Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Fourth Sunday of Lent
March 31, 2019 10:30 am
Meditation
Let the beauty you love be what you do. There are a hundred ways to kneel and kiss the ground. ― Rumi
As the Beloved, I can confront, console, admonish, and encourage without fear of rejection of need for affirmation. ― Henri J.M. Nouwen
From there to Here: We Gather
Welcome & Announcements
Welcome to this service of worship! During the service, you are invited to rise in body or in spirit, standing or sitting, at points in the service marked “ ”.”
Please sign in using the pew folder, passing it back down the row so all can greet one another by name, and place the sheet in an offering plate. We’re glad you’re here!
Prelude Lord, Give Peace in Our Time Sowerby/Stearns
The Call
“Leaving home is living as though I do not yet have a home, and must look far and wide to find one. Home is the center of my being, where I can hear the voice that says, “You are my beloved. On you my favor rests,” the same voice that gave life to the first Adam and spoke to Jesus, the second Adam.
The same voice that speaks to all the children of God and sets them free to live in the midst of a dark world while remaining in the light. I have heard that voice. It has spoken to me in the past and continues to speak to me now. It is the never-interrupted voice of love speaking from eternity and giving life and love wherever it is heard.
When I hear that voice, I know that I am home with God and have nothing to fear. …As the Beloved I can suffer persecution without desire for revenge and receive praise without using it as a proof of my goodness. …As the Beloved I am free to live and give life, free also to die while giving life.”
― Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming
¨ Hymn #550 Black O God, as with a Potter’s Hand Winston-Salem
¨ 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 and hospitality.
The Living Word among us
Anthem O Lamb of God, Most Holy Sandra Gay
Union Church Choir
O Lamb of God most holy! Who on the cross did suffer so patient and lowly, yourself to scorn did offer, our sins by you were taken, or hope had us forsaken: Have mercy on us, Jesus! When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the prince of glory died, my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride. Your peace be with us, Jesus.
Epistle Lesson 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 (p. 1406)
Because of Christ, not only are we different, but we see everyone else differently, and so we are able to be about reconciliation.
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.
No Children’s Church today. Following the Children’s Moment, children are invited to return to their seats, and are welcome to visit the Children’s Worship Center in the back of the sanctuary. It has toys, books, and drawing materials for children (or parents) who would like help staying present in the service. For children preschool age & under, care is available in the Nursery, downstairs in Room 104 off the playground.
Sung Psalm 32 Paul Smithson, cantor p. 642
The Psalms were originally musical compositions. During Lent we will pray the psalms in musical form with congregational responses. Please sing the response when invited.
Gospel Lesson Luke 15:1-3,11b-32 (p. 1257)
As sinners draw near to Jesus, even Jesus’ critics grumble. In response, Jesus tells them a story about a father and his two sons.
Sermon Resigned and Reconciled Rev. Kent Gilbert
Living Prayer
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.
Prayer in Action and Reflections
When you last “ran away from home,” either literally or inwardly, what grew from that experience? How can you come into awareness of the steadfast love that surrounds you? How could that changed perception transform your life? Do you need to forgive or be forgiven right now? Consider what your next step might be.
Our Offering Offering baskets are placed in the aisle, and can also be brought to your seat. 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.
Many friends give online, and you can use your smart phone or computer and go to www.easytithe.com/union. You don’t have to register to make a contribution, but if you do, it can make future generosity that much easier. You can even give by text! Text to 859-448-3403 (Example: Text “$50.00 Offering)
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Community Sharing Table During Lent, one of the many ways you can kneel and kiss the ground is through your contributions at the Community Sharing Table. We are considering how our contributions can walk along with our scriptures each week.
Week 4: Non-perishable meat items (fatted calf)
Week 5: Emergency kits for disaster relief (the poor are always with us)
Week 6: (Palm Sunday): One Great Hour of Sharing
Use the Labyrinth as Meditation During the season of Lent, you will have three ways of walking a labyrinth here in the sanctuary.
- Your bulletin cover will feature a different finger labyrinth each week, which you can travel prayerfully without leaving your seat.
