A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the

Church of Christ, Union

Sixth Sunday of Easter   May 25, 2014, 10:30 am

Meditation
“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”

—- Jalal ad-Din Rumi

From There to Here

Welcome & Announcements
Prelude     Air from Water Music Suite     G.F. Handel
*  Call to Worship
One:     God anointed Jesus to console the afflicted.
All:      Come, let us worship Christ our Comforter!
One:     God anointed Jesus to emancipate the enslaved.
All:      Come, let us worship Christ our Liberator!
One:     God anointed Jesus to bind up the wounded.
All:      Come, let us worship Christ our Healer!
One:     God anointed Jesus ti deliver the troubled.
All:      Come, let us worship Christ our Savior.
*   Hymn #289 Black          Come Forth, O Love Divine   Down Ampney
*  Prayer of Affirmation and Easter Faith  (unison)
We thank you, for you are our God, and God of our fathers and mothers forever.
You are the Refuge of our life, the Shield of our help. From generation to generation may we thank you and count your praises—evening, morning, and noon—for our lives which are committed into your hand, for our souls which are entrusted to you, for your miracles which are with us every day, for your wonders and goodness at all times.
O Good One, your compassion does not fail. O Merciful One, your lovingkindness never ceases. Forever we hope in you; forever we pray to be made of love. Amen. 

from Congregation of Beth El of the Sudbury River Valley

*  Passing the Peace of Jesus 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.

Breathing in The Living Word

Anthem    You Shall Go Out with Joy      Craig Courtney
Union Church Choir
You shall go out with joy, be led forth with peace; and the mountains and hills will burst into shouts of joy before you, and the trees of the field will clap their hands as you go out with joy.
Epistle Lesson                  1 Peter 3:13-22
Children’s Moment   
As the children return to their seats, we sing:
Gospel Lesson                  John 14:15-21
Sermon                 Made of Love  Rev. Kent Gilbert

Sharing The Gifts of Love

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,
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.
Offering
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              
*  Doxology             Avery/Marsh
* Prayer of Thanksgiving

Springing Forward

*  Closing Hymn #43 Black            Love Divine, All Loves Excelling       Hyfrydol

                  (please note tune change)

*  Benediction    
Postlude    Toccata from Fifth Organ Symphony Charles Marie Widor
____________________________

*  Please rise in body or in spirit

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 Malawi and Zambia and our brothers and sisters at the Assemblies of God in your hearts, and pray for them.
* Tomorrow is Memorial Day, a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service.  We pray for our veterans and the families who have lost their beloved members and friends in service.
* Michelle Tooley, with recurrence of melanoma
* Our church family members recovering at home and in nursing homes:  Edith Hansen, Klara Welsh, Bernice Robertson, Nancy Jones, Mary Miller, Virginia Piland
* Jim Wallace, recovering from successful brain surgery
* All those grieving the loss of those they have loved
* Charlie Smithson, Paul’s brother, who is undergoing a stem cell transplant this week as part of his battle with multiple myeloma.
* Ann Thomasson, who has had a stroke and moved to a room in assisted living. The news right now is encouraging and she would love to hear from Berea friends. Her address is now 5830 North Fountains Ave., Apt #332, Tucson, AZ 85704.
* Dick Drake, recently hospitalized

Learn more about Union Church today! Every Fourth Sunday of the Month  anyone wanting to know more about Union Church or wanting to explore church membership, as well as new members who have not been able to participate in a previous meeting, are invited to come to the classroom two doors past the church office immediately following worship for conversation with the Pastors and the Community Life and Growth Board.  New members will be received every Second Sunday of the month—that’ll be June 8, Pentecost.

