Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the
Church of Christ, Union
Fifth Sunday of Easter Mother’s Day
May 14, 2017 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
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 Praise Him! Praise Him! arr. M. Hayes
¨ Call to Worship
One: Come, people of God! Take refuge in the Lord, who listens when we cry out, who rescues us when we call, and who leads and guides us according to his unfailing love.
All: You are our God; our lives are in your hands.
One: Let’s worship God together!
— Rev. Christine Longhurst
¨ Opening Hymn #331 Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life The Call
¨ Prayer of Approach
One: We are the stones you have chosen, God: Chisel and craft us in your Way, your Truth, your Life.
All: Make our hearts a shelter for the outcast; our hands open to the stranger.
One: Shape us into your divine image:
All: to tell others of God’s love, to offer mercy as freely as we have received it.
One: Make us living temples:
All: chosen to serve the lost and lonely, gifted to minister to a hurting world. Amen.
— adapted from a prayer by Thom Shuman
¨ 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 When Love Is Found arr. D. Kalman Union Church Choir, soloist Debbonnaire Kovacs
- When love is found and hope comes home, Sing and be glad that we are one. When love explodes and fills the sky, Praise God and share our Maker’s joy.
- When love has flowered in trust and care, Build both each day that love may dare to reach beyond home’s warmth and light, to serve and strive for truth and right.
- When love is tried as loved ones change, hold still to hope, though all seems strange, till ease returns and love grows wise through listening ears and opened eyes.
- When love is torn and trust betrayed, pray strength to love till torments fade, till families keep no score of wrong but here through pain love’s Easter song.
- Praise God for love, praise God for life, in age or youth in joy or strife. Lift up your hearts, let love be fed through death and life in broken bread.Epistle Reading 1 Peter 2:2-10Children’s Moment Here I Am, Lord Here I Am
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, or are welcome return to their seats or visit the Children’s Worship Center, where there are 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 off the Community Room.
Gospel Lesson John 14:1-14
Sermon Divine Permanence Rev. Rachel Small StokesGIfts 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 A Joyful Song D. Paxton
¨ 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 Prayers and Prayers for 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 #387 O Christ, the Great Foundation Aurelia
¨ 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 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling J. Raney
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 Blue Lick Missionary 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, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin, Gloria VanWinkle.¨ Shirley Carlberg’s brother, Steve, who had a stroke last week. Prayers for her and mother Hattie Parks, and all of their family.
¨ For our high school graduates, Rhiannon Connor, Mallory Lakes,and Ben Whaley-Jones, and their families.
¨ Rick Godby, recovering well at home from lung surgery.
¨ Mim Pride, recovering well at home from hip surgery.
¨ For mothers who have been blessings to their children, and for all for whom “mother” is a difficult word today.
¨ Loretta Mountjoy, back in Central Baptist Hospital.
¨ For those suffering from mental illnesses and for their families who love and care for them.
¨ For refugees around the world: may they find a home in safety and may God’s people help.
¨ Families in difficulty
Join the church today! 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! New members are received every second Sunday of a month. YOU are welcome here!
Bloodmobile on Tuesday — bring ID.
Wednesday—LAST Wednesday Nite Live before summer break.
Next Sunday – Choirs of the Church Sunday! Started three years ago, this music-focused service celebrates the musical offerings of the Chancel Choir and Union Church Handbell Ensemble. The theme of this service is “Unified through Music,” and it intertwines different styles and genres of music that help bring an uplifting message. Please join us in many musical anthems and lots of hymn singing!
Union Church recently became involved in Stephen Ministry.
Reflections from a Stephen Minister: The trip to St. Louis for Stephen Leader training was filled with opportunities to learn, to laugh, and to reflect on the strong connection between the ” Living the Vision” mission statement of Union and the goals of Stephen Ministry.
I have always loved Stephen from the Bible. He just seemed to me to be more like the average person. He wasn’t going to lead the church. He was going to serve the church. Just like the people of Union who gather together” to boldly and creatively embody Christ’s life and ministry.”
Stephen Ministry will give us an opportunity as a church of Christ “to offer and organize our time, talent and treasure in loving service and outreach…striving always to be agents of God’s inclusive love.”
