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

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

June 12, 2016 10:30 am

Meditation
“It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.”
― Vincent van Gogh

From there to Here

Welcome & Announcements Pastors and Dr. Lyle Roelofs, President of Berea College
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  Prelude and Fugue in F Major, BWV. 556 J.S. Bach
*  Call to Worship  
One: Thanks be to God that we have risen this day,
All: To the rising of this life itself.
One: May the purpose of God be between us and each purpose,
All: The hand of God between us and each hand,
One: The pain of Christ between us and each pain,
All: The love of Christ between us and each love.
One: May God, who brought us to the bright light of this new day
All: Bring us to the guiding light of eternity. In our worship, in our work, in our praise! 
*  Opening Hymn #546 Jesus, Lover of My Soul Martyn
*  Prayer of Approach  
*  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 It Is Good Natalie Sleeth Union Church Summer Choir
It is good to give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, for the bountiful blessings that all can see. It is good to sing praise to Thy name, O Lord, to declare to the people Thy steadfast love. For Thou, O Lord, with a mighty hand hath blessed Thy creatures through the land, now let hymns and anthems in chorus sound, to re-echo all around: it is good to rejoice and be glad, O Lord, and to tell of Thy glory forevermore.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Psalm 5:1-8
Children’s Moment 
As the children return to their seats or move to children’s church, 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 visit 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 & under, care is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Community Room.
*  Hymn #549 Bless God, O My Soul      Spring Woods
Lesson from Acts         Acts 17:28
Sermon        Move, Immovable, Moved      Rev. Gail Elizabeth Bowman

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   Morning Song           W. Smith
*  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.
Those Lighting the Way Dr. Andrew Hamilton, ‘96
Today we remember those who have died from the classes of ‘46, ‘51, ‘56, ‘61, ‘66, ‘71, ‘76, ‘81,  and ‘86. Their names can be found on the end pages of the bulletin. May they rest in peace and in power.
Silent Prayers and Prayers for 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 Let Us Build Beach Spring
Written by Dr. Edwin Broadhead, Professor of General Studies, 2013
Let us build a new community, Let us build it for the Lord.
Let us call this place Berea, where the people heard God’s word.
From the mountains, from the cities, call them to this pleasant ridge,
Where the cause of Christ is honored, and all peoples share one blood.
 
In the midst of war and turmoil, Let us sow the future’s seed.
Let us nurture with our life’s blood, this our hope our sacred dream.
In the night we pray for guidance, in the storm we pray for strength.
God of mercy, bless our labors, and the harvest it shall bring.
 
May the chimes that ring each morning, Call us to a bright new day.
May our labor and our learning be the lamp that lights our way.
When those chimes shall toll the evening, calling all God’s children home,
Let us gather at your table, let us hear you say, “Well done!”
 
May the ones who come behind us, Take the mantle we lay down.
Generations still arising to obey the Gospel call.
From the mountains, from the cities, call them to this pleasant ridge,
Let us build a new community, Let us build it for our God.
* 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) 10 Pieces pour orgue, IV. Tocatta E. Gigout
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 Botswana and Zimbabwe and our brothers and sisters at First Baptist Church at Middletown in your hearts, and pray for them.
Please also hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week:
¨ Refugee families and individuals seeking shelter and safety, and all who are working to provide it: May God magnify our efforts.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound:  Edith Hansen, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin, Gloria VanWinkle
¨ Terry Confer, facing surgery and treatment for cancer
¨ Kelly Ambrose and family
¨ Michelle Hayden’s mother, being cared for by hospice
¨ Judy Rowell, recovering well from successful surgery for gum cancer
¨ Toby Wilcher, recovering from broken bones at home, and for Shane Wilcher
¨ Kim Claytor and family at the death of her father, Jim Crase
¨ The family of Anne Weatherford, who died June 7, in North Carolina
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.
Join the church today! 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! New members are received every second Sunday of a month. YOU are welcome here!
Lemonade on the Porch after worship! Stay for a few minutes after worship and share fellowship, welcome visitors, enjoy the beautiful weather! If you can bring snacks to accompany the lemonade, there is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board. Please sign-up if you can help! Many thanks from the CL&G Board.
A special welcome to Berea College Summer Reunion friends! Once again we welcome alumni and alumnae from around the world to Sunday worship!
Rescheduled: Hymn Sing June 26, 4:00 pm Cowan Chapel.
Friends, our evenings have quieted down for the summer — if your meeting, group, or activity is taking a break, please let us know in the office so we can be sure to lock up. Thanks.
 
 
Summer Music Opportunities
Choir: June 12, 19 & July 3, 10, 17 – 9:15 am Adults and youth are welcome to participate in Summer Choir. No commitment is expected.  Just show up for rehearsal at 9:15am in the Sanctuary on the days you wish to participate.
We will learn an anthem, which will then be shared as part of the 10:30am worship service that morning. We will rehearse and offer our anthems from the sanctuary floor so that this opportunity is accessible to all.
Handbells: June 12 & 19 and July 3, 10, & 17 – 10:00 am On each of these Sundays, anyone interested in ringing along with one of the hymns is welcome to join us in the sanctuary to rehearse.  We will read from chord charts instead of a musical score so that this opportunity may be enjoyed by ringers with any or no music reading experience!
Volunteers needed: Volunteers at the Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center [BRCC] use their talents, interests and passion to advocate for and support victims of sexual violence. We are a committed community network of individuals striving to put an end to all violence; through service, education and intervention we work to show survivors that they are not alone.  You can make a difference. To find out how to get involved you can call 859-625-0213, email our Regional Coordinator, Emily McKenzie (emily.mckenzie @bluegrass rapecrisis.org) or visit www.bluegrass rapecrisis.org