A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost 10:30 am
Meditation
The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members. ~ Coretta Scott King
From There to Here: We Gather
Prelude
Welcome
¨ Call To Worship Sue Peterson, Reader
One: . . . “Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations; I am exalted in the earth.” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob, of Ruth, of Jesus, of Monica, of Francis, of Margaret, of Sojourner, of John, of Matilda, of Susan, of Dietrich, of Martin, of Oscar, of Bill, of Michelle, of YOU…is our refuge. *
All: [Standing] Together, we rise!
[*Those who “overcame” from scripture, and Francis of Assisi, advocate for the poor; Monica, mother of Augustine of Hippo; Margaret Fell Fox founder of the Quaker resistance; Sojourner Truth, liberator of enslaved; John and Matilda Fee, founders of Union Church; Susan B. Anthony who endured much for the right of women to vote; Dietrich Bonhoeffer, pastor executed by the Nazi Third Reich; Martin Luther King Jr, civil rights icon; Oscar Romero, archbishop of El Salvador in the 70s martyred for his defense of the poor; Bill Johnson, first openly gay man to be ordained in the US; Dr. Michelle Tooley peace advocate and professor in our community… Just some of those who kept the faith and leaned against prevailing winds serving God and laboring for all God’s children.]
¨ Opening Hymn #439 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God Ein’ Feste Berg
- A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing, our present help, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe does seek to work us woe
with craft and power are great and, armed with cruel hate on earth without an equal.
2. Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing, but there is one who takes our side, the One of God’s own choosing, you ask who that may be? Christ Jesus sets us free! With mighty power to save, victorious o’er the grave, Christ will prevail triumphant.
3. And though this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God has willed the truth to triumph through us. The powers of evil grim, we tremble not from them; their rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure; one little word shall fell them.
4. That word beyond all earthly powers, forever is abiding; The Spirit and the gifts are ours, for Christ is with us siding. Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also, the body they may kill; God’s truth shall triumph still; God’s rein endures forever.
¨ 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 this day! You are invited to turn to those nearest you and greet them with words of peace.
Word and Worship
Anthem We the Children Noel Goemanne Union Church Choir
1. We, the children of all nations, gather here to pray for peace. We, the children of all peoples, pray that war and hatred cease. For the leaders of all nations, we are praying God today. May all people searching for freedom find that God is the only way.
2. We the children of the Space Age, praying for God’s guiding light. We are children facing destruction by the powers of worldly might. To the leaders of all nations: may we beg you, hear our plea. We are leaders for tomorrow, give us hope, this tomorrow to see.
3. Hear the cry of hungry children sick and dying not so far. Let us humbly follow the wisdom of the Child born under the star. May we learn the lessons He taught us while on earth He showed us the way. Be forgiving, love each other, and tomorrow will be a today.
4. We, the children of all nations, want to live in harmony with the children of all people, now and for Eternity. We will always be God’s children, black or white or small or tall. Let us always help each other. May our God protect us all.
Scripture Reading 1 Kings 17:8-16
Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there, for I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink. “As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” But she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.”
Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said, but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth.” She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.
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 Mark 12:38-44
As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” He sat down opposite the treasury and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny.
Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
Sermon Together, Only Together Rev. Kent Gilbert
Video Reflection
A chance to take in what we have heard.
Living Prayer
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
Offertory
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 rising grace. Using one of the offering cards, making a pledge or donation online, or volunteering for meaningful service makes the grace in 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 keeping your lamp lit for. What is keeping you “up,” what might we do together to lift others as a community of servants? 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: 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 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!
Bring any and all to the front as the music lifts us. When you drop your prayer, offering and pledges into the plate ring one of the bells to let the joy resound! Come singly, come with friends or partners or children or whole families. Come walking, running, or dancing in the light of God’s grace!
Prayer of Thanksgiving & Dedication Sue Peterson, Reader
One: Lord, there is grace in this place because of you!
Receive our joy, our hopes and our prayers for Grace past, Grace present, and Graces yet to come, O God!
All: We come in humble thanks for the sustaining love you give to us. Though the earth should shake, we stand on 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: Together we live, learn, serve, pray, worship and heal.
All: Together, with you and one another, we rise to your call!
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! Together we rise!
Our Lord’s Prayer
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.
¨ Hymn For Everyone Born Shirley Erena Murray
1. For everyone born, a place at the table,
for everyone born, clean water and bread,
a shelter, a space, a safe place for growing,
for everyone born, a star overhead,
Refrain: And God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators
of justice, justice and joy!
2. For all who share life, a place at the table,
revising the roles, deciding the share,
with wisdom and grace, dividing the power,
for woman and man, a system that’s fair, (Refrain)
3. For those we neglect, a place at the table,
a voice to be heard, a part in the song,
the hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled,
for young and for old, the right to belong, (Refrain)
4. For all who have breath, a place at the table,
A covenant shared, a welcoming space,
A rainbow of race, and gender and color,
for all who have breath, the chalice of grace, (Refrain)
5. For you and for me, a place at the table,
Though wounded and sore, with need to forgive,
In anger and hurt, a mindset of mercy,
for you and for me, a new way to live. (Refrain)
6. For everyone born, a place at the table,
to live without fear and simply to be,
to work, to speak out, to witness and worship,
for everyone born, the right to be free, (Refrain)
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
Today we light this Justice Candle in honor of the Native Americans, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Beginning with the Revolutionary War and including every major U.S. military conflict since, Native Americans have served in the armed forces in higher numbers per capita than any other ethnic group. The National Native American Veterans Memorial in Washington DC. honors these veterans.
“The National Native American Veterans Memorial will serve as a reminder to the nation and the world of the service and sacrifice of Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian veterans,” said Kevin Gover, director of the museum. “Native Americans have always answered the call to serve, and this memorial is a fitting tribute to their patriotism and deep commitment to this country.”
¨ Benediction
¨ Benediction Response We Will Rise Up Together Jim Papoulis
Those who are able & willing are invited to fill the aisles as we sing the Benediction Response together. If you’re at home or in the balcony, you are part of the embrace too. The embrace is as wide as God’s love!
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 Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia and our brothers and sisters at Glades Christian Church in our hearts, and pray for them today and throughout the week.
¨ Mary Ellen Sarafin, Betty’s sister, suffering from cirrhosis.
¨ If you want to help those affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, donations of money are best; and Church World Service and the Red Cross are “on the ground” now. Giving directly to them is the best way to help. Please don’t try to travel to affected areas.
¨ 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.
¨ All those suffering from mental strain, trauma, and disease: may God soothe and heal all who are troubled.
¨ Members and Friends who need safer housing and income security.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ For all those caring for others in their illnesses and needs: may God give them both strength and encourage-ment in this work of costly love.
¨ Erikke Meadows’ mom, Prudy Meadows, with COPD.
¨ The Guild family as Will continues his struggle with brain cancer and stroke.
¨ Dottie Blackburn is in The Terrace for rehab. Cards welcome. 1043 Brooklyn Blvd., Berea.
¨ A close family member of Dodie Murphy’s, who was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Prayers also for her husband and 3 young adult children.
¨ Ally Nurre, recovering from knee replacement surgery.
¨ Marty Hensley and all the family, at the death of his father, Harold White Hensley, at 87.
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: Nov. 11 – Michelle Mecham; 12 – Cheryl Stone; 14 – Wyndee Holbrook; 15 – Paul Jacobs; 16 – Scottie Frederiksen; 18 – John Wylie, Steve Sherman
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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