A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Trinity Sunday 10:30 am
Meditation
Take the time to pray, it is the sweet oil that eases the hinge into the garden so the doorway can swing open easily. You can always go there. –Lynn Park, excerpt from “Poems After Rumi“
From There to Here: We Gather
Welcoming Remarks Dr. Lyle Roelofs, Berea College President
¨ The Call
One: Do you hear the call of wisdom?
All: We listen for her call with open hearts
One: Wisdom stands on the heights and beside the way
All: We meet wisdom at the crossroads
One: Wisdom was brought forth before the mountains had been shaped
All: We see wisdom woven into all creation
One: Wisdom witnessed the establishing of the heavens and the face of the deep
All: We rejoice, with wisdom, in the inhabited world
¨ Hymn #427 Black God Made from One Blood Rhosymedre
1.God made from one blood all the families of Earth. The circles of nurture that raised us from birth. Companions who join us to walk through each stage, of childhood and youth, adulthood and age.
2. We turn to you, God, with our thanks and our tears. For all of the families we’ve known through the years. The intimate networks on whom we depend, of parents and partners and children and friends.
3. With families we’ve tasted the value of trust, and felt what it means to be loving and just. Yet, families have also betrayed their best goals, mistreating their members and bruising their soul
4. Help families in all of their various forms to face with integrity struggles and storms; grant peace to our homes that will nurture the budof peace from the families you made from one blood.
¨ Passing the Peace
Building the Community: News that Connects Us
Announcements
Lighting the Justice Candle
We are thinking today of the tragedy of continued school shootings. We remember the children and teachers who lost their lives – recently and over the past many years -and their families who mourn their loss every day. May our legislators be moved to pass sensible gun control. We want to honor the bravery of the teachers and school staff who risk their lives to save children. We light this candle to day to honor all the teachers in our congregation and local community at Berea Community School, Madison County Schools, Berea College, Eastern Kentucky University, and the University of Kentucky.
Word And Worship
¨ Special Music What Love Demands Mark Hayes
Dedicated to the public health workers, medical personnel, chaplains, and front-line essential workers who answered love’s demands in a time of national pandemic. Dedicated to them by the people of Union Church, Berea, KY, in memory of Mr. Tom Warth, Dr. Richard and Ms. Judy Drake, and Ms. Mary Lou and Dr. Lester Pross.
2nd time through the Chorus—please sing “we” for “I,” and “our” for “my.”
1. What does it mean to love my neighbor? How can I live in harmony? Are you my brother or are you just another? When I look in your eyes, who do I see? I see you’re made in the image of God, uniquely gifted with the right to be loved. Neighbor or stranger, how may I serve you? What does love demand?
Chorus: Love is listening with heartfelt compassion, holding the lonely, wiping a tear. Love demands that I live in the moment to live in the question when the answer’s unclear. Love demands I seek what unites us releasing fear and whatever divides us. With God as my strength I will be the change I want to see. For that’s what love, that’s what love demands.
2. What can we do to stand for justice? What can we do so all are free? What can we do to end oppression, so all have the same opportunity? We will be God’s hands and welcoming arms. We’ll keep you safe from danger and harm. Homeless or helpless, how may we serve you? What does love demand? Love demands we do what we can. Take a stand. Lend a hand. Chorus
Gospel Lesson John 16:12-15 Sherry McCulley Hall, Reader
‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.’
Children’s Moment Grace McKenzie, ‘08
Please join in singing as we bless children everywhere:
May God’s blessing 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.
Please note that Union Church services are livestreamed, including the Children’s Moment. A “no camera zone” is at the back of the balcony, behind the AV booth.
Lesson from Proverbs Proverbs 8:1-4,22-31 Olivia Jacobs, Reader
Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out: ‘To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live. The Lord created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.
Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth-when he had not yet made earth and fields, or the world’s first bits of soil. When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master worker, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race.
Sermon E.J. Stokes, ’08
Living Prayer
Call to Prayer and Offering
Ringing of the Peace Bell Sherry McCulley Hall
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.
Offering Music Celtic Farewell L. Lamb Pearl Marshall, handbells
A Chance for Generosity: www.easytithe.com/union 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 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”)
You can also use US mail! Mail to: 200 Prospect St., Berea, KY 40403
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Community Prayer Sherry McCulley-Hall, Reader
Wisdom calls. The Spirit of Truth comes. May we have ears to hear and hearts to discern. May we draw from the wisdom and truth that are woven into the fabric of being and may our actions reflect the spirit of each. May we walk with this spirit, delight in it daily, and rejoice in all creation, always remembering the words we’ve been taught…
Our Lord’s Prayer
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 #28 For the Beauty of the Earth Dix
¨ Benediction
Postlude (you are welcome to be seated and enjoy the Postlude)
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 & sisters at Blue Lick Missionary Baptist Church in our hearts, and pray for them. Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week.