You’re invited to a Poetry Reading Wednesday, May 28. Steve Rhodes will read from his new collection of poems, What Might Not Be, at Union Church in the Community Room on Wednesday, May 28th at 7:00.
The Mission & Service Board invites you to lunch June 1. Luncheon after church; brief program to highlight programs of Mission and Service Board past, present, and their plans and goals for the future (no charge).
Spring has Sprung! Thanks to all who gave and pledged generously, we have sprung across our budget gap and raised a total of $58,580! Approximately $38,500 is “in hand” as cash donations and an additional $20,000 or so is in the form of new or increased pledges. Thank you for making love visible with your gifts!
Would you like to learn to operate the sound system? We have many friends and members who rely upon it and need a few more people to be trained to operate it. A person isn’t paid to run the sound system on Sunday mornings, but if you learn it — you can run it for weddings and be paid $100. Call the office and we’ll get you trained!
Donate ONLINE or by TEXT, Now or Anytime! For online giving, Union Church uses EasyTithe, a completely secure contribution system. You can use Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express Credit and Debit Cards, or an E-Check from your checking account. Scan the code here to go right to the website on your smartphone, or visit www.union-church.org and click on the Donate button for instructions.  You do not need to register to make a donation (just choose “Quick Give” ). If you do register, your information will be securely stored making future visits faster and giving you full control of  your giving reports.  Credit card processing does cost the church about 3.1% of your transaction. ACH (E-Checks) only incur a 1% fee. Please use whichever is best for you, but if you can, consider adding a little additional to help cover the bank fee!
Give By Texting 859-448-3403: Yes! You can give using your web-enabled phone. Text any amount to 859-448-3403. The first time you do–and just the first time–you’ll get a link to associate your phone and enter your securely stored credit or debit card. It doesn’t go on your phone bill, but only to a card you specify. After that, all you need to do is text the number with an amount and any designation. It’s fast and easy! Of course, like every credit card transaction the church pays a 3.1% fee. If you can include that little extra bit, it will make a big difference!
Examples: Text “$50.00” to contribute to today’s offering. Text “$200.00 Capital Campaign” to contribute to a building pledge, or substitute the designation of your choice (youth, missions, BFCO, etc. Amounts texted without a designation will automatically go to the Annual Ministry Budget and all giving will be included in your annual giving records.
The Mission & Service Board invites you to lunch June 1. Luncheon after church; brief program to highlight programs of Mission and Service Board past, present, and their plans and goals for the future.
Lemonade on the Porch—your help needed!  The Community Life & Growth Board will provide the lemonade and the set-up on the porch, but we are seeking help with snacks for each Sunday during the summer, to go with the lemonade.  Snacks can be left in the kitchen prior to worship. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board at the back of the sanctuary. Lemonade on the Porch begins June 8 and continues through August.  Thanks in advance for your help. (And you are allowed to sign up more than once!!)
It’s almost time for Vacation Bible School, “Living Waters for the World,” June 8-11, 5:30-8:00 pm!  Vacation Bible School will begin with a snack supper every evening! There are classes for those in pre-school – grade 5 and also an adult class. Youth can volunteer to help with younger kids or join the adults. We will continue explore how we understand the gift of water in our faith with a mission focus on the world water crisis. We need lots of people to make this a special event for our young people – cooks, musicians, shepherds, storytellers…to volunteer or register, contact Pastor Rachel or visit www.union-church.org/home/vbs2014
Mini-Bazaar Saturday, August 23 Large Yard Sale or Small Bazaar; 10 am until 2 ish; Please bring your treasures, clearly priced, to newly  renovated storage area under front porch (formerly known as the Dungeon; now dry and lighted ) “Repurposed Treasures Vault”.  More later….. John Payne
Are you a Wild Goose? Rev. Rachel is gathering a group of people interested in exploring the boundaries of contemporary Christian thought and experience at the Wild Goose Festival in Hot Springs, NC, June 26-29^th.  Register at wildgoosefestival.org, but we will organize caravanning and housing if you don’t want to camp. Wild Goose  is a mostly outdoor combo of music festival, worship convocation, and intellectual and spiritual mind-blowing speakers.   It’s a community gathered at the intersection of justice, spirituality, music and art. Tickets for the four-day event are $250 for most people if you sign up by May 31.  Seniors , students, and children get major discounts, and if you volunteer, you get in free!  Talk to Rev. Rachel or to one of the folks who went last year: Dave and Kim Kobersmith, Carla Gilbert, and Anna Kate McWhorter.  Then, register at www.wildgoosefestival.org, and let Rachel know you did!
Plates—come home! Did you, perhaps, take some potluck leftovers home on a white, or blue-flower-rimmed Corel plate? If so, it misses its buddies — please bring it back to church (no questions asked)! We’re short quite a few.