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

Fourth Sunday of Easter       The Lord’s Supper

May 7, 2017    10:30 am 

 
Meditation  
Those who pray, “Your kingdom come,” might want to take some responsibility in the process, and so work in partnership with God. We too are to seek the lost and make every effort to find them. Indeed, we are not only to seek; we are to take notice of who might be lost, even when immediately present.
The rich man ignores Lazarus at his gate, and the father of the prodigal ignored the elder son in the field. For the former, it is too late; for the latter, whether it is too late or not we do not know. But we learn from their stories.
Don’t wait. Look now. Look hard. Count.
― Amy-Jill Levine,  Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi

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     Concert Voluntary      G. Berg
¨  Call to Worship
¨  Opening Hymn #349      I Come with Joy          Dove of Peace
¨  Prayer of Approach 
 One:    Lord, in the laughter of children, we hear the voice of the Gate of the Way, and find our way home.
All:      In the lap of a parent, Your compassion cradles us in the still waters of love.
One:     The Shepherd of our lives leads us through that door into life with him forever.
All:      We are baptized with living waters which refresh us, restoring us to follow Jesus in his ways all our days.
One:     Holy Spirit, Keeper of truth, You are the Light which guides us through every shadowed moment.
All:      The Breath of life stills our worries and fears, as we are lead to that  peaceful place of God’s heart.
¨  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

Anthem    A Joyful Song  Robert Leaf
                  Union Church Choir
Bread of heaven, you draw near, and the world lashed out in fear; heaven seemed a threat that might take away what we held tight.
Bread of heaven, you drew near, and the world broke you in fear, gone was every gift you gave, sealed inside a borrowed grave.
Bread of heaven, you are here, you can sweep away our fear. Jesus, risen from the dead, now you come as earth’s own bread.
Faith and hope and love have come; joy and freedom on our tongue. Christ, you give and we are fed, you are here as earth’s own bread.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson                       Psalm 23
David’s famous song of praise and hope even in times when troubles surround us.
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, or are welcome return to their seats or visit the Children’s Worship Center, where there are 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 off the Community Room.   
Gospel Lesson                  John 10:1-10
Jesus tells the disciples “I am the gate,” and the “sheep know my voice.”
Sermon     Going In by the Gate  Rev. Kent Gilbert

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                          Paean of Triumph       L. Smith
¨  Doxology               Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Lasst Uns Erfreuen
                      Praise God all creatures here below!
                      Alleluia, alleluia!
                      Praise God above, ye heavenly host!
                      Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost. 
                      Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Commissioning of Stephen Leaders

The Union Church Stephen Ministry is named after one of the people appointed by the original apostles to help care for members of the community (Acts 7).  At Union Church we will soon be training Stephen Ministers who will provide skilled, compassionate, confidential, Christian care. Led by the Stephen Leaders we will commission today, and working closely with Rev. Kent and Rev. Rachel, we hope to provide much better and comprehensive spiritual care in the months and years ahead.
Introduction of the Stephen Leader Team:      Jeff From, Betty Hibler, Mary Lou Wiese, and Rev. Kent Gilbert
Questions for the Team
Questions for the Congregation
One:    Members of Union Church, will you open your hearts to the ministry of these Stephen Leaders and pray for them as servants of Christ? If so, answer: “Yes, with the help of God.”
All:      Yes, with the help of God.
Questions for  the Pastors
Blessing the Stephen Leaders
One:     May the Lord of the church fill you with the Holy Spirit and guide, bless, and keep you, so that you may be faithful in the ministry to which you have been called, gifted, trained, and sent.
All:      Amen.

