A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
Reign of Christ Sunday
November 24, 2013 10:30 am
Welcome & Announcements Gail Bowman
Prelude Jesus Shall Reign (Duke Street) Raymond Haan
* Call to Worship
One: “The days are coming,” declares our God, “when I will raise up to David a righteous branch.
All: A sovereign will come Who will reign in wisdom, and do what is just and right in the land.”
One: The morning is filled, O God, with reasons and ways to celebrate Your goodness in our midst.
All: We are gathered among like-minded believers, we find company with open and curious seekers; we are all welcome in Your house.
One: You have given us the gift of Jesus Christ, Whose Reign we have come to celebrate. You have also given us the gift of giving thanks. We join with countless others in pausing and recognizing the depth and breadth of Your faithfulness.
All: Almighty One, You invite us to ‘call those things that are not as though they are.’ Call us into the possibilities You have made for us, Your requests to love through us, and Your opportunities to serve.
One: In the days of the Sovereign Who is just and right, Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety.
All: This is the name by which the ruler in justice will be called: The Holy One, Our Righteousness.
Based on Romans 4:17 & Jeremiah 23:5-6
* Hymn #304 Black All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name Coronation
* Prayer of Confession
One: Gracious God, hear our prayers for mercy and understanding. Too often, we have the wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness, and satisfaction.
All: We try to make ourselves happy through self-gratification. In doing this, we fail to give thanks.
One: Too often, we make ourselves restless, longing to accomplish great and noble tasks.
All: Help us instead, we pray, to accomplish humble tasks as though they are great and noble.
One: Tie our fidelity to worthy purposes. Remind us that the path to happiness is gratitude.
All: May thanksgiving be, for us, not a day on the calendar but a way to praise.
* Words of Assurance
One: Shout for joy to God, all the earth. Know that our author and finisher is God. It is God Who made us, and we belong to the High Holy One. We are God’s people, the sheep of God’s pasture.
All: We enter God’s gates with thanksgiving and God’s courts with praise. We give thanks to the Most High and praise that holy name. For God is good. God’s love endures forever. God’s faithfulness continues through all generations.
Prayer of Confession based on two quotes from Helen Keller,
and Dennis Prager’s book, “Happiness is a Serious Problem”
Words of Assurance excerpted from Psalm 100
* Passing the Peace of Jesus 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.
Anthem For These Blessings Natalie Sleeth
Union Church Choir
I will sing with the spirit: alleluia! And I will sing with the understanding also: alleluia!
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, Little Church for children Preschool & under is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Fellowship Hall, and Children’s Church, for grades K-3, takes place in the chapel. If this is your child’s first time attending Little Church or Children’s Church, please accompany them to fill out a registration form. Otherwise, children are welcome to follow volunteers to their worship spaces.
Call to Offertory
Offertory Crown Him with Many Crowns (Diademata) Alec Wyton
* Doxology Avery/Marsh
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 Prayer and Prayers of the Community
Our Lord’s Prayer
One: …Our Maker, our Mother,
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.
Scripture Reading Colossians 1: 11-20
Hymn In the Lord I’ll Be Ever Thankful Taize
Message When God Was Pleased Rev. Gail Bowman
* Closing Hymn At the Name of Jesus
* Benediction
Postlude Now Thank We All Our God Piet Post
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 Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger and our brothers and sisters at Mt. Zion Christian Church in your hearts, and pray for them. Please also hold these concerns in your prayers today and throughout the week.
* Those in harm’s way in the service of our country and all those who wait and worry for them.
* Mary Dennison and family, struggling financially
* The children and family of Holly Toalston, childhood friend of Maggie Park, at her untimely death
* Nancy Jones
* Alberto, Les Pross’ grandson-in-law, recovering from multiple fractures sustained in a fall
* Ruth Butwell, recovering from surgery at Cardinal Hill
* Judy Rowell, recovering from surgery
* Greg Bolster, Steve’s brother, fighting cancer
* Erin Hay, a Berea College grad and mother to a 10-month old daughter, being treated for inoperable brain cancer
* Linda Parsons, recovering at Cardinal Hill
* Gail Wolford, recovering at home after two months in the hospital
* Michelle Tooley, healing from surgery and awaiting cancer treatment
* Dawn Manor, Dot Kindel’s daughter, recovering at the Kindels’ home
* Naomi Brandenburg, Larry’s mother, recovering at home after hip replacement
* Rose Brandenburg, Larry’s aunt, at Berea Health Care Center
* Edith Hansen, at The Terrace
* Klara Welsh, at Berea Health Care Center
* Shirley Dean, on hospice care for lung cancer
* James Bonta’s mother, on hospice care at UK for Parkinson’s Disease
Assisting in Worship
Worship leader today is Kevin Burke.
Rev. Gail Bowman has brought us the Word for the month of November.
Rev. Bowman is Director of the Willis D. Weatherford, Jr. Campus Christian Center and College Chaplain at Berea College.
Announcements
You Matter! Please Sign in, 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. Use the pew folder in your row, passing it back when all have signed. Let’s all try to get to know each other better.
Community Thanksgiving Service Tonight! Union Church will host Berea’s Community Thanksgiving Service at 7:00 in Cowan Chapel. Rev. Wanda Olive of White’s Memorial Presbyterian Church will preach. Come and give thanks with our neighbors!
Christmas with a Conscience Next Sunday Wondering what to get for family and friends this Christmas? Does your sister really need another sweater? Why not give alternative gifts this year that reach toward your loved one’s hopes and dreams for a better world? Maybe what your friends & family really want for Christmas this year is health care, food and housing for those in need, or the protection of our natural resources.
Right after worship on December 1, plan to attend the Ninth Annual Christmas with a Conscience Alternative Giving Market from noon – 2:00 pm in the Community Room. Information on over 25 local, state, national and international non-profit organizations will be available for alternative giving — AND there will be a soup lunch & good conversation with friends and neighbors! Come and shop for that alternative gift that your loved one will appreciate! Each gift will include a certificate to send to your recipient and a tax deduction to boot!! Come join in one of the BEST ways to celebrate! Give the gift that fits with the original meaning and spirit of Christmas!
Congregational Meeting to act upon the 2014 budget and conduct other church business, December 15, after church.
Teri VanPelt & Christine Ward could use some help cleaning and other jobs around their house call 859-358-6857 if you can help.
Two coats were left at the hayride — a pink kids jacket and a leather adults jacket. They’re in the office, come and claim them.
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