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

Fifth Sunday of Easter

May 19, 2019             10:30 am

 
Meditation

I’m Diversity embrace me and we’ll journey far.

I’m Diversity include me and we will reach the shining star.

Coupled with Inclusion our lights burn longer

Together we are smarter, better and stronger

I am Diversity

Yes, that’s me

— from I Am Diversity, Please Include Me by Charles Bennafield

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 Gaudemas A. Sherman
Union Church Handbell Ensemble
The Call
One: Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise God in the heights!
All: Praise God, all God’s angels; praise God, all God’s host!
One: Praise God, sun and moon; praise God, all you shining stars!
All: Praise God, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
One: Let them praise the name of the Lord, for God commanded and they were created. God established them forever and ever; God fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed. Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling God’s command! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds! Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and women alike, old and young together!
All: Let them praise the name of the Lord, for God’s name alone is exalted; God’s glory is above earth and heaven.
One: God has raised up a horn for God’s people, praise for all God’s faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to God.
All: Praise the Lord!
¨  Hymn #32 Black  God of the Sparrow Roeder
¨  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 Now the Green Blade Rises arr. McChesney
Union Church Choir and Union Church Handbell Ensemble
Now the green blade riseth from the buried grain, wheat that in the dark earth many days has lain; love lives again that with the dead has been: love is come again, like wheat that springeth green.
In the grave they laid him, love who had been slain, thinking that he never would awake again, laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen: love is come again, like wheat that springeth green.
Forth he came at Easter, like the risen grain, Jesus who for three days, in the grave had lain; quick form the dead my risen Lord is seen: love is come again my risen lord is seen! Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green!
Lesson from Acts   Acts 11:1-18 (p. 1334)
Peter, asked by the church to explain his fellowship with Gentiles, tells of a vision he received at Joppa, a vision of God’s expansive love.
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 are welcome to return to their seats. 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 13:31-35 (p. 1303)
Jesus gives us a new commandment—that we love one another, even as he loved us.
Sermon      New Life, New Love    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 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 Take courage, look into the mirror on the table, and remind yourself, God has called you clean, and included, and beloved.
Bell Corner Table You will see a poster celebrating all the “host of the earth and heaven” praising God. You are invited to draw a picture of one of those praising, or to illustrate in any way you wish.
Community Sharing Table This week you can bless the women in the Knox County Detention Center for Women by donating magazines and books–paperback only. Thank you!
Children’s Fire On the big poster, draw a picture of someone or something praising God.
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!
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

¨  Hymn #402 Black De Colores           De Colores
¨  The Sending and Blessing
Postlude (please be seated) Royal March of the Lion                        C. Saint-Saens

Announcements

Union Church
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.
Meeting regarding sound system/video after worship. See Marty in the sound booth. 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 unavailable. 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 (ex. Weddings, SaraCare). If you can’t make it today, email Marty at kf4ebc@gmail.com.
Memory Keepers May 21, 7:30 pm, Wayside Room. Memory Keepers is a support group for those caring for loved ones with memory loss. They meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month at 7:30 pm in the Wayside Room. For more information or resources call Doug Hindman at 582-5806 or Carla Gilbert at 985-1144.
Next Sunday May 26 – Let’s celebrate Hazel Morris’ birthday! Come down to the Community Room after worship for cake & ice cream. Let’s shower Hazel with cards and love!
Learn more about the church next week! Come One, Come All! Each fourth Sunday of the month anyone wanting to know more about Union Church or wanting to explore church membership, are invited to come to the Classroom, past the office at the end of the hall, and join in conversation with the Community Life and Growth Board after worship.
Sabbatical news: the team of Laura Nagle, Jennifer Melton, Marty Hensley and Jean Boyce, along with Pastor Kent have been conducting interviews for sabbatical replacement pastor and will recommend a candidate tomorrow night for Church Council’s approval. More news to come!
With the end of the school year, there are often changes in our Sunday morning experience together. Children’s Church kids remain with us in the sanctuary, and we are likely to have visitors passing through. This means that there might be more noise and more distractions during our worship time. Think about the joy and connection that comes with these distractions: helping a newcomer find the right hymnal, handing a tissue box to a family cleaning up a toddler’s spilled sippy cup, hearing a group of kids whispering in the back while they draw together. This community noise means that we are a LIVING church, and we are experiencing our faith together, as messy as that might be sometimes. When we find ourselves distracted by busy-ness around us in worship, let’s remember to rejoice at being in the middle of so much life.
Congratulations, Graduating Seniors! Union’s High School graduates this year are Scottie Frederiksen, Cora Livingston, Mac Lakes, Jacob Mahurin, Maria Murphy, Kijyane Santiago, Aubrey Smith, Riley Ward, Cooper White, Shane Wilcher and Breeze Zaring!
Let us know your plans after graduation and we’ll share in the Announcements!
Youth Talent Show June 7, 7:00 pm. Spring is in the air and it is that time of year again, time for the Union Church Youth Group Talent Show! This year’s talent show will be on Friday, June 7th, at 7:00 pm in the Community Room. We will have return appearances from some of last year’s great performers with brand new material, and we have several new talents as well. Some of our graduating seniors will perform, so don’t miss this chance to see them!
Tickets are $5 per person, or $15 per family. We will have concessions available for a suggested donation to enjoy with the show. All proceeds will go to help offset the costs of the Youth Group’s summer trips and activities. Please come out for this evening of entertainment and fellowship that supports a good cause.
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.

Around Town

Health Summit tomorrow: 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.
Concert May 26: The International Children’s Choir will perform a concert at Berea United Methodist Church, May 26, 6:30 pm. All invited!
May 28: Understanding & Responding to Dementia-Related Behaviors: an education program provided by the Alzheimer’s Association. Behavior is a powerful form of communication and is one of the primary ways for people with de-mentia to communicate their needs and feelings as the ability to use language is lost. However, some behaviors can present real challenges for caregivers to manage. Join us to learn to decode behavioral messages, identify common behavior triggers, and learn strategies to help intervene with some of the most common behavioral challenges of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. May 28, 2019, 11am-12:30pm Madison County Cooperative Extension Office , 230 Duncannon Lane, Richmond  Call1-800-272-3900 to register.
The Census Bureau is hiring now and up to the 2020 Census. You must be 18 years old or older, a US citizen, have transportation, an email address, internet access to apply (you can use a computer here at the office). Pay is $14 an hour + 58 cents a mile driven for the job. Part time, flexible hours. Paid training for 3-5 days.  2020census.gov/jobs.

June 19: Save the Date!

The Charles Wesley Singers Youth Choir of Damascus United Methodist Church will present a concert featuring songs about heaven and the Promised Land, including Alice Parker’s Kentucky Psalms and the Gospel anthem Goin’ Up Yonder.
The group of 55 singers includes 6th – 12th graders and shares music of many genres and traditions. The group is directed by Polly Baldridge and accompanied by Stephen Kalnoske.
Potluck at 5:00 pm, Concert at 7:00 pm