A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
10:30 am
Third Sunday of Lent
Meditation
I woke up and realized I was sitting at a table that oppression built… This table is about to be flipped.
~ Rev. Sarah Are (excerpt from “Flipping Tables”)
From There to Here: We Gather
Prelude
Welcome
¨ Call to Worship Jennifer Elam, Reader
One: Again and again,
All: We come to this space.
One: Again and again,
All: We gather as a community.
One: Again and again,
All: We move closer to God.
One: And again and again,
All: God is here.
One: We are met.
All: We are heard.
One: We are shown the way.
All: So again and again, Let us worship holy God.
¨ Hymn I Want Jesus to Walk with Me Walk with Me
Reprinted with permission using OneLicense #A-723786
¨ Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: God of Justice, We are guilty of building tables.
All: We have built tables that oppression dines on, Sexism thrives on, and racism lives on.
One: God of Justice, We are guilty of forgetting where we are,
All: Of turning faith into a negotiation tool and the church into a place for insiders.
One: God of Justice, we are guilty of ignoring the point;
All: For you taught that the temple was for worship and your message was for all.
One: God of our hearts,
All: Be in our decision making.
One: Draw near to our choices.
All: Forgive our mistakes.
One: And as you do,
All: Flip every table, habit, belief, and point of view that needs adjusting.
One: With hope we pray for a better day.
All: Amen.
¨ Words of Assurance
One: Family of faith, The good news is that God took on flesh and walked this earth to show us the way.
God took on flesh so that we could see what it looks like to disrupt and overturn systems of corruption.
God took on flesh to teach us another way.
God took on flesh to point us to restoration.
God took on flesh so that we might be forgiven.
So believe the good news of the gospel and receive God’s mercy:
All: We are held, loved, and forgiven by a just and merciful God.
One: Thanks be to God for a love like that!
¨ 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.
Word and Worship
Anthem Day of Arising Michael Burkhardt Union Church Choir
Day of arising, Christ on the roadway, unknown companion walks with his own. When they invite him, as fades the first day, and bread is broken, Christ is made known. When we are walking, doubtful and dreading, blinded by sadness, slowness of heart, yet Christ walks with us, ever awaiting our invitation: Stay, do not part. Lo, I am with you. Christ has spoken. Jesus has spoken. This, Christ’s sign: when the church gathers when bread is broken, there Christ is with us in bread and wine.
Children’s Moment as the children return to their seats we sing:
May God’s blessings 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.
Sung Psalm Psalm 19, p. 630
The psalms were originally musical compositions. During Lent we will pray the psalms in musical form. You are invited to sing the response when invited, at the “R” if using the hymnal.
Scripture Reading John 2:13-22
The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
Sermon There’s Knowing and There’s Going Rev. Kent Gilbert
Video Reflection
Responding to 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: This meal is served on the upturned table of exclusion that becomes the table for all seeking a closer walk with the disruptive, transformative love of Jesus. So all are welcome here. You need not be a member of this church, or indeed, of any church to partake. There may be many reasons drawing each of us. None the same, or all alike, still we are called to this same act of memory and love. Still we come together to build Union with God and one another.
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: Covenanting God, you with a word speak the world into being, gathering it into light and dark, sea and land, minerals and organisms. You breath life into the blood beating through every creature, and you call it Good.
One: All through time, we are shown the way, and yet, now as then, as our blood runs hot, so do our tempers and our temptations, and we turn from your loving embrace to destructive ways. Again and again you call us back, you show us the consequences, you forgive us… and still we falter. Again and again, though, you make with us a covenant that your people will have you as their God always, no matter what.
One: In your greatest act of generosity, you emptied yourself into human flesh, walked among us in the dirt and dust, taught and laughed and sang and felt. You called us to follow in your footsteps by walking with Jesus. Then, in his walk, as he gave up his life in the service of the Love he preached again and again, we saw–and again and again we see– the promise of resurrection and power of your everlasting love. Giving thanks for walking this way with us, we join all creation to sing of your glory:
Sanctus
Words of Institution
One: We remember that on the night before he died, Jesus sat at table with his friends, took bread, blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to them, saying:
All: “Take and eat, this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
One: After supper he took the cup of wine and, after giving thanks, gave it to them and said,
All: “Drink this, all of you: this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you and many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
One: God of the new covenant, bless these gifts of bread and juice. As we take them into our bodies, may our souls be transfused with your love, our spirits renewed once more in your grace. 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. If it is not your tradition to receive, you are invited to join in prayers for the unity of the Spirit and all people, within your tradition.
Offertory Sharing Paschal Bread Union Church Orchestra
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Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
¨ Kyrie
In this season of Lent, we come together in prayer with the beautiful chant of “Kyrie Eleison,” meaning “God, have mercy on us,” and “Christe Eleison,” meaning “Christ have mercy.” You are invited to sing back the phrase after the cantor, prayerfully remembering that God’s mercy is a gift of love, freely given to us.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
One: Creator God, we don’t just want to listen. We want to hear you.