- For this season, the entire sanctuary is our labyrinth. As you walk, whether to a prayer station or for another reason, walk mindfully, pondering the paths your life is taking right now. Consider taking the long route some-times, around a set of pews.
- One of your destinations could be the labyrinth station in the front corner by the Peace Bell.
Kneeling in Prayer We are enlarging our prayer corner for you to kneel for your unique prayer journey. Each week the articles for contemplation will reflect the lectionary readings for that week.
Record Your Hundred Ways In the children’s corner is a large family star chart for recording and celebrating the actions we have taken in our “Kneel and kiss the ground” focus. If you have participated in one of the suggested actions or in any other way of letting the beauty you love be what you do, put a star or sticker on the chart. There is room to write in more actions, and a marker on the plate rail above the chart for that purpose.
Gather in a Circle
As we end our time of prayer, you are invited to form a large circle around the sanctuary. Those who have not left their seats to pray are encouraged to join the circle. Feel free to create “arms” of our “amoeba of love” which include those who cannot leave their seats. We will pray the Lord’s Prayer together and then sing our parting blessing responsively, repeating each line after the minister.
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
¨ The Sending and Blessing
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 The Balkans – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia and our brothers and sisters at First Faith Independent Baptist Church in our hearts, and pray for them. Please hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week.
Prayer requests to be printed may be sent to the office anytime before 10:00 am Fridays.
¨ Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon. 15,000 are now detained in the US.
¨ Victims of the New Zealand mosque shooting, and victims of gun violence everywhere.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound: Edith Hansen, Nancy Hindman, Loyal Jones, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin.
¨ Those who are without homes and safe places.
¨ Shirley Carlberg’s sister in her treatment for cancer.
¨ Judy Rowell, recovering at home from heart valve replacement surgery.
¨ For Michelle Hayden’s sister-in-law in her treatment for cancer.
¨ Marie, great-great niece of Dorie Hubbard, battling cancer at 4 years old.
¨ Tonya, Judith Singleton’s daughter-in-law, sick with a bacterial infection.
¨ Michelle Hayden, as she heals.
¨ Paul Jacobs, recovering from arm surgery. There’s a MealTrain set up, if you can help with evening meals while Paul recovers: https://www.mealtrain. com/trains/d9l8ol
¨ There will be a memorial service for Lila Bellando this afternoon at Churchill’s, 3:00 pm.
¨ Jerry Cooper’s daughter, Susan, due to have heart catheterization.
Pretzel Sunday! These little breads were shaped in the form of arms crossed in prayer and were called bracellae (Latin, ‘little arms’). In German the word became ‘bretzel’. These pretzels were a common Lenten food throughout the Middle Ages in Europe, and became an all year round snack in the 19th century.
Stay for Lunch during Lent! Our Administration and Nurture & Care Boards have prepared a variety of chilis, salads and desserts! On your way down to the Community Room, check out the beautiful quilts displayed in the Pross Gallery. They are the work of the quilting group that meets here at Union on Tuesday afternoons. After lunch, Rev. Kent will give a brief intro into our Memory Keepers ministry.
Rev. Kent Awarded Grant. Rev. Kent has been awarded a grant to attend Ecumenical Advocacy Days, April 5-8, in Washington, DC. Ecumenical Advocacy Days is a movement of the ecumenical Christian community, and its recognized partners and allies, grounded in biblical witness and shared traditions of justice, peace and the integrity of creation. The goal, through worship, theological reflection and opportunities for learning and witness, is to strengthen our Christian voice and to mobilize for advocacy on a wide variety of U.S. domestic and international policy issues. He will join 5 other pastors from around the state as representative of Kentucky clergy. Rev. Emily Miller will bring us the Word on April 7.
Youth Group Fundraiser extended! Our Youth Group is selling cards as a fundraiser. Buy a box – buy 2 – never get stuck without a card when you need one – order soon!
