Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost
November 12, 2017 10:30 am
Meditation
“To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there.”
—Kofi Annan (Ghanaian diplomat, 7th Secretary-General of the United Nations, Winner of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize)
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 Variations on “St. Anne” John Courter
¨ Call to Worship
One: Each day we choose…
All: Where to go, what to wear, what to do.
One: This day we choose to be here…
All: With each other, with our prayers, with our God.
One: And God chooses to be with us. We are in the presence of the living God. Let us be guided by that grace as we meet to worship.
¨ Opening Hymn #410 If You but Trust in God to Guide You Neumark
¨ Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: In silence let us confess all that breaks us, binds us, and keeps us from Christ’s path.
[Silence is kept for reflection]
¨ Words of Assurance
One: Choose this day whom you will serve, says the servant of the lord: The God of life and remaking, or the brokenness that has hindered and broken you. Whenever we seek Life, God offers forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, and the tools to transform. Forgiven, we become free.
¨ 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 I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me trad. spiritual
Union Church Choir
- I’m gonna live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime! I’m gonna live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
- I’m gonna work so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
- I’m gonna pray …
- I’m gonna sing …
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25
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. They are also welcome to stay in the service if they prefer. The Children’s Worship Center in the back of the sanctuary has 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 in Room 104 off the playground.
Gospel Lesson Matthew 25:1-13
Sermon Be Particular:New Logic for New Territory 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 Prayer Song P. Taylor
¨ 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!
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 Prayer and Prayers of 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.
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 Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia and our brothers and sisters at Ransom Baptist 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, Nancy Hindman, Mary Miller, Alva Peloquin, Gloria VanWinkle.
¨ Wyndee Holbrook’s YouthCUE Choir’s benefit concert for Sutherland Springs Baptist Church today, seeking God’s best for all concerned. www.youthcue.org
¨ The family and many friends of Kevin Burke.
¨ Our church family members in grief; Carla Gilbert at the loss of Kevin, Hazel Morris at the loss of her sister, Phyllis, and those who are remembering and holding the death of loved ones close to their hearts
¨ Jackie Perman, mother of Kelly Madden and grandmother to Colin and Cadence Perman, in ICU.
¨ The Berea College community, grieving the deaths of two students and praying for the recovery of two more after two car accidents.
¨ The peoples of Puerto Rico, the Caribbean islands, Houston, Florida, Mexico City, and all places affected by disaster. May we be filled with compassion and motivated to act. Donations to Church World Service will help! cwsglobal.org/
¨ Neighbors and friends in fear of ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) raids in our area, and for DACA students and their families. May we all strive for a safe and respectful path forward to be good neighbors.
¨ Rusty Mullins’ father, Tony Irelan
¨ Rev. Rachel’s cousin, Jeff Small, father of two small kids, who had a heart transplant and is now healing well!! Hallelujah!
¨ Dan Rohrer, who is suffering from a severe liver disorder.
¨ John Payne, suffering from injuries after a fall
Learn more about the church next week! Come One Come All! Anyone wanting to know more about Union Church or wanting to explore church membership, as well as new members, are invited to come to the Classroom two doors past the church after worship for conversation with the Pastor and the Community Life & Growth Board. (Please note this is a change from the customary 4th Sunday)
Here We Stand… Calling Our 2018 Ministry to Life! Thanks to everyone who participated in our October 29 Consecration Sunday for our 2018 Pledges. It was a great start and we’ve already received approx. 70 pledges toward next year’s vision!
If you haven’t had a chance to make an estimate of next year’s giving, it would mean a great deal if you’d consider it. Union Church is often still a “wilderness voice” working tirelessly to proclaim and demonstrate God’s inclusive love, to work toward justice and fair treatment for all, to witness against violence in all its forms, and to help build a beloved community of care and commitment to God’s vision.
You can bring or mail the pledge card to the office at “CPO 2105, Berea, KY 40404”, or you can pledge online! Go to www.union-church.org/donate/Pledge2018. It’s fast and easy! Let’s take a stand and make our vision come to life!
We are very sorry to report that this year’s Berea College Christmas concert tickets have sold out.
Youth Group Equal Exchange Fundraiser — see Chris McKenzie or a Youth Group member to purchase fair trade coffee & chocolate for Christmas gift giving!
If you may have left items in the church, please check the shelves outside the office. Those unclaimed will be brought to the Goodwill next week.
The Madison Singers’ Fall Concert will be at today, 3 pm at the Richmond Area Arts Council, 399 W. Water St. $10 admission. Repertoire includes “For the Beauty of the Earth” by John Rutter, “Deep River” by Roy Ringwald, “Blackbird” arranged by Audrey Snyder, “Blue Skies” arranged by Charles Boutelle, “The Lonely Sea” by John Parker and Tucker Courtney, “Sea Breeze” by Naoko Ikeda, “Been Down to the Sea” arranged y G. V. J., Singing in the Rain” arranged by Mark Hayes, “Lass From the Low Countree” arranged by J. Stanley Sheppard, “Shenandoah” arranged by James Erb, and “Let the River Run” arranged by Craig Hella Johnson. Get your holidays off to a great start with this outstanding community chorus directed by Mr. Gabriel Evans and accompanied by Ms. Laura Allnutt.
Berea College Concert Choir’s Annual Fall Concert today, 3 pm, in Gray Auditorium. The Berea College Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, Stephen Bolster conductor, will present their 2017 fall concert “Bach, Brahms, and Bluegrass.” All welcome, no charge.
Next week is Berea College’s Homecoming! Black Music Ensemble will hold its annual concert here on Saturday at 1:30 pm. All welcome, no charge, no tickets required.
Liberty Place Holiday Luncheon & Silent Auction Fundraiser November 18, 1-3, First Christian Church, Richmond. Proceeds & donations will support Liberty Place Recovery Center for Women, a program of Kentucky River Foothills Development Council, Inc. A long-term residential substance abuse recovery facility for women, Liberty Place provides support and hope for women recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.
Friends of the Madison County Public Library “Little Library Quilt Show and Silent Auction” is now showing in both branches of the public library until December 9. This fundraiser supports the staff and programming throughout the year. You can view all 43 book inspired textile creations on line and make a bid at that time. Bidding is online this year. Website for the auction http://madisonlibrary.org/app/auction/.
Images of Ghana exhibit downstairs in the Pross Gallery. The Feminist Artists of Kentucky present the Third Annual “Images of Ghana” Art Exhibit Fundraiser, on display at the Union Church Pross Gallery during the entire month of November. 100% of proceeds and donations benefit school children in Komfenku, Ghana, and hurricane Relief in Puerto Rico. Call 859-358-0721 to purchase.
Save-these-Dates
November 22—Community Thanksgiving Service, Cowan Chapel , 7:30 pm
December 10 — Meeting to consider the proposed 2018 budget, Community Room. After worship and lunch, meeting at approx. 12:15 pm
December 10—Share-Your-Music Sunday
Christmas Caroling—Wednesday date tbd.
December 17—Christmas Pageant at worship
December 20—Longnight Service
December 24—Christmas Eve Services 10:30 am, 5:00 pm, 11:00 pm
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