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

Second Sunday after Pentecost                                 June 3, 2018 10:30 am 

Meditation
We should not be surprised at the unexpected quality of the way God counts and measures, for what little the Bible reveals to us of the mystery of God’s action indicates that the “new order” means “new math.” In the biblical accounts the liberating dynamic of God’s action often stands out as a paradox in the midst of the expectations and social situations of the old order.    ― Letty M. Russell

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 We Pray to the Holy Spirit Dietrich Buxtehude
¨  Call to Worship  from Psalm 138
One: We gather to give thanks to You, O God,
All:   with all our hearts!
One: We will sing Your praises before all creation,
All:   and rejoice in Your steadfast love!
One: You have created us O God, and made us for Yourself,
All: In You we become everything You have made us to be!
One: In peace and in pieces, broken and whole, seeking you and finding ourselves:  O Christ, we have come.
All: Amen!       
¨  Opening Hymn #175 Black  O Christ the Healer, We Have Come Kentridge
¨  Prayer of Approach and Confession
One:   Gracious God, we confess what seems always with us:
All:   Broken things that seem never to mend, empty places within us that seem always to ache, things like buds within us that seem never to flower.
One: O God of love and grace, help us accept ourselves; lead us to do those good and true things that are not compromised by anything within us. As much as can be, mend us, fill us, make us bloom.
All: For all these things, we will give you the glory, our creator, redeemer, and sustainer. Amen.        
¨  Words of Assurance
One:     How we love to hang on to the past! We get all tied up remembering, keeping count, bearing grudges.  God doesn’t. Your past is accepted and can be transformed. Let it go. Live in the forgiveness God hands to you afresh!
All: Thanks be to God!  
¨  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

Epistle Lesson 2 Corinthians 4:5-12 (p. 1405)
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 kindergarten through 5th grade are invited to stay in the service or visit the Children’s Worship Center in the back of the sanctuary, which has toys, books, and drawing materials for children (or adults) 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 Mark 2:23-3:6 (p. 1194)
Sermon The Healing of Hardness 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  We Are One in the Spirit Peter Scholtes/Wilbur Held
¨  Doxology     Avery/Marsh

Sharing God’s Love in Communion

Invitation to Communion
One: God be with you!
All:     And also with you!
One: Lift up your hearts.
All:     We lift them up to God.
One:     Let us give thanks to God.
All:     It is right to give God thanks and praise.
One: With song and fullness of heart let us sing:
Hymn #331 Black Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life The Call
Silent Prayers and Prayers of the Community
One: Jesus sat with all sorts, the many different colors of humanity, the broken of body and spirit, and all who were excluded. With us all he broke bread.
One: So along with everyone the world has turned its back on, along with everyone hungry and everyone hungry for justice and truth, along with everyone abused as stranger and foreigner, or withered with illness and fatigue, along with everyone who does not fit “normal,” along with everyone who questions, doubts, and even denies, along with every prejudice that has ever been flung, along with everyone made poor by other’s riches, you, you and I, are welcomed at this table.
One: Let us pray…
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.
Communion Prayer
One:     Great God, who sits with us at table, break this bread with us once more in the retelling of the story of our hope, the world’s salvation, and journey with us into life.
All:    You who created all, created all with love and in love.
One: We remember how you offered bread to the prophets as they cried for justice.
One: We remember how you refreshed even those who had sinned with new life and new hope and new purpose.
All: In our time we would love the things you love, we would be a people of love and compassion.
One: Great God, may these acts of breaking and sharing be the act of your reigning, bringing all people to your grace, gathering every disciple in every time and place, every follower no matter how hesitant, to the place of grace and service.
One: So we remember your presence in our own story and with the people of all times and places, we lift our voices in song:
Sanctus                   John Bell
       Please join in singing:
Words of Institution
One:     So many times Jesus fed us: In pastures, in houses, at banquets, while teaching…in the boat, at the well, in the upper room, on the road when we didn’t know him, and in the room when we were afraid…
One: and now we gather at this table to remember and to be filled with such longing for your realm that we may rise together to turn our worship into witness and to follow in your way.
One: We remember that when Jesus ate with his friends, he took a loaf of bread and, after blessing it, he broke it and gave it to them, saying,
All: “Take, eat.  This is my body, given for you.  Each time you do this, remember me.”
One: Then he took a cup and, after giving thanks, passed it to his friends, saying:
All: “Drink this, all of you.  This cup that is poured out for you is the promise of God, made in my blood.  Whenever you drink it, remember me.”
One: Therefore, Holy God, we remember, and we cry for your Spirit. Enliven this bread, awaken this body, pour us out for each other. Transfigure our minds, ignite your church, nourish the life of the earth.
One: Make us, while many, united. Make us, though broken, whole. Make us, despite death, alive.
All: Come, Holy Spirit! Amen.
Serving One Another
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.
Blessing for Those Who Will Receive at Home
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 Pastor Kent.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
One:    God of the table, thank you for all this meal represents. We pray that as this bread is changed in into us, that we may be changed into love, and that such love as we have may be changed into loving action to heal brokenness of every kind.
All:       May this bread here become the bread of life & living everywhere you send us, and every time your spirit inspires us. Hear us in this thanksgiving and call us now to the feast in the world. Amen.