Explore a Labyrinth! Today at 1:30 in the Classroom, the second of a series on the Labyrinth will be held in the Classroom just down the hall from the church office. Learn about the labyrinth, its history and use. Weather permitting, we will go to the labyrinth on the Berea College campus. If the weather does not cooperate, we will spend time using “finger labyrinths” in meditation and reflection in the Classroom.
Wednesday Nite Live is a potluck this week, April 3, for the first Wednesday of the month! Supper at 5:45 in the community room. Then – Game Night!
Chair Yoga Friday, April 5, 11:00 am til noon in the Classroom. Judy Flavell, teacher at Mind Body and Sol Yoga Studio will be leading Chair Yoga, a gentle form of yoga that allows to you connect with your body and let your spirit shine through. No registration necessary — just show up wearing comfortable clothes!
Friday, 7:30 pm. Classic Chorale Concert The Berea Classic Chorale will present it’s Spring concert, “Miniature Masterworks.” Music by Henry Purcell, J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart and Gabriel Faure’ will be sung by the 28-voice community chorus.
The compositions for this concert are by some of the giants of classical music from the lath 17th century through the early 20th century. However, in contrast to the many large works by these composers, the Chorale will be presenting pieces pieces of more modest length, but clearly by the hands of musicals geniuses. These sacred works will be accompanied by organist Rob Hayden and a string quartet of area professionals.
Adults, $5. Children and students free.
Please join us for a reception in the church parlor immediately following the concert.
Union Church seeks a nursery worker! If you are 18+, love kids (especially the 0-5 age group) and are available on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings, this might be a great opportunity for you. Nursery staff earn $12 / hour and must complete a background check and our free Safe Sanctuaries training. Interested? Contact Laura Nagle (859-358-0106 or joyfulsunflower@gmail.com) for more information.
The One Great Hour of Sharing offering will be received on Palm Sunday, April 14. One Great Hour of Sharing is an offering that makes the love of Christ real for individuals and communities around the world who suffer the effects of disaster, conflict, or severe economic hardship, and for those who serve them, through gifts of money and time. Today, projects are underway in more than 100 countries, including the United States and Canada. In the 1990s, receipts have exceeded $20 million annually. One Great Hour of Sharing funds make possible disaster relief, refugee assistance, development aid and more.
Want to keep your hands busy during service? There’s a basket in the back of the church with knitting projects started by the knitters among us. You can knit a few rows and pray for the person who will receive the finished item, and then return it to the basket after service for someone else to add their stitches and prayers.
Memory Keepers Support Group will begin April 8, 7:30 in the Wayside Room. Today, during the Lenten Luncheon following worship, Rev. Kent will give a brief overview and information on general education regarding memory loss and Memory Keepers, a support group for caregivers of those with memory loss, which will meet every 2nd and 4th Monday. Plan to attend and learn how we can best minister to each other whether we are the person suffering memory loss, a care giver, or a caring member of our congregation and community. Call Doug Hindman at 859-582-5806 for more info.
Lost & Found is Goodwill-bound. Check the shelves across from the office if you’ve left something at church.
Next Saturday, April 6, is the Berea Victory Garden Blitz – raised garden beds are constructed and installed across the community by volunteers. Bring a dish to the 2 pm potluck at the Berea Municipal Utilities Grounds on 200 Harrison Road. Come early and visit educational booths and fun exhibits! Contact info@sustainable berea.org for information or to order a bed. (Deadline is April 1).
Sunday, April 14, 3:00 pm. The Berea College Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, Stephen Bolster conductor, will present their annual spring concert in Union Church on Palm Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend, and there is no charge for admission.
The program is titled “Joy Ascending.” The first section is in Latin, and begins with Kyrie settings of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Josef Rheinberger, followed by other sacred music in Latin in honor of the Lenten season. The Chamber Singers will perform Eric Whitacre’s Five Hebrew Love Songs for piano, violin, and choir with Jeremy Mullholland, Chair of the Music Department at EKU, as featured artist. The Concert Choir and Chamber Singers will follow with a group of well-known folksongs including the famous “Simple Gifts” and “Shenandoah,” and a Scottish folksong arrangement accompanied by the Clavere Piano Duo. The end of the program will move from a theme of darkness to a celebration of joy. The Concert choir will perform two songs about faith, and conclude the program with Andrew Maxfield’s Whatever is foreseen in joy and René Clausen’s All that hath life and breath praise ye the Lord. Please come and enjoy an afternoon of contemplative and joyful music!
