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

Fourth Sunday of Lent March 30, 2014, 10:30 am

Meditation

“There are many things that can only be seen through eyes that have cried.”                                                                                                                                                                          ― Oscar A. Romero

From there to here 

Welcome & Announcements
Prelude     Prelude in G Minor     J.S. Bach
*  Call to Worship              
One:    A quiet place… a place to be fed, not fed upon… a place in the presence of all that is of all that yet might be.
All:     We gather in the presence of our worst enemies: time, money, work, struggles, worries for young and old, self-doubt, and all the dangers unforeseen.
One:    In the midst of all this, God sets a table.
All:      In the midst of all that we live here.
One:     We come to rest and revive, friends. We come not lambs to the slaughter, but sheep of God’s tending. Let us worship God together in the peace afforded to all.
*  Hymn #479 Black           God Is My Shepherd   Brother James’ Air
*  Prayer of Approach and Confession  (unison)
We have too often been too blind, Lord, to see what is right in front of us. Ignoring your healing mercy we turn a blind eye to our own faults and failures. More concerned with pride of place and reinforcing our pre-approved beliefs, we overlook the good, the great, the Godly, in others so that we can remain unchallenged.
Today we pray for you to wipe the spit and mud from our eyes to see clearly, to love deeply, to seek truly the love you have for us and for all. Forgive us and help us learn to come into the light fast, and more often than we have. Amen.
[in the silence, close your eyes, and when ready and able, open them.]
 * Words of Assurance                     
*  Passing the Peace of Jesus 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.

the Word In our Midst

Anthem    When the Storms of Life Are Raging     arr. Christopher Henke

Union Church Choir

When the storms of life are raging, stand by me; when the world is tossing me like a ship across the sea; Thou who rulest wind and water, stand by me. In the midst of tribulation, stand by me; when the hosts of hell assail, and my strength begins to fail, thou who never lost a battle, stand by me.
In the midst of faults and failures, stand by me; when I do the best I can, and my friends misunderstand, thou who knowest all about me, stand by me. In the midst of persecution, stand by me, when my foes in battle array undertake to stop my way, thou who saved Paul and Silas, stand by me.
When I’m growing old and feeble, stand by me; when my life becomes a burden and I’m nearing chilly Jordan, O thou Lily of the Valley, stand by me. O Creator, Lord and Savior, stand by me.
Epistle Lesson                  Ephesians 5:8-14
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, Little Church for children Preschool & under is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Fellowship Hall, and Children’s Church, for grades K-3, takes place in the chapel.  If this is your child’s first time attending Little Church or Children’s Church, please accompany them to fill out a registration form.  Otherwise, children are welcome to follow volunteers to their worship spaces.
Psalm Reflection  We Will Rise Again    David Haas
1. Like a shepherd I will feed you; I will gather you with care.  I will lead you and hold you  close to my heart.
Refrain : We will run and not grow weary, for our God will be our strength, and we will fly like the eagle, we will rise again.
2. I am strength to the weary; to the weak I am new life. Though the young may grow weary, I will be their hope.
3. Lift up your eyes, and see who made the stars.  I lead you, and I know you, I call you  each by name.
4. Fear not, I am with you; I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; uphold you with my hand.
Gospel Lesson                              John 9:1-41
Sermon                             Blindsided by Joy       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. Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you.
Offertory  Simple Gifts    arr. John G. Barr
*  Doxology  Holy Ground   Christopher Beatty
 These are holy hands, God’s given us holy hands
God works through these hands
And so these hands are holy
These are holy hands
God’s given us holy hands
God works through these hands
And so these hands are holy.

Connecting the dots and praying it forward

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, and…
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.

From here to there 

* Closing Hymn      I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light            Houston
*  Benediction         
*  Benediction Response     We Will Walk with God           Sizohamba naye
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 Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore and our brothers and sisters at Liberty Avenue 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 and all those who wait and worry for them.
* Judy Royalty,  recovering from surgery
* The family of Harry Piland, at his death.
* Peggy Coyne’s daughter’s future mother-in-law, Jan Dailey-Hosp, awaiting a lung transplant
* Greg Bolster, Steve’s brother, gravely ill with cancer
* Michelle Tooley, with recurrence of melanoma
* Naomi Brandenburg, Larry’s mother,      recovering at home after hip replacement
* Our church family members recovering at home and in nursing homes: Rose Brandenburg, Jerry Cooper, Edith Hansen, Klara Welsh, Bernice Robertson, Nancy Jones
* Naomi Schulz, in seminary in Berkeley, CA.
* Joy Frazier, at the death of her brother, in Florida
* Lark and Evan, friends of Willie Dodson, for Evan’s health issues.  He is recovering well from surgery.
* Rhonda Owens, in the loss of her mother
* Marlene Payne’s niece, Sarah, her daughter, Reldy, and grand daughter, Lola
* The family of Nadia Olds, an 11-year-old  Berea Community School student, who has died
* Barbara Frederiksen, recovering from emergency surgery
* Andy Blyth, who had surgery this week
* Bob Bates, who had foot surgery and is being treated with antibiotics
* Linda Parsons, who broke her leg in a fall and is recovering at Cardinal Hill
* Carole and all the family, at the death of Christopher Pierce.  He taught Art Education classes at Berea College  and Community School from 1967 – 2005.  Chris died on March 23, 2014 in Albuquerque, NM after a brief illness.   Anyone wishing to contact Carole may reach her at: 1319 Camino Ecuestre NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107
Announcements 
You Matter! Please Sign in, Check in on Facebook/Twitter and try a nametag! It’s hard to get to know people elsewhere, but we don’t want it that way at church.  Use the pew folder in your row, passing it back when all have signed. Let’s all try to get to know each other better.
Join Us For Lunches Today and Every Sunday in Lent! — You are invited to the Community Room immediately following worship for Lenten Lunch! Donations go toward our church’s operating budget, but all are welcome with or without the ability to make a contribution. Good food, good fellowship, good cause.

Interested in exploring membership with 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.   New members are received every Second Sunday of the month—April 13 this month. YOU are welcome here!

Lenten Communion Each Sunday… Communion is an important practice that symbolizes our bind both with God and the healing presence of Christ. During Lent communion will be offered at the altar following the postlude for any who would like to receive that special reminder for their weekly journey. You need not be a member of this church or any church to participate.
Learn about Rainwater Gardens!  On April 1, at 1 p.m. at Union Church we will  have a meeting to discuss rain water gardens and the $250 gift that comes to people wanting to install a garden at their house or business.  Anyone interested in rain water gardens is welcome.  Contact Sustainable Berea (985-1689) or Rachael Small-Stokes at Union Church for more information.
Wednesday Nite Live! On April 2 Abigale Embry, who preached in January as part of our own Festival of Young Preachers, will present an exploration of Ephesians 5:8-14: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light  (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.  Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.  It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”