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

Third Sunday after Pentecost

June 25, 2017       10:30 am  

Meditation 
True, we have to hate evil; else we’re sentimental. But if we hate evil more than we love the good, we become damn good haters, and of those the world already has too many. However deep, our anger, like that of Christ, must always and only measure our love.    —William Sloane Coffin

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     Circle Song
                  A Major Waltz 
                  French Folk Song 
                  Hymn to the Morning Stanley Fletcher 
Beginning Adult Violin Ensemble and Chloe Groth; Benjamin Groth, piano 
Call to Worship
One:     Troubled prophets and struggling families, you listen to our voices, whoever we are.
All:      There is no one like you, God of the listening heart.
One:     Those who live in fear, and those who look for signs, you fill us with hope and surprises.
All:      There is no one like you, God of steadfast love.
One:     Seekers of power, as well as those who serve the vulnerable, you challenge us to use our gifts for others.
All:      There is no one like you, God of all people. Let us worship God.                       —Thom Shuman                                  
¨  Opening Hymn #413      By Gracious Powers   Bonhoeffer
¨  Prayer of Approach and Confession 
One:     Lord who sees all, embraces all, calls all, we struggle daily with that human tendency to always do the wrong thing, say the hurtful thing, turn our back to others.  
All:      You have promised never to hold our sins or our foolish nature against us if we turn around, make the effort, and seek new life instead.  So we confess to you our God, and ask you to free us from doing wrong. Help and forgive us, for Christ’s sake and in his name. Amen.  
¨  Words of Assurance
One:     This is the good news:  God hears our prayers, our cries, our hearts.  And, in Christ, we receive new life.  We are free, free to walk in the Light of the Lord. So let us open our hearts to God’s grace; and live as people who have died to sin and who live for Christ’s love and compassion.  
All:      Amen.                        —adapted from a prayer by Thom Shuman
¨  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    Bell Jubilee     A.L. Page
                  Union Church Summer Handbell Ensemble; Jane Mecham, flute
Hebrew Scripture Lesson                       Genesis 21:8-21
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 10:24-39
Sermon     In the Beginning:        Rev. Kent Gilbert
                  Stories to Set your Teeth on Edge

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                          Fugue in G Major       J.S. Bach
¨  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 #475        God’s Eye Is on the Sparrow  Sparrow
¨  Benediction & Sending Forth
   Postlude    Toccata           David H. Hagerty
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 Kenya and Tanzania and our brothers and sisters at Lighthouse 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.
¨ John McWiliams, recovering at home from an infection.
¨ 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, recovering at home.
¨ Families in difficulty
¨ Travel mercies for members & friends here and abroad. 
Mark your calendars & Save these Dates!
July 23: Help move the nursery! The nursery is moving to Rm. 104 so that our youngest worshipers can use the newly refurbished playground on nice mornings. Can you stay after church on Sunday, July 23rd to help move the furniture and toys from the old nursery to the new? Many hands make light and quick work, and we’ll celebrate our work with pizza.
July 23: Community Hymn Sing in Cowan Chapel! 4-5:30 pm
August 11: All Y’all Field Day! Join us on the church lawn from 7:00-8:30 pm on Friday, August 11th for a good old fashioned field day. We’ll complete in cornhole, races, and other fun games and then wrap it all up with some ice cream. Do you have a cornhole set or other lawn games to lend for the evening? Please see Chris McKenzie or Jenny Hobson.
Lunch 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 after lunch – 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 office for conversation with the Pastor and the Community Life and Growth Board.
Stephen Ministry application are due Wednesday the 28th. It’s not too late to apply! Available in the office.
Both pastors will be at their United Church of Christ (UCC) General Synod in Baltimore, Md., next week-July 5. Every two years, General Synod brings together thousands of faithful members of the United Church of Christ for formal church witness, inspirational worship, and fellowship with friends (new and old).
Thousands from across the country (and abroad) will gather for General Synod 2017 at the Baltimore Convention Center. Together, we will discern resolutions of witness, church structure, and function. We will stand up for issues that demand a faithful witness. And we will join together in worship each day to lift up the Stillspeaking God.
At General Synod 2017, we will “Make Glad!” as we celebrate, debate, worship and witness.
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: Genesis 18-21
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).
Meal Trains have been started for Laura Robie https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/qvn56r
and Elizabeth Barrett https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/12644z