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

Trinity Sunday             May 27, 2018 10:30 am 

Meditation
“Christians and Jews hold in common one theological basis for hospitality: Creation. Creation is the ultimate expression of God’s hospitality to His creatures. In the words of one rabbi, everything God created is a “manifestation of His kindness. [The] world is one big hospitality inn.” As Church historian Amy Oden has put it, “God offers hospitality to all humanity… by establishing a home… for all.” To invite people into our homes is to respond with gratitude to the God who made a home for us.
In the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, we find another resource for hospitality. The trinity shows God in relationships with Himself. Our Three-in-One God has welcomed us into Himself and invited us to participate in divine life. And so the invitation that we, as Christians, extend to one another is not simply an invitation into our homes or to our tables; what we ask of other people it that they enter into our lives.” ― Lauren F. Winner, Mudhouse Sabbath

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 Jerusalem, My Happy Home George Shearing
¨  Call to Worship 
One: Holy is the God of All Creation!
All: We live by the grace of God’s hand.
One: Holy is the Christ who mends the broken and redeems the world.
All: We move by faith in him with acts of justice and joy.
One: Holy is the Spirit that reveals the coming kingdom.
All: We breathe the gifts of Pentecost and are sent scurrying before the wind of God.
One: Holy, Holy, Holy! We gather to know the Three-In-One, God in community. Let us worship in Spirit and Truth!
¨  Opening Hymn #277 Black  Holy, Holy, Holy Nicaea
¨  Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: Holy, holy, holy is God, our sovereign Lord, who was, and is, and is to come!
All: Before your unfathomable mystery, O God, all eloquence of form and language is facile. We cannot encompass you, for you encompass us. So we fall silent.
One: We offer you our need for forgiveness, our recognition that we are not yet what we hope to become. We confess in sorrow those things that betray our faith and wellbeing.
All: As children of God, we come to you that we might be transform, then rest content in the knowledge that we are known, wanted, and loved, by One infinitely greater than we shall ever be.
¨  Words of Assurance
One: May the God who dwells beyond us and the God who dwells among us and the God who calls us to dwell together bless us now as we gather in worship. By God’s power we are forgiven and freed to new life, heirs of a greater destiny, seekers of a deeper truth.
All: Thanks be to God! 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

Hymn #273 Black Praise with Joy the World’s Creator Lauda Anima
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Isaiah 6:1-8 (p. 814)
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.
Gospel Lesson John 3:1-17 (p. 1282)
Sermon Fracture and Wholeness:Making God in Our Own Image Rev. Kent Gilbert
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 
In observance of Pentecost, you may wish to pray in another language.  Several translations are printed.  Apologies for any inaccuracies.
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.
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  The Gift to Be Simple Dale Wood
¨  Doxology     Avery/Marsh

From Here to There

¨  Closing Hymn  #198 Black Lift High the Cross Crucifer
¨  Benediction
Postlude (please be seated)   Variations on Nicaea John Courter
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 Angola and Mozambique and our brothers and sisters at River of Life Foursquare 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.
¨ Jimmie Lewis’ sister, undergoing cancer treatment.
¨ Dana Rousey, recovering from hip replacements surgery. Cards can be sent to her at 4 Fairway Dr., Berea.
¨ Sue Goldsmith, Kim Kobersmith’s mom, recovering from eye surgery.
¨ Karim Monem and Rita Yalda Alkasrany, who were married yesterday in Cowan Chapel!
¨ Gary Dillon’s family and friends, at his death in April. A memorial service will be held here today at 2:30 pm in Cowan Chapel.
¨ 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 family members and friends in service.
What Next, Union Church? Following the report from the Needs Assessment Com-mittee about Lay Leadership at Union Church, we are now ready to begin Appreciative Inquiry listening groups for the whole church family, which are scheduled between May 23 and June 16.  Groups are listed here and YOU are asked to choose your group and let the host know that you will attend.  Sign up at church, call the office, or call the host to indicate which group you will join. Here’s the schedule of upcoming meetings:
Week 2

• Thursday, May 31 at 7:00 pm at Bill and Annriette Stolte’s home (859-986-9032).
• Saturday, June 2 at 1:00 pm at Shirley and Howard Carlberg’s (859-985-5501) (who have 21 steps to their entrance).

Week 3

• Sunday, June 3 at 4:00 pm Tom and Joy Frazier (859-582-4084) will host a group in their Richmond home.
• Tuesday, June 5 at 1:00 pm Shirley Carlberg (859-985-5501) will host another group (don’t forget the steps).
• Tuesday, June 5 at 7:00 pm Kelly and Teri Mehler (859-582-2085) will host in the Church Parlor.
• Thursday, June 7 at 10:00 am Mim Pride (217-827-1505) will host another group.
• Saturday, June 9 at 1:00 pm Sally Zimmerman (859-358-4617) will host a group (cat in residence there).

Week 4

• Monday, June 11 at 2:30 pm Dorie and Tom Hubbard (859-986-0839)will host a group at their home.

Thanks to Our Chancel and Handbell Choirs! Vocal and Handbell choirs have taken a brief rest for the summer months and we are so grateful for their labors throughout the previous years. No where is God more known and felt than in the heart that touches harmony and grace. Thank you ringers and singers for helping us be close to God every week through your ministry.
Last week’s concert raised $714 for the Berea Leadership Experience!!
History of Memorial Day: it is primarily to honor those who died in military service. Commander in Chief John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic issued the 1868 proclamation declaring the first Decoration Day, which was celebrated with a large memorial observance at Arlington National Cemetery, with about five thousand attending. Those attending placed small flags on the graves of veterans. General Ulysses S. Grant and his wife presided at the ceremony. Logan credited his wife, Mary Logan, with the suggestion for the commemoration.
But the idea had other roots, as well, going back at least to 1864.
In 1865, a group of 10,000 freed slaves in South Carolina along with a few white supporters—teachers and missionaries—marched in honor of Union soldiers, some of whom had been Confederate prisoners, reburied by the freed black Charlestonians. The prisoners had been buried in a mass grave when they died at the prison. While this ceremony can be called the first Memorial Day, it wasn’t repeated, and was soon nearly forgotten. The acknowledged and more direct root of Decoration Day was the practice of women of decorating the graves of their loved ones who had died in the Civil War.
Memorial Day was celebrated on May 30 after 1868.  Then in 1971 the celebration was moved to the last Monday in May, to make a long weekend, though a few states kept to the May 30 date.
Baby Shower Postponed. Regretfully, we must postpone our celebration of Ahnat. Family court has decided to place Ahnat back with her parents for now. Let’s hold them in the light and pray for love and peace. Thanks to all for your enthusiasm and care for this special little one.
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.
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.
The Berea Leadership Experience plans are coming along! We look forward to a great week of camp fun and practicing conflict resolution July 16-20. Thanks to generous donors, including the Union Church choir concert, we are fully funded for this year. We currently have openings for 5 campers and 3 adult staff counselors. Register through our Facebook page. To get more information about the counselor openings, contact kim.kobersmith@gmail.com. Includes a stipend of $150.