Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the

Church of Christ, Union

Second Sunday after Pentecost

June 18, 2017             10:30 am 

 
Meditation  
“To replace the old paradigm of war with a new paradigm of waging peace, we must be pioneers who can push the boundaries of human understanding.  We must be doctors who can cure the virus of violence.  We must be soldiers of peace who can do more than preach to the choir.  And we must be artists who will make the world our masterpiece.”
                                                                                                                               —Paul Chappel

From there to Here

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     This Is My Father’s World      M. Thewes
¨  Call to Worship
One:     Gather round, children of God! For you are about to hear of marvelous deeds!
All:      We are the sons and daughters of Abraham, of Sarah, and of Hagar. We gather to hear the stories of our ancestors in faith.
One:     Come and hear! God fills the doubting with laughter.
All:      May today’s laughter lead to tomorrow’s faith.
One:     We gather learn trust in what God can do. In the guise of the stranger, in the face of the impossible, in the sanctity of compassion:
All:      We welcome God who comes to us as Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit. Let us worship together!
                            —adapted from the Rev. Leah Fowler
¨  Opening Hymn #20        God of Abraham and Sarah    Constantine
¨  Prayer of Approach and Confession (unison)
Of all the ways we have been fools, we regret the foolishness of seeing only ourselves, and not the graces or gifts others bring us. We have stayed shut up in our tents of plenty; we have overlooked those who challenge us; we have laughed in the face of forgiveness and new life.
Forgive us, Holy Mercy, for the times we kept our eyes shut and sat on our hands. Open our hearts as we open our minds to new possibilities, and grant us the courage to start again. We are saved and sent by you and we ask your help.
¨ Words of Assurance
One:     God’s love is fresh and new in every moment. We need only turn to find God standing close ready to receive and give power to transformation. By such love we are forgiven.
All:      God’s faithfulness is endless and forever. Amen!
¨  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 joy.  

The Living Word among us

Anthem    Peace Go with You     J. Parker, D. Nolan
                  Union Church Summer Choir
May the peace of the Lord bring joy. May the peace of the Lord bring love. May the peace of the Lord bring comfort. May the peace of the Lord bring hope. May the peace of the Lord bring rest. May the peace of the Lord bring Life. May the peace of the Lord surround you. May the peace of the Lord go with you. Amen.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson                       Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7
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 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.
Gospel Lesson                  Matthew 9:35-10:23
Sermon     Keeping the Peace      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                          This Our Song of Praise         W. Stickles
¨  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.
Silent Prayer and Prayers of 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

