A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the
CHURCH OF CHRIST, UNION

Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost All Saints Sunday
November 1, 2015, 10:30 am

Meditation
A saint is a saint not because he is “good,” but because he is transparent for something that is more than he himself is.
– Paul Tillich

FROM THERE TO HERE

Prelude We’re Marching to Zion D. Wood
• Call to Worship
One: My friends, we gather to worship God and serve the Christ. How then shall we live?
All: With joy and justice, we will carry the light of Jesus.
One: We come from diverse backgrounds, we don’t all think alike, we have differing gifts and needs. How then shall we live?
All: With gratitude and generosity of Spirit, we will bear Christ’s light.
One: We pledge to love what God loves, to serve those whom God cares for. How then shall we live?
All: Believing in, caring for, proclaiming and bearing the love Jesus bears for us, and for all, let us prosper the work of God’s heart in all we do!
• Opening Hymn #295 Black I Sing a Song of the Saints of God GRAND ISLE
• Prayer of Approach & Confession
One: God of our generation, we hear the word “saint,” and think we might get a pass. We are not “saints.” We mess up. We fail. We sin. But thinking sainthood lies beyond our capacity is perhaps the greatest of sins.
All: God of all generations, when we set our hands to labor, thinking we work alone, remind us that we carry on our lips the words of prophets, in our veins the blood of martyrs, in our eyes the mystics’ visions, in our hands the strength of thousands.
One: As we join ourselves to you today, O God, in this generation and in the generations to come, shine through us, that we may show a glimmer of your saintliness despite ourselves. Amen.
— adapted from a prayer by Jan L. Richardson
• Words of Assurance
One: Behold! God is making all things new… even us! By the grace revealed through Jesus Christ, we are forgiven people walking toward light! Thanks be to God!
All: Thanks be to God! Amen.
• 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.
Bearing the Light
Bearing the light of Christ is our joy and mission. Whether it be in offering a true welcome to those seeking God’s presence, or shining the light of love into tragedy, Union Church is pledged to make Jesus’ ministry our own. We support that ministry with money, commitment, intelligence, and delight. On November 8 we will receive and bless our estimates of giving for the next year so we can bear the Christ-light faithfully and well in all we do.

THE WORD IN OUR MIDST

Anthem As We Gather at Your Table Daw, Scott
Union Church Choir
As we gather at your table, as we listen to your word, help us know, O God, your presence; let our hearts and minds be stirred. Nourish us with sacred story till we claim it as our own; teach us through this holy banquet how to make Love’s victory known.
Turn our worship into witness in the sacrament of life; send us forth to love and serve you, bringing peace where there is strife. Give us, Christ, your great compassion to forgive as you forgave; may we still behold your image in the world you died to save.
Gracious Spirit, help us summon other guests to share that feast where triumphant Love will welcome those who had been last and least. There no more will envy blind us, nor will pride our peace destroy, as we join with saints and angels to repeat the sounding joy.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Ruth 1:1-18
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 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 Mark 12:28-34
Sermon The Saints in the Light Rev. Rachel Small Stokes

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 Communion Meditation A. Zabel
• Doxology We give thee but thine own, what e’re the gift may be, SCHUMANN
All that we have is thine alone, a trust, O God, from thee!

BEING AND BECOMING ONE

• Invitation to Communion
One: God be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift our hearts in prayer.
One: Let us give thanks to God.
All: It is good to give God thanks and praise.

