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

Seventh Sunday of Easter           Mother’s Day

May 13, 2018           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

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  
¨  Call to Worship 
 One: Are you looking up or looking down? What have you come expecting? What is it that you hope for? Is this the day?
All: We hold the mystery in our hands: the extraordinary moment wrapped in the ordinary day, the divine shining amidst lives seeking and serving.
One: Then let us seek God together, high and low, Christ rises in this hour to center our hearts and minds. Let us worship and see what the Lord is setting before us. This might be the place!
All: This might be the day!
¨  Opening Hymn #260 Black  Hail the Day That Sees Christ Rise Hyfrydol
¨  Prayer of Approach (unison)
Looking up, we see Christ lifted and receding. Looking down, we see only our feet and the debris of our isolation. But looking around, your people shine and call. Your love surrounds. Service and offering lift us, and the way of the savior comes close.
Like a mother who has borne us in love, guide us this day to deep purpose and holy joy that we may become our best selves in service with you. Amen.
¨  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 joy. 

The Living Word among us

Anthem Blessing and Honor and Glory and Power Bonar, Beubendorf
Union Church Choir
Blessing and honor and glory and power, wisdom and riches and strength evermore give ye to Him who our battle hath won, whose are the Kingdom, the crown, and the throne. Soundeth the heaven of the heavens with God’s name; ringeth the earth with the glory and fame; ocean and mountain, stream, forest, and flower echo God’s praises and tell of the power.
Ever ascendeth the song and the joy; ever descendeth the love from on high; blessing and honor and glory and praise: this is the theme of the hymns that we raise. Give we the glory, praise to our God; the robe and the harp and the palm; sing we God’s praises, the enemy slain, glory and honor, for all will reign. Amen.
Gospel Lesson John 17:6-19 (p. 1308)
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 adults) 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.
Lesson from Acts of the Apostles Acts 1:1-11 (p. 1317)
Sermon Out a’ This World! 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.
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.
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Offertory  Menuet gothique Léon Boëllmann
¨  Doxology  Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Lasst Uns Erfreuen
Praise God all creatures here below! Alleluia, alleluia! Praise God above, ye heavenly host! Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

