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

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

July 21, 2019       10:30 am

Meditation
You have made us together, you have made us one and many, you have placed me here in the midst as witness, as awareness, and as joy. Here I am. In me the world is present and you are present. I am a link in the chain of light and of presence. You have made me a kind of center, but a center that is nowhere. And yet I am “here,” let us say I am “here” under these trees, not others.    —Thomas Merton

From there to here: we Gather

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 China Gates John Adams
The Call   Rumi
“We are brought thick desserts, and we rarely refuse them. We worship devoutly when we’re with others. Hours we sit, though we get up quickly After a few minutes, when we pray alone. We hurry down the gullet of our wantings.
But these qualities can change, as minerals in the ground rise inside trees and become tree, as a plant faces an animal and enters the animal, so a human can put down the heavy  body baggage and be light.”
¨  Hymn #8 Black  Praise to the Living God Diademata
¨  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 hospitality.

The Living Word among us

Anthem O Praise God in the Sanctuary Judy Hunnicutt
Union Church Summer Choir
O Praise God in the sanctuary, praise God in the firmament, in the firmament of power, Praise God for noble acts, Praise God according to God’s excellent greatness. Praise God in the sound of the trumpet. Praise God upon the lute and harp. Praise God in the timbrels and dances, praise God upon the strings and pipe. Praise God upon the well-tuned cymbals. Praise God upon the loud cymbals.  Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. 
Epistle Lesson  Colossians 1:15-28 (p. 1434)
Paul praises the greatness of the work of Christ in a grand affirmation of God in Christ.
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 are welcome to return to their seats. 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 Luke 10:38-42 (p. 1248)
Jesus is received as guest at the home of two sisters, Mary and Martha.
Sermon Be Here Now Rev. Nate Craddock

Living Prayer

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.
Acts of Reflection and Prayer
Some resources for reflection and prayer  are provided. You are free to use  – or ignore –  these prompts as you find helpful. In whatever prayer manner you adopt, please hold the concerns of those listed, and those you know about, in God’s peace-giving light.
Have you chosen “the good part”? What does that mean to you? When you sink into silence and tranquility, what do you hear, see, smell, taste, or feel? The “mystery of God” has been both hidden and revealed throughout the ages, to all peoples. What glimpses of that mystery have you found ?
This week, Rev. Nate will lead us all in a guided meditation as we pray for the needs of the world and the community.
A Chance for Generosity: Offering Baskets in the Aisles
Offering baskets are placed in the aisle, and can also be brought to your seat. 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 those in need via many external agencies.
Many friends give online, and you can use your smart phone or computer and go to www.easytithe.com/union. You don’t have to register to make a contribution, but if you do, it can make future generosity that much easier. You can even give by text! Text to 859-448-3403 (Example: Text “$50.00 Offering)
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Please sing when invited:
Let there be Peace on Earth, and let it begin with me; let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be. With God, our creator, children all are we. Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me; let this be the moment now. With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow: to take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally. Let there be peace on earth and let  it begin with me.
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

