A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Epiphany Sunday 10:30 am
Meditation
this is how things always begin.
right in front of you, like a
fresh snow in the early morning.
even if the ground underneath
holds generations of memories,
for now you are the first &
every step you take is new.
~ kai skye
From There to Here: We Gather
Prelude
Welcome
Welcome to this service of worship! 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! During the service, you are invited to rise in body or in spirit, standing or sitting, at points in the service marked “<>.”
¨ The Call
One: How did you get here?
PEACE BELL side of the room: I walked, eyes looking up, following the star.
CANDLE side of the room: I ran, lunging for a love that is bigger than me.
PEACE BELL: I tumbled and fell, tender step after tender step.
CANDLE: I ambled like a river, caught up in God’s flow.
One: Tell me again. How did you get here?
All: I crawled, kissing the earth below me. I am here by God’s grace and love’s pull.
One: Welcome home.
This is God’s house.
There is room for you here.
All: Let us worship our gracious God.
¨ Hymn #159 As with Gladness Those of Old Dix
1 As with gladness those of old did the guiding star behold, as with joy they hailed its light, leading onward, beaming bright, so, true Morning Star, may we evermore your splendor see.
2 As with joyful steps they sped, Savior, to that lowly manger bed, there to bend the knee before one whom heaven and earth adore, so may we with willing feet ever seek your mercy seat.
3 As they offered gifts most rare at that manger plain and bare, so may we with holy joy, pure and free from sin’s alloy, all our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to you from whom they springing.
4 Holy Jesus, every day keep us in the narrow way; and, when mortal things are past, bring our ransomed souls at last where they need no star to guide, where no clouds your glory hide.
¨ Prayer of Approach & Confession (unison)
God of new beginnings, We admit that we often follow the well-worn path, simply because others have been there before. Sometimes this is holy and humble, but there are days when a new path needs to be tread. On those new-beginning days, O God, give us the courage to follow your star. Give us the courage to go home by another way. Give us the courage to kick up some dust and walk in a new direction for the sake of justice, love, and neighbor. For when you are doing a new thing, we want to have the courage to follow. With hope in our hearts we wander, we travel. Amen.
¨ Words of Assurance
One: Travelers, No matter the roads you’ve taken, the steps you’ve made, or the paths you’ve traveled, there is nowhere you could go that would land you outside of God’s love. Hear and believe the good news of the Gospel: Regardless of the path we travel, of how lost we may get, or the twists and turns along the way, we do not walk alone. We are loved. We are forgiven. We have every chance to begin again. Thanks be to God for a love like that!
¨ Passing the Peace of Christ
All who come to this sanctuary are welcome companions on the journey of faith. Please turn to those nearest you and greet them with words of peace.
Word and Worship
Special Music A Year in Five Minutes B. Scarambone
Scripture Reading Isaiah 60:1-6
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the peoples, but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together; they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried in their nurses’ arms. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you; the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.
~New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021)
Children’s Moment
as the children return to their seats we sing:
May God’s blessings 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.
Scripture Reading Matthew 2:1-12
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'”
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage.
Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
~New Revised Standard Version: Updated Edition (Friendship Press, 2021)
Sermon The Road Isn’t Straight Rev. Kent Gilbert
Video Reflection
A chance to take in what we have heard.
Responding to God’s Love in Communion
Invitation to Communion
One: God be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift our hearts in prayer.
One: Let us give thanks to God.
All: It is good to give God thanks and praise.
Ringing 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.
Communion Prayer
One: Gracious God, who quickens the faith that brought Magi from the east, who kindles the hope that brought captives from exile, and who inspires the love that brings strangers together, we thank you for the light that guided those searching for the truth. We thank you for sending prophets and teachers, angels and magi to lead us into the way of salvation.
One: We praise you for the light that shines through time and history; for leading us year to changing year by the bright morning star, Jesus Christ. We sing praises as we begin this new year of your call and promise.
Sanctus
Words of Institution
One: Holy one, you who are in every gathering where joy is spread and hope is kindled, you were present when the wise arrived with gifts for sharing. We remember the bread of journeys and the wine of new discoveries. Later in his life, on the precipice of new beginnings and dangerous dealings, we remember that Jesus took bread and, when he had given thanks, he broke it among those gathered and said,
All: “This is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
One: Not just the daily bread, but also the cup of celebration is passed to us: new life, flowing like joy, and looking like company. Amongst those same friends, he took a cup, and giving thanks, said,
All: “This cup is a new covenant of my life and blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
One: For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord until he comes.
One: Gracious God, by this meal we recall Jesus’ birth, his ministry to all on the margins, and his promise of eternal life and light. Send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this bread and cup, that we who eat and drink at this holy table may share the life of Christ, our Lord.
Serving One Another
All who seek the love of God are welcome at this table and are invited to freely receive from it. By tradition, unfermented grape juice is used in the cup on Sunday mornings. If it is not convenient to come forward, the elements can be brought to your seat by signaling to the usher. If it is not your tradition to receive, you are invited to join in prayers for the unity of the Spirit within your tradition. You may remain in you seat, or you may come forward for a blessing, as you wish.