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

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 #253 Black Yours Is the Glory Judas Maccabeus
Those who are willing and able are invited to sing the first verse in French.
¨  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.
 Postlude (please remain seated) Toccata on “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” Diane Bish
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 Gloryland 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.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound:  Ruth Butwell, Edith Hansen, Nancy Hindman, Loyal Jones, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin
¨ Dan Rohrer, who is suffering from a severe liver disorder.
¨ Dave Wellinghurst, receiving treatment for glioblastoma.
¨ Betty Sarafin and the family and friends of Gary Dillon, who has passed away after a long struggle with cancer. A memorial for Berea family and friends is scheduled for May 27th at Union Church.
¨ For Luke Woodie, recovering from bile duct cancer surgery at home.
¨ Alejandra Sanchez’s sister in El Salvador, Marco Amalia Sanchez, suffering the final stages of cancer, and her family.
¨ Loyal Jones, recovering at Arcadian Cove.
¨ Tennant Kirk, recovering well at home from extensive ankle surgery.
¨ Joan Moore, who will be in Najaf, Iraq, till May 19 teaching conversational English with the Muslim Peacemaker Team.
¨ Jimmie Lewis’ sister, undergoing cancer treatment.
¨ Dana Rousey, recovering from hip replacements surgery. Cards can be sent to her at 4 Fairway Dr., Berea.
¨ Debbie Brown, recovering from complications of a stomach ulcer.
¨ Rachel, Les and Jack Small Stokes, who welcomed baby James Everett on Wednesday! Cards can be sent to them at 4703 Wolfcreek Pkwy., Louisville 40241.
¨ Mothers who have been blessings to their children, and all for whom “mother” is a difficult word today.
¨ The Morris family and the Payne family, at the anniversaries of the deaths of loved ones
Next Sunday is Pentecost, the celebration of the Holy Spirit coming on the disciples, and the birth of the church. Everyone is invited to wear red, or yellow, or both, and after service we will take an all-church picture. Don’t miss out and help get the word to everyone! Also, next Sunday we will celebrate our graduates! If you have a high school, college, or other graduate in the family, please let us know!
We rejoice in the birth of James Everett Small Stokes, born Wednesday, May 9! He is the son of Rev. Rachel and Les Small Stokes, and Jack’s little brother.
We bid a fond farewell to the Groth family. Ben has accepted a call to full-time parish ministry in New Orleans and next week will be the family’s last Sunday with us. Come help us bless their way as Ben, Chloe, John Henry, and Ellis start their new adventure.
Union Church seeks nursery subs! We need your help this summer for occasional subbing in our nursery when our regular workers (Hope, Shelley, and Elly) are away. Can you help? We are currently looking for subs who are over the age of 18. Subs earn $12 an hour and must complete a background check and Safe Sanctuaries training. Interested? Call the church office (986-3725) or email office@union-church.org and leave your contact info as soon as possible. Questions? See any member of our Faith Development Board.
“What Next, Union Church?!” If you can be a facilitator or recorder as we discuss the ways we empower lay leadership as we move forward at Union, please call the office and let us know. A training session for facilitators and recorders will be held  on May 16 at 6:30 pm.
May 18, SongFarmers’ Gathering, Community Room, 5:30 pm. SongFarmers of Madison County is focused on creating opportunities for musicians and artists to play and jam together and for all to benefit from the love of live music. This event will include an acoustic open mic for singer/songwriters doing original work and covers plus a jam (play and singalong) section, all intermingled with poetry (original or inspired). Do join us for an evening of community and music. Come early for chili and an opportunity to build community. If you want to perform, please sign up by 6 PM.
Upcoming Concert: Deborah Payne and Sam Gleaves, Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum, 2590 Richmond St., Mt Vernon, Saturday May 19, 3:00 pm. Tickets $10, available in advance at www.KentuckyMusicHallofFame.com
The Union Church Choir & Handbell Ensemble Presents: Make Me an Instrument of Peace: Songs on the Prayer of St. Francis. May 20, 2:00 pm , in the sanctuary. Both ensembles have prepared various selections that illustrate this beautiful prayer. The carefully crafted program will allow you to read the prayer line by line and be moved deeper into a more profound experience with a musical response to the violence in our world.
During the concert, the music program will collect a love offering for the Berea Leadership Experience. The money raised will help fund scholarships, support camp programs, and help BLE expand beyond its one-week summer camp. Please join us for this wonderful event! Admission is free, open to the public!
May 22 is Election Day for Kentucky’s Primary races. Polls open 6 am—6 pm.
Baby Shower June 3, after worship! Come celebrate baby Ahnat, the foster daughter of Deborah Payne!! Gift registry info: https://smile.amazon.com/baby-reg/deborah-payne-june-2018-berea/2KOF12RKFHN6R (this link will also be in the emailed announcements tomorrow, so you can just click on it).
Bring a potluck dish to share! Drop off in the kitchen before church.
The Indiana-Kentucky Conference of the United Church of Christ is offering 3 days of workshops specially related to church transition, revitalization, and relevance. Rev. Kent is attending but thinks we will gain so much more if other Board members could also attend. The dates are May 31-June 2 in Indianapolis. Costs are $125 + housing. Topics include areas of interest for Stewardship, Worship, Spirituality, Budget and Mission Planning, etc. If you are interested in making a Union Church team to bring back information with the pastor, please contact him or the church office as soon as possible. Some financial assistance may be available.
Official Record Book Still Missing :(. Have you seen the sign-in book we use to record new members’ joining dates and attendance at meetings? Did you look in your car? What about at home? It’s been missing since November and maybe some-one accidentally took it home or tucked it somewhere for safe keeping? It’s black padded leather, about 8 1/2 x 11. Help!
Please Sign up to Read Scripture or to Help Greet and Usher!  Please use our electronic sign up system, http://signup.com/go/xkdVtB, where you can pick a date that works for you and get reminders!  OR you can also call the office and we’ll get you on the lists.
UPDATE. Fewer than 10 spots left! Berea Leadership Experience for Rising 2nd-8th graders. Berea Leadership Experience will hold its camp for kids to learn skills of conflict resolution, media literacy, mindfulness, and appreciation of nature the week of July 16th -20th, 9 am – 2 pm.
There are also openings for several staff members. Training and a reasonable stipend are provided; contact the director at kim.kobersmith@gmail.com if interested, or to register your kids. Thank you!
Bulletin cover art: “Singing, Ringing Tree (Panopticons)” 2006 by Mike Tonkin and Anna Liu. Used with permission.