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

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost July 12, 2015, 10:30 am

Meditation
”  Without music, life would be a mistake….I would only believe in a God who knew how to dance.”

                             —Friedrich Nietzsche, 19th century

From there to here

Prelude     Prelude in D Major     J. Fischer
*  Call to Worship 
One:    We are called by God to rejoice in the presence of the Lord and all God’s people:
All:      Singing hope, making peace, proclaiming new life!
One:     When we gather for justice and joy in God’s name, a house becomes a temple,   a prison becomes a palace, a heart becomes a home.
All:      Let us lift our hearts and heads to worship in spirit and in truth!
*  Opening Hymn #117       Lift Up Your Heads, O Mighty Gates  Truro
*  Prayer of Approach & Confession (unison)
Why are we always willing to descend into the worst areas life offers to us, but reluctant to come into your presence, Holy One?  How can we stand on sin’s shaky foundations, yet find it impossible to dance in your joy? Why are we so quick to trumpet our hollow achievements, and do not seem to be able to hear your whispers of hope for us?
Forgive us, Grace’s Glory, and fill us with your mercy.  May we set our hope in Jesus Christ, who came so we might become your children, inheritors of love, peace, and faithfulness forever.                                                               by Thom Shuman   [silence is kept]
*  Words of Assurance 
One:     In Christ, God’s salvation has come; with God peace and righteousness kiss   our cheeks, wiping away our tears, and faithfulness takes us by the hand to   lead us home to God.
All:      God has called us, God has claimed us, and God has redeemed us.  This is good news for all of creation!  Thanks  be to God.  Amen.
*  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    With Music I Will Praise Thee Natalie Sleeth
Union Church Summer Choir
1. With music I will praise Thee, and magnify Thy Name. With melody in measure, Thy Goodness, Lord, proclaim; with note of golden trumpet, with flute and tuneful string, my song of adoration to Thee I’ll sing. Alleluia, sing alleluia, now let us sing! With flute and lute and sound of tuneful string, sing alleluia and praises bring!
2. With anthems of Thanksgiving, and notes of harmony, I’ll sound my Alleluias, most gracious God to Thee; for Thou art my Creator who gave me voice to sing, so unto Thee forever my praise I’ll bring. With music I will praise Thee and magnify Thy name. With melody in measure, Thy goodness, Lord, proclaim! With note of golden trumpet, with flute and tuneful string, my song of adoration to Thee I’ll sing!
Hebrew Scripture Lesson                       2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
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 are welcome to return to their seats or follow volunteers to the front entrance of the sanctuary to the Children’s Worship Center, where there are 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 off the Community Room.
Gospel Lesson                  Mark 6:14-29
Sermon     Danse Macabre      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              Choral Song    E. Broughton
*  Doxology              Avery/Marsh

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

Introduction and Invitation to Membership    
Union Church is a vital and growing family of faith, a home to those committed to the way of Christ’s sacrificial love and service. All who feel led to join will be received in joy, and are welcome to come forward during the Closing Hymn. Thanks be to God for these ministers among us.
*  Closing Hymn #593        Lift Every Voice and Sing        Lift Every Voice
Questions of the Congregation and New Members    
*  Covenant of Welcome   
And we, the members of this church, renewing our own covenant      to God and to each other, do now heartily welcome you to our fellowship, promising to watch over you in love, and praying that  you, and we, may be true witnesses for Christ, a light in the world,  and continue to increase in usefulness and joy in his service.
*  Benediction & Sending Forth
Postlude (please be seated)         Fanfare in D Major     J. Lemmens
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 Bolivia, Chile and Peru and our brothers and sisters at Bethel Baptist 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.
* Those whose churches were recently  burned
* Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound:  Edith Hansen, Nancy Jones, Mary Miller, Averill Kilbourne, Alva Peloquin, Ruth Butwell
* Kelly Mehler—we celebrate that his cancer is in remission!
* Steve and Sandy Bolster, who welcomed twin grandchildren into the world: Sylvie and Ian were born six weeks early but are growing well!
* The Watson/Gravel family and several friends and family who are in need of support
* Joan and all the Bates family, at Bob’s passing on July 5
* For the family of Margaret Durham, who passed away on June 17. Service will be here at Union Church on July 19, at 3 pm
* For ET, Donna, and Peg: all family and friends of Judy Singleton and all facing serious illness
* Harry McNiffe, 83, of Florida, Dodie Murphy’s son-in-law’s father
* Lois Morgan, having surgery tomorrow at UK Medical Center
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.
We welcome Kelly McClure of Habitat for Humanity this morning, who is bringing us thanks for the work on the Apostle’s Build, and a gift from the Reynolds family!
Mindful of the violence done to African-American churches across the country, this week we join thousands of faith based organizations in a Week of Righteous Resistance, July 12-18. (#ThisIsWORR). Through this week of education, prayer, and action we hope to resist the white privilege and supremacy that is killing our country and breeding racial violence. Today we join together to help rebuild burned churches. For more resources and ways you can participate, go to www.livefreeusa.org/worr.
Tonight – Sacred Blessing Service for Marriage: on Sunday, July 12 at 5 pm, there will be an interfaith sacred blessing service at the Lyric theater, 300 East 3rd St., Lexington — a community gathering with song and prayer and then a time when couples (both straight and gay) will be invited to come up and receive a brief blessing by clergy, including Rev. Kent. We hope that this is a healing, affirming, sacred time.
Union Church is overjoyed that the Supreme Court has recognized the equality of same-sex couples’ marriages to opposite-sex couples’ marriages.  The overall arc of Jesus’ teachings is that love is at the core of all our relationships, and recognizing that love does not have gender boundaries, we extend a hand of welcome to people of all sexual orientations.
Many people wonder how we can come to such a celebratory stance with our Christian faith.  In fact, it COMES from our Christian faith.  Rev. Kent and Rev. Rachel have prepared a page of FAQs to help explain our stance. https://union-church.org/our-mission/why-we-support-equal-marriage-rights-for-all-persons/
to read it, and share with friends who might also be wondering.
To our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer-identified friends: we believe all marriages covenanted in a church are to be supported and sustained by a community of faith.  We would be happy to be that community of faith for you.
Rev. Kent and Rev. Rachel stand at the ready to walk with same-sex couples into the covenant of marriage.  For more information on our policies and procedures, please visit our Weddings page.  Glory to God!  Love wins!

