A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Trinity Sunday 10:30 am
Meditation
“The secret of grace is not in moving, or in stillness. It is in knowing that each moment is entirely itself and not a step along the way to someplace else.” ~ Brian Andreas
From There to Here: We Gather
Welcome
Welcome to this service of worship! Please sign in using the pew folder, pass-ing 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! During the service, you are invited to rise in body or in spirit, standing or sitting, at points in the service marked “<>.”
¨ The Call Deb Beishline, Reader
One: Please join me as we center in worship and gather with God.
All: We gather in Holy Love:
One: God the Beginning and End, beyond all Names, giver of all that is love and hope, maker of life in all its complex diversity–
All: With joy, we raise our praise! We gather in Wisdom and Word:
One: Jesus the Christ, lover of outcasts, friend of the poor, life in the midst of death—
All: We come to follow your way! We gather in Storm and Breath:
One: The Holy Spirit building bridges, breaking chains, waking the oppressed and the oppressors, making us one, unseen and unexpected, untameable energy of life—
All: Fire our hearts and our resolve!
One: Holy Trinity, forever One, whose nature is community; sunbounded dance of creation and grace in whom we live and love—
All: Bless and hold us as we worship in spirit and in truth!
¨ Hymn #273 Praise with Joy the World’s Creator Lauda Amnima
1 Praise with joy the world’s creator, God of justice, love and peace, source and end of human knowledge, grace bestowing without cease. Celebrate the Maker’s glory,power to rescue and release.
2 Praise the Christ who feeds the hungry, frees the captive, finds the lost, heals the sick, upsets religion, fearless both of fate and cost. Celebrate Christ’s constant presence – Friend and Stranger, Guest and Host.
3 Praise the Spirit sent among us liberating truth from pride, forging bonds where race or gender, age or nation dare divide. Celebrate the Spirit’s treasure – foolishness none dare deride.
4 Praise the Maker, Christ and Spirit, one God in Community, calling Christians to embody oneness and diversity. Thus the world shall yet believe when shown Christ’s vibrant unity.
¨ Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: Lord, we have come to say we are sorry for the times
when we were angry;
when we wanted our own way;
when we said something that wasn’t true;
when we didn’t play fair;
when we didn’t want to share;
when we were unkind, unhelpful, or selfish;
when we didn’t want to say sorry.
All: Lord, we have come to say we are sorry and to ask you not only to forgive us, but to help us to be honest; to be caring; to be helpful; to be loving; to be forgiving; so that the way we live will show that Jesus lives in us and in all we do. Amen.
~ From: David Clowes, 40 Prayers for All-Age Worship: Prayers for Your Church or Small Group (Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2020).
¨ Words of Assurance
¨ Passing the Peace of Christ
All who come to this sanctuary are welcome companions on the journey of faith. Please turn to those nearest you and greet them with words of peace.
Word and Worship
Special Music Spirit of God, Descend Upon Me arr. Marilynn Ham
Scripture Reading Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
Does not wisdom call and 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 who 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, playing before him always, playing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race.”
~ New Revised Standard Version, updated
Children’s Moment as the children return to their seats we sing:
May God’s blessings 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.
Scripture Reading John 16:12-15
“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.
~ New Revised Standard Version, updated
Sermon A Triple Threat and Blessing Rev. Kent Gilbert
Video Reflection
A chance to take in what we have heard and reflect together.
Living Prayer
Call to Prayer
Ringing 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.
Embodied Prayer
You are invited to reflect and pray at the candle tables. You may also choose to source the essential ingredient of solitude and private prayer, remaining with your own thoughts in your pew.
For reflection: Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit… These words designate the living divine actions we relate to as God moves in and through our lives. Being made in the image of God, actions that mirror these aspects can draw us closer to our spiritual center. Now or in some contemplative time this week, center your thoughts on the ways you create blessing. Is it visual? Do you make food for self or others? Write? Bring music into the world? When creating, when are you most connected to God?
In the same way, in what ways do you participate in the holy acts of redemption, mercy, teaching, even saving? What role do these actions from others play in your life?
And as for Spirit, when and how are most connected to that inner voice that has your best interest (not your ANY interest, but your BEST)? As you make these lists, ask for the strengths of the Three-In-One to hold and guide you. What do you hear? Where will you apply your triple blessing?
Use the space below to list some of the connections you make as you learn, pray and act on this meditation.
Offertory Here’s One trad. Spiritual, arr. M. Hayes
A Chance for Generosity: www.easytithe.com/union
A community of caring relies on support. Your recurring or one-time donation will make a ministry of healing, justice, and teaching available to all in need.
¨ Use your smart phone or computer and go to www.easytithe.com/union. No registration required, but registering once makes future generosity simply entering an amount and a click.
¨ Baskets for checks or cash are located at the head of each aisle for those who wish to make an in-person donation.
¨ Give by Text. Text an amount to 859-448-3403 (Example: Text “$50.00 Offering”).
¨ Give by Mail to: 200 Prospect St., Berea, KY 40403.
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
¨ Doxology Gathered Here in the Mystery of This Hour Phil Porter
Silent Prayer and Prayers Community Deb Beishline, Reader
Gracious God, may your holy wisdom attend our every moment. When we seek her in truth and depth, may we find her and follow her precepts that we might prosper your good work in our midst. We are not always smart, and not always loving, so with Creator, Christ, and holy spirit help us that our character might deepen and our love increase.