We want to read scripture aloud and know that you are as close as you have always been.
We want to read scripture aloud and feel your word resonating inside our bones.
We want to read scripture aloud and have your words stuck in our heads like a melody, falling off our lips like a love song.
Creator God, we don’t just want to listen, we want to hear you. So turn over our hearts toward you, just as you turned strangers into disciples.
Upturn our ears toward you, just as you turned tables in the temple. We are listening.
[silence is observed for listening]
One: Eternal and gracious One, though we live in a world of need,
All: Here we have tasted your goodness and hungered for a world more just.
One: Though afflicted by brokenness and division,
All: Here we have heard your call to be a covenant people of a healing community.
One: Though daily we touch our limits,
All: Here we have received the fullness of your grace.
One: Send us forth, O God,
All: In faith, in hope, and in love. Amen!
From Here to There
¨ Hymn Oh Young and Fearless Prophet Llangloffan
1 O young and fearless Prophet of ancient Galilee: your life is still a summons to serve humanity, to make our thoughts and actions less prone to please the crowd, to stand with humble courage for truth with hearts uncowed.
2 We marvel at the purpose that held you to your course while ever on the hilltop before you loomed the cross; your steadfast face set forward where love and duty shone, while we betray so quickly and leave you there alone.
3 O help us stand unswerving against war’s bloody way, where hate and lust and falsehood hold back your holy sway; forbid false love of country, that turns us from your call who lifts above the nation the neighborhood of all.
4 Stir up in us a protest against our greed for wealth; while others starve and hunger and plead for work and health; where homes with little children cry out for lack of bread, who live their years sore burdened beneath a gloomy dread.
5 O young and fearless Prophet, we need your presence here, amid our pride and glory to see thy face appear; once more give us your challenge above our noisy day, and come to lead us forward along God’s holy way.
Community Connections
Announcements
We share opportunities for Beloved Community and ways to serve. Please see the listing of church & community evens, prayers, and notices in the pages following the service.
Lighting the Justice Candle to Lead us Forth
We begin our celebration of Women’s History Month by recognizing the life and work of Dreama Gentry. As an advocate for rural schools, Dreama designed and directed Partners for Education, Berea College’s outreach in Appalachian Kentucky, leveraging millions of dollars in federal and private grants to increase educational opportunities. She says her success is due to four core strategies: “engaging families, lifting educational aspirations, building academic skills, and connecting college and career”.
Recently, Dreama expanded her work with rural communities to reach beyond the mountains she loves to serve to rural neighborhoods across the country. She is founder and CEO of Partners for Rural Impact. PRI builds capacity of local leaders, organizations, and schools in under-resourced rural communities by providing training and technical assistance.
Dreama is an Annie E. Casey Children and Family Fellow, and serves on the board of directors for the Pine Mountain Settlement School and Fahe, a community development non-profit. She is a citizen at large member of the Kentucky Early Childhood Advisory Council and a member of the equity coalition convened by the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence.
Dreama is a wife and a mother of two extraordinary young men. Throughout all her roles, she remains an outspoken advocate, representing and giving voice to rural issues in policy discussions.
¨ Benediction The God of Second Chances David Haas
Those who are able & willing are invited to fill the aisles as we sing the Benediction Response together. If you’re at home or in the balcony, you are part of the embrace too. The embrace is as wide as God’s love!
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 (World Council of Churches Ecumenical Prayer cycle: union-church.org/ministries/prayer) Let us hold the people of Ireland and the United Kingdom: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales; and our brothers and sisters at Calvary Apostolic Church in our hearts, and pray for them today and throughout the week.
¨ All the people of Ukraine for their safety and sovereignty. Prayers also that the government of Russia will turn to reason & respect for their own peoples’ lives as well as for Ukrainian families.
¨ All those affected by the devastating losses in the current conflict in the Middle East.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Jan Hamilton, Betsy Hoefer, Dorie Hubbard, Lois Morgan, Sara Parker, Cheryl Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie, Sally Zimmerman.
¨ All those suffering from mental strain, trauma, and disease: may God soothe and heal all who are troubled.
¨ Members and Friends who need safer housing and income security.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ Jeannette Davidson, having health problems.
¨ Barb Taylor, recovering at home from a stroke.
¨ NoraRuth Jenkins, recovering from two recent surgeries.
¨ Melissa Zook & Susan Doring Zook, whose family has had several recent and difficult losses.
¨ Cron Carpenter, recovering from extensive heart surgery, and Delores as she cares for him.
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: March 5 – Jenny Bromley; 8 – Betsy Hoefer; 11 – Terry Scherf
Anniversaries: March 10 – Karle & Triss Holland; Reid & Mandy Connelly
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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