Offertory
Embodied Prayer
You are invited to reflect and pray at the candle table. You may also choose to source the essential ingredient of solitude and private prayer, remaining with your own thoughts in your pew.
Star Words …
The use of star words, also called “star gifts,” is a prayer practice connected to Epiphany offered today. Simply draw a word from one of the baskets near the communion servers and allow that word to be a light to you this year.
Star Words Prayer …
Holy God who lights our way, We thank you for this moment of respite along the journey, a moment to be filled with good things, to be reminded of our belovedness and sent out to be your hands and feet in the world.
Though we’d often prefer a straightforward, step-by-step plan for our lives, you’ve instead given us an invitation …
to wander,
to seek,
to take a different road,
to be guided by a star.
May these star words be a map to you, guiding us to look under every rock and around every corner, seeking you out everywhere, because everywhere is exactly where you are.
And next year, when the road leads back to this very place, may we find that you were with us every step of the way. With hope we pray, amen.
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¨ Doxology Old Hundredth
To God all glorious heavenly Light, To Christ revealed in earthly night, To God the Spirit now we raise Our joyful songs of thankful praise. Amen.
Community Prayer of Thanksgiving
One: God of starlight and new beginnings, Give us clarity when we find ourselves at a crossroad, unsure of what decision to make.
Provide comfort when our feet are blistered.
Surround us with community when we walk alone.
Let us see each other as we navigate the twists and turns in our paths
And respond to one another with compassion.
As we journey, hang stars in the sky
And place a deep knowing in our hearts
That we may have the courage to changes course, if need be, and go home by another way.
Hear us as we unite our voices and pray to you as…
Our Lord’s Prayer
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.
¨ Hymn #164 Arise, Your Light Has Come Festal Song
1Arise, your light is come! The Spirit’s call obey; show forth the glory of your God which shines on you today!
2 Arise, your light is come! Fling wide the prison door; proclaim the captive’s liberty, good tidings to the poor.
3 Arise, your light is come! All you in sorrow born, bind up the brokenhearted ones and comfort those who mourn.
4 Arise, your light is come! The mountains burst in song! Rise up like eagles on the wing, God’s power will make us strong.
From Here to There
Community Connections
Announcements
We share opportunities for Beloved Community and ways to serve. Please see the listing of church & community events, prayers, and notices in the pages following the service.
Lighting the Justice Candle to Lead us Forth
On this day as we celebrate Epiphany, we honor Betty Burkes and her work with the Hague Appeal for Peace. She has served as Peace Education Program Coordinator on projects in Albania, Cambodia, Niger, and Peru.
Betty grew up working class in Ohio. After attending college, she served in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia. Currently, Betty coordinates programs for “Kids Rethink New Orleans Schools”. Rethink, a program that arose in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, encourages middle school youth to participate actively in the reimagining of New Orleans schools. As part of the program, the students develop leadership and critical thinking skills and work to build community.
“How do we redefine ourselves to be motivated to connect and share rather than shop and consume, replenish rather than extract? How does this transformation happen? … At the heart of this transformation is not technology but relationships, tens of millions of people working toward restoration and social justice.”
¨ Benediction
¨ Benediction Response Woyaya (We Will Get There)
Reprinted with permission using OneLicense #A-723786
Our Prayers for Others
¨ 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 (World Council of Churches Ecumenical Prayer cycle: union-church.org/ministries/prayer. Let us hold the people of Myanmar & Thailand; and our brothers and sisters at First Christian Church in our hearts, and pray for them today and throughout the week.
¨ Mary Ellen Sarafin, Betty’s sister, suffering from cirrhosis.
¨ All the people of Ukraine for their safety and sovereignty. Prayers also that the government of Russia will turn to reason & respect for their own peoples’ lives as well as for Ukrainian families.
¨ All those affected by the devastating losses in the current conflict in the Middle East.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Jerry Cooper, Jan Hamilton, Betsy Hoefer, Dorie Hubbard, Susan Kramer, Lois Morgan, Sara Parker, Cheryl Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie.
¨ All those suffering from mental strain, trauma, and disease, ands those who care and worry for them:: may God soothe and heal all who are troubled.
¨ Members and Friends who need safer housing and income security.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ The Guild family as Will continues his struggle with brain cancer and stroke.
¨ Dottie Blackburn is in The Terrace for rehab. Cards welcome. 1043 Brooklyn Blvd., Berea.
¨ Teri VanPelt, at the death of her beloved cousin, Terry Lake, on January 2, in Indiana.
¨ Remembering the family of Betty Wray, on the anniversary of her death (Jan. 3).
¨ Several church families & individuals are recovering from nasty viruses – the Kobersmiths, Bob & Leslie Berger, Chip Bailey, Teri VanPelt & Christine Ward, Nan Naumer, Joe White.
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: Jan. 6 – Dorothy Chao, David Parks, Harrison Brownrobie; 7 – Christine Ward, Eliana Saderholm; 9 – Karen Edwards, Donna Lovell; 10 – Whitney McKnight, MacGregor Lakes, Julia Whaley-Jones
Anniversaries: Jan. 11 – Kelly & Teri Mehler
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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