A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the

Church of Christ, Union

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost June 21, 2015, 10:30 am

Meditation
“I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief… For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.”     —Wendell Berry

From there to here

Hymn Sing             Choose Your Favorites!

Prelude     This Is My Father’s World      M. Thewes
*  Call to Worship 
One:     One: Friends, we gather in the midst of crashing seas:
All:      Work! Family! Needs! Worries!
One:     Still we come. We come to become still.
All:      Still enough to hear the world God is making of us. Still enough to hear joy in the waves.
One:     With joy and with silence; With shouts and with prayer; Bearing burdens, and free at last, let us come before God who greets us like an ever-flowing stream: a constant, changing, peace.
*  Opening Hymn #284       Joys Are Flowing Like a River            Darwall’s 148th
*  Prayer of Approach & Confession
One:     Today we confess the pride and avoidance in our tumult. Our schedules, the family drama, the challenges and difficulties of work are not always imposed from without.
All:      We brew our own storms, we stir up the seas of our own distress. We confess we have not always poured oil on troubled waters, but made tempests out of our turmoil.
One:    In the mistakes we have made
All:      Forgive us, Lord.
One:     For the apologies and changes we need to make:
All:      Strengthen us with the courage of love.
One:     In the rages and billows of our souls
All:      Speak to us and calm our inner storms.
One:     This we ask in the name of Jesus, calmer of fears and well-spring of quiet strength.
All:      Amen.
*  Words of Assurance 
One:     No storm can shake our inmost calm while to that rock we are clinging! Let forgiveness wash over and over us, and Christ’s way guide us ever closer to the selves we are meant to be. We are a forgiven people in Christ’s name.
All:      Thanks be to God!
*  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    A Joyful Song  Robert Leaf  Union Church Summer Choir

A joyful song we sing to the Lord, all glory and praise to the risen King. Let all who will serve him rejoice and sing their praises to God: Alleluia, praise the Lord. Praise we sing to honor the King. Together with music our praise we bring. Oh raise your voice with praise to the Lord, let all of his children be glad and sing. Rejoice, the victory is won, the King has risen; God’s holy Son!
Hebrew Scripture Lesson                       Psalm 107:1-3,23-32
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 return to their seats or follow volunteers to the front entrance of the sanctuary to 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 age & under, care is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Community Room.
Gospel Lesson                  Mark 4:35-41
Sermon     Still, Still with Thee           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              The Peace within Me   F. Ritter
*  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 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 #403        My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less      Solid Rock
*  Benediction & Sending Forth
Postlude (please be seated)         Toccata Pontificale     G. Young
_____________________________
*   Please rise in body or in spirit as you wish.
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 Angola and Mozambique and our brothers and sisters at Assemblies of God in your hearts, and pray for them.
Please also hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week:
* Those in harm’s way in service of our country, and those who wait and worry for them.
* The victims of recent flooding in Texas and Oklahoma
* Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound:  Edith Hansen, Nancy Jones, Mary Miller, Averill Kilbourne, Alva Peloquin, Ruth Butwell
* Edith Hansen’s family, at the death of her sister Anna “Tulle” Harlan
* Kelly Mehler—we celebrate that his cancer is in remission!
* Randy Osborne and wife, Melissa. Randy has been diagnosed with tonsil cancer
* Annie Sims’ sister,  suffering from breast cancer
Announcements 
You Matter! Please Sign the Register, Check in on Facebook/Twitter and try a nametag! It’s hard to get to know people elsewhere, but we don’t want it that way at church.  Let’s all try to get to know each other better.
The families and friends of Jean Ritchie, Michelle Tooley and of Jim Orwig have all expressed their deep appreciation for the care and beauty shown to them in loving details provided for their respective memorial services. That care comes from all of you who lovingly helped in seemingly invisible ways, but which was truly service and truly ministry. Thank you all, ministers of Union Church, for making the love of Jesus visible and real to all who found it in this place.
THANK YOU!!!!! To the wonderful staff of VBS teachers, helpers, cooks, worship leaders, all who  contributed to making this a wonderful experience!
Special Preacher Next Week: John Stanley! Rev. Kent and Rev. Rachel will be attending the United Church of Christ General Synod, June 24-July 2. The Worship Board is delighted that our own John Stanley has agreed to bring the word while they are gone!

