A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Third Sunday of Lent March 3, 2013
Meditation
We were made to enjoy music, to enjoy beautiful sunsets, to enjoy looking at the billows of the sea and to be thrilled with a rose that is bedecked with dew… Human beings are actually created for the transcendent, for the sublime, for the beautiful, for the truthful… and all of us are given the task of trying to make this world a little more hospitable to these beautiful things.
—Desmond Tutu
Gathering to Worship
Welcome and Announcements
Prelude What God Ordains Is Always Good (Was Gott Tut) Johann Pachelbel
* Call to Worship adapted from the Iona Community
One: O God, you summon the day to dawn, you teach the morning to waken to the earth.
All: We, too, open our eyes to new possibilities.
One: For you the valleys shall sing for joy, the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
All: We, too, are created for praise.
One: For you the monarchs of the earth shall bow, The poor and persecuted shall shout for joy.
All: We, too, seek justice for all.
One: Your love and mercy shall last forever; fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise.
All: In gratitude and awe, we gather to worship.
* Opening Hymn #18 Black Guide Me, O My Redeemer CWM Rhondda
* Prayer of Approach and Confession adapted from the Iona Community
One: We stand at the top of a mountain and lament the destruction of its neighbor. We stand at the bank of river, and cry for its poisoning. We breathe in the breath of God, and fear for what else might be in that breath. And we do all these things, knowing that we are complicit in this destruction, that our choices and choices we have voted for, and the choices of many of our ancestors, have gotten us here in this mess. And so we lament that, too.
All: Here, O Creator God, we look in wonder at all you have made. But remind us: the earth does not belong to us; we belong to the earth.
And remind us: the earth, and all that is in it, belongs to you. You confront us with such beauty and such power, and such responsibility.
Teach us, O Creator God, to respect this planet, our home, to live carefully within the web of life, and to give you the glory.
* Words of Assurance
One: We are not alone. We live in God’s world. We can turn our hearts and our minds toward God, and we can be led – to a world of fresh water and clean air, a world of beautiful mountains and tall trees. God can restore and refresh us, and God can help us do the same for each other.
All: Thanks be to God!
* 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
Anthem What Wondrous Love Is This arr. Geoff Weaver
Union Church Choir
1. What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul! What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss To lay aside his crown for my soul, for my soul.
2. To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing. To God and to the Lamb who is the great I AM, While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing.
3. And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on. And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be, And through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on.
Psalm 63:1-8 (Sung) p. 660 Black
The Psalms were all originally musical compositions. During Lent we will pray the psalms in musical form with congregational responses. Please sing the response at the “R” when invited.
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 Community Room, and Children’s Church for kids ages 5-8 is available in Room 104. The activities provided acquaint the children with the structure of the regular service in a way that engages them and encourages their participation. Children’s Church is staffed by Anna Kate McWhorter, and parents who wish to accompany their children are very welcome.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Isaiah 37:21-29 (p. 848)
Hezekiah prays to God in his illness, and receives an answer.
Message Blood on the Cedars Tevyn East
Hymn Canticle of the Turning (insert)
Offering Our Gifts
Offertory Two Canons on “For the Beauty of the Earth” W.L.Curry/D. Busarow
* Doxology (Sung in English) Laudate omnes gent
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 our Creator.
All: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Communion Prayer
One: We gather around this table to reclaim our memories and to ground ourselves in the story – a story knit into the fabric of our beings – about the abundant gift and sufficiency of God’s creation. We are invited to pause in our wandering, to seek for ourselves Jesus’ clarity of vision and passionate resolve, to feel for ourselves the Spirit’s ever-present offering of life, and find in ourselves a remembrance and a readiness to work toward a world restored. Who is welcome here? All who seek and serve the love of God, all who hunger and thirst for righteousness, all who are weary and long for strength in the struggle for justice and peace.
Let us together prepare and gather at the table of blessing.
Ringing the Peace Bell and Prayers of the Community
Communion Prayer
One: Through your abundant creation and the awesome gift of your son, you have come into our lives, teaching us, cajoling us, calling us back to you…. forever suffering our pain and renewing our hope in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We come before you, the fed and the starving; the self-satisfied and disturbed, all seeking you within the madness of how your creation is plundered and your people suffer. The earth is a table, and the table is a gift to meant to provide for all: we are partners with you in its care, and beneficiaries of your creation and care. For your constant love and unceasing labors to heal, we sing your praises for this mighty work, raising our voices to proclaim:
Sanctus Please Join in Singing
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.
Communion Prayer
One: On the night he was betrayed, Jesus sat with his disciples and broke bread. He blessed it, lifted it up, and spoke these words:
All: “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
One: Then, after the supper was over, he took the cup, blessed it, and said,
All: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
One: Remembering you as we come to the richness of your table, we cannot and we do not forget the rawness of the earth and the cry of the poor. We cannot take bread and forget those who are hungry. We cannot take wine and forget those who are thirsty. Help us feed others as we are fed.
Here you have offered us not just bread, not just wine, but your very self, so that we may be filled and forgiven, healed, blessed and made new again.
All: Ground us in your love that we may be strong and discerning for the journey. Bless us, as we open our hearts and hands to receive, and celebrate the goodness of the earth. Come, Holy Spirit, Come! Amen.
Serving One Another
All who seek the love of God are welcome at this table and are invited to freely receive from it. By tradition, unfermented grape juice is used in the cup on Sunday mornings. 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. As you wait for your turn, and as your reflect on your communion, you are invited to sing with us.
Blessing for Those Who Will Receive at Home
Members who have been designated to carry communion to those who could not be with us this morning are invited forward at this time. Elements from our meal will go with our blessing and prayers for our continued unity in the Spirit. 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 one of the pastors.
