A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
All Saints Sunday November 4, 2012
Meditation
“To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that love is the reason for my existence, for God is love. Love is my true identity. Selflessness is my true self. Love is my true character. Love is my name.”
— Thomas Merton, in A Book of Hours
Gathering to Worship
Welcome and Announcements
Prelude Tuba Tune in D Major C.S. Lang
* Call to Worship
* Opening Hymn God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending Austrian Hymn
* Prayer of Approach and Confession
* Words of Assurance
* Passing the Peace of Christ
All who come to this sanctuary are welcome companions on this day. Please turn to those nearest you and greet them with words of peace.
Hearing the word
Anthem “Come, You, that Are Blessed by God” Anne Krentz Organ Union Church Choir
When Christ comes in glory, and all the angels with him, Then he will sit on the throne of glory and say,
[Refrain] “Come, you that are blessed by God, inherit the kingdom prepared for you.
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing. I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.
[Refrain] Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food? Or thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you? Or naked and give you clothing? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?” And Christ will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these you did it to me.”
[Refrain] Lord, when did we see you? (You did it to me). Lord when do we see you? (You are blessed by God). Lord, when will we see you? (The kingdom of God is prepared for you). Come, you that are blessed by God. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Ruth 1:1-18
Ruth refuses to abandon her mother-in-law, Naomi, and commits herself to Naomi’s welfare, whatever the consequences.
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.
After Children’s moment our youngest members may return to their seats, go to the nursery in Knapp Hall Room 102 (Nursery is in the back left corner when entering the front of Knapp—ushers will be glad to direct you), or participate in Children’s Church on level 1a in Presser.
Stewardship Moment
Gospel Lesson Mark 12:28-34
A scribe asks Jesus to declare his take on the essence of the law, and Jesus responds with simple and powerful words: “Love the one God with all your being, and love your neighbor as yourself.”
Sermon “Not Far Now…” Rev. Kent Gilbert
Responding to God’s Love in Communion
* Sung Response:
For all the saints who from their labors rest, who thee by faith before the world confessed, thy name O Jesus be forever blest. Alleluia, Alleluia!
* Invitation to Communion
One: Beloved, may God be with you!
All: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts, Beloved of God.
All: We lift them to the Lord!
One: Past, Present, and Future we give thanks to the Lord!
All: It is right to give God thanks and Praise!
[Please be seated. The prayer continues bringing us to these responses… ]
One We are kindred with those who have come to Christ’s table through the centuries who have poured their lives like wine into our hands…
One: …into our memories…
One: …into the chalices of our faith.
All: We remember them.
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 Kiyosato, Japan and is also rung in the hope of peace for all nations.
Silent Prayers and Prayers of the Community
One: This day we remember all whom you have sent into our lives, both living and dead.
One: We remember those whose faithful witness proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ in words loud and soft, in actions great and small.
All: We remember in thanksgiving the saints whose presence in our lives and community has contributed to and shaped our work, our life, our character and our story:
[The Peace Bell will be rung as the names of members of Union Church who have died in the past year are read. In addition we hold in our prayers the memory of each and every loss suffered by members as we commend them to God.]
We remember:
Dorothy Chrisman Martha Pride Mary Lou Pross Sally Wilkerson
One: We remember all those known in our lives who have died in this last year. Please stand and remain standing if you have lost… Your mother or father in this last year. Your spouse or partner. A child. A brother or sister. A grandmother or grandfather. An aunt or an uncle. Another close relative. A classmate. A dear friend. A member of your work or school community.
One: Let us not grieve as those without hope, for the Spirit intercedes for us, and Christ is Lord of the Living and of the dead. For all the saints who went before us who have spoken to our hearts and touched us with your fire, we praise you, O Lord.
All: They will hunger no more and thirst no more; and every tear shall be wiped from their eye.
Sung Response:
The golden evening brightens in the west; Soon, soon to faithful followers comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed. Alleluia, Alleluia!
[All may be seated.]
Communion Prayer
One: Alleluia, Lord! Your call into your good graces the powerful and the insignificant and from all of us you make a community wider than our life, and stronger than time.
One: In the care of all creation you set and are setting all things in their place: stars and starfish, each flower and the wings of the sparrow.
One: To help us and to grow the communion of your love and justice, you sent and send us men and women of inspiration and strength. Prophets, teachers, parents, colleagues and even strangers who touch us with surprising insight all speak of your glory and have changed our lives forever. With them and with all creation we sing of your glory in every song and in every place:
Sung Response:
Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might; thou Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight; thou in the darkness drear, their one true light. Alleluia, Alleluia!
One: In the fullness of time you sent Jesus, the light of this world, whose life was love and whose love is stronger than death itself.
One: He ate with sinners and saw them as the saints you made them to be. He called the lowly and gave them impossible trust for immeasurable works of hope and healing.