April 16, 6 pm. Development work in Central America. Sarah Junkin Woodard of the Center for Development in Central America will be at the Friends Meeting House in Berea on Tuesday, April 16, at 6:00 pm, 300 Harrison Rd. CDCA has worked in Nicaragua for 30 years, starting co-ops, improving water and sanitation and providing healthcare and training. Doors open at 5:30, and a simple supper will be served. Registration is encouraged: hankfay@gmail.com.
The Census Bureau is hiring now and up to the 2020 Census. You must be 18 years old or older, a US citizen, have transportation, an email address, internet access to apply (you can use a computer here). Pay is $14 an hour + 58 cents a mile driven for the job. Part time, flexible hours. Paid training for 3-5 days. 2020census.gov/jobs
Lent Opportunities
Settle Into Scripture! Sundays at 4:00 pm; Wednesdays at 8:30 am Cowan Chapel. For thirty minutes, Rev. Kent will lead the traditional Benedictine practice of Lectio Divina, a four-step process that treats scripture as a living word, rather than just a text to be studied. (Note: Sunday and Wednesday of each week will use the same scripture passage.) Also, watch Facebook for a virtual version of the weekly Lectio Divina.
Community Joy at Wednesday Nite Live! April 3 – POTLUCK for the first Wednesday of the month plus Game Night after supper. Bring your favorite game! April 10 – Spring Caroling practice!
Run Together! Couch to 5K: Thursdays 6-6:30 pm; Stephenson Trail. Ever wanted to train for a 5K? Let’s do it together. Bring the kids & the dog! Contact Laura with questions: joyfulsunflower@gmail.com / 859.358.0106 (text or call) or just show up!
Chair Yoga Friday, April 5, 11:00 am til noon in the Classroom. Judy Flavell, teacher at Mind Body and Sol Yoga Studio will be leading Chair Yoga, a gentle form of yoga that allows to you connect with your body and let your spirit shine through. No registration necessary — just show up wearing comfortable clothes!
Sing to our Neighbors! Sunday April 14 at 1:30. Let’s meet in the Community Room and carpool to spread our love and joy (and the songs we have been practicing at WNL) to our friends in local care facilities with some Spring Caroling!
Reflect Through Photography! Use Facebook to share images representing the Lenten Word of the Day. Follow Union Church on Facebook and post your images.
Make Stuff Together! In the back of the sanctuary, you will find kits with simple knitting projects, started by the knitters among us. Pick one up during service,
follow the pattern, pray for the person who will receive the item, and sign the card when you leave it in the basket for the next person to continue.
Connect With Each Other! Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living. Virtual Book Group We will use a private Facebook group to read & discuss this book of essays by Shauna Niequest. Contact Laura to be added to the group: joyfulsunflower@gmail.com / 859.358.0106 (text or call).
Would you like some free edible perennial plants for your home? Thanks to Union Church and many of our fellow Berea community members, Sustainable Berea is offering a new program: the Neighborhood Perennials Project. The project aims to increase the resiliency of our local food system by planting edible perennials throughout the community and empowering community members to care for them and harvest their bounty!
Sarah Barney, the Project Coordinator, is doing home visits to assist families in selecting plants that are well-suited to their yard and eating preferences. Edible perennials include fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, cane fruits and vegetables, such as asparagus and perennial greens. They are also offering pollinator-friendly perennial flowers through the program. They are also hosting a series of lectures and workshops to educate interested community members about the long-term care.
Our Properties Board is also working with Sarah to determine if we could host some edible perennials at the church. We would need some plant caregivers, so if you are interested please see anyone on the Properties Board or Dave Kobersmith.
To learn more about Sustainable Berea program, visit their website: www.sustainableberea.org/neighborhood-perennials-project or email the Project Coordinator, sarah@sustainableberea.org.
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