A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Third Sunday of Easter 10:30 am
Meditation
“When your heart is broken you plant seeds in the cracks and pray for rain.”
~ Andrea Gibson
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 Chris McKenzie, Reader
One: I will praise you, O God, for you have lifted me up and have given my enemies no cause to rejoice. Hearing my cries for help, you healed me;
bringing me from the very depths of hell, you restored my life.
All: Let all faithful people give thanks, and praise God’s holy name.
One: For your anger, O God, lasts but a moment, while your graciousness lasts a lifetime.
All: Weeping lingers for a night, but joy comes with the morning.
One: You have transformed my life from mourning to joy, making my spirit dance and my heart sing.
All: May our praise never be silenced as we give thanks, and praise God for ever and ever. Amen!
¨ Hymn # 241 Joy Dawned Again on Easter Day Puer Nobix Nascitur
1 Joy dawned again on Easter Day, the sun shone out with bright array; For when the Apostles hid in fear, the Risen Christ to them appeared.
2 O Jesus, Savior, Gentle One, come take our hearts to be your own, That we may give you all our days the willing tribute of our praise.
3 O Sovereign One, with us abide in this our joyful Easter-tide; From every weapon death can wield, your own redeemed forever shield.
¨ Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: Lord we come seeking beauty in place of brokenness, and we come confessing the sin and shortcomings that have hurt ourselves and those we love.
All: We pray to stay rooted in your love. We pray to be aided by your grace. We pray to heal the tears we have inflicted on others.
One: Holy God of transformation and release, hear our prayers and magnify our hope. Forgive us and teach us that the oil of gladness may flow freely to all who mourn that which has been broken. In the beauty of your risen and rising Christ we pray:
All: Amen.
¨ Words of Assurance
¨ 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
Special Music By My Side Godspell
Kentucky Cabaret Trio: Pam Chabora, Emily North,, Maranda Weckman; Robert Rorrer, Guitar
Scripture Reading Acts 9:1-20
Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight and neither ate nor drank.
Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”
~ 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.
Scripture Reading John 21:1-19
After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he had taken it off, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.
When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them, and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord.
Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”
~ New Revised Standard Version, updated
Sermon Back to the Boat? Rev. Kent Gilbert
Video Reflection
A chance to take in what we have heard and reflect together.
Responding to God’s Love in Communion
Invitation to Communion
One: God be with you!
All: And also with you!
One: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to God.
One: Let us give thanks to God.
All: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
One: Jesus sat with all sorts, the many different colors of humanity, but mainly those excluded, and broke bread.
One: So along with everyone the world has turned its back on, along with everyone hungry, and everyone hungry for justice and truth, along with everyone abused as stranger and foreigner, along with everyone who does not fit “normal,” along with everyone who questions, doubts, and even denies, along with every prejudice that has ever been flung, along with every one made poor by others’ riches, you, you and I, are welcomed at this table. A place has been prepared on the beach for us.
One: Come let us break the fast together with 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.
Communion Prayer
One: Lord, whose power we see in the rising tide, the bursting net, the irrepressible spring: we know you by many names and meet you in many rooms.
One: We remember that the arc of your hope is for the healing of hearts, and the transformation of nations. Your prophets preached justice, your teachers showed us ways in the wildernesses of our fears, and your Christ broke even the bars of death to give life to our living, dying, and living yet more in your light.
One: For this and for the many wonders particular to each of us, we give you thanks and join our praise with the eternal chorus singing always:
Sanctus
Words of Institution
One: Here at this table of grace and wonder, where the simple gifts you have prepared are set aside for sacred use, your Spirit is poured out upon them and your children gathered in this place of prayer.
One: We remember that when Jesus ate with his disciples that he took a loaf of bread and, after blessing it, he broke it and gave it to them, saying,
All: “Take, eat. is my body, given for you. Every time you do this, remember me.”
One: Then he took a cup and, after giving thanks, passed it to his friends, saying:
All: “Drink. cup that is poured out for you is the promise of God, made in my blood. Every time you drink it, remember me.”
One: We remember later how at breakfast, when it seemed they had forgotten, Jesus asked…
All: “Do you love me?”
One: And when Peter responded yes, we remember that Jesus asked him to “feed my lambs” and he came back to himself. As we eat of the bread broken for us, we may come back to ourselves as well, made one in the body of Christ, one in his love for others.
One: As we drink deeply from the cup of peace, may we be filled with the joy of your company, and hearing the cries of those around us, be strengthened to serve them with your hope and justice.
