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

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

January 29, 2017    10:30 am 

Meditation
God cannot endure that unfestive, mirthless attitude of ours in which we eat our bread in sorrow, with pretentious, busy haste, or even with shame.  Through our daily meals [God] is calling us to rejoice, to keep holiday in the midst of our working day.  
      — Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together, 1938

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 La Temple de la Glorie, Gavotte J.P. Rameau Chloe Groth, violin
¨  Call to Worship
 One: What does the Lord require of you?
All: To do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God.
One: What does God command of us?
All: To love God with all our heart, and all our soul, and all our mind, and all our strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
One: God does not call us to ease or to comfort.
All: But to presence, and abundance, and grace in our struggle.
One: Let us worship the God who believes in us, and trusts in us, and abides with us.
All: Let us worship the God who will ask much of us, but will be beside us every step of the way.                             — Rev. Eliza Buchakjian-Tweedy
¨  Opening Hymn What Does the Lord Require of You? Moon
¨   Prayer of Approach and Confession 
 One:     We have heard it said: Look after number one…
All:       Get them before they get you…
One:      Better be safe than sorry…
All:       What’s someone else’s problems got to do with me…?
One: Only the strong survive…
All: Money makes the world go round…
One: Revenge is sweet…
All: Avoid pain at all costs…
One: May God forgive us when we, as Christ’s own people, believe these words to be life giving when Jesus has shown us a better way.
¨  Words of Assurance
One: When we feel soiled by our own selfishness we are brought close by Jesus, who gathers us still, who turns to listen to our voices, who reaches out to touch us with hands he is not afraid to get dirty, to embrace us; who, in moments of accepting us for who we are shows us that we are forgiven and worthy of love and respect.
All: Thanks be to God.                   — Rev. Daniel B. Randall
¨  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 An Irish Blessing Jeremy Hanson Union Church Choir
May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your face, the rain fall soft upon your fields and, until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand. Amen.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Micah 6:1-8
In a court imagined by the prophet, the people ask God why God is upset, and are told they have been focused on proper worship instead of proper living.
Children’s Moment   
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 Matthew 5:1-12
Jesus delivers his first sermon in Matthew’s gospel, beginning with The Beatitudes, a list of who is blessed in the kingdom of God.
Sermon Blessing Beyond Belief Rev. Rachel Small Stokes