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 of the Community
One: Remembering All Saints Day gives us an opportunity to celebrate and remember those in our lives who have gone before us. Their presence in our community has contributed to and shaped our work, our life, character and story.
One: We remember those whose faithful witness proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ in words loud and soft, in actions great and small.
All: We gather before God, and remember the saints who have told the stories of God’s people, and witnessed to their faith in times gone by.
[The Peace Bell will be rung as the names of members of the church who have died in the past year are read. In addition, we hold in our prayers the memory of each and every loss suffered by members as we commend them to God.]
We remember:
Robert Bates Margaret Durham Merlin Kindel
James Orwig Bernice Robertson Michelle Tooley
Klara Welsh Geraldine Linder Jean Ritchie Pickow
One: We remember those known in our lives who have died in this last year. Please stand and remain standing if you have lost a grandmother or grandfather in this last year. Your mother or father. A spouse or partner. A child. A brother or sister. An aunt or uncle. A close relative. A classmate, teacher or mentor. A dear friend. A member of your work or school community.
One: Let us not grieve as those without hope, for the Spirit intercedes for us, and Christ is Lord of the Living and of the dead. For all the saints who went before us, who have spoken to our hearts and touched us with your fire, we praise you, O Lord.
All: They will hunger no more and thirst no more, and every tear shall be wiped from their eye.
[All may be seated.]
Communion Prayer
One: Like others who have gone before us, we hear Jesus calling us to change and be changed, to reform and be reformed, to challenge the church, and to allow ourselves to be challenged, that we might better serve you as the Body of Christ. For all the saints who live beside us, whose weaknesses and strengths are woven with our own, we praise you, O Lord.
One: You sent Jesus to share our life and journey with us, to show us how to live as you want. With his words and actions, Jesus taught us that the ways of God are different from the ways of the world. We are called to be your peacemakers, to hunger and thirst for what is right, and to show mercy to others. For all the saints who live beyond us who challenge us to change the world with them, we give you thanks, O Lord, and acknowledge your call:
All: Here we are; send us.
One: Jesus invited saints and sinners to dine with him and be his friends. And Jesus invites us – saints and sinners – to this meal, in which we can taste and see, experience and remember the goodness of our God. We give you thanks and praise as we sing:
Communion Sanctus please join in singing:
Words of Institution
One: We remember that on the night in which he died, Jesus sat at table with his friends, took bread, blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to them, saying:
All: “Take and eat,
One: this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
One: After supper he took the cup of wine and, after giving thanks, gave it to them and said,
All: “Drink this, all of you:
One: this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you and many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
One: God of heaven and earth, bless what we do here. Send your Holy Spirit upon us and our world that we may live to see your law and your way become our reality.
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.
If it is not your tradition to receive, you are invited to join in prayers for the unity of the Spirit and all people, within your tradition.
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

FROM HERE TO THERE

The conclusion of our service will be held in the Memorial Garden (weather permitting). When invited, please proceed directly to the garden through the door near the Peace Bell and gently tie your names as directed. Please bring your bulletin with you. For those who wish to remain in the sanctuary, the sound system will remain on so you can hear and participate. Please assist any in need in your row as we minister to each other.
• Hymn #299 Black For All the Saints SINE NOMINE
• Benediction & Sending Forth
One: The Scriptures tell us that… “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”
All: We stand together at this crossroads of time moving from mourning to dancing.
One: Let us remember the words of Paul… “So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh – for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”
All: We are all children of God, tied together by the ever-present, sustaining Spirit of God.
One: Today we remember that it is from God that we come, and it is to God that our spirits return. God is our dwelling place in all generations. In God we find our comfort and our strength. And in God’s Holy Spirit we shall remain connected forever.
All: Amen.

