A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the
Church of Christ, Union
Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost
November 15, 2015, 10:30 am
Meditation
To look backward for a while is to refresh the eye, to restore it, and to render it the more fit for its prime function of looking forward. — Margaret Fairless Barber, The Roadmender
From there to here
Prelude O God Our Help in Ages Past Heinrich Fleischer
Now Thank We All Our God Johann Sebastian Bach
Elegy C.H.H. Parry
* Call to Worship
One: Our God is strong, like a rock.
All: (Whispered) We come to worship the God of justice and joy.
One: Our God cares for the ones the world forgets.
All: (Spoken) We come to worship the God of justice and joy.
One: Our God is the one who gives life, and who guards the future.
All: (Loudly) We come to worship the God of justice and joy.
Leader: Come, let us worship God.
* Opening Hymn #17 To You, O God, All Creatures Sing Lasst uns Efreuen
* Prayer of Approach & Confession
One: O God, you are the source of our life and the hope of our hearts. We are filled with wonder and we worship you. Every living cell of this universe is filled with your Spirit and every moment of our lives is full of your life-giving presence. You amaze us. Our desire for you is unending. In this time of worship accept our praise, and open us to experience the challenge of your word.
All: Who we are is known to you. Who we will be is known also.
One: At no point have you rejected us because we reject ourselves.
All: We are God’s beloved children, heirs to all that is God and belongs to God.
One: Our suffering is your suffering. Our joy is your joy. You accept and celebrate the selves we find so hard to accept. You make possible the transformations we cannot imagine, but need so desperately.
All: Help us find our peace, then. Help us receive with a deep thankfulness that cup of your love which is Christ’s forgiveness. Amen.
by Garry Deverell (adapted)
* Words of Assurance
* 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
Remembering with Thanksgiving Rev. Julie Hager Love (‘87)
Anthem In Remembrance Jeffrey Ames
Berea College Homecoming Choir
Lux aeterna, Luceat eis, Domine: May everlasting light shine upon them, O Lord. Turn to me and be gracious, for my heart is in distress. Oh God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? My tears linger at night, but joy comes in the morning light. Lord, in Your infinite mercy, grant them rest. Rest forever more.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson 1 Samuel 1:4-20
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 13:1-8
Sermon Takedown of the Shakedown 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 To God be the Glory André Crouch A.J. Bodnar
* 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!
* Prayer of Thanksgiving
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
When the Leader prays the words, “Holy God,” Please respond with
Hear our prayer.
Our Lord’s Prayer
One: Now let us pray together with the words that Jesus taught:
All: Eternal Spirit, Life-giver, Pain-bearer, Love-maker, Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and test, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, nnow and forever. Amen.
“A Version of the Lord’s Prayer” from Prayer at Night by Jim Cotter, Cairns Publications, Sheffield, England, and used in A New Zealand Prayer Book. Used by permission.
From Here to There
* Closing Hymn #607 We Would Be Building Finlandia
* Sending Forth
All: We go to create a world of justice and joy.
Leader: For everyone born…
People: fresh water to drink.
Leader: For everyone born…
People: someone to love them.
Leader: For everyone born…
People: enough food to eat.
Leader: For everyone born…
People: friendship and laughter.
Leader: For everyone born…
People: a space where they’re safe.
Leader: For everyone born…
People: somewhere to sleep.
Leader: For everyone born…
People: a life filled with hope.
All: We go to create a world of justice and joy. Amen.
* Sung Benediction I Will Praise Thee, O Lord Knut Nystedt
Berea College Homecoming Choir
I will praise thee, O Lord, with my heart; I will show forth all thy marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will wing praise to thy name, O thou most high!
Postlude (please be seated) Come Savior of the Nations Johann Sebastian Bach
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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 Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda and our brothers and sisters at the Berea Evangelistic Center 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
* Today is Edith Hansen’s 81st birthday!
* George Oberst, undergoing cancer therapy
* Delores Carpenter’s mother, who is very ill
* Elizabeth Long’s brother, Jay, entering hospice care in California and travel mercies for Elizabeth, visiting him
* 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
* Rob and Michelle Hayden and their sons, Eli and Ian
* Joan English’s dad, George Hardman, anticipating surgery for colon cancer
* Glenna Rice, who has been in and out of the hospital recently and is 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
* John Hillman, recently diagnosed with ALS, and his family.