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  Choral Song L. Smith
¨  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 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 #180 Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit Annika’s Dance
¨   Benediction
 Postlude (please be seated) Aeolian Fanfare C. Callahan
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 Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, Iran and Iraq, and our brothers and sisters at Dixie Park Cornerstone Baptist Church in your hearts, and pray for them.      
Please also 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.
¨ The healing of families, communities, and our nation and world, wracked by violence; may we be agents of transformation.
¨ Prayers for our country as it transitions to new leadership
¨ Prayers of solidarity and support for those made most vulnerable by the recent elections. May the people who follow Jesus follow him to the refugee, the stranger, the outcast, the foreigner, and the destitute.
¨ Reid Singleton and Stephanie Singleton, children of Judith Singleton, both facing difficult medical procedures
¨ Deborah Payne, traveling to Uganda to establish clean water facilities
¨ BJ Godby’s mother, who is very ill in Georgia, and her father, who is caring for her
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound:  Ruth Butwell, Edith Hansen, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin, Gloria VanWinkle.
¨ Prayers for those suffering colds, pneumonia, and flu. Care for self is also care for others: rest, wash your hands, and heal!
¨ Loretta Mountjoy, who is now home but still very ill.
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.
Interested in exploring Scripture? Join the Sunday morning group at 9:30 am in the classroom. Learn in depth about the scriptures we will read that day in worship.  AND Thursday noon Bible Study discusses the readings for the upcoming Sunday. All welcome!!
Wednesday Nite Live supper is a potluck for the first Weds. of the month. Program by a representative of the Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center.
 Noodling Around with Theology…at Noodle Nirvana Feb. 2. Interested in deepening your “TQ,” theology quotient? First Thursdays are for you — and you can enjoy some neat noodles at the same time! We will meet at Noodle Nirvana (315 Chestnut St), 8pm, Feb. 2. You can purchase food, or just come for the discussion. This Thursday’s topic: Theodicy—how does a good God let bad things happen?
Do you like working with numbers? Prowling around old buildings? Planning parties? Working with kids? Wonder what it’s like to serve on one of Union Church’s Boards? Come to a meeting after worship next Sunday, Feb. 5, to talk about it. Meet with Nominating Board members in the Classroom Room near the office to find out more — no commitment, just explore where your gifts may be helpful!
Happy Anniversary, Rev. Kent! Weds. Feb. 8, 5 pm — would you like to help plan a celebration for Rev. Kent’s 20th anniversary at Union Church? Come to the Conference Room near the office.
CPR/First Aid/AED Training Opportunity: Sat, Feb 11! Do you need to brush up on your first aid skills?  Do you care for children or elderly adults frequently? Would you just like to be more informed?  Get your CPR/First Aid/AED training for adults, infants and children on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 9am to 3pm. Cost is $50 per person, and the trainer is Mike Morris, Berea College safety officer and volunteer firefighter. Snacks will be provided, but please bring your own lunch. To register, email Rev. Rachel at rsmallstokes@union-church.org by Wednesday, Feb. 1.
Valentine party Could you use a little sweetness and beauty in your life? Faith Development is hosting an All Y’all Faith Day Valentine party on Sunday, Feb. 12th after church. We’ll have chocolate, poetry, and art making. All ages are invited!
Help Wanted.  We have an ongoing need for volunteers to help with Sunday services.  Can you be a worship reader, greeter, coffee angel, etc.?   For details go to the church website, union-church.org and click on “Volunteer” near the upper right corner (or talk to Doug Hindman).
Union Church is starting a Stephen Ministry of lay visitation. The first step is creating a team of 3 trainers. Trainers will help recruit, nurture, and organize volunteer visitors. They receive a comprehensive training themselves (in St.
Louis, April 23-29), work closely with the pastors, and help connect people who need visits with those who can make them. Interested? Complete Job descriptions are available upon request to the office. Please indicate your interest not later than February 1, so we can plan!
The Sunday bulletin is available at the church website, union-church.org, the farthest right blue button. Read along as you watch the service!
Kentucky Council of Churches is hosting Prayer in Action Days at the State Capitol each Tuesday during General Assembly to pray for government officials and act on behalf of Kentucky’s most vulnerable citizens. Beginning at 9:30 a.m., these are the topics:
Jan 31 Tax Reform
Feb. 7 Justice Reform/Restorative Justice
Feb. 14 Gun Violence
Feb. 21 Healthcare/Disabilities
Feb. 28 Death Penalty
Mar. 7 Environment/Energy
Mar. 14 Immigrants/Refugees
It’s time for the lost & found items outside the office to go to the Goodwill. If you’ve left something in the church, please check  the shelves in the office hall.
Sustainable Berea Gathering February 21, 6:30 pm. First Christian Church. A gathering of members and others to celebrate the accomplishments of 2016 and fine-tune our plans for increasing Berea’s resilience in 2017. Hear updates on the Berea Urban Farm, Victory Garden Blitz, Bee Friendly Berea, and Urban Agriculture District, then discuss the way forward in a small planning group. Bring your ideas for making Berea a more sustainable community, and your appetite for home-baked pie. Everyone welcome.
3-14 Pi Day Pie Auction for Kentuckians for the Commonwealth. In our Community Room March 14, 6-8 pm — fundraiser and friend-raiser! Rev. Kent will be the auctioneer.
Attention music lovers! Sam Gleaves  is teaching individual lessons on guitar, banjo, fiddle, dulcimer and autoharp, using Room 101. No previous musical experience is required. For more information, please contact at him samuelgleaves@gmail.com or 276-617-1611.