¨  Closing Hymn #535        O Holy God, Whose Gracious Power Welwyn
¨  Benediction & Sending Forth
   Postlude    Psalm 19         B. Marcello
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 Malawi and Zambia and our brothers and sisters at West Side 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.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound:  Ruth Butwell, Edith Hansen, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin, Gloria VanWinkle.
¨ Mary Nash, recovering at home from recent illness.
¨ BJ Godby, in the loss of her mother.
¨ Susan Pross Kramer, recovering at home from knee replacement.
¨ Laura Robie, recovering at home from a shoulder replacement.
¨ Loretta Mountjoy, struggling with several health issues.
¨ Elizabeth Barrett
¨ Families in difficulty
¨ Travel mercies for members & friends here and abroad 
¨ For fathers who have been blessings to their children, and for all for whom “father” is a difficult word today.
Announcements
Lunch next week after worship! Betsy Whaley’s friend of 30 years, Ladda Tipkunta Reed, helped to found a children’s home in northern Thailand, Im Jai House.  She lives in the United States now and continues to serve as an ambassador and fundraiser for them.  Stay for a lunch of some not-so-spicy Thai dishes and hear a detailed presentation about Im Jai House.  Folks who attend will have an opportunity to give to support Im Jai and consider sponsoring a child or 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, as well as new members, are invited to come to the Classroom two doors past the church after worship for conversation with the Pastor and the Community Life and Growth Board.
Last chance for Directory changes — if you’ve been planning to make a change but hadn’t gotten around to it yet – our copier woes are your good luck – we haven’t printed yet. You still have a chance to submit/change info for the Church Directory. Send to office@union-church.org
Newsletter deadline Tuesday – 3rd Tuesday of the month – got News of the Family, Board events? Send them to the office for inclusion in Consider, Union Church’s monthly newsletter.  office@union-church.org
Summer Sermon Series! In the Beginning: Genesis and the Genetics of Our Faith This summer, we’re going back to the beginning! The Revised Common Lectionary, which is the selection of texts from which we read each week, walks us through the book of Genesis this year, and we’ve decided to focus on the Genesis passages for every sermon and/or children’s talk.
Genesis begins with stories of our creation, and quickly moves into the family history of the Hebrew people.  And just like your family history, it ain’t perfect. (Scandalous romance novels pale in comparison to the stories of Genesis!) But it is a story of God using incredibly flawed people as bearers of light and love. If you’ve never read it, this is the time! Follow along with us as we learn the genetics of our faith.
Our Thursday noon Bible Study will also be digging deep into the book, learning its history and context; come join us if you can!
Suggestion for this week: For God’s covenant with Abraham, read Genesis 17-18:15. For an extensive history of Abram’s Adventures with God, read Genesis 11: 27 – Chapter 21.
Flying Solo June 20, 1:00 pm. Union Church’s Widows’ Group, meets monthly for widows/widowers. If you are interested, you are invited to contact Debbonnaire Kovacs 859-779-0793.  The group meets the third Tuesday of each month, at 1 pm, in the Wayside Room.
Psalm Study June 20, 4:00 pm, Classroom. Please read Psalms 27 and 50. You are welcome to join this study group!
Summer Handbells:
 June 24, 10 am, Choir Room: Handbells for the Curious
June 25: Handbells Ring at Worship – Ringers needed! Warm-up at 9:30.(Rehearsal June 21, 7pm).
Are you our contact person for a group that meets in the building? Please let us know if (or if not) your group will continue through the summer.  We may need to adjust our door-locking-up system as things quiet down a bit. Thanks.
Berea Leadership Experience – A Camp for Building Bridges of Peace and Resolving Conflict.  Registration for The Berea Leadership Experience is open!  It’s a weeklong camp for kids ages 6-13 that is designed to help kids develop skills of transforming conflict into community.
We’re using a curriculum that helps kids learn to build peace through Mindfulness, Connecting with Nature, Media Literacy, and Conflict Resolution.
Berea Leadership Experience will be July 24th-28th, 9am-3pm at the Berea Friends Meeting House. The cost is very low: $75 per student, and up to half of the campers can receive scholarships of $50 to make it even more affordable. Register them here: www.union-church.org/ble
     Questions? Please contact the camp director, Kim Kobersmith kim.kobersmith@gmail.com.
    Thanks for helping this dream come true!
Scribes to help our Pastors. You may see a member of the Pastoral Relations Board standing near the pastors as they greet folks on their way out of the worship service. These are scribes—their job is to note  important conversations and details the pastors  might forget in the activity.
Help Wanted.  We have an ongoing need for volunteers to help with Sunday services.  Can you be a worship reader, greeter, coffee angel, etc.?   For details go to the church website, union-church.org and click on “Volunteer” near the upper right corner (or talk to Doug Hindman).
Bereans in Denmark! This June about 60 dancers and musicians affiliated with The Folk Circle Association will represent Berea at a huge sports and cultural festival in the City of Aalborg in Denmark and at the largest 4th of July celebration outside the USA at the beautiful heather hills of Rebild.
Several participants are well known to the UC family. Al White and the Bluegrass Band are going, together with Emma and Alice White; Deborah Payne; Callie Northern; Howard, Dana and Bryce Carlberg; Deborah Thompson & Frank Jenkins; Barbara and Scottie Frederiksen. Berea College president Lyle Roelofs will join the group for a week. He will be the honorary guest speaker and participate in several selected events. Tour leader and coordinator Sune Frederiksen has worked on this project for two years.  Please bear them in mind during their travels.