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

Seventh Sunday of Easter         June 2, 2019

10:30 am

 
Meditation
I soar and rise
Up to the skies,
Leaving the world their day,
And in my flight,
For the true light
Go seeking all the way.
— Henry Vaughan from Ascension Day

From there to here: we Gather

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 Christ Has Broken Down the Wall Mark Miller
Union Church Choir
Christ has broken down the wall. Let us join our hearts as one. We’re accepted as we are. Through God’s love all is reconciled. Cast aside your doubts and fears. Peace and love, freely offered here. We will tear down the walls! God has called us, one and all.
The Call
We saw his light break through the cloud of glory
Whilst we were rooted still in time and place
As earth became a part of Heaven’s story
And heaven opened to his human face.
We saw him go and yet we were not parted
He took us with him to the heart of things
The heart that broke for all the broken-hearted
Is whole and Heaven-centered now, and sings,
Sings in the strength that rises out of weakness,
Sings through the clouds that veil him from our sight,
Whilst we ourselves become his clouds of witness
And sing the waning darkness into light,
His light in us, and ours in him concealed,
Which all creation waits to see revealed.
-Malcolm Guite, Ascension
¨  Hymn #47 Black  Oh Jesus Christ, Sent from Heaven Westminster Abbey
¨  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 hospitality.

The Living Word among us

Anthem Circle of Life Pepper Choplin
Union Church Choir
A circle goes round and round again. It has no beginning and has no end for it will be spinning eternally. A circle was drawn by God’s hand. Filled with love, it will expand to welcome all who will hear the call to join in love, the circle of love.
God gives love and there’s enough for all who need a holy touch of love and care open hearts can share. God will touch many hearts, make up one from many parts and we will be joined in  love, circle of love. So come together and gather ‘round, share the circle of love we’ve found.
God is the center and God surrounds us with His love, with His holy love. The circle of love goes ‘round again and its power shall never end, for love will be living eternally. Love is strong, love is great. Come together and celebrate and welcome all as we hear the call, to share the love, the circle of love.
Epistle Lesson Ephesians 1:15-23 (p. 1422)
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 the Children’s Moment, children are welcome to return to their seats. The Children’s Worship Center in the back of the sanctuary has toys, books, and drawing materials for children (or parents) who would like help staying present in the service. For children preschool age & under, care is available in the Nursery, downstairs in Room 104 off the playground.
Gospel Lesson Luke 24:44-53 (p. 1276)
Sermon Gettin’ Uppity Rev. Kent Gilbert