¨   Hymn #451 Black Be Thou My Vision Slane
¨  The Sending and Blessing
Postlude (please be seated) Sunken Cathedral        Debussy
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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 Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda and our brothers and sisters at the Middletown 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.
¨ Families and Friends in Crises…may God be present to every need and heal every rift and wound.
¨ For Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon. 15,000 are now detained in the US.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound: Alva Peloquin, Edith Hansen, Nancy Hindman, Jennie Kiteck, Mary Miller.
¨ For those who are without homes and safe places, that we may work together for solutions.
¨ The Drake family, at the death of Dick Drake. A service will be held here at Union, August 4, at 2:00 pm. Condolences may be sent to John Drake; 5 Whippoorwill Hill; Asheville; NC; 28804.
¨ Hazel Morris, recovering well at home.
¨ Marie, 4-year-old great grand niece of Dorie Hubbard, being treated for cancer.
¨ Jerry Cooper and family at the death of Robert Berry, his daughter Debbie’s husband, of cancer.
¨ Mary Luzader, Eef Fontanez’ mother, recovering from breast cancer surgery.
¨ Jack and Pearl Marshall, serving sentences at the Madison County Detention Center
Announcements
Hospitality & Cookies – can you help?! One of the things that we do best is making each other feel welcome and loved and included every single week. The Hospitality Team is committed to creating a space — with lemonade and cookies! — for this to happen after service. Can you commit to helping your church family by volunteering to prepare after-church snacks once every three months? (If we have 12 volunteers, everyone only has to do it about four times per year!) We provide the food and drinks. You get them ready (10 minutes, usually before service begins), carry them upstairs (10 minutes near the end of service), and then carry the empty plates back down to wash them (10 minutes). It’s a great opportunity for families to volunteer together. We will show you everything you need to know. Please contact Laura at 859-358-0106 (text or call) or joyfulsunflower@gmail.com or find her after service. Thank you SO much for your willingness to be the church for each other.
Scribes to help our Pastor. You may see a member of the Pastoral Relations Board standing near the pastor as he greets folks on their way out of the worship service. These are scribes—their job is to note important conversations and details the pastor might forget in the activity.
Learn 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, are invited to come to the Classroom, past the office at the end of the hall, and join in conversation with the Community Life and Growth Board after worship.
Union Church seeks a nursery worker! If you are 18+, love kids (especially the 0-5 age group) and are available on Sunday mornings, this might be a great opportunity for you. Nursery staff earn $12 / hour and must complete a background check and our free Safe Sanctuaries training. Interested? Contact Laura Nagle (859-358-0106 or joyfulsunflower@gmail.com) for more information.
Directory Printing mid-week! Events conspired… need a couple more days. I’ve discovered several outdated email addresses. If you do NOT get Monday Announcements form the office, we may not have your correct address. Send a new photo and any updates to your information to office@union-church.org.
If you’ve ever wanted to try handbells, summer is a great time! You don’t need to know how to read music. Come up to the bell table during the offering and we will teach you!!
Several in the church have asked if it is possible to write to either Jack or Pearl Marshall while they are incarcerated at the Madison County Detention Center. The best way is a new electronic email system available to prisoners. Cost of a message is $0.50 and requires that you register at https://www.smartjailmail.com. Select the Madison County Detention Center from the list, then search for “John Marshall” and “Pearl Marshall” and a request to open messaging will be sent to them. Once they accept you may send emails, photos, and (if available) limited video chat. You must buy a minimum $5 of message credits, but you can transfer a credit so Jack or Pearl can write back without incurring additional fees on their end.
We need a Worship Leader for August 11, and on into the fall. Sign up at the church website, union-church.org and click “Volunteer.”
Quilt Raffle! Check out the two beautiful children’s quilts in the back of sanctuary hand stitched by Jo Wernegreen. Raffle proceeds will benefit Samuel’s Kids. Buy tickets after worship – $2 each or 6 for $10 – today in the vestibule!
Share your Music Sunday August 11. Please contact Music Director, Bernardo Scarambone at Bernardo.Scarambone@eku.edu if you’d like to participate.
Take me out to the ballpark!  The Thrivent Member Network – Mid-America Region invites you to join us on Saturday, July 27, at the Lexington Legends Faith & Family Night. We’d love to host you as our guest for a meal, a Thrivent Action Team benefiting Habitat for Humanity in Central Kentucky, networking with Thrivent members and friends, and a great game all on the Pepsi Party Deck. Plus, stay after the game for a concert with I Am They.
What: Lexington Legends Faith & Family Night
Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark Pepsi Party Deck, 207 Legends Lane, Lexington, Kentucky
When: July 27, 2019, 5:30 p.m.
Bulletin Cover Martha and Mary by HeQi