A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the CHURCH OF CHRIST, UNION
Seventh Sunday of Easter May 8, 2016 10:30 am
Meditation
“Our knowledge of God is in and through each other. Our knowledge of each other is in and through God. We act together and find our good in each other and in God, and our power grows together, or we deny our relation and reproduce a violent world where no one experiences holy power.”
—Beverly Wildung Harrison, Making Connections
“An ounce of mother is worth a ton of priest.” —Spanish proverb
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 A Friend for Life B. Childers
Pearl Marshall
Call to Worship
One: God who fulfilled the promises of Easter calls us to be witnesses:
All: Not only to the past, but to work and worship in the present presence of Jesus.
One: God sends the Holy Spirit
All: That we may open our lips in praise and be a bold blessing in Christ’s name.
One: Let us worship God who lifts our spirits to greater work and greater joy.
*Opening Hymn All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (opposite) DIADEM
* Prayer of Approach
* 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.
The Word in our Midst
Anthem Hymn of Promise arr. Natalie Sleeth
Union Church Choir
In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree; in cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free! In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody; there’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me. From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery, Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity; in our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity, in our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
Epistle Lesson Ephesians 1:15-23
Children’s Church Presentation
The children have been learning the American Sign Language words to “Amazing Grace” this year, and will lead the congregation in singing. Please follow along with verses 1, 2, 3, and 5 in your hymnal, #147.
Children’s Moment
As the children return to their seats or move to children’s church, 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 Children’s Moment, children grades K-5 are invited to Children’s Church, which takes place in Cowan Chapel. Otherwise, children are welcome to 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 & under, care is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Community Room. Please pick up your children in the Chapel or Nursery after the service.
Gospel Lesson Luke 24:44-53
Sermon The Eye of the Heart Enlightened Rev. Kent Gilbert
Gifts Given For Love to Flow
Spring Forward Testimony Jane Mecham
This spring, we have a chance to help our congregation spring forward into bearing Christ’s light with extra pledges and one-time gifts to the church’s annual operating budget. Next week, at Pentecost, we will take up cards to accept these pledges and gifts!
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 Prayerful Song G. Young
* Doxology Avery/Marsh
Praying it Forward
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 Prayers and Prayers for the Community
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
Introduction and Invitation to Membership
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, and are welcome to come forward during the Closing Hymn. Thanks be to God for these ministers among us.
* Closing Hymn #583 Like a Mother Who Has Borne Us Austin
* Questions of the Congregation and New Members
* Covenant of Welcome
And we, the members of this church, renewing our own covenant to God and to each other, do now heartily welcome you to our fellowship, promising to watch over you in love, and praying that you, and we, may be true witnesses for Christ, a light in the world, and continue to increase in usefulness and joy in his service.
* Benediction & Sending Forth
* Postlude (please be seated) Fugue in G Major, BWV 541 J.S. Bach
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 Djibouti and Somalia and our brothers and sisters at Liberty Avenue Baptist Church in your hearts, and pray for them.
Please also hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week:
¨ Refugee families and individuals seeking shelter and safety, and all who are working to provide it: May God magnify our efforts.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound: Edith Hansen, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin
¨ Sheila Johnson, facing breast cancer
¨ Marlene Payne and her family
¨ Kelly Ambrose and family
¨ Terry Allen Watts, NoraRuth Jenkins’ cousin
¨ Cindy Saylor’s friend Genny Bryant, who has colon cancer.
¨ Toby Wilcher, recovering from broken bones at Brookdale Richmond Place, and for Shane Wilcher, holding down the house in her absence with the help of many Union Church family members
¨ The family of Les Pross, in his death, and travel mercies for his family, now gathering. A service is planned for May 14, 2 pm
¨ Loyal Jones and all the family of Nancy Jones, as we grieve her passing
¨ Myrna Davis, back in the hospital with complications from surgery
¨ Steven Bailey, Rhonda Edward’s son, recovering from a stroke
¨ Celebration and Blessings for the marriage of Lisa Vaughn and Lee Etta Cumming, who were married on Friday!
¨ Michelle Hayden’s mother, very ill in Indiana
¨ Anne Weatherford, now in hospice care in North Carolina
¨ Those who are mothers, those who have mothers (and those who have complicated relationships with their mothers), those who have lost mothers, mothers who have lost children.
¨ Blessings for Berea College Graduates as the celebrate at the commencement this afternoon, including Nick & Rusti Mullins!
¨ For all discerning the way forward in difficult circumstances, may God’s light lead and guide
Electronic Directories available—just email office@unon-church.org.
Join the church today! 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!
Our Palm Sunday offering to One Great Hour of Sharing was $1713! OGHS is a n interdenominational Christian effort to empower people worldwide, and provide water, supply food, and give relief from disasters. Thank you for your witness!
