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

Good Shepherd Sunday

May 12, 2019          10:30 am

Meditation
Arise, all women who have hearts, whether your baptism be that of water or of tears! Say firmly: “We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies, our husbands shall not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause.
“Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience. We women of one country will be too tender of those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.”
From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with our own. It says, “Disarm, disarm! The sword is not the balance of justice.” Blood does not wipe out dishonor nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plow and the anvil at the summons of war, let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel. Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead. Let them then solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means whereby the great human family can live in peace, each learning after his own time, the sacred impress, not of Caesar, but of God.
In the name of womanhood and of humanity, I earnestly ask that a general congress of women without limit of nationality may be appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient and at the earliest period consistent with its objects, to promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace.
― Julia Ward Howe, 1870

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 The Shepherd arr. B. Childers
Pearl Marshall, Handbell Solo
The Call   written by Rachel Held Evans
¨  Hymn #247 Black  My Shepherd Is the Living God Consolation
¨  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 The Lord Is My Shepherd (Bro. James’ Air) arr. A. Guebert
Union Church Handbell Ensemble; Kim Kobersmith, flute
Lesson from Acts   Acts 9:36-43 (p. 1332)
Tabitha, a generous woman of Joppa who has done much for the poor, dies and is miraculously restored to life.
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 the Children’s Moment, children kindergarten through 5th grade are invited to Children’s Church in Cowan Chapel. They are also welcome to stay in the service if they prefer. The Children’s Worship Center in the back of the sanctuary 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.
Gospel Lesson John 10:22-30 (p. 1297)
Jesus’ critics want him to say plainly to them who he really is. Jesus asserts that  he and his father are one.
Sermon The Shepherd’s Voice 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.
Acts of Reflection and Prayer
Some questions for reflection and prayer and today’s Call are provided on page 6. You are free to use  – or ignore –  these prompts as you find helpful. In whatever prayer manner you adopt, please hold the concerns of those listed and those you know about in God’s peace-giving light.
Prayer Corner Come to the Good Shepherd’s voice and pray about the ways you are seeking to follow new life and new love.
Bell Corner We are all sheep, but we are also all shepherds, and our voice can comfort someone. Write a comforting note and/or take a comforting note.
Community Sharing Table Non-perishable food items are always welcome at the Food Bank behind City Hall, 108 Parkway Dr.
A note about the music The 23rd Psalm by Bobby McFerrin. This piece was dedicated to the composer’s mother, Sara Copper, as the driving force in his religious and spiritual education, and for the memories of her singing in church. He writes: “… I wrote it because I’d been reading the Bible one morning, and I was thinking about  God’s unconditional love, about how we crave it but have so much trouble believing    we can trust it, and how we can’t fully understand it. And then I left my reading and spent time with my wife and our children. Watching her with them, the way she loved them, I realized one of the ways we’re shown a glimpse of how God loves us is through our mothers. They cherish our spirits, they demand that we become our best selves, and they take care of us.”                                               Bobby McFerrin quoted in Huffington Post
A Chance for Generosity: Offering Baskets in the Aisles
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 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!
When invited, please join in singing the familiar chorus: Alleluia!

