A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost July 5 2015, 10:30 am
Meditation
“The weakest among us has a gift, however seemingly trivial, which is peculiar to him, and which worthily used, will be a gift to this race forever.” —John Ruskin (1819-1900)
From there to here
Prelude God of Our Fathers (National Hymn) C. Seal
* Call to Worship
One: Friends, we dwell on God’s faithful Love.
All: That is the temple of God’s choosing.
One: Not money, not power, not color of skin, not years in this building, not degrees with letters, not flags, nor fireworks are our strength.
All: Our strength is God’s love, our hope is God’s mercy, our work is the care of God’s people and praise for the living God.
One: Let us worship in spirit and in truth!
* Opening Hymn #459 Come, O Fount Nettleton
* Prayer of Approach & Confession (unison)
God of all the people, we confess we have only loved some of the people rightly. Whether in our own relations, or as a nation, structurally we have failed our best ideals and broken covenant with them and, by doing so, with you. We confess too much complacency in the face of injustice. We confess a readiness for confrontation and a preference for anxiety. Forgive us. Help us. Help our nation be a light on the hill of freedom and justice for all. Help your people be founts of your mercy, justice, and love. In Christ’s name, we beg: 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 A Joyful Song R. Leaf
A joyful song we sing to the Lord, all glory and praise to the risen King. Let all who will serve him rejoice and sing their praises to God: alleluia, praise to the Lord. Praise we sing to honor the King. Together with music our praise we bring. O raise your voice with praise to the Lord, let all of his children be glad and sing. Rejoice, the victory is won, the King has risen, God’s holy son! A joyful song we sing to the Lord, let all who will serve him now sing a joyful song.
Epistle Lesson 2 Corinthians 12:2-10
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 6:1-13
Sermon Vital Weakness 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 Larghetto, from Organ Concerto No. 5 G.F. Handel
* Doxology Avery/Marsh
Sharing God’s love in Communion
* Invitation to Communion
One: God be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Take courage from God’s mercy and power.
All: We trust in God’s healing grace.
One: Let us give thanks for all that God is doing.
All: We would love what God loves and sing the praise of Jesus!
One: As we come to this table, we are reminded that this is not the table of this congregation, nor is it the table of any particular denomination. It is the table of Jesus Christ, the family feast of the whole people of God.
One: All who seek to be nourished and sustained in the journey of faith, and long to live justly and in peace with their neighbor, are welcome here. You needn’t bring anything with you: not staff, money, cloak, nor provisions. So come weak and strong, churched and not sure. Come not because you must, but come because you may. Let us eat and drink together for our strengthening in the faith, and for the sake of the world.
One: Here is bread for the journey. Here is the cup of purpose and hope. Come all who will: come for self and come for others. Come and let us make ready to be called and sent.
Communion Hymn Diverse in Color, Nation, Race Tallis’ Canon
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
Communion Prayer and Words of Institution adapted from United Church of Canada liturgy
One: Thanks and praise be to you, O God, for you create life out of the dust and create community even from calamity. We thank you that you are present to direct and guide, to renew and revive. We praise you for sending us Jesus, your Suffering Servant, to walk before us the way of the cross, to turn us to you and to one another. Therefore, we join your long procession of pilgrims praising you along the way:
Communion Sanctus please join in singing:
Words of Institution
One: Mighty and tender God, in Jesus of Nazareth we recognize the fullness of your grace: light, life and love, revealed:
All: in words that confront and comfort us, in teachings that challenge and change us, in compassion that heals and frees us.
One: And now we gather at this table to remember and to be filled with such longing for your realm, that we may rise together to turn our worship into witness and to follow in your way.
One: We remember that when Jesus ate with his friends, he took a loaf of bread and, after blessing it, he broke it and gave it to them, saying,
All: “Take, eat. This is my body, given for you. Each time you do this, remember me.”
One: Then he took a cup and, after giving thanks, passed it to his friends, saying:
All: “Drink. This cup that is poured out for you is the promise of God, made in my blood. Whenever you drink it, remember me.”
One: Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us that this meal may be our communion in the body of Christ. Unite us in faith, encourage us with hope, inspire us to love, that we may serve you with the testimony of our lives.
Serving One Another
All who seek the love of God are welcome at this meal and are invited to freely receive from it. By tradition, unfermented grape juice is used in the cup on Sunday mornings. Children and youth are welcome to partake We will share the elements today by intinction, dipping the bread in the cup. Please allow yourself to be served by the one preceding you as the bread and cup is passed down the row, partaking yourself before passing the elements to the next. If it is not your tradition to receive, you are invited to join in prayers for the unity of the Spirit within your tradition as you pass the elements to the next person.
Blessing for Those Who Will Receive at Home
Members who have been designated to carry communion to those who could not be with us this morning are invited forward at this time. The elements from our meal will go with our blessing and prayers for our continued unity in the Spirit. If you would like serve by taking communion to others, you are very welcome to do so and are invited to volunteer with the Nurture and Care Board members or by contacting the pastors
Prayer of Thanksgiving (unison)
One: God, you feed us and send us, little prepared yet abundantly blessed. Thank you for strengthening us to knit together that which has been frayed. By this meal and every meal where your healing intention is remembered, we are with Christ.
All: We hope that by remembering him, his mission, his love, his acts, that our abilities might be turned to healing life, and that our communities might be remade in the image of your wholeness.
One: Thank you for this holy day and all your people. They are all your holy vessels. Keep us mindful of those who suffer, and help us do something about it. May the bread we break all week help put your world back together until we reach that day when none shall need or hurt or want for justice. In Christ’s name we pray: Amen.
From Here to There
* Closing Hymn #306 The Church of Christ, in Every Age Wareham
* Benediction & Sending Forth
Postlude (please be seated) The Heavens Declare God’s Glory B. Marcello
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* 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 Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay and our brothers and sisters at Crossroads Fellowship 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.
* 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 these friends and family who are in need of support: Sheri Gravel whose brain cancer has returned this week; for Diane Barber (dear friend of the family) with stage 4 pancreatic cancer and for her husband and 12 yr old daughter. For Muse’s 90 yr old aunt Lib, in New Orleans, and for Cole, Sophie’s lifelong friend who is gravely ill.
* 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, who is in ICU following surgery for a perforated ulcer. He is having a very difficult time with post-surgical medication as well.
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.
Our own Bob Shaffer will speak on fracking at the Whippoorwill Festival on Friday, July 10, at 6:45 pm. Visit www.whippoorwilfest.com for details.
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. Also, there will be a community choir! If you, or another singer you know, would like to join in, rehearsal is Thursday, July 9 at 7:00 pm, Woodland Christian Church, 530 East High St., Lexington.
Summer Choir – No Robes ~ No Stairs ~ No Commitment! Sundays: July 12 & 26, 9:15 am , Sanctuary. Adults and youth are welcome to participate in Summer Choir for any or all of the Sundays we sing. No commitment is expected. Just show up for rehearsal at 9:15 on the days you wish to participate.
We will rehearse a new anthem each of these Sundays 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 on Wednesday, July 15th from 1:00pm-3:00pm at the Madison County Public Library located at 507 West Main Street, Richmond. Registration is required; please call 1-800-272-3900.
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.
Free Lunch at the Public Library through August 11!! Monday—Saturday 12—1 for those 18 years old & under. Super Snack Sundays from 1-2 pm, all ages. No sign up required, just come and eat!
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.
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