Summer Choir – No Robes ~ No Stairs ~  No Commitment! Sundays:  June , 28, July 5, 12 & 26,  9:15 am , Sanctuary

     Adults and youth are welcome to participate in Summer Choir for any or all of the Sundays we sing.  No commitment is expected.  Just show up for rehearsal at 9:15 on the days you wish to participate.
We will rehearse a new anthem each of these Sundays which will then be shared at the 10:30 am worship service that morning,  from the sanctuary floor so that this opportunity may be accessible to all.
Properties Board has scheduled a work morning, 9:00 – noon, for Saturday, June 27. Projects include weeding, spreading topsoil and mulch, trimming shrubs. Many hands make light work. Coffee and cookies provided.
Nest Week~ Sunday Evening Hymn Sing! June 28 7:00 pm-8:30 pm ~ Cowan Chapel (All Ages Welcome!) Like to sing, just for fun?  Once a month this summer, we will gather for a “traditional” hymn-sing led by the Union Church music staff.   Please turn in a list of your five favorite hymns from the Black or Red Hymnbook one week before each Hymn Singing (deadlines: June 21, July 19, August 16).  Hymn sings will be Sundays – June 28, July 26, Aug. 23.
You will have an opportunity to briefly share the reason a particular hymn is significant to you.  It is not necessary to submit a sign-up form in order to participate, however it will increase the chances that your favorites will make the list of hymns to be sung. They can be found in the ivory pamphlet—or just make a list & place in the offering plate.
“ABLE” (Achieving and Building Life Equally). July 15, 2015 at 6:00pm in the Community Room . Are you interested in joining together to create a Berea support group for those of us who self-identify as differently or uniquely able, or identify as disabled? This includes anyone who may be coping with a chronic or long-term illness, or dealing with an injury or illness that impacts daily life. If interested, let’s meet on July 15, 2015 at 6:00pm in the Community Room. This could become a regular get together, an opportunity for friendship and sharing in a confidential setting.
We, in ABLE, work hard to be strong and fearless. We succeed in life with creativity. We are not ‘less than;’ we are equal in the world.
Many new items have been added to the Medical Supply Closet!

• 1 unused female urinal
• 1 unused male urinal
• Humidifier
• Thick-it (product for assisting in swallowing liquids)
• Cervical collar
• Washable and disposable bed pads

And we still have walkers, wheelchairs, bedside commodes and shower chairs. Call Dana Rousey, 582-1767 for more information.
Free Lunch at the Public Library through August 11!! Monday—Saturday 12—1 for those 18 years old & under. Super Snack Sundays from 1-2 pm, all ages. No sign up required, just come and eat!
Church Bazaar, Sat. August 29!Mission and Service Board NEEDS:
1.   Stuff to sell; priced and brought to bazaar closet (no clothing or old tvs, please)
2.   Good people to again volunteer to HELP. (many ways to help)
3.   DO NOT NEED: EXCUSES when someone from MSB calls.  Important event to support lot of good causes! (Being dead or out of town are acceptable excuses)  Thanks, from the Mission & Service Board
Donate ONLINE or by TEXT, Now or Anytime! For online giving, Union Church uses EasyTithe, a completely secure contribution system. You can use Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express Credit and Debit Cards, or an E-Check from your checking account. Scan the code here to go right to the website on your smartphone, or visit www.union-church.org and click on the Donate button for instructions.
You do not need to register to make a donation (just choose “Quick Give” ). If you do register, your information will be securely stored making future visits faster and giving you full control of  your giving reports.  Credit card processing does cost the church about 3.1% of your transaction. ACH (E-Checks) only incur a 1% fee. Please use whichever is best for you, but if you can, consider adding a little additional to help cover the bank fee!
Give By Texting 859-448-3403: Yes! You can give using your web-enabled phone. Text any amount to 859-448-3403. The first time you do–and just the first time–you’ll get a link to associate your phone and enter your securely stored credit or debit card. It doesn’t go on your phone bill, but only to a card you specify. After that, all you need to do is text the number with an amount and any designation. It’s fast and easy! Of course, like every credit card transaction the church pays a 3.1% fee. If you can include that little extra bit, it will make a big difference!
Examples: Text “$50.00” to contribute to today’s offering or substitute the designation of your choice (youth, missions, BFCO, etc. Amounts texted without a designation will automatically go to the Annual Ministry Budget and all giving will be included in your annual giving records.
Kroger Rewards and Amazon Smile—two easy ways to give.
     Kroger has been committed to supporting the communities it serves by assisting local charitable organizations through its Rewards Program.  Union Church will earn rewards on all eligible purchases you make using your Kroger Plus Card.  The Kroger rewards will accumulate and be donated quarterly to Union Church.  This is an easy way for all to fund-raise for Union Church.  Visit kroger.com/communityrewards
     Amazon Smile will donate .5% of eligible sales to Union Church if you register at https://smile.amazon.com/ch/61-0444677. This is a great way to support Union Church.