Responding to God’s Love in Communion

Invitation to Communion
One:     May the God of gates be with you!
All:      And also with you!
One:     God calls us to open our hearts to others,
All:      for they are filled to overflowing with grace.
One:     Every day, let us rejoice in the Restorer of our lives.
All:      We sing glad songs to the One who leads us.
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 other’s riches, you, you and I, are welcomed at this table.
One:     Let us pray…
(please be seated)
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
Communion Prayer
One:     Great Shepherd, you are the gate to life and wholeness.
All:      You who created all, created all with love and in love.
One:     We remember how you offered bread to the prophets as they cried for justice.
One:     We remember how you refreshed even those who had sinned hard and heavy, with new life and new hope.
All:      We would love the things you love, we would serve the peoples of your heart.
One:     Great God, may these acts of breaking and sharing be the act of your provision, bringing all people to your grace, gathering every disciple in every time and place beside still waters – leading every follower no matter how hesitant, or fearful -through death to the place of grace and service.
One:     So we remember the story of the gathered disciples, and the broken bread; the facing of the cross, and the way through to resurrection; the empty tomb, and the dawn of alleluias where the angels sing, let us lift up our voices in song:
Sanctus                 please join in singing
Words of Institution
One:     So many times Jesus fed us: In pastures, in houses, at banquets, while teaching…in the boat, at the well, in the upper room, on the road when we didn’t know him, and in the valleys when we have been afraid…
One:     and now we gather at this table to remember and to be filled with such longing for your realm, great God, that we may rise together to turn our worship into witness and to follow in your way.
One:     We remember that when Jesus ate with his friends, he took a loaf of bread and, after blessing it, he broke it and gave it to them, saying,
All:      “Take, eat.  This is my body, given for you.  Each time you do this, remember me.”
One:     Then he took a cup and, after giving thanks, passed it to his friends, saying:
All:      “Drink.  This cup that is poured out for you is the promise of God, made in my blood.  Whenever you drink it, remember me.”
One:     Therefore, Holy God, we remember, and we cry for your Spirit.
            Enliven this bread, awaken this body, pour us out to overflowing for each other. Transfigure our minds, ignite your church, nourish the life of the earth.
All:      Make us, while many, united.
            Make us, though broken, whole.
            Make us, despite death, alive.
            Come, Holy Spirit!
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.
Communion Hymn         Come to the Table of Grace (opposite)               Barbara Hamm
Blessing for Those Who Will Receive at Home
Members who have been designated to carry communion to those who could not be with us this morning are invited forward at this time. The elements from our meal will go with our blessing and prayers for our continued unity in the Spirit. If you would like serve by taking communion to others, you are very welcome to do so and are invited to volunteer.
Prayer of Thanksgiving 
One:     You lead us to this Table where we want for nothing, for your Spirit transforms  everyday foods into a sacred feast.
One:     Your bread and cup comfort us, nourishing us so we might be together in everything with our sisters and brothers.
All:      The broken bread strengthens us to provide clean, still waters to all; to build shelter for those who sleep rough; to feed those who are hungry.
One:     Your grace overflows into us so we may offer companionship to those who wander shadowed valleys;
All:     an open gate to those longing for a community; voices of compassion and hope to the oppressed.
One:     When we follow goodness and mercy to the end of time, we will find you coming out of the kitchen, setting dish upon dish of peace and hope on that great table prepared for all your children, and we will join our hearts and hands as we sing praise and wonder to you, God in Community, Holy in One.  Amen.
— Thom M. Schuman, 2017

From Here to There

¨  Closing Hymn     Going Up Home to Live in Green Pastures

1. Troubles and trials often betray us
   Causing the weary body to stray
   But we shall walk beside the still water
   With the good shepherd leading the way.

Chorus: Going up home to live in green pastures
Where we shall live and die never more
Even the Lord will be in that number
When we have reached that heavenly shore.

2. Those who have strayed are sought by the master
   He who once gave his life for the sheep
   Out on a mountain still He is searching
   Bringing them in forever to keep.
3. We will not heed the voice of the stranger
   For he would lead us on to despair
   Following home with Jesus our savior
   We shall all reach that country so fair.

