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

Second Sunday after Pentecost June 22, 2014, 10:30 am

Meditation
“Sometimes I wonder, in most of our celebrations of baptism, if we reduce the waters of baptism to a mere sprinkle, and cover it up with rosebuds and lace and talk about cute babies and ’God loves you and we love you’ because we dare not speak about the strange and wonderful work which is beginning in this child on this day You know how we always try to avoid death.
Baptism is death which leads to life. ”

—William Willimon

From there to Here

Welcome & Announcements
Prelude                                              Andante                                    Anton Bruckner
 Call to Worship
Hymn #487 Black                Surely No One Can Be Safer      Tryggare kan Ingen Vara
 Prayer of Approach and Confession
One:     God of the desert places,
Piano Side:   We try to be faithful.
Bell Side:      But there are times when we can’t bear the pain,
Piano: Times when we choose the one who nags rather than the one who needs our defense;
Bell:     Times when we choose to listen to our fears and jealousy rather than our compassion;
Piano: Times when we distance ourselves from what we fear we cannot bear;
Bell:     Times when we seek a pacifying ease rather than the growth than a much-needed conflict can bring.
All:       Forgive us, God. Gird us with your courage, your strength, your faith, and cast out our fear. Amen.
 Words of Assurance
One;     Hear now the good news: Though God does not call us to lives of ease, God promises that there is nowhere we can go from God’s love and compassion, and so there is nothing to fear.  This is the good news that lets us rise again in the face of all that we might encounter.
All:      Thanks be to God. Amen.
 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.
Breathing in The Living Word  
Hebrew Scripture Lesson                                                                  Genesis 21:8-21
Children’s Moment                          
As the children return to their seats, we sing:
 
Epistle Lesson                                                                                     Romans 6:1b-11
Sermon                                       From life to LIFE                          Rev. Kent Gilbert

Being and Becoming One

 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,
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.
Offering
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                                         Fantasia 8                         Johan Jakob Froberger
*  Doxology                                                                                                  Avery/Marsh

From here to there

*  Closing Hymn #581 Black    Lead Us from Death to Life           World Peace Prayer
*  Benediction
Postlude                                 Prelude and Fugue in F                                   J.S. Bach
____________________________
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 Brazil and our brothers and sisters at Glades Church in your hearts, and pray for them.
Please also hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week:

*  Please rise in body or in spirit

• Our church family members in nursing homes:  Edith Hansen, Klara Welsh, Bernice Robertson, Nancy Jones, Mary Miller, Virginia Piland, Averill Kilbourne, Ann Thomasson
• All those grieving the loss of those they have loved
• Charlie Smithson, Paul’s brother, battling multiple myeloma.
• Bob Moore, Joan Moore’s father, for peace as he approaches the end of his life
• Eddie Kennedy, recovering from heart valve replacement surgery, now at home
• Maggie Park’s hometown of Lisbon, OH, recovering from devastating storms, leaving almost no structure or person unaffected
• Alva Peloquin, released from the hospital and now residing at The Terrace
• Katie Morgan, recovering from gall bladder surgery
• Cadence Perman and her family, as she recovers from surgery
• Janet Dailey-Hosp, who had a lung transplant on June 11, and the early recovery is going very well.  Prayers also for the generous family that turned their tragedy into new life for others
• Barbara Frederiksen, healing well after her sudden surgery in March
• Dodie Murphy, having family trouble
• Travel mercies to Rev. Rachel and Union Church members travelling to the  Wild Goose Festival in North Carolina later this week

Coming soon, Sunday morning worship in Cowan Chapel! While the sanctuary flooring is being renovated, (starting in July, dates to be announced) services   will be held in the Cowan Chapel. Because the chapel is small, There will be TWO services per Sunday, one at the usual 10:30 pm and one at 7:00 pm. We encourage those who like to “sleep in” to attend the evening service. More details to follow.
Former Intern Chrissy Cataldo was just called as pastor of Winthrop Congregational United Church of Christ in Winthrop, Maine! Congratulations to them and to their fine new pastor!
Art display – St. Joseph Berea Hospital is pleased to present a large body of Michelle Hayden’s work in the halls and in the new mammography center that opened this week. Her works will be on display June 18-July 23. Michelle was the lead artist behind our Lent and Easter mosaic, which will soon be hung in Cowan Chapel.
Director of Music Ministries hired! The Worship Board is proud to announce the hiring of Gabriel Evans as our new Director of Music Ministries. Gabe is a native of Richmond, KY, and has most recently been choirmaster at a Presbyterian church in Winchester. He has 9 years of organ experience and 18 years as a concert pianist in addition to his choral skills. He will start July 1 and you can look for a more extensive bio in the “Consider” newsletter. Hooray!

Stay for Lemonade on the Porch!  The Community Life & Growth Board will provide the lemonade and the set-up on the porch, but we are seeking help with snacks for each Sunday during the summer, to go with the lemonade.  Snacks can be left in the kitchen prior to worship. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board at the back of the sanctuary. Lemonade on the Porch continues through August.  Thanks in advance for your help. (And you are allowed to sign up more than once!!)

Learn more about Union Church today, and every 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 office immediately following worship for conversation with the Pastors and the Community Life and Growth Board.  New members are received every Second Sunday of the month.

Altar Flowers needed…..There’s a sign-up sheet on the back bulletin board to bring flowers for worship.  Nothing fancy needed—if you have something pretty in your garden, you are welcome to share.
Would you like to learn to operate the sound system? We have many friends and members who rely upon it and need a few more people to be trained to operate it. A person isn’t paid to run the sound system on Sunday mornings, but if you learn it — you can run it for weddings and be paid $100. Call the office and we’ll get you trained!
Mini-Bazaar Saturday, August 23 Large Yard Sale or Small Bazaar; 10 am until 2 ish; Please bring your treasures, clearly priced, to newly  renovated storage area under front porch (formerly known as the Dungeon; now dry and lighted ) “Repurposed Treasures Vault”.
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. Text “$200.00 Capital Campaign” to contribute to a building pledge, 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.