A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
November 30, 2025
10:30 am
The First Sunday of Advent
Meditation
In a world full of fear, where do you see Hope?
From There to Here: We Gather
Hymn Sing Choose Your Favorites!
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 Rhonda Edwards, Reader
One: On Sundays and Mondays,
All: on good days and bad days,
One: early in the morning and very late at night,
All: here in this room, and out in the world, God, we long for you to break in.
One: Meet us in this space.
All: Surprise us with your presence.
One: Fill this room with your good news.
All: With hope, we sing, we worship, we pray.
Lighting the Candle of Hope Alan & Corey Hester
The Advent Wreath tradition reaches back to pre-Christian northern Europeans who lit candles awaiting the winter solstice. By the 1500s, both Lutherans and Catholics had adapted the Advent Wreath as a devotional way to prepare for the coming of Christ, the Light of the World. Each week as we wait through Advent, we light a new candle representing an aspect of the light God intends for all people. This Sunday the candle of HOPE is lit.
Reader 1: In a world full of fear, where do you see hope?
Reader 2: I see hope when I look to the next generation. I feel hopeful when we gather together. I know hope, deep in my bones, when we dream of a better world.
Reader 1: You are right. Even in a fearful world, hope is all around us.
Reader 2: Today we light the candle of hope as a reminder of this good news. May this flicker of light help us remember that we have reason to hope.
[The Candle of Hope is lit.]
Reader 1: Thanks be to God! Let us pray…
Prayer of Approach and Confession (unison)
Ever-present God, we long to feel you close. We long to feel your presence in our lives. We long for you to break through the chaos and suffering of this world. However, if we’re honest, we rarely stand still long enough to feel you in our midst.
Forgive our rushing and distractions. Forgive our wandering hearts, and center us in this space. Remind us that even in the time of Herod, even on the longest nights, you are always there. Amen.
Words of Assurance
One: Family of faith, even when we doubt God’s presence, even when we fail to notice God’s fingerprints in this world, God is always moving closer to us. Hear and believe the good news this Advent season: Nothing can keep God’s love away. We are seen. We are forgiven. We are not alone.
All: Amen.
¨ Hymn In the Time of Herod Cranham
Words by Anna Strickland, 2005 Music by Gustav Holst, 1906
¨ 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 While We Are Waiting Don Cason Union Church Choir
1. While we are waiting, come. Jesus our Lord, Emmanuel. While we are waiting, come.
2. With power and glory, come. Jesus, our Lord, Emmanuel. With power and glory, come.
3. Come, Savior, quickly come. Jesus our Lord, Emmanuel. Come, Savior, quickly come.
Scripture Reading Lamentations 3:55-57
I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit; you heard my plea, “Do not close your ear to my cry for help, but give me relief!” You came near when I called on you; you said, “Do not fear!”
~ 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 1:5-13
In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years. Once when he was serving as priest before God during his section’s turn of duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to offer incense.
Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified, and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.
~ New Revised Standard Version, updated
Sermon Breaking and Entering 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 Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore; and our siblings at St. Clare Catholic 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.
For Reflection In the Time of Herod Sarah (Are) Speed
I didn’t live during Herod’s time—that brutal, murderous king, God save his soul.
But even hundreds of years later, I know the prayers of his people.
I know the prayers of the mothers and the children under his rule.
I know the prayers of the young men under his angry arm.
I know their prayers, because anyone who has ever lived in this soft world for more than two days
knows how to pray for a miracle.
We rub our hands together.
We fold weary shoulders in,
a cage of bone to protect our bleeding hearts.
We sing, we shall overcome and bind my wandering heart to thee.
We walk across bridges and in front of powerful buildings.
We cover our cars in stickers that scream, we will not give up!
We allow a hungry cry to slip from our lips,
giving our lament a life of its own (with room to dance!).
And when all of that is said and done, we whisper to our creator,
God, break through the yelling and the fear. Break through the violence and the oppression.
Get past the Herods of this world, and come be here.
Like every bleeding heart before, we pray for a miracle.
Offertory Sunset Randall Hartsell Union Church Orchestra
A Chance for Generosity: easytithe.com/union
A community of caring relies on support. Your recurring or one-time donation will make a ministry of healing, justice, and teaching available to all in need.
¨ 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
To God all glorious heavenly Light, To Christ revealed in earthly night, To God the Spirit now we raise Our joyful songs of thankful praise. Amen.
Silent Prayers and Prayers of the Community Rhonda Edwards, Reader
In-Breaking God, you break into the messy middle of our lives with the hope echoing in your words, and good news carried on the winds of change. As we enter again this holy season, help us quiet our racing, anxious hearts. In grateful expectation we come, awaiting the birth of light in a world too dark. The hurt and longing in this world robs us of our breath, and so we turn to you that your healing and justice might break in and enter as living hope.
As we wait in that hope, we lift up the members of this community, who like Zechariah and Elizabeth, have longed for children and found grief instead. We pray for those who lie in hospital beds, desperate for good news. We pray for those who cannot put food on the table and wonder how they’ll keep the lights on. We pray for children that feel overlooked, and for adults that ache with loneliness and the silent distress of loss. We pray for all those in nations where war and greed wage hate, and where lovingkindness and wisdom are seldom seen.
In your mercy break in and break us out of these binds. Remind us that we are not alone and that even now your Holy Spirit gathers the grace and strength each one needs. Make your living hope known among us and help us be ready to receive your coming kin-dom. As we wait and work, we join our voices together to pray the prayer your son taught us to pray, 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 #116 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Veni Emmanuel V. 1, 2, 7
1.O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
2. O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in that way to go. Refrain
7.O come, Desire of nations, bind
all peoples in one heart and mind;
Make envy, strife and quarrels cease;
fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. Refrain
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
With December 3rd (International Day of Persons with Disabilities) devoted to honoring the achievements of those who are differently abled, it is a good time to remember an important justice warrior who fought for the rights of the disabled in our country, Judith Heumann. Heumann contracted polio when she was 18 months old and required the use of a wheelchair. She was not allowed to attend her local school, as she was regarded as a “fire hazard.” In college she started her own advocacy group, Disabled in Action, and fought for accommodations such as ramps that afforded accessibility.
After graduation she was denied a teaching license because of her disability, but sued the New York City Board of Education and became the first wheelchair user to teach in the Big Apple. She was a leading activist in the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the first federal civil rights legislation of its kind. When these hard won protections were not enforced, she led over one hundred people in the “504 Sit–In” for 28 days. This protest laid the foundation for the ADA.
“Benediction
”Benediction Response you’re invited to join in signing:
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.
¨ 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!
Maria Hartz-Clineburg will be ordained in the Episcopal Church on Dec. 13! Congrats can be sent to her at 50 Presque St.; Rochester; NY; 14609
Birthdays: Nov. 30 – JoAn Gaines; December 3 – NoraRuth Jentkins, Larry Brandenburg, Chris McKenzie; 4 – Alva Peloquin, 7 – Isaiah Broomfield; 8 – Susan Jones English; Jackson Napier; 9—Ron Rosen; 10 – Joan Moore
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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