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

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost July 19, 2015, 10:30 am

Meditation
“Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.”

—John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917-1963)

From there to here

Prelude     Towers           Cathy Moklebust  Union Church Summer Handbell Ensemble

*  Call to Worship
One:    Come those that are near to faith, seeking comfort and strength.
All:      Strangers and sojourners we come.
One:     Come those who are unsure, troubled, far from faith seeking  a way, a love, a life better than what has been.
All:      Strangers and sojourners we come.
One:     In Christ we are strangers no more, nor unaccompanied in the cost and joy of discipleship. Here, accepted and rejected, we stand on the foundation of Christ’s love. Let us worship together with song and celebration.
*  Opening Hymn #386       The Church’s One Foundation           Aurelia
*  Prayer of Approach & Confession (unison)  
Merciful God, we admit the mistakes and mis-steps of our life which we cannot undo. Help us to accept their consequences without bitterness, and within their limits to see a new and better way forward. Help us act upon that way with joy, in the way of Christ, by the power of Christ. Amen.                                  
*  Words of Assurance 
*  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    Joyful  Rhythm            Kevin McChesneyUnion Church Summer Handbell Ensemble

Epistle Lesson                  Ephesians 2:11-22
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 6:30-34,53-56
Sermon     Peace in the Temple          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              Heavenly Dove            M. Shea
*  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

*  Closing Hymn     Come and Find the Quiet Center (next pages)            Beach Spring
*  Benediction & Sending Forth
Postlude (please be seated)         Sonata No. II, Mov. III            F. Mendelssohn
____________________
*  Please rise in body or in spirit as you wish
 
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 Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and our brothers and sisters at St. Clare Catholic Church in your hearts, and pray for them.
Please also hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week:
* Victims of the recent flooding in Johnson County
* Victims of the tragic shooting in Chatanooga
* Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound:  Edith Hansen, Nancy Jones, Mary Miller, Averill Kilbourne, Alva Peloquin, Ruth Butwell
* 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 today at 3 pm
* The family of Harry McNiffe, 83, of Florida, Dodie Murphy’s son-in-law’s father, who passed away Monday
* Lois Morgan, recovering from surgery at home
* For the Eschbach, Zimmerman, and Freeman families in the sudden death of David Freeman, and also dear friend Russ Meeker.
* Prayers of celebration from the Gravel family: Sophie’s friend Cole is healing more quickly than expected and coming out of casts 3 weeks early! Muse’s Aunt Lib is home now, up and doing. We are holding their sister-in-law Sherri and dear friend Diane Barber in our prayers, both with cancer, and Diane very near her death. May light and love be their path.
Learn more about the church next Sunday, July 26, right after worship. If you’re thinking about joining, but have some questions, come to a new membership info session!   Anyone wanting to know more about Union Church or wanting to explore church membership, as well as new members who have not been able to participate in a previous meeting, are invited to come to the classroom two doors past the church office immediately following worship for conversation with the Pastors and the Community Life and Growth Board. New members are received every second Sunday of a month—next opportunity is August 9.    
Newsletter deadline tomorrow: Any items for the News of the Family section are welcome, as are any photos you may have of church family activities. Just send to the church office.
Bloodmobile Tuesday, July 21. Summer is a busy time of year, but please don’t get too busy to donate blood. Kentucky patients are counting on you to ensure local hospitals have the blood they need.
Donate with Kentucky Blood Center at one of the drives below, and you’ll receive a $10 gift card as our way of thanking you for saving a Kentucky patient’s life.
Thanks for being a lifesaver!
Necklace sales to benefit Mission Board. One-of-a-kind hand beaded necklaces will be available for purchase after worship with proceeds benefiting 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.
Glean KY=Feed Kentucky: An organizing meeting for a chapter of GleanKY will be held in the  Union Church Classroom at 7:00 pm, July 22. Volunteers glean or “harvest” excess food from growers and grocers, then deliver it to food programs that feed Kentucky’s hungry. If you are interested in how you can help, please come and/or Contact Grace McKenzie  for information.
Important  Berea Human Rights Com-mission  Meeting July 22, 6:30 pm, City Council Chambers, 304 Chestnut St.  The City of Berea has a long and proud history of respect for the dignity of all persons and the right of each person to achieve their full potential in an environment of respect, free of fear. The Berea Human Rights Commission was born of the commitment to ensure all residents have access to the rights of citizenship. Achieving that goal includes enforcement of statutes guaranteeing citizens their rights and a program of education and enhanced communication so that ALL voices are heard.
She’s off again Joan English, Office Admin-istrator, will be away Thurs. July 23—Tues. July 28, celebrating her parents’ 80th birthdays (they have EXACTLY the same birthday).  If anyone’s available to fill in at the office, we’d sure appreciate it! Give a call to 986-3725. Thanks!
Have extra luggage, backpacks or tote bags?  Bring them to Union between now and the first weekend of August to donate as part of the Luggage of Love charity event for NECCO. The donated luggage goes to a foundation which will fill each piece with necessities (clothing, shoes, personal care items) and then distributed to children in the foster care system.  Many times children in the Foster Care system come in to care with only the clothes they have on or a small amount of things in a trash bag – this event is a chance to give these children something they can call their own and they can take wherever they may go. If you have questions, contact Mission and Service Board chair Jessica Holly at jessicadholly@hotmail.com 
We Do! Union Church celebrates Marriage Equality! 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.  Visit union-church.org/we-do-union-church-celebrates-marriage-equality 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. Glory to God!  Love wins!
Saturday July 25—your help is needed – Properties Board has scheduled a work morning (9:00 – noon) for this coming Saturday. Projects include weeding, spreading topsoil and mulch, trimming shrubs. Many hands make light work. Coffee and cookies provided.
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. We’ll sing at the 10:30 am service.  
Nest Week ~ Sunday Evening Hymn Sing! July 26 7:00 pm-8:30 pm ~ Cowan Chapel (All Ages Welcome!) Like to sing, just for fun?  Once a month this summer, we will gather for a “traditional” hymn-sing led by the Union Church music staff.   Please turn in a list of your five favorite hymns from the Black or Red Hymnbook one week before each Hymn Singing (deadlines: today – July 19, August 16).  Hymn sings will be Sundays – July 26 & Aug. 23.
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.  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!

