A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Proper 27 of the Season after Pentecost 10:30 am
Meditation
It is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich. ~ Henry Ward Beecher
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 Lorilyn Howie-Kipphut, Reader
One: Planted deep in both love and a history of caring:
All: we reach wide in Hope, Service, and Faith!
One: Drawing inspiration and support from those roots,
All: we grow toward Grace and reach for wider love.
One: Sheltered and blessed by what was planted before our time,
All: we gather here to widen the reach of all God imagines for us now.
One: Come Holy Spirit, deep root and wide reach of our God and Savior. We are here to worship and praise your name!
¨ Hymn Rooted and Grounded in Love Udis-Kessler, Johnson
¨ Prayer of Approach and Confession (unison)
In you we live and have our being, Lord! Ever have you sustained our hope and ever have you given us strength for the needs. We are charged in your presence and made whole in company with your precepts.
In need of assurance, aware of shortcomings, we come to you humble and hopeful. Forgive us the errors that wound your world and teach us a better way. Lord, have mercy and show us how to step up to the standard you set. In Christ’s name we pray: 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.
Choir Anthem The Loving God Who Made Us All arr. Birling Union Church Choir
The loving God who made us all has given gifts to each. For some are gifted with a saw, while some are called to preach. And some are called to work with young, while others care for old. The different gifts that each one has crate a special whole.
The loving Christ who walked on earth saw everyone the same: the tax collector, fisherman, the wealthy and the lame. His care for each saw past their face and saw their heart inside. And for them all he gave his life when on the cross he died.
The loving Spirit with us now has called us all to be a loving presence in the world to all God’s family; o welcome those within our midst with more than passing nod, to celebrate the lives and loves of every child of God!
Scripture Reading Psalm 98
O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory. The Lord has made known his victory; he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises. Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody. With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord. Let the sea roar and all that fills it, the world and those who live in it. Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.
~ 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 Luke 6:32-45
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive payment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap, for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
He also told them a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above the teacher, but every disciple who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.
“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil, for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.”
~ New Revised Standard Version, updated
Sermon Like a Tree Beside the Waters Rev. Kent Gilbert
Video Reflection
A chance to take in what we have heard and reflect together.
Living Prayer
Call to Prayer
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 Oceania: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia (Maohi Nui), Kanaky, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu and our siblings at New Life Assemblies of God our hearts, and pray for them today and throughout the week.
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.
Embodied Prayer
You are invited to reflect and pray at the candle table. You may also choose to source the essential ingredient of solitude and private prayer, remaining with your own thoughts in your pew.
Offertory Tarantella Paul Beaumont Union Church Orchestra
Procession of Celebration & Praise
Today is Union Church Giving Day, and Today We Celebrate! In this service of contribution and gratitude there are so many ways to become part of a wider reach. Using one of the offering cards, making a pledge or donation online, or volunteering for meaningful service makes the roots and reach of this place possible. Consider:
¨ Prayers, Hopes & Thanksgiving: Everyone is invited to use the reflection sheet to list that for which you are most grateful, and to list what you are reaching toward. Bring them to the central basket to be lifted in our communal hope and thanksgiving.
¨ Offerings: Everyone is invited to bring any contribution, offering, or tithe to the altar as well. These gifts make the love flow! We celebrate everyone’s help to make God’s vision tangible for EVERYONE.
¨ Pledges! Everyone who is making a pledge [a promise and estimate of giving in the future] for our work with God in the coming year is invited to also bring forth your pledge card and place this in the altar basket, too. We consecrate these promises and promise to steward the work and the resources with extravagant generosity and care.
A Chance for Generosity: 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 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 Old Hundredth
Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above ye heavenly host: Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost! Amen.
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication Lorilyn Howie-Kipphut, Reader
One: Lord, the reach of love is measured in the hearts of your people! Receive our joy, our hopes and our prayers rising from the roots of our past through the branches of our present ministries, to the furthest fruit of Graces yet to come, O God!
All: We come in humble thanks for the sustaining love you give to us. Though the sea roar, and the earth shake, we are rooted in the foundation of your care.
One: Receive all gifts made this day, Lord.
All: May our offerings of finances, of labor, and of joyful service be for a blessing.
One: Receive these pledges, O God.
All: We offer to you, O God, these pledges for the redeeming love you give to us, for the challenging work love demands of us, and for the building of a kin-dom more just and more joyful in your name!
One: We long to branch out to live, learn, serve, pray, worship and heal.
All: With you and one another, we seek and serve Christ’s love!
One: May all who seek find, may all who hunger or thirst find sustaining strength, and may all who serve be messengers of your light and love. Receive and magnify our work and promises for ministry together.
All: We consecrate all this to you, O Lord! Deepen our Roots and Widen our Reach!
One: We ask this in the name of Jesus, the one who taught us to reach 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 #313 Like a Tree beside the Waters Silver Creek
1. Like a tree beside the waters, nurtured by your loving care, we, O God, your sons and daughters, your enduring witness bear. In each passing generation may your voice of love be heard. Bless, we pray, this congregation with you holy, living Word.
2. Like a tree beside the river, drawing life from holy streams, fill us with your love forever; recreate our hopes and dreams. Through the storms of life sustain us by the wisdom of your grace. May the changing of the seasons find us in your warm embrace.
3. We, beside the living waters, drink from your eternal life. Give to all, your sons and daughters, faith that rises over strife. O Living God, most glorious, strengthen us for life today. By the hope of timeless promise guide you church upon the Way.
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
For our Justice Candle on a Sunday where we are reminded to hold on to Faith, let’s take a step back in history to a place where others were holding onto faith and acting on it in a time where they felt overwhelmed. Let us honor Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch Christian who lived in the time of Hitler.
Corrie, along with her family, helped many Jewish people escape the Holocaust. She and her sister were both arrested and sent to a Concentration Camp. In spite of the death of her sister there, she continued to hold onto her faith … preaching forgiveness and reconciliation after the end of the war. Let us similarly hold fast to our faith in a just and loving God.
¨ Benediction
¨ Benediction Response Rooted and Grounded in Love Udis-Kessler, arr. Johnson
We are rooted and grounded in love. Like a tree by the river, we’re planted so deep. We are rooted and grounded in love with each gift that we bring and each promise we keep. As we birth a new world where we all have enough, we are rooted and grounded in love.
Our Prayers for Others
¨ Dave Reilly’s nephew, Herb Post, ill with kidney cancer that has spread to his lung.
¨ Sally Hindman, recovering from knee replacement surgery.
¨ Rev. Christina Perkins’ sister, Veronica, her brother-in-law Jamie Agurri and their young children. Jamie is now on hospice care after complications of metastatic colon cancer that spread quickly and has not responded to treatment.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ 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.
¨ That the fragile ceasefire in the Middle East may hold; and those suffering receive the aid they need.
¨ 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.
¨ Our neighbors experiencing housing insecurity, homelessness and food insecurity.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Betsy Hoefer, Dorie Hubbard, Susan Kramer, Lois Morgan, Sara Parker, Hattie Parks, Cheryl Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie, Theresa Scherf.
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Congratulations to our own Eef Fontanez, who was awarded the John G. Fee Social Justice Award, given annually to a Berea resident or group who has promoted human rights in the city by the Berea Human Rights Commission.
Birthdays: Nov. 9 – LaRee Jacobs; 10 – Mary Robert Garrett; 12 – Cheryl Stone; 14 – Wyndee Holbrook, Laeya Antares; 15 – Paul Jacobs; 16 – Scottie Frederiksen
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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