Announcements
Here at Union …
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.
Welcome Berea College Alumni, friends and families! It is a joy to worship together!
Learn about the church next week. Do you want to know more about Union Church? Explore membership? Have you joined recently but were unable to attend a meeting before joining? Then come to the classroom past the church office immediately following worship for conversation and light refreshments with the Pastors and the Community Life and Growth Board.
There’s Still Time! Make a Pledge and Bear the Light! Our 2016 Pledges of our Time and Talents and Gift Estimates help us all be Bearers of Christ’s Light. $50, $500, or $5000 each contribution helps us preach peace, respond to food and shelter needs, and make a witness.
We’re Close & Your Gift can Help! We’re working to make possible an accurate budget, and we’d like to celebrate 20 additional pledges over last year. We only need 13 more to make that goal. Don’t forget that you can contribute automatically and easily each month through EasyTithe. You are in total control, and can get reports, and adjust your contribution at any time.
Want to Help Usher? Read? Light Candles? Wash Dishes? Help with Food? VOLUNTEER SPOT! Signing up for service is easy using volunteer spot at Union Church. You can see who’s helping with you. You can easily swap places if you need to. You get email reminders. Help us minister and volunteer today! www.union-church.org/volunteer.
Mr. Toby Tooley needs his community! Laura and Jimmie will be out of town visiting Laura’s family in ND from December 25 – January 1, and are looking for someone who might be able to keep Toby while they are gone. (A kennel just doesn’t seem like a good option for the elder statesman.) Toby is an 11 year old non-shedding, hypoallergenic Wheaton Terrier. He’s GREAT with kids, but not a fan of other dogs. (Probably not cats, either….) If you are going to be around over the holidays and might be able to keep Toby, please call or email Laura (358-0106, joyfulsunflower@gmail.com).
Convo performer, Latin Guitarist David Burgess here Thursday November 19, 7:00 pm, Sanctuary. Praised by musicians and critics worldwide, David Burgess is recognized as one of today’s outstanding guitarists. He has acquired one of the largest collections of Latin American guitar music in the U.S., from which he often draws interesting and unusual works for his programs.
Alternative Giving Christmas Market November 22 – 12-2:00 pm, Community Room. Once again we will be hosting the Alternative Giving Christmas Market after church on Nov 22nd. This will be in combination with a soup and bread fundraiser lunch for BFCO (BURR, Food Bank, etc). Come and get your choice of several homemade soups and take time to shop for the perfect gift for your family and friends from nonprofit organizations.
If you want to include a display for nonprofit that you are supporting, you can contact Gina Chamberlain at jakeberea@yahoo.com.
Sound system operators needed! Training December 6, right after worship. 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. 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.
“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.
Around campus & around town…
Today—3:00 pm. Berea College Women’s Chorus Fall Concert is in Presser Hall, Gray Auditorium. The concert is free and open to the public!
Berea Home Village meeting Nov. 17. Are you someone who envisions continuing to live in your own home in an environment you enjoy, but wondering how you will manage as we all grow older? Or are you someone who would like to be able to help your neighbors? If so, join with others at Churchill’s, (100 Churchill Ct., just off Lorraine Ct. ) on Tuesday, November 17th from 5:30-7:30 for a gathering of Berea Home Village (BHV). BHV will discuss a vision they have to support people who desire to live in their own homes. This vision is built upon a model of virtual village networks now in over 120 communities. Participants will be asked to complete a brief questionnaire to help organizers understand the present and anticipated needs of our “village.”
Liberty Place fundraising tea and silent and live auctions at noon Saturday, Nov. 21, at the First Christian Church in Richmond. Our own e pastor Kent Gilbert will be the auctioneer. for a second year. We hope to have two full tables of Union Church support for Kent and the women of Liberty Place. Tickets are $25 and are available from Dodie Murphy, 859-200-7277.
Gifts for Liberty Place. Once again, Liberty Place is asking Union Church’s help in providing new sweatpants and sweatshirts or sweat jackets for some of the 108 women residents to open Christmas morning. Items should be put in a gift bag. LP is a long-term residential recovery center in Richmond and many of its clients are residents of Berea and surrounding rural areas. To sponsor a woman call Dodie, 859-200-7277.
Want to help our neighbors on Thanksgiving Day? Meet in First Christian Church’s parking lot at 10:30 am. Bring a cooler if you have one.
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