A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
First Sunday of Advent November 30, 2014, 10:30 am
Meditation
“Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.”
— Dale Carnegie
American lecturer, author, 1888-1955)
From There to Here
Hymn Sing Choose Your Favorites!
Welcome & Announcements
Prelude An Advent Prayer L. Stairs
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Isaiah 64:1-9
Lighting the First Advent Candle
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.
One: O God, today we light the first candle of Advent.
One: We kindle it with hope. We long for you to come to our world, to break through and reign with compassion, justice, and peace. We remember times we longed for God to be present to us, this congregation, and this world, and the people who offered us hope when we had none ourselves.
One: Today we especially remember hope for all who are imprisoned, and hope for all who affected by HIV/AIDS as we remember World AIDS Day tomorrow. We light this candle to remind ourselves to be followers of Christ’s hope, and to speak light into the darkness of every situation.
One: The prophet Isaiah cried to God to tear open heaven and come down. He called God’s people to do right. Isaiah called them to be refashioned like clay by God, the potter. As we begin this Advent and light this candle, we, too, call out to God:
All: Mighty God, creator of the world, break through all that keeps us from you. We ask for your mercy, and to reform us in your image. This Advent, visit us with your hope for justice, love, and peace. Amen.
* Opening Hymn #116 O Come, O Come (v. 1,4,7) Veni Emmanuel
* Passing the Peace of Jesus 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 Word in our Midst
Anthem The Trumpet in the Morning arr. Rory Cooney
Union Church Choir
1. O the weary world is trudging toward the year of jubilee, when we’ll hear the trumpet sound in the morning. Far and wide we hear the clarion announce that all are free when we hear the trumpet sound in the morning.
Refrain: Lowly eyes shall be uplifted, while the tyrants taste their fear, for that sound is both a gospel and a warning. When we rise as a people who proclaim that God is near, who will dare to sound the trumpet in the morning?
2. Every prison wall will crumble, every chain will fall away when we hear the trumpet sound in the morning. And the debts that stole our dreaming we will no more have to pay when we hear the trumpet sound in the morning.
3. Then the rich will grasp at shadows for the land is God’s alone, when we hear the trumpet sound in the morning. Every immigrant be welcome, all the homeless find a home, when we hear the trumpet sound in the morning.
4. Let the banker and the president beware the trumpet’s call, and beat swords of greed and commerce into equal shares for all. Let the teachers speak in wisdom, let all the music makers play, let the weavers weave the tent where we shall gather on that day.
5. Let the prophets speak in parables, let storytellers spin tales of faithfulness and recue ‘til the banquet shall begin; how God wove the world with wonder, how God led us through the se, why we keep a day of rest and call a year of jubilee!
6. Come and join the great thanksgiving, take your neighbor by the hand, and become the voice of freedom that will thunder through the land. Let the earth repose in Sabbath while her children’s hearts renew, and give back to God in justice what God’s bounty gave to you.
Hebrew Scripture Lesson Psalm 80:1-17, 17-19
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, children grades K-3 are invited to Children’s Church, which takes place in the chapel. If this is your child’s first time attending Children’s Church, please accompany them to fill out a registration form. Otherwise, children are welcome to follow volunteers to their worship spaces. For children preschool & under, care is available in the Nursery, downstairs off the Community Room. Please pick up your children in the Chapel after the service.
Gospel Lesson Mark 13:24-37
Sermon Fear Not: Hope In An Age of Violence Rev. Kent Gilbert
Gifts given for Love to flow
Call to Offering
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 O Had I Jubal’s Lyre G.F. Handel
* Doxology To God all glorious heavenly light; Old Hundredth
To Christ revealed in earthly night; To God the spirit now we raise Our grateful hymn of thankful praise. Amen.
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 Prayers and Prayers of the Community
Our Lord’s Prayer
One: Our Maker, our Mother, and …
All: 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 #345 Let All Mortal Flesh Picardy
* Benediction
Postlude Concluding Voluntary R. Thompson
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* Please rise in body or in spirit
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 Cameroon, Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea and our brothers and sisters at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 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 service of our country, and those who wait and worry for them.
