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

Third Sunday after the Epiphany 

January 21, 2018  10:30 am 

Meditation   
“The Christian life is not about pleasing God the finger-shaker and judge. It is not about believing now or being good now for the sake of heaven later. It is about entering a relationship in the present that begins to change everything now. Spirituality is about this process: the opening of the heart to the God who is already here.”  ― Marcus J. Borg, The God We Never Knew: Beyond Dogmatic Religion To A More Authentic Contemporary Faith

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 Prayer in B flat Alexander Guilmant
¨  Call to Worship
  One: The buzz of the world interrupts our lives and fills our ears;
All: Call us into Your way of life, O God.
One: The complaints of others settle in our mind and cloud our vision;
All: Lead us into Your vision of life, O God.
One: The cries of the poor, the oppressed and the outcast pierce our hearts;
All: Guide us in Your example of living for others, O God.
One: Fill our hearts, fill our eyes, fill our ears with Your love, O God;
All: Let us be Your hands and feet in the world, O God. Let us worship You together.   -by Rev. Mindi, in Rev-o-lution
¨  Opening Hymn       The Summons       John Bell
¨  Prayer of Approach and Confession                   
 One:     You call us, God, when we’re already busy, when our minds are filled with nets lacking fish and profits diving downward.
All:       You call us, God, but often we’re too preoccupied to hear.
One: You call us, God, when we’re already stressed, when our boats have holes that need repaired and our obligations threaten to overwhelm us.
All: You call us, God, but we don’t know how we could handle one more thing.
One: You call us, God, when we’re already scared of what is being asked of us, when we’re unsure of who we are or how we could even be useful.
All: You call us, God, but sometimes we think you’re crazy.
One: You call us, even still.
All: Forgive us our inability to hear, and open our ears to your good news. 
¨ Words of Assurance
  One: And here is the good news: in you, in me, in all of us, there is a new creation in Christ.  We are called, but we are not alone.  We are called into the greater joy of service and love in Christ, our redeemer.  Everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
All: Thanks be to God!
¨  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 The Time for Singing Has Come Joseph M. Martin
Union Church Choir
Arise, beloved, arise! Rejoice in the wonders that God has done. Oh, the time for singing, time for music, time for worship has come. Rejoice in the light of the risen Son.
The morning breaks forth with glad singing. Music awakens the dawn. Let the hills and the valleys start ringing, singing a jubilant song. Fill the earth with sweet music. Fill each heart with praise. Make a joyful song to God. Let worship fill this place.
Sing and rejoice! Lift every voice! The time for singing has come. It has come! The time for music, the time for glorious singing has come!
Hebrew Scripture Lesson The Book of Jonah  (p. 1090)
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 Mark 1:14-20 (p.1191)
Sermon Fishing for the Realm of God 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        Lord of the Dance Dale Wood
¨  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
¨  Closing Hymn #173 You Have Come Down to the Lakeshore Pescador de Hombres
¨  Benediction & Sending Forth
Postlude (please be seated) Trumpet Tune Nicholas Bowden
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 Faith Decision Baptist Church 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.
¨ 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.
¨ Loyal Jones, who recently moved to Arcadian Cove.  His address is Apt. C11, 532 Cady Dr. Richmond, 40475.
¨ 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.
¨ BJ Godby, recovering from ankle surgery at home.
¨ Renee Wellinghurst’s father-in-law, Dave Wellinghurst, diagnosed with glioblastoma after surgery for a brain tumor.
¨ Gary Dillon, significant other of Betty Sarafin, critically ill with cancer.
¨ Congratulations to Derrick Hodge, son of Ellen Mink, who will be ordained to ministry in the United Church of Christ at St. Peter’s UCC,  Louisville on January 28! May God prosper his ministry!
¨ Carol Shaffer, due to have shoulder replacement surgery on the 31st.
¨ Dick Drake and the Drake extended family in the death of Joey, his daughter Margie’s husband. 
¨ The family of Scotty Rothwell, who died last Thursday.
¨ Meg, and all the family, at the sudden death of Bill Suters.
¨ The family and friends of Dwight Blackburn, former member of Union Church, who passed away in Louisville last Friday, January 12. A service in Berea will be February 17, 2 p.m., at First Christian Church.
Announcements
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.
Find out 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, as well as new members, are invited to come to the Classroom two doors past the church after worship for conversation with the Pastor and the Community Life & Growth Board.
Our own Bob Shaffer has written a new book of prayers. Copies available in the office, $12.
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.
Planned Parenthood will offer lobbying training in Berea.  After training, the group will pick a day to go to Frankfort to meet with their senators and represent-atives. The training will take place on a Sunday afternoon; date and location to be determined. If interested, please contact Amy Williams at amy_williams75204 @hotmail.com by Jan. 24.
Sustainable Berea Annual Meeting Saturday, January 27, 2018:  6 – 8 pm ​First Christian Church, 206 Chestnut St. Baked goods auction with Kent Gilbert. Community Sustainability Awards will be announced; door prizes and another SB Giant Raffle. Open to all, no charge. If you have a project  that helps your neighborhood or the community and you want to announce it at the meeting, contact Cheyenne at:  859-893-4590.

A Word About Rev. Rachel’s Upcoming Departure

As you know, we will soon be bidding Rev. Rachel a fond fare-thee-well. On February 14, 2018, she will begin her new position at Immanuel UCC in Louisville, KY. The Pastoral Relations Board is working closely with Rev. Kent in the transition process and here are some thoughts about what we all can do to help:

• All pastors when leaving need to be free to connect with members of their new church AND they have promised to limit interaction with their previous congregation. Rev. Rachel will need to “reset” all her social media and other connections, so don’t be surprised when she must “unfriend” us, or change her email, and phone numbers. She will need to remain mostly out of contact with us for at least 18 months. Remember she has 300 new parishioners she needs to connect with as their sole pastor. She promises to send the church updates from time to time, but you can help by giving her the gift of release.

• Rev. Rachel can’t perform pastoral services here after she leaves. That means pastoral care, pastoral phone calls, weddings, baptisms, funerals, etc. She still cares for all of us, so that’s going to be very hard on her. You can help by not putting her in a bad position where she is going to have to say “no” to you.

• Even though Louisville is close, and she might be delighted to run into you, Rev. Rachel can’t make professional appointments or have “Union Church” conversations with you, even if you think you are just making casual conversation. The future of Union Church, its issues, and its ongoing ministry has to remain with us so we can move in a healthy way into our next calling, and so Rev. Rachel can move in a healthy way into hers.

Boundaries like these are in place to give churches and pastors some good clean edges so that everyone’s next pastoral relationship can be as rich and full and healthy as possible. They are not personal; it’s the practical kind of love that will help us all fulfill our ministry and calling. Rev. Kent and the Pastoral Relations Board are happy to discuss your questions and concerns about this at any time. In addition, this month’s Consider will have a full letter from Rev. Rachel about the transitions and changes.

The Pastoral Relations Board: Susan Doring-Zook, chair, Tom Frazier, Chris Green, LaRee Jacobs, Debbonnaire Kovacs, and Rev. Kent Gilbert