From Here to There

¨  Hymn #252 Black Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us       Bradbury
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 when invited. Thanks be to God for these ministers among us.
¨  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.
¨  The Sending and Blessing
Postlude (please be seated) To a Wild Rose Edward MacDowell
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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 Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal and our brothers and sisters at the Gethsemane 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.
¨ Families and Friends in Crises…may God be present to every need and heal every rift and wound.
¨ For Victims of Disasters around the country and around the world, that God’s people may be angels of mercy to them.
¨ For Children in detention centers, that they may be reunited with their families soon. 15,000 are now detained in the US.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound: Edith Hansen, Nancy Hindman, Loyal Jones, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin.
¨ For those who are without homes and safe places, that we may work together for solutions.
¨ Mothers who have been blessings to their children, and all for whom “mother” is a difficult word today.
¨ Abigale Embry, our beloved former intern, who graduated from Louisville Presbyterian Seminary in December, and will walk with her class at graduation at on May 19, 3:30 pm. Church family are invited to attend. Call the office for details.
¨ Steve and Sandy Bolster, now retired and ready to start a new chapter after 39 years of teaching, leadership, and labor at Berea College.
¨ 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.
¨ Don Jiskoot, friend of the congregation, recovering from a stroke.
¨ Mary Lou Wiese’s brother, Dean Jacobs, having pain and seizures associated with new clinical trials.
Announcements
You Matter! Please Sign the Register, 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.  Let’s all try to get to know each other better.
Today: new members welcomed! As a family of faith committed to boldly and creatively embodying the life and ministry of Jesus, we would like to join with YOU. We’d like to be a context and inspiration for your own spiritual path, and work with you to make your heart, your world, your life more peace-filled and joy-full. Today, and every second Sunday of the month, there will be an opportunity to covenant together. No prior action on your part is required, but if you have any questions at all, we’d like to help. Working together, we want to make God’s love visible and real to all.
Sabbatical Countdown: Every 5 years the congregation gives our pastors an extended sabbatical leave to refresh and renew their ministry to us. On July 1 we will give Pastor Kent that much needed break until the end of October. During his 4-month absence we will have a sabbatical replacement minister to lead worship, pastoral care and to encourage us as we step into our future plans. Interviews with the short-listed candidates are taking place this week. When a minister is selected, Church Council will share details and create opportunities to get acquainted. It has been 6 years since his last time away, so we are praying that both our pastor and the congregation will have new experiences and new insight when we come back together!
Members one of another: We know we’ve got several members and friends without immediate family in Berea. Just in case of emergency we’ve made some half-sheet Emergency Contact forms, if you’d like to fill one out. You can find a card in the vestibule. Drop it in an offering plate or bring to the office. We’ll keep your info in a locked drawer in the office.
Japanese Delegation from Hokuto City Visiting This Week: Madison County’s sister city will send a delegation of 15 community leaders to Berea and Richmond this week. Their tour includes Union Church and ringing the Eschbach Peace Bell, twin of the bell that hangs across the Pacific. The public have a chance to greet the delegation Thursday (May 16) evening at the Depot where a free dinner will be served at 6:30 pm prior to “Pickin’ on the Porch.”
Health Summit next Saturday: Join us for the 11^th Annual “Mind Matters” Health Summit, May 20.  Sponsored by the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging.  Interactive booths, speakers, and a free sit-down lunch.  This year’s topics focus on “Communication & Technology”.  Keep your mind healthy and ward off diseases like Alzheimer’s.  Open to the public.  No reservations needed.  Program is from 10 am to 2 pm at the Embassy Suites, 1801 Newtown Pike, Lexington. Carpool from the church leaving at 8:45 am.
Summer’s coming! Today is the last Children’s Church of the season. Is your group also taking a break to come back renewed and refreshed in the fall? Let us know in the office—thanks! Also: please be sure to lock up the building after your group – you may be the last group out during the summer, even if you weren’t during the school year.
Help Wanted: the broadcast crew needs 6-8 people willing to commit to one Sunday per month running the sound system and video broadcast of the service. This is a two-person job and we currently have no backup when one of us is unavail-able. Experience is always welcome, but unnecessary. We’ll be happy to train you. There is also the potential for income if you are willing to work special events. Anyone interested please see Marty Hensley at the sound booth in the balcony for a very brief meeting after service on Sunday, May 19, OR email him kf4ebc@gmail.com.
Harvesting Hope: Drivers needed to pick up women in Richmond and bring them to Berea for the Harvesting Hope Opioid Addiction Job Training Program with Sustainable Berea.  Morning trips are at 11:30 am on Mondays & Wednes-days,  and 8:30 am Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays. Afternoon return trips are around 3:30 and 4:00 pm.  If you can do one or two trips per week, (or more!) that would be a great help! Contact Cheyenne at:859-893-4590 or email:  cheyenne@sustainable berea.org.
 
Power of the Sun: Did you know that Union Church has a solar array that supplies about 32% of our electricity needs? The signboard near the parlor shows live energy usage and solar generation. You can also view the interactive meter on our webpage at https://union-church.org/sun-power-union-live-meter/.

Every Week—you’re invited!

Zen Meditation every weekday, 8:00 am. Join us for 20 minutes of unstructured quiet meditation in beautiful Cowan Chapel, on the Scaffold Cane Road side of the church.
Zen Teaching Mondays at 6:30 pm, Cowan Chapel. David Parks will offer Zen teaching: Meditation, Koans, Conversation, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, Cowan Chapel.
Thursday Noon Bible Study. Meet with Rev. Carla in the Classroom at noon to reflect upon the Scripture for the week and issues of the day.
Thursdays — our Music Director, Bernardo Scarambone, will teach a very basic music reading class right before choir (5:45 pm). Everyone is welcome to join them — no pressure to stay for choir at 6:30 pm – but you’d be welcome!
Fridays – Bridge Club, 1:30 pm in the Classroom. Call Doug Hindman, 582-5806 if interested.