A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Fifth Sunday of Easter 10:30 am
Meditation
“‘Your loss is not my gain, your win is not my loss.’ Put this on repeat until it’s the top 12 in words my mouth.” ~ Cadence Perman
“We need beauty because it makes us long to be worthy of it.” ~Mary Oliver
From There to Here: We Gather
Welcome
Welcome to this service of worship! 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! During the service, you are invited to rise in body or in spirit, standing or sitting, at points in the service marked “<>.”
¨ The Call
One: Come, beloved community—gathered from many walks of life, each of us reflecting a piece of the Sacred.
All: We come to celebrate the beauty of our diversity and the bond of love that makes us one.
One: As Jesus shared a new commandment— to love one another, as Love has first loved us— we gather not to exclude, but to embrace.
All: We come just as we are— different in story, identity, and experience— yet united in the spirit of compassion.
One: Let this time be holy not because we are the same, but because Love makes room for all.
All: Let us worship the One who is beyond all names and yet known to us in every act of love.
~ based on John 13:31-35
¨ Hymn # 17 To You, O God, All Creatures Sing Lasst Uns Erfreuen
1. To you, O God, all creatures sing, and all creation, everything sings your praises, alleluia! Your burning sun with golden beam, your silver moon with softer gleam sing your praises, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
2. Your wind that blows the tempest by, your clouds that sail across the sky sing your praises, alleluia! Your morning rises with a song, and lights of evening sing along, sing your praises, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
3. Your flowing waters, crystal clear, make melodies for you to hear, sing your praises, alleluia! Your fire, bountiful and bright, remembering your warmth and light, sings your praises, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
4. To you, O God, day after day, your planet earth in every way, sing your praises, alleluia, as savory fruit and fragrant flower show forth your glory and your power, singing praises, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
5. Now we who are of tender heart, forgiving others, take our part, sing your praises, alleluia! To you we lift our pain and care, receive this burdens that we bear, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
6. In you, a kind and gentle death prepares to hush our final breath, singing praises, alleluia! Christ goes before us to renew the way that leads us home to you. Hear our praises, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
¨ Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: We change every day. We make decisions, we make mistakes, we try again. In God and through Christ we have the Spirit as an advocate in the walk to better loving, better living. Not for guilt, but for restoration let us confess what didn’t work and ask for help to make changes that matter. Let us pray:
All: When we have not loved one another, teach us and heal us and forgive us. When we have not loved ourselves, give us eyes of compassion to see rightly and do justly.When we have not loved you and what you love but have chosen our selfishness over your generosity, soften our hardened heads and roll away the stones from our hearts. We confess we have not done all well. Forgive us and set our feet on the right path again. Amen.
¨ Words of Assurance
One: From childhood to great age God walks with us. From “just learning” to “advanced ambassador” Jesus is our teacher. From confounding dilemmas to confusing and complex relations, the Holy Spirit is guiding and gracing. It is no surprise nor any impediment to God that we have fallen short of God’s holy vision for us. The Lord sets a high bar, but also helps all who seek it to prevail over it. Christ came that we might forgive and be forgiven, love and be loved, serve and be served by all that love demands. In Christ’s name, accept the challenge and the change of Christ’s forgiveness and let us all say,
All: “Amen!”
¨ Passing the Peace of Christ
All who come to this sanctuary are welcome companions on the journey of faith. Please turn to those nearest you and greet them with words of peace.
Word and Worship
Anthem Alleluia Boyce, Schweitzer Union Church Choir
Scripture Reading Acts 11:1-18
Now the apostles and the brothers and sisters who were in Judea heard that the gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?”
Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners, and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ But I replied, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ But a second time the voice answered from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’ This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.’
And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?” When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, “Then God has given even to the gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”
~ New Revised Standard Version, updated
Children’s Moment as the children return to their seats we sing:
May God’s blessings 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.
Sermon 5-4-3-2-1 Adulthood! Cadence Perman
Respect Women
Don’t Be Afraid to Have Emotions
Have Compassion
Love Ourselves
We Are (Kinda) The Same
Video Reflection
A chance to take in what we have heard and reflect together.
Living Prayer
Call to Prayer
Ringing 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.
Embodied Prayer
You are invited to reflect and pray at the candle tables. You may also choose to source the essential ingredient of solitude and private prayer, remaining with your own thoughts in your pew.
Offertory Andante, Haydn Union Church Orchestra
A Chance for Generosity: www.easytithe.com/union
A community of caring relies on support. Your recurring or one-time donation will make a ministry of healing, justice, and teaching available to all in need.
¨ Use your smart phone or computer and go to www.easytithe.com/union. No registration required, but registering once makes future generosity simply entering an amount and a click.
¨ Baskets for checks or cash are located at the head of each aisle for those who wish to make an in-person donation.
¨ Give by Text. Text an amount to 859-448-3403 (Example: Text “$50.00 Offering”).
¨ Give by Mail to: 200 Prospect St., Berea, KY 40403.
Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
¨ Doxology #765 Alleluia!
Silent Prayer and Prayers of the Community
You take our hands and hearts from small matters to great aspirations. Nurtured, goaded, guided and graced by your Spirit we pray to mature and strengthen in ways that bring us from childhood to old age with consummate character and passionate purpose.