One: It is that love, still moving in our lives, still moving in this room, that binds us to each other and to you. We come in weakness and in strength. We come prepared and ill-equipped. We come yearning and already satisfied, but we come to be in fellowship with your wider life and deeper love.
Sung Response:
O blest Communion, fellowship divine, we feebly struggle, they in glory shine, yet all are one in thee, for all are thine, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Words of Institution
One: We remember on the night he took the Passover meal with friends in the upper room, Jesus took a loaf of bread, blessed it, and broke and gave it to the disciples saying…
All: This is my body broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
One: Then he took a cup, and pouring it out for all of them to drink, he blessed it and said to them…
All: This cup is my blood poured out as a new covenant for the forgiveness of sins—not just for you but for many. As often as you drink it, remember me.
One: And we do remember, just as we remember every gift of God placed in our lives in the hearts of those who have gone before us, and in those who will come after. We gather at this table surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.
One: So come holy Spirit! Come bless us and unite us! Come rest in this bread and this cup that we may taste and see and remember the wider kin-dom you offer. Bless our broken pieces and make us whole. Pour us out joyfully suffused with the sweet taste of your transforming love. Bless too, our hopes and promises for our fellowship. By this meal and our communion together may we be a strength to others with Outrageous hospitality, risky service, passionate praise, caring and careful deepening of our knowledge and faith, and as generous, loving, laughing stewards of our gifts and of all creation. Come Holy Spirit! We would build the church and kin-dom of your love!
Serving and Receiving
Today’s Offering and Your 2013 Gift Estimates: Today we remember the gifts of God by consecrating our own gifts for the ministry of the congregation, and our estimated pledges for 2013. Those making an offering and/or a gift estimate for 2013 are invited to place them in the vase provided. All estimates of gifts will be received confidentially by the Financial Secretary and will determine the scope of our ministry and mission for the coming year.
Communion: All who seek the love of God are welcome at this table and are invited to freely receive from it. By tradition, unfermented grape juice is used in the cup on Sunday mornings. We will share the elements today by intinction (dipping the bread in the cup) at a single station near the stage. When your row is invited please come to one of the stations by exiting to the left and returning by the right. If it is not convenient to come forward, the elements can be brought to your seat by signaling to the usher. If it is not your tradition to receive, you are invited to join in prayers for the unity of the Spirit within your tradition. If you are able, however, please join the procession simply bypassing the communion station, in order to make reseating easier.
Songs while people process:
O Who Will Build the Kin-dom? Sung together
O who will build the kin-dom? We’ll build it together… x2 O who will build the kin-dom? With love and compassion… x2 Iyo-yo-yo x4
Jesu, Joy of Our Desiring Organ
We’re Marching to Zion Organ
I Sing a Song of the Saints of God Sung together
Prayer of Thanksgiving
One: God, we thank you for this meal, and we release these gifts of our offerings and tithes, setting them to work in ways that are important to us because you are important to us:
All: Receive our money and take our time, we set them to work for your greater purposes and desire your healing love to flow through them to all your children.
One: Bless us, that we may always be a people and a church who “live to give” as generous stewards of the love we have received from you, and as a people who “give to live” in greater unity with your vision.
All: Consecrate our gifts and our lives in the way of our brother, Jesus, for we have seen what the Lord has done, and would build and embrace a wider kin-dom in his name.
Walking Forward in Faith
* Closing Hymn For the All the Saints Sine Nomine
1. But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day; The saints triumphant rise in bright array; The King of glory passes on His way. Alleluia, Alleluia!
2. Still may your people, faithful, true and bold, live as the saints who nobly fought of old, And share with them a glorious crown of gold. Alleluia, Alleluia!
3. From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host, And singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost: Alleluia, Alleluia!
* Benediction and Sending Forth
Postlude O When the Saints…/Allegro moderato trad./Gordon Young
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¨ Those who wish to may stand
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 Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda and our brothers and sisters at Church on the Rock in your hearts, and pray for them. Please also hold these concerns in your prayers today and throughout the week.
¨ Greg Bolster, brother of Steve, who is suffering painful abdominal complications related to his long-term cancer treatments.
¨ David Spearen, brother of Sandy Bolster, recovering from partial amputation of a leg due to severe diabetes.
¨ Abi Dietz, Berea College senior and friend of Willie Dodson and many others, who was badly injured in a car accident. She is at Cardinal Hill for rehabilitation.
¨ Those in harm’s way in the service of our country
¨ Edith Hansen, at The Terrace nursing home
¨ Shirley Dean, on hospice care for lung cancer
¨ Iris Brandenburg’s mother, Leuella Cawood, ill at home in Bristol, TN
¨ Thomas Mack
¨ Ruth Wesley, very ill at home. Cards welcome, to 215 Peachbloom Hill
¨ Hamdy Kemp’s address has changed to 3217 Mist Lake Court, Lexington, KY 40515, and cards are very welcome.
¨ Jean Huffman, at Morning Pointe
¨ Jerry Workman
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