¨  Benediction  
One:     Day by day, God will lead us:
All:      to those pools of peace where we can gather with our friends and strangers.
One:     Day by day, Jesus will call us:
All:      to give ourselves in service, to anoint others with hope.
One:     Day by day, the Spirit shows us:
All:      the people we might be, the community we might become.          
   Postlude    Toccata           D.E. Wagner
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 India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka 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, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin, Gloria VanWinkle.
¨ Berea College students who will graduate today! Take our love with you as you pursue your dreams.
¨ Larry Brandenburg and the family, at the death of his aunt, Hildred Hart
¨ Loretta Mountjoy, at home
¨ For those suffering from mental illnesses and for their families who love and care for them.
¨ For Refugees around the world: may they find a home in safety and may God’s people help.
¨ Families in difficulty
Join the church next week!  Union Church is a vital and growing family of faith, a home to those committed to the way of Christ’s sacrificial love and service. All who feel led to join will be received in joy! New members are received every second Sunday of a month. YOU are welcome here!
At the April 30 Congregational Meeting after worship, the 2017 revised budget of $433,046.74 was approved.  Debbonnaire Kovacs was elected to Pastoral Relations Board, Chad Runyan to Worship and Ellen Mink to Administration. Thanks be to God for these strong hearts!
Lunch Bunch Thursday – Cooking for One or Two? Join the Lunch Bunch, Thursday, May 11. Several members cooking for just themselves or one other decided to create a fellowship lunch with the opportunity to share new recipes and swap techniques for good eating. Everyone, young and old, cooking for just a few are invited to lunch at 12:00 pm in the Community Room. Bible Study will be at 1 pm on Lunch Bunch days.  Next chance May 25.
Union Church recently became involved in Stephen Ministry. This one-to-one lay caregiving ministry is named for Stephen, one of the first seven laypeople called by the church to assist the apostles in caring for others. (You can read Stephen’s story in Acts 6 and 7.)
Stephen Ministry is truly ministry—that is, service to others, caring for others in Jesus’ name, doing the work that God has both called and gifted God’s children to do. Do you feel a calling to care for others who are hurting? Do you desire the personal joy that comes from sharing Christ’s love with people?
In the next few months, our Stephen Leader Team will begin training some of the members of our congregation to serve as Stephen Ministers. To learn more about Stephen Ministry, speak to Betty Hibler or the pastors and visit https://union-church.org/fd_ops/stephen-ministry/ on the church webpage.
Project Underway: In the next couple of weeks, we’ll be beautifying part of our building that has needed a bit of love for some time:

• Asbestos floor tile will be removed from 1st & 3rd floor hallways
• The stairwell on the Cowan Chapel side will be painted
• Flooring will be installed in those areas

This project is planned to be finished by May 12 and will not impact regular activities. Monies to be used are from an insurance settlement due to damage from an overflowing toilet, and a generous bequest from Merlin Kindel’s estate.
We are so grateful for Merlin’s love for the people of Union Church, and his care of the building.
 
Thanks to everyone who participated in the annual Bread for the World Offering of Letters at WNL in March. The Washington, D.C.,staff have just announced that over 91,000 letters were sent to our legislators during this year’s campaign: “Doing Our Part to End Hunger.”
Family Caregiver Workshop  June 9. This program is specialized for family caregivers and will offer information about Alzheimer’s disease and caregiving and will also provide an opportunity to reflect, regenerate, and gain a new perspective on your caregiving issues.  Local and statewide experts who specialize in aging and Alzheimer’s care will present topics that are valuable to family caregivers of persons with dementia.  This training is designed specifically for family caregivers and is therefore not open to those who are professional caregivers.  Jointly sponsored by the UK Sanders Brown Center on Aging, Baptist Health Medical Group Neurology, and the Alzheimer’s Association. Dr Greg Cooper will be one of speakers.
Workshop registration fee: $10 (includes lunch).  Registration is required; deadline June 2, 2017. To register, call 1-800-272-3900.
June 9, 2017, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00p.m.
Alzheimer’s Association, 2808 Palumbo Drive , Lexington KY 40509
Help Wanted.  We have an ongoing need for volunteers to help with Sunday services.  Can you be a worship reader, greeter, coffee angel, etc.?   For details go to the church website, union-church.org and click on “Volunteer” near the upper right corner (or talk to Doug Hindman).
We Need YOUR PICTURE for a New Church Directory! If you’ve got a photo you’d like to use, please send it to the office. Also — if there’s a chance we don’t have your address, phone, email address, anniversary, or birthday(s)—please send that info on as well: office@union-church.org. There will soon be a draft available in the office for you to check and correct if needed. If we left you out — we don’t mean to!! Please add your info! Also, if you happen to know that someone has moved or attends church elsewhere, let us know that too.
There’s a form on the back if you’d like to use it.
Coming up …  watch for more details
 June 16—performance of Godspell