“When fighting cancer, sometimes the smallest things can make the biggest difference.” Knitted Knockers are soft, comfortable breast forms, made with love by volunteers, fro women who have had mastectomies. Placed into most regular bras, thy can proved a suitable alternative to traditional prostheses. They are beautiful, lightweight, and available free to
anyone who requests them. Patty Boyce is the Berea Knockers Facilitator, and Fiber Frenzy has joined her in this worthwhile endeavor. Yarn and patterns are available online at fiberfrenzy.net, ravelry.com, knitted knockers.org. Contact Patty for more info at boycep@berea.edu
Where There’s a Will There’s a Way! Please come to lunch and a brief presentation on planned giving on Thursday, May 26, 2016 from Noon until 2:00 p.m. in the Classroom next to the Conference Room. Berea attorney Charlie Hoffman will be discussing ways to benefit others in your Last Will and Testament and estate plan.
Food for kids needed: Berea Community Elementary School’s Family Resource Center has put out the call for tuna fish in foil packets, and pudding snacks and fruit snacks — both in plastic containers (usually sold by the 6- or 12-pack). The United States Department of Agriculture requires any food sent home to be packaged in non-breakable material and that the food does not require any preparation involving the use of a can opener, microwave, oven or stove.
Low sugar dry cereal (not oatmeal) also is needed. The family resource centers ask that cookies, candy and calorie-laden snacks NOT be given. Donations should be left outside the church office, clearly marked for Dodie Murphy or No Child Cold/No Child Hungry.
The Berea Community schools and the Madison County schools that enroll Berea residents share supplies when the need arises, whether it be food, clothing or shoes.
For information call Dodie at 859-200-7277 or email her at dodiemurf@yahoo.com.
John G. Fee for young people! Debbonnaire Kovacs has learned that there is no children’s book about John G. Fee, and thinks there should be! She is running a 30-day Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to enable her to spend a year researching, writing, and illustrating a middle grade biography that will help educate young people about the anti-racist, anti-sexist, inclusive society Fee and his colleagues envisioned, and for which we still work today.
If she does not reach her funding goal, she won’t get anything, so please check out the website, support her if you can, and let all your friends and networks know! You can either type in the following link, or simply go to kickstarter.com and type John Fee into the search box. Check out the cool rewards at various giving levels!
We thank Liberty Place for the cleanup help. Because of Union Church’s continued commitment to Liberty Place, the women’s recovery center in Richmond, LP volunteers came this week to deep clean our kitchen and will be back to deep clean Cowan Chapel and the playground!
anyone who requests them. Patty Boyce is the Berea Knockers Facilitator, and Fiber Frenzy has joined her in this worthwhile endeavor. Yarn and patterns are available online at fiberfrenzy.net, ravelry.com, knitted knockers.org. Contact Patty for more info at boycep@berea.edu
Where There’s a Will There’s a Way! Please come to lunch and a brief presentation on planned giving on Thursday, May 26, 2016 from Noon until 2:00 p.m. in the Classroom next to the Conference Room. Berea attorney Charlie Hoffman will be discussing ways to benefit others in your Last Will and Testament and estate plan.
Food for kids needed: Berea Community Elementary School’s Family Resource Center has put out the call for tuna fish in foil packets, and pudding snacks and fruit snacks — both in plastic containers (usually sold by the 6- or 12-pack). The United States Department of Agriculture requires any food sent home to be packaged in non-breakable material and that the food does not require any preparation involving the use of a can opener, microwave, oven or stove.
Low sugar dry cereal (not oatmeal) also is needed. The family resource centers ask that cookies, candy and calorie-laden snacks NOT be given. Donations should be left outside the church office, clearly marked for Dodie Murphy or No Child Cold/No Child Hungry.
The Berea Community schools and the Madison County schools that enroll Berea residents share supplies when the need arises, whether it be food, clothing or shoes.
For information call Dodie at 859-200-7277 or email her at dodiemurf@yahoo.com.
John G. Fee for young people! Debbonnaire Kovacs has learned that there is no children’s book about John G. Fee, and thinks there should be! She is running a 30-day Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to enable her to spend a year researching, writing, and illustrating a middle grade biography that will help educate young people about the anti-racist, anti-sexist, inclusive society Fee and his colleagues envisioned, and for which we still work today.
If she does not reach her funding goal, she won’t get anything, so please check out the website, support her if you can, and let all your friends and networks know! You can either type in the following link, or simply go to kickstarter.com and type John Fee into the search box. Check out the cool rewards at various giving levels!
We thank Liberty Place for the cleanup help. Because of Union Church’s continued commitment to Liberty Place, the women’s recovery center in Richmond, LP volunteers came this week to deep clean our kitchen and will be back to deep clean Cowan Chapel and the playground!
Save-the-Dates
May 16—Alluring Handbell Concert
May 17—Bloodmobile, Community Room
May 23—Grow Appalachia Summer Feeding Program begins in Community Room
May 25—Final WNL before a summer break
May 26—Where there’s Will, There’s a Way: Planned Giving Workshop & Lunch
May 27— John McCutcheon & Sam Gleaves Concert
June 5—Lemonade on the Porch begins for the summer
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