Communion Music by Tevyn East and Jay Beck
In the Cool of the Day (Appalachian Song)
Beautiful Great One (Christian Mohawk Chant)
Prayer of Thanksgiving (unison)
The earth and its weary people cry out for justice. With strength from your presence, show us quickly, Lord, how we may turn every ravenous binge of violence into a welcome feast of righteousness and peace. By this meal put our fullness at the service of the empty. Through the power of your love and by the strength of this fellowship, may we heal the world in every brokenness in the name of Jesus, the ever-greening Christ. Amen.
Walking Forward in Faith
* Closing Hymn #569 Black Touch the Earth Lightly Tenderness
* Benediction and Sending Forth
* Benediction Response Blessing Round Jonathon Jensen
* 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 Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco and San Marino and our brothers and sisters at the Gloryland 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
* The evergreen on the altar this week is in remembrance of the life of Joyce Henderson’s sister-in-law, Doris Irvine Ritchie. She passed away last Saturday, a month after her husband, Joyce’s brother, also died. Both had endured long illnesses, so the family is gathering this weekend to usher them into a new life free of pain. We hold them in the light of God’s love as they do.
* Paul Wells, recovering well from heart valve replacement surgery at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington, Room 333. He is expected to be hospitalized until about mid-week.
* Julie Midkiff, who has a mass in her neck.
* Robert Foley, who has some difficult trials ahead.
* Jan Hamilton, recovering well from knee replacement. She wishes to express her thanks for the showering of TLC from her Union Church family!
* Carol Shaffer, recuperating from shoulder surgery at daughter Beth’s, 113 Redman Avenue, Haddonfield, NJ, 08033, at least until March 13.
* Whitney Louise Wellinghurst, who was born at 25 weeks on December 8, weighing 1 pound, 7 ounces, now weighs over 5 pounds! Please hold the family in prayer as Whitney faces some serious health challenges.
* Abi Dietz, who is now in rehab in Philadelphia. Cards may be sent care of her mom, Georgina Bard, 403 Edge Hill Rd., Glenside, PA, 19038
* Edith Hansen, at The Terrace
* Shirley Dean, on hospice care for lung cancer
* Ruth Wesley, now at The Terrace
Assisting in Worship
Worship Leader today is Elizabeth Crowe Next week: Kevin Burke
Bulletin cover photo by Kent Gilbert
Announcements…
You Matter! Please sign in on the Pew folders which will be passed in your row, with the last person taking out the sheet and placing it in the offering plate. Thank you.
Please stay for lunch! During Lent, all are invited to stay after worship for a lunch prepared by church family members. Today we are treated to a meal made by the Worship and Mission & Service Boards.
Annual Reports due Monday, March 4 (yup – that’s tomorrow!)
Community-Building Challenge Course event! Sunday, March 10th, part of our 40 Days offerings. Kim Kobersmith will lead us through a series of group challenges that involve cooperation, problem solving, and some physical dexterity on the low rope course at EKU. We will leave from church at 1:00 and return around 5:30ish. Cost is $20 and there are funds available from the church to help everyone who wants to participate. Prefer participants to be at least upper elementary age. Please contact Kim at kim.kobersmith@gmail.com or 985-0185 to sign up or ask questions.
Host a Singer overnight! The group Northern Harmony will be with us to conduct a singing workshop after Wednesday Nite Live this week, and will perform a fundraiser concert (sugg. donation $10) in our sanctuary on Thursday, March 7. If you can host a member or two of the group Weds. and Thurs. night, please call the office. Thanks!
Tuesday Coffee, Bagels, and 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.
Youth Working to Earn Money for Church Camp…They Can Help! Need to get into your attic? Need some spring cleaning? Having problems understanding your new phone? Need someone to get your flowerbed ready for the Spring? A youth can do it! In the upcoming months the youth will be working hard to raise money for their trip to Passport Choices in Wyngate, NC. If you need assistance with any task, no matter how big or small, call Chris (678-982-1731) or Grace Mckenzie (205-451-7444). Be ready to estimate the number of youth you will need, what supplies you have and if you need us to bring any, and how long the project will take.
Save the Date: Union Church’s Annual Meeting, March 17, 2013… Members will be elected to Boards and Committees, the Annual Reports are presented, and other special business of the church conducted, including reports on our constitutional revision process, capital campaign, construction, and Rev. Kent’s upcoming Sabbatical. The meeting will be right after worship and a special St. Patrick’s day Lenten luncheon of corned beef and cabbage. Annual Reports are due in the office on March 4. If you’d like to receive the past couple of years of reports — either just from your Board or in their entirety, call or email the office and we’ll get it to you.
Weekly Lenten Event Update – Shake Your Soul: The Yoga of Dance! Classes during Lent will be on Fridays from 7-8pm. This class is open to anyone and everyone interested in exploring a unique combination of movement, mindfulness, creativity and spirit. No dance experience necessary. Classes are $10 each or $40 for 5 and will be offered at Cedar Haven (925 W. Jefferson St.). For updated class schedule visit www.cedarhaven.net. Contact Kate Grigg at 708-341-0916 or kate.grigg@yahoo.com for more information
Adopt a Potato! Sustainable Berea is sponsoring a project to test 10 potato varieties under Berea’s growing conditions. Potatoes are a nutritious, high-yielding staple crop that adapts well to back yard gardens and provides a measure of food self-sufficiency. Sustainable Berea will provide you with two pounds of seed potatoes if you agree to grow the potatoes, keep some simple management and yield data, and report the results back to Sustainable Berea. Information on the available varieties and a sign-up form are in the church office. For more info: PO Box 1302, Berea KY 40403, email info@sustainableberea.org or call 859-985-1689.
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