The quotes are from the September 20. 2009 Mission statement and illustrate the extraordinary commitment to service that Union already has. It is my prayer that adding the services of Stephen Ministry will only deepen our commitment to living our vision. Mary L. Wiese
Berea Leadership Experience – A Camp for Building Bridges of Peace and Resolving Conflict Did you know that our vision of a camp for peacebuilding is becoming a reality?! The Berea Leadership Experience is a weeklong camp for kids ages 6-13 that is designed to help kids develop skills of transforming conflict into community.
We’re using a curriculum created by Peace Village, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to helping kids learn to build peace through Mindfulness, Connecting with Nature, Media Literacy, and Conflict Resolution.
Here are the details:
Berea Leadership Experience will be July 24th-28th, 9am-3pm at the Berea Friends
Meeting House. Kids ages 6-13 are invited to be campers, and teenagers older than 13 are invited to be Junior Counselors. The cost is very low: $75 per student, and up to half of the campers can receive scholarships of $50 to make it even more affordable.
Can you help make this dream a reality? Here are ways we could use your help!- Do you know kids ages 6-13 who would like to come? Register them here: www.union-church.org/ble
- Do you know any high school students who would be a good assistant group leader?
- Could you sponsor a kid through a donation? $10 pays for a t-shirt; $50 will pay for a scholarship; $100 pays for a Counselor; $200 pays for a teacher; $500 pays for the curriculum!
- Do you have sports and games equipment that could be borrowed for the week? (bats, balls, jump rope, hula hoops, etc)
If you can help, please contact the camp director, Kim Kobersmith kim.kobersmith@gmail.com.
Thanks for helping this dream come true!
Your BLE Steering Committee: Jeff From, Kam Myers, Jenny Hobson, Rachel Small Stokes, and Kim Kobersmith
Introduction to the Violin for Adults with Chloe Helene Groth, Violin Teacher . A four week class for adults interested in learning to play classical violin. No musical background required.
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” – Yeats
Location: Union Church
Dates: 9-10 AM, 6/3, 6/10, 6/17 and 6/24 – Deadline for signing up is 5/30.
Informal Performance: Prelude to the 10:30 AM service at Union Church on 6/25
Cost of the class: $48
Materials Required: Violin Rental (Can be rented from Old Town Violins, Currier Music World, etc) and a three ring binder
Outcome: Students will exit the class with basic knowledge of how to hold and play the violin, read music, and perform several simple songs .
Chloe Helene Groth, violinist, is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where she earned a Master of Music in Teaching and a Bachelor of Music in Performance. Chloe has maintained a private violin studio for the last ten years, has performed with orchestras all over the country, and frequently performs for weddings and special events. Chloe’s mission as an instructor is to invest her time, abilities, and heart into nurturing the talent and humanity within each student. She believes violin lessons are also a vehicle for some of the most important skills as human beings: how to connect with another person, to be mindful in the present moment, to listen well, to express oneself, to find joy in challenges, and to deepen our sensitivity to art and to other human beings. Chloe Groth, chloehelene @gmail.com, 864-238-0151
Godspell coming! 11 Hosts for ONE NIGHT Lodging needed June 16! Godspell will be performed at Union Church on June 16 at 7 pm by Elation, a youth choir from St. Stephen United Methodist Church in Mesquite, Texas. Church Member Amy Williams was part Elation and is bringing this blessing to us! We will be providing dinner for the choir at 5 pm the day of the performance and housing for choir members and chaperones that night. Hosts are asked to provide breakfast the following day and get the guests back to Union Church. Beds are a plus but not required; choir members and chaperones will have sleeping bags. If you can help with hosting, please contact Amy Williams at 859-358-1836 or amy_williams75204 @hotmail.com . If you can help with food, please contact Sue Peterson Blyth at 859-328-3805 or sweetsue49@gmail.com .
FYI Elizabeth Barrett is helping with Directory updates. She may give you a call to confirm your info. Thank you, Elizabeth!
Help Wanted. We have an ongoing need for volunteers to help with Sunday services. Can you be a worship reader, greeter, coffee angel, etc.? For details go to the church website, union-church.org and click on “Volunteer” near the upper right corner (or talk to Doug Hindman).
What’s going on in our busy building this month?
May 15 – Bloodmobile
May 19 – Berea Community School Senior Breakfast
May 20 – Solar Energy Tour, Annual Meeting
May 21—Cloe Groth’s younger students’ violin recital
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