* For the victims of violence everywhere, and especially under the influence of racial prejudice and simmering fear. Peace to Ferguson, Missouri, and everywhere our madness reigns.
* Our church family members in nursing homes, or who are homebound: Edith Hansen, Klara Welsh, Bernice Robertson, Nancy Jones, Mary Miller, Averill Kilbourne, Alva Peloquin, Ruth Butwell
* Debbie Lueck and family
* Rae Kwan
* Raeryn Shead
* Dalton Brennan
* Madelyn (LeLe) Dodson, recovering from hand surgery.
* Rachel Shuler, dear friend of Rev. Rachel, recovering from surgery in W.VA.
* The family of Melissa and Susan Doring-Zook, dealing with multiple deaths in their families.
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.
Today and All Advent Long: Nurture & Care Breakfasts, Sundays, 9-10:15 am: The Nurture & Care Board would love to nurture and care for you! Come join us for a casual oatmeal breakfast Sunday mornings in Advent, starting Today. Oatmeal, festive toppings, coffee, friends old and new: we want to hang out with you!
Together we make a supportive community. Grab a bowl of oats on your way to choir or Sunday School, or just come on early to church. Sit and enjoy a conversation with friends while your children attend Sunday School. We look forward to seeing you!
Celebrate with Lunch TODAY!120th Annivsersary of Women’s Creative Sewing and Crafts (formerly Women’s Industrial) is 120 years old this year! Join us on right after worship for a momentous celebration. Chili lunch and crafts/quilt sales will complement the celebration event. We’ll begin serving lunch after church service at noon. Help us make this next year one of the best ever by showing your enthusiasm for this outstanding program of Union Church’s Mission and Service Board.
Hanging of the Greens today After Lunch! Decorating the church for the weeks of Advent will take place after lunch today. Worship Board members will be coordinating, but we need your help and vision! Stay after to hang greenery, change the banner, decorate trees, and hang lights. There will be some work needed in future weeks as well. If you can bring garden shears and loppers, please do — we’ll have some greenery to cut. Contact Abigale Embry at abbyembry@gmail.com
Musicians Needed!! On December 21, we will be having a Sounds of the Seasons musical Sunday! As part of the service this Sunday, the choirs will be singing, the bells will be ringing, and we will hear some of the wonderful musical talent from members of our congregation! This is a wonderful opportunity to bless our church with joyous music to set us in the mood for Christmas! If you, or a group, (young, old, in-between) would like to participate in the service, please contact Gabe Evans, gevans@union-church.org, for more details. All genres and types of music are welcome!
Berea College Christmas Concert tickets available The concert, featuring Instrumental and Vocal Ensembles and Community Carol Singing, will be here at Union Church Friday, Dec. 5th and Saturday Dec. 6th, both at 7:30 pm. Pre-concert music will start at 7:00 with the Clarinet Ensemble, Folk Roots Ensemble, and Saxophone Quartet. Although admission is free, tickets are required due to limited seating.
Tickets for the Christmas Concert are now available for pick up. This year the Music Department is using an online distribution at no cost. You can either print at home, order a print tickets, place on will call, or bring your phone, iPad, or tablet. In order to get tickets please visit berea.brownpapertickets.com or scan the QR code.
For more information call 859-985-3466 or email javier_clavere@berea.edu
Gifts for Liberty Place. Dodie Murphy is collecting sweat shirts, sweat pants (same size, matching or coordinating) and crew/athletic socks for the women at Liberty Place in Richmond for their Christmas gifts. If possible, please wrap each garment in tissue and put in a large gift bag. Also, please put the size on a sticky note on the outside of the bag. Dodie will happily deliver any donations to LP. If you are unable to do a whole bag, a contribution of any part of the bag will be most welcome. LP is a 108-bed long-term residential recovery center for women with addictive diseases. Thanks so much for considering. Dodie can be reached at 859-200-7277 or dodiemurf@yahoo.com.
A few bumper stickers are still available. Pick one up in the parlor drop $1 in the basket to offset expenses if you can.
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