett
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 Turkeyand 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.
¨ Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon. 15,000 are now detained in the US.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound:  Edith Hansen, Nancy Hindman, Loyal Jones, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin.
¨ Emily Spires, daughter of Randy Stone, continuing treatment for breast cancer.
¨ Andrea Wescott, diagnosed with cervical cancer
¨ Barbara Frederiksen, recovering from  intestinal surgery.
¨ Those who are without homes and safe places.
¨ Gabe Barlow, awaiting tests and results for cancer in Seoul, South Korea.
¨ Barb Smith, recovering from brain surgery.
¨ The family of Teresa Gowler in the unexpected death of her sister, Suzi, in Anderson, Indiana.
¨ George Mountjoy, recovering from knee replacement surgery at the VA Hospital.
¨ Teri VanPelt, recovering from knee replacement surgery at Berea Hospital.
¨ Tonya, Judith Singleton’s daughter-in-law, having surgery the 23rd.
¨ Susie Ritchie, Patty Tarter, Hope Tarter and all the family, in the death of their father,  Balis Wilmer Ritchie.
¨ Judy Rowell, anticipating surgery.
Learn more about the church next week! Come One, Come All! Each fourth Sunday of the month anyone wanting to know more about Union Church or wanting to explore church membership, are invited to come to the Classroom and join in conversation with the Community Life and Growth Board after worship.
Pew clean-up. Would you please take the stray bulletins and other papers out of your pew and place in a stack at the end of your pew? We’ll sort them and reuse the Advent Art brochures and stewardship cards & brochures. Thanks.
Tomorrow: Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Events begin in the sanctuary with a welcome, remarks and music by the Black Music Ensemble at 10 am. March to First Christian Church at 10:35 for refreshments & music. 11:15 a.m. presentations by the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center, Center for Teaching and Learning, the Center for International Education, and the Carter G. Woodson Center for Interracial Education will focus on King as a voice for the poor, renowned educator, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and an agent of social change.
A convocation at 3 p.m. in Phelps Stokes Chapel will feature Zeb Harrison and Sounds of Praise performing “What Real Horns Are Made Of,” followed by a reception and conversation with  members of Sounds of Praise at 4:30 p.m. in the Carter G. Woodson Center for Interracial Education in the Alumni Building.
Thursdays — our Music Director, Bernardo Scarambone, will teach a very basic music reading class right before choir (5:45 pm). Everyone is welcome to join them — no pressure to stay for choir – but you’d be welcome!
A Midwinter Night’s Dream. January 25. Concert of original music by Rainbow Star and Jesse Wilhite in Cowan Chapel, 6:00 – 7:45 pm. No charge, donations welcome.
Check out the new water fountain/bottle fillers in the hallways by the office and the Choir Room! If you need a Union Church water bottle you can get one in the office—$10.
Union Church is participating in Room in the Inn! Room in the Inn is:

• an opportunity to directly intervene in homelessness
• a way for churches and community groups to welcome in small groups
• a chance for both guests and hosts to change
• about serving without prejudice or pride and about accepting everyone

Union Church will participate as one of the “Inns” every Sunday night – beginning tonight – until the end of the season (likely March 10) and we are looking for volunteers who can help with things like

• cooking a meal or cleaning up afterwards;
• moving supplies from one location to another;

spending the night at church with our guests on the nights they are

• here.  Whether it’s just once, once a month or once a week, we can use your help.  Use the sheet distributed today or contact Shirley Carlberg (985-5501 or nonesuch_1998@yahoo.com), Mary Lou Wiese (260-571-4959 or wiesemary911 @gmail.com), or John Payne (859-986-8100 or johnvpayne@yahoo.com) if you’re interested in being trained as a volunteer.

Have a Heart For Fellowship, Communication and Welcoming New Members? We Need 3! The Community Life and Growth Board of the church helps “outsiders” become “insiders” by helping Rev. Kent welcome new members, get people acquainted with each other for ministry and spiritual support, and oversees our website, social media, and media outreach (advertisements, banners, webcasts, etc.) We need three people to help fulfill this vital work with our pastor. Is one of them you? Please contact Carla Gilbert of the Nominating Board: carla_gilbert@ windstream.net or call the church office!