A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Pentecost Sunday June 8, 2014, 10:30 am
Meditation
“It is the Spirit’s work to draw what might otherwise be a cacophonic disunity into symphony. The Spirit worked to transcribe God’s music for playing on the human instrument of Jesus of Nazareth; the Spirit now works to orchestrate that theme for an ensemble of billions.”
—Mike Higton, Christian Doctrine
From there to Here
Welcome & Announcements
Prelude
* Call to Worship
One: Then I will pour out my spirit on all flesh, thus says the Lord.
All: Send down the fire of your justice!
One: Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
All: Send down the rain of your love!
One: Your old shall dream dreams, and your young shall see visions.
All: Send down your Spirit, breathe life in your people!
One: In those days, I will pour out my spirit.
All: And we shall be people of God.
* Hymn #265 Black Come, O Spirit, with Your Sound Boundless MErcy
* Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: Spirit of God, you move around us and we wave you away as if you are a fly getting too close to our heads.
All: You move among us, but we all have different ideas…
different ways of doing things…
and so your perfectly chilling harmonics
are drowned out by our chaotic dissonance.
You move within us, but sometimes we just aren’t willing to risk our own reputations to embrace your radical vision.
One: But, deep down, we know that we need to move beyond ourselves… we know that the church needs to move beyond itself.
All: So keep moving…keep moving around us, among us, and within us…
keep moving us so that we can be creators of movement in the world…
* Words of Assurance
One: Those who are in Christ are a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God with whom we have been reconciled through Christ. (2 Cor. 5:17-18)
All: Thanks be to God! Hallelujah! 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
* Anthem For the Beauty of the Earth John Rutter
Union Church Choir
1. For the beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies. Lord of all to thee we raise this our joyful hymn of praise.
2. For the beauty of the hour of the day and of the night, hill and vale and tree and flower, sun and moon and stars of light…
3. For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, friends on earth
And friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild…
4. For each perfect gift of thine to our race so freely given, graces human and divine, flowers of earth and birds of heaven…
Reading from the Epistles 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
Children’s Moment
As the children return to their seats, we sing:
Reading from Acts of the Apostles Acts 2:1-221
Sermon Flipping the Script Rev. Rachel Small Stokes
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 Send Down the Fire Marty Haugen
Union Church Choir
Refrain: Send down the fire of Your justice, send down the rains of Your love, Come, send down the Spirit, breathe life in your people, and we shall be people of God.
1. Call us to be Your compassion, teach us the song of Your love; give us hearts that sing, give us deeds that ring, make us ring with the song of Your love.
2. Call us to learn of Your mercy, teach us the way of Your peace; give us hearts that feel, give us hands that heal, make us walk in the way of Your peace.
3. Call us to answer oppression, teach us the fire of Your truth; give us righteous souls, ‘til Your justice rolls, make us burn with the fire of Your love.
4. Call us to witness Your Kingdom, give us the presence of Christ; may Your holy light keep us shining bright, ever shine with the presence of Christ.
* Doxology Avery/Marsh
From here to there
Introduction and Invitation to Membership
Union Church is a vital and growing family of faith, a home to those committed to the way of Christ’s sacrificial love and service. All who feel led to join will be received in joy, and are welcome to come forward during the hymn. Thanks be to God for these ministers among us.
* Closing Hymn #267 Black Come, O Spirit, Dwell among Us Ebenezer
Questions of the Congregation and New Members
* Covenant of Welcome
And we, the members of this church, renewing our own covenant to God and to each other, do now heartily welcome you to our fellowship, promising to watch over you in love, and praying that you and we may be true witnesses for Christ, a light in the world, and continue to increase in usefulness and joy in his service.
* Benediction
Postlude
____________________________
*Please rise in body or in spirit
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 Bethel Baptist Church in your hearts, and pray for them.
Please also hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week:
* Our church family members in nursing homes: Edith Hansen, Klara Welsh, Bernice Robertson, Nancy Jones, Mary Miller, Virginia Piland
* All those grieving the loss of those they have loved
* Charlie Smithson, Paul’s brother, recently underwent a stem cell transplant in his battle with multiple myeloma. The critical first two weeks are nearly past, and we pray for his recovery from and overall success of the procedure.
* Bob Moore, Joan Moore’s father, for peace as he approaches the end of his life
* Ann Thomasson, who has had a stroke and moved to a room in assisted living. The news right now is encouraging and she would love to hear from Berea friends. Anne is using Gene & Dorothy’s mailing address, which is 3314 W. Morgan Rd., Tucson, AZ 85745
* Eddie Kennedy, recovering from heart valve replacement surgery, now at home
Learn more about Union Church 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.
Today is Pentecost! Pentecost Day celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples 50 days after the resurrection. It’s considered the birthday of the church and is remembered by the description in the book of Acts where tongues of fire appeared to dance on the head of the apostles. After church we’ll take a whole group photo of the church family! It will also be a chance to celebrate our choir who will take a summer break after Sunday. Let’s set the world on fire with hope and song!
We celebrate our high school graduates today. Hanna Crowe, Elizabeth Seals, Ashley Vaughn and Hamrick Walters graduated from Berea Community School, and Cole Warren graduated from Estill County High School. We bless and send them forth!
Vacation Bible School starts TONIGHT!! You can still come, even if you haven’t registered. Come at 5:30pm tonight in the Community Room for dinner. If you still need to register, please come a few minutes early. Bring your friends – we have great stuff for adults AND kids!
Lemonade on the Porch starts today—your help needed! 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 begins today, June 8, and continues through August. Thanks in advance for your help. (And you are allowed to sign up more than once!!)
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”. More later….. John Payne
Medical Equipment available—free! Do you, or a family member, need a piece of medical equipment to make your life at home easier, either post-surgery or more permanently? Call Dana Rousey at 859-985-8071 or 859-582-1767 before you purchase a wheelchair, walker, potty chair, or any other piece of equipment. She has some available to loan, at no charge! She’ll deliver it too, don’t hesitate to ask! Visit the office to see photos of available equipment, call Dana for more info.
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.
Atwater~Donnelly
7:00pm Sunday, June 15
Great Folk duo Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly are coming back to Berea for another evening of great music, dance, and song. This is a great concert for kids and will be especially in honor of Father’s Day. $12.00 adults, $6.00 kids
They will also offer mountain (lap) dulcimer classes at Union Church on Sunday from 2:00 – 4:00 pm. Beginner and Intermediate/Advanced, $20
Proceeds support Union Church’s mission of peace and justice for all people.
Tickets/registration for all events at
http://atwater-donnelly.brownpapertickets.com/
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