One more chance!!! Summer Choir – No Robes ~ No Stairs ~ No Commitment! Sunday,  July 26,  9:15 am Sanctuary

     Adults and youth are welcome to participate in Summer Choir.  No commitment is expected.  Just show up for rehearsal at 9:15. We will rehearse a new anthem which will then be shared at the 10:30 am worship service that morning,  from the sanctuary floor so that this opportunity may be accessible to all.
“ABLE” (Achieving and Building Life Equally). Are you interested in joining together to create a Berea support group for those of us who self-identify as differently or uniquely able, or identify as disabled? This includes anyone who may be coping with a chronic or long-term illness, or dealing with an injury or illness that impacts daily life. If interested, let’s meet on July 15, 2015 at 6:00pm in the Community Room. This could become a regular get together, an opportunity for friendship and sharing in a confidential setting.
We, in ABLE, work hard to be strong and fearless. We succeed in life with creativity. We are not ‘less than;’ we are equal in the world.
July 15: Understanding & Responding to Dementia-Related Behavior. Behavior is a powerful form of communication and is one of the primary ways for people with dementia to communicate their needs and feelings as the ability to use language is lost. However, some behaviors can present real challenges for caregivers to manage. Join us to learn how to decode behavioral messages, identify common behavior triggers, and learn strategies to help intervene with some of the most common behavioral challenges of Alzheimer’s disease.  The program will take place  from 1:00pm-3:00pm at the Madison County Public Library, 507 West Main Street, Richmond. To register call 1-800-272-3900.
Victory Garden Celebration! July 16, 5:00—7:00 pm, Community Room
     John Stanley and Heather Lundy  will be the guest presenters for a gathering to discuss planting fall crops and Richard and Cheyenne Olson will be there to share their experiences with raised garden beds on the Berea Urban Farm, planted in May. Please bring a dish to share if you want to. (We will provide some snacks from the garden.) Call 859-985-1689 for more information or go to our Facebook page: Victory Gardeners 2015. Bring photos of your raised beds!  Join us to share your experiences and bring your questions about urban gardening.
One-of-a-kind hand beaded necklaces will be available for purchase after worship on Sunday, July 19, with proceeds benefitting the Mission Board. Dodie Murphy made the necklaces in hopes of increasing the Mission Board coffers in honor of Michelle Tooley and her work on the Board.
New Study asks for Community’s Input Berea, like many other cities across Kentucky is aging. Fifteen short years from now, one out of every five Americans will be 65 or older. That’s why Berea is taking steps now to become a more “age-friendly” and “livable” community for people to want to live, work, and stay.  This survey seeks to gain insights about the City of Berea.  What we learn from this will help us to make Berea a better place to live at every age. Your answers are completely confidential and are reported only as a group (not individuals).  As part of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities program, Berea is working now to prepare for the needs that will come from this change.   Add your voice and take the Age-Friendly Berea Survey today – http://bit.ly/AgeFriendlyBerea
Church Bazaar, Sat. August 29! Mission and Service Board NEEDS:
1.   Stuff to sell; priced and brought to bazaar closet (no clothing or old tvs, please)
2.   Good people to again volunteer to HELP. (many ways to help)
3. DO NOT NEED: EXCUSES when someone from MSB calls.  Important event to support lot of good causes! (Being dead or out of town are acceptable excuses)  Thanks, from the Mission & Service Board.
Phone volunteers needed for disaster assistance calls: Join with community and congregation volunteers as they make phone calls to persons who registered for FEMA assistance following the April 3 floods. It is now time for the neighbors to check on neighbors to make sure folks are recovering well from flooding. Come volunteer as much or as little as you can on July 14, 15, or 16 from 3 to 8 pm. Phone calls will be from the Red Cross Emergency Operation Center at 510 East Chestnut Street in downtown Louisville. Free and guarded parking is available right beside the Red Cross building. Training will be provided and you will find that the calls are extremely pastoral as we check on those impacted by disaster. If you can help some, please send a note to Jim Garrett at jim.garrett3806@gmail.com to let him know what days and times you will be there.​