Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union

Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost 

November 19, 2017   10:30 am 

Meditation  
“The social object of skilled investment should be to defeat the dark forces of time and ignorance which envelop our future.” —John Maynard Keynes   (English economist, journalist, and financier, 1883-1946)

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 Simple Gifts Joel Raney
Lindsay Clavere, piano; Gabriel Evans, organ
Introit from Come Away to the Skies (A High Lonesome Mass) Wes Ramsay & Tim Sharp
Berea College Homecoming Choir, Stephen Bolster, conductor
Come, come away.  Come away to the skies, my beloved arise and rejoice in the day thou wast born; on this festival day, come exulting away, and with singing to Zion return.  We have laid up our love and our treasures above though our bodies continue below.  The redeemed of the Lord shall remember His word, and with singing to Paradise go.
¨  Call to Worship
One: Friends, Berea was built to be a place of love and light.
All: Church, Town, and College seeking a way for all God’s children.
One: God has made of one blood all peoples of the earth, and calls us all to joyful service. Let us worship together with praise and thanksgiving!
 Opening Hymn #8   Praise to the Living God
¨  Prayer of Approach and Confession 
One:      O God, you gave us a garden of Eden and we chose to wander in deserts of our own making.
All:       You gave us the Light of the world and we chose to do our own night-crawling.
One: Forgive us our squandering, our wandering, our lack of commitment to compassion and decency.
All: Forget not your covenant with us, O God, and choose us still to tell your good news, to give all that we might be one in your shalom.
One: In Jesus name we pray.
All: Amen!
¨ Words of Assurance
 One: Friends, Believe the good news of the Gospel: God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation, and  through the Christ makes forgiveness and transformation possible. By God’s grace we are renewed, changed, forgiven, and sent.
All: Thanks be to God!
¨ 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 High Lonesome Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) from Come Away to the Skies (A High Lonesome Mass)      Wes Ramsay & Tim Sharp 
Berea College Homecoming Choir
Berea College Bluegrass Music Ensemble
Oh, Lamb of God.  What wondrous love is this, oh my soul, what wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul? Oh, Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world; have mercy on us. When I was sinking down, down, down, Christ laid aside his crown.
Oh, Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world; have mercy on us. To God and to the Lamb I will sing.  To God and to the Lamb who is the great I Am; while millions join the theme, I will sing.  Oh, Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world; grant us thy peace.
Epistle Lesson 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
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 25:14-30
Sermon A Heavenly ROI 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                    Get Up John Bill Monroe & Wes Ramsay
Berea College Homecoming Choir & Berea College Bluegrass Music Ensemble
Get up, John!  Go down to Jordan, prepare the way.  Man from Galilee is waitin’,  you must meet him there today.   Get up, John!  Go tell my people this will be a holy day. John!  John!  Tell them of a Jew that’s waitin’, that the Savior’s on the way. 
Refrain:  John!  Hear the children; go unafraid.  I’ll go with you, John the Baptist.  This is the day! Get up, John!  Go tell Jerus’lem, Savior’s waitin’ on the shore.  Baptize in the River Jordan, send a dove from heaven’s door.
Get up, John!  Your work is finished, daylight breaks, the soldiers come. You will die for me tomorrow; welcome home, your race is run. John! You’ve been chosen, go unafraid.  I’ll go with you, John the Baptist. This is the day.
¨  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

¨  Closing Hymn O Young and Fearless Prophet Meirionnydd
¨  Benediction & Sending Forth
 Postlude Fugue in D Major, BWV 532 J.S. Bach
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 East Timor and our brothers and sisters at Wayside Christian 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.
¨ Jackie Perman, mother of Kelly Madden and grandmother to Colin and Cadence Perman, critically ill in ICU.
¨ 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.
¨ Rev. Rachel’s cousin, Jeff Small, father of two small kids, who had a heart transplant and whose recovery is still very tenuous.
¨ Dan Rohrer, who is suffering from a severe liver disorder.
¨ John Payne, recovering from injuries after a fall
¨ Our Berea College alumni, friends and families who visited Berea for homecoming and special prayers for safe travels home!
¨ Teri VanPelt, who will have knee replacement surgery on Tuesday
¨ Susan Doring-Zook and students, faculty and staff of Dunbar High School, who lost a student to gun violence this week.
¨ Doug and Nancy Hindman’s daughter, Heather, who had a stroke this week and is recovering.
 
