A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
November 16, 2025 10:30 am
Proper 28 of the Season after Pentecost
Meditation
“Always do what is right. It will gratify half of mankind and astound the other.” ~ Mark Twain
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 Deb Beishline, Reader
One: Each day rises newly born from the hand of God.
All: Open our eyes with the longing for your unfolding new creations!
One: Each day we are offered reminders of God’s grace and care.
All: Open our hearts to both hold and then offer such love to all.
One: Each day God pieces together new possibilities from old problems.
All: Open our minds to hold all that God is doing around and for us.
One: Holy one, come again and receive the praise of your people!
¨ Hymn #16 Let Us with a Joyful Mind Innocents
1 Let us with a joyful mind
praise our God forever kind,
Refrain: Rich with mercies that endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.
2 New-made earth was filled with light
through God’s all commanding might, [Refrain]
3 Dazzling bright the sun obeys
God who shines with brighter rays, [Refrain]
4 Stars and moon that spangle night
all depend on heaven’s light, [Refrain]
5 Creatures of the sea and land
all are fed by God’s own hand, [Refrain]
6 Therefore with a joyful mind,
praise our God forever kind, [Refrain]
¨ Prayer of Approach & Confession
” 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.
Word and Worship
Anthem The Good Samaritan Wihla Hutson Union Church Choir
When asked, “Who is my neighbor to me?” Jesus said “Hear me; then you will see.” On a lonely road bound for Jericho, a traveler made his way, when a band of thieves cruelly struck him down and left him where he lay. Soon a temple priest came walking by, then a pious Levite wise; each glanced across the road, quickly turned away his eyes; “What are we coming to? Something must be done.” And they hurried on their way.
Then a lowly man from Samaria along that road came by; though a stranger he to the wounded man, he would not let him die. So he washed and bound his grievous wounds, took him to a nearby inn. To the keeper then he said, “Please attend my hapless friend, and when I come again, I will pay you then for whatever he may spend.” Thus did Jesus teach: He is a friend, who his brother’s misfortunes will mend.
Scripture Reading Isaiah 65:17-25
For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating, for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy and its people as a delight. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it or the cry of distress. No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime, for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.
They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat, for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord — and their descendants as well.
Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, but the serpent–its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the Lord. ~ 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 21:5-19
When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them. “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.”
Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.
“But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.” ~ New Revised Standard Version, updated
Sermon The Slings and Arrows of Outrageous Fortunes 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 Aeotearoa New Zealand and Australia and our siblings at Berea Baptist Church 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. Insert XXXXXX
Offertory x x
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A Chance for Generosity: easytithe.com/union
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¨ 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.
Silent Prayer and Prayers of the Community Deb Beishline,, Reader
In every hollow, in every city, on every mountain, on every beach, under every sea, in the farthest reach of the oldest light from the most distant star: there is one love, there is one heart. So we give thanks and praise to you, Lord of creation. When aligned with you, we find our place in wave after wave of your continuous creation: called and changed by all you set around us; fed and strengthened by gifts differing, and co-creating with you, a kin-dom of intricate relation and common blessing. Neither victims of circumstance, nor masters of your world, help us find the harmony of heart.
Raise within our diversity a singular clamor for good, for hope, for common cause with your grace. Help us heal and be healers in all we do, each an “ace in our place,” and caring for the graces found in every corner of your making. May all of creation—from quagmire to quasar— grow lovely and be cared for in our sacred work… as love demands. We pray as Jesus told us to: reaching 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 #607 We Would Be Building Finlandia
1. We would be building; temples still undone o’er crumbling walls their crosses scarcely lift; Waiting till love can raise the broken stone, and hearts creative bridge the human rift. We would be building, Architect Divine, reveal the shape of life in your design.
2. Teach us to build; upon the solid rock we set the dream that hardens into deed, ribbed with fine steel both time and change doth mock, the unfailing purpose of our noblest creed. Teach us to build; O Master, lend us slight to see the towers gleaming in the light.
3. O keep us building, Savior; may our hands ne’er falter when the dream is in our hearts, when to our ears there come divine commands and all the pride of sinful will departs. We build with you; O grant enduring worth until you promised realm shall come on earth.
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
The Joy of Welcoming New Members
Partnership & Purpose
Today presents an opportunity to covenant together! All who would like to are welcome to join the church family – you will be received in joy.
Questions of the Congregation and New Members
Covenant of Welcome
And we, the members and faithful friends of this church, renewing our own covenant to God and to each other, do now heartily welcome you to our fellowship, promising to watch over you in love, and praying that you, and we, may be true witnesses for Christ, a light in the world, and continue to increase in usefulness and joy in his service.
¨ 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.
¨ Marvin Jenkins, at the death of his sister, Wilma Pointer, on November 8.
¨ The family, many friends, and countless students and colleagues of Dr. Eef Ji Fontanez, who grieve his sudden passing on November 8.
¨ 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!
Birthdays: Nov. 16 – Scottie Frederiksen, 17 – Tiffany Olsen; 18 – John Wylie; 19 – Dale Brown; 21 – George Mountjoy, Tina Hemphill, 22 – Chip Bailey, Ben Groth
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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