Safe Haven Coordinator Can you lead Union Church’s program to provide short-term tornado shelter?  You’d need to go to the church on short notice when tornados threaten.  Tornados are especially dangerous for mobile home residents.  Safe Haven offers them short-term shelter at the church.  It’s a county wide program coordinated by FEMA and the Madison County Emergency Management Agency.  For details, contact Doug Hindman at 582-5806 or at Douglas.Hindman@eku.edu.
Help for flood victims: The Loyal Jones Appalachian Center (working with the University of Kentucky Appalachian Center) will accept donations in response to the recent devastating flash flood events that took place in Eastern Kentucky, and in particular the community of Flatgap in Johnson County, Kentucky.
They will transport the donated items next week to the impacted areas and they will be transferred to the local relief distribution networks.  Donations will be accepted at the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center gallery, first floor Stephenson Hall, 205 North Main, until Tuesday, July 21 at 5:00 p.m.   
The flooding destroyed 150 homes and damaged several hundred more.  The impacted communities are in need of various supplies to start the cleanup effort.   While cleaning supplies and personal hygiene items are still needed we have been asked to focus on items for the young people in the impacted communities (remember they are without power – so coloring books, art supplies, etc. are in high demand to keep the children occupied while clean up and recovery efforts are underway).  Supplies that have been asked for by relief organizations:

• Bath Towels
• Pillows
• Pop top canned food
• Laundry detergent
• Liquid soap
• Household cleaners
• Mop buckets
• Air freshener
• Scrub brushes
• Cleaning wipes
• Sponges
• Scouring pads
• Clothespins
• Dust masks
• Work gloves
• Batteries
• Baby wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Baby diapers
• Baby food
• Baby Formula
• Water
• Non Perishable food items
• Contact solution
• Toilet paper
• Personal items
• Paper towels
• Aspirin/Tylenol
• First aid supplies
• Rubber boots
• Bug Spray
• Coloring books
• Art supplies
• Kids’ activities
• NO CLOTHES