FROM HERE TO THERE

• Closing Hymn Let Your Light Shine on Me led by AJ Bodnar
____________________
• Please rise in body or in spirit as you wish
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 the India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka and our brothers and sisters at Kirksville Wallace Chapel in your hearts, and pray for them.
Please also hold these concerns in your prayers, today and throughout the week:
Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound: Edith Hansen, Nancy Jones, Mary Miller, Averill Kilbourne, Alva Peloquin
*George Oberst, undergoing cancer therapy
*Delores Carpenter’s mother, who is very ill
*Elizabeth Long’s brother, Jay, whose cancer has metastasized
*Joe Jaggers’ mother, Cassandra Jaggers, with aggressive breast cancer
*The Coynes’ neighbor, Sheila Johnson, fighting breast cancer
*Marlene Payne and her family. Visit her Caring Bridge site www.caringbridge.org/visit/marlenepayne
*Kelly Ambrose, and the army of volunteers helping him with transportation
*All those suffering worry about illness
*The Kindel family, at the loss of Merlin
*Rob and Michelle Hayden and their sons, Eli and Ian
*Dodie Murphy
*Joan English’s dad, George Hardman, anticipating surgery for colon cancer
*Family of Jonathan Scalf, friend of David Milley and resident of Berea, who was murdered this week.  His younger brother was killed in a car accident 7 years ago, so the family feels a particular burden of grief.\
*Glenna Rice, who has been in and out of the hospital recently and is now recovering at home at McCready Manor.  Cards and visits welcome at her new address: 300 Stocker Dr., Apt. 231, Richmond, KY 40475. 859-623-4992
You Matter! Please Sign the Register, Check in on Facebook/Twitter and try a nametag! It’s hard to get to know people elsewhere, but we don’t want it that way at church. Let’s all try to get to know each other better.
Join the church next week! New members are received every second Sunday of a month—next opportunity is November 8. YOU are welcome here!
Songwriting Class – Join our Artist in Residence, AJ Bodnar, for a 4-week class series called Heart and Soul: Using the Music Within – bring any instruments you know how to play. Those of every skill level (and NO skill level) are welcome. 12:30 in the Office level Classroom, bring a lunch & join the fun.
Third annual Fall Cookout/Potluck with food and fun for everyone! Saturday, November 7, ?5:30 p.m. to ????? at Rev. Kent’s, 298 Harrison Rd.
Meat and vegetarian options from the grill will be provided, along with beverages. Please bring a side dish or dessert, along with plates and utensils for yourself/family, lawn chairs and warm jackets, and musical instruments. Back by popular demand will be hayrides!!! Yay!!!
Next Sunday, Nov. 8, 5:00 pm: A musical event you WON’T want to miss. Piano recital by Edgar Gonsales, a graduate student at Eastern Kentucky University where his focus is piano performance. Being from Brazil, Edgar has performed in many venues in several countries and is one of EKU’s finest! Edgar is a classically trained pianist, but provides a very diverse style of playing with his native Brazilian influences. This is a concert you don’t want to miss! Admission is free, in our own sanctuary.
Safety Planning – Would you like to help develop a safety plan for the church? We need 2-3 people to help develop a plan with the Administration Board. If you are interested please contact Dave Kobersmith davek@union-church.org 986-3725 or Marty Hensley kf4ebc@gmail.com
Sound system operators needed! We need YOU to volunteer to be trained to run the sound system on Sunday mornings. Our faithful and very able sound system runners Susan Doring Zook, Della Walters and Emma White could use some help keeping the microphones on and the service recorded on Sunday mornings.
Be in touch with one of the ladies mentioned, or let us know in the office if you’d like to do this. This is a volunteer position — BUT if you’re trained on the system, there’s also the occasional opportunity to run the system for special events, which are paying jobs. No age limit — upper or lower.
Folk Circle Association Open House at Acton Folk Center, 2-5 today! Music, dancing, snacks!
Berea College Concert Choir’s Annual Fall Concert on November 8 The Berea College Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, Stephen Bolster conductor, will present their annual fall concert in Gray Auditorium on Sunday afternoon, November 8 at 3:00 p.m.  The public is invited to attend; there is no charge for admission.  The choirs will be accompanied by Lindsay Clavere on the piano.
Delicious Youth Group Fundraiser through November 11! Youth Group will be doing a fundraiser this fall in partnership with Equal Exchange, a fair trade chocolate and coffee company. Look for youth and order some! Catalogs also in the office.
“Black Lives Matter” yard signs.  Union Church, in our ongoing commitment to our history and work for justice, has “Black Lives Matter” yard signs available for $10 You can pick them up at the church office. Donations should be made to Union Church with the notation of Racial Justice Fund in the memo.
We are all Bearers of Christ’s Light! Help us plan as we budget for 2016 as a year of serving and loving together. As a self-sustaining church, it is up to us to find ways to fund our vital ministries of unbounded hospitality; thoughtful, inspirational and intentional faith development; passionate worship; risk-taking mission and service; and extravagant generosity and care in stewardship.
You should have received — or will early in the week — a letter from our stewardship team and information on our financial goals and how Union Church’s budget bears the light of Christ into the world. You’ll also receive a pledge card, and we encourage you to fill it out and bring it to our service of dedication next week, November 8th.  By doing this, you will help us plan for the ways we can continue our service and love to our neighbors and to each other over the next year.
Thank you for your prayerful consideration.  It is not easy to talk about how we give, but it is ever so important.  You are a vital to our mission, and your gifts are what make it possible.