As we lift and celebrate the gifts of those among us, and as we all encounter challenges that threaten or overwhelm, ground us in your fierce accountable love. Root our graduates in the ways of peace with justice for all, and lock our eyes on stewarding a world worthy of all your kin-dom. We are frail, and so ask for your sustaining hand. For those ill and weary, we ask for your comfort and strength.
For all targeted and harmed by the cruelty of others we pray for their protection and we pray to overcome our precious indifference and any apathy. Give us the joy and power of youth and the wisdom of experience and help us be your faithful family, young and old, seeking and serving all that Love Demands.
Our Lord’s Prayer
Our Maker, Our Mother, and Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; Thy kin-dom 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 kin-dom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
¨ Hymn #350 Now in the Days of Youth Diademata
1. Now in the days of youth when life is filled with choice, when hope and doubt touch every hour, when all thoughts find a voice, we turn, O god, to you for guidance and for grace, in all out days, in all our ways, help us to seek your face.
2. Teach us to use our lives with purpose and with power for visions of a better world and for decision’s hour; to choose the way of life, reject the way of death, until the radiant force of God fills mind and strength and breath.
3. Teach us to love in truth, to give and to receive with joyful and with open hearts, with all that we believe; to seek another’s good, to honor what is right, to let our will and our desire be held in holy light.
4. Teacher, Creator, God, enfold us in your arms; be with us as we try our wings, and keep up safe from harm. All good and perfect gifts come to us from your hand. O help us use them carefully and live by love’s command.
From Here to There
Community Connections
Announcements
We share opportunities for Beloved Community and ways to serve. Please see the listing of church & community events, prayers, and notices in the pages following the service.
Recognition of our High School Graduates!
Cadence Perman will graduate from Madison Southern High School.
Telson Ponnie and Elan White will graduate from Berea Community School.
Sage Jodock, Al & Alice White’s granddaughter, will graduate from Loveland High School in Ohio
Cole VanCamp, Teresa Dickson’s grandson, will graduate from both Wabash College and Ivy Tech College in Indiana.
Lighting the Justice Candle to Lead us Forth
May is mental health awareness month, a time to spotlight the importance of mental well-being, reduce stigma, and encourage open conversations.
The National Alliance for Mental Illness, NAMI, asks all of us to join their campaign, take action, raise your voice, and help change the conversation around mental health!
The theme for 2025, “In Every Story, There’s Strength”, celebrates the power of storytelling to fuel connection, understanding, and hope for those navigating their own mental health path. The goal is to create a movement of courage, healing, and connection by providing the opportunity for folks to share their own mental health story on the NAMI website nami.org where there are directions for creating and submitting a video, audio, or written story.
“Each story shared is a testament to the possibility of recovery and the strength that lies within us all” Be a part of this movement. Whether by sharing your story, spreading awareness, or advocating for change, every action helps break the stigma and build a more supportive world.
BTW: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) established in 2004 is one of the programs under consideration for elimination in the current budget cuts. However, it is still accessible nationwide by dialing 800-273-TALK (8255). Despite reporting, Canada has not established access to their hotline for US citizens (…yet).
The Joy of Welcoming New Members
Partnership & Purpose
Today presents an opportunity to covenant together! All who would like to are welcome to join the church family – you will be received in joy.
Questions of the Congregation and New Members
¨Covenant of Welcome
And we, the members and faithful friends 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
¨ Benediction Response God of the Poor Graham Kendrick
Our Prayers for Others
¨ 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 (World Council of Churches Ecumenical Prayer cycle: union-church.org/ministries/prayer). Let us hold the people of Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal; and our siblings at Emmanuel Baptist Church in our hearts, and pray for them today and throughout the week.
¨ All the people of Ukraine for their safety and sovereignty. Prayers also that the government of Russia will turn to reason & respect for their own peoples’ lives as well as for Ukrainian families.
¨ All those affected by the devastating losses in the current conflict, and starvation of those in Gaza.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Jerry Cooper, Jan Hamilton, Betsy Hoefer, Dorie Hubbard, Susan Kramer, Lois Morgan, Sara Parker, Cheryl Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie, Theresa Scherf.
¨ We pray for our country, and those who are directly affected by the actions and inaction of our government to address the needs of its people and the world.
¨ Members and Friends who need safer housing and income security.
¨ Rev. Kent’s cousin, Kathy, undergoing chemotherapy for esophageal cancer, and her mother, Helen, who is Rev. Carla’s sister.
¨ Kelly Mehler, responding very well to treatment for his lymphoma.
¨ Barb Taylor’s son, David, undergoing treatment for prostate cancer
¨ .JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ Laurie White’s mom, Skippy, facing a long and painful recovery from spine surgery.
¨ Whitney McKnight’s mother, Patty Wallace, recovering from a brain hemorrhage.
¨ Jerry Cooper, hospitalized with fluid in his lungs.
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: today, May 19 – Carla Baumann, Courtney Parrish; 20 – Lisa Vaughn; 21 – John Wernegreen, Steve Gowler; 22 – Gerrie Blanchard, Ann Rhodes; 23 – Rachel Lakes, Martina Jackson; 25 – Al White
Anniversaries: today, May 18 – David & Sarah Vaughn; 21 – Dan Kotlow & Sharona Nelson; 22 – Paul & Patti Smithson
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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