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

Sixth Sunday of Easter May 10, 2015, 10:30 am

Meditation
“I am sure that if the mothers of various nations could meet,  there would be no more wars.”

—E. M. Forster (English Novelist and Essayist, 1879-1970)

From there to here

Prelude      
*  Call to Worship 
One:    God has made us all!
All:      Mother to creation, Maker of all that is and is becoming, we gather in God’s name!
One:    God’s house has many rooms, and God’s families take many shapes and sizes.
All:      All are children of God and every family, made and chosen, are meant to steward God’s love.
One:    Let us praise God with songs new and old. Let us bring joy to the feet of the Lord by our worship and work!
*  Hymn #427 Black           God Made of One Blood         St. Denio
* Prayer of Approach and Confession (unison) 
Joy-giving God, we know who we are: people who hear the harmony of your grace and love in our souls, but sing off-key so often. We want to learn new songs, but those haunting tunes of our past mistakes run through our heads. We long to make a joyful noise to you, but the hurts inflicted on us, and the pain we have caused others, silence our voices.
Sing to us, Conductor of Grace: sing of your forgiveness, your hope, your love for us. Strike a chord of humility in our hearts so our eyes could see all you have done for us; and in seeing, we might believe how much you love us; and in believing, we would echo that new song of hope and life composed in Grace by Christ.

Adapted from a prayer by Thom Shuman

*  Passing the Peace of Jesus 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 joy.

The Word in our Midst

Epistle Lesson                  1 John 5:1-6
Anthem    What a Friend We Have in Jesus        Patricia Sanders Cota

Handbell Quartet:

Carrie Jadud, Heather Lundy, Pearl Marshall, Merry Kay Winter

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, children grades K-3 are invited to Children’s Church, which takes place in the chapel.  If this is your child’s first time attending Children’s Church, please accompany them to fill out a registration form.  Otherwise, children are welcome to follow volunteers to their worship spaces. For children preschool & under, care is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Community Room. Please pick up your children in the Chapel after the service.
Gospel Lesson                  John 15:9-17
Sermon     Who Chooses?       Rev. Kent Gilbert

Gifts given for Love to flow

Call to Offering
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.
This can now be done online or by text to  859-448-3403 (Example: Text “$50.00 Offering” to contribute to the ongoing ministries, or add “youth,” or “missions” or designation of your choice to benefit one in particular.) If you give online, please place an Eastertide offering card from the red pew folder into the offering plate.
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Offertory              Adagio from Mendelssohn Sonata in A flat Major      Mendelssohn
*  Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow;    Old Hundredth
                  Praise God all creatures here below;
                  Praise God above, ye heavenly host:
                  Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.  

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 Prayers 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

Introduction and Invitation to Membership    
Union Church is a vital and growing family of faith, a home to those committed to the way of Christ’s sacrificial love and service. All who feel led to join will be received in joy, and are welcome to come forward during the Closing Hymn. Thanks be to God for these ministers among us.
*  Closing Hymn #583 Black         Like a Mother Who Has Borne Us      Austin
 Questions of the Congregation and New Members   
*  Covenant of Welcome      
And we, the members of this church, renewing our own covenant      to God and to each other, do now heartily welcome you to our fellowship, promising to watch over you in love, and praying that  you and we may be true witnesses for Christ, a light in the world,  and continue to increase in usefulness and joy in his service.
*  Benediction & Sending Forth
Postlude (please be seated)         Prelude and Fugue in G        J.S. Bach
_____________________________
*   Please rise in body or in spirit as you wish.
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 Eritrea and Ethiopia and our brothers and sisters at Lighthouse Baptist Church in your hearts, and pray for them.
Please also hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week:
¨ The victims of the earthquake and aftershocks in Nepal, and those who seek to assist them
¨ Those in harm’s way in service of our country, and those who wait and worry for them.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound:  Edith Hansen, Nancy Jones, Mary Miller, Averill Kilbourne, Alva Peloquin, Ruth Butwell
¨ Kelly Mehler—we celebrate that his cancer is in remission!
¨ Michelle Tooley
¨ Ed Doty, Patty Boyce’s brother, as he continues treatment for bladder cancer.
¨ Our Confirmation Class members and their mentors
¨ The family and friends of Sarah Maupin, dear friend of Rhonda Edwards who passed away on Tuesday
You Can Join the Movement! New members will be welcomed today, and the second Sunday of every month. Come, be part of this family working for Christ’s justice and joy!
Phone left at Healing Arts Retreat. If you think it’s yours, come by the office.
Mugs! The Union Church mugs you ordered at Christmas are finally here, with great apologies from the potter! They look great, though, and are ready for pick up. You can pick up yours in the office.
Electronic Newsletter coming in June  May’s can be your last paper newsletter! If you would like to continue receiving a paper newsletter, please let us know by May 20, either by calling or emailing the office. Thanks.
Otherwise you’ll receive a link in your email inbox on June 1!  If you get the Monday emails from church already, we have your correct email address. If not,  let us know. Making fewer paper copies will, of course, save money on postage, paper and labels—but also wear & tear on the copier and the staff.
Donate ONLINE or by TEXT, Now or Anytime! For online giving, Union Church uses EasyTithe, a completely secure contribution system. You can use Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express Credit and Debit Cards, or an E-Check from your checking account. Scan the code here to go right to the website on your smartphone, or visit www.union-church.org and click on the Donate button for instructions.
You do not need to register to make a donation (just choose “Quick Give” ). If you do register, your information will be securely stored making future visits faster and giving you full control of  your giving reports.  Credit card processing does cost the church about 3.1% of your transaction. ACH (E-Checks) only incur a 1% fee. Please use whichever is best for you, but if you can, consider adding a little additional to help cover the bank fee!
Give By Texting 859-448-3403: Yes! You can give using your web-enabled phone. Text any amount to 859-448-3403. The first time you do–and just the first time–you’ll get a link to associate your phone and enter your securely stored credit or debit card. It doesn’t go on your phone bill, but only to a card you specify. After that, all you need to do is text the number with an amount and any designation. It’s fast and easy! Of course, like every credit card transaction the church pays a 3.1% fee. If you can include that little extra bit, it will make a big difference!
Examples: Text “$50.00” to contribute to today’s offering. Text “$200.00 Capital Campaign” to contribute to a building pledge, or substitute the designation of your choice (youth, missions, BFCO, etc. Amounts texted without a designation will automatically go to the Annual Ministry Budget and all giving will be included in your annual giving records.
Kroger Rewards and Amazon Smile—two easy ways to give.
     Kroger has been committed to supporting the communities it serves by assisting local charitable organizations through its Rewards Program.  Union Church will earn rewards on all eligible purchases you make using your Kroger Plus Card.  The Kroger rewards will accumulate and be donated quarterly to Union Church.  This is an easy way for all to fund-raise for Union Church.  Check bulletins for info or visit kroger.com/communityrewards
     Amazon Smile will donate .5% of eligible sales to Union Church if you register at https://smile.amazon.com/ch/61-0444677. This is a great way to support Union Church.
Save the Date: June 3 Celebration of Oscar Romero with St. Clare Catholic church… Union Church and St. Clare members have maintained a 20+ year partnership with the community of Valle Verde in El Salvador. Dozens of Bereans have traveled to El Salvador as part of this partnership. Pope Francis recently beatified murdered Archbishop Oscar Romero, and our two churches will celebrate Romero’s contribution to justice and Christian faith. New Bishop of Lexington (RC) Stowe will preach. Join us June 3 at 5:30 for potluck and a 7pm service. We’ll follow the hour long service with a community Fiesta! Stay tuned for more info!