Our effort; your grace, and holy wisdom. May this trinity of purpose be always in the center of our circles of care. This we pray in the way Jesus taught us, reaching to you as…
Our Lord’s Prayer
Our Maker, Our Mother, and Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; Thy kin-dom 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 kin-dom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
¨ Hymn Source and Sovereign, Rock and Cloud Aberystwyth
~Reprinted with permission using OneLicense #A-723786
From Here to There
Community Connections
Announcements
We share opportunities for Beloved Community and ways to serve. Please see the listing of church & community events, prayers, and notices in the pages following the service.
Lighting the Justice Candle to Lead us Forth
Today we are honoring Rhoda Jones, who was one of the many little known heroes of the Underground Railroad. She was a resident of Africa, a settlement of free African Americans near the town of Ripley, Ohio. The community itself was known for its involvement in assisting slaves to escape to freedom in the north. It is important for us to remember the personal danger that being a part of the Underground Railroad entailed.
Even in the north, it was illegal to hide a person and assist in their escape, just like today it is illegal to hide an undocumented person in order to prevent their deportation. Rhoda was part of a vast system that depended on trust, coordination, and secrecy. The Underground Railroad formed a part of the resistance to slavery which eventually led to a redefinition in this country of humanity and freedom.
The Joy of Welcoming New Members
Partnership & Purpose
Today presents an opportunity to covenant together! All who would like to are welcome to join the church family – you will be received in joy.
Questions of the Congregation and New Members
¨Covenant of Welcome
And we, the members and faithful friends 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.
Blessing the Way
With deep feeling, we commend you to your life and work in other places, taking with you our strong support and sincere prayers.
All: Go forth into the world!
Piano Side: In peace!
Bell Side: In love!
Piano: To teach!
Bell: To learn!
All: Go forth into the world!
Piano: To preach!
Bell: To pray!
Piano: To heal!
Bell: To comfort!
All: Go forth into the world!
Piano: To build!
Bell: To plant!
Piano: To grow!
Bell: To thrive!
”Blessing Song
¨ Benediction
¨ Benediction Response Send Down the Fire M. Haugen
~ Reprinted with permission using OneLicense #A-723786
Our Prayers for Others
¨ 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 (World Council of Churches Ecumenical Prayer cycle: union-church.org/ministries/prayer). Let us hold the people of Botswana and Zimbabwe and our siblings at First Faith Independent Church in our hearts, and pray for them today and throughout the week.
¨ All the people of Ukraine for their safety and sovereignty. Prayers also that the government of Russia will turn to reason & respect for their own peoples’ lives as well as for Ukrainian families.
¨ All those affected by the devastating losses in the current conflict, and starvation of those in Gaza.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Jerry Cooper, Jan Hamilton, Betsy Hoefer, Dorie Hubbard, Susan Kramer, Lois Morgan, Sara Parker, Cheryl Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie, Theresa Scherf.
¨ We pray for our country, and those who are directly affected by the actions and inaction of our govern-ment to address the needs of its people and the world.
¨ Members and Friends who need safer housing and income security.
¨ Rev. Kent’s cousin, Kathy, undergoing chemotherapy for esophageal cancer, and her mother, Helen, who is Rev. Carla’s sister.
¨ Kelly Mehler, responding very well to treatment for his lymphoma.
¨ Barb Taylor’s son, David, undergoing treatment for prostate cancer
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ Laurie White’s mom, Skippy, facing a long and painful recovery from spine surgery.
¨ Dave Reilly’s nephew, Herb Post, ill with kidney cancer that has spread to his lung.
¨ Rev. Christina Ryan Perkins due to have complex jugular vein surgery next week. Please hold her in your prayers!
¨ Claudia Munson-Scrumpf has two friends with serious health concerns and asks for prayers.
¨ On this Father’s Day, for all those who have loved us as fathers should and stewarded our lives in loving ways; and prayers for all whom this is a difficult day of remembrance or pain. May love and healing supplant all grief.
¨ The Rutledge and Lockwood family in the death of Elaine Rutledge, Tuesday, June 10. Elaine was the wife of Steve Rutledge and died in hospice care in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Memorial arrangements will be shared at a later time, but our prayers rise for comfort and peace in their loss.
¨ Steve and Teresa Gowler in their move to their new home in Louisville .
¨ Charlie Hoffman, with cardiac issues.
¨ Jerry Cooper, struggling with continuing health issues, at home at Morningpointe.
¨ Rev. Carla Gilbert, preparing for gastric surgery.
¨ Congratulations, Jess Burton and Jacob Graber, at the birth of their second daughter. Lila is a big sister!
¨ Welcome to the world, Ransom Hager Gravitt! Congratulations to Mom Carlie Hager, Dad Spencer Gravitt, and grandma Tennant Kirk!
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: June 19 – Charles Hoffman, Nicki Rosen; 20 – Dave Kobersmith; 21 – Deborah Thompson; 22 – Alida Schuyler
Anniversaries: June 20 – Sune & Barbara Frederiksen
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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