All: By this meal, remind us how to love what you love, to serve whom you serve, and feed those whom you tend. By the power of your holy spirit: Amen.
Serving One Another
All who seek the love of God are welcome at this meal and are invited to freely receive from it. We will share the elements today by intinction, dipping the bread in the cup. When invited please come to one of the stations by exiting your pew to the left and returning by the right. If it is not convenient to come forward, the elements can be brought to your seat by signaling to the usher. All the bread is gluten-free, and the chalices are filled with non-alcoholic grape juice.
Living Prayer
Offertory
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.
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!
Community Prayer of Thanksgiving Chris McKenzie, Reader
One: Lord of sea and harvest, Lord of bounty and blessing, you have once again laid a feast of bread and purpose for us. When we are discouraged and unsure where to turn, we will keep looking because you never stopped looking for us. When we are bound and taken to places we don’t want to go, we will be strong because you have come with us in the company of this bread and wine.
When others are hungry and tired and afraid, we will feed your lambs because we have been given all we need to live your love, and show your grace. Holy one, bless all who long to be healed and send us, whole and ready, into the Good work—and good trouble— you proclaim.
We pray in Jesus’ name and pray as he taught, reaching to you as….
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 #250 Listen to Your Savior Call Orientis Partibus
1 Listen to your Savior call, “Do you love me most of all?” Jesus speaks, and speaks to you: “Love me as I first loved you.”
2 “I delivered you when bound, and, when bleeding, healed your wound. Sought you wandering, set you right, for your pathway gave you light.”
3 Mine is an unchanging love, higher than the heights above, deeper than the depths beneath, free and faithful, strong as death.”
4 O my Savior, hear my need; though my love is faint indeed, still I love you and adore – oh, for grace to love you more!
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.
Lighting the Justice Candle to Lead us Forth
The Haymarket Affair.On this day in 1886, labor activists in Chicago were demonstrating peacefully for an 8 hour workday. Workers labored 10 – 12 hours a day in largely unregulated conditions. During the demonstration, an unknown person with and unknown motive threw a bomb, killing several strikers along with several police officers. Eight men known to be activist leaders were arrested and without any evidence, 4 were hanged, 1 committed suicide, and 3 were given life sentences. This became a turning point in workers’ rights. Let us say their names:
George Engel, Samuel Fielden, Adolf Fischer, Louis Lingg, Oscar Neebe, Albert Parsons, Michael Schwab, Augus Spies
¨ Benediction
¨ Benediction Response God of the Poor Graham Kentdrick
Postlude
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 Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan; and our siblings at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 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 in the Middle East.
¨ 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.
¨ In a season when we remember the reversal of an unjustified death, we pray for all who suffer from injustice and cruelty, personal or systemic. We pray for God’s righteousness, mercy and peace to prevail for all who are being wrongfully persecuted.
¨ All those suffering from mental strain, trauma, and disease, and those who care and worry for them: may God soothe and heal all who are troubled.
¨ Our Kentucky neighbors, hit again with flooding in these recent storms.
¨ 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.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ The Guild family as Will continues his struggle with brain cancer and stroke.
¨ Rev. Kent’s cousin, Kathy, undergoing chemotherapy for esophageal cancer, and her mother, Helen, who is Rev. Carla’s sister.
¨ Kelly Mehler, who has resumed treatment for his lymphoma.
¨ Barb Taylor’s son, David, undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.
¨ Rev. Christina’s family: her brother-in-law, Jamie, with stage 4 cancer and his wife, her sister Veronica. They’ve got two small children.
Terry Scherf has moved to Dominion in Richmond and would love to come to church. If you can ¨ provide an occasional ride, please let us know in the office.
¨ Muse at the death of his sister, Gerry Morris. Prayers also for her husband, Lee, a former Berea College campus minister; and sons Paul and Jon and their families.
¨ Maya Todd, with heart issues.
¨ Melissa Zook, recovering from back surgery.
¨ Max Ponnie, Emily LaDouceur’s son, who badly broke his tibia at a track meet.
¨ A memorial service will be held for Dottie Blackburn on Sunday, May 11, 2 pm, in the sanctuary
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: today, May 4 – Doris Mosley; 5 – Steve Rhodes; 6 – Ann Butwell; 7 – Tom McClure; 10 – Lothar Baumann, Mandy Connelly; 11 – Linda Parsons, David Hurst
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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