A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Third Sunday after Pentecost June 9, 2013
Meditation
Goodness in any form has an all-conquering power to call forth a response of the same kind.
— David Noss and John B. Noss
Gathering to Worship
Welcome and Announcements
Commissioning our El Salvador Delegation
Prelude Prelude on Hyfrydol (Trio) David S. Harris
Call to Worship inspired by 1 Kings 17, Psalm 146, Luke 7
One: Strangers meet. Oil and grain turn to bread. The sick are healed. The weary are lifted up. The prisoners are set free. The everyday becomes a miracle.
All: This is God’s work. We are its witnesses.
One: Let us worship God.
* Opening Hymn #411 Black Praise the Source of Faith and Learning Hyfrydol
[please note tune change from hymnal]
* Prayer of Approach and Confession inspired by Psalm 146, 1 Kings 17
One: Merciful God, you know how we love miracles. We love your healing, life-giving presence. We confess that poverty and oppression are less appealing topics.
All: Yet, we find you among the poor, the downtrodden, the widow, the orphan.
In their midst we find you, your prophets, and your miracles.
Dwell with us, as we make the struggles of the oppressed our own struggles.
Join us at your table, as we join the effort to feed and clothe
those who live in want.
All: Grant us your compassion, we pray,
that we may truly be your people. Amen.
* Words of Assurance
One: The God of miracles is the God of love, and the God of love has called and chosen each and every one of us – fears, follies, and foibles included – to call forth the goodness and life in each other. With God’s grace, we are good enough.
All: With God’s grace, we can live again in love. Thanks be to God. Amen.
* Passing the Peace of Christ
All who come to this sanctuary are welcome companions on this day. Please turn to those nearest you and greet them with words of peace.
Hearing the Word
Special Music So Art Thou to Me K. Lee Scott
Carolyn Romano, soloist
As the bridegroom to his chosen, as the king unto his realm, As the keep unto the castle, as the pilot to the helm, So art thou, Lord, to me.
As the fountain in the garden, as the candle in the dark, As the treasure in the coffer, as the manna in the ark, So art thou, Lord, to me.
As the music at the banquet, as the stamp unto the seal, As the medicine to the fainting, as the wine cup at the meal, So art thou, Lord, to me.
As the ruby in the setting, as the honey in the comb, As the light within the lantern, as the mother in the home. As the sunshine in the heavens, as the image in the glass, As the fruit unto the fig tree, as the dew upon the grass, So art thou, Lord, to me.
Gospel Lesson Luke 7:11-17 (p. 1238)
Jesus meets a funeral procession in the town of Nain, resuscitates the dead man, and restores him to his widowed mother.
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, child care for ages kindergarten & under is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Fellowship Hall. Activity clipboards are available at the altar for older children.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson 1 Kings 17:8-24 (p. 433)
Elijah revives the dead son of the widow of Zarephath and demonstrates to her that he is a prophet who speaks the word of God.
Sermon Mark of the Prophet Rev. Kent Gilbert
* Hymn #404 Black Give Up Your Anxious Pains Ich HAlte Treulich Still
Prayers of the People
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 Kiyosato, Japan and is also rung in the hope of peace for all nations.
Silent Prayer and Prayers of the Community
Our Lord’s Prayer
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
Offertory Prelude on In Babilone D. Harris/ R. Haan
* Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow Lasst Uns Erfreuen
Praise God all creatures here below; Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
* Prayer of Thanksgiving
Walking Forward in Faith
* Closing Hymn #353 Black Great Work Has God Begun in You Verbum Dei
* Benediction and Sending Forth
Postlude O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing (Azmon) John Carter
____________________________
* All are invited to rise or rise in spirit as you are able and willing
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 Berea Baptist Church 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 the service of our country.
* Stephanie Woodie, who will have total knee replacement surgery tomorrow
* Jackie Carrier, an enthusiastic participant in Grow Appalachia gardening project, who is suffering from breast cancer
* Eric Cooper’s cousin, Christopher Gooden, awaiting a lung transplant
* Rose Brandenburg, Larry’s aunt, at Kenwood Nursing Home in Richmond
* Krystal Creevy, having a difficult pregnancy
* The family and friends of Aloma Earles, at her death
* Kevin Burke and family at the death of his mother, Mary Jones, in Idaho. The family thanks Union Church friends & family for the prayers, flowers and loving care
* Bill Stolte, recovering at home!