Responding to God’s Love in Communion

One: The Lord is here.
All: God’s Spirit is with us.
One: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them to the Lord.
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to offer thanks and praise!
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 city, Hokuto-shi, Japan and is also rung in the hope of peace for all nations.
Silent Prayer and Prayers of the Community
One: It is our great joy to give you thanks and praise, O God, creator and sustainer of  the universe. We give you thanks for sun and sea and sky, for bush and birds, for phases of the moon, for stars at night, and planets in their courses. All you make    is very good, and for all that stirs our life and the life within us,
All: we worship and adore you.
One: We give you thanks for our creation and our calling, for friendship and community, for love and laughter, for tears and pain of growth. For your gift of life and your will to heal and hold us, we praise you,
All: we worship and adore you.
One:   With all who stand before you in earth and heaven, from every culture, land and tongue, we praise you, giving voice to every creature, as we join the never ending hymn:
Words of Institution
One: Blessed are you, most Holy, in Jesus Christ, who came among us as a servant   and a friend. We thank you for that life of love, the good news you bring of unquenchable love, and the promise of a banquet where all your children shall be free. For your gift of Christ we praise you,
All: we worship and adore you.
One: Glory and thanks be to you, almighty God, because on the night before he died, your Son, Jesus the Christ, took bread; when he had given you thanks, he broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said:
All: Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you; do this to remember me.
One: After supper he took the cup; when he had given you thanks, he gave it to them and said:
All: This cup is the new covenant in my blood poured out for you; do this as often as you drink it to remember me.
One: Therefore, loving God, recalling now Christ’s death and resurrection, and remembering all the grace and good news offered to us, we ask you to accept this our sacrifice of praise. Send your Holy Spirit upon us and our celebration, that we may know life wider than our own and show love deepened with divine care. In your presence we are healed.
Adapted from Celebrating Eucharist by Bosco Peters
A Chance for Generosity: Offering Baskets in the Aisles
Offering baskets are placed in the aisle, and can also be brought to your seat. 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 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)
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Receiving Strength for the Journey: The Bread and Cup
All who seek the love of God are welcome at this meal and are invited to freely receive from it.  We will share the elements today by intinction, dipping the bread in the cup. When invited please come to one of the stations by exiting your pew to the left and returning by the right. If it is not convenient to come forward, the elements can be brought to your seat by signaling to the usher. All the bread is gluten-free, and the chalices are filled with non-alcoholic grape juice.
Acts of Reflection and Prayer
Some resources for reflection prayer are provided below. You are free to use  – or ignore –  these prompts as you find helpful. In whatever prayer manner you adopt, please hold the concerns of those listed and those you know about in God’s peace-giving light.
In what way can you pray and prepare for the power of Spirit to be released in your life?
At this moment, do you feel powerless or powerful? If you feel powerless, what do you need to raise you up? If you feel powerful, how can you use that power to raise others up with you?
Psalm 47–Celebration
Clap your hands!
Shout for joy!
Sing your songs!
Life is good
The hints and guesses are sufficient
Things as they are are ok.
Psalm 93–Creation
You have put on beautiful clothes, Holy One–
This amazing universe!
You have made the nothingness solid
With an intricate web of laws
And brought life into being by your love
To evolve its own forms and find its own heart.
From everlasting to everlasting you Are.
Louder than the pounding waves
Larger than the sea
Is your voice whispering, still and small, in our hearts.
Both psalms from Christine Robinson www.doubterpsalms.blogspot.com
Prayer Corner Gather in the Upper Room with Jesus’ friends to pray for unity in the Spirit.
Community Sharing Table We always have some neighbors in need. Remember that this is a good time of year to share garden produce, taken directly to the food pantry. It and BUURR are always accepting food and funds.
Children’s Fire Children can raise and lower the Jesus figure into heaven and back again. Older ones are invited to consider what it means to be lifted up with Jesus.
When invited, please join in singing the familiar chorus: Alleluia!
Blessing for Those Who Will Receive at Home
Members who have been designated to carry communion to those who could not be with us this morning are invited forward at this time. The elements from our meal will go with our blessing and prayers for our continued unity in the Spirit. If you would like serve by taking communion to others, you are very welcome to do so and are invited to volunteer with the Nurture and Care Board members or by contacting the pastor.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
One: Lord, we are so very grateful for all that lifts and stirs us to greater life. By this meal, Strengthen us to make our work your work, to be healed of terrors within and without, and to be your body in the world. Unite us in Christ and give us your peace. For Christ’s peace, breathed upon us now,
All: we worship and adore you. Amen.
From Here to There
¨  Hymn #209 Black              O Love How Vast, How Flowing Free   Deo Gracias
¨  The Sending and Blessing
Postlude (please be seated) Lento from Sonata 2           Chopin
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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 the River of Life Foursquare 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.
Announcements
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, and every second Sunday of the month, there will be an opportunity to covenant together. 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.
Next Sunday is Pentecost, the celebration of the Holy Spirit coming on the disciples, and the birth of the church. Everyone is invited to wear red, or yellow, or both, and after service we will take an all-church picture. Don’t miss out and help get the word to everyone!  (Stream Clean-up and Picnic will be rescheduled for later this month. Stay tuned for more information. M&S Board)
Congratulations to our Music Director, Bernardo Scarambone, who has been promoted to full professor at Eastern Kentucky University!
End-of-School Pizza Party at Laura Nagle’s house on Sunday June 2 at 1:30! Predicting sunshine and an epic game of hide-and-seek. Old and new friends are all welcome. Questions? Please ask! joyfulsunflower@gmail.com
Memory Keepers June 4, 7:30 pm, Wayside Room. Memory Keepers is a support group for those caring for loved ones with memory loss. They meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month at 7:30 pm in the Wayside Room. For more information or resources call Doug Hindman at 582-5806 or Carla Gilbert at 985-1144.
Door Murals on display next weekend. The Murals of Berea door project has a beautiful collection of door murals that will be on display on our lawn next weekend (times tbd but DEFINITELY during the Night Market behind Boone Tavern Saturday night!)
Youth Talent Show June 7, 7:00 pm. Spring is in the air and it is that time of year again, time for the Union Church Youth Group Talent Show! This year’s talent show will be on Friday, June 7th, at 7:00 pm in the Community Room. We will have return appearances from some of last year’s great performers with brand new material, and we have several new talents as well. Some of our graduating seniors will perform, so don’t miss this chance to see them!
Tickets are $5 per person, or $15 per family. We will have concessions available for a suggested donation to enjoy with the show. All proceeds will go to help offset the costs of the Youth Group’s summer trips and activities. Please come out for this evening of entertainment and fellowship that supports a good cause.
Concert, potluck supper June 19! The Charles Wesley Singers are performing a concert here at 7 pm on June 19. Potluck supper at 5. The Charles Wesley Singers is the liturgical choir at Damascus United Methodist Church in Damascus, MD. The group of 55 singers includes 6th – 12th graders and shares music of many genres and traditions. The concert features songs about heaven and the Promised Land, including Alice Parker’s Kentucky Psalms and the Gospel anthem Goin’ Up Yonder.
The choir tours every year and, since 2006, has been accompanied by a chamber orchestra from the Academy of Saint Cecelia. All are invited to join us! No charge, offering taken for local agencies.
Coming Up: There will be a half-day calligraphy retreat led by Donna Eder on July 6th from 9:00-12:00 in the Union Church classroom. Bring whatever supplies you can and I will have extras of everything we might need. We will spend some time on semi-cursive and cursive scripts as well as formal script. Contact me at: donnajeder@gmail.com or 859-868-1142 if you plan to attend. (No fee.)
Regular Events Happening all Summer—you’re Invited!
Zen Meditation every weekday, 8:00 am. Join us for 20 minutes of unstructured quiet meditation in beautiful Cowan Chapel, on the Scaffold Cane Road side of the church.
Zen Teaching Mondays at 6:30 pm, Cowan Chapel. David Parks will offer Zen teaching: Meditation, Koans, Conversation, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, Cowan Chapel.
Thursday Noon Bible Study. Meet with Rev. Carla in the Classroom at noon to reflect upon the Scripture for the week and issues of the day.
Fridays – Bridge Club, 1:30 pm in the Classroom. Call Doug Hindman, 582-5806 if interested.
Fourth Sundays – Learn More About the Church. Enquirers’ Class for new members, prospective members, or those just interested in learning what Union Church is about. Meet in the Classroom after the worship service.
Fourth Tuesdays – Psalm Study, 4:00 pm, in the Classroom.
First & Third Tuesdays Memory Keepers, 7:30 pm, Wayside Room. Memory Keepers is a support group for those caring for loved ones with memory loss. For more information or resources call Doug Hindman at 582-5806 or Carla Gilbert at 985-1144.