From Here to There

¨  Closing Hymn  #451 Black Be Thou My Vision Slane
¨  Benediction
Postlude and  Prayers for Healing Recessional Robert Cundick
If you, or someone you know, is in need of prayers for healing you are invited to come forward during the postlude for personal prayer and annointing if you so wish. Whether the need be a physical infirmity or a brokenness of hope, and whether it be for yourself or others you carry in your heart, you are invited to receive blessing and support for God’s healing work in you and through you.
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, Swaziland and our brothers and sisters at Blue Lick Missionary 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, Nancy Hindman, Loyal Jones, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin
¨ Dan Rohrer, who is suffering from a severe liver disorder.
¨ Dave Wellinghurst, receiving treatment for glioblastoma.
¨ Jimmie Lewis’ sister, undergoing cancer treatment.
¨ Dana Rousey, recovering from hip replacements surgery. Cards can be sent to her at 4 Fairway Dr., Berea.
¨ Sue Goldsmith, doing well after eye surgery.
¨ Bob and Jean Boyce, on the joyous occasion of their upcoming 50th wedding anniversary!
¨ Christian Neal, son of Melissa, who was hospitalized with norovirus this week.
¨ Jeff Pool and the family, at the loss of Jeff’s brother, Bryan Pool, to cancer at only 60. Jeff and Laurinda will travel to Texas soon to be with family, we pray travel mercies for them.
¨ An unspoken prayer request for Allyson Stoughton, received online.
Assisting in Worship
      Worship Leader today is Charles Hoffman.  Next week: Rhonda Edwards.
      Thank you to  Larry Brandenburg for serving a organist today.
      Bulletin cover art: Beatitude by Ben Shahn. Shahn’s artistry demonstrates a reversal of the expected. He depicts the wheat field in its golden abundance, yet the sheaves of wheat are black, not gold! The figure in the midst of the field is reminiscent of Mark’s Jesus, who enjoyed the abundance of the wheat even on the Sabbath.
Prayers for Healing Offered Today: If you or someone you know are in need of prayers for healing you are invited to come forward during the postlude for personal prayer and annointing if you so wish. Whether the need be a physical infirmity or a brokenness of hope, receive blessing and support for God’s healing work in you.
We Want to Join YOU! Membership Sunday Next Week! As a family of faith committed to boldly and creatively embodying the life and ministry of Jesus, we would like to join 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 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. Please let us join with you!
WNL is taking a summer break—thank you, Shirley Carlberg and the faithful team of folks who provided prep and cleanup help!
Sanctuary Piano Fundraiser. Throughout its 33 wonderful years, our sanctuary piano has served Union Church in many capacities; accompanying the choir, playing in our worship service, enhancing weddings, various concerts, etc.  The time has come that the piano needs some extra love and care. We need to refurbish the action (insides) of the piano and we need your help!!
To help fundraise for this project, we are giving the chance for you to “Buy a Key” to help go towards the refurbishment of our piano.  Each of the 88 keys will cost $50. You will be buying a actual piano key that can be used as decoration or an ornament.
If you wish to contribute more, you could endow one of the 33 years of the piano’s use by donating $130.00.  We are calling on someone who might want to be a lead contributor to this project, as it needs to happen quick! Our piano will be out of commission for up to 8 weeks, and we need to get going fast! All donations, no matter how big or small, will be greatly appreciated!
Summer Music opportunities begin next week! See the brochure for summer choir, handbells, and music theory class dates!
Baby Shower Postponed. Regretfully, we must postpone our celebration of Ahnat. Family court has decided to place Ahnat back with her parents for now. Let’s hold them in the light and pray for love and peace. Thanks to all for your enthusiasm and care for this special little one.
SongFarmers Gathering June 15, Community Room, 5:30 pm. SongFarmers of Madison County is focused on creating opportunities for musicians and artists to play and jam together and for all to benefit from the love of live music. This event will include an 
acoustic open mic for singer/songwriters doing original work and covers plus a jam (play and singalong) section, all intermingled with poetry (original or inspired). Do join us for an evening of community and music. Come early for chili and an opportunity to build community. If you want to perform, please sign up by 6 PM.
Union Church seeks nursery subs! We need your help this summer for occasional subbing in our nursery when our regular workers (Hope, Shelley, and Elly) are away. Can you help? We are currently looking for subs who are over the age of 18. Subs earn $12 an hour and must complete a background check and Safe Sanctuaries training. Interested? Call the church office (986-3725) or email office@union-church.org and leave your contact info as soon as possible. Questions? See any member of our Faith Development Board.
Please Sign up to Read Scripture or to Help Greet and Usher!  Please use our electronic sign up system, http://signup.com/go/xkdVtB, where you can pick a date that works for you and get reminders!  OR you can also call the office and we’ll get you on the lists.
Older iPad Needed: Do you have an older generation iPad you no longer use? The AV system we use in the Community Room would benefit from a dedicated iPad  for church and rental use. It must have the older, wider power connection to work, but other than that, any iPad will be more than enough to power the system. Contact the office or Rev. Kent if you can help!
The Berea Leadership Experience plans are coming along! We look forward to a great week of camp fun and practicing conflict resolution July 16-20. Thanks to generous donors, including the Union Church choir concert, we are fully funded for this year. We currently have openings for 5 campers and 3 adult staff counselors. Register through our Facebook page. To get more information about the counselor openings, contact kim.kobersmith@gmail.com. Includes a stipend of $150.