* Abi Dietz, who continues to recover very slowly from her car accident
* Edith Hansen, at The Terrace
* Shirley Dean, on hospice care for lung cancer
Welcome alumni, families and friends! It is a joy to worship together, and we wish you safe travels as you make your way to your homes, hoping that the weekend has been full of good times and fellowship!
You Matter! Please sign in on the pew folder in your row, passing it back when all have signed. Note your neighbors’ names, so we can welcome one another, then please place it in the offering plate. Thank you.
Worship Leaders needed!! It’s easy, and you get to see the bulletin before everybody else!! See Carla Gilbert, or sign up on the back wall.
Union Church is commissioning a delegation today to go to El Salvador for ten days. The group will be living and learning with Salvadorans who have lived through war and its aftermath, and who have learned in the process how to organize communities to support and benefit the poorest among them. They will meet with members of the Salvadoran legislature and children in the countryside, and people all in between. We commission them today to go on our behalf to learn and love with the Salvadoran community, and to then return to us to teach us what we can learn from their experience.
After worship we will celebrate the life of Aloma Earles by sharing in a potluck lunch right after worship (main dish provided, please bring sides or desserts) followed by a memorial service at 2:00 pm in the sanctuary.
Summer Carillon Concerts! Mondays – June 10, July 15, August 5 – 6:30 pm on the Draper Quad. On June 10 – tomorrow! – , the John Courter Carillon will be played by George Gregory, the Carillonneur at Central Christian Church in San Antonio, Texas. All are welcome, no charge!
Union Church is a place where your faith can grow and deepen. We are actively looking for those who would like to explore discipleship with Jesus in this congregation. If you’d like to formally join Union Church, please call the office or either pastor. YOU are welcome here!
Make Your Voice Heard! Alzheimer’s Town Hall Meeting Thursday, June 13, 5:30—7:00 pm at the Madison County Cooperative Extension Office, 230 Duncannon Ln in Richmond. The Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Kentucky and Southern Indiana invites everyone to the is meeting to:
· Share your ideas and concerns with government representatives
· Hear about the latest Alzheimer’s issues and urgency of taking action
· Discuss concerns families are facing
· Find out about upcoming events to advocate and raise awareness about Alzheimer’s
Call the Alzheimer Assn. at 1-800-272-3900 for more info or to register (free).
We’re Saving Power — Just FYI: some of the light switches have covers on them so they can’t be turned off. These lights are on timers & motion sensors and will go off on their own. PLEASE don’t remove the covers and turn off the lights, it’ll “confuse” the sensors.
Joan English, Office Administrator, will be on vacation June 12-19. Thanks so much—the office will be staffed every day!
“Instead, speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15)… You are invited to be a delegate to the 2013 Kentucky Council of Churches October 24 & 25. The theme is Civil Dialogue. The place is Kentucky Dam Village State Park in Gilbertsville, KY. Brochures are available in the office if you’d like to consider attending, or you can visit the website at www.kycouncilofchurches.org.
Are you interested in seeing a Mountaintop Removal site? Or finding our what can be done to seek justice in the prison systems that are often built on such sites? Possible overnight trip to Wise County VA to explore issues of mountaintop removal and/ or issues of prison justice:
We are considering such a Union church family trip at the end of July or early August, but we need to know if there is any interest.
Please contact Willie Dodson appalachian.always@gmail.com or 540-250-5718 or Austin Godden austinmcintosh2010@live.com or 417-593-3191
As Austin and Willie gauge interest, they will be able to schedule an interest meeting to discuss further details, such as dates and possible itineraries.
Tuesday Church Fixes: Come One Come All… Tuesday 8:30-Noon – Come join for whatever time you can in fellowship and helping with minor repairs, etc. There will be job opportunities for people of all skill levels. Thanks to our Properties Board for helping organize several projects, including mounting bulletin boards and mulching the playground.
Whippoorwill Festival: Skills for Earth-friendly Living, July 11-14 at HomeGrown Hideaways, Berea. located in the beautiful foothills of Appalachia in Central Kentucky, teaches earth-friendly and sustainable living skills in a joyful, healthy, family-friendly atmosphere.
The Whippoorwill Festival features over 75 earth-friendly workshops, tent camping, healthy, home-cooked meals, and guest speakers, plus campfires, three nights of Appalachian music plus contra dancing on Thursday night. Visit www.whipporwillfest.com for info.
The BAZAAR date has been set!! September 21, 10-2!
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