¨ Those affected by the Covid-19 virus, their families and friends living with fear, anxiety, and feelings of isolation, may God bring peace to all who love them; and our wider community as we cope with the new realities of living, including the now 16,000 Kentucky residents, and 281 Madison County residents, who have died to date from Covid-19.
Prayers for all the people of Ukraine for their safety and sovereignty, and
¨ especially those in the city of Nikolaev where the family of former Berea International student daughter of Kevin and Carla, Yulia live. Prayers also that the government of Russia will turn to reason & respect for their own peoples’ lives as well as for Ukrainian families.
¨ Ukrainian Refugees and Afghani Refugees
¨ All those seeking a new and just society and those fearful that they will be supplanted, may God open their hearts and include them in grace.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Alva Peloquin, Loyal Jones, Lois Morgan, Jan Hamilton, Laura Robie, Dorie Hubbard, Betty Wray, Sally Zimmerman
¨ Families and Friends in Crises…may God be present to every need and heal every rift and wound and those who care for them.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon.
¨ Sharona Nelson, facing a long recovery after surgery to repair a broken shoulder.
¨ Charlie Hoffman’s uncle, Richard Merrill, diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
¨ Hazel Morris, being treated for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
¨ John and Cheryl Payne, missing each other and under the weather.
¨ Raymond Binkley, Betty Wray’s brother, aged 94, and in ill health.
¨ Tina Parker’s dad, Opal and Iris’ grandfather, Tom Parker, recovering from a stroke.
¨ Truman Fields, at the death of his brother.
¨ David Duffee, recovering from surgery.
¨ Berea College alumni, families & friends joining us from far and wide! What a joy to be in worship together this morning!
¨ Important dates—if we haven’t got yours, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
Birthdays: Today, June 12 – Patti Smithson; 13 – Gene Chao; 14 – Teresa Gowler; 15 – Kelly Anderson; 19 – BJ Godby, Charles Hoffman
Announcements
Children are welcome in the service, or you can stay with them in the nursery
· There will be a nursery assistant available in the nursery space to provide support for families who are supervising their own children there,
· The nursery and playground will be open for families to use if you supervise your own children,
· There will be a device for listening/watching the service in the nursery,
· We anticipate adding full nursery services once under 5s can be vaccinated,
· The children’s Worship Center in the back of the sanctuary will have activities for our youngest members
· Please note that Union Church services are livestreamed, including the Children’s Moment. A “no camera zone” is at the back of the balcony, behind the AV booth.
Today! Berea College’s Summer Reunion
After a couple-year hiatus due to Covid, we’re pleased to welcome several Berea College alumni, and Berea College president Lyle Roelofs, as they join our Union Church worship service participants in leading & guiding our service this morning!
Next Week: new members welcomed!
As a family of faith committed to boldly and creatively embodying the life and ministry of Jesus, we would like to join with YOU. We’d like to be a context and inspiration for your own spiritual path, and work with you to make your heart, your world, your life more peace-filled and joy-full.
Next Sunday there will be an opportunity to covenant together — whether you are a member of the community who worships online, in-person, or both! No prior action on your part is required, but if you have any questions at all, we’d like to help. Working together, we want to make God’s love visible and real to all.
Invitation to join Discussion Group
The current Public Affairs Discussion group is seeking to widen participation in ongoing stimulating conversations about timely subjects. We want to continue the tradition of respectful exchange of ideas using material provided by informed experts on global matters.
During the summer, we are revaluating how the group works: how often to meet, format, choice of material, and scope. We will meet on the second Tuesday for the next few months, and explore various resources that could be used as reference material, including some television broadcasts, recent magazine articles, C-Span and free web-based courses.
We hope to have a plan by fall that expands membership while retaining the original intent of providing information, thoughtful exchange of ideas, and safe environment to discuss important issues of the day.
The next meeting is June 14, at 10:00 am in the Union Church Wayside Room. We will discuss the most recent broadcasts of GPS (Global Public Square) with Fareed Zakaria, which airs on CNN each Sunday at 10:00 am. Please join us.
Lemonade on the Porch
The Community Life and Growth Board is looking for volunteers to assist in our weekly Lemonade on the Porch after our morning worship running through the summer. If you can help on a particular Sunday this summer, please go to our News page at union-church.org/news and click on the form labeled Volunteers for Lemonade on the Porch. We need folks to help with set up and take down as well as people to donate snack items like cookies or other kinds of snacks.
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