Assisting in Worship
Worship leader today is Jennifer Hale Stafford, ‘92.
The Berea College Homecoming Choir is a special ensemble created annually for the Homecoming Worship Service.  Participants include alumni of the Berea College Concert Choir and the Chapel Choir and several current undergraduates from the Concert Choir, including choir officers and Chamber Singers.  
This is the 33th year that the Homecoming Choir has performed at this special November service.  Dr. Stephen Bolster is the Mary W. McGaw Endowed Chair of Music at Berea, and Conductor of the Berea College Concert Choir and Chamber Singers. Special guests this year are members of the Berea College Bluegrass Music Ensemble, including Al White (Director and mandolin), Ann Carrillo (drum set), Nathan Jose (guitar), Brenna MacMillan (banjo), Peter Soukup (fiddle), and TJ Lawson (bass)
Announcements
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 and Alumnae! Union Church is honored to welcome you and we hope your Home-coming has allowed you to reconnect with your Berea College colleagues and friends. We are delighted to also welcome Jennifer Hale Stafford, class of ’92 as our worship leader this morning, along with President and First Lady Lyle and Laurie Roelofs. Special thanks go to all who are singing in the Homecoming Choir today, under the direction of Steve Bolster with Al White of the Berea Bluegrass Ensemble. We are indeed blessed by all you are bringing to us.
Learn more about the church today! 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)
The Community Thanksgiving Service will be Weds, Nov. 22, 7:00 pm, in Cowan Chapel.
Hanging of the Greens next Sunday! Stay after worship to help decorate the sanctuary. Many hands make light work.
Church Finances: A Note from the Board! Your Finance board is hot and heavy in the budget process for 2018 and wanted to give you an update.  Earlier, all the boards were asked for estimates of the cost to do their best work, and the total came to just over $450,000.  With pledges received so far and estimated income from all sources added in, we’re about $50,000 short.
We were in about the same position last year, and a matching challenge was issued … and met!  2017 has been a fine year, financially speaking, and we expect to end the year with a modest surplus.  We don’t have that generous offer this year, and we’re asking now – before we start cutting programs, projects and people – if you can, please consider letting us know of your support with a pledge OR by increasing an estimate already made.  We’ll give a brief update each week–in church, in the bulletin, and Monday announcements–with the final budget presented at our Annual Congregational meeting on Dec 10. Thanks to all who have already given pledges and gifts for 2018.  We promise to be careful stewards of your gifts!
Youth Group Equal Exchange Fundraiser — see Chris McKenzie or a Youth Group member to purchase fair trade coffee & chocolate for Christmas gift  giving!
Alternative Giving Market November 28. At Acton Folk Center this year! 3-7 pm. What to get that friend or family member for the holidays?  Does your sister really need another sweater?  Why not give alternative gifts this year that reach toward your loved ones’ hopes and dreams for a better world?  Maybe what your friends and family really want for this year is health care, food and housing for those in need or disaster relief for those affected by this year’s terrible hurricanes.  Come and shop for that alternative gift for your loved ones. 
Volunteers needed to set up, clean up, staff tables and make cookies. If you can do any of these things, please sign up!
New this year: you can participate online! Make your gift at https://union-church.org/donate/ACM2017/
Sustainable Berea Holiday Open House Friday Dec. 8! (and “hang the lights” party) 3 – 4 pm: Hanging strings of lights on the farm, 4 – 6 pm: Refreshments Celebrate with us on the Berea Urban Farm, 201 Adams Street, Berea, KY. For information: sustainableberea.org; 859-893-4590; facebook.com/sustainableberea
Mission Trip Support Needed: John Payne and Cheryl Caruso-Payne are going to Honduras on a mission trip. John will  work in the clinic, and Cheryl will assist in teaching about using the water system.
To  support this mission, you can: Donate reading glasses with the following strengths:1, 1.25, 1.50, 1.75, and 2. Write a check in any amount to go toward purchasing supplies in Honduras. Checks should be made out to BSUMC (Broad St. United Methodist Church), writing “supplies in Honduras” in the “for” line.
The address for the church is: P.O. Box 3, Cleveland, TN 37364-0003
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 28—Alternative Giving Market, Acton Folk Center

December 10—Share-Your-Music Sunday

December 10 — Meeting to consider the proposed 2018 budget, Community Room. After worship and lunch, meeting at approx. 12:15 pm

December 13—Christmas Caroling at WNL 5:30 -8!

December 17—Christmas Pageant at worship

December 17—Classic Chorale Concert, 2:30 pm

December 20—Longnight Service, 7 pm

December 24—Christmas Eve Services 10:30 am, 5:00 pm, 11:00 pm