Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the

Church of Christ, Union

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

June 19, 2016 10:30 am

Meditation
It may be when we no longer know what to do, We have come to our real work, And that when we no longer know which way to go, We have begun our real journey.
― Wendell Berry

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  Reflection (in honor of the Orlando shooting) M. Haynes
* Call to Worship
One: We gather as your people, O God, remembering your promise that despite despair, or terror, or loss, or heartache,
All: In You there is no slave or free, Jew or Greek, male or female, but all are one in Love.
One: We remember in the midst of political divisions, world crises, and religious discrepancies, a greater truth remains:
All: In You there is no slave or free, Jew or Greek, male or female, but all are one in Love.
One: Let us then join our hearts and voices together, seeking you as Father and Mother, Challenger and Comforter, Friend and Savior, for
All: In You there is no slave or free, Jew or Greek, male or female, but all are one in Love.
One: Come, let us worship together, united in that love.
*  Opening Hymn  This Is My Father’s World (opposite) Terra Beata
*  Prayer of Confession
All:       We come seeking God in mighty earthquakes. We come listening for God in resounding thunder. We come expecting God in sweeping victories.
One: Yet God is found in a baby’s touch. Yet God speaks in silence. Yet God is found in the least of these.
All: Save us, O God, from our aimless wandering. Save us, O God, from our idols. Save us, O God, from our self-induced chaos.
One: God, in your mercy,
All: Hear our prayer.
One: Amen. – written by Katherine Hawker
*  Assurance of Pardon
One: Hear the good news of God’s love for us; not in the earthquake, not in the storms, not in the mighty deeds but in the silence, in the gentle touch, in the quiet rain God says, again, “You are my Beloved. I love you.”
*  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 O Praise the Lord! Lloyd Larson
Union Church Summer Choir
O praise the Lord, all ye nations! Praise Him all ye people of the earth! O praise the Lord, sing out His praises! For His love is great toward us. Praise Him for His goodness and His mercy; Praise Him for a love that knows no ending; Let us sing His glory; Come, lift your voices to the King! O praise the Lord, all ye nations! Praise Him for the gift of love and compassion; Praise Him for the peace that only love can bring; Thank Him for the joy of our salvation. Come, lift your voices, let them ring!
Hebrew Scripture Lesson 1 Kings 19:1-15a
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.
Gospel Lesson         Luke 8:26-39
Sermon        Life Among the Tombs Rev. Rachel Small Stokes
Hymn of Response #176     Silence! Frenzied, Unclean Spirit Authority

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 Song of Joy T. 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.
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

* Closing Hymn #502 Dear God, Embracing Humankind rest
*  Benediction & Sending Forth
Postlude (please  be  seated) Suite on Afro-American Tunes C. Callahan

1. Fanfare on McKee

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 Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland and our brothers and sisters at New Liberty Baptist Church in your hearts, and pray for them.
Please also hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week:
¨ victims of the shooting at Pulse Club in Orlando, and all who are reeling in the aftermath of violence
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
¨ Whitney and Josh Owens-Park, at the birth of Elisha!
¨ 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 at home!
¨ 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
Next week Fourth Sunday New Membership Info: 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 who have not been able to participate in a previous meeting, are invited to come to the classroom two doors past the church after lunch for conversation with the Pastors and the Community Life and Growth Board.
New members will be received each Second Sunday of the month at the close of worship.  Next chance: July 10!
Come Be a Wild Goose! Rev. Rachel is organizing a trip to the Wild Goose Festival in Hot Springs, NC, next month.  It’s a festival of progressives gathering to think, talk, and worship God in a campground setting.  The dates are July 7-10. We will carpool the 5 hour drive to the location near Asheville.  Jim Wallis, author of America’s Original Sin, will be speaking as well as famed theologians Brian McLaren, Shane Claiborne, Emilie Townes, and Matthew Fox.  Musical guests include the Indigo Girls, Dar Williams, Ken Medema, and Christian rapper J.Kwest.  This is a festival for all ages, kids through seniors, and there are varying ticket prices for different groups.  Check here for those: http://wildgoosefestival.org/tickets/. You can also volunteer to get in free! Check out more info at http://wildgoosefestival.org/, and contact Rev. Rachel if you’re interested. rsmallstokes@union-church.org.
